Dream Gestation

Has it been 9 months? ...since the possibility of care-taking this spot of earth was conceived.

Or has it been 6 years?...since M&I realized that the dreams we had held, would now take shape together.

No, it had to be at least 23 years?...back when M began to design and dream about building a house for somebody he'd love. (Ironically I had never dreamed of or cared which dwelling I'd have- except a tropical hut)

Perhaps it was longer ago when ancestral pioneers set sail or set course for new places, taking the challenge of building and piecing together their lives, a home.

Whatever the gestation, we're tending a dream here. And very practically, just eager for a place to call home. It's a challenge for two adventuresome souls to pick a spot on earth to hang our hats, but here we are.

It might seem like laughably little to show for all our activity: a cabin-sized box with a pointed roof, some windows, doors and rooms. Really? It took that long to come up with...this? 



But no one documented our learning curve of real estate, the Virginia residential and international building codes, and building software; no one witnessed the mighty winds created by uneven communication, tiredness, late-night impasses, new ideas, the big decisions, life-giving choices, and break-throughs of peace that marked our progress.

Design on many levels

A man designing a box who never knew that there was one.

Staking out ideas with friend / contractor who slogged with us through stage 1: Design.

The first time we staked out house dimensions and due South

So to the onlooker, I say, look for what's not in the drawings to tell the story:  myriad building methods we decided not to do; the materials we researched and chose against; the space and walls and angles we eliminated; the debt size that we decided not to sign on; and the resentments we chose not to allow between us, the pressured schedule we took ourselves out of.

Two individuals bound and working together...it's not a smooth process. But it is how we make a home.

Land-ho!

Back to Blogging

I'm back to the blog! and ready to write. 

Our 'tree trunk' has a few more growth rings, including one for 2016:   

We're hoping to build a house this year, as God gives us grace and provisions.  

I aim to keep readers posted as things take shape. 

It is a fascinating experience and I have learned much along the way already.

M is the designer of this house, in fact he has drawn up a number of houses which helped us to finally land on this plan. 

It's an intensely creative process with many constraints and moving parts, 

which both inspire and frustrate and amaze.

Welcome along!

Piano

Five dear little persons ages 8-12.

Each student reported having fun playing their piece at the recital

At the tender age of seven, I was given the gift of a means of musical expression: the piano! With the support and investment of my parents and the skilled hand of Beverly T., piano became my first love. In a letter from Mrs. T. this week, she is learning to knit in her upper 80's!

Now, almost 30 years on, I had the joy of passing that on, at the same price per lesson for five beginning students. It was delightful to observe their growth and individuality. We celebrated with a casual recital after ten weeks of learning.

Thanks to the students and their families for the opportunity of teaching piano lessons for the first time!

It took awhile to get a photo in focus

Beauty, Music...are free gifts...