He Said, She Shed

 He Said, She Shed

            I enjoy…well, everything. I like to travel. I like new experiences. I like outdoor activities like boating and fishing and golf. I also enjoy reading, writing, family gatherings, cooking, friends, and...well you get the idea. There are few things I don’t like or aren’t at least willing to try. 

            I enjoy creating. It shows up in my writing and cooking. But it also shows up in my pursuit of crafts and artistic endeavors. The only problem with my arts and crafts is that, quite frankly, I’m messy. Seriously messy.

Mike and I put an offer on the house where we now live before our wedding while I was still living in Ohio. He had seen it and our realtor took me on a video tour. We were getting married in April and would close on the house May. 

Mike told me everything about our new place; the lake, the yard, the community, and the outbuildings, including the fact it had a “She Shed”. I studied the pictures on the listing. We knew the house itself would need some renovations to meet our needs. We made a plan. We married in April and headed to Florida. We hadn’t closed on the house yet, so we knew we would live in Mike’s house near Tampa until then.

Moving Mike’s furniture and adding a few furnishings of our own was the first order of business after we got the keys to our new place. We lived in the space a bit while we decided what we needed to do to make it “ours”. Renovations were next. 

We used every available nook and cranny to move our personal things out of the way while the remodel took place. The refrigerator made it to the porch as did the dishes and cookware. We have a two-car garage and an attic. That helped some. We put a few things in Mike’s shop and some stuff landed in the yet-to-be used outdoor shed.

The folks who lived here before us are the ones who identified it as a She Shed. For us it was a much- needed storage shed. For a while. This past year, Mike started going through the things stored there. When we went to Ohio, I brought some of my art and craft supplies home with me. 

We swept, cleaned, and moved things around in the She Shed. There is a workbench there. And there’s a heater/air conditioner. I pulled a stool from our porch to use and hauled my canvases, paints, woodcarving tools, and craft supplies inside. 

I’m still in the throes of figuring out all I need to keep it clean and orderly, but it’s getting there. The thing is, I know it won’t stay that way. As I said, I’m a pretty messy crafter. And my paintings? I tend to get more paint on me than I do the canvas. But I love the process. 

I’m pretty excited. I love the idea of “creating” without having to clear the dining room table so we can eat. And then, to make it a “real” She Shed, my oldest daughter found a great sign for the outside. Mike put it up for me. Right now? I’m a pretty happy camper…or in this case, she-shedder. 

 

My Husband, My Valentine

My Husband, My Valentine

If you happen to see my husband, Mike, out and about this month, you can wish him a happy birthday. He’s not one to celebrate, but I am. Here’s what I celebrate:

·      A man who puts others above himself

·      A man who loves family (his and mine)

·      A man who supports my interests and my writing

·      A man who is loyal to his friends

·      A man who respects others, regardless of age or gender or background

·      A man worthy of respect, and therefore a good leader

·      A man with a great (though sometimes warped) sense of humor who keeps me laughing

·      A man who can laugh at himself as well

·      A man who does the laundry (seriously)

·      A man who eats anything I cook and appreciates it

·      A man who can deep fry a succulent turkey

·      A man with an adventurous heart

·      A man who “knows stuff” but is willing to listen and learn from others

·      A man who still opens the car door for me

·      A man with me in church every Sunday 

·      A man who enjoys us “doing life together” as much as I do.

Happy Birthday, Mike! Happy Valentine's Day!

And many, many more of both!

Winter Wonderland

 Winter …Wonderland?

One of the great benefits of living in Florida is there is no snow to shovel. Well, at least not where we live or in the southern parts of the state. None we’ve seen at least. Not yet. Though it would not be unprecedented.

I remember in January of 1977 when Tampa received what proved to be a significant snowfall. It wasn’t significant in terms of inches as it is measured in the north. It was significant in that the snow was just enough to create wonder among Floridians who had never seen the white stuff and wreak havoc on the interstate. 

The snow in 1977 stretched as far as Homestead with a few flurries making their way into Miami. 

This past weekend we experienced temperatures cold enough to act as a deep freeze. Actually, that is according to my "feels like” temperature. That and the fact that our neighbor’s garden hose froze. We also learned other people in the county had pipes freezing. We were blessed our pipes and hoses appear to have “weathered” the drop in temperature.

Not snow. A reflection of clouds
in the Water

When I lived in Ohio, I saw the snow as nature’s way to blanket the land. I grew up with a strong farm connection on both sides of my family. That blanket of the white stuff signaled to me a time of rest for the earth. 

Then again, I didn’t have to travel in it. I’m pretty sure those who had to shovel their driveways and slide to work did not view it as a blanket. 

I digress. Mike and I live in Florida now. Below freezing temperatures are, in many ways, worse for us here. 

For one thing, we are not what I would call “prepared.” We have coats and jackets. We have furnaces in our house and food in our pantry. But not everything we own is built for winter weather. 

For example, my husband’s truck did not sound right when we were in Ohio during a cold spell. When I say cold…it was fourteen degrees. Mike took it to the dealership. The truck did not have a Block Heater. “Yours is a Southern truck,” he was told. “Meant to drive in the south.”

My view on that is simple. Trucks were meant to drive, period. And since the interstate goes north, a block heater should not be an option. It should be a requirement. It is cold in the south right now. I’m glad he had the block heater installed.

It is very cold. We have a bowl of water on the lanai for our cat, Tiki, when she ventures out. We had to crack a thin layer of ice on it so our sweet little girl could get a drink if she dared to leave the house. 

But now, the sun is shining, the moss is gently blowing in the trees. As I write this, our temperatures aren’t freezing, but certainly lower than normal. We’ll likely have chili dogs or chili and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. Our electricity is on and we have a gas stove if we should lose power. 

The wind is blowing and it's chilly!

Winter can be a harsh month for many, but still, as I look out the window at the sun shimmering on the lake and warming the deck, I can’t help but feel a subtle warming of the soul and gentling of the spirit. 

Wherever you are as you read this, stay safe. Stay warm. Cuddle up with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate. 

And remember…Spring is on the way.