Rolling On

I just couldn't do it.

Really, I tried.

Truly.

And, yet - here I am.

Leaving this space with all these sweet little glimpses pressed between the pages? It felt a little like abandonment, really. So, although we are not in the woods - (they cleared out almost all of the trees around this new house) ...and this is not a hollow by any means...we will stick to these old digs where the view is nice and the past and present all roll on together.

There is simply no way for me to write a reasonable post about where we have been and what we have been up to for these many months so rather than trying to play catch up...I will stick to the present. As in today...

 

Little Miss Sassypants was having a fun time strutting her stuff up to the garden. Speaking of - just way behind on that puppy. Other than some bleeding hearts, a couple of robust day lilies who didn't seem to mind the abundant shade and some vague and ultimately unsuccessful attempts at coaxing some seeds to grow here and there...this girl has never gardened. Suffice it to say, this will be a most interesting season for us here. The kids are off to a better start than myself though with their sweet little pots of sunflowers (a sunflower house was requested...I said we'd give it our best shot), morning glories and something that looks like daisies...but isn't. 

Luckily, there are some raspberries, strawberries, grapes and I hear asparagus already happily thriving up there somewhere. The plan was to invite some peas, corn, potatoes, zucchini and tomatoes to live there too but , seeing how they must have missed the invitation since I don't seen any veggie party yet - looks like I had better get hustling and get those babies growing too...

An ongoing adventure for sure.

Transitions ~

Moving!

Maybe if I do this again, I'll choose not to be pregnant...yes?

Not exactly one of those petite preggos (I tend to carry large ;) I'm waddling around at 6 months with a 9 month girth. Slowly...slowly moving along ;)

Loving our new place though. So very, very grateful and falling in love. This was not love at first sight so it's special in that kind of way. Rather than waning, this love just keeps waxing and growing....

Just as I feel fond, but a little odd going back to our old home to pack boxes and clear things out....it feels odd to come back to this blog space and try to write ...'we are not in the hollow anymore, Toto' and writing about happenings in our new home in this blog seems....awkward...

So we are transitioning... if you have followed along here, please feel free to join me with a cup of tea over at our new space where there will be plenty to share....recipes, crafting, and some surprises. Here's your invitation! :

Welcome!

Now the word "farm" is assuredly stretching it...still, there will be chickens, (eggs!), gardening and plans for a stand with handcrafted goodness and yummy treats. Along with the bits of homeschooling and other adventures along the way ~would love to see you stop by ~

The Search...

It would be no exaggeration to say that our search led us to peek into possibilities (at different levels of depth, of course) from New Zealand to Alaska, to the most eastern point in the US, right down to houses a stones throw from us. We looked at towns where old friends are thriving, to communities where we didn't know a single soul. Planned communities and lots of land were appealing but alas, economically out of reach.

In the end, what we found was just outside our door.

Well, almost...7 miles to be exact in a favorite little town with some of things we love so much ~ water, a library, a cafe, a store, post office, farms ~ and all within walking distance. What we were looking for was under our noses the whole time.

Much like how we found this house years ago, the new house was discovered on a whim. Ten years ago our real estate agent handed us a piece of paper and said, 'you might want to just look at this one' (we had looked at many houses and were just  not finding the right fit ). Later, I said "Oh, that one." to my husband in an obvious tone of disapproval (I had seen it online many times and was not moved in the least). Still, the water was appealing...so we came, checked it out , used some imagination (skylights to open up the dark space, a garage for some storage) and we made it work,... for 10 years.

This new house? I had seen it online many times, it was dated, less bedrooms than we were looking for and frankly more than we wanted to spend. Then? The price went down... well now, it started it look a little more attractive at that point. I called our agent and asked whether there might be a room that could be used for a bedroom but not listed as one. Her answer?  Why yes it did.We scheduled an appointment (2 different ones in fact), used some of that imagination, saw how sound and well loved she had been, took a good look around at the location and that was it...and here we are...(in our old house...for now..)

Packing.

...and even unpacking with the "help" of some small hands...

One Week...

.

..and the shift begins.

We will not leave this space in a flash of motion but, rather, more like a slow dance with a slight twirl out the door. Boxes are being packed, then will be moved, emptied and brought back to be filled again...it will be a slow, thoughtful process. A long goodbye so much deserved for this space that has been so very good to us and where we grew... and were shaped... to become the family we are now. We won't be keeping it (2 mortgages on one income is not something our finances gave a nod to ;) but, we'll be readying this space to become available for another family's joy next spring. A long, sweet goodbye indeed.

A few surprised messages have come my way along the lines of , "moving? why!?"..."what about the water, the simplicity...etc."

My answer would simply be," it is time...". We're not moving for the space to store one more bookcase, or to stack more vintage dishes or even to no longer wait in line for the bathroom (although I will admit, that will be a definite bonus ;)....it's really about space to simply breathe....

It sort of looks a little like this ~ For instance, my view on a 16 year old sharing a room with his 10 year old brother? Potentially not much for fun either (or for their mama ;). Or, a 10 year old sharing  a room with his 2 younger sisters? They have done well, goodness knows they have...but it is time...time to breathe, create, dream a little more freely...Oh, I am sure I will wake to find a little boy sleeping on the floor of his sister's room many a morning but, as they get older a little breathing room is now in order...

Also? It's not simple anymore. During the last year or so, I found myself expending more energy trying to make this space work than actually enjoying being in it. That just didn't seem right. The balance was off. I tried downsizing the 'stuff'. That helped but, wasn't really the root of the problem. Organizing and processes? Indeed, that was and continues to be a point of growth ;) In the end, it was really about the space to Breathe and Be. When so much time is spent trying to keep clear one space that functions as 5 or more at once, then something has to give and I realized it was time. Time with my family, time to plan...time to breathe. So it was time.

Over the next week or so I will pop in and share some things ~ then? This space will begin anew, somewhere else, under a different name with some exciting (for us!) prospects...still, for now I'll enjoy this woodstove a bit and pack a few more boxes (hmmm,...maybe...).

Small joys...

t

this week?

pigtails to start ,easily.

my 8 year's old declaration "i really love my new sassy shoes"..i do too baby. although, i have to admit, i would fall flat on my face in heels...

packed boxes...(oh, did I mention?)

More on that next week...

Anything bringing you a bit of joy lately?

Of late...

 Last minute costumes...

Early morning snow....

Learning the ropes of trick or treats...(with, or without a costume...)

This morning...

th

My morning:: outiside
* signs of play.
* a deck full of freshly blown pine needles.
* damp, fall colors
* wood, standing at the ready (haven't used it yet though!)
* 2 little ladies eager to say hello.