Hanging in there, hanging around, hanging up stuff...

We are never more than

one grateful thought away

from peace of heart.

Brother David Steindl-Rast

(1926)

Home is a place not only of strong affections, but of entire unreserve; it is life's undress rehearsal, its backroom, its dressing room.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

(1811-1896)

Greetings my friends from planet kendalee where it's been a strange, interesting and sometimes challenging few weeks. I won't bore anyone with all the gory details - suffice to say that after the initial move there have been a few hiccups, which involved having workmen in for a few days, half my stuff in one location and half in another for a while, the logistics of remedying that again, dealing with uncooperative utility suppliers and lots of travelling for work that's meant I haven't been able to spend as much time on the settling in and all that goes with it as I'd have hoped. It's been, and continues to be, a lesson in patience.

Now, almost two weeks later, I still have no internet connection so am having to rely on irregular roving wi-fi when and where I can, which is very frustrating; I'm still working on reducing the boxes, which have been moved here and there and back again; I still have barely any furniture, no curtains, walls that need painting, and there is still only a tiny supply of those kitchen dry goods staples that build up over time and make catering on the fly easy to do, although I do at least have salt and pepper now... 

But, despite the challenges - many of which are just part of the process of moving and nothing unusual - from the minute I first walked through the door, before a single thing was unpacked, this has felt like home. And in between all the above, I've managed to have various people over for dinner, a lovely friend to stay for a few days in not horrendously uncomfortable circumstances, and have kept myself going in to work without it being very obvious that a ladder and work tools have been living in my bedroom and bathroom making the everyday getting ready a bit of a mission what with the dust and dirt and general disarray they bring.

Having said all that, it is slowly starting to take shape around here. Things are emerging and finding their rightful spot, I am becoming familiar with the sounds of the place and tuning out those that felt strange and discordant to begin with, and I'm moving through the space in way that feels comfortable and at ease. Both externally and internally I am unearthing things that have been in storage way too long and it's a process I'm loving. I don't think I'd truly realised how tightly bound I'd been feeling in my previous situation until I arrived here, where I have physical and emotional room to breathe. It's wonderful. And I am very thankful.

Some of my favourite things so far:

~ unpacking bits and pieces and if their placement's not immediately obvious, just piling them up on a shelf or hanging them around the place until the right spot becomes clear. When this happens it produces a small a-ha moment that give me enormous satisfaction. Sometimes new groupings just emerge and are fun to discover.

~ I've always had a bit of a penchant for hanging things - lanterns, mobiles, garlands - and I'm so excited to have the space to have more of these around me again. I'm already imagining new creations I can make...

~ my space can be as colourful and girly as I'd like. I'm not a wildly girly girl, but I've long had to justify things that are purely decorative, always referred to by my ex in an ever so slightly derogatory tone as my 'pretty things'. He also preferred neutrals whereas I love neutrals but cannot resist colour sometimes, and like to ring the changes. More recently, sharing a space with a housemate, there have been natural restrictions and considerations too. It's not a major issue but I love that I don't need to do that right now and can express myself here without reserve. Flowers in every room of the house I say!

~ my new quilt - soft and snuggly fabric, strong and vibrant colour. I'd had my eye on it for a while, it came on sale, and I couldn't resist. It makes me so happy.

~ the afternoon sunshine that streams in through the blinds and front windows, creating pattern and glow wherever it lands. We haven't had much sun recently but when it is out, it makes me smile. It shines through my glass lanterns, stained glass colour wheel, beads, and vases on window sills and lights the place with colour and warmth. Love it.

And now, back to it... boxes await. I have the whole weekend to potter and organise before heading down to London for work again next week. My appearance in the virtual world promises to continue intermittent for a while yet and I apologise for my absence in your spaces, but I'm hoping it won't be for too much longer. I really miss it. And you. Especially you.

Have a lovely weekend lovelies! ♥