For six months we looked for a new utility shed to replace the dry-rotted (and too small) unit that sat on the property when we moved in last December. Besides the dry rot, the doors on the 6×6 shed were too small for our lawn tractor and snow blower.

We tried local carpenters, looked at pre-built and pre-fab units in Christiansburg and Roanoke as well as Hillsville and Galax. Nothing quite fit the bill.

But Amy found what she thought would be an ideal shed at Carolina Carports in Mt. Airy and put a hold on a 12by12 unit that was built like an Amish barn. After her hospital tests last Thursday, we stopped by to consider it. The shed was beautiful but, at 12 feet, was too wide to make it up our driveway. Not with trees 11 feet apart on a 10-foot wide driveway.

But an 8 by 16 shed offered the same square footage of floor space at the same price. Made out of pine and cedar, it would blend into the woods at the back of our driveway. We made the deal with the owner, whose aunt was one of my teachers in high school. No extra charge for delivery to Floyd County. “We do a lot of business in Virginia,” he said.

“I’ll try to get it up there on Saturday,” he called to say later on Thursday. On Friday, at around 1 p.m., the doorbell rang.

“Hi! We’re here with your new shed. What? They didn’t call to say we were coming?”

Took them about three hours to back the rollaway trailer into place, ease the shed onto the ground and level it with concrete blocks and slabs. Then they loaded the old, decaying shed on the truck and headed back to North Carolina.

We spent the weekend moving lawn tractors, snow blowers and lawn & garden implements into their new home, marveling at how much space was suddenly free in the garage.

On Sunday night it rained…hard. Checked the shed Monday morning for leaks. None.

Mission accomplished.