Piles of Memories

I'm in a sentimental mood today. As I've scurried around the house this morning.. (does that make me sound like a rodent?) As I've bustled around the house this morning..  I've taken a lot of notice of the happenings around our home.

What makes a home?  Is it the loved ones that share the walls with you?  The colors you painstakingly pick out to paint those walls?  The pillows you lovingly create for your family to lounge against?  The meals your family has come to call favorites after you have lovingly tested recipe after recipe?  The bookshelf that holds your children's favorite bedtime stories?

For me, it's a little bit of all of them.  Certainly just having my family with me is enough.  But there is an appeal to homemaking.  It is an art.  In our times, it is being undermined with the term "housewife."  Take joy in the fact that you (even if you work outside the home and regardless of being male, female, mom or dad) are the maker of your home.  The MAKER of your HOME.  What a greater calling could there possibly be?

Perhaps I am sentimental today because I am packing for a little jaunt to Portland with Dustin this weekend.  We leave tonight and will enjoy three days in the town we have become enamored with.  This little trip is to check out a home that I have fallen in online love with.  We're viewing this house (and a few others) tomorrow morning.  We have been planning a move to Oregon for the last few years, and the time is nearing us.  We'll decide this weekend if that move will take place THIS summer or next.  

When we walked into our current home (actually - pulled into the driveway.  OK, actually I knew when I saw the address) I just knew it was going to be our home.  I got a warm feeling and could see us living here and making memories.  Anytime something big in my life comes up, if it is meant to be, this is what happens for me.  And then everything just falls into place.  So we'll see what happens this weekend.

I know that we will make our home in a new place eventually.  But for now I am soaking in the feelings I have for our current home.  There isn't a corner in the place that I haven't touched with love or that is saturated with memories.  I hope you feel the same way about your current home.  Even if it isn't your dream home, or anywhere near it.  Take pride in the space you call your own.  Create loving memories.  

I asked my mom the other day - "when do you know it's right to move beyond what you are living with to making a jump to the dream?"  She replied "You should always be working toward your dream.  Just make sure that before you jump into it, that the timing is right."  Wise beyond her years.

A few of my corners..captured as they were found-no styling.

My pear wall in the kitchen..

My lovely piano..

Our couch, with strew pillows from lounging last night watching Bones..

Some well loved bits of fabric in front of a painting I bought in San Diego that hangs in our living room.

Eliza latest art project and a smattering of her things.

The perfume I wore on my wedding day in front of the perfume Dustin bought me for my birthday.

My favorite vase, which I found for .50 cents at the thrift store.  Salt and Pepper grinders from Anthropologie.  Tablecloth from Target by Orla Kiely.

Now there are a few packing piles calling my name..

I hope you all have a happy, safe weekend!

xo

sandi

Comments

[Laura]

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom. They are exactly what I needed to remind myself of right now. My family is apart right now as my husband searches for work in Utah. My two daughters and I are living with his family in California. The economic times have hit us hard, but reading your words about a home reminds me that there is more to home than 4 walls. I keep wishing I had my own room again instead of having to share it with a 6 year old and 2 year old, but there is something comforting about listening to their breathing at night when I go to sleep. I just wanted to let you know that this blog not only informs us of your doings but also uplifts us too. Thank you so much.

[Edith]

Oh but I love those shoes. And your home is beautiful.

[Kirsten Ott]

Can we move to Oregon with you? I am a girl from the Pacific NW who is living in New York and oh so homesick . . . but your post reminds me to make the most of where you are and be open to the possibilities! Laura - I have twin two year olds and a six year old and I am also so comforted by their breathing at night as well! Sending good vibes you and your husband's way! Love the photos!

[Cassandra]

My husband is from Salem. We've settled in Idaho, but I always love visiting his home. I'm enamored with the green everywhere all year.

P.S. I love those t shirts in your packing photo.

[Kim]

You will love Portland! It's one of our very favorite cities...
p.s. I have the exact same JCrew posy shoes...LOVE them, but wish they didn't KILL my poor feet. LOL

[andrea Larsen]

ooh. I love this post Sandi!

[Lola...again]

That was a beautiful post. I am very proud to be the Maker, and Keeper of our home. Thanks for the reminder!

[Heather]

Have a great time...and I LOVE the shoes. And those salt and pepper grinders! I do believe I am in love.

Enjoy your time away.:)

[Sarah]

I hope you move here and have lots of workshops
;-)
the pnw is a great place to raise a family

[Lisa]

Thank you for your beautiful, uplifting words about homemaking. It's a reminder I truely needed today!

I hope you have a great time in OR and that you are able to find your dream home or at least the next step to the ultimate dream!

Love the yellow shoes and the red necklace. You have such good taste.

[Shelley]

I'm so excited for you, and so happy that you're moving to Oregon. We're in Virginia now (previously Hawaii....yes, we're a military family) and now that the summer mugginess is settling in, I'm dreaming wistfully of the lovely Oregon summers I knew as a kid. You're gonna love the summers in Oregon. Can't wait to hear about the trip!

[Meghan]

Great post! I can't wait to hear how your trip here was and if you are as in love with this house as you were when you saw it online.

I grew up here and came back after college because its such a great place! Now married with a little boy, I wouldn't want to be many other places to raise a family.

[Sivje]

As another transplanted Oregonian, I appreciate your excitement at the possibility of your move to Portland. I grew up in Eugene and lived there until moving away to college. As a child, I loved our trips to the BIG city of Portland. The fabric stores were lovely, and we always wanted to visit OMSI. And, oh, the restaurants.....bliss!

I also want to thank you for your comments on Home. Like a previous poster, we are living with inlaws due to this economy and the struggle to find gainful employment. We are not technically homeless, and are so very blessed to be in the lovely home where we are. But it is not MY home. I miss having my things around me, serving meals on my dishes, snuggling up with my kids on my sofa. But, yes, wherever I am with my husband, and our children, is home. Thank you for the much needed reminder, especially on a day where I was so feeling the loss.

I pray your time with your sweetie, looking at houses, is a blessed time together, sharing dreams and enjoying each other.

[Beth]

Oh, please tell me where you found the beautiful yellow shoes!

[amylouwho]

I needed this reminder. I'm in a rental (that I don't love) and I just try to hide everything behind beautiful fabric!

[Jodi]

Awesome post! Thank you! I've been following your tweets and replying, but I don't think you get them. (I'm still learning this whole twitter thing) WELCOME to Oregon! And what a beautiful weekend for you to come! I hope you've had a wonderful trip! Have fun at Fabric Depot!!! Fabric Heaven on earth. Although I was there last week and it looked like a bomb had went off. Not sure what was up with that. So I hope it's nice, neat, well stocked and tidy for ya. I don't live far from Mt. Hood, so look over that way today and you might see me wavin! LOL. I wave at Monica when she comes to Portland and Anne B. when she drives by on her way to Seattle. LOL. ooxx`jodi

[Sarah]

What a wonderful post! Homemaking is an art and it's good to be reminded of that. Thank you. :) You have an incredibly beautiful home, Sandi.

[Michelle Price]

Those yellow shoes are to die for! Anywhere you wear those must be magical!

[Tiff@ThreePeas]

I have lots of family in Portland. You will love it there! Can't wait to see pictures of your dream home!

[Scott at BlueNickelStudios]

I love Oregon, and you will too! Make sure to at least see what's up at Powell's bookstore. There is nowhere else like it that I have been...Okay so I don't often get far from the NW, but it is pretty cool at Powells!
And every so often Market comes to YOU!

[Simone Howell]

Hi Sandi!
What a fantastic post! I feel the same way about our home. I LOVE being a homemaker (although not the cleaning part that comes with that!!) It really is what is the most important thing in life.
You are so fortunate to be able to make a move that is not dictated by necessity. You will know if the time is right, you just will... women's intuition. Good Luck!

xo Simone

ps- LOVE all the pillows on the couch!

[Angela]

Your blog always makes me smile, and with the yellow background it's like sunshine!

I looked up your fabrics in Sierra's the last time I was there--turns out I had already bought some without realizing it:-)

Oh, and LOVE the shoes in the last picture--so fun!

[Sara]

Thank you so much for your fantastic tutorials! I've been looking at several shirring tutorials over the last week to figure it out, and yours is the best one by far! Love your stuff!

[Alisa]

Are we getting a preview of some of your next fabric line??

[Anna B.]

Thanks for your sweet comments. We are in the process of selling our home & feel that it is the right time for us to move on. We're not exactly sure why since we are happy with our home & where we live, but we just know that now is the time to go. It's an exciting time in our lives. Good luck to your family as you make this wonderful change in your lives. May bigger & better things await you :)