DIY Outdoor Time Saver

How many times I've walked into the front yard and noticed some little something that needed to be tended...something to be pulled or trimmed or fertilized and I let it go.  Almost always, the reason was the same; I only had a minute and whatever I needed to accomplish the task was un-handily kept in some distant location like the garden shed or the garage.

 My husband solved the problem by building this little front yard storage box.  No more complicated to build than a birdhouse, it keeps everything close at hand.  Mine is mounted on a landscape timber (planted like a fence post) so that it is an easily accessible and at a comfortable height for me but it could as easily stand in a flower bed as a piece of garden art.

Hooks on the back wall hold garden gadgets and a clothespin mounted on the little door keeps gloves hanging and handy.

After 3 or 4 years of constant and appreciated use, I gave it a bit of a facelift last year with a new coat of red paint and it ought to be good to go for another few years.

The point is not so much 'this' project as it is the advantage of convenience, having things handy when needed.  
SO HERE ARE SOME ALTERNATIVE IDEAS:

* A large flower pot with a tray on top can store hand tools and double as a side table.
* An old, metal cooler can be used as part of your outdoor decor.
* An upright, metal school locker can be painted to either stand out or blend in and will house larger gardening tools as well.
* A wicker basket or footstool also works well on a porch, out of the weather.

Having the things I need, where I need them, when I need them is a huge time and effort saver and eliminates most of my "excuses".