recent photos

should we stay or should we go?

here are some pictures of our finely crafted, classic american saltbox home and carriage house...

unfortunately, on this side of the country, most people don't understand what a saltbox is, and consider it very plain and lacking in the embellishment department. most people can't even see the subtle detailing.


last sunday was the first open house for the public since we placed our home on the market well over six months ago. we agreed to try an open house, because all other attempts at gaining interest from buyers have fallen flat... the proof of this is that we have had one showing, total. there were eight groups of lookers, and no calls since to schedule another showing or ask questions.... kinda doesn't make me want to open it up again to the public. it is hard to feel okay about allowing groups of strangers to wander through our home, especially while we aren't there!

the house is light and bright and wonderful inside, we have a wonderful shop and garage, and there are very few things left to complete the whole building and landscaping process, but the simple truth is that we dislike being in town. who knows why we ever thought it would somehow be okay, but neither of us prefers it, nor do we like the idea of raising our daughter here.

wild plants, chickens, the quiet sounds of nature...all of those feel like home in a way that being in town just doesn't. yet, we are considering pulling our house off the market, at least for now, in order to settle in and focus on other things. and even though i should know better than to ever say never, i can't imagine ever wanting to open my home up for sale while still living in it again.

knitting projects...

lately knitting has been on my mind, night and day. dreaming about knitting, trying to decide what to attempt next, wishing i could finish my first pair of socks and get on with something else... at long last my first pair of socks is done (well, all but weaving in the tails on sock#2). but by now i don't even want to look at them, much less wear them. the colors seem garish to me, and i liked them at first. i figured at least the yarn was inexpensive, so it was a good choice in case of major problems. oh well, i see the flaws, but the accomplishment of being done feels good to me and thus i feel encouraged to try another pair.

recently i took a class on felted clogs (child size) and got almost done with slipper #1. the only real problem is that there is a lot of counting involved in this pattern, so i always hesitate to do any more until it appears i will have some uninterrupted time! so, this is taking a lot longer than it should. i'm excited to try my first felting of a project, though, because i have chosen another that i would like to try next...

been spending more time on Ravelry than i like to admit, but at least i feel like i'm learning how to use the website, getting organized, and being inspired. also making contacts with some people far away doing things i admire. it is wonderful that such an online community exists!

handknit blessing

this made me cry. last friday i had been having a tough morning, touch and go feelings-wise, and very little to show for accomplishment of any sort. i stopped by the mailbox on my way back into the house from dropping the little girl at preschool, and found a package from my dear friend synden. she had said something was on its way, but i was totally unprepared for this! what a gorgeous shawl! hand knit by one of my dearest friends! i cried. and cried. okay, maybe i needed a cry, but this would have made me cry anyway. it means so much to me, and is so cozy, and she even incorporated some of the lovely handmade glass beads my brother jon made. i feel so blessed. on a day where i felt nothing was going right, all of a sudden there was this huge blessing, generously bestowed by a fellow knitter/artist. life is sweet, and friendship is the sweetest part of it, i think....