When we moved into our then new to us (built in 1946 adobe) house in Mesilla Park, it was painted outside a pumpkin orange with dark brown trim. The family set about painting the outside white with forest green trim. Inside we painted mostly an antique white, but the girls wanted their own paint jobs for their bed rooms and we agreed, although we did forbid black!
Pumpkin orange with dark brown trim must have been quite a sight! I didn't realize it was a post-War house. I love that you let the girls each paint their own rooms, David. (Except black!) Molly painted her room purple around that time. :)
It was built as a residence for returning military. Somebody had covered the oak floors with a dingy carpet, which we removed. My contractor left for a bigger job and so I never got the floors refinished, but the new owner has had that done. It was a nice little adobe and we had some fantastic vegetable gardens there! I miss it, but we never could have made it work for Lynda after she started her downhill slide.
I'm glad to think those oak floors got refinished in the end, even if it wasn't when you and Lynda were there. And you did have some great vegetable gardens! Some things are hard to leave, even when our lives and our needs change.
Todd, I am so glad they are useful! I think it's easy to forget when we're faced with big decisions how much opportunity there is to learn and grow, and to open new possibilities. May this turning of the year bring opportunities you hadn't recognized, whatever the challenges may be. Blessings!
Truly hope you are well! Thought of you so much over Thanksgiving! Significant remembrances of Richard and the most soulful writing I have ever experienced.
Thank you, Maryjo. I am indeed well and happy to be back in western Colorado. This is a good home for me and a beautiful landscape to nurture my heart and spirit. Many blessings to you!
So many 'could'a 'would'a should'a 's we have to work thru on the way to find our 'right' mind! *smiles
One of my great fears throughout my life was doing the wrong thing. I would do research ( not a bad thing) then worry and fret and finally do whatever it was.
I've come to realize that sometimes I make bad decisions. It's not a moral failing. Just a bad idea and I can do something else. You can always change your mind!
I love your warm peachy walls. I know the light changes with the day and mood of the sky and reflects in your cozy abode.
Wishing you many happy morning, noon and nights there.
Beautifully put, Kathleen! We all make bad decisions sometimes, despite our best efforts. And that's not a moral failing at all. We can indeed always change our minds. In fact, we may learn more from our bad decisions than we do our better ones.
I love my new wall colors too. They bring the light in without it being harsh or too bright. I'm going to add some soft sage green too, and some light Taos blue. This is a happy house, and I'm bringing that out. :) Many blessings to you!
These wise tips can apply to anything we face in life decisions. The limits we place are of our own making. Leaving New York City and moving to Placitas, New Mexico has had its ups and downs, but it is not a decision I have ever regretted. And when confronted with the notion of moving back, my husband has always said no. The opera and theater are way too expensive for us now, and maintaining a lifestyle there would have meant that I could never have retired. So the beauty of nature has replaced those things that we can watch by streaming and our DVD player. And there is FaceTime and the phone. We learn to adjust. Thank you, Susan!!
Thank you for the "wise tips" compliment, Phyllis. High praise coming from a professional in the field! It is so true and so poignant that we make our own limits, whether we are aware that we're doing it or not. I'm glad that you moved to Placitas for so many reasons, even though you don't have the city life and cultural institutions of NYC there--though the Santa Fe Opera must be some consolation! It seems like you've found a place that nurtures your minds and spirits in other ways, and that is immensely valuable. Enjoy the sunsets and coyote songs!
Such good advice. In my dream the other night I was faced with a situation I wouldn’t prefer and I actually said in the dream, “hmmm, I wonder what spirit is wants for and from me now?” I said it in a way that assumed it was something good. When i woke up I realized that the odd grouping of scenes and people referenced times in my younger life when things didn’t go the way I wanted them to and resulted in me needing to be more social and meeting people who have been such gifts in my life. Sometimes the messages are so clear, but what I really loved about this was that I reacted to it by assuming there was something good. I’ve done a lot of work on mindset and maybe it’s paying off.
Karen, That's a fascinating dream and a wonderful positive response by your dreaming self. Your interpretation sounds spot on--and isn't it interesting how our subconscious and the universe can give us such clear messages? Your response was just perfect. I would say that your work on mindset has definitely made a difference!
I’ve really enjoyed this whole series. I haven’t quite read them all, but they’re all saved in my library so that I can get to them eventually. I really appreciate your writing and I love your perspective. I hope your new home is absolutely perfect for you, probably in ways you couldn’t have imagined.
What a lovely compliment, Karen! Thank you. And your wish for my new home is definitely coming true: I did not imagine buying an almost new house in an almost new subdivision, but it turns out that this place is exactly what I needed and I am loving it more and more each day. The house just lifts me, the neighbors are friendly, and being able to walk to the river every morning is a huge gift, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
This post was just what I needed to read today. I appreciate what you have to say about preconceptions -- I may need a dump truck to move those into the light! And thank you for sharing about losing investment on a house; and the "work-around" of accepting that. As you know, I'm in a similar situation with the house we're trying to sell, so hearing how you processed that gave me a different lens through which to see the situation. Very helpful.
The peachy/buttery tones really lighten up the space in an inviting and welcoming way. I'm happy for your move, for the new nest, for the joy of making the place your own. Thanks for a wonderful post Susan; it's balm for the soul.
Stephanie, I think there is no better compliment from a sister-writer than to hear that a post is helpful, and especially that it is "balm for the soul." Bless you and that dump truck you may need to hold your preconceptions! (It's always good when we can laugh at ourselves.)
As for the economics of any sale, it really is important to remember that a house is an investment, but it's also the place you live, and because we creatives spend so much time at home, your office and creativity-nurturing space too. It's hard to value the intangible part of what a house gives us (or doesn't give us!), but we can definitely calculate what we would have spent to rent comparable spaces--not just the house, in your case, but also the office and recording studio--and those should always figure into the bottom line of any big financial transaction. And then of course, there's the value of the mortgage interest deduction at tax time, and on the other side of the ledger, if you want to get really complicated, the real estate taxes paid and the interest you did't earn on any capital you have invested in the house and so on.
I love the way the new paint has changed the fell of the house and especially how much lighter the main area feels now. Not in a glaring way, a soft and welcoming way. It's a good home for me! Hugs and blessings to you.... :)
Thank you, Emily. I hope that move is still nourishing to you and your family. And that you are beginning to see glimmers of light in your days. Many blessings to you.
You are welcome--I figure that all true learning is hard-won, so it should be shared! And thank you for appreciating my color scheme. I'm also planning some light Tahitian blue and soothing sage green. :)
Sage green is one of mine too because, well, sagebrush! And Taos or Tahitian blue is my wards-off-the-evil-eye color. It's my kitchen accent color in every house. :)
Yes, sage green for sage brush. Interesting about Taos blue - I like how you have taken its meaning into account and created a ritual of using it in your kitchens.
I've kept this one in my inbox, looking forward to making time to read it in my own season of deciding where to move. I knew I'd appreciate your practical and thoughtful look at it all, and really appreciate what you shared with another writer--that for us creatives, the vibe of a house is really critical since it's our office and creative-nurturing space. Thanks so much, and thanks to the thoughtful comments of your readers, got a lot out of this one.
Emily, I am glad this piece is useful to you. I think the reminder that for creatives, the way a space feels is so critical because it's where we work and dream and create, is perhaps the most important part to remember. We so often bury that intuitive understanding under our need to be "practical." Practical, however, doesn't always nurture the creative work! When Virginia Wolff gave the lectures later published as A Room of One's Own, she was articulating a critical truth: we can't expect ourselves to be creative unless we give ourselves time and space and respect to listen to and articulate our thoughts and our stories, to practice our art. May your process of deciding where to move be fruitful and successful. Blessings.
When we moved into our then new to us (built in 1946 adobe) house in Mesilla Park, it was painted outside a pumpkin orange with dark brown trim. The family set about painting the outside white with forest green trim. Inside we painted mostly an antique white, but the girls wanted their own paint jobs for their bed rooms and we agreed, although we did forbid black!
Pumpkin orange with dark brown trim must have been quite a sight! I didn't realize it was a post-War house. I love that you let the girls each paint their own rooms, David. (Except black!) Molly painted her room purple around that time. :)
It was built as a residence for returning military. Somebody had covered the oak floors with a dingy carpet, which we removed. My contractor left for a bigger job and so I never got the floors refinished, but the new owner has had that done. It was a nice little adobe and we had some fantastic vegetable gardens there! I miss it, but we never could have made it work for Lynda after she started her downhill slide.
I'm glad to think those oak floors got refinished in the end, even if it wasn't when you and Lynda were there. And you did have some great vegetable gardens! Some things are hard to leave, even when our lives and our needs change.
These are the guidelines I need as I approach 2025. Thank you!
Todd, I am so glad they are useful! I think it's easy to forget when we're faced with big decisions how much opportunity there is to learn and grow, and to open new possibilities. May this turning of the year bring opportunities you hadn't recognized, whatever the challenges may be. Blessings!
Truly hope you are well! Thought of you so much over Thanksgiving! Significant remembrances of Richard and the most soulful writing I have ever experienced.
Joy & Blessings,
💜Maryjo.
Thank you, Maryjo. I am indeed well and happy to be back in western Colorado. This is a good home for me and a beautiful landscape to nurture my heart and spirit. Many blessings to you!
So many 'could'a 'would'a should'a 's we have to work thru on the way to find our 'right' mind! *smiles
One of my great fears throughout my life was doing the wrong thing. I would do research ( not a bad thing) then worry and fret and finally do whatever it was.
I've come to realize that sometimes I make bad decisions. It's not a moral failing. Just a bad idea and I can do something else. You can always change your mind!
I love your warm peachy walls. I know the light changes with the day and mood of the sky and reflects in your cozy abode.
Wishing you many happy morning, noon and nights there.
Kathleen
Beautifully put, Kathleen! We all make bad decisions sometimes, despite our best efforts. And that's not a moral failing at all. We can indeed always change our minds. In fact, we may learn more from our bad decisions than we do our better ones.
I love my new wall colors too. They bring the light in without it being harsh or too bright. I'm going to add some soft sage green too, and some light Taos blue. This is a happy house, and I'm bringing that out. :) Many blessings to you!
I love your approach to turning points AND the new warm wall color 🌞
Thank you, Maria! I am glad that my learnings are useful to you. And thanks for appreciating my newly cozy and welcoming wall colors. Blessings!
These wise tips can apply to anything we face in life decisions. The limits we place are of our own making. Leaving New York City and moving to Placitas, New Mexico has had its ups and downs, but it is not a decision I have ever regretted. And when confronted with the notion of moving back, my husband has always said no. The opera and theater are way too expensive for us now, and maintaining a lifestyle there would have meant that I could never have retired. So the beauty of nature has replaced those things that we can watch by streaming and our DVD player. And there is FaceTime and the phone. We learn to adjust. Thank you, Susan!!
Thank you for the "wise tips" compliment, Phyllis. High praise coming from a professional in the field! It is so true and so poignant that we make our own limits, whether we are aware that we're doing it or not. I'm glad that you moved to Placitas for so many reasons, even though you don't have the city life and cultural institutions of NYC there--though the Santa Fe Opera must be some consolation! It seems like you've found a place that nurtures your minds and spirits in other ways, and that is immensely valuable. Enjoy the sunsets and coyote songs!
Yes, and our Australian cattle dog sings right along with those coyotes!!
Perfect! And thanks for the chuckle. :)
Such good advice. In my dream the other night I was faced with a situation I wouldn’t prefer and I actually said in the dream, “hmmm, I wonder what spirit is wants for and from me now?” I said it in a way that assumed it was something good. When i woke up I realized that the odd grouping of scenes and people referenced times in my younger life when things didn’t go the way I wanted them to and resulted in me needing to be more social and meeting people who have been such gifts in my life. Sometimes the messages are so clear, but what I really loved about this was that I reacted to it by assuming there was something good. I’ve done a lot of work on mindset and maybe it’s paying off.
Karen, That's a fascinating dream and a wonderful positive response by your dreaming self. Your interpretation sounds spot on--and isn't it interesting how our subconscious and the universe can give us such clear messages? Your response was just perfect. I would say that your work on mindset has definitely made a difference!
I’ve really enjoyed this whole series. I haven’t quite read them all, but they’re all saved in my library so that I can get to them eventually. I really appreciate your writing and I love your perspective. I hope your new home is absolutely perfect for you, probably in ways you couldn’t have imagined.
What a lovely compliment, Karen! Thank you. And your wish for my new home is definitely coming true: I did not imagine buying an almost new house in an almost new subdivision, but it turns out that this place is exactly what I needed and I am loving it more and more each day. The house just lifts me, the neighbors are friendly, and being able to walk to the river every morning is a huge gift, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
This post was just what I needed to read today. I appreciate what you have to say about preconceptions -- I may need a dump truck to move those into the light! And thank you for sharing about losing investment on a house; and the "work-around" of accepting that. As you know, I'm in a similar situation with the house we're trying to sell, so hearing how you processed that gave me a different lens through which to see the situation. Very helpful.
The peachy/buttery tones really lighten up the space in an inviting and welcoming way. I'm happy for your move, for the new nest, for the joy of making the place your own. Thanks for a wonderful post Susan; it's balm for the soul.
Stephanie, I think there is no better compliment from a sister-writer than to hear that a post is helpful, and especially that it is "balm for the soul." Bless you and that dump truck you may need to hold your preconceptions! (It's always good when we can laugh at ourselves.)
As for the economics of any sale, it really is important to remember that a house is an investment, but it's also the place you live, and because we creatives spend so much time at home, your office and creativity-nurturing space too. It's hard to value the intangible part of what a house gives us (or doesn't give us!), but we can definitely calculate what we would have spent to rent comparable spaces--not just the house, in your case, but also the office and recording studio--and those should always figure into the bottom line of any big financial transaction. And then of course, there's the value of the mortgage interest deduction at tax time, and on the other side of the ledger, if you want to get really complicated, the real estate taxes paid and the interest you did't earn on any capital you have invested in the house and so on.
I love the way the new paint has changed the fell of the house and especially how much lighter the main area feels now. Not in a glaring way, a soft and welcoming way. It's a good home for me! Hugs and blessings to you.... :)
Susan, lovely post! Wishing you many happy years in this new wonderfully warm home.
Marlena, Muchas gracias! And what a beautiful benediction. I really do not want to move again. Ever. :)
Such good advice, Susan. I can identify with all of it, most recently, in my decision to move to IA.
Thank you, Emily. I hope that move is still nourishing to you and your family. And that you are beginning to see glimmers of light in your days. Many blessings to you.
Thank you, Susan.
Thank you for your wonderful advice. Also, I love the colors you have chosen for your house.
You are welcome--I figure that all true learning is hard-won, so it should be shared! And thank you for appreciating my color scheme. I'm also planning some light Tahitian blue and soothing sage green. :)
Tahitian blue and sage green will be a wonderful complement to the other colors. Sage green is one of my favorite colors.
Sage green is one of mine too because, well, sagebrush! And Taos or Tahitian blue is my wards-off-the-evil-eye color. It's my kitchen accent color in every house. :)
Yes, sage green for sage brush. Interesting about Taos blue - I like how you have taken its meaning into account and created a ritual of using it in your kitchens.
I've kept this one in my inbox, looking forward to making time to read it in my own season of deciding where to move. I knew I'd appreciate your practical and thoughtful look at it all, and really appreciate what you shared with another writer--that for us creatives, the vibe of a house is really critical since it's our office and creative-nurturing space. Thanks so much, and thanks to the thoughtful comments of your readers, got a lot out of this one.
Emily, I am glad this piece is useful to you. I think the reminder that for creatives, the way a space feels is so critical because it's where we work and dream and create, is perhaps the most important part to remember. We so often bury that intuitive understanding under our need to be "practical." Practical, however, doesn't always nurture the creative work! When Virginia Wolff gave the lectures later published as A Room of One's Own, she was articulating a critical truth: we can't expect ourselves to be creative unless we give ourselves time and space and respect to listen to and articulate our thoughts and our stories, to practice our art. May your process of deciding where to move be fruitful and successful. Blessings.