Wow, what a month! Okay, help me out here, it's been about 3 weeks, right, since I moved in? I believe so.
Unlike another mom-blogger I know (ehem, Gypsy Forest) who has multitudes of moves under her belt and seems to have the move-in/unpack/remodel/take a deep breath "thing" down to a fine science, I have taken more of a Jackson Pollock (if you will) approach to things. Wow, that's a way to spin it if I ever saw one!
On the day we got our keys I had such great intentions- repairs, maintenance, organizing, cleaning, baby proofing...yadda...Well, some of evrything is done or in the process, but I have the cleaning thing down and luckily for my family, whatever rut that my old house threw me into with feeling completely immobilized as far as daily cleanup goes, is GONE!
Back, way back...waywayway back in my apartment days, especially when I lived alone for 6 months? A year? Oh, that was lovely. I had the cleanest, most organized, most easy-going 2 bed 1 bath. 825 square feet of easy-to-handle mine! It had the cutest kitchen and felt very roomy and I think those two things go a long way for me in wanting to take care of it.
The house we just moved(well...are still moving) out of was huge (for two or three people), didn't have a floor plan that flowed easily enough for me, was dark and cold and uninviting. This is actually not saying much about the house, there was NO decor to speak of, the paint and floors, out of necessity, were so old, we had boxes everywhere from constantly thinking we were moving and there was lots of clutter that, until now, was very difficult to pry from the house, so it wasn't the houses fault. But regardless, I am SO happy to be out of there, in an environment where I feel safe and ...hugged.
My house hugs me (and boy, do I need it!). In fact, when we were arranging furniture in the living room (oh my god, not the easiest task!!! we have the HEAVIEST furniture!!!!) for the billionth time I realized that one formation I was trying to avoid- because it would leave the window, with the beautiful view of the treetops, behind the couch- would compliment the "hug" feeling the house gives. So, we're going with that.
Speaking of furniture, I just scored this amazing coffee table.
the table...that's my son's mini-chair next to the fireplace in my messy living room
Alex and I saw it at an estate sale next door to a friend's house and I don't remember the price, I just remember when I saw the sticker I decided it would be best to completely ignore the table, cuz it was NEVER gonna happen! So we went home and a few days later I complained to my friend (I'm good at that) that I'm kicking myself over not having been able to make it to the half off day for some other items. He asked which items I wanted, I gave him a list of maybe five items and the coffee table was the only (but BEST!) thing that hadn't sold, so he brought it to my house for me and told me it was a ship's door!!! How COOL is THAT?! It is the heaviest damn ship's door I've ever helped carry into my new house, I'll tell you that! (yes, i'm a dork) It has some damage on the finish and was in desperate need of a crevice clean out, so it's on our front porch right now, getting fresh air and sporadic cleaning, whenever I get the chance. It'll get a sanding and a new fresh coat of varnish, along with it's crevices filled in with acrylic (like the hand holds) so we don't have to worry about crevice crummies anymore.
And on another tangent- a tangent of friends- I need some of those...local ones. Friends I can HANG OUT WITH!!!!! Sorry, that had to yelled because it is imperative that I get some face time with friends.. Just talking to my Sunshine boy all day, while heartwarming and fun, just won't fill that void adult conversations can fill. It's gotten to the point where I've seriously thought about getting pregnant again (months before I really want to) just to MAKE more company...and come on...that is NOT how to solve this problem...or even a good enough reason to make a person months before I want to. I've tried...hard! to meet people. I've gone for looooong walks around my winding neighborhood streets, saying "hi" to and (as casually and not desperately as possible) started conversations with as many people as I could...and after about 2 weeks of walks that makes about 3 people. One of those is a mom, about my age, with two boys just older than my boy, but their house is always empty when I walk by. I am also currently in the business of not turning down any invitations i get, which means I have a scrapbooking date in 2 weeks, so hopefully I'll meet some local moms there. Let it be known that when I was making my wedding invitations, using scrapbooking supplies, I decided that scrapbooking was WAY too expensive, addictive, time-consuming and unnecessary and that if I continued it would be disastrous. Well, there's no avoiding it now.
So, besides the scrapbooking thing in 2 weeks (and who knows how long I'll be able to stay, this breastfeeding mom doesn't pump. Alex and I are hoping to just load up the Sunshine boy's little belly with lots of hardy, heavy food that night so he won't want milk as much), my calender is clear. I'm so happy that my parents, oldest sister her boys are coming down this weekend to help me paint and re-grout the bathtub. I need the company. Alex has spent every day of his week vacation (last week) at the old house, painting the outside and packing up more boxes and donating/throwing out the rest and has to continue all of that after work this week. He's done such a fantastic job and needless to say he's been exhausted and...not here. And I miss him. And people in general.
It's safe, quiet, beautiful, peaceful, and exciting (in an exploring the wilderness type of way) here, and something must be wrong with me that I am entirely consumed with loneliness.
I know it'll get better. Maybe it's just my perspective. Maybe people don't get together and interact here like I'm used to. Maybe I just need to focus on putting my home together and the rest will come later.
So I keep repeating, "it is always darkest just before dawn", "this too shall pass", "take a chill pill", and other words of wisdom until I get used to this new solitude.
On the upside, I've been doing a ton of exploring! I went to Ice House resevoir for the 1st time since I was about 8, when I caught and cleaned my 1st and only fish ever. It was gorgeous. I've been up and down most of the roads around here.
the resevoir
beautiful views on Ice House rd
such a pretty day
Well, that was last week when I had a car...Alex now needs my car for commuting until his is repaired. :p
If ANYONE has ANY suggestions on how to meet people...in a free/super cheap kind of way, your comments would be very much appreciated. Or, if you've been through this before and have advise on getting through this period of adjustment, please please send your comments my way.
Time to go for another walk, I think. At least I'm getting some awesome exercise! :)
I always get to see deer on my walks! It's awesome!
Next post should be...better. ..I hope.