Welcome to my humble abode

After many months of tedium and uncertainty, our search for a new home has come to an end.  The deal fell through on the house I had posted about a few times, and as the saying goes, another door opened for us, yielding something beautiful beyond our wildest dreams.

In the heart of the Shawnee National Forest; down a curving, gravel road; 4 miles from the nearest town (of only 350 people); we finally found our forever home.  

This is our road looking east.  The tree-covered hillsides are part of a designated wilderness area, although there are privately owned lands interspersed with public lands.

This is our mailbox and a view of the hills to the west.

 Here is our little cottage in the big woods.  It is newly built and, due to the spectacular views and privacy, was literally intended to be a vacation cabin.  We have made it into our permanent home.

The house is 1100 square feet but contains a loft, an office, and a guest room.  There are also 3 decks, each with a different view.

The largest deck is of the "great room," which you see just beyond the wall of glass.

This is the view from the front door.  The wall color is a gray-green, chosen by the seller, and although it is not one of my preferred shades of white, I actually don't mind the color.  It reads as a neutral and coordinates with everything we own.

I love the angle of the sloping ceiling beneath the stairs.  This shot was taken from the hallway and also shows the little "Harry Potter" closet under the stairs.  That closet is invaluable as a pantry.

Here is another view of the great room, with hills and trees in the background.

The house sits where an old farmhouse once stood.  It is oriented to capture the breezes, the views, and the light.  

We have front row seats for some truly inspiring sunsets.  Last night's was one of the loveliest I have ever seen.

I realize it has been a long while since my last post, and I appreciate your patience in that regard.  The move was more difficult than I imagined it would be.  We cut our living space in half and have had to work within the constraints of a much smaller house.  It has forced us to be creative in terms of how we utilize the space, especially wall space and floor space.  We have managed to keep only the basics, but living here feels far from austere.  We have all the comforts of a typical home.  

Stay tuned for more from deep in the heart of the forest, where the air is pure and the views are pristine.

Until next time...

Anne

Taxidermy, anyone? And some good news.

via Country Living

Have you noticed the recent trend of using taxidermy in stylish home decor?  A gorgeous California home featured in a recent Country Home magazine used taxidermied animals in a couple of different rooms.  It no longer seems to belong only to the realm of camouflage-wearing types.  

via Country Living

When my husband were in Texas getting married we visited the lovely town of Fredericksburg and the store of famed designer Carol Hicks-Bolton.  With permission, I whipped out my camera and snapped some photos of their displays.

Every image has some type of taxidermied specimens, from birds...

to mountain lions and foxes,

 and of course, deer.

Some of the displays showed a sense of humor.

I found the use of preserved animals in decorating to be both intriguing and noteworthy; however, I am not sure I would want to live with them.  Something about looking into their hollow eyes disrupts my emotional equilibrium.  As one who loves artifacts from nature, this may not make sense to others, but the things in my house were found objects-- antlers collected while walking in the woods, seed heads gathered from a fall meadow, shells and driftwood amassed while strolling the beach.  They are also things that either died a natural death or were shed, discarded by a living creature.  My house does not contain any specimen collections of insects either.  I have pressed plants and flowers, and one could argue that these were also once living entities, but they do not have dead eyes that would stare back at me.  So, for me I guess it's the eyes that I find to be most disturbing.  

There seems to be a returning to Victorian tastes and sensibilities, with its appreciation of and fascination with natural history.  The use of taxidermy and objects from nature in modern home decor seems to represent this trend.  Living with and close to nature is something that soothes my soul, and bringing little bits of it into my home is one way for me to maintain that connection. 

What do you think?  Do you or would you use taxidermy in your decorating schemes?

On another note... the home-buying saga continues.  Just as we had given up hope that we would be able to purchase the home we have a contract for, 

via Realtor.com

and settled in to the notion that we would stay in our current home, there has been an amazing turn of events.  We now have another extension of the contract and a new closing date!  It seems we might actually get to purchase the home I have been dreaming about for the past 6 months (this entire process began back in September, when we first viewed the home.)  The whole experience has been a test of patience and stamina.  I am hoping there will be a payoff in April when we can actually move in.  Thanks for hanging in with me through this process.  We have bounced back and forth, particularly when we thought there was no chance the sale would actually go through.  My hope has been restored, and my husband said something yesterday about starting to think about packing.  So, it seems that he is regaining hope also.  

The house may look a little tattered at this point, but it is solid and classic.  It has the three original features that define a style and set a tone for the interior spaces-- floors, doors, and trim.  This property has the perfect location for us and is one I could see myself living in for the rest of my life.  After moving three times in as many years, that is a thought I relish!  

With the coming of spring, I am feeling a freshness and a renewal and a sense of possibility.  May the abundance of spring be present in your life.

Until next time...

Anne

You Ain't Goin' Nowhere

Perhaps I should say, "we."

After much thought and discussion, we have decided NOT to move after all.

We took the lists of wants and needs that were guiding our search for another house and applied them to this place. What we discovered was that we were looking for this exact same house in terms of the interior spaces and porches, albeit with a back yard. I did some research and learned that having the concrete parking lot behind the house removed is not as costly as I had imagined.  We decided that instead of moving, we will completely make over the outdoor space so that we have a back yard, so that I have a real garden to play in, so that we have privacy, and so that Sadie has room to run off leash.  So bring on the fencing, arbors, trees, shrubs, and lots of cottage-y flowers!

 In honor of our decision to stay and to celebrate my falling (again) in love with the virtues of this old house, here are some pictures taken at various times in the past year.  The one above was taken before we even moved in.  I have since painted the porch and done some foundation planting, but realized today that I have not taken any photos of those improvements.

Deciding not to move is a lot like deciding to salvage a rocky marriage.  You have to look deeply into your heart and be honest about the things that attracted you to the house in the first place, the things you fell in love with.  You have to assess its strengths and attributes, along with its limitations.
However, while it is indeed possible to change a house to suit your wants and needs, we cannot possibly change another human being in any way, even if we might want to.  The only thing to change in that case is one's perspective or to move on.

I still adore this pantry.  It holds an abundance of food and kitchen wares while being accessible and easy to keep organized.

One of the things most difficult in hunting for another house was finding one with ceilings tall enough to accomodate our campaign bed from Restoration Hardware.  The bed is almost 9' tall!
 This room has 10' ceilings, so there is no problem.  I also appreciate the architectural interest of three-sided bay.  This would be hard to find in another house as well.

The proportions of the living and dining rooms, along with the tall windows, provide light and airy spaces for living.  The rooms flow well into one another.  The house has never felt dark or cramped.

Most of the planned changes involve the out door areas, however, I am determined to replace the interior window and door trim so that it matches the original trim boards that I found in the basement.  In the 1970's, when the house was being used as a doctor's office, the original trim was taken down and ranch style trim was put in its place.  By painting walls and moldings the same color, I have been able to minimize the visibility of this fact, but it is something that bothers me about the house.

So, I am feeling like the weight of indecision and disappointment has been lifted.  I am starting to reconnect with my house emotionally and to turn my thoughts to planning upcoming projects.  Visions of climbing roses are dancing in my head!

Stay tuned for my next big adventure.  Thank you for your on-going support and friendship through the many adventures I have had thus far.  I appreciate every one of you who take the time to stop by and visit.

Until next time...

Anne

P.S.  Apologies to Bob Dylan for borrowing the title for this post.

House hunting and the art of compromise

Adventures in home-buying...

This is the photo from the real estate listing of the house my husband (still getting used to saying that :-) and I have contracted to purchase.  It is a fixer-upper loaded with charm, space, and potential.  The house is a couple of miles south of the local university, not far from the city limits.  

The yard is huge and completely private.  The house has many features I like, as you may have seen from a previous post; but it has features that need to be modified, like bathrooms with showers under the eaves where there is no headroom; and a shoddy job of insulating through the siding, leaving unsightly holes that need to either be plugged properly, or the siding needs to be replaced entirely.  And it currently has a nonfunctional heating system.  This house is not without its problems, but we were willing to address those issues due to its location and its character. 

On December 20, as we were driving to Austin, Texas for our wedding/honeymoon, the sellers failed to sign an extension of the closing date, and breached the contract to buy/sell this property.  Almost one month later, no remedy for the breach has been presented to us.  We still have not closed, nor have we been given a date for that to happen-- the sale remains in limbo.  So, after months of stress and uncertainty, we are looking beyond this house to other possibilities.  

I am obsessed with finding another house.

Just like the buyers on HGTV's Househunters, we have our list of attributes for the new house.  

1.  a good yard with mature trees

2.  a light, spacious-feeling interior

3.  2 bedrooms and an office

4.  charm

5.  curb-appeal

6.  a safe neighborhood

Those are the bare necessities.  

The ideal property would have these features also:

1.  located outside the city limits with small acreage

2.  three bedrooms

3.  no street lights nearby

4.  lots of trees, possibly woods on the property

5.  a good view

My search led us to look at this charmer the other day.

This house has everything on the first list except a separate space for an office.  At just under 1,000 square feet, this house in town is quite diminutive.  Our current house is around 2,200 square feet, and there are rooms we seldom go into, so we could easily down-size somewhat.  The house has 10' ceilings and original features, such as pine floors, a claw-foot tub, and trim.  It has been well-maintained.  The neighborhood, however, is an eclectic one, where student rentals sit next to owner-occupied houses.  I find this house to be quite charming and could see myself living here, although I do not know if it will accomodate a family of pets and 2 adults.  We would have to give up our guest room to make space for my husband's office.  That would be a big sacrifice.  And I am not sure about the neighborhood.

Another option:

Later this week, we will view this brick ranch.  It is larger than the vintage bungalow and has also been very well-maintained.  It hosts the original oak floors but everything else has been upgraded.  From the pictures on-line, it appears to be very clean.  This house sits in a neighborhood that is populated by professors and professional staff who work for the university, which is within walking distance.  This house is really not my favorite style.  I have never been especially partial to ranch houses.  However, it is sensible and solidly built.  There are mature trees and a screen of evergreens along the backside of the lot.  With a fence, it would be private and large enough for our energetic puppy.  

Every house purchase requires a large dose of reality.  Our house dreams do not always match our budgets or the current properties on the market.  Many of the older homes in my area were torn down in the 1960's to build apartment buildings for students.  A lot of the older farmhouses were also torn down due to neglect.  Finding an decent old house in this area, in the safe neighborhood, is exceedingly difficult.  Right now the available houses on the market are probably more limited than in the coming months.  We have been told that more properties come available in spring.  With our crazy puppy, in desperate need of a yard, waiting is almost unbearable.

I am willing to compromise in terms of style and space in order to get into some place comfortable, bright, quiet, surrounded by a bit of earth to garden in.

How have you had to compromise when it came to purchasing your house?  Any thoughts or input for me to consider?

Until next time...

Anne

P.S.  Thanks for the sweet comments about my recent wedding!  I appreciate you taking the time to respond to that post.  It was such a joyous occasion for me, I felt compelled to share it with you.

A little of this, a little of that

I extend a hearty thank you for all the kindness and supportive words that were extended to me after my last post.  I was deeply touched by the outpouring of compassion and empathy you showered upon me. As one you you wrote, some days are harder than others, and it is not always predictable when those waves of grief will hit.  As part of my self-care, I always take Ryan's birthday and the anniversary of the day he died off of work.  On those days, I reflect and remember, make a point of treating myself gently, and spend time with my daughter.  

Thank you for the genuine support and for allowing me to share some of my process with you. 

 Big hugs to you all!!

 

Last month we traveled to Arkansas for a few days, staying in North Little Rock at the lovely Baker House Bed & Breakfast (above)

and then moving on to Hot Springs, where the following photos were taken.

 Hot Springs is actually located inside the boundaries of a national park.  

Water emerges from the springs at 147 degrees fahrenheit, and is cooled by the bathhouses before being pumped into bathing pools or tubs.

In its heyday, there were over half a million visitors to Hot Springs each year.  Many celebrities and mafioso partook of the healing waters.  My time at the bathhouse was pure bliss!  Merely soaking in the various pools, getting out to cool off, getting back in to float in mineral-steeped warmth was the highlight of my year up until that point in time.

A grand promenade sits on the hillside overlooking the downtown.  This view is from the far end of the promenade, just outside the gates of the former naval hospital that looms over the town.

Our house drama continues.  We were supposed to have the closing today, but due to a few hiccups, things have been delayed.  We are now in the process of negotiating an extension.  By the end of the day, some things should be clarified, and we should have a definite timeframe.  

I hope this finds you all well and happy, as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.  

Until next time...

Anne

Roses for remembrance and some promising news

Some lovely fall roses bloomed just for this occasion:  today would have been my son, Ryan's, 23rd birthday.  I am honoring and remembering him today.

On another note:

We are under contract on the house purchase.  Please continue to keep your fingers (and everything else) crossed that the bank accepts our offer, as this is a short sale, and they have the final say.  

Here are a couple of pictures taken the day of the inspection...

Living room with true divided-light windows and wood burning fireplace insert.  The floors are oak.  All original doors and trim are intact.  The house was built in 1934 and was moved to its current location in the 1950's when the university in town expanded.

Back side of living room showing original french doors leading out to a screened porch.  The huge back yard can just barely be seen through the doors.

Kitchen.  Not sure about the red pendant lights or the cutesy curtains, but I love the layout, the butcher block island top,  and the cabinet space.

More photos to come as the deal progresses.  The house needs some system updates and fixes, such as a new boiler and cleaning up of some of the wiring.  Structurally, it is quite sound.

I hope today finds you all well and happy. 

Until next time...

Anne

Seeking a little solitude

Yesterday afternoon we got out for a short walk in a secluded area of the Shawnee National Forest close to where I live.  This is the scene there this fall, with trees more beautiful than I have seen in years.  Nature is my solace.  

In regards to questions about why I am wanting to move (again), I will fill you in.  Those of you who have been with me for awhile know that I have moved 3 times in the past 2 years.  Two of those houses were rentals, and I have a deep need to set down roots in a place I own.  This summer we moved into my sweetie's former law office, which is a building he owns.  This home is quite lovely, but it lacks the one things that realtors constantly harp on-- location, location, location.  An ideal location for a home and for a business are 2 very different things.  The house sits on the main street running through town, and there is near-constant traffic noise.  And since it was once an office, it has no back yard; there is, instead, a parking lot behind the house.  The other annoyance is that the neighbor to the west is a carryout pizza restaurant, whose light blaze all night long.  If it were possible to air lift this house to a piece of small acreage outside of town, I would find that to be the best of all worlds; alas, this is an impossibility. Sometimes it feels to me like apartment living, which is something that does not fit my needs for connecting with nature in my own backyard.  My goal in moving here in the first place was to try to allow some time to pass in order to recoup some of the money we invested in renovating it and to wait for the real estate market to improve before selling.  It was never meant to be a long-term arrangement.

My sweetie also longs for the open spaces and greenery of the tiny cottage we rented last year.  We miss being able to hear the owls in the evenings, being awakened by birdsong, seeing deer in the yard, viewing stars without the visual noise of street lights.  I deeply miss having a garden.  And now that we have Sadie, we NEED a yard for her to romp in, and, as my mom says, "do dog stuff."  We have found a house with a fabulous location, just outside of a nearby community.  It is closer to work for both of us, closer to friends, and closer to good grocery stores and restaurants.  There is space and privacy outside, and the inside is charming.   

Thank you so much for the positive energy around this house.  Nothing is finalized on paper yet, but things are heading in the right direction!

I hope this clarifies things.  

Until next time...

Anne

Changes that accompany fall

Fall brings many changes:

trees blaze amber, crimson and persimmon,

nights lengthen,

temperatures begin to drop.

For many of us, thoughts turn to hearth and home.

We long for cozy evenings by the fire,

pots of soup simmering on the stove,

good books to lose ourselves in,

snuggling under a bevy of blankets.

In honor of Halloween, I brought in a couple bits of orange, a color I have never used in my house before.  Black, grey, and cream keep it from being overbearing.

My reading corner gets into the game, with iron and orange accents.

The buffet in the dining room boasts a collection of earthy accents and a spooky mirror, perfect for Halloween.

Pyewacket sits next to the coffee table centerpiece.  She blends well with any decorating scheme!

 Another view of the living room, bathed in natural light.

This fall has been particularly busy.  We have traveled to Chicago to take Sadie to puppy boarding school, where she is going through an intensive training program.  She comes home next week.  We have also traveled to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where we discovered the bliss of soaking in the thermal baths there.  

And we have also been doing some serious house-hunting.  We made an offer on an adorable cottage that I have fallen in love with.  Please keep your fingers crossed that the deal goes through.

Wishing you peace and wellness as the fall progresses.

Until next time...

Anne

Meet Sadie

Sadie is a little lady with a storied past.  She followed us home one Sunday evening while we were out walking around our neighborhood.  We decided to keep her overnight and gave her a bath to rid her of the worst flea-infestation I have ever seen, and then we got her set up in a crate on the front porch for the night.  

The next day, my honey took her to the vet and had her immunized and treated for a multitude of other parasites.  We continued to hang onto her for a few more days.  She is only 4 months old and full of as much love as exuberance, being a lab (and possibly border collie) mix.  Considering that we had not planned to get a dog and we have very little yard, by the end of the week, I had decided to take her to a local no-kill shelter to hopefully be adopted by a loving owner.  So, with tears in my eyes, I turned her and all her medicines,  leash, and harness over to the nice woman at the shelter.

A few days went by.  I started checking the shelter's facebook page to look for updates about her.  She was officially available for adoption.  Seeing her face on the computer caused my tears to resume .  It's silly, I know, but I got so upset over giving her up.  It felt like my heart was torn from my chest.  I missed her terribly.  Despite her youthful energy, she was also extremely smart and loving.  I knew that as an adult dog, she would be just perfect for my family.  

On Saturday, one week after I had surrendered her, the shelter was hosting an adoption fair at Petco.  I had to go there to get supplies for my cats and told myself that if she was available, I would see about getting her back.  In the meantime, we had spoken with some friends who are professional dog trainers about the possibility of working with her intensively, and they agreed to do this as a favor to us.

So, I anxiously went to Petco, and there she was, sitting in the crate chewing on a bone.  I let her out of the cage and she began kissing me all over and wagging her tail furiously.  "Where have you been," she seemed to ask me.  I started getting teary eyed again  as I told the worker that I was the person who had found and then surrendered her.  I said that I was interested in getting her back, and the worker made a phone call to the owner of the shelter who agreed to let me adopt her officially.  

So now, we have a puppy in the house.  She has changed my life dramatically.  We are diligent about twice daily walks and chew toys and giving her little tasks to keep her from being bored.  She is gentle with my cats, although sometimes she is driven to chase them until they reach a higher ground.  I guess falling in love is always inconvenient and complicates things, but every time she sits on my foot and looks up at me with those deep, brown eyes, I realize how smitten I am.

Until next time...

Anne

Misty Morning

Here are some vacation pictures that were taken last month in the Cumberland Mountains of east Tennessee.

We stayed at a lovely Bed & Breakfast, The Garden Inn at Bee Rock, and this was the view from the terrace the morning we headed home.

It has been raining for about a week in my part of the world, and the crunchy, brown-ness of the summer drought has given way to lush landscapes once again.  Rain makes me pensive.  I am looking forward to the quiet of fall, after the noise of summertime.

Wishing you a peaceful weekend.

Until next time...

Anne