Oh I just love a good birthday.
Eighty years is surely something to celebrate.
My father in law, Landen, is just amazing. I think you now know where Mr. Décor inherited his DIY skills from.
Pop is always working on some project or another. Mr. Décor, shown here in the middle, often talks about the houseboat that Pop Gunn created when he was a kid. It was called the Gunn Do La (Inspired by gondola… Do for Dorothy and La for Landen.)
It was quite a boat.
A true labor of love.
Mr. Décor recreated the boat in miniature for Pop’s gift.
After sketching the design out on graph paper Mr. Décor used plywood and cut the pieces out with a variety of tools to include a table saw, coping saw,band saw, razorblade and side cutters. Pliers were used to bend the wiring creating the railing. My minimal contributions were giving up a necklace to make a nautical wheel as well as other materials used for the flooring and roofing.
Like any good miniature the boat is interactive. The top can be removed so that you can peer inside the houseboat.
I think Pop will love it and the fact that his youngest showed up with a bow on his head.
Here’s to MANY more years POP!
Love,
Your favorite daughter in law
That is possibly the coolest present I've ever seen!
Oh my goodness, what a perfect present. I love it and such a cool picture of them. Happy Birthday “Pop”
I know he will be all smiles when he see this gift, maybe a few little tears of good memories
Oh he is going to LOVE it!
Bonjour,
Joyeux anniversaire “Pop” !… Un bel hommage avec ces délicieuses photos.
Gros bisous ♡
A wonderful tribute to your Father-in-Law Laura and I was amazed to see how much Eric looks like him at a younger age!
xoxo
Karena
Featuring “Inner Spaces”
That's so awesome!!! What a great gift!! Your husband did such a fine job on it. Happy 80th Birthday to your dear Father-in-Law. When I saw the photo of him on the ladder, I immediately thought of my own 89 year old father, who was a painter by trade, and hard to keep off a ladder still. Like your father-in-law, he's always been a handyman and there was nothing he couldn't build or figure out. Hope your Father-in-Law has a tremendously-great Birthday celebration!! : )
Happy 80th Birthday to your adorable FIL! There is nothing better than having your children show up to celebrate with you.
The miniature boat is awesome! I love all the details and features your DH has crafted into it. And you are such a great DIL to give up your necklace plus some other building materials to recreate this treasure. There is just something about miniatures that has always fascinated me, especially when they are built to scale of something that actually exists. Good job!
And how wonderful that he passed on his handyman talents to his son, just as your DH is for your Sweet Boy. The legacy will continue! 🙂
The boat is fabulous. A very Happy Birthday to your Father-in-law!
What a fantastic creation! Happy birthday to him. xoxo
Labor of love indeed. You sure married well, my girl! What a heritage for sweet guy!
HaPpY BiRtHdAy to Pop “TOP” Gunn,
Kelley~
Oh, the boat is wonderful and the idea to call the real one “Gunn Do La” is brilliant!
Happy birthday, Pop!
Happy Birthday, Pop! The Gunn Do La is a beauty, bot the real one and the model. Kudos to both these fine boat builders!