Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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What Makes a House Feel Like a Happy Place?

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On Thursday, a guy from our cable company came out to check our modem. When he entered the kitchen, he stopped and said, “This is a happy place. The place feels happy. I can tell – this is a happy house.”

I was surprised and delighted. He visits a whole lot of houses and he gets an instant impression when he walks in the door. I forgot about that conversation until I read my friend Jen’s post about her happy house. That got me thinking about it again.

When we first walked into this house with our realtor 7 years ago, we were struck by how light it felt. I don’t mean just the quality of light, though that was wonderful. I mean a lightness of being. So many houses we had toured felt heavy and weighed down. Maybe it was the decoration or lack thereof. Maybe it was the personalities that lived in the house. Maybe both. But this house was different.

Since I believe that home is refuge, a safe place, a nest, I decorate with that in mind. I want to enhance that light feeling. Cozy, welcoming, vintage, slightly and not-so-slightly worn objects abound. Everything has a story. Color is everywhere. I don’t do any of this with a huge plan in mind. I just decorate with what I have. With what I love. Don and I have gathered together the things we love. They are an essential part of this house, this home. Nothing cost very much. Nothing was curated (a word I am fast getting tired of.)

We have been under a great deal of stress lately. We’ve had our share of sorrow. So when a visitor says, “This is a happy place” I feel very grateful. Grateful that this house exudes that feeling of happiness even when things are tough. That this gentleman felt happy and relaxed as soon as he entered our kitchen. That we have created a happy home here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

This house makes me happy. I’m sure glad it makes others happy, too.

When you walk into a house, what is it about it that makes it feel like a happy place to you? Please share!

Happy Sunday. (I used the word ‘happy’ 12 times in this post.)

It’s Time

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My house is a mess.

After a lovely Christmas, I inevitably wake to harsh reality. The fact is, there is much purging and organizing to be done here at the cottage. Clutter is running rampant. My closets are a mess. Everything, and I mean everything, needs to be sorted into keep or throw away piles. The spare bedroom/office/husband’s studio looks like we just moved in and are using it to store everything until we decide where to put it.

I still haven’t put away the summery things on the porch. Really. It’s December 27th.

More than in any other year I can remember, I have avoided certain tasks – like sorting, organizing and purging – none of which are things I usually want to do. Clean out the closet? I’d rather read a book. Put everything away in the shed? I have to google something. Wade into the mess that is the office? I need a nap. I just haven’t been able to deal with it.

I have a theory. I’ve been suffering from emotional overload this year, much of which I’ve shared with you on this blog. When that happens, I retreat to a safe place. It might be a book, or this blogging world, or my favorite music. I don’t seem to be able to cope with those other, not so fun, tasks that need to be done. I feel overwhelmed at the very thought of them.

I have a feeling that if I just make myself tackle one, the others might follow. I know I will have a feeling of accomplishment.

I’m just about ready.

Unfortunately, I have to tackle some script work today and tomorrow. That has to come first.

But the wheels in my brain are turning. It’s time. Wish me luck!

(I love the way the Hipstamatic camera app makes these messes look sort of fuzzy and artistic. Like I purposely made the mess to take an artsy picture.)

If you’re here for our Defending the Small House Series, Brenda and I are taking a couple of weeks off. We’ll be back with a new installment on January 10th.

Battening Down the Hatches

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Another foggy morning here in the Hudson Valley. This one seems a little ominous as we prepare for Hurricane Irene. So far, it looks like it will be traveling right over the NYC area and that includes the Hudson Valley. Yikes.  I dropped Don off at work this morning and got some canned goods and water. I needed a replacement 8 volt battery for our flashlight but there are no flashlights or batteries anywhere. I’m not kidding. Lowe’s, Home Depot, the dreaded Wal-Mart, Target, drug stores, supermarkets…..nothing. I managed to scrounge up a mag light at Home Depot, though it irritated me that I had to buy a whole new flashlight. I finally found D batteries at a gas station/convenience store near MHC. Now I’m exhausted. I haven’t even taken a shower yet.

We are admittedly nervous about this powerful hurricane. And that weeping willow in the above photo is always one of my biggest worries when we have high winds and lots of rain. Keep us in your thoughts as we head into Sunday. And if you’re in the storm’s track, please take precautions and be careful. I am holding all of you in my thoughts.

Riley continues to improve. The antibiotics seem to be helping his infection. He’s hungry and he’s back to scrounging around the kitchen floor looking for crumbs. That’s a good sign.

I’m running out of room for jumping jacks! I’ve resorted to ‘layered’ hanging. The wood looks like it is curved for some reason, most likely because of the strange angle from which I was shooting. I don’t have time to re-shoot it, so this will have to do.

Stay safe, everyone.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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