Bright Shiny

This round of remodeling is complete. Kitchen-hallway-back yard. I am going to take some pictures of everything this week. I am also going to make the center column of this blog a bit wider so that the photos can be bigger. I took a lot of photos of wildflowers over the weekend and they just need to be bigger. Summer is so beautiful lately it deserves bigger.

I'm feeling very emotional about the house lately and I don't know why. Or maybe I do know why. Having all of these people here this past month working on it for us has reminded me sometimes of being in the hospital. With people taking care of you, repairing things, making things better, doing things you don't know how to do. I've had that thought several times, especially when my incredibly cool neighbor insisted on installing our new kitchen faucet for me. He was under the sink, covered in rusty droppings from the old faucet, banging his head on the cabinet, endlessly patient and competent. I stood by, nervously (apologetically) useless, quivery and hopeful. It was the last thing that needed fixing. He asked me to hand him a wrench; I almost passed it to him using two hands: Here's the wrench, and a little pink piece of my heart: Thank you.

Comments

[seashoreknits]

Gratitude - the second most important virtue next to love.
I love your sweet and grateful heart :-)

[Anilia]

Knowing you are blessed is such a wonderful, quivering place. So delicate and beautiful.

[Annie]

Love, gratitude, and trust ... to put yourself or your home in someone elses hands is to trust that they won't 'drop' anything and that all will be well. And all those amazing people who you trusted to work on your house delivered it safely back to you, and it is looking so lovely :)

[Melissa P]

Celebrations of summer beauty do deserve bigger. And all the little things, like generous neighbors, are what make each celebration sweeter. Your consistent celebration of life is always inspiring.

[wasabi honey bee]

This post makes me smile : ) I know how you feel.

[Amanda]

I don't think anyone could say it or describe that feeling better. Often when I think of the future and how hard I've worked to get where I am now, my eyes get a little misty.
It takes a lot to realize you deserve everything you are receiving - Enjoy it all because you deserve it all :)

[Debbie Deatherage]

I think you are sooo cool & enjoy your blog and your creative-ness! Now, we get to say "Thank you," for sharing your little pieces of heart with your readers. Your sense of gratitude makes us thankful for the niceties of life!

[Mona]

What a beautiful post. It just brings tears to my eyes. I, too, know that vulnerable, thankful feeling. I also wanted to ask about your runner. I like the small, itsy piece I can see. Where did you get it or have you had it forever? Thank you, Mona @ peaceandquilts.com

[Bonnie]

YES! I understand that feeling. Congratulations on having that section of remodeling finished, and good for you for remembering all the lovely people who made it happen. It sounds like you have some great people in your life.

[Melissa L.]

Love that laundry basket!

[molly]

glad to know I'm not the only one to tear up!! We've been the beneficiaries of much financial help lately(about 6K for air conditioning work in cars and home), its an awful feeling but we are soooo grateful to those who have given.

[Dacia]

Oh yes, you are exactly right. I get super emotional about changes to our house--there's something so personal about that. My heart always bleeds a little bit and I find myself thinking, "my home! MY HOME! ack" I finished the Daisy Chains! I made it into a pillow. Look here: http://www.daciaray.com/?p=1099

[leanne]

you're a sweety xo it's one of life's lessons...to let others take care of us...learning to accept help. we can't do everything all of the time. so excited to see the changes!

[Jodi Anderson]

This post made me a little... *sob*. I have debilitating and eroding health issues. (That is a hard thing to type.) I always need help and I hate it. I hate it I hate it I hate it. I had a brief remission in February and started painting the whole house (inside). I was so optimistic.

I finished the dining room. In March.

I need help; I can't seem to ask for it.

But, your pretty hallway and handy-dandy laundry thingamajig make me smile. Thank you. *heart*

[Heather]

This post makes me want to give you a hug. x

[Janet C]

I could stare at that picture all day long. Can't wait to see the rest!

[patty]

Isnt it wonderful to have nice neighbors?? I can hardly wait for the before and after photos ; ) You return the taking care of by making wonderful food and dinners for the people in your life ; )

[Wallace]

Great writing, great post! I'm sure it feels a-maz-ing to have your house put together now. Enjoy! Looking forward to more pictures soon!

[Norma]

Great post. Love how you express yourself. Makes me smile and I'm happy all is finished and happy.

[Val]

MAN,YOU SURE HAVE A WAY WITH WORDS,ALICIA..Crazy busy summer but I'm up to L on the crewel..Think it's my favorite one so far-but I say that about each letter I do..Were you like that..??

[Mary Holden]

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order and confusion to clarity. It can turn a mean into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beattie from May You Be Blessed.
thanks for a lovely posting on yr blog. stay in the "now" and your compass will hold steady. Mary

[patty]

So nice to have sweet friends and neighbors. By the way, love that clothesbasket thingie - new or vintage?

[Julie]

Love that basket at the bottom of the stairs and I love that shot, admiring the amount of light you captured in a hallway!

What a sweet final line. I audibly "awwed" when reading it. Isn't it nice to have competent people who want to help?...I do remember it's nice but emotional in the hospital like that, too.

[Rose]

Oh this is soooo sweet. And I know loads of us are probably asking, but I have to know where that laundry hamper came from because I fear I need one right away.

[Alicia P.]

Hi everyone!
The laundry basket is brand new and from Pottery Barn :-). Thank you! a