Whoa, it’s almost May.
Where did the time go? What the heck was I up to? Everything’s coming fast and furious now, tree buds, flowers, hostas, the relentless goutweed. I knew it would happen just like this; no matter how many Nova Scotian springs I have under my belt, I’m never ready.
B and I went to a locally advertised yard sale two Saturdays ago, which is something we usually avoid, as neither of us is keen to brave a crowd just to sift through some stranger’s cast-offs. But this was taking place at Cottage Woodworkers over in Hampton, where our friend Lauren used to work, and where our new neighbour Scott currently works. Stephen, the owner, had advertised a few tools and odds and ends being for sale, but what he hadn’t advertised was that all showroom floor models would be half price. Gazoink. Since the reno was completed (yeah, since November) I’ve been on the lookout for some office bookshelves, so we popped into the showroom to see if he had any. There were gorgeous sideboards and sleigh beds, a custom kitchen, some really beautiful wardrobes and dining tables, but no shelves.
And then B spotted a pine entertainment unit (or TV armoire as I called it); it was going for a song, was beautifully handcrafted, and would hide a lot of my office junk. Sold! Stephen even delivered it and helped B carry it around the house and into my office. Once positioned, B hit me with the brilliant idea of turning it into my desk, so that I could shut my work away and hide all those unsightly and tangled cords that come along with a modern wired existence. This had the added bonus of allowing us to turn my desk into the room, so I can use it as a craft table.
I’m overjoyed! Really, I’m sickeningly happy. For the first time since we moved in, my office functions for all the things I do in it and even fits the look of the house (important since it opens onto the dining room).
My keyboard sits on a sliding, rotating shelf that pulls out, allowing me to get my legs under it like a normal desk.
The bottom half houses my printer and files and work doodads. Those drawers hold all of my mailing supplies, business cards, giftwrap and stationery for Garden Street Designs.
The craftier side of the room.
Me and Rooster.
Monkey was sitting behind me, as usual. Don’t let this docile pose fool you, I’m sporting a wicked bruise and raggedy scratch on my chin where he bit me two days ago. Bad kitty.
I almost squished her when I grabbed this pen.
Handily, I have a deck off my office, so she was freed promptly.
A glass of B’s first batch of home brewed beer! He’s not normally an ale guy, but some porter is next up on his brewing to-do list. I’m not a beer drinker, but I think I can safely say that B’s ale is better than McEwans (it’s a dollar store glass).
Like every other Come From Away you’ll meet in the Annapolis Valley, B has spent many hours wondering why there is no hard cider readily available here in Apple Country. And like almost every other CFA, B has had plans to brew his own since pretty much the day we arrived. He’s finally gone and done it, and designed some nifty labels too. Good job, B! Now he has to fine tune things, try a few different recipes until he’s truly satisfied. This first attempt is darn good, though. I foresee a real-life bricks & mortar (or clapboard and nails) Granville Ferry Cidery somewhere in our future; maybe we’ll make that a retirement goal.