A door bell on the pole, hilarious. We've thought of hanging a maple sap bucket on ours.

My Uncle Ben was the bomb. Oh, all the brothers were rapscallions, but he was the best. On the left side of the white-painted door leading out of the summer-cabin living room, into the big screened dogtrot/porch, he put a big, black, cast iron door handle. It doesn't open a thing-- it's on the hinge side of the door, and there is an unobtrusive (white of course) real doorknob on the right side! He'd sit in his chair by the stove and wait for victims!

In his spirit, I have a huge end-table lamp between our recliners with a suitably large shade. I like to comment that the room is dark and why don't we put some lights on-- but that one has no wiring, and the lamp shade is held up with a cardboard tube from a pants-hanger that is stick down the wiring hole. It's funny not only that people try the lamp, but that they KEEP fumbling to find the switch even after they look under the shade.

Hardi's brother had his younger sibs, each in turn, terrorized. "Don't you come in my room! The floor is electrified and I'll git you!" He even had a big dummied-up power switch by his bed. Over the years, each brother would enjoy seeing the next younger one fall victim to this, and it would usually work for several years with each one, before they caught on and dared to try the floor.

But then the whole family is sick and twisted. Oh yeah-- the string they tied to the neighbor's house, and then played like a fiddle string-- each time the upsatirs lights went out, BOINNNNNGGGGG>>>>>..... the lights would all come on, the family would rush about trying to find out what that creepy sound was, and then as soon as they settle down again.....

Well anyone can see why I had to marry into this group!

~S~