I’ve been working on my house on weekends, and it’s looking pretty great (partly because my painters finally fit me into their crammed schedule, so the interior walls are now all finished). Here are some before and after photos, so you can see the progress.
I’ve done a bunch of other things that don’t show in the photos above, including insulating the garage and giving it a pegboard wall for tool storage, replacing the old mercury-based thermostats with new programmable ones, and replacing dated and leaky faucets in the upstairs bathroom. I’ve never done electrical or plumbing work on my own before, so I’ve had some interesting learning. Turns out I’m not bad at it.
What’s next? In this reflective time as the days shorten in fall, I’ve been assessing where I am and what I hope to do, and reading and thinking about new and old ideas. By the time Winter Solstice comes around, the sun shifts on its apparent journey south, and lengthening nights yield to lengthening days again, my aim is to have sorted through what I want to carry with me into the year to come and what I’ll let go.
One thing I’ve already decided on is that I’m going to give myself the gift of a self-directed writing retreat this winter, so I can focus on the next book.
I’ve found a charming cottage in a town about an hour from the Guy’s farm in western Colorado where I’ll hide away. (“Charming” because it’s got a sweet front porch and steeply pitched metal roof shaded by two enormous old cottonwood trees; “cottage” because it’s all of 672 square feet in size, perfect for the one of me.)
And yes, it needs some work, so I’ll bring my tools with me so I can putter between writing sessions.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! If you need practice finding things to be grateful for in these times, this post from two years ago might be useful.
Blessings to you and yours.
Beth Davidow says:
Wow! Wow! Wow! What a beautiful, comforting transformation.
Susan Tweit says:
Thank you, Beth. I intended to do some other projects too, but I think I’ll wait until after my writing retreat. 🙂
Susan says:
It looks and sounds like . . . that life is good. As it should be, for you! Love where you live. Perfect! Xo susan
Susan Tweit says:
Thanks, Susan! It’s not perfect, but I’m not after perfection. This house needed love, and I needed a place to land. So we’ve been good for each other. xo to you too.
Connie Spittler says:
What happy photos, Susan. You create warm, inviting spaces wherever you go. I especially loved the sleeping bag bedroom contrasting with present day and image of you as photographer. Every room reflected you, your treasures, and inner writerly soul. Plus your construction talents increase with each project and may not always be visible since many are hidden behind the walls, but add to comfort and home pleasures.
Susan Tweit says:
Connie, what a lovely compliment! I especially like the before and after of my main bedroom too. I spent five weeks sleeping in that sleeping bag on the floor, and I can tell you that when the movers finally arrived with my bed, I was was thrilled. For me, working with the house “guts,” the hidden infrastructure, is very satisfying even if no one else sees it. But my creative side also really loves the art of adding visible beauty to each room, and allowing each space to show off its essential beauty.