A Little History

At the beginning of the summer, just as we had finished unpacking the car from our wonderful trip to Maine, there was a happy buzz from our doorbell. It was a friend of ours, Darree,  from our township's historical society. Would we consider being on the historic house tour again this fall? ........

HMMMM. An enthusiastic "yes!" was our response. It has been several years since we first were a part of it, and we really enjoyed meeting lots of new people and showing off our home that we love.

I have been sifting through old pictures from when we first bought the house way back in 1996....could it really be 14 years already? A drop in the bucket, considering that the original foundation for the structure dates to 1778.

We have been busy spiffying the gardens up, scrubbing baseboards and wondering when we were going to find the time to touch up paint here and there. Should we try to tackle those other bigger projects we have been considering? Can we get them done before September 25th? The jury is still out....

It is fun to look back, see the progress we have made with this humble and charming house, and take pride in all our hard work. I am looking forward to sharing our story with people from our community, and hopefully by doing so,  encouraging others to respect historic buildings from the grand to the vernacular.

How Firm A Foundation

Having a safe, welcoming, and comforting place to go at the end of one's day out in the wild, demanding, tiring and sometimes dangerous world is something that people have always needed throughout human history.

In that safe haven, we are strengthened and restored so that we have the energy to go back out into the larger world and share our gifts.

While most of us no longer cross the threshold to go hunt for our supper in the vast woods, or till the fields for our family's food, it is still just as important today to be able to return home at the end of a day to a place that restores us--to close the door behind you, and know you will be welcomed by a space that is comfortable and comforting, beautiful and simple. It is a foundation upon which so many important and positive things in our lives can be built.

Zen Space

During a recent conversation with a friend about the frustrations of house upkeep, she shared with my husband and I a practice that she has employed to help keep her sane during the busy days of the week, when the house can get away from the best of us.

There is one place in her home (I believe she said hers was her night table) that, through thick and thin, come hell or high water, is always a lesson in simplicity. It is clear of dust and clutter, with just a few of her very favorite pictures and beloved items carefully arranged on it. While the rest of the household may be falling into disarray with the family's comings and goings, she knows she can go sit on her bed, take a few breaths, look at her Zen Space, and find a little peace amid the cacophony of clutter and chaos.

As she finished explaining this to us, I realized that my husband was unusually quiet.  I looked over at him to see his mouth agape, his eyes wide & glassy. He blinked a few times, slowly turned his gaze to meet mine, and whispered with enthusiasm:

"Wow. I am so getting a Zen Space."

That night when we returned home, the minute we walked in the door, he declared to me, the kids, the dog, the cat, the fish, and the dust mites in the corners that the dining room table was now HIS. He was staking his claim, his right, his due. The dining room is a Zen Space--do not dare put anything on it.

My husband is a truly wonderful person, one who likes order.

One who likes things to be where they should be.

One who is still wondering what the hell happened after the crazy entreprenuer wife, two kids, the dog, the cat, the fish, dust mites and furballs entered stage right.

If you can keep a secret, this is what his Zen Space looked like this morning...after I went shopping for a few clients.

Can we just keep this between us?

This whole "zen space" thingee is one I really like, and that is why I am sharing it with you.  We do work together to make sure that that space is not dumped upon.  Being greeted by a clean table when I arrive home is a peaceful and pleasant thing.

SO, the next time you come to my house and you have a load of stuff in your arms you need to drop somewhere, follow the lead of my children and walk past that blissfully neat and pristine dining room table surface, beckoning to you just inside the entry, and continue on into the next room: my office.

Yep. You can go ahead and dump it in there.

first photograph compliments of mudmom.com

Do you IKEA?

Yes, it really has become a verb in our family. Where else is a hungry family who is reorganizing many areas of their house go for a hotter-than-Hades afternoon? It has a restaurant with decent and resonable food, AIR CONDITIONING, places to wander and play, and lots of rooms to look at for ideas....

It even has space to conduct important business phone calls and brainstorm about your next corporate take over!

It was a fun day and we came home with some shelves and plants for my son's new room, two new hampers for the kids, and many ideas of what we will do with the attic space now that we have moved Mr. Tall Eleven-Year-Old outta there.  Oooh, there was even cinnamon rolls for dessert!

Now, FOCUS!

Oftentimes, when great progress is being made on a project, a level of fevered excitement can waft in and settle around your head like a thick mist... just as you were really hitting your stride. Things are looking great! Change is visible! Wow, I see what we have  been working so hard to achieve! I get it now! This intoxication can override one's better judgement. The most recognizable signs and symptoms that this bug has infected you is finding yourself in a completely different area of the house from where you were working, arms flailing as you enthusiastically describe the improvements that are needed in here...in fact, let's just open this drawer and dump it! TONS of stuff in here to get rid of!! Oh, and push that chair to the other side! I have always wanted a better view out that window!!

STOP.   You are engaging in activity that is equivalent to chasing one's tail.

My dog, Hermione,  doesn't even have a tail, and she would recognize this pattern in a heartbeat!

You know why I am writing this this morning? Because I need TO READ IT BACK TO MYSELF!!!

AHHH, summer is here. My work schedule is lighter, and I am enjoying time with my kids. What a great opportunity to work on some things around the house. Boy, there is a BUNCH of things I could accomplish! Oh, the possibilities of what I could do today!!

I have been making great progress (more on that later), but have to keep reminding myself of the thing I always tell my clients: focus on one thing at a time and see it through 'til it is done!!!

I will stay the course, and will have pictures to share very soon.

Good dog, Hermione!