time flew through it

Winter is close. Most of the trees are bare and on the rare day that the temperature reaches 60 degrees it feels very warm. Most years I enjoy this change in seasons; moving inside, wearing sweaters, making soup, and cookies. This year we have had so many other transitions that the seasonal change feels like an inevitable annoyance. In my thick socks and long underwear I shiver and remember how this past Spring and Summer felt lost to building, moving and decision making. An upcoming slow down in our building and another move will mark the beginning of this winter season for us.

Jim came and helped put up the roofing trim last week. So long as the roofers are here before a big snow we are in good shape! Sheet rocking is never all of that fun, but it sure changes the look of a space. All of the walls in the basement are up. Tilt is 'mudding', sanding and telling me it is time to go pick out some paint! Once we move into the basement space (about 2 weeks from now), Tilt has a paying job to go to. Our building will then commence to a nights and weekends status for a while. I am looking forward to being closer to the work. As it is now, I do not spend as much time there as I would like. It has been amazing to see the outcomes of our drawings, but once in the space we have found that some things need adjusting. I am determined and inspired by making small spaces work, so I am really looking forward to puzzling together the kitchen, mudroom, and laundry areas. Bentley-Cat is starting to take ownership of the place. As soon as Tilt shows up he comes over to visit and hang out. Maybe he has decided that it is time to move in for the winter.

I read recently that time goes by faster as you age. I will be 40 next week so as I see it, spring is right around the corner... ahhh.

barefoot building

A week ago I was on the beach. It was not quite summer at the beach, but it was warm enough to take our shoes off and play in the sand. We came home to VT to find it cold and rainy with our camp broken down. The wind and rain had sent Tilt inside the studio to sleep when he wasn't working.

So many things have been happening with the building, I don't quite know where to start. The septic system is in place (tested and approved)! After that was done, it didn't take the excavator long to finish up, do some grading around the house, and begin the driveway.

Dad and Glenn have been putting in windows. They have developed a good system. I watched them set four windows in a day. Seeing the windows in really makes the place feel like a house. It is so nice to see the light come inside.

The porch was the most unexpected development. My Uncle Pete was visiting a couple weeks ago and he graciously helped out for a few days. I was surprised to see the porch on the agenda, but with the extra hands and experience Tilt decided it was a good project to begin.

Leslie has been helping out this week too. She as been painting trim that needs to be up for the roofers to begin. Unfortunately the roofers have "pushed us back" a bit. Tilt wasn't too concerned about this until we saw cars coming down from Killington with snow covered tops and hoods yesterday.

Our latest task to choose and order fixtures is more daunting that I expected. There is so much to choose from and everything I like is out of my price range. I do not really need a kitchen sink that costs $3000. The sales women didn't mention that when I picked it out. I mean wasn't it obvious I was not going to go for it after we downsized everything else we picked out? So with that I am scrutinizing the list and revisiting every sink, toilet, vanity, shower, and faucet to be sure we choose durable cost-effective products without charging up a storm. Surely we will not make it into any design magazines with our bathrooms, or as Glenn has noted with the window set up on the east side of the house.

Our home life has changed with the weather. K and I have gone from barefoot beach days to long underwear and sweaters. We have moved indoors to stay with a friend down the road. We are very grateful to her for letting us stay for a few weeks. Our kitty Ani died last week. She was a very sweet cat who used her nine lives well. Five years ago she nearly died after being attacked (by a coyote we suspect). She had lost all use of her back legs but managed to rehab and return to being a great hunter. She was not so strong against feline leukemia. For now, Bentley cat is alone in the studio. We visit him for a while every day and sometimes I put a fire in the stove. He is a very social cat and his outdoorsmanship is that of a dignitary on safari. He is observant, but not too involved. He will miss watching Ani hunt. We all miss Ani-cat.