Under a Blue Moon

Hi.

Happy September.  Erm.  Well.

Where in the heck did the time go??  I truly didn't mean to be gone for so long.  And I truly meant to have a more wow-like come back than this.  Blog redesign, increased focus, scintillating content.  

Yeah – that didn't happen.  

What did happen is Rick and I got a notion to move.  We thought we would test the waters by putting our house on the market and if nothing happened in this slow real estate market then we would take it off after a month and relist it in the Spring.  What ended up happening is we put it on the market on a Thursday and by Monday we had seven offers.  

So we have spent the last two months packing up our belongings and putting them in storage. Sorting through 12 years of accumulated treasures (some may have a different term for it) and marvelling at how much stuff one can accumulate.  We said goodbye to our chickens, shut off the lights and hit the road.  

Normal people would have another house lined up to move into.  We, on the other hand, decided we would take our time exploring different areas around Northern California and when the right house and location present itself we will buy something.  In the meantime we have taken over the upstairs of my mother in law's house.  We have run of a guest room, an office and a loft area.  The only belongings we brought with us are our bed, our clothes and a few oil paintings we didn't want to put in storage.

And Belle.  We brought Belle too.  My mother in law has a male cat so we have confined Belle to the upstairs (only one successful escape attempt so far) and she seems to be adjusting to her new home.  She hops up on an old wicker dresser and looks outside and wonders how she can get down there.  

The chickens were left behind.  The new owners, a lovely retired couple, said they would happily keep them and care for them.  Since there isn't room on the second floor here we decided that was the best option.

Anywhooo – just wanted to pop in and say hello.  I hope to chronicle our house hunting efforts and anything else that might cross my mind that I think is worth sharing.  I feel like we are at a completely new juncture of our life and if feels weird and scary and exciting.  So let's just see where this blog takes us.

See, Belle is adjusting:

Thank you for the emails enquiring on my whereabouts and general well-being.  I do appreciate them.

I'm not sure what I am going to be doing with this blog.   It's causing me angst lately.  I feel like my posts are unfocused and that I'm not spending the time I want to create interesting content.  

I am going to take a break for the month of August and then decide if I want to revamp it or just pack it in.  

I truly appreciate all the support and encouragement and friendship I've received over the past six years.

I hope everyone is having a splendid Summer.  

Flickr Favorites (please click link to see the source of these beautiful images)

• For the typography geek in your life:  Typography sketchbooks
• I love enameled ware.  On my wishlist:  Lidded mug, new thermometer and an excellent way to start your day
• I thought the little secret message in a bottle was sweet but I think the sellers' philosophy about how and why they do what they do was even sweeter
• I believe it.  Dirt can make you happy
• There is something kind of foreboading about Edward Hopper's Cape Cod Evening.  The dark trees surrounding the house, the closed off posture of the woman and the dog distracted by something (someone?) approaching.  This clever video captures it

Happy Friday the 13th!  I plan on staying as cool as possible.  It has been hot!  Like 108 degrees kind of hot.  Kind of takes the starch right out of a person.

Jessica from Such Pretty Things does a blog feature called Target Tuesdays that I just love.  She always finds really cute things (love the flatware!) from one of my favorite stores.  This is my little homage to Target Tuesdays.

Last year I missed out these enameled cutlery caddies.  I was sure that it would be an unrequited love since it was part of their seasonal offerings.  But today I was browsing the aisles and found it!  They are with the seasonal picnic/beach items.  

I have no intention of using it for cutlery – I wanted it for housekeeping supplies.  I don't see the white online but they do have a round version and some in other colors.  Or you could pop into your local Target and see if they have them in stock.  Don't wait too long and miss out like I did last year!