The sound of a vehicle approaching broke through her thoughts, and she stepped out to see Kate parking the SVU near the ghost gum. Zoe waved, pulled the door closed, and walked up to her.
“Whatcha doing in the shed?” asked Kate as Zoe slid into the SVU, slamming the door closed, and buckling up her seatbelt.
“I was curious. Who did the wood carving tools belong to?”
Kate reversed the SVU, did a U-turn and started back along the driveway. “Grandpa. Dad and Max weren’t into wood carving.”
“Or you?”
“No, it didn’t interest me either. So, they just sat there in the shed where he left them. I’ve never really thought about it.” Kate turned on to the main road which would take them into Burra.
“Do you have any of the pieces your grandpa made?”
“Hmmm… I have a small bowl he made with me before he passed. I was about eight. I have it by my bed for my jewelry.”
“He was skilled at it?”
“Yeah, he sold most of his pieces, and didn’t keep much of what he made.”
Zoe was impressed.
Could I do something like that?The idea just kept growing in her mind.
It could be a source of income.
Would I be any good?
“Do you think it would be all right if I used his tools?”
“I don’t see why not.” Kate kept her eyes focussed on the road.
“Do you think Max would mind?” asked Zoe. Something told her that he might not really like the idea of her using tools in the shed.
“I wouldn’t tell him.”
Zoe laughed. “You wouldn’t?”
“Nope. But don’t you dare tell him I told you that.”
“As long as you don’t tell him, I’m going to do wood carving.”
“You’re serious?”
“I think so. I’ll need to do some research first, and it will take a bit of effort to clean up the shed. I need a hobby, and well, it feels exciting to give this a try.”
“I’ll come and help you clean up the shed if you like. Just let me know.”
“Thanks, I will.” Zoe smiled to herself as they approached Burra, and the open paddocks were slowly being replaced by more houses.
Kate parked the car in front of the café, Bits and Bobs. Zoe had eaten there before and thought it quaint. Now, looking in at the café with her hobby in mind, another idea came to her. The café was also a second-hand gift store. If it worked out, and if she could produce quality carvings, she might well have a local place to try and sell her pieces.
Things were finally coming together, her new life in the country, and it was blossoming with potential.
Thursday 12thDecember
“Are you ready?” asked Zoe as Max strode up the path toward the house. She sat outside sitting at the wrought iron round table under the veranda. Her cell in hand, she’d been searching videos to give her ideas of how to start up wood carving.
She hadn’t told Max yet, that was something she was planning to do. It wasn’t like it was dangerous, not really, not if she was careful. She was going to take on Kate’s advice, and not tell him. At least, not yet. She was hatching a very big plan, and with Christmas approaching, there wasn’t a lot of time to implement what she really wanted to do.
