Category Archives: Works in Progress

ABC’s of Wilkes County Hardware…

When people walk into our hardware store, they often say y’all have just a little bit of everything here don’t you!!! As we have entered into year number 8 of business, we have slowly expanded and refined our offerings to our customers. Here’s a sampling of our product offerings via ABC’s of Wilkes County Hardware.

Top down view overlooking the back corner of Wilkes County Hardware

Let’s begin by diving into the Amazing finds from All Around the Hardware Store! Sometimes our building might be considered an “Antique” due to its advanced age…1905 is A long time AGO!

A- Almanac, acetone, axe, American Flags, animal repellents

Deer repellent, snake and more!

B- bird feeder & seed, BBQ sauce, brooms, bi-fold door hardware, bungee cords, batteries, black iron fittings and pipe cut to size, bolts

C- Customers! We can’t do this without you!!! Thank you for shopping with local with us! It’s soooo easy to forget about local businesses when you’re busy running errands or just headed to that “box store” for something on your to do list. Keep the CASH in our community!

Thanks for shopping local and keeping the CASH in our community!

C- Caulk, candy, command strips, canning supplies, cleaning products, compression fittings, chain cut to size

Clorox wipes and much more can be found in our cleaning area

D- Drill bits, DampRid, Denatured Alcohol, driveway and asphalt coating/pothole patch, door locks

E- electrical supplies, eye hooks, Ecos soaps, extension cords

Electrical cords of all types!

F- Freight Elevator .. we have an Oldie Goldie, I bet you might find this as you wander through the hardware store.

The old freight elevator… We don’t use it much anymore but it’s still works

F- fastener aisle, flower seeds, fly strips, fly swatters, flashlights, fuses(replacements), flower pots

Sometimes all you need it just one bolt or fastener… that’s ok with us, no need to buy a whole box. This area of our store is often full of customers all day long.

G- Gardening tools, garden seeds, grass seed, gloves, glues, grilling accessories, Greased Lightning, gas cans, galvanized fittings and pipe cut to size, window glass cut to size

Lawn and Garden area has been moved towards the front of the hardware store. We are excited to offer new products in this busy area for our customers.

H- hammers, hooks, hinges, hand tools, hose barb, Howard wood cleaning products, honey(it’s local y’all!)

Only local honey sold at Wilkes County Hardware!!

I-I didn’t know you had this! I should have come here first… we have heard this a few times over the last 8 years when folks find what they need and more as they shop.

I- Iron Out, ice melt

J- Juxtaposition of old school hardware store with excellent customer service found in 2023 versus “the box store experience”in 2023, no self service checkout here.

J-Japanese beetle traps, joint compound

K-keys duplicated with ease, knives, kerosene heaters & replacement wicks

Wayne has been a fixture inside Wilkes County Hardware for over 20 years. He just celebrated his 85th birthday!!! I bet Wayne has made a key or two for you.

L- Ladder wall, this wall showcases some of our amazing local artisans work.

Our local artisans are prominently featured along the back ladder wall.

L- lag screws, locks, light bulbs, laundry detergent, Lodge Cast Iron, Lava soap, Linseed oil, Lexel caulk, liquid chlorine

M- Mural.. have y’all noticed the new mural on the front side of the building? Why the chicken??? Our building was a poultry processing plant in its early years.

A more detailed account is linked here for you from an earlier blog post. https://hardwarelifewife.com/2022/11/21/mr-ee-eller-chickens-and-turkeys-nothing-but-clucking-gobbling-and-plucking-out-the-truth/

M- Meyers Clean Day, Magnets, mineral spirits, mops, Milwaukee, metric bolts

Measure twice cut once!

N-nails … we don’t sell these by the pound anymore but we have small size packs available for purchase as well as larger sizes, National Hardware what an amazing selection of all things related to home hardware and more!

O- Order it for me please! Yes, we special order items for our customers each and every week

O- O-rings of all shapes and sizes!

P- Pool supplies, paper towels, PVC fittings, PB Blaster, Pex fittings, plungers, plumbing supplies galore! PVC pipe, padlocks, potting soils, polyurethane and and plethora of so much more!

Our plumbing section has been recently updated

Q- Quite a step back into time.. our building dates back to 1905, they don’t build them like this anymore. You can quickly find what you need and save TIME by not driving to a box store fighting the traffic or the crowd… and if you need our help we are here to answer any questions you may have about your project.

Q- Quick knife/scissors sharpening done in a matter of a few minutes, Quartz piston clock… locally made

R- Repairs made to lamps, kerosene heaters, re-screening windows, and tool handle replacement

Fall and winter season is a busy time for Kerosene heater repairs

R- Ready Seal, rodent control products, Rid-X , rope cut to size or just buy it by the package.

Rocking chair… we brought this chair from our house once we bought the hardware store. I rocked my son as a baby in this rocking chair. It was a sweet reminder of home. Harry loved this chair as well.

S-Staff… we are blessed with an amazing team!

Richard & Coby … these two can fix just about anything!
Wayne … the key master!
Tim … expert in glass
Lisa .. we can’t live without her! She is a gem
Angie… I’m not sure what to say 😂😂😂
Lastly, Carter Call … I don’t seem to have a good photo of him but he has been a star pool guy all summer long! Look for him at the hardware store in the afternoons and Saturdays to come!

S-snow shovels and sleds, locally made soaps, suet, screws ( sheet metal, lag, stainless, self tapping, wood, deck), spray paint, Shark Bite, sandpaper, stove pipe, screwdrivers and much more!

T- Take a few minutes to wander from the front of the store to the back of the store.. you never know what you might find!

T- Traeger Grills & pellets, tape, tape measures, toilet repair, toilet paper, Tarn-x, TSP, tarps

We keep a variety of pellets in stock for our established Traeger customers.

U- U-bolts and unique gifts from locally sourced artisans

V- Don’t be vexed by our selection of furnace filters, we have so many different sizes in stock!

Furnace filters of all sizes!

V- Vulcan 55 gallon drum liners for your trash can

W- Wood stove… warm by the fire on those cold days

It won’t be long until this stove will be back in action again!

W- wheelbarrow, WD-40, window glazing, water hoses, locally made wooden bowls and boards, weed eater trimmer line, wing nuts, wrench

X- Xacto blades, Xtreme contractor trash bags

Y-y’all are always welcome

Our doors are normally open for most of the warmer months, and conversations are usually flowing most of the day… near the old wood stove.

Y- Yellow Quell- did you know that we sell pool supplies and test pool water???

Pool season runs from May to September for most of our pool customers. Thanks for shopping locally with us!

Z- Zep products, Zip ties(cable ties) , Zero-G lightweight hose

The best water hose for watering plants

That’s just a glimpse of some of the familiar hardware products that we have inside Wilkes County Hardware. Richard and I are proud to continue into year 8 with new products to be added into the hardware store lineup as the next year progresses. Thank you for your business and continued support.

Thank you!

Under Construction

Ever been on a long road trip, cruising down the interstate and suddenly, traffic comes to a screeching halt?

Road construction is a possibility to your delay. When you see the orange traffic cones, we all know what’s ahead. The traffic that road construction creates, can be challenging. It can lengthen your commute time, and forces you to drive at slower speed. A road work zone that is “under construction “ often diverts traffic in a new direction as the crew safely works in another area.

In a structural/ building development scenario, “under construction”, one would expect to see a structural project that is incomplete… with the ultimate goal, closing the project with full completion, a finished building.

Which brings me to ask you today… Do you currently have anything “under construction”? Visually, the bright orange cones might not be around you, but you might be mentally wearing the bright yellow “hard hat” working as the chief foreman in the construction zone, working on your “under construction goals”.

I recently read that keeping a journal of lists can help with mapping out your goals and thoughts…. These little memo books are a great selling item inside our hardware store.

In early 2023, I didn’t have a vision in what I wanted to accomplish in the coming year. Don’t get me wrong, we all have long term and short term goals. Things seemed…muddled, and a clear vision wasn’t coming easily. Sometimes I think we are in a transitional phase before we launch into a new set of goals. That was the case with me earlier this year.

Often with time, a bit of clarity emerges. The results, a few new WIP’s (works in progress) and all things “under construction” are now being realized. Yes, plans divert and change, just like road construction.

I actually have projects that are “under construction”. Slowly, I’m making small, and defined progress on specific goals I’ve set for myself in 2023. Clipboard in hand, hard hat, and construction checklist ✅. Revealed from my mental clipboard …here’s the short list.

1. Writing and Blogging – In 2023, my blog has a new format (look) that visitors may have noticed. I’m incorporating more bold text words and information so a reader can grab the overall message from the blog post from a visual pre-read. I’m trying to devote more time to write more each week on upcoming blog posts, and also granting myself time away from writing or blogging when I feel uninspired.

2. Photography– This is a brand new goal for me in 2023! I have NEVER physically printed anything from my camera roll. Yes, me, the one with 15,000 plus pictures on her camera roll and I have NEVER printed anything. Until recently… So I’m beginning to focus on my personal photography projects and enjoying the process of making/creating my own art (photography) for my own enjoyment.

Just a few of my photos. Check out my blog post Everyday Summer which is filled with my favorite summer photos
https://hardwarelifewife.com/2023/08/19/everyday-summer-gallery/

3. Weight Loss – ugh! yes, I’m beginning to lose weight . It is hard y’all! 25 pounds lost and now in maintenance mode! I have become much more aware of what I’m eating, practicing portion control, meal planning for lunch, which was problematic for us. Slow, steady progress is what is keeping me motivated .

Veggies are a great way to balance out your hunger!

4. Targeted intentional movement- as Dory said “Just keep swimming “ in Finding Nemo. I have been an active, daily walker for the last several years but I have never intentionally tried to have a daily step goal (7,000 minimum) and to be very cognizant of my movement … not to sit for too long, get up during commercials while watching tv, stand while working instead of sitting and to just keep moving! I don’t meet my goal every single day but I’m much more aware about how many steps I’m making… I’m pumped if I reach over 10,000 plus!

5. Developing my creative side, in a new way… Hand building pottery has been a new challenge… my work is not perfect, but an enjoyable way to spend time learning new things.

My little pumpkin… creating new memories with friends . Thankful for a very patient instructor and friend, Kim Reid!

6. Lastly, Work Goals… We have begun to Re-merchandise key store areas and more! First, Richard and I started with a total change up of our lawn and garden areas, then next to the hardware area.. What could be next???

This year so far, we have refreshed Lawn and Garden area, paints, plumbing, and a few more areas!

I bet we would all agree that living through construction is never easy. Those of us that have lived through a construction project can attest that an ongoing “under construction project” requires planning, perseverance and patience. And we all know that sitting in road construction traffic can test your patience. That being said, projects “under construction” can be taxing …mentally and physically. Change IS and can be hard. Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight or make a lifestyle change can attest that it is not easy but it can be accomplished.

Progress can often be slow and sometimes, even difficult to visualize. Let’s look at a construction analogy .. the first few phases of construction are not often seen… ie.. planning, procurement of materials, and even site preparation… but as you get into the last phases of a construction project, progress becomes more visible.

Morning sunrises can set the tone for the day!

Once the foundation emerges, the core structure is built. With a well built structure and foundation, the longevity of the building is magnified… the ultimate goal, a long lasting structure which can stand the test of time. You can actually begin to visualize success.

Now, I’m not assuming that my WIP’s projects are going to go on without a hitch… like as smoothly as spreading peanut butter on a piece of hot bread that just popped out of the toaster… which results in a smooth, creamy, melting, and warm peanut butter toast, but boy it’s a great way to begin your day. Just keep moving forward.

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me in my hardwarelifewife blog!

My husband and I bought an old fashioned, vintage, and historic hardware store within the downtown area of North Wilkesboro, NC in late summer of 2015.

Wow! What an experience it has been for us. I decided to share my stories about our adventures in what I like to call thehardwarelife. This has been a journey that hasn’t always been easy but thankful we are getting the opportunity to do this together. I hope that y’all enjoy our stories.

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton