May Showers bring...

Some news from me! (Photos here are from our first good rainy spring day. During a pause in the rain, my wee ones had enormous fun doing some puddle jumping!)

We ordered a new computer. Thank goodness. It's not the Mac that I would have hoped for, but it'll work. A whole lot better than this "can I borrow the laptop again?" thing that is happening right now!

I'm leaving tomorrow for the parenting conference that I'm giving a talk at. Oh, my. I am so nervous.

And finally, I think we've found a place to live! It all rests on our references now. ;) It's a pretty sweet little house with a great big backyard and a fantastic kitchen. As with any house (especially when renting), there are compromises to be made. It doesn't have a fireplace, which I really thought I'd never be able to live without -- but I guess I will, and it's only two bedrooms, so the play/creative/art space for the children as well as what will be my own creative space are in a dark basement. We'll have to figure out ways of brightening it up (and we haven't talked to the landlords about painting yet, so I don't know if that's a possibility or not) without spending a whole bunch of money. It's important to me that we do manage to make the space comfortable and workable for our needs, though, because obviously that's one of the reasons we're moving out of this teeny place.

But lest I leave you on a "we're moving into a dark basement" note -- the backyard! It's fantastic! With trees! And a garden! and a wooden swingset! And the kitchen! It's so spacious! With a gas stove! And there are hardwood floors throughout the house! Which I grew up with, and wanted to have once again so much. So we're pretty excited. 

Comments

[amy]

Love that photo of the children puddle jumping! Good luck on yr workshop. You should put it together in a post for all of us :)

[emily]

oh grace! wow. first of all. speaking at the conference. you'll be wonderful, i know. because you're you. never sure whether public speaking falls into the "break a leg" category of theater. so do, if it does. and don't if it doesn't.

and the house! hooray. can't wait to see pictures of your family living happily inside.

(and i miss you.) xo.

[molly]

oh grace! I'm so excited for you about the new place! It sounds wonderful. must be so good to have that weight off your shoulders! I can't wait to hear more about the fixing up part.

I'll be thinking of you this weekend at your conference. I'm sure that you will be great, because just you being you is so inspiring. You have much wisdom and such a sweet spirit to share with so many people. I can't wait to hear how it goes and only wish I could sneak in the back and listen, too!

xo.

[kristena]

Good luck with the conference and the move! Sounds like a nice place to call home.

By the way, we just bought an extra computer with our tax refund because we were driving each other crazy fighting over the laptop!

[Mama Urchin]

Hooray on the house! It sounds like a good move. I'll be thinking of you as you "talk." Good luck!

[kirsten]

good luck - i wish i could hear your talk! and crossing fingers here for your house!

[sarah]

Congratulations! It's so exciting to move into a new house and make it home. It sounds like it will become home very quickly.

[Jodi Weelborg]

Sounds like fun to move! (sort of) Good luck and I am sure it will be perfect. Isn't this rain just wonderful??? Sort - of... I'm supposed to take engagement pictures for a couple tonight, hmmmm... we may have to reschedule this one.

[Katie]

Best of luck with the conference!

And congrats on finding a home. The backyard sounds like heaven.

[Bluebirdbaby]

Oh Grace!! The house sounds fantastic! I am so happy for you. I hope everything works out. Will there be pictures to follow? I hope so. Good luck at the talk tomorrow. I'm sure you'll be great :)

[Alicia A.]

Can't wait to see the house. It sounds perfectly cozy to me!

And you'll be great at your speaking engagement. I know it.

[Colleen]

Congratulations Grace, on the new home and computer too and good luck and have great fun at the conference. Can't wait to hear all about it.

[Tamara]

Good luck for the conference. It is such a wonderful opportunity for you. My dad says when he started public speaking that he focussed on the audience and wanting to GIVE them something, rather than himself and his nervousness. After all that is what you are up there for to GIVE your information. Your audience will be such an appreciative one too.

Also, wonderful news on the home front. The kitchen is always a wonderful place for crafting and outdoor too in the summer. You could set up the children's crafting areas in these spots.

How they will love a backyard.

[erin]

yeah! so happy you found a place! it sounds wonderful.

you'll do great at the conference - i have no doubt!

[Kate]

Oh, I'm so thrilled to hear about the house, fingers crossed it all goes off without a hitch.

And best of luck with the public speaking...personally I can't think of anything worse. I'm sending you all the courage that could possibly fit through the computer lines. You'll do great. I just know it!

[melody]

Wonderful, wonderful news about the house! It sounds like their will surely be some compromises, but it also sounds like it's going to be perfectly charming and lovely! And a garden! Just in time for the growing season! So perfect. I'm so happy for you!

And I know you will be just fabulous at the conference!

[Caren]

Grace, I am delighted for you about this house! That is so exciting... A yard is worth a thousand bedrooms (okay, perhaps I'm exaggerating a wee bit, but you get the point!) And you'll be great at your workshop... I wish I could go. Do a blog post on here for us, please!

[claudia]

Great news! I hope it all works out for you because you sound very happy about this house!

Have fun at the conference. You'll be great!

[Mary Beth]

Wonderful news about your house, Grace! I'll be thinking good thoughts for you. And good luck at the conference--I know you'll be so happy and relieved when it is over. I'm sure you'll be great--I wish I could attend.

[Iris]

Good morning Grace! I'm so pleased for you that everything seems to be fitting into place. The house sounds fantastic - life is so much easier with a bit of space. We moved two years ago from a tiny upstairs apartment where we weren't allowed to use the garden. It used to break my heart to see my little girl looking down at the child downstairs on her swing. We went from having three rooms to having three spare rooms in the new house and a huge garden. It was actually a bit overwhelming at first, but we got used to it VERY quickly! Nevertheless the kids spend all of their time in the kitchen, sitting room or garden and we do our crafting in the kitchen or on the table on the terrace as Tamara said above. You'll make your situation work well for you, I'm sure of it.

The conference sounds very exciting. Can't wait to hear a bit more about it. Oh and if you're doing an international tour let me know well in advance!!

Take care Grace and have a wonderful weekend.

[heather]

congratulations on the new house - i know you've been hoping for a new nest to settle into. sounds like this is the one! i cannot wait to see pictures of those hardwood floors and your kitchen...

best wishes for a splendid time this weekend. how i wish i could be there to hear your sage words on parenting... good luck grace, and safe travels.

[Heather]

That IS very exciting. I'm glad you found one you like.

[Lauren]

Best of luck this weekend - I am sure you will inspire the parents in attendance (wish I were one of them). Congratulations on the house! A backyard and warm inviting kitchen will create a lovely center of your home.

[leslie]

oh, has the parenting conference happened yet?
i sure wish i could be in that audience. i am sure the talk will come naturally to you.
yippee on your find! i am so happy for you......it sounds like a wonderful space to create memories!
happy happy mothers day to you!

[Stacey]

There is always a secret excitement of starting again when moving. If the landlord says no to painting you can always use fabric to cover the walls (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/look/top-10-affordable-wall-treatments-048136)
if you ever have to leave it cleans up with warm water.

[Berlinswhimsy]

Yay Grace! The house sounds like it has great possibilities. I am always one to choose a big and workable kitchen over all else (but that's me)! And the talk----good luck!

Happy Mother's Day!

[Liz]

Don't be nervous. Just be yourself! Remember, they invited you to speak - because they know how much you have to offer. You'll be great!

[Jodi Weelborg]

Sorry to bother you - but I paid the downpayment to you through paypal and it is still "unclaimed." Did you get it??? Let me know ASAP.

[Thimbleina]

I hope your parenting conference went well. I have read your blog for a while (this is the first time that I have left a comment)and find the contents very inspirational and I am sure that you will have been so at your talk.

[tiennie]

I hope you get your house! I also hope you had a lovely Mother's Day!

[Emily]

I just wanted to post and say that I love your blog! I check it all the time and it is so inspirational!

[brooke]

I love the rainy day pics!

[Carrie]

Congratulations on the new home! I'm sure you'll make it yours in no time.

I love that first photo with the tree crisp in the foreground.