Heaven.

What I think Heaven should look like!

A soft bed, tons of books and a sweet

landscape outside my window. Oh, but

wait. This is what I have now for real!

~ Chy

Home.

I think I've written a bit in the past about what "home" means to me. Came across this sweet little graphic and just had to post. Yes, home is a place but more than that, it's a feeling. Comfort. Safety. Family. Memories. When I was small, we moved constantly. We weren't allowed to really decorate walls ~ they had to stay white or cream, as within months, my dad would find the next "best house" and we'd be packing up again. He was a realtor and I can understand the lure of seeing so many houses and knowing that we could gain equity by constantly moving up. What I hated was not feeling like our houses were ever really comfy, or safe, or "home." I longed for roots, to grow up on a street where we had constant friendships. Or the feelling of security. Changing schools at least every year, if not twice in a year was not fun. How do you make connections if moving is just around the corner? Finally, we built a house when I was about 16 and I lived there until we were married at 22. My parents sold that house 2 years later ~ but it was the longest time they were ever in a home for a long spell. The walls stayed white but in time, my mom did start to hang pictures and even wallpapered (wow!) the dining room, though it was only 1 wall. She loved that house and I know it was hard when they sold, moved to a condo and then a few years later moved out to the coast. There was a string of homes there too, until they finally found their "dream home" and lived there until my dad became ill and they moved back here to be close to family until his death. Mom stayed in the condo until she moved into assisted living where she's been for the last 6 years. Her final home but one that is beautiful and homey. We hung up pictures and made her unit so cozy.

When we were first married, we bought our first place and did own it for 4 years. In that time, a friend lived with for 2 years in our lower level, we welcomed 2 babies and started fostering. So we needed more space and found a sweet house that had a garage and beautiful garden. The original owners had built it about 6 years before we moved in, and we maintained it for 2 years, making it our own with fresh paint and adding to the garden. We hung pictures, created new memories and settled in to the neighborhood. But we started to hear stories about the school system in the big City and truly wanted the best education we could have for our kids. My dad helped us find a newly renovated but classic home just down the street from an amazing elementary school in a little hamlet, next to the big City. The best of both. Small home town feel but the amenities just a short drive away. We were there for years BUT we had a house fire 6 months after living there and our kids really struggled with the trauma. It also didn't have a garage and our plans to build a garage were thwarted by a neighbor who proteested that the sunlight streaming in to her front window would be restricted. So after 2 years of trying to get of the "fire family" status and the nasty neighbor, we were out for a drive one day and came across a sign for an open house in a neighborhood we had always loved but never thought we'd be able to live in. And as we pulled up, we realized it was a house my dad had taken us to see before we were married ~ a classic 2 storey with attached garage, 4 bedrooms upstairs, main floor sunken family room with fire place, main floor laundry, huge living room with bow window that covered the whole wall and french doors, and across the hall, a separate dining room, also with french doors. And a full basement that was mostly finished. It had a quiet back yard, amazing neighbors and down the street from 4 different parks and a park. No stores or businesses, so traffic was just families coming and going. Freshly painted with brand new floors, we jumped at the chance when we found out the price. Our "fire house" had increased dramatically because it was basically brand new inside, so the equity made this long ago dream come true. We thought we'd be there for a few years and then move on as the kids got older but in reality, we owned this house for 26 years. It was hard to let go of it when we built our dream home in the woods, but the family that bought it were just as thrilled as we were all those years ago. Now we're in the forest, in a cottage I can't imagine ever leaving but know that one day, the upkeep of country living will get to be too much. It will be so hard to move in to town with neighbor so close but many by then, we'll be okay with it. For now, we cherish our quiet, our privacy, our new home and all the joy it's brought to our lives. It is a place, but for the first time in my life, this spot, this building, this time feels like home, like love, like security, like heaven. I hope we can keep this feeling for the remainder of our days, with sunshine streaming through windows,  a landscape that changes 4 times a year and keeps us in awe, neighbors down the lane and magical moments with wildlife that share the forest with us. Feeling blessed to be here doesn't quite describe my thoughts perfectly. But it's pretty close. Heaven on Earth!

Are you living where you want to be?

Is it home or just a place to be?

~ Chy

Cozy Comfy.

Having battled yet another virus over the

last week, I find myself seeking more and

more comfort as I heal. I was looking on

the internet for ideas on dollhouse decor

and look what I found? It is the sweetest,

cozy comfy yet tiny bedroom. I am in love!

~ Chy

Almost There.

Getting close to being done with my

new office set up. I still need to grab

a couple of curtain rods, bring in a

newly painted cabinet to sit between

the 2 comfy chairs, hang 4 pictures

and bring in all the plants I've been

cultivating at home. I won't show any

pictures now until it's completely done.

Namaste.

~ Chy

Cozy Comfy.

I've been a fan of Jill Barklem's Brambly

Hedge series since our kids were babies.

And this is one of my favorite prints. It

reminds me of the many mornings when

I was newly pregnant with our 2nd child

and I had morning sickness. I never got

sick and many days thought that would

have been easier. But to cope, I would

set up the bedroom floor or the family

room with lots of toys and books, and

then I'd stay low until the nausea would

pass. It kept our 2 year old busy and so

very happy and I could rest but be very

present. It was the best way to get thru.

Do you have a favorite artist or author?

~ Chy

From Where I Sit.

Our days are busy but we try to keep our nights quieter. Doesn't always work but we try. Tonight, dh has been working on podcast stuff, dd#2 went to bed early, dgs watched a show and talked to his dad, and dd#1went to work at 6 (nursing shift until tomorrow morning). Now everyone has headed to bed and I'm finishing a show, catching up on emails and finishing up notes for the week. 

As I sit for a moment, my eyes drift over to the softly lit sofa table, under the big window in our family room. A bowl full of wool, a wooden heart, sweet smelling candles, a fairy garden terrarium and Henry the plant grace this space. The old banker's lamp lights it in the evening but during the day, the sun streams in, providing Henry with just what he needs to grow and thrive. Not much else can fit here. I may add a little stack of books in time. But from where I sit, on a cool March night, the view is calm, grounding and serene. Perfect!

~ Chy