Five and a half years ago, I complained that my world shrank significantly. I transformed from a downtown Chicago corporate influence to a Victorian farmhouse stay-at-home mom. I still chafe in this life, but there are some pretty cool things about where I live.
Hosting
The home I have is large enough that I think nothing of hosting a gathering of 20 or 30 people in the middle of winter. When the weather is nice, we can expand that to 40-50, with people hanging out on the porch and chilling in the back yard. With what we have in the house, I can overnight 10 people without notice, and not have anyone sleep on the floor. The house is welcoming and specializes in "shabby" comfort.
Gardening
It took me a few years to get over the expectations of "insta-garden." I can't afford to hire or install overnight fancy landscaping. It is sometimes very frustrating, but I have started some pretty magnificent gardens, and I add a little bit every year. At the end of the "spring" planting season this year, I think I will top 500 perennial plants in my tiny 1/4 acre plot. I have flowers, herbs, vegetables for every season. I have incorporated kid-friendly features (the one I'm trying this year is a bean "tent"). My garden is definitely a favorite space to spend time.
Downtown
No, not Chicago. I am walking distance from the downtown area of our "suburban" city, and thus walking distance from the library (all kinds of programs for both kids and adults), the theater (with first class Broadway shows), community college, parks, and major music festivals. Restaurant Row is slowly growing, and there is a vibrant community of artists. It's been amazing to explore and discover my "new" hometown. We like just walking downtown and popping in to the stores or cafe to see what's happening.
Nature Center
Yeah, guess who has a soft spot for such things? *laughs* The nature center is about 6 miles away, so we usually drive there with the kids, but it also offers all kinds of activities. Situated on 40 wooded acres near the river, we can study local flora and fauna, participate in the Maple Sugar boils, explore a cave, enjoy story times and craft days, and learn about local history. The kids love the "animal room" and we walk the trails on a "letterbox" hunt that the center offers. It's really a cool place to visit!
Master Suite
Okay, this is pretty specific, but I love the bedroom Beloved built for me. We joke that he bought the house for the stairs and I bought the house for the 1905 cast-iron bathtub. It took 18 months, but Beloved tore the disaster space down to the rafters, moved and created walls, and built it out as a small piece of paradise. The color scheme raises some eyebrows, but I love the tropical feel of the room. In contrast, the bathroom is very cool, with gray slate tile, the gleaming white tub, brushed nickle fixtures, and red cherry wood accents. It is wonderful to relax in the room, and everywhere I look I bask in the devotion and love of Beloved.
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