CREATIVE REUSE: WHAT WAS IT?

image from brookegiannetti.typepad.com

Many years ago my hubby and I stumbled across a galvanized barrel similar to the one above, at a flea market, and brought it home. The lady who sold it to us had lots of them, and believed they were originally for bathing one's kids in. I wasn't so sure about that.

We have always used ours as a planter. When we lived near the gulf coast, and were going with a tropical theme, it got drizzled with ocean shades of aqua and cobalt blue.

When we moved here, it took on the violet and tangerine hues of a Hill Country sunrise.

image from miswesternmalaise.blogspot.com

They became quite popular when this version appeared in Smith & Hawken catalogs a while back, where they were called "antique planters". I've heard others refer to them as "vintage wash tubs" and even watering troughs for animals. I suspect people have used them for all these purposes over the years, but it wasn't until I stumbled across this photo on Pinterest recently, that my gut finally said "Yes! Now that makes perfect sense!"

In fact, it's got me on the look out for a second one, and if I ever do find one (for a reasonable price, of course), we just might be adding a little bit of rain gutter to that pump house of ours, which sits right next to my new raised beds. My only dilemma is how to keep it from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitos. Any suggestions?