it wasn't love at first sight

It wasn't love at first sight, in all fairness. And I can't even quite muster the enthusiasm to say it even felt perfectly imperfect.  Not at all as a matter of fact.

I confess that a voice deep inside said 'no! run! this is not the one!'

The rooms were slightly askew (and not in a charming, wabi-sabi kind of way either) The paint on the walls was at least 20 years old (musty rose no less) and the carpeting...Oh my Lord, the carpeting was brown shag people!!!  I kid you not.  There was a funny smell coming from that rug which was decidedly unpleasant.

My heart fell when I stepped through the door to view this house for the first time and I could feel resistance surging through my veins with a capital R.

I felt like crying. 

I know.

This is an extreme thing to confess to you but it's true.

You see, I had been feeling a heightened anxiety since my sweet rental went on the market mixed with a simmering melancholy and the whole idea of moving once again left me feeling especially vulnerable and sensitive.  Finding a house that would take two loveable dogs, with a garden, and three bedrooms for my family within a conservative price range was daunting, never mind the packing and moving and upheaval of a move barely six months later.

Anyway.  Back to the almost crying part.

Instead of weeping in front of the lovely couple who owned the house I made my way into the back garden which looked  like an amazing mini forest right in the middle of the city.

And then I saw the giant, ancient Sequoia trees.  Three of them. In a circle. Towering, very wise of course, and I could even hear a choir singing in the uppermost branches.

There's more.  

I saw this on one of the trees.  Ancient roots ~ perhaps from an ivy vine a long time ago?  They had a magical, Celtic look to them which my friend Celeste happily pointed out to me.

I could feel magic in the air as if I had just glimpsed a 
silver pony bucking in the sky.

The air was velvet, blue, conifer scented.

Hope stirred in my chest...just a teeny bit.  Just enough.

I turned and stepped back into the house.

Walked around with a little more presence.

Looked thoughtfully at the cathedral windows, the high ceilings, the sweet, blue, chipped tiles on the kitchen walls.

And then I found the strange room in the middle of the house ~ the extra/second 'living room' shaped like an exclamation point with no doors in the curved arches.  There was a fireplace. (ok, the original wood burning fireplace now graced a brass (read 'ugly') gas insert contraption thingy but this baby is going to GO and wood will be burned once again)

My studio.

And then of course I knew.  It wasn't love at first sight but it was just within my modest price range.  The house graced beautiful,  circling, ancient trees in the forest garden. In the front garden there preened a glorious flaming Red Maple tree. (my father's favorite)   And I would have my very own studio space.

'I'll take it!'  I said. 

Know this and be forewarned.  I will regale you with photo's of my new house as I shower it with some tender loving care. 

It will need a lot of tender loving care.

There will be a lovely new wood floor (thanks to Pete and the Landlord)  and I am surrounded with paint chips even as I type this post.  (foothills, verdigris, summit, juniper, abalone, little red boat, mango  ~ and many hues of turquoise (for the studio naturally)

I am making a lovely driftwood mobile with a blue jay feather swinging from it as a housewarming gift to myself to celebrate.  

Happy tonight, yes I am 

I love you!

I appreciate all of you! 

love

❤

Maddie