The Story of Shovelin’ Sunshine.

It was a beautiful, warm winter evening, and as I was listening to live music in The Villages, Florida, a very elderly man drove up and parked beside my golf cart. As we began a conversation about the beautiful weather in Florida, compared to living up north, he said something that started like this:

“All my life, I’ve spent my winters in New Hampshire shoveling snow and ice. This is my first winter in Florida, and I guess … well, I guess I’ll be shoveling sunshine now!”

As he said this, I got goose bumps! I don’t have a clue where the old gentleman is now, but I’d sure like to shake his hand and thank him!

I loved the sound of the phrase, “Shovelin’ Sunshine”, and began to write out some lyrics shortly after. About a year later, the beach version of the song was completed with the talented collaboration of co-writers Shawna Harrington of Nashville, Tennessee, and my son Mark Merthe of La Crescenta, California.

We went to Nashville’s Studio 23 and recorded the beach version. About 4 months later, after thinking of the line in the song, “Another Day In Paradise”, and living in this wonderful retirement community, I realized we needed to write a Villages, Florida, version of the song. We finished it up in about a week, and went back to Studio 23 and recorded it. And then, the idea was born!

The three of us formed a Florida LLP called, Shovelin’ Sunshine Enterprises. We have trademarked the phrase in the Library of Congress, and have recently acquired the .com.

The very talented Florida DJ, singer, and dance choreographer, Kip Sweeny, and his wife, Lisa, created the line dance for the song, which will be on a worldwide line dancing network.

We hired a California artist to do our drawings. Our mission and goal is to offer the highest quality, 100% Made in the USA, tees and other apparel, bumper and window stickers, greeting cards, and many other fun & positive products. The phrase, “Shovelin’ Sunshine” means spreading joy, playing golf, tennis and other outdoor sports, lounging in a hammock, swimming pool, or on a beautiful beach, line dancing, walking, hiking, biking, cruising, just doing nothin’ or goofing off!

My son, Mark, also has a wonderful website, AmericanMethod.com, offering 100% Made In America conservative apparel, bumper stickers, and much more!

We will be gradually adding more art and products to our line, but please be patient as we want to be sure everything is first class when we do!

Sincerely,

Ted Merthe, The Villages, Florida