Party Of One

Maisey asked me to get some part of a costume for her and I told her she could find it downstairs in the game room, in the costume box.

"But I don't want to go downstairs!" she wailed.

"Why not?" I asked, a little distracted by whatever I was doing at that moment.

"I don't want to be alone," she wailed again.

I wasn't sure if she was serious, or if she was using that as a ploy for me to get it for her, but it made me think. Was she afraid of being downstairs, or was she afraid of being alone? And what was she afraid of?

I asked, but she just said she didn't like being alone. It makes sense for her, she's a very social girl. She loves being around people, and she's always trying to do social things. It's probably the motivating factor that gets her to school each morning. But I believe being alone sometimes is one of the best things we can do for ourselves.

Don't get me wrong. I love to be social too. I love parties and events, and mommy play dates, but there's a point where my social energy runs out; kind of like when the clock strikes midnight and Cinderella has to rush out of the ball before the whole princess facade falls apart. Like Cinderella, I know that I have a limited amount of time before my glossy social veneer dulls (or at least I think it's glossy).

Sometimes I just get tired or overwhelmed, or I've had one too many, and I say something that I thought was witty, but then I'm the only one laughing. Or worse, I don't say anything when I should have, because I can't hear or just don't get the joke at all (call it a generation gap, or that I'm just getting old), and the awkward silence ensues.

So for me, alone time is necessary. I need that time to regroup. I spend that time browsing a book store or grooming my horse, or sitting quietly at home reading a book or looking at photos. I even enjoy dining out alone. I know the thought of that makes some people break into a cold sweat, but I actually like going to a restaurant alone. Maybe I enjoy it more now because I don't get to do it very often. There's nothing wrong with being alone. It gives me time to hear myself think and to contemplate things, to take in the rest of the world. It helps me center myself so I can be who I am. And then it's easier to be myself in the company of others.

Are We Done Yet?

We are so close I can smell it. I'm now in a working kitchen--with counter tops and all, and not really missing the microwave, but it'll be nice to have it and the shorter spice cabinet when it's done, and working doors on the island storage.

I love love love the Ikea counter chairs I bought last weekend. They're perfect in every way: size, comfort, fit, color. style. Can't believe how well that whole trip turned out! I got a new teapot too, and canisters that I can see through the tops so when they're in the drawers so I know what's in them. I feel so organized!

It makes me want to be a better cook.

And organize the rest of my house.

One project at a time though. I'm going to enjoy this one for a while first.

Here's our new back porch ceiling complete with outdoor fan and light. Beautiful.

I finally stained the windows and doors and they are a very close match. Some problems with the different woods--like the pine grain is so variable it looks very different from the maple, but it grows on you--or at least you get used to it. I still have some touch up work, if I can figure out how to open the darn windows.

I love the view from the back doors.

Here are the front and back views. Looks just like an Irish cottage from the front. I love it. And the back is perfect for relaxing and entertaining now. I can't wait to start having friends over.

And of course, here's our new dining room. Perfect. Clint just needs to hang some artwork.

It was a lot of time, and I don't even want to talk about how far over budget we went, but it was worth every penny, every inconvenience. I absolutely love it.