One day while working in my studio I became aware of a rosy glow surrounding me. This was not a common occurrence, I might add. I looked out the window and noticed this beautiful color was tinting everything outside as well. As I walked outside, I looked up into the most beautiful vibrant blue and rose colored sky. It was rapidly changing as I watched so I grabbed my camera and raced upstairs to the top deck to shoot a few pictures before the sun set. Gorgeous sunsets may be daily fare for some of you, but not where I live. I would love to think I could enjoy this view from my deck on a regular basis.

Please excuse the digression but I found more pictures from the "early days" and wanted to post this one of the back porch as it appeared when I purchased the house.

To me this is always the point of relief. The decision to make a change can be reversed, but once you reach this stage there is no turning back. No more "should I?" or "shouldn't I?" Now I have to make this happen.

This was a major exterior project that turned out to be a great addition to the living space off the kitchen. Many family events spilled into this added space. It is still a lovely place to browse through the latest shelter magazine, hold a yard sale, or chat with a friend over a cup of tea. (A previous post shows you the next stage of completion.)

In honor of my 64th birthday, I am creating a blog. Why now? Because I'm beginning a very new phase of life and I'm interested in documenting that process.

I have decided to sell my beautiful three story home with it's delightful detached studio and buy a building where I can create a living space for myself on the 2nd story. Plans are still sketchy but ideallyI would have space on the first floor for a studio.

Thirty years of memories were created here. More on that later. I lived many places before moving into this home but only as a renter. It was a very liberating experience to own a home. It became my canvas and unleased a creative spark that only got stronger as the years passed. I was often teased as I continued to decorate, redecorate, and then redecorate again. There was always a new idea, a fabric too beautiful to pass up, a different period of furniture I wanted to live with a while.

A few years after buying my home I added the back porch and deck. Later I added a pergola to the upper deck and recently rebuilt the lower deck making it larger.

This is what my garage looked like 30 years ago when I bought my home. It had it's problems; a roof that leaked no matter how much I spent on repairs, huge manual doors that swept half the driveway as I pushed them open one at a time, and a few rotten boards to boot.

A few years ago I replaced the garage with this terrific studio complete with HVAC and bathroom facilities. Ohhh, the light from the windows...what a joy. It was truly the best thing I have ever done for myself. I spent many hours working and playing here and those hours flew by as they do when we are in our zone.