It’s been months now, maybe even close to a year as we renovate new space, closeout our places in Dallas, and relocate. This transition hasn’t been fast or easy, but it has been magnificently worth it.
In Dallas, as I sit in bed at night reading I hear planes landing at Love Field, cars with loud engines squealing out at red lights, dogs barking…barking…barking, emergency sirens, gun shots, and this is all at day’s end after leaf-blowers. If I had to stay in this density of noise the rest of my life, I think I would plunge into sadness. Instead the quiet of nature, bird songs, wandering deer, and challenges of garden gophers bring delight.
Moving or not, I hope this post inspires you, dear reader, to fearlessly go through what’s important, and not important. The COVID years were rough on everyone.
What you see above is one of my childhood portraits tossed in the trash bin. I will say, it was hard to let go, but what do I do with it? I’m not going to hang this in my house. In fact, it has been in hiding for 20-plus-years behind a cabinet. I will use a photo of it in a small digital book.
On top of the photo are patterns of rabbits, cats, dogs…everything created by my company. I don’t need to hang onto those either.
Nothing holds you back from the future like the weight of the past. For me, I’m keeping the best pieces of each memory, and letting everything else go. Nothing has to be perfect anymore, or the best—only comfortable.
As for Mac, he’s approved for a certified remote office with his company, Alex Brown. He will continue to have his office at the Crescent in Dallas, but will also have this remote home office.
In the last two years we’ve donated seven paintings to the Longview Museum of Art in Longview, Texas. Fine art has become too serious for our new lifestyle. The donated pieces are beautiful, and deserve to be seen and studied by more people than will ever come through our house.
We’ve added 1200 sf, and 28 windows to the house. It’s interesting to be creative at a time of shortage and limitation. We had to use basic 3 x 5 Lowe’s windows which created a cottage feel— a cozy feel.
A soft color palette is being created to go with our pine furniture. I consulted with Jacob Owens Designs. Type him into your YouTube search. His color knowledge is extensive and I highly recommend him. He saved us a lot of money by targeting select paint colors that worked for our lighting situation.
The colors have changed since this photo, but still within this soft range. Exact colors will not be known until they’re put in writing with the contractor.
This pink, Benjamin Moore 888 Valentine Memories, is for our vintage styled kitchen island.
The blue swatch has gone a bit darker from this photo. It’s now Benjamin Moore 1662, Mediterranean Sky, used for the front door, and flanking planters.
The whole house interior will be Benjamin Moore’s CC-30 Oxford White.
The exterior will be, Benjamin Moore’s OC-19 Seapearl.
In a future post I’ll talk about the technologies, or non-technologies, added to this house to help with whatever the future throws at us. We do own acreage to build on, and will do so when the world settles down. Right now, we are grateful for this house to help us leave the city, and ground into a life in nature.
Bea squeaks the “meows” at the end of the episode The Galloping Cat
on The Literary Catcast Podcast.
Thanks, Phebe, let the “pitchin’ ’” begin…as in years of stuff. Look forward to more moving wisdom🥰
Yes, we can do this! ~P
I can’t wait to be in nature!
YESSSSS!!!!
Great you have abandoned the city. My wife and I have only lived in town for very short periods. We live in a rural area that has grown up some during the 25 years we have been here. Still most of what we hear are natural noise, birdsong, deer, raccoons and opossum passing through. We are far enough from roadways not to hear much traffic noise. If we were younger, we would move to a farther more isolated property. Still at our age, late 70s, we are satisfied to spend our remaining life here. Good luck in your new place.
Hi George,
You made a wise choice to not live too long in cities. We are looking forward to this transition and the daily routine it will bring.
With friendship,
Phebe