7.28.2014

we've been...




busy.

so~ with many, many thanks to some family members that helped make it possible, we recently bought a house.  the house next door, to be exact.

we're renting it out as a vacation rental.  there ought to be lots of interior photos on the listing by now (we added them and they've yet to show up).

there has been a lot of painting, mostly of pickets (spindles?) for the porch and touching up inside, much hard work with big loud tools by papa, a lot of furnishings acquisition and cleaning and long days and late nights.  Claire no longer thinks it's super fun to go hang out next door while we work and clean and suggest she entertain herself with large boxes from IKEA.  she's been a trooper, really.

we eat quick lunches like this:



and then get back to it~

(we did not paint it blue and purple, previous tenants did.  there was an older woman who wanted the house "Carolina blue", and then a few renters later wanted a more "fun" porch color)  I have trouble wrapping my head around the blue, papa has more trouble with the purple.  some day, perhaps, we'll change it.  for now, there are things like sheets and mattresses and cookware to buy (because we're guessing folks will want those things) so the paint goes way down the list of priorities.  as in, it's really not even on the list.


so that's been happening.

yesterday, on my way back over to clean after feeding the chickens, I noticed our garden.  I hadn't really given it a glance in the last few days.  beans and cabbage need to be harvested.  really I haven't picked the cabbage yet because I know the sauerkraut and kimchi are not about to be happening just yet and I'd hate for any of it to go to waste.  I took a few minutes to add some more twine around the tomato stakes, having seen that the indeterminate varieties were quickly surpassing their current supports (and my height, by quite a bit) and several branches were leaning over precariously.  they are looking really good so far and I've been mostly pretending not to care too much about them since the last couple years have been such blight-y busts in the tomato department around here, but honestly I really hope they keep it up and I'm very excited for some yummy tomatoes.  I still need to tie the tomatillos again.  I got an armload of squash and zucchini to add to the already full drawer in the fridge.  I keep saying I need to make some curried zucchini pickles and squash relish, maybe freeze some..... but like the sauerkraut it's not happening at the moment.  I did make dilly beans the other day, though, so there's that.




my dad had a birthday and Claire and I took him out for lunch.  we had a great time and gifted him a painting of Claire's that was his very favorite.  it has been in our dining room for a long time and every time he comes over he says how much he loves her "Woods Monster" and I tell him how I do, too, and I can never part with it.

and then it was his birthday and I thought what the heck, I get to enjoy the artist herself every day so what's a painting, right?

he almost cried when he opened it.  love that man.



she had ballet.  she loves her ballet class.  recently we went to buy her new slippers and the woman that helped us was one of the dancers in the Asheville Ballet and so we recognized her from the Nutcracker and Cinderella.  Claire seemed a little starstruck and barely spoke or made eye contact.  like it was all a bit too much, but in a good way.  anyway, we rode the bike to class and then to the market afterwards for pastries and just a bit of hanging out.  and then back home to work and clean and get the house (next door) ready for its first visitors, nana and aunt Jenni-baby and Claire's cousin, Lauren.

later that afternoon, a fever.  which led to a nap on the couch (she practically never naps) snuggled under Cory's (bright and happy and soft and cozy) quilt.  hours later I gave her some children's motrin and watched the nearly instant transformation from weepy, refusing-to-eat, miserable child to happy, dancing around, eating-a-ton-of-dinner child.  I sometimes (always) have a hard time with how to approach fevers as a parent.  I really want to let the fever do it's job, and so typically I let her ride it out a bit, even a moderately high fever, for days, especially if it isn't affecting her basic needs too terribly.  but when she's just outright miserable I'll give in and give her a little motrin.  and I'm always pleasantly shocked by the quick turnaround.  I've heard great things about yarrow tea and children's fevers.  any of you have experience with that?



she made a fox.  I really like that little fox.


and she pointed out the "autumn leaf" print on the sidewalk.  I hope it stays there for a while,
I like it too.


my mom stayed with us for a couple nights last week and will do so again this week.  I pick her up and drive her to her outpatient therapy (where she is kicking butt and even doing some of the exercises with no supplemental oxygen) and then here to our place, then back to therapy and then home a couple days later.  when she was here last week she read the journal I kept (and the blog posts I wrote) while she was in the ICU.  she has no memory of those months herself, and it was pretty intense and emotional for her to read all of that.  but good, definitely good.

often I just stopped whatever I was doing and looked at her and gave quiet thanks for her being here, for her having made it through, for the future, and for possibility.

one night I was getting dinner ready and overheard her reading a book to Claire in the other room.  tears came to my eyes and I stood very still, soaking it in.  because, you know, there were times this spring that I thought it may never happen again; her reading to Claire, that is.

thank you, thank you, thank you.

when she comes this week, we're having Thanksgiving dinner.
because of course.

34 comments:

  1. What a beautiful insight into your life. Great news about the property next door hope all goes well. Have a good week.

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    1. thanks so much~ it's a time consuming but very fun project!

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  2. This has made me so very happy this morning, especially the part about your mom, how wonderful! Congratulations on the new house. I just took a look, it is lovely. Hmm...maybe a little vacation is in my future :) I have been collecting yarrow and drying it for tea when we need it this winter, for fevers, and also tincturing lemon balm, which I have heard is good for fevers. Glad she is feeling better.

    Enjoy your day!

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    1. Hi Kim!
      oh we are all SO extremely grateful and overjoyed by her continued improvement. thanks for the kind words about the house~ oh how fun that'd be to have you stay right in the neighborhood for a vacation!

      I think that's the main thing about certain herbal remedies for me- the not always having them on hand. making my own tinctures is one of those things I always intend to do but don't. what alcohol do you use in yours? or do you use glycerin?

      cheers!

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  3. Your life is filled with so much goodness Amanda and I am so happy for you and your family.
    I love the vacation home and while the exterior color isn't something I would pick either it really is a vacation home color so it works just fine. I hope to spend a few days there in the future.
    Wonderful news about your Mama and I know your Thanksgiving dinner this week will be one of the best ever.

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    1. that's what I tell Mike sometimes when I don't feel like fretting about the color... "it's a vacation house! it's supposed to be a little wacky!"

      mama's good, dinner was good....... ah, sweet sweet world.

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  4. So wonderful to keep hearing these good-news updates on your mom. Have a great Thanksgiving dinner – so much to be thankful for!

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  5. congrats on the vacation home maybe I'll come and and rent one day :)

    Hearing about your mom brings such joy to me! I am so happy that you have her fully in your life and that horrible spring is a memory. Have fun shopping for the rental!

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    1. oh yes Karen, please do come for a visit!

      it still surprises me at times that I am at a place now where I can, if I choose to, let go of a lot that happened this spring. mostly, there's just sweet relief, though certainly I've been changed a bit by it all.

      thank goodness for IKEA, thrift stores, and my mother-in-law's basement! ;)

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  6. Your rental home looks super cozy. I love the exposed beams. We'll have to remember your place if we vacation in the area.

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  7. I am so happy your mom is feeling so much better and you get to enjoy your time with her. I can't even imagine what those weeks must have been like, so this is just beautiful to read!

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    1. thank you, Anke~ it was a very long and difficult spring, to be sure. but things are certainly looking up and we are enjoying our time together immensely!

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  8. Amanda, I've been thinking, can I tag your photo and put it on my wall [FB]? The weather here is hot and humid so there might be souls looking to head your way. Just wanted to ask before I did anything.

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    1. thanks for sharing the house, Tracey! please let me know if you ever send anyone our way~ I'd love to know ahead of time that they were friends of yours!

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  9. good post. You got me all teary at the end there too. I'm so glad to hear how well your Mama is doing. Congrats on the house! I love both the purple and the blue! :)

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    1. thanks, Summer~ there's certainly been no lack of emotion in my little space here this year, and I'm just so grateful that the predominant emotions these days are gratitude and happiness instead of all that worry and fear.

      thanks! you know I think the colors are growing on me...

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  10. Love that home. I'll rent it someday!
    Beautiful, beautiful., Your space here has just grown so much. You rock!
    Having a giveaway.....maybe it will convince you to get on Instagram.....

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    1. oh the fun we could have!

      saw your lovely and very generous giveaway. will you laugh if I tell you I didn't enter because I worried if I won it'd seem as though it were fixed? I've lucked out and won TWO of your other giveaways in the past! will you also laugh if I tell you I'm not on instagram because I don't have a smartphone. because I think I have to have one to be on there, but I have no clue if that's even an at all accurate assumption.

      xo
      you know, fall is a GREAT time for a visit ;)

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  11. Such nice things. And the inside of that house I want it! :)

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    1. :)

      you know what? as we add to the house, I want it, too! it's all so much nicer than the stuff at our own place! here we've got old towels and a cat-scratched sofa, and now I'm using a stool as a night stand because I gave mine up for next door. ah well.

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  12. Aw...so much goodness all around. Rental house, dear dad, little Claire, and your mama. Sounds like the fixings of a good life. XO, Nichole

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  13. So glad you mother has improved so much. Thanks indeed!

    Your new house looks great. Carolina Blue (or light blue) is the traditional color for porches in the South, but often just the ceiling or ceiling and window/door frames. It helps keep it cool (or the feeling of cool) and the color is supposed to keep evil spirits away. Some say the color keeps spiders or insects away too.

    Also, I know what you mean about children's fevers. I always struggle with the same thing -- to medicate or not. I try not to, but sometimes the miserableness is too sad or too hard. And, then it is amazing how quickly they come back to life!

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    1. I've heard that about the porch ceiling color, too- and I do like the watery, aqua color of many southern porches.

      exactly!

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  14. i am very impressed that with how busy you are... you can still find time to write a post that makes me tear up... twice... (the painting gift, and your mother's visit)... oh lady... i am so happy for you!

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    1. thanks sweet jenny~

      while I didn't intend to make anyone cry, I will say that I think part of what this year has brought me is a lessened desire to dilute what I want to say- I just put it out there largely unedited and it feels good!

      xo

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  15. just found your blog via Kim from Mothering with Mindfulness. It sure does sound like you have been busy!

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    1. hello and welcome!

      I love Kim's blog, thanks for stopping in to say hi!

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  16. oh, my goodness. congratulations! so many good things going on. how wonderful to have three generations together.

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    1. thank you, may~
      it a sweet gift when we're all together, for sure.

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  17. I didn't know you lived in Asheville! We love that town, in fact we were just there in May. We stayed in a really nice Air BnB rental, but yours is even cuter - we will keep it in mind for next time! (I actually like the light blue and purple!) My husband has been working on flipping a house all summer, so I feel your house maintenance pain! :)

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    1. how fun it'd be to have you next door!

      (we are in Black Mountain, about 15-20 minutes East of Asheville)

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thanks for taking the time to read and comment~