It has been nearly two years since I began my she shed project at my mountain cabin property. The she shed structure’s progress has encountered several road blocks along the way. That first summer it took several months, instead of days, to improve the build site and complete the custom designed Tuff Shed properly. Last fall, improvements to Sherry’s She Shed were halted due to the Cameron Peak wildfire evacuation. Then, winter set in. Now, I’m back at it with some help and the she shed structure’s (say that three times fast) progressing again.
Adding a window view, Photo by slc
I recently hired a family friend and master carpenter, Matt Tanner, to install a window I purchased at Home Depot last fall. I asked him to install it with the bottom sill about 32″ from the floor so my desk can sit right underneath it. Matt also added 2″ x 4″ bracing around the small windows on two sides of the shed. Little did I know at the time, but I saved a ton of money since I purchased the materials last fall. Building materials are now outrageously expensive.
Added 2×4 window blocking, Photo by slc
Once Matt finished installing the window and bracing, I was able to complete the insulation installation. Finally, the she shed structure’s progressing and now it has a window view.
New She Shed Structure with a Window View, Photo by slc
Window View, Photo by slc
Neighbor’s Rubbish Pile, Photo by slc
P.S. A hiccup I’m dealing with now is the neighbor’s new rubbish pile on their property but is also near the entrance to mine:
Traveling solo has been around for years. Many articles and books have been written about it. Tour companies cater to the solo traveler. Senior solo travel expert Janice Waugh of Solo Traveler World “…estimates that probably 75 percent of solo-traveling seniors opt for a tour, but there are certainly some who choose to explore completely independently. ‘I think that as long as you’re fit and healthy and adventurous, then it works well,’ Waugh says. ‘Those who go independently, it’s very interesting to see the response of the world to them. It’s very welcoming.'”*
Cyndy Miller-Hughes and Van-Geaux
Cyndy Miller-Hughes, a friend and former colleague of mine, retired in 2018 after 32 years as an educator. She has been traveling independently since. I met up with her recently to examine her “new” way of traveling solo in Van-Geaux.
Sherry: What were you most looking forward to in retirement?
Cyndy: Travel
Sherry: I understand you purchased a small van for traveling. Why this particular van?
Cyndy: It is just the right size, drives like a car, and has everything I need.
Sherry: Did you have it customized?
Cyndy: It was built out by Cascade Campers in Nevada City, California.
Sherry: Does it have a name?
Cyndy: Van-Geaux…I went to grad school at LSU…Geaux Tigers!
Sing, sing a song Make it simple to last Your whole life long Don’t worry that it’s not Good enough for anyone Else to hear Just sing, sing a song
Sung by The Carpenters, 1973
Over the past year, I have been reading a series of books by Samuel Dickey “S.D.” Gordon. “In the early 1900’s, Gordon was a widely traveled speaker in high demand. A prolific author, he wrote more than 25 devotional books, most with the phrase ‘Quiet Talks’ in the title.” Currently, Quiet Talks on Service has been my morning page turner. When I read the following passages recently, they reminded me of the song by The Carpenters. I think they go hand in hand in today’s crazy world where many, including me, have felt anxious or worried more than ever. The following are Gordon’s words from over a hundred years ago. I hope they speak to you as they did to me….
Anxious for Nothing.
“In Philippians, chapter four, verses six and seven, are the words that contain the rules: ‘In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.'”
“The first rule is this, anxious for nothing. In other words, don’t worry. Deliberately refuse to think about annoying things. Set yourself against being disturbed by disturbing things. Say to yourself, it is useless, it has bad results, it is sinful, it is reproaching my Master, I won’t. That is the first simple rule.”
Thankful for Anything.
“The second helps to carry out the first. It is this, thankful for anything. Thanksgiving and praise are always associated with singing. When you feel the worry mood creeping on–it is a mood that attacks you–when it comes sing something, especially something with Jesus’ name in it. These temptations to worry are from the Evil One. He can come in only through an open door. Remember that. Yet the open doors seem plenty. Even when we trustingly and resolutely keep every door of evil shut the circle in which we move will open doors upon us. Singing something with Jesus’ name in it sends him or any of his brood off quickly.”
“Some one asked me if whistling would do. She was a busy housewife and said that was her rule. I have gone to singing myself. But maybe whistling is just as good. I’m inclined to favor giving it a place within the range of this rule.”
“There’s a bit of deep, simple philosophy here. Music is divine. There is no music in the headquarters of the enemy. He has used it a great deal on the earth. That’s a bit of his cunning. But he always has to steal it from God’s sphere, and work it over to suit his own crafty purposes. Music, singing, is an open doorway for the Spirit of God to come in, and come in anew and move freely. Its sweet harmonies found their birth in the presence of God where sweetest harmonies reign. Lovers of music should be lovers of God, for He is the one great Master-musician.”
“We should use the musician more in our days of battle. And God has wonderfully provided every one of us with a music-box of sweet melodies. If we would only open the lid, and let frequent use wear off the rust, and sing His praise more. In music God speaks to us anew with great power. This is the second rule, thankful for anything.”
Prayerful about Everything
“The third rule helps to make both first and second effective. These three are closely interwoven.”
“There’s a morning coming, always a morning coming, with the sunshine and the chorus of the birds. Love’s discipling touch that seems at the moment like anger is only for a moment. The loving favor is for always, a lifetime of eternal life.”
“Again David says, ‘Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.'”
“…if a thing is big enough to concern you, it is not too small for Him ‘because He has you on His heart.’ For your sake He is eager to help in anything, however small in itself it may seem.”
“Peace is the gentle even flowing of the river. Joy is where the waters go bubbling, leaping with ecstatic bound, and forever after, as they go on, making the channel deeper for the quiet flow of peace.”
“These three rules really mean living ever in that Master’s presence. When we realize that He is ever alongside then it will be easier to be anxious for nothing, thankful for anything, prayerful about everything.”
I will find out when we are allowing volunteers into our schools as we would love to have you. 🙂
–School Principal, February 11, 2021
This is the response I received from a middle school principal after asking if I could help with reading development at her school recently. Children have been out of their traditional classroom setting for almost a year now. Has the volunteering game changed too? I can substitute at a school, but I cannot volunteer at one.
Years ago, before becoming a full time high school teacher, I volunteered at a middle school in Loveland two days a week. I worked exclusively with four students, identified by a teacher, who were behind in their reading development. I tested them on their ability to recognize sight words, brought in materials for them to make their own flash cards, and brought in fun reading materials, like Shel Silverstein poetry, to read out loud with me. We worked one-on-one and we saw results.
Literacy has always been a passion of mine. My thinking is that if you can read well you can do anything.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s my Mom and Mrs. Olmstead lead a rural 4-H club for our family and others in the farming community. I joined at the age of eight, the earliest you could join.
4-H.org
4‑H Pledge
I pledge my head to clearer thinking, My heart to greater loyalty, My hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.
While I was in 4-H for nearly 10 years, I held every office: historian, secretary, treasurer, vice-president and president. 4-H taught me how to refinish furniture, cook, bake, design, sew and garden. My favorites were interior design and gardening. I also learned how to give “talks,” speaking and presenting in public. I guess you could say we learned practical hands-on life skills as well as leadership and service.
Valentines for Nursing Home Residents, Photo by slc
Recently the memory of making “tray favors” for nursing home residents came to mind. We assembled the little cups of mints, etc. at home and then took them to the facility where staff put them on the resident’s lunch trays. Since my Mom is now in a nursing home, I thought this Valentine’s Day I would replicate our favors by making valentines for my Mom and for the 30 residents she lives with. I plan to mail them and then Mom can hand them out. She was excited to hear about the plan and to see the ones I had made so far during our Zoom call last week. I think my former 4-H leader approved.
As I get older it is fun and exciting to remember some of the things I did in my youth. We tend to forget about these little memories like being in 4-H but they had such a profound impact on our lives.
Do you have a similar memory you now cherish? Please share.
Have you ever wanted to do something you thought would be fun but didn’t do it because you couldn’t find someone to join you? Let’s agree to not let that happen again. There’s no reason that the lack of a companion should stop us from visiting someplace new.
Heidi Herman
Many times I would like to go to a concert or try out a new restaurant but I don’t because I don’t want to go alone. After reading Heidi Herman’s book On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life, I resolve to “not let that happen again” in 2021. Her book is full of motivation for the new year.
“This book was inspired by my mother, who lived her life to the fullest,” says Heidi Herman. After my mom’s recovery from a stroke in 2016 at the age of 92, my mom began promoting the message of living life with vitality no matter what your age. I helped her achieve and log 93 new activities between her 93rd and 94th birthdays, just to show you’re never too old to have fun.”
This delightful read is full of personal stories of Heidi and her inspirational Icelandic mother, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 94. One of my favorite stories was the depiction of her mom’s microwave hop. Her morning exercise routine was unique but easy to do. The challenges at the end of each chapter, with easy to use checklists, makes this a practical motivational approach. Some of the ideas in the book we have heard before, such as stay active. It doesn’t hurt to hear them again along with numerous new ideas.
Have a friend or relative retiring this year? Consider this small but mighty book as a gift. They will enjoy the inspirational quotes sprinkled throughout the book. I love this one by Hans Christian Anderson, the author of The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling:
Two thousand twenty was a year of missed memories, missed favorite products and missed special events. We may never get the memories back but hopefully some of our favorite products will be back and we can celebrate events again in-person.
We all gave up memory making in 2020. Many people lost the vacations they booked months before. State and national parks were closed to picnickers, hikers and campers. Sports facilities were closed so we were unable to watch our children and grandchildren play their favorite games. Weddings and even funerals were postponed or held for a limited amount of people. Many Fourth of July BBQs were cancelled as were family firework displays. High school and college seniors gave up proms and the traditional graduation ceremony full of pomp and circumstance. Drive-bys instead of in-person birthday parties became standard. Children were not allowed to attend school or be with their friends. Adults were laid off from jobs or began working remotely while possibly becoming their child’s homeschool teacher.
Missed Favorite Products
Stores were out of our favorite toilet paper for weeks, if not months, during 2020. For awhile this past summer I could not get lettuce on my burger at Wendy’s. McDonalds stopped serving root beer but worse yet, they didn’t have eggnog shakes during the holidays. Since Celestial Seasonings in Boulder was closed most of the year, I could not get my favorite tea Nutcracker Sweet. Normally, I drink it everyday of the year. I think I had my last cup of Nutcracker Sweet some time in March. Did we ever really know why there was a coin shortage?
Missed Special Events
Many special events were postponed or cancelled this year as mentioned above. Other special events we missed included in-person Sunrise Service at church on Easter, Thanksgiving get togethers as well as Hanukkah and Christmas celebrations. Even giving up in-person weekly Bible study and monthly book club was hard. How many people had concert tickets they didn’t get to use? State and county fairs were modified or cancelled. Online auctions took the place of a thrilling live in-person event.
What’s Ahead in 2021?
While we can’t get the time and memories back we lost in 2020, we can make up for lost time in 2021. With the new vaccines rolling out in December, I believe we can begin to plan for vacations, sporting events, weddings, funerals, BBQs, Bible study, book clubs, proms, graduations, in-person schooling and birthday parties. We have a lot to look forward to. We will once again be able to hold our loved ones close.
For me, I am looking forward to visiting my Mom (87) in person and give her a hug in 2021. She never contracted COVID-19, thank the Lord, even though it was rampant in her nursing home last summer. The isolation was difficult for her but she is a survivor.
We may have lost a lot in 2020 but I think we also gained a lot. We gained the knowledge of what is really important: the memories we make with those we love. What memories will you be making in 2021?
