Is this wide enough for you?

I’ve mentioned in the past that my Grandma Betty (God rest her soul) loved yard sales and flea markets and estate sales. And she would take me on such shopping trips.

I’ve also blogged in the past about how one of her flea market trips included the old Neponset Drive-In in Boston.

Remembering the Neponset Drive-In

The Neponset has drifted into the mist of history, but the Malta Drive-In in Saratoga Springs offers a monthly Sunday morning flea market, and yeah, I’ve visited it. I’ve walked in thinking I’m not purchasing anything, and left with something purchased.

This time around, I found something cool. It’s a wall hanging that would ostensibly decorate some gaudy living room. You know, the kind of art that someone would purchase at Pier 1 Imports thinking that it’s haute culture, when it was probably manufactured in some factory in downtown Utica.

Wanna see the wall hanging?

Sure you do.

Yep, I spent a whole five dollars on it.

But you probably know by now, I’m not buying this just for the artwork.

I bought it for the frame and the interior cream-colored mat.

See, I have an idea. Until I get the buena vista panorama shot I’ve been obsessing over for years … I may use this frame for an ultrawide photo that really captures what I can achieve on film.

And I have just the photo.

But first, I have to strip out that fugly flower artwork. Ripped out the backing. Pulled out all the internal pins.

And found out that the flower artwork was GLUED to the front mat. Well, this pea-picking flower artwork is getting its pea-picking heart rip-picked out of the frame, one way or the other.

I carefully tore the flower out … then inserted a different artwork inside. Only to discover … that he plastic rectangle in the mat was TOO THICK to hold the artwork in place.

Okay … I don’t need the plastic mat … yank yank out you come.

All right … now the artwork can fit.

And I just need to put some backing on it – oh, wait. I tore out the backing to get to the artwork. I’ve got shreds of old cardboard here. And where am I going to find a 16×40 backing board to fit in this frame? Backing Boards ‘ᴙ‘ Us?

I give up. I just need to go to sleep. Brain cells are overfilled right now. A good night’s sleep will clear my brain.

But I couldn’t go to sleep. I kept obsessing over where I could get a 16×40 mat board.

And somewhere … around 2:30 a.m. … I finally figured it out.

I don’t have a 16×40 mat board handy …

But I do have TWO 16×20 mat boards, essentially two old art photos that have just gathered dust in my closet.

Up and at ’em, Chucky boy.

Found the two artworks. They still had stickers on the back from their acceptance at the Durham Fair ages ago. Well, they’re going to a new use. I slid both panels into the back of the frame … perfect fit. Inserted some metal points to hold the backing board(s) in place. Some strong wire for the back … and up on the wall she goes.

And check that out.

Hey look, it’s my Saratoga Harness multi-film photo! Which is now framed in a super-ultra-wide frame and hanging on the wall!!

And you know I have a target for this image. Definitely for Competition Season 2026.

Not bad for an old $5 frame from a flea market and a little sweat equity and late night brain power.