eggmountain

Nature Shows

 Oh my goodness - we have garage doors!  And really, they are the most spectacular additions to the garage.  Something about the glass and aluminum causes the light to bounce around the space in really dramatic and beautiful ways - I am totally smitten, as are Hank and Mable.  Yesterday, they spent the entire evening parked in front of the doors, just patiently watching the scene unfold.

Here are the doors from the interior.  Soon the construction gear will be replaced with kitchen cabinetry - the plan is to anchor an island there in the center of the space to divide the open kitchen + living room.  We're still trying to devise a way to hang drapes or shades in front of the garage doors in order to control the light and gain privacy.  Ideas are welcome - bring 'em if you've got 'em.

  

And here we're looking at the garage from the main house.  I feel like I should hold some of these images for the "big reveal," but what fun is that? 

Just for kicks, let's take a look at what we started working with just seven short months ago...

 

 

 

Back to the Music.

OK, people - I've gotten some good music recommendations so far - keep them coming.  And just a second ago, I received this link from NPR's website detailing the best music of 2009:

(Click the picture to get the scoop.)

Because I've heard most all of this already and LOVE it, I thought I should share it with you.  Enjoy. 

I'm heading out to the farm in just a bit to continue painting, but I'll be back soon with pictures of the newly installed garage doors.  They are beautiful - even better than I imagined.  I can't wait to show you!

 

It's all about the beat.

At the moment, I'm listening to Fresh Air's review of the Fiery Furnaces new album, "I'm Going Away."  I can dig it.  To help pass the time while we're working on the garage, and to lend some rhythm to the overwhelming monotony of the swishing brush strokes, we've been listening to Eth's iPod shuffle, which presently contains a mix of Dead Prez, Benji Hughes, the Beastie Boys, Aimee Mann, and Of Montreal, along with other equally disparate selections.

Needless to say, we could use some new music recommendations, particularly selections that are a little less explicit.  What are you listening to at the moment and loving?  What should we add to our "Music We Need To Purchase From The Disc Exchange" list?  Feel free to steer us in a new direction.  We love everything, and if it makes painting more enjoyable, it will be most appreciated.  While I wait for your comments, I'm going to listen to wuog online until I get homesick.

Progress Report

So while I've been in a funk, twiddling my thumbs and doing my very best impressions of Eeyore, very talented and devoted individuals have been busy working on the garage.  Which is really fantastic, because the Eeyore I knew never made a good carpenter.  (He was much too slow, and that bow on his tail might get caught in the table saw. Yikes.)  And for the last couple of weeks, Ethiel and I (with the help of my super generous mother-in-law) have been little elves, coming in on the weekends and evenings to paint or work on casement windows while admiring the work of people who really know what they're doing.  CRAFTSMEN.  I love them. 

Each evening when we arrive to put another three coats of white paint on the old wood that acts more like a sponge, we take time to marvel at the accomplishments of the day shift.  The concrete floor has been poured, the front door has been hung, and the skylight is magically lighting the tiny bathroom and stairwell.  Electrical conduit, plumbing lines, and HVAC ducts are all in place, just waiting patiently for the finishing touches.  We're currently making decisions on kitchen cabinets.  And keeping our fingers crossed that funds aren't depleted before the wood stove is installed...

Why don't we take a quick second for a progress report?

 

This is the current state of the main entrance.  It's not particularly inviting now, but it will be!  I've named the little tree in the foreground "Slingshot."  That was a mistake, because he'll be coming down soon.  I suppose then his name will be "Mulch."

This is the view from the front door.  We've started painting the rafters and will still be at it a year from now, because someone I know, (his name starts with "E" and ends with "thiel") refuses to rent a sprayer and so we have to do it all by hand. 

 

Hello, future new kitchen.  While I'm not excited about the prospect of hand-washing dishes again, it will be nice to enjoy the view out of that window while doing it.  Maybe.

 

Here we're in the living room looking out the imaginary garage door - to be installed VERY soon - how fantastic is that view?

 

And here is the upstairs bedroom, with my tiny closet there in the corner. 

I can't wait to have you over!  You can help me with the dishes.  I'll wash if you dry.

 

So where have I been for a month?  Obviously not at typepad.com updating my blog.  For a few weeks, I was back and forth to Athens and loving the haze of freelancing, dining with friends, sleeping, and waking early to start the cycle anew.  But then I really began to miss my husband and the calm and happiness he brings to my days, and so I wrapped up the work I had in Athens and headed back to Knoxville.  And then things got sticky.  The realization of not having to do anything quickly turned into anxiety about not being productive, and that non-productivity turned into a feeling of worthlessness, which tumbled into knots of self-pity, and on and on until my birthday weekend.  To help me celebrate and to help me break free from my malaise, a friend came up from Athens and we spent a Saturday morning doing all of the things I've wanted to do since arriving - a lazy breakfast by the pool was followed with antiquing in Bearden and a trip to the Farmer's Market in downtown Knoxville.

Only seconds after arriving at the Farmer's Market and in a whirl of chaos, next to the screaming kids that were running through the Market Square fountain and steps away from the hippies playing guitars, I ran into two friends on a busy Knoxville street.  Two of my very favorite people in the world.  People that live in Athens.  People I have missed since leaving them seven months ago.  And at that point my heart was full because I was made to realize that time and distance can't keep you from the people that make you feel whole.

Since arriving in Knoxville, despite all of the positive things that have occurred, I've continued to bemoan the loss of my sense of place.  I've wrestled with trying to develop a new community, forgetting that it takes time to find the people and places that bring inspiration into your life.  And so Ethiel decided to take matters into his own hands by inviting some of our nearest and dearest to Knoxville.  For just over twenty-four hours, we had the best of Athens here in Knoxville, and we were able to share the best of Knoxville with them.  After the most fulfilling day I've had since arriving, a day that included visits to the botanical garden, downtown art galleries, and the iconic Sunsphere, we headed back to the pool house to relax and make dinner.

In my dreamy state of bliss, I was completely oblivious when Ethiel weirdly requested that I come to the bedroom so he could tell me something.  And in the midst of thinking, "It's totally rude for him to tell me a secret when we have company," a room full of people sprung from the shadows and shouted "SURPRISE!"  I was so stunned and horrified that I elicited the most bloodcurdling scream man has ever known and ran away.  Having never been the victim of a surprise party, I was overwhelmed by the excitement and hid.  And then I laughed so hard I cried.  And only after getting past the shock-induced waves of nausea, I was able to enjoy the evening surrounded by friends, old and new.

The love and contentment I felt that weekend - from the fantastic people I have recently met and from those I've held close to my heart for years - helped me realize that I'm not alone in this weird period of transition.  While I don't know what awaits - none of us do - I trust that things are getting better.  I hope you'll forgive the brief absence as I continue to find my way.  It's impossible to be happy all of the time - I know this and try my best to accept it - but I've wanted to paint a pretty picture here for the world to see and I just haven't been able to feign enthusiasm for the last few weeks.

I suppose being genuine is more important than pretty pictures.