Am I giddy and doing little jigs? Yes, yes, I am, I am! I am back in my little world (studio, country, loooove). I am almost totally moved back into the city house. I have 75% of things unpacked from my giant strawberry suitcase…
My goal was to be back to the country by Monday. And, hurray, I got back last night at 11:45 p.m. There are still things that I must tend to. Almost 15 years of billions of treasures, were really, way too much for one girl to handle. However, I took your advice. Many many things will stay bubble wrapped and in containers. I got rid of mounds of things. It was so easy, once I got overwhelmed, the things I really didn’t want hit the donation pile at rapid speeds….
I just listened to my inner goddess. She wants me to be freer. To let go of unnecessary things. I put my hand in hers and followed…
Funny enough, many many years ago, I went through this clearing process, and got rid of many items. But, I guess they just crept in on me again. Your comments were completely amazing, about the getting rid of things. And, truly, I kept repeating, it doesn’t matter what it cost, if I don’t love it, it’s outta here. And, it worked! It really worked. Maybe it worked too well, oops 🙂
But, my major loves, they are staying…
I never realized how hard it is having a country house and a city house. And, dare I say, when I woke up this morning (in the country) to the sound of beautiful chirping birds, and sparkly rays of sun bouncing off my bedroom walls, it felt like heaven. Much better than the sounds of insane dogs barking like mad and ambulances and police cars, in the city.
I don’t know, seems to me like I am on a strange but wonderful little changing path. Even driving to the country last night, I felt a little leary of the city, and I actually had butterflies in my stomach. Could things have changed this much for me? It is so strange and so emotional. But, a good thing indeed.
I am so in love with my 30’s right now. I love the changes and the feelings and the peace. The openmindedness. Love it all! I don’t think these feelings are specific to any age. I just happen to be finding them now, and embracing them…
I have been working on this huge crocheted blanket for about 3-4 years. It is so funny, when I was half way through, I stopped, feeling that I just wasn’t into the brightness of the colors I chose any more…
A couple months ago, I started working on it again. Every night, adding a new row. I love it all over again, I feel like there are so many different stages of me in this blanket. I love the brightness again, and I love the dreamy calm of losing myself in crocheting.
I kind of delt with my move out and back in, much like I deal with crocheting. Evertime I felt overwhelmed, I took a deep breath, and just worked slowly, link by link, piece by piece.
Normally, I would have fallen apart, freaked-out, been sickly overwhelmed. And, I did have my moments. But, for the most part, I just trecked along. It had to be done. There was no room for a freak-out.
I know, in my heart, I was meant to learn from this. First of all, it has made me hugely sympathetic to others going through home displacing situations. People talk about those things, but you never realize the magnitude of what they are going through. My parents were a huge help, and my dad even said "Wow, I wouldn’t wish this mess on anyone." It took alot people working 2 weeks straight to get this wrapped up.
Also, I know in my heart, that the lessons I learned from this, are vast and necessary. I learned things, that had nothing to do with the plumbing fiasco, but were awakened in me. Again, the calm we need to deal with things, the kindness of the people we love, organization being my new number one goal, and the list goes on…
So, here we are headed towards new adventures, that chapter is over (I am certain you are beyond sick of the topic). Back on track for the most part. Art has been calling off the hook, must schedule long meetings with him!! hee heeeeee
Don’t forget, HUGE Fiesta here on Valentine’s day!!! See you very soon!! V
OH!! You’ve got needles and yarny love goings on here, too!! Kindred Spirits, that’s what we are!! Your blanket is like a burst of fireworks!! Lovely! And I’m SO happy to hear your all moved back in and getting settled! Hooray!!
I’m not in the 30’s yet….but pretty much there (August cometh)…so I’m very glad to hear it’s nice there! 🙂
Happy Heart Week!!
Hooray, you are home! It is amazing how at different times in our life we seem to prefer one place or the other (city or country). So glad you got the plumbing issues sorted in the town house.
And I’m glad you said that about getting rid of things we don’t love, no matter how expensive. Because I have a lamp that I bought a few months ago (online) that I really dislike – it is just not me! So tomorrow I’m giving it to someone who might appreciate it, as every time I look at it, I am reminded of the (expensive and annoying) mistake I made. It brings me no joy, so out it goes!
I think it’s freeing to let go of things, but you’re right, it can be difficult! And your blanket? Ay caliente! xoxox
Vanessa!!!
I’m so happy to hear your wondrous little life is getting back to normal. I have to agree, I’m loving my thirties. I seem to be able to take everything in stride and make sense of every obstacle put in my path. It’s great feeling so in control of myself. I LOVE knowing that you crochet! It is one of my very favorite relaxing pastimes…a glass of wine, a ball of yarn and a hook, nothing clears the head like it.
xx
Hurrah! So glad to hear you’re doing well and almost fully moved.
See you at Thursday’s fiesta!!!
yay!
i’m doing a little dance for you.
la la la la la!
you have such a great attitude.
i freak out and over-react to the stupidest things.
i am glad you are back in the country.
although i prefer cars honking and dogs barking myself. 🙂
ps-i love your little colonial dude with the strawberry.
Darling V,
So sorry to have not visited for so very long and been so quiet. Things are a little overwhelming at the moment. But glad to hear that you are back in the country. You and I are both secretly country girls at heart. The city is just for quickie bouts of madness:)
xo
Yay!! I am so happy you are back home in the country, and a little lighter in the strawberry suitcase (that is a wonderful footman by the way) it just makes room for things that make your heart sing to come into your life!
Keep working on that crochet…it will be a million different versions of you wrapped up in it in the end…
Bring on the Valentine’s Day Fiesta!!
I am a new reader to your blog, and am loving catching up on all the posts. You have such a great attitude about life and creativity – I think you are a kindred spirit! Reading your posts are always so uplifting, and I am glad to hear you made it back home.
p.s. Your colourful rainbow bright crocheted blanket is so lovely!
Nice to see that you are back and that all the work is behind you.
In my house we talk about the Country Mouse…my Husband and the City Mouse…me…all the time. He loves the country I love the city. This is only the third time we live in the country/suburbia…we have lived in 9 different homes during our marriage. So that is six city homes…I miss the city a lot…but I also love the country. In my perfect world the city is for the week and the country on the weekends.
I would love to have you see what I am giving away for the One World-One Heart giveaway…I think you will like it 🙂
You have dealt with this so impressively well. It is such a gift to be able to remain calm when crisis hits. Sounds like you need a stretch of “normal” in your life!
Congratulations!!! I’m so happy that that little fiasco is just about finished up for you. It’s amazing how the stress from things can pile up and just really get to you.
Take a deep breath and let it out… now one more…
Letting go of things in life is difficult in a lot of areas… I have tended to be the packrat of our family, and Trina has moved so much in her life (something like 29 times), that she has given up trying to keep anything that isn’t really necessary, so we’ve kind of evened out on that issue a bit, though we have gone more to the side of “packing lightly” if you will.
But we certainly do have a lot of treasures that we at least feel are quite necessary, even if nobody else would categorize them that way 🙂
In terms of relationships too, I think we have learned over the past few years that sometimes they just change and move and sometimes it is ok to just let them go and move on, it’s not necessary to hang on to everything that has ever been a part of your life. You can still appreciate that person for what they have been to you and be thankful for that, but you don’t have to try and hang on to a relationship that maybe would be better let free.
I haven’t quite hit my 30’s yet, but I am feeling a lot of the same things you mentioned about this period in my life… I’m really enjoying the person I’m becoming, the things I’m learning, the change and growing that I feel happening in me… it feels good and earthy and grounding and peaceful, though challenging, and really good.
Onwards and upwards!
WOW, I diddnt know you can crochet, I can too well kinda. I can do one row on its own but thets Cool with me!. I’m happy that you are back in your Town House it must be ccool to have two houses!, But i must say i’d prefer the City too. I dont know how id be without a garden although If I were the Gardener it would be very bland and full of trees and Moss and Garden Gnomes!
PS. Have you seen on my blog I posted photos of our Snow over here check it out a post down or Something!
Hey VV,
Welcome home to your lighter self and Mr. Lovee of course! Sounds good. Everything.
Your words about how you are finding more peace living away from a city, this particularly interests me since this year my husb and I will move to a small town to be with my mom. Part of why I started Rochambeau is so that when we move I will have a grounding cord to keep me centered.
Yes to surrendering! I will doing a lot of that very soon.
xox
Constance
I LOVE the blanket and the story and years behind it make it all the more special. Congrats on being back where you belong.
Hugs,
Karla
30’s are the new 20’s! I’m 32 and I love it…Youth is wasted on the young! Glad to hear everythings all better! xo Lavona
And so the girl can crochet as well, is there no end to your talents?
Like your other readers, I am really happy you are through with this huge ordeal you’ve been dealing with. I admire the grace and manner you found to accomplish this time! It is an inspiration to us all.
Oh how wonderful that gorgeous blanket will be when it’s finished, when you can watch a movie or read a book with it, smile and say “Ahhhhh”. I bet the little country birds missed you.
Yea! Glad you’re home and everything is settled (mostly) in your other home. That amazing woman of the drawers in the one picture – did you make that? It is totally awesome! Hugs!
Jill
YAY for you!!! I missed you:):) I can’t wait to win your Valentine’s Day giveaway!! heeeeheeee
xoxo…jenn
Vanessa, I’m afraid I’ve jinxed myself now!! Dear Giveaway Gods…I was just joking about FOR SURE winning Vanessa’s wonderful treats!! But I would really, really (really!) like to win:):) xoxo
That blanket is wild!!! I love it! It’s so you!! Oh my, what on earth did you do with all your things????
A little change of scenery, enforced or otherwise helps us to reconnect — we lose what we no longer need and we connect again with things we’ve forgotten (like your crochet)…it’s all part of the “balance” of life. Glad you are home!
I love your painting and your blanket! Very nice. I’m glad you’re doing well!
I got the goodies in the mail!
I will take pictures once it is in its new home! What a fun package it was!!
Isn’t ‘enLIGHTenment’ wonderful! Ahhhh….freedom from unnecessary objects…. ahhhhh…room to grow!
Sooo glad you worked it all out Vanessa!!!
Chucking out feels good too, in a way, like a snake shedding it’s skin. It’s good to be free.
Your state is beautiful. I just returned home from Phoenix today, and I was sad to wave goodbye to the Cacti and the lovely desert…in all its red, rocky goodness!
I did meet Gemma from “A Desert Garden” though…we had a delightful breakfast at “La Grande Orange”. Yummy!!!
Next time, I’ll meet you!
xoxo
Gillian
I love this, it feels so hopeful
Yay! So glad to see you back, Vanessa! You’ve been missed in the blogosphere.
So glad to hear everything is settling down. Strawberries are surely the height of suitcase fashion- as are those red spotted stockings your footman is wearing!
That crocheted blanket looks so warm and snuggly- anything brightly coloured is warmer.
Glad you are back in your cozy home, Miss V. It just sounds dreamy to have a country house. I think I would like it there. I live just on the outer edges of Portland, quiet enough but definitely not the country!
I was just peeking in for a moment as dear son is sick with a fever and I must get back to his little hot head…I’ll be back for the big fiesta on Valentines!?!?!!!!
Happiest of nights to you!
xo
I too have too many things! How did you know I needed one more little thing though. A pretty little heart bowl to put more things in!! Love it…love everything…love you, sweet friend! Thank you!
You have been tagged for the “My Country Memories” game, see here…
http://hoolatallulah.blogspot.com/2008/02/my-country-memories.html
Congrats on returning to the country! It is truly the best place to be…every day an inspiration!
Isn’t life just a constant lesson?? I sure find that to be true…
I like your philosophy of taken it one row at a time. Happy that you are back in your fanciful world and please PLEASE don’t keep art hanging…call him!
i love the colors in that blankie! beautiful! glad thing
oopsie! (i had computer hiccup there!) glad things are getting back to getting settled again for you!
Wow, that is the coolest blanket ever!!!!
I am so happy you are feeling better about everything…Good job!
oh Vanessa, what a wonderful, colorful life you live (even amongst the craziness of packing and unpacking and clearing out!)
and, I would of NEVER guessed that you are in your 30’s…I am quickly approaching mine and you are inspiring me! Anyways, love the strawberry suitcase. I need one of those!
~*~*~*~
So glad that is over! (big sigh here!) And of course you being you were able to find the silver lining. So glad! And I loooooove your crochet! Gorgeous colors. funny about those projects that never end, sort of like the gift that keeps on giving! Be back for love day tomorrow!
Maybe your soul is blanketed in rainbow colors after the “rain” that visited your home – that’s why the colors appeal to you now.
Okay, that’s way too deep from someone as superficial as me, and you know it!!
Glad to hear you’re doing well, V!
D.
Miss Vanessa, I am SO glad that you are back!! I LOVE your crocheted blanket, it so reminds me of my Mom who also crocheted. She used to make me slippers when I was wee and I still love them today! She loved to crochet and so she would have loved your use of color, pattern and texture….I can’t wait to see the end result of your efforts! 🙂
The thing I most take away from this post and the thing I most struggle with is this…”And, truly, I kept repeating, it doesn’t matter what it cost, if I don’t love it, it’s outta here.” I have to get to that place that I can let things go forgetting what they cost! OY!
I love you Miss V. and I can’t wait to see what wonderful creations you are working on in your studio!
Glad you’re back home again, Vanessa. Just in time for you and Mr. Lovee to celebrate the day of the heart!
So happy that you remain optimistic in all your trials knowing that there’s a lesson to be learnt. Every piece of history a reminder of time past and the road ahead. How far have we come? For me, I need to put ‘organisation’ top of my agenda too. Loving your crochet blanket!