Tuesday, August 27, 2013

It takes time to create a home.

...even for a turtle.
 

This week marks the two year anniversary of Doug and I living in our current house. When we bought it there was so much work to be done, remodeling wise, and I remember those first several months (or first whole year) wondering how and when we would ever reach the point of going from making it a livable house to creating a home. You know - a space with all of our stuff and those personal touches that just take time, void of remodeling dust.


One of the things I loved about this house when we saw it for the first time was that it had an atrium. I actually squealed when I first saw it! It was in shambles, but there was so much potential! {You can read the before and after atrium post here.} At the time I had no idea we'd be adding a box turtle to that space - oh my gosh that would have made it even MORE exciting!


In the past year and a half since Rex has lived in our atrium, the space has morphed into a little turtle sanctuary. The dichondra grass is well established, and all of the plants on my little corner shelf have filled in nicely. What you can't see is the strand of little white lights we have strung around the top of the atrium. It's just so dang cute at night with those lights on!


I know from experience that the cozy, homey part of a house doesn't happen right away. Oh sure, you move your boxes in, organize your kitchen, hang stuff on the walls, but the "home" part - the part that really makes it feel right - doesn't happen right away. It just takes time. That's what I think, anyway.


At the beginning of next year we will be putting this house on the market and setting our sights on a new house to fix up and eventually create a home in. There's a part of me that wants to hold on to this one, to relish in the comfort of spaces that are now seasoned and sweetly lived in. But then there's the other part that's ready for the next step in our home-creating history.


I wonder where my little corner shelf with plants will
fit in our new home, and where Rexy might live.
Hooray for new ways to create a home.

17 comments:

Susi said...

Love the atrium...how neat. Maybe you'll find another home that has one.
We are in the process of fixing up our home...again! Just painting and such...nothing major this time. I've told my husband that this will be the last time we will do this, after 28 years of living in the same house I'm so ready for a move.

Cheri said...

I can't imagine moving after just two years! It is so much work packing and unpacking and hauling stuff. We are working on slowly reclaiming the house as an adult space and removing the remnants of our kids childhood - like the teal green carpet and cherry pink trim in the basement! I'm on a quest for clean lines and uncluttered space. But the girls aren't "gone" yet, and I know when they come home from college I'll be inundated with visual clutter yet again.

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

Wow! I can't believe it's two years since you moved in. I love that little flower painted pebble. So very you x

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

You really have made it a warm home - even for the little guys! Can't wait to see what's ahead in the next chapter of your home!

Ruth said...

Two years? Gosh, that's gone quickly! I'll be thinking of you if and when you begin the search for another home.

debs14 said...

Two years? Where has the time gone? You've both worked so hard on that house and really turned it into a home. Where will you be househunting? London? ;-)

Maria Ontiveros said...

I'm very curious to see where you and Doug wind up next! Bigger? Smaller? Different neighborhood?
Rinda

Karen said...

Our fastest move was after just 11 months in a house. The kids were 2 and 5, and we moved on Labor Day. Not a great time for two teachers, but it was worth it. This is our third "fix it up" home, and thankfully we've been here 28 years now. The next home will definitely NOT be a fixer-upper! But I'm hoping we'll be able to maintain this one for many years to come.

Deb@threeisacharm said...

Love how 'Rex' gave us the grand tour of the cozy home you made for him! He even poked his head up high for the last photo! Your heart rock collection is awesome!

Audrey said...

Ooooh, I didn't realize you had an atrium and that's where Rexy lives. I'd just assumed you had a turtle pit of sorts outside in the yard. That is like Shangri-La....Rexy is one lucky guy!!! His pictures are adorable!!!

Beverly said...

I love that Rex came out to welcome us! I am a stay in one place kind of person but enjoy living vicariously through people like you and Doug :)

Anonymous said...

Those two years seem to have flown by and I am sure when you find your new house it will be no time at all before you add all the little Deb touches to make it a home.s

Lisa-Jane said...

I love those pictures of Rex coming and going through that branch! I found a heart shaped stone on the beach the other day and added to my collection inspired by you! I thought of you and gave you a little wave across the ocean.

Becky said...

Goodness! I can't imagine moving again so quickly after spending so much love and time on that wonderful house! We have lived in our home for 21 years and I can't imagine ever moving - once was enough when we moved to where we are now! Hope that you find somewhere that you love as much though and can make into another home.

Becky said...

Goodness! I can't imagine moving again so quickly after spending so much love and time on that wonderful house! We have lived in our home for 21 years and I can't imagine ever moving - once was enough when we moved to where we are now! Hope that you find somewhere that you love as much though and can make into another home.

Kristi Kidd said...

I usually read your blog on my phone...I finally was able to catch up on the computer today and OMG...the pictures are WAY better on a larger screen. :)

P.S. I love that feeling of "home".

Gail said...

I was going to say I can't imagine moving after just 2 years but then remembered we did that but that house was never a home. I hope you find something that delights you as much as this one has.

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