5 p.m. I’m sitting in the new house by myself, enjoying briefly the sweet thought of it being my own. It’s empty except for two camping chairs Skye put in the sunroom. I’m sitting in one of them, with a Corona Light in the drink holder built into the left arm. The floor refinishers have left, after day one of sanding off the caramel-colored patina, and the radon mitigator is here.
The floors smell new and look vintage where the oak boards have settled in and separated slightly. I can’t believe anyone would want to cover them up. It is, as the radon mitigator said, “too good to be true” to have floors that look this good underneath carpet. But we’re refinishing them anyway, because of one room. The floor was painted white and underneath the white paint was carpet glue. I’m not sure what went on there, but the floor guys are like detectives. They are giving me a history on the place just by the clues they’re finding in the floors in each room.
I have gone around to all the quarter rounds, nailed to the trim surrounding the house, with a crowbar and removed them. Judging by the nail lengths, thicknesses and angles in which they were hammered, they seem to have been installed by four different people. They are painted the same color as the trim. I want to replace the painted quarter round with simply stained oak, just like the floor. The way it’s supposed to be. I like how that makes me sound like a floor snob. It’s hawt, I know.
The radon mitigator is drilling a hole in the brick on the North side of this fortress I call the third little pig’s house. He looks like a pig, with the droplets of sweat beading down his forehead and cheeks. It’s really not that hot out.
The house is thick masonry all the way around. I’m saving the brick cutouts he’s making, placing them atop the brick garden wall that circles the North corner of the yard and wraps along the cement patio in back. The boys will enjoy putting them together like a puzzle when they discover the pieces in the vines.
I haven’t decided if the vines in the brick garden box along the back of the house are staying or going because, as yet, we have not been formally introduced. I’m too busy taking in all the other plants and figuring out where to put the most treasured transplants from the old house. For years, I designed and cultivated the garden along the walkway in front of the old house. It has matured into a lovely entrance. In fact, this Spring is its showiest year ever, just in time for the open house, when the red tulips along the front held out for their big moment. I gave them standing ovations repeatedly from the kitchen window.
I make my rounds in the morning light and take pictures of what’s in bloom each week. I don’t want to forget anything about these gardens. Plants that were weak bloomers in the ten Springs we’ve lived here, are successful bouquets this year. Plants that are on their way out, are giving it all they have.
At the new house, the gardens are the previous owner’s taste and stories. A robin’s nest, that contains three beautiful blue eggs, is situated at the top of a wreath, faded and weathered, that I was about to yank off the brick it is nailed into. The seller must have seen that in my eyes when we walked the property together on her last day. She was quick to tell me, when she saw my eyes taking in the wreath’s immense ugliness, that she “didn’t get a chance to change the ribbon.”
Oh, as if that’s all it needed was a little ribbon freshening.
The thought bubble above my head read bonfire! I made no mention of my intention, for fear of hurting her feelings, but did make a mental note to ask Google, when I got back home, if robins needed to return to their nest after they could fly. And if so, for how many months will I have to put up with that wreath? I googled different variations of “robins nest, ugly wreath, and how long”. The answer is forever.
Before closing up the new house and returning to the old, I reached my camera up to the nest and took at least a dozen photos of the eggs, viewed the lot, and took a dozen more because they are so breathtaking. I want to document this symbol of a new beginning with a daily photo.
My beloved hydrangeas are on the list of plants I’d like to bring to the new house but I am afraid they are too far into the season and I would harm them beyond repair if I disturb them this late. I want to place one on each side of the shed, just like I saw in a picture of Kurt Vonnegut, taken on Cape Cod. When the bushes grow large enough, I’ll place a chair between them, just like in the picture. I’ll imagine him sitting out there while I write in the sunroom in the mornings with my coffee.
I plan to post, on the inside of the shed, magazine photos of all my favorite writers. The shed is mine. Girrrlz Only. I have mentally peed all the way around it and no one is allowed to cross the pee line except me…and anyone I want to invite inside my special space — who I will, for obvious reasons, refrain from telling about the invisible pee line they have had the unmentionable honor of crossing. I don’t think they’ll see the awesomeness.
The shed is a one-of-a-kind. It has windows that open, skylights, gutters and electricity. I could put a mini fridge in there and an Indian rug. I could put a bed out there when I needed my own room. John Denver posters on the ceiling. (That was for Lori.) A record player. Maybe one of those sixties wicker womb chairs that hangs from a chain. Maybe running water. And my own phone. It’ll be like having my own apartment!!! I’ll be the envy of housewives every where.
Because you know that’s what brought all this on. I just needed my own room.
Subscribe to the
RSS feed or 
Email Updates.Help us promote this article by bookmarking it to your favorite social network via an icon below:
Of course if I put a sign on my door that said “Girls only” my wife would get mad. Especially when I chase her out so I can get something done.
Oh I am jealous of your girl shed. I wish I had a place to mentally pee around and only allow those special people inside. I would hang a sign inside that said ‘Girls only’ just because I could and it would make me feel like a little rascal girl.
I’m jealous of your girlcave. I want one so baaaaaad!
Have fun decorating the who new space.
YOUR OWN ROOM! I’ve been telling my family for years that I want my own room! Just a little room, all for me, with just my stuff, where no one else is ever allowed. Husband has his man-cave in the basement. And he takes up all of the garage. Daughter has her room and pretty much dominates the upstairs with all of stuffy-stuff. Sigh. One of these days, people … one of these days! Congratulations on your own, girl! Like Tawni and the others, I need pictures to live vicariously through someone who’s livin’ the dream!
Oh my gosh–you have a shed? With electricity and skylights? I am soooo jealous! I would love my own little shed with windows and lights and place to get away! AHHHHH! Bliss! Too cool. Definately post pictures so I can drool over the flowers and cool girrrlz only space. Happy nesting and getting everything the way you like it.
I’ve been a gypsy most of my life. Moved hundreds of times-3grade schols 3 highschools, then the navy, then the ’60s. I’ve been where I am now for 7 years, and they won’t get me out of here except in a pine box! Congrats onyer new digs-I do know the excitement, and am happy for you!Especially yer “G-Spot” (Girrrrlzzzzz only)
Today I took pictures of our industrial-size mailbox at work with an interior wall-to-wall bird nest built inside of it. Like Tawni, I want to see the whole slew of projects as they happen. I haven’t moved in about 25 years, but you make me recall that there are some good things about it. By the way, the lady that had just moved in next door to your old place has made an offer on the place next door to your new one.
Wow. Amy has a stalker with MONEY!
I’ve always wanted one of those!!
It’s funny how thinks work out, Troy, but now I absolutely love that neighbor. Turns out they’re really cool people. They just don’t like my dog using their lawn as a bathroom. I don’t get that. But whatev. ;-p
Love all the blooms & congrats on the new space:)
I love having a new house to create and change and put my mark on. Enjoy it and get that space of your own, it is absolutely essential!! Happy days ahead…..
All I can think of when you mention the shed is United States of Tara.
Of course, if you’ve never seen this show my comment makes ZERO sense.
It’s kind of the story of my life.
Congrats on the new house.
I do understand Having A Place of One’s Own. I now have a Whole Apartment of My Own, and I have decorated according to my own personal whims: the famous Shrekskin couch, the chandelier silhouette decal on the wall behind, mirrors everywhere, flowers, greens, pictures arranged the way I want them, my antique books out and on display… Me. Me. Cozy like crazy, c’est moi.
Sounds shabby chic!! I want to see pictures, Carol!!
Congratulations on the new house!!
BTW – last year a robin built a nest inside my garage and laid some eggs (the door was only left open for two days, I swear!). It only took a month or so for the babies to hatch and leave – you’ll be rid of the wreath in no time.
Oh Aims….! I cannot wait to visit! and, especially, cross the invisible pee line into the Girrrlz Only Room…
I can’t wait to hold you by the wrist and pull you into Girrrlz Only so you can look around at my hippie den. The hippie den with the John Denver poster on the ceiling.
Sooooo yummy!! And lovely tulips!!
You have such a gift w/ making a space your own, the house (& esp. the shed!!) will rock the world almost before I can mentally trace your pee line!
Mentally tracing my mentally drawn pee line! Because we are so familiar with telekinetic exploration. Is that the right word? Familiar?
Great blog, and congratulations on the new house. Just think of all the memories you’ll make there. Take time to make it your own. I can smell the cookies baking and the Christmas (pine) tree now! Can’t wait to see this beauty!
I can see the cookies being delivered on my special penguin plates to the neighborhood kids gathered around my kitchen table. First thing I’m going to hang up are the party lights in the back yard. Starting with the Girrrlz Only shed.
Ha! I know and love that wonderful picture of Kurt Vonnegut. Saw it about a year ago.
As for your shed — every person needs private space. My wife and I live in a fairly spacious house and no longer have anyone living at home, so we each have a large bedroom in an east wing we use as personal offices. I could almost put a bowling alley in mine. We certainly are free to walk in and out of each others’ places at will, but we’ve always had an understanding that this freedom is not equivalent to an invitation to invade.
Being a technologist, I have a bank of computers in my office, comfortably arrayed as I need them. Not long ago my wife began having with her elderly iMac, which was not performing well enough to do what she wanted to do. This led to her wanting to come in and use one of mine — by the hour. This was not good, as I have projects going. Although funds are extremely tight right now, I bought her a brand new iMac, partly to solve her performance problem, but mostly to get her out of my space. Right now it’s sitting on my desk, and I’m using it to compose this reply, but it’s going into her office sometime this morning.
We have space for visitors, too. Just last month we had old friends visit us for eight days. They occupied the roomy fourth bedroom — in the basement!
Congratulations on the new home. Moving to new digs is always one of life’s most momentous occasions.
More pictures, my dearest! I want pictures to go along with my vicariously living through you, please. I need to see the new house, the floors being refinished, and ESPECIALLY the Girrrlz Only room. (So jealous! OMG! Squeak!) We will need “before” pictures so we can truly appreciate all of the fabulous things you do to your new home.
That is the coolest picture of Kurt Vonnegut I’ve ever seen. Three of my favorite things are in that picture: Kurt Vonnegut, blue hydrangeas and a gnome. (The fact that the gnome is riding a pig is just bonus.) Amazing.
I’m so happy for you. Congratulations on being in your new home. (:
@Tawni, “Three of my favorite things are in that picture: Kurt Vonnegut, blue hydrangeas and a gnome. (The fact that the gnome is riding a pig is just bonus.)”
I KNOW, RIGHT??! *high fives Tawni* That pic is definitely going in Girrrlz Only.
I will feed you photographs. I will. They are like potato chips. You can’t just have one or two or three.