hut. noun - “A small single-story building, often made of wood, that is used as a simple house or shelter, or for storage, temporary accommodation, or for leisure activities.”
Sometimes we do crazy things and sometimes those things turn into the best things we ever did. Sometimes.
Case in point: at the end of 2005 when the housing market was taking its first, tentative dives into the deep end, I bought a second house. Not just any house, but a house with a hut. A hut, I found, that has given a much needed home to the enormous book collection that keeps happening, now far out of mine or anyone elses control. The books needed a home and so a hut is what they got.
The house itself was a mess, but the 'book hut', out in back and to the left, was in perfect condition. Perfect size, free standing, concrete floor, a small work stand, a window, and plenty of wall space for shelves. I only needed to remove the sharp objects that the previous owners had left behind - rusty saws, rakes, and weird mountain equipment I've never seen before. I got all that junk out of the hut and reversed any 'shed karma' by putting in all the books, shelving, pictures, and book accessories (yes, there are book accessories).
The Hut houses all the tools needed to start making our ever so popular 'rescued book journals,' journals and sketch books made from old, funky, groovy, book covers.
The book hut also keeps all the book spines that we've saved (about 2,500 of um') for a future project. Any suggestions? Please email.
The Hut has also hosted one small party in June of 2006. Apparently the hut has a magnetic pull, possibly like the ancient menstrual huts women were so fond of, (and I don't blame them one bit) back in the day. Personally, I think the Book Hut would make a perfect menstrual respite, and I bet even the men who found themselves lounging inside the hut on that chilly June night, sipping cocktails by candlelight would agree.
The Book Hut will be featured more prominently in the collection of stories called, "The Huts of Running Springs" currently in the works by yours truly and other people too.
Are you the owner of a hut?
Tell us about it.
