Today I was chatting with a friend who, last summer, with her husband, built a guest house in her back yard (she claims it’s a shed but, if so, those lawn tools are living in high style). I will say this though, as someone who has an interest in gardening, she definitely has the right idea about storing her tools in a safe place, and her guest house (or shed) is the perfect housing solution for them. When I asked her about the building process, she told me that she had to install a shed base first, so that the area for her building had a foundation to sit on. It must’ve been completed quickly then, as it only took the time I saw her last for her to get it done. To be fair to her, it was a good investment, as it does look really good. This summer she dug and planted a massive garden in the French-intensive style. She devours books. She has possibly quilted the equivalent square footage of 14 football fields. And she took one of her favorite family vacations at a cattle ranch. You may be thinking the same thing as me; why a cattle ranch? That doesn’t sound like somewhere that I’d want to take a vacation, but for her and her family, it’s the ideal getaway. At one point, she even mentioned to me about working at one herself because she loved going there that much. She said that she already knows what type of ranch equipment she’d buy if this ever became her lifestyle. She’d always want to make sure that the cattle and livestock were well looked after, and I have no doubts about that. But for now, just being able to take a break from reality at this ranch, is one of the things she loves the most.
Just for starters.
Oh, and she doesn’t text.
I told her I love how 19th century she is.
She beamed. Ok, she beamed via email, which is where we were having this chat-because the girl may be a bit old-school in all the best ways, but she’s still hip and in touch.
Anyway, today I traveled back in time a bit myself by finally hanging a clothesline on the hooks that have been waiting in the back yard since we moved into R-house.
Tonight as I buried my face in the fresh pile of shirts and sheets, and took a long, slow breath in, I remembered why old school can be so deliciously satisfying.
by julie rybarczyk
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