Coffee, Wood, and the Great Calendar Capers of 2020
So, sit down with me for a minute, okay? Let’s talk about the year 2020, because boy, it was something else. For many of us, it felt like the world turned upside down, and everything changed overnight. And then there was my woodworking calendar—yes, you heard that right, my woodworking hobby turned into a whole adventure that I wasn’t quite prepared for.
I remember one day, probably mid-March. I was sitting in my garage, coffee in hand, staring at my cluttered workbench. The smell of sawdust mingled with my favorite dark roast, and I thought, “Well, why not make a calendar for the year?” I mean, it’s not like I was doing much else. The daily grind had slowed, leaving me with time to dig into projects I’d put off for ages.
I grabbed a fresh sheet of birch plywood—oh man, that smooth, pale wood always makes me feel inspired. I love the way it smells when you run a planer across it, kind of like fresh bread, but soft and warm. Anyway, I figured making a calendar would be easy enough; just cut out some squares, write the numbers on ’em, and voila! But let me tell ya, my plans took a detour in a way I could never have anticipated.
The Calendar That Almost Wasn’t
So I started strong. I had my miter saw buzzing, and I was feeling like a woodworking wizard. I cut my squares—didn’t even measure perfectly, which I usually would’ve done. But hey, what’s a little adventure without some risk, right? I popped those squares in a box and went to grab some paint.
This is where it gets funny. I decided on a light blue for the backgrounds, something nice and soothing. But—big shocker here—I didn’t sand them properly first. I was just too eager, you know? So I slapped on that paint, and when it dried, my calendar looked more like a Pollock painting than anything you could hang on a wall.
I almost packed it all in. I mean, I sat there, hands on my knees, staring at that mess. I thought of all the wood I could waste and the time I’d blown—plus, you know, the inevitable “What will my neighbors think?” moments that come with DIY gone wrong.
Finding the Silver Lining
But, something kicked in when I was about to toss it all in the scrap pile. I started laughing. It was just so ridiculous! I thought about how much time we’d all spent locked away that year, how everything was a little chaotic for everyone, and my calendar was sharing that chaos in its own weird way. I decided to roll with it and embrace the imperfection.
I grabbed some old wood stain—Minwax, I think. It smelled like a Saturday evening at the cabin. I went over those squares again, and wouldn’t you know it, it gave them a rustic charm! Suddenly, that quirky chaos became character. I took some old jute twine and tied it all together instead of trying to get fancy with frames.
Now it was beginning to feel cozy rather than just a “calendar.” Each mark had a story—I remembered times when I’d been frustrated, like when I accidentally cut a piece too short. Which, let me tell you, I did a lot of that year. Kind of like lessons in life, right? Sometimes, you gotta roll with the punches.
Turning Mistakes into Joy
So as the months rolled by, that calendar became more than just a way to track the days. It was a canvas for all the little moments in life. I took to painting on it as the year progressed. Little doodles that reflected what was happening around me—flowers in spring, a fireplace for fall. Some of them were laughs; others were “Wow, are we feeling this way?” – a reflection of the heavy weight we were all carrying that year.
And here’s the kicker—every single time I walked by that calendar, I felt a warmth. I mean, sure, I’m still no professional carpenter or artist, but I learned something profound in all that. I realized it’s okay to celebrate messiness, both in woodworking and life.
A Few Lessons Forgot
Of course, my friends and family saw this peculiar creation. They loved it! They’d come over for coffee and laugh about all the “wild” doodles, and it became a conversation starter. Some folks even asked if I’d make them one. And I thought, “Who knew my little ‘mistake’ would turn into something others wanted too?”
So, what’s my takeaway to all of you out there just dipping your toes in woodworking or any project really? Embrace the mess. If you’re considering starting something, just dive in. Don’t overthink it. If it doesn’t come out perfect, redefine what “perfect” means to you. Sometimes, the best creations come from those unexpected turns.
As I sit here sipping my coffee, looking at that charmingly imperfect calendar on my wall, I can’t help but smile. It’s a little slice of 2020, a reminder that in all the chaos, there’s beauty.
So, grab a hammer or a brush. You never know what you’ll end up with!
