welcome home

July 28th, 2010

14



The thing about going away is that when you walk into your house after ONE MILLION HOURS of traveling, it’s like you’ve cuddled into the lap of the biggest mama ever. If you’re lucky. And I am super lucky, because I have a dreamy house and dreamy boy and dreamy cat to come back to. I’ve been back for 2 weeks now but I’m still playing catch up, but it’s been so nice to have my cozy house and cozy bed and cozy backyard. A little too nice, because after work I just want to lie on the sofa in a patch of sun with the cat while I read and drink wine. Soooo, nothing’s been getting done. (Note to self: add section to the Order of the Rising Tide site about guilt free productive relaxation and the need for it! Why is it so hard for some of us??)
roses2I came home to a house filled with flowers from the garden, aren’t these lovely?

rosesThe house also got some boy touches while I was away for 2 weeks – this clever shelf hung in his bathroom is actually a candleholder S. had kicking around.

shelfboyHello also his face smells pretty.

livingroomBefore I left, I snagged some free bookcases from Jessica before her move to Austin. They were originally built ins in this historic Oakland building. They’re giant! There’s 3 on that back wall and one that you can see in the foreground that sits behind the sofa. We have a lot of books and worried about finding enough bookshelves, but this covers it! There’s one more you can’t see in the photo, too. English hunting lodge library ahoy!

booksThe insect vase is from a Paris shop called L’Air de Rien.

flowersurnWe found this English china urn for $1.99! Next step, find a giant, Victorian style fern.

skullBeach treasures.

fortuneI told S. I wanted a fortune telling teacup and he found this one the next day.We’re thrifting demons!

berriesAlso important- spending as much time as possible sun-basking in the courtyard.

lanternscage

But I also have 75 days left of WEDDING PLANNING. It didn’t get miraculously done while I was away, oddly enough, which I find quite curious. I’m sure I gave those gnomes clear directions! We’re still hashing out invites, trying to track down a tweedy country suit in a 38L, needing to start my wedding dress sewing, thrifting decor, working on menus — I need a schedule! And a fire lit under my bum!! Whoa!

inspireInspiration wall!! If you look closely you can see my dress sketch. Sneaks!

It’s amazing, though, as we map out bare minimum costs, even doing SO MUCH of it ourselves (we have no vendors, let’s put it that way) I have to wonder – how is this adding up so fast? My heart gets that race-panic feeling that only comes when I deal with budgeting. I know a lot of it is that I need to finish some construction on the land, but it’s still less than a venue would cost!! How do people do this! Wowow wow!! Madness! It’s like I totally ignore it and every time I say “look here self, buckle down and crunch some numbers and get stuff done!” I stop because it sends me into a tizzy!

picnicI have been collecting things, like picnic baskets and green vintage cookwares. My FMIL (did I really just use that acronym?) has been mailing jadeite and milkglass to my parents house for the picnic buffet table!! I’ve been looking at my past tea parties to remind myself: I have thrown huge parties, ok! It will be ok!

Or maybe let’s talk about the panic I feel looking at skinny, skinny brides on wedding blogs? Why do I do this? I have big muscle arms from acrobatics and genetics, it’s a fact! I worry so much about things I can’t change, I need to worry less about dieting and just make the dress of my dreams that doesn’t squish and pinch. But also, stop eating chocolate in a worried frenzy, because that’s silly too.

We set about digging through everything we own to figure out what to sell for budgetary reasons, and it’s been pretty cathartic. We are over-collectors! Hopefully between that and Etsy (I promise to list tonight! I have 3 huge boxes of really great vintage, but it’s been so dreary here that it’s hard to photo!) we’ll be ok $ wise and all my panic will be unfounded. Fingers crossed.

goldenMaybe a golden parcel could zip your way, soon?

Tags:  house, wedding