My Happy Place
Spring in Minnesota
I’ve mentioned before about how glorious spring is here in Minnesota. Minnesota is a state with extreme weather almost beyond comprehension—piles of snow and subzero temperatures during the winter and blazing hot and humid in the summer. These wild extremes in weather force us to spend so much of our time indoors. Most of the year I typically ask my wife on a weekly basis why we still live here but this complaining is put on pause during these few amazing weeks of May.
We usually get just a few weeks' reprieve in between the two extremes and we’re enjoying the beginning of this now.
Soon the heat and humidity will rise to tropical levels and the mosquitos will be out in full force for the moment we’re enjoying the hot sun, the cool breezes, and an abundance of new life being born.
As the weather has improved we've explored more of the nature trails behind our development and discovered they stretch on for miles. It'll be fun this summer exploring more of these on the bike. Spring is such a time of renewal—hope, optimism, and life in general.
We’re trying our best to enjoy these few weeks of spring because, before we know it, POOF! - it’ll be only a memory.
Getting Down to the Wire
I got to hold proof copies of my new book for the first time yesterday and I couldn’t be happier with the finished product. Nothing can quite describe the feeling of holding that physical book in your hands for the first time—it’s the culmination of so much time and effort. As I said in the comments of my last post, writing a book feels like giving birth and publishing is like sending that child out into the world so they can make their way.
The green light has been given to the publisher so the next step is to get the ebook-version finalized and uploaded. Everything should be "a wrap" by the end of this week.
Advanced reader copies should be going out via email in ten days then the official launch will happen around the end of May! Thanks again to all who’ve signed up to be an advanced reader and write a review for me. This helps tremendously with the launch.
I’ll make an announcment on Hive as soon as the book is available for purchase.
Home Improvement
Since moving into our new house back in November of last year we’ve been tackling quite a few home improvement projects. The current one we’re finishing up is a pellet stove installation.
We had new travertine tile set on the wall behind the stove and a slate-colored porcelain tile on the floor as a base for the stove. Our house should be incredibly toasty this fall/winter and, if the reviews are right, this Harman P43 wood pellet stove should heat our home for less than five dollars a day.
After a decade-long break from homeownership I almost forgot how rewarding these projects can feel after they're completed. Each one feels like a major win.
Lots of great things are happening at the moment! I'm in my happy place indeed.
All for now.
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Ahh I can definitely see why that's your 'happy place' <3 It looks peaceful. :) and oh wow, so close to launch, eh? I can't wait for the official announcement! the proofs look great!
We're so lucky to have chosen this area. We had no idea how extensive the trail system was until just a few weeks ago. It's all protected wetlands too so it can never be developed. Yes! The book design-phase moved very quickly this time. We had to contract the ebook out to a third-party so that part is taking a bit longer. Thanks, I'm very satisfied with it. I hope all is well on your end!
How are you, dear friend @ericvancewalton?
It's great that you're having a break from the extreme weather and are enjoying this beautiful place surrounded by beautiful nature. I hope you continue exploring the land further.
It's great to see your physical book. Congratulations. I wish you much success.
Have a beautiful afternoon.
Thank you! I wish you a wonderful week my friend!
I think you are really going to like your stove. I'm sure it will give you exactly what you need come winter. Why do you think it gets so hot there? We have some hot days, sometimes some hot weeks, but for the most part it isn't usually too bad. Maybe the Great Lakes insulate us or something!
I've heard so many good things about these wood pellet stoves. It was nice to be able to take advantage of the 30% tax credit too (they aren't cheap). I think the reason it's so bad here in the summer is we have so many smaller lakes and ponds. Once the temperatures heat up those bodies of water become humidifiers and the air becomes sauna-like. Duluth, about three hours north of us, has the advantage of being close to Lake Superior and it keeps them a little more even—warmer in winter and cooler in the summer.
That is cool about the stove. Getting a discount (or credit) is always a good thing! I was wondering that about the lakes and stuff there. It would make sense.
The tax credit made the decision a lot easier! We're the land of 10,000 humidifiers!
Haha, yes. Good point!
I could only handle living there in the summer. I am a true Florida girl, we only have winter and summer, but some say we have spring and fall. I can not tell the difference.
I have a nephew who lives in Colorado. Last week, they had 2 feet of snow and said it was still coming down.
I hope you enjoy the warm weather and get to explore the hiking trails. Never say they can not develop it. Our state traded beautiful oak hammocks that were a nature preserve in the Withlacoochee forest for scrub timber land to a housing developer called Cabot Citrus Farms.
In Florida, a portion of the Withlacoochee State Forest was traded for timberland. Specifically, 324 acres of the forest were exchanged for 861 acres of timberland in Levy County. This swap was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet in June 2024. The land traded was intended to be used for expansion by Cabot Citrus Farms. I copied this from Google.
He also wants to develop other state parks with hotels and golf courses, one being Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
I'm not built for the cold either. I'd be perfectly content in a warmer climate. I'm still hoping we end up moving to Arizona the next time we're ready make a change. Ugh! It's way too late for snow. We had such a long winter here if it snowed now I would be packing my bags. This winter was pretty bad.
Thanks! Oh, that's so sad the state of Florida pulled that trick with "protected" land! Minnesotans would probably riot in the streets if our governor did something like that here. Minnesotans can be overly passive on a lot of issues (public safety, government corruption, exorbitant taxation) but environmental protection is one that they've consistently fought for.
It's a shame people don't see the value in nature, some people only see dollar signs.
Floridians did not like the deal either, it was one of those things where they pushed it through without us knowing until it was a done deal. People raised hell about putting golf courses and hotels in other State Parks, and I think they got it stopped, BUT, it could be done in secret like the other was done. This state does not care about the environment; it cares about whose pockets are being filled. It is sickening.
I bet the citizens of the state of furious! I'll never understand this kind of short-term thinking. Politicians will just spin it in a way that favors their re-elections though. A lot of voters have short memories when it comes to most things and will vote them in again. That's how it works here in Minnesota. The mayor of St. Paul has decimated a once beautiful city but people just keep voting for him, he's on his third term now.
Yes, there was an uproar over it, but once it is done, it is done. I do not know how our Governor can stand up straight with the weight of his pants being filled by developers, and the people keep voting for him. Now, in HIS next term, I think his wife will run for him, and the people will vote her in.
That is all I have to say about it, my rant is over.
How wonderful and what good news: the book, the stove and spring. The universe is on your side, lucky boy!!! I hope you enjoy the weather and that the emotions for the book launch are of joy and satisfaction. Sending you a hug, my friend
Thanks Nancy! It feels like the universe is on my side as of late! Wishing you a wonderful week my friend.
It is super satisfying completing little reno projects around the home, that wood pellet stove sounds like a great way to warm up the house! Those tiles you chose are lovely, Eric. Will be great next winter.
Enjoy the warmer weather now!
I can imagine the feeling when you get to hold the first copy of your book👌
Thank you Lizelle! It really does feel good to make your living space your own. We're trying to find a way to darken the grout a bit on the floor tile before setting/connecting the stove. I can't wait to fire it up for the first time (but I'm not going to wish this warm weather away). Lol. Opening that box and seeing your book for the first time feels like opening Christmas gifts as a child. I didn't think I'd experience that again! The ebook was just delivered and uploaded a few minutes ago so as soon as Amazon reviews (and hopefully approves) it we'll be all set for a May 22nd launch date. : )
Nice addition considering your super cold winters. Here in Washington our weather is too mild for that, we barely have a week or two per year of temperatures below 32 degrees.
We live in a fairly new construction home: November 2018. Still since we moved in I added central air conditioning, textured and painted garage walls, installed garage floor tiles and smart garage door opener, built an outdoor patio, etc.
There are always projects around the house :)
I wish we lived in a more mild climate—that's certainly the goal for the next move. You're so right about that, the projects never end when you're a homeowner! It really forces you to expand your skillset sometimes.
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#hive #posh
Very nice that all these events keep you satisfied enjoying the results, especially your book, greetings @ericvancewalton
Thank you!
May is the happy month here, being autumn brings to an end the drudge of humidity and heat.
Lovely explore seeing blooms on trees and peeping out the ground, or mix of greens on offer with wildlife preparing for mating season. Have a beautiful day!
That's so hard to believe our seasons are opposite of each other. I'm glad to be on this side of the equator at the moment though, our winter was atrocious.
Thank you! I hope you've had a good day!
i am pretty sure you and your family will improve this house inch by inch according to your likeness.
Thanks!
Awwwwww congratulations. I can’t imagine how you felt while holding your book for the first time but yeah, you deserve this and every good thing coming your way😃
Thank you!