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Saturday morning puttering Saturday morning, I found myself in the driving shed at home, just looking around and thinking. It's an phenomenon most red-blooded rural males experience if they own a workshop, a driving shed, or even one of those little plastic garden sheds. Urban guys do it in their garages--you know, the ones they can't fit a car in. You see, there's a pile of equipment and tools sitting there, just aching to be fired up, adjusted, or simply fondled. And the time spent looking at them is a phenomenon called `Saturday morning puttering'. It being only mid-March, we men all know in our minds that it's way too early. But we still push it-- just a little. Being a mild day, I thought I'd start the tractors to let their batteries charge up. I was impressed-- after sitting for weeks, they all fired up like it was summer. The Sidekick wasn't home-- it was her Saturday to work-- so I had absolutely no one to question my actions. Or to call me to the house for lunch. I moved the three tractors outside. Justifying it in my head, I told myself I HAD to rearrange the shed to park the pickup truck inside. (Okay, looking back, it was a lame excuse, but it worked at the time.) Two of the tractors had snow blowers mounted on them. Since one snow blower is more than enough in the event of a freak snowstorm, I figured I could make better use of one tractor if the snow blower was removed. I lowered it to the ground, pulled the pins and pulled it ahead. I tell ya, in the history of that snow blower, I don't recall that operation ever being so easy or straightforward. The old tractor almost snorted like a horse that had its harness removed. I parked it in a new spot in the shed. Next tractor-- it has a loader on it. The driveway is full of potholes, and puddles. What better task than to take it out and back drag and level the lane? 7 Independent & Free Press, Thursday, March 24, 2011 "Spaces live. Let me help you live well in yours." Catherine Brazeau, Interior style consultant 905.877.0296 www.haughtonbrazeau.com Complete renovation management, colour harmonizing, furniture & accessories selection, lighting advice... and much more! Let's start creating your dream! Ted Brown In spite of the fact it only looked good until the next vehicle drove in the lane and squished the gravel out of the potholes, it still felt great at the time. The big tractor was then parked in its new spot in the shed (the front wheels positioned at an esthetically pleasing angle), the assorted wrenches on the work bench returned to their orderly drawers in the tool chest and the air hose on the compressor was coiled up and hung on the hook on the side of the work bench. Man, that hour I spent in the shed was as liberating an activity that a guy could do-- and not get into trouble for doing it. I looked at my newly-organized floor plan, the tractors lined up like they'd been arranged with GPS military precision, the other aspects of the shed, workbench-- all items packed up, or hanging on the wall in prefect order. Surveying the space, I was amazed at how much room I had available. I looked at the clock-- time to go, puttering was over for another Saturday. I pulled the doors shut and latched them and rushed across the yard to the house. I went inside, got changed, then jumped into my vehicle to attend a family gathering. As I drove out the lane, something caught my eye. Seems I'd completely forgotten my purpose for re-arranging the shed. The pickup truck was still parked in the yard. Please join us to learn and discover: The World's Best Train Journeys Featuring representatives from around the world Tuesday April 5th - 7pm Royal Botanical Gardens 680 Plains Road West Burlington, ON Wednesday April 6- 7pm Lambton Golf and Country Club 100 Scarlett Road Toronto, ON "Trains are wonderful... to travel by train is to see nature and human beings, towns and rivers, in fact, to see life" - Agatha Christie To reserve a spot please RSVP to rsvp@vision2000.ca a or phone 1-877-260-1643 or visit www.vision2000travel.com/trainjourneys rainjourneys Acclaim Health can use some help Got some time to help out those in need? If so, Acclaim Health and Community Care Services wants to hear from you. The non-profit organization-- which provides community-based health-care solutions-- is looking for volunteers and will be holding a 10-week spring hospice volunteer orientation starting Wednesday, Apr. 13. Sessions will be held Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and those interested are asked to register by Wednesday, Apr. 6. Volunteers will receive education to support individuals who are living at home with a life-threatening illness. Among the services offered by Acclaim Health are emotional support and friendship, caregiver relief for family members, crisis support and bereavement follow-up support. To sign up for the training program or for more information, call 905-8278800 or visit www.acclaimhealth.ca. Get Crackin into Spring at Spring Giveaways Products and Services Promotion starts March 14th-April 4th, 2011 Expires May 2nd, 2011 Further details on goldbook.ca or phone for further details 905-702-0377