a matter of perspective

Any of you who have built before will  understand when I say that during the course of construction, the perspective changes over time.  Usually it goes something like this...

oh my gosh it's huge... what have we done??

oh no - it's too small.. what have we done???

oh - I guess it's just right.. what was I worried about?

Then the "honeymoon" period with the house begins.  Everything is bright, shiny, and new.  Love is in the air...

...and then the house starts bugging you.  Things aren't functioning like you thought they would, and the house isn't 'perfect'.  You start beating yourself up over things you could have done differently, and complaining about things that make you crazy.  Things aren't getting done and the vision that you had in your head isn't happening.

The to-do list stares accusingly at you every day, but you just can't do one. more. thing. on. this. house.

(By the way my vision always includes the house being sparkling clean, perfectly decorated, and the kids are impeccably behaved... and wait, is that someone baking cookies for me while I curl up on the sofa with a good book?)

Building is a roller coaster ride.. one that we love, but it isn't for everybody.  In the end it's all worth it, because we get to create exactly what we want.  On the downside of that, we have no one but ourselves to blame when things don't turn out.

Work on the house this summer has been moving slow.  We are still working out the kinks inside, and things aren't perfect.  But it's exactly what we wanted, so I know if we give it a little time we'll get there.  Our perspective will change again, as we resolve some problems and cross some projects off the list.  We'll settle into our long-term relationship with the house.. the kind of love that accepts the flaws and quirks for what they are.

I will admit that for me, this process seems to get more dramatic with each house we build (this project was number 4).  I think that I get harder on myself, and my standards get higher.  

So I think I'll work on a series of posts about each room, how it is functioning, what I would do differently, and my future plans for it.  Also I'd like to update you about how our heating/cooling systems are doing as well as post on some of the little projects that are happening around here.

So, maybe I'm crazy.. but this is the process for me adjusting to a new house... how is it for you?  Am I the only one who pictures life as a magazine spread?

check this out

And what is this, you ask?  Why it's a gorgeous glass and silicone reusable water bottle I say!  Can you believe I WON this little pink creation over at pretty little green things, a fantastic blog which I read regularly.  Petra is also a contributing writer at Pure Green Magazine, a beautiful Canadian online mag which you should totally check out!

bkr

Now, don't get too jealous.. but these just launched in the US, and I can't seem to find anywhere in Canada that stocks them yet.  So you might not be able to get one.  That's right, I just might be the very first Canadian to own a BKR.  I am super-cool.  Actually, I guess it's Petra who's super-cool, since she held the contest!

I have to say that the bottle is really pretty, and although I haven't dropped it yet, the silicone does seem very cushiony.  I love the glass-bottle opening.  So much nicer feeling (and tasting) than metal, and no annoying complicated push/sip valves.  I can carry this at work, and it looks appropriate.  It fits in my cupholder.  And if I do break it, they'll replace it for FREE.

The whole thing can go in the top rack of the dishwasher, and although it says the silicone sleeve doesn't have to come off, I found I got a lot of moisture (and a little food grit) under the sleeve.  So in the future I will take the sleeve off to wash it.  Because it bothers me, and that's the kind of girl I am.  You're probably much more tolerant and would save yourself some work by just throwing it right in there.  You're smart like that.

spring has sprung

Here it is.. proof that spring has finally sprung up here in the forest.  It is glorious.  But WOW it sure took it's sweet time getting here.  

So here it is, for all of you who gave me a hard time about living in perpetual winter.. 

Proof of life in the forest.  Yes, that's a wild strawberry plant.  Don't be jealous.

There is no more hiding from all the work to be done.  The time is now.

Hmmm... let's build rock towers instead.

Tuesday Reading

I came across this image on the newly reconstructed Pure Green Blog yesterday.  It made me giggle.. hope it does the same for you.  Love the chubby boxer half way down the line.  

"we have to stop cutting trees, this is getting serious"

If you have never read the Pure Green Blog, or Pure Green Living Magazine you should give them a try!  They have a team of people that do terrific work on the blog and magazine.. I find them to be a great source of information and inspiration.  And the sites are both really pretty.. and as anyone who knows me will tell you, I am all about the pretty.

making changes

You may have noticed that I have been playing around with the design of the blog, and doing a little organizing.  Yes, I know, I have better things I could be doing.  But organizing is a bit of a compulsion for me so when I see things in disarray I just can't help but put it to rights.

In doing this I have categorized all the previous posts into the tabs at the top, so that if you are interested solely in the house construction the related posts are all sorted into one spot.  This also allows for me to collect some tutorials and DIY projects together in the "made with love" category.

Anyways, all this to apologize for the Standard Magazine post re-posting itself today for no apparent reason.  Very mysterious.

I can't post without including a picture

Let me know if you like the changes... I have to say it is feeling much more like "me" these days!

Standard Magazine

Here's a lovely little magazine for you to browse this rainy Thursday..

Standard Magazine is a magazine in which green and sustainable are the "standard"

One of my favorite finds in there is the Etsy shop Housing Authority.  Isn't this chair fabulous?

Add caption

Enjoy!

the front entry

The front entry of the house has been a flexible space for us because I don't have a specific piece of furniture for that spot.  It is next to the dining room/kitchen, and between the front and back doors.  When we first moved in it was an art station for the kids...

what a mess

Then, as more boxes got unpacked, a new spot was created for the art station, and the entry sat empty for a while.. then I realized how CRAZY that was, when space is so tight.  I decided to put it to good use as a sewing centre for me, while I get some projects done.

a little better

What I would like to do, long term, is to put a nice long teak server here, a rug on the floor with some floor pillows for little readers.  Add a funky coat rack for guests, paint the door a fun colour (green?yellow?) and some whimsical accessories and plants.

something like this

But in the meantime, sewing awaits.. what do you think.. do you like it?  A girl can always dream, right?