SINGING IN THE GARDEN der my nails. Then, she soaks my hands and scrubs away the mess. The same treatment applies to the metal parts of my tools. Warm water with just a squirt of soap softens the dirt that's compacted in the hard to reach places. That's followed by a quick scrub with a wire brush or steel wool or even an old toothbrush to remove the last little crumb of clay. Heidi follows my soaking with a warm towel, and then she massages some almond-scented oil into my hands. After I dry my tools with an old rag, I also massage oil into the metal parts. It smells like WD-40. Next up, is the shaping and filing. Heidi uses an emery board to give me a practical, working shape. Hoes and shovels are shaped for work using a tool called a bastard file, while loppers and other two-bladed pruners are shaped with a sharpening stone. The objective is to give each tool an edge appropriate for the job it does, and I've found some great video tutorials on-line to help with this step. The finishing touch involves smoothing and painting. Heidi knows I prefer a colorless finish for my nails and the same holds true for my tools. I take fine sandpaper and buff each wooden handle until it shines. Then I paint on a light coat of linseed oil and buff it to a low gloss. My hands will reflect Heidi's care until I start digging in the dirt again next spring. To preserve the beauty treatment I've given my tools, I hang them on a pegboard inside an outline showing where each one belongs. This allows me to see at a glance that all the tools are present. Audrey Hepburn once said that "the true beauty of a woman grows with the passing of the years." The same holds true when I consider a well-cared-for tool. I have a hoe that belonged to my mother-in-law. It's over 50 years old and because it's been given the beauty treatment each year, it's a pleasure to use. It's a tool whose true beauty is grounded in the work it's done and can still do. I hope my hands will reflect the same kind of beauty as they age. EVERY DAY EXTRAORDINARY 304.264.8801 travelwv.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 65http://www.travelwv.com http://www.travelwv.com