During this week off, I have done the proverbial spring cleaning. I did clear lots of space and donate some unnecessary items. But I have spent time adding a bit of warmth and hominess as well. It just felt like it was time to start making deeper connections with the place we live in. At the end of this month it will be a year since we moved into our beloved home.
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I don’t know if any of you have had this experience, but I swear it seems that the house was waiting for our family. It had been on the market for almost three years when we drove by it literally by accident. We had gotten lost on our way home from looking at other properties.
I said to Hoodie, “That’s our house.” I just felt it in my bones in a way that I cannot really explain.
The front porch with the swing just sealed the deal as far as I was concerned.
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And the tall pine trees too.
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Things proceeded in an eerily easy fashion and we closed on the house about two months after the first time we laid eyes on it. I know it sounds Pollyanna-ish to say things are “meant to be,” but I do think that some things are laid out for us to walk into or through. Theologian Frederick Beuchner talks about “listening to your life,” and my experience tells me that when our hearts are open to hear, we are prepared for what is in store for us.
The house did and still does need a good deal of work, but we are just taking it a bit at a time. Little pockets here and there.
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This is a corner shelf that I have had for about 15 years, originally purchased at a yard sale for $25. I have painted it a few times over the years and it was ready for a fresh coat. I found some sample paint at the hardware store for $3 and spent an evening on it after little one had gone to bed. The bottom shelves are a little “practical life” area for her. She loves to help with laundry and dust. I love watching her get the basket of rags out and first shake them out and then “fold” them.
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I was almost finished when our cat decided that she needed a fresh coat of paint too and jumped up on the shelf. Quickly realizing that she didn’t want to be in a sticky mess, she hopped down. But not before getting reddish brown paint all over her fur and tracking it all over the carpet. She was none too happy, poor kitty. We had to give her a bath.
I did a few other simple things as well, like finally putting up curtains that have been packed away for months. These were made for me by a dear friend many years ago. I still love the colors and happiness of them.
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I purchased two of these vintage embroidered dishcloths from this shop on Etsy. They are now the curtains at our kitchen window.
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Spring flowers for the porch just for some cheer.
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And it feels like home.
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Tell me the story of the spaces you inhabit, would you? I’d love to hear!
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