Time for a Change.

Have you ever gone downstairs in the morning, passed through your living room, and thought I can’t go one more day with the current look.

Well this morning I had just such a feeling.  My living room is a long narrow room and has looked basically the same for nearly 8 years (aside from a new sofa and new paint on the walls.)  But today, for some reason, when I came down the stairs, I stopped and looked at it again, and thought, what if?

You know the thought.  What if I moved that over there? and this over there? and repurposed this here?  And with my husband and son gone skiing for the morning, I was free to move things around to my hearts content.

My desire to do this really surprised me as I had spent all afternoon Friday, cleaning and organizing my studio.  I expected to spend all day in it working on charms for an upcoming charm swap at Creative University (CU). And given that I must arrive at CU on February 17th with more than 40 charms all made and packaged, I REALLY needed to spend today in my studio.  But some wild hairs are not to be tamed.

Having moved things around for Christmas,  I had yet to put things back in order, so the clutter was bugging me almost as much as the layout.  So, I rolled up my sleeves, changed out of my slippers and went to work.  Here it is before…

The biggest challenge by far was moving my computer armoire from one corner to the other, being careful of course not to dislodge Miss Lucy’s window seat.  This required unloading half the cabinet, using all my strength and a special helper.  Here she is, very proud to be helping mommy with such a huge task.

She of course insisted on helping.  I insisted it was way too heavy for her.  But truth be told, it was only with her helping, that we were able to move it.  With that task over, Ava was very keen on our new “teamwork” and helped  me vacuum too!

Finally, I got everything arranged just the way I envisioned.

I think it turned out very well, don’t you?  I love how it opened up the room and seems to invite you right in. With such a lovely new space to enjoy you’d think I’d settle into that big chair for a cup of tea and a good book, wouldn’t you?  Nah, with the sun shining, it felt like spring, so I set about spring cleaning the dining room and downstairs bath too!

There’ll be another day to sit in the big chair.

Hi! I’m new here, are you?

So, about a year ago, several friends asked if I had a blog.  They were completely aghast when I said no and insisted I needed to get one.  I only spent a year thinking about it, planning to do it, reading about it.  That’s not that long right?  It doesn’t make me a procrastinator.  But, finally, about two weeks ago, I decided to “just do it!”  Now, I’m wondering what took me so long.  I mean I’m a girl who likes to talk, a lot! Those who know me personally can attest to the fact that I’m a talker.  And I talk fast, always have, and probably always will.  So really, what could be better than a way to engage in conversation with anyone, everyone and maybe, sometimes no-one?  Where else can you talk (maybe just to yourself,) and not be considered crazy?!  And people wont know how fast I’m actually talking.  I think I’m going to love this. 

So, here’s What you should know about me….

I believe in balance.  Having just turned 40 last year, I think I’ve finally achieved it (for now.)  I like that I only work part time, leaving me the other half (or more) of my week to take care of my kids, take care of me, spend time with friends and my other half and more importantly to CREATE. 

Given this, through my blog I’ll share all kinds of things with you; places I go, crazy or sweet things my kids do, my creative pursuits, what inspires me, and the beauty I find in everyday life. 

Speaking of beauty, I went out on New Year’s Day to capture a piece of it.  Where I live, we were knee deep in snow; with the most beautiful blue sky on the first day of 2011.  I started out close to home and took this beauty.  This is the street that I photograph each season.  Wait till you see it in the Fall; it’s breathtaking!

Then I headed out to the country to capture winter in all it’s majesty. I travelled along my favorite route to where I dream of living. (I’ll tell you about it sometime.  If I told you about it now, I’d get too distracted, and start rambling along, oops, see there I go.)  Anyway, so I’m out in the country, alone, enjoying the peace and sunshine.  Here’s a little bit of what I saw.

Then I took this one,

and then I put my truck into the ditch.  Now mind you I was sitting still and just beginning to pull forward, and basically just slid off the road. I didn’t drive into it deliberately.  And eventually, my husband Steve, showed up with the kids in tow, and proceeded to man-handle it; driving it back and forth in the ditch on it’s side, finally bursting forth from the ditch at great speed (narrowly missing our other car, I might add.)  And here’s the really pathetic fact.  I stood there watching in awe, camera in hand and took not a single picture (or video) of my truck in the ditch or my husband’s heroic rescue. Sometimes, you just have to live life’s moments and capture them in your mind.

Well that’s it for me today.  I hope you’ll come back and visit often, but I’ll still be here if you don’t….talking to myself.

Feel free to leave me a comment and introduce yourself (that way I wont feel like a crazy person.)