While I’ve been here at my sister’s house and have had to make a lot of phone calls and do a lot of paperwork, I’ve been setting up my computer in her office/studio. An office/studio that I encouraged her to set up, by the way. She did a beautiful job and it’s lovely. She has space for all of her yarn and a work table for looms and sewing machines, bookcases, and, of course, this desk space.
If you remember, we had a little discussion in my comments section recently about my lack of any sort of usable work space. The fact is, I have a little desk downstairs that isn’t at all practical; try though I might, it’s too small and I never use it except to store paperwork. I have my sewing table upstairs in my little studio niche, but again – very small and not practical.
Our guest room/studio/office at home has a large bed that is used approximately 3 times a year. If that. So I took my plight to Don and asked if we can finally get rid of the bed and change the room into a joint office space. We have an Aero bed that is fine for one person (but not so comfortable for two). We have a sofa in the den that is very comfortable.
He’s on board. We just have to get rid of the bed and then I can save up my pennies for a desk. I’d move my hall cupboard in there and move the linen cupboard out into the hall. My grandmother’s trunk – which takes up a large chunk of space – would be moved into the niche in the hallway or downstairs where the little white desk is. The sewing table would be an extension of my desk, making it an L shape. And I could work on my minis there, as well.
The fact is, I have a lot of paperwork that needs to be filed and available in one place – receipts for work out of town, files for my coaching work, blog receipts, dialect sheets – and it’s spread out all over the house.
Frankly, I’m sick of it.
I’m a girl without an office. I’m a nomad.
Don and I will share that space, so it will include several guitars, speakers and amps. Hopefully, I’ll find a way to make that work.
Working in this little office has only confirmed the fact that it’s time to make a change. (Yes, I was munching on some chips.) And since Don and I will rarely be in that space at the same time, it should all work out beautifully.
Today, more phone calls and paperwork. I can’t believe it’s already been one week since my father died. It doesn’t seem real to me yet.
You do know, don’t you, that I write in this space because it’s important to me? Because it can be cathartic? Because the routine of it is comforting? Trust me, if I just can’t post one day, I won’t. Okay? When I wrote about blogging yesterday, I was speaking of reading other blogs. Just as it’s hard for me to concentrate on a novel at the moment, it’s hard for me to concentrate on blogs.
Happy Friday.
Sounds like a wonderful plan for an office. I have my desk in the dining area now. Gave Laura the bigger room, as she has easels for her paintings and being in the smaller room almost was a disaster, also an accident waiting to happen!
You’ll get through all of this, you and Meredith. I lost my dad 18 years ago and still…well, it just doesn’t make sense some days. I have learned that I just need to accept it as is. Asking why never gave answers for me.
Many hugs for you and Meredith and all of the family.
Deb
The answer to why in this case is: It was time. I’m sure of it. And that gives me peace, Debbie.
The office plan will all come together well. You are a good planner (based on the evidence of the hallway niche space!) and I envision your new space as efficient and utilititarian, as well as charming. Plus, it’s a good project for when you get home. Turning over a new leaf, so to speak. On another note, I couldn’t read for about 2 years during my dad’s final illness, but when it was all over and I could finally move on, I’ve been able to start back up again, and resume keeping my list of books read during the year. I haven’t hit the peak year of 2007 yet (before we knew he was ill) but I will. I’ve dedicated my still-blooming petunias in the garden to our dads this week.
The project will give me something to work on and that’s a good thing, Dana. I need a project (besides all the organizing and dumping that needs to happen.
Thank you for your lovely dedication – to our dads. xo
Claudia, I understand how writing in this space is important to you. Words and being able to express your feelings are important. I have one spare bedroom and have a twin bed in there that takes up more room then it is worth. I’ve only had a couple of people ever sleep there and now with the sleeper couch I have it’s redundant. So it will go when I can get someone to move it out for me and I can expand my craft area and storage and maybe it won’t look so much like a junk room. Let’s hope. I know you will enjoy having more space and it will be fun to see how you make it happen. Hugs to you as your stay winds down.
Linda
Heading home tomorrow afternoon, Linda.
Sounds like a very good plan and I know you will see it to fruition. Good luck. Really hard to believe a week has already passed. The days just go, go, go. Hugs and blessings,
I know. That it’s been a week seems impossible.
Claudia, Sounds like a plan to have a work space, finally! I love working out home plans like that when I’m in bed trying to fall asleep. Weird me…
I have work spaces all over my house, though I have a dedicated craft room with a small loft area in front of it. The contractor thought making one long narrow room would make me feel like I was in a shoe box. He made the correct call. Because the areas are separate, I can have sewing in the room and in the loft space, papercrafting and scrapbooking. I have a computer hutch downstairs, but I rarely use it. I usually do paperwork and computer work at the kitchen counter, mainly because there’s a TV there! Cleaning out my Uncle’s house, I found the wood desk my Mom used as a girl. I have to find room in my house for that.
If I can have at least 75% of my stuff in one place, I’ll be a happy girl.
This is exciting news! And, I’m sure getting it all set up will be a welcome distraction for you. Besides…you are so good at organizing…just look at your niche! I know from experience how difficult it is to have certain papers in different places…it only works for a short amount of time…it’s too confusing. I’m glad Don agreed to share! I just finished organizing my room, ( it’s a former bedroom…but I’ve made into an actual den. ). There was definitely a little purging going on. My oldest son is coming home for about 6 months, while he applies for a spousal visa for the UK…and this way, he’ll have the guest room, and another place to crash ….trying to give him some privacy! ;)
We need to do some major purging this winter – which means I need to do some major purging. But whenever I do something like this, there’s a snowball effect and I get rid of a lot of things.
We never had a dedicated office space at our old house but in our new house, we do and it’s made such a big difference to my writing, my art and being organized. I’m glad you and Don have come up with a plan to make an office space that will work well for you both. Can’t wait to see pictures once it’s all done.
Thinking of you each day as you work within the grief that surrounds you.
Thank you, Chy. Just putting one foot in front of the other and doing what seems indicated.
Hi Claudia ~ I just caught up on all your latest posts and they are heartbreaking. I can feel your pain through your writing. Don’t worry about catching up with blogs and such…none of that matters right now. I remember after Phil died, that I couldn’t concentrate on anything but yet I didn’t want to just sit there and stare into space. What was cathartic for me at the time and that kept me busy was housework. It was routine, it kept me moving, it didn’t take any thought. I couldn’t read, listen to music, read blogs, nothing. Looking at Facebook actually pissed me off because I saw how “happy” everyone was and going about their own lovely little lives, seemingly without a care in the world ~ while my son had just died and damn it – the whole world should’ve stopped! It was this weird feeling of wondering how the world was still spinning and the sun was coming up every morning and the birds were still chirping…how could that be? My heart and prayers are with you and your sister, as you still have to face your dad’s condo and his beloved kitties and all his belongings…all while you are in mourning. Oh – and wonderful idea you have about making your second bedroom an office. Maybe once you get home and start rearranging and getting the room set up the way you want it, that will be healing in itself, too. {{hugs}}}
Facebook is too much at times like these. It’s a good way of letting all my friends that are everywhere about my dad’s passing, but all the happy-happy jokey stuff? No and no.
oh, that plan for a shared studio sounds great! am glad for you and know you will enjoy it. the timing for such a project sounds helpful, too, and i hope it is that for you.
when you’re ready, i hope you will share photos (please and thanks). i enjoy seeing how other people decorate and organize things … gives me ideas and motivation to work on my craft room/office/mess!
continuing to keep you all in prayers. have a safe trip back.
kathy
Thank you, Kathy. I promise I’ll take pictures.
An office space sounds like something you need at home. The after death “stuff” I cannot think of a good word now, is somehow always heartbreaking. It wasn’t so bad when my dad died 20 years ago, he was in a nursing home . When my younger sister died 15 years ago it was so tiring, a house ,lease car, bills, large dog and two cats, cloths, jewelry ,shoes ( my goodness she had shoes with handbags to match ) and all the things she acquired in her 40 years. Somehow you get through it. I will say this because I did not do and regret it a lot….Save one of your dad’s shirts and make it into a pillow, I wish I had one of his flannel shirts! Take care.
I already have one of my dad’s flannel shirts, Mary and I treasure it.
I am glad to know that you are finally going to use that room for an office…it seemed such a waste just sitting there waiting for company to come…
Don said the same thing. It needs positive creative energy!
I am so happy to hear you have a project simmering for when you get home. I love that feeling of redefining a space/ reinventing uses for our things. The only “bad” thing about it … is that it is usually a domino effect, and one thing leads to another, to another. And, I guess, in the long run, that isn’t bad at all!
We are all very happy that writing is helpful during this time for you… it means that we are able to continue to look forward to your posts! I know I told you, and several others have mentioned, that reading again comes in time. Perhaps with creating your new office space for you and Don, the physical work will tire you out, and you will be able to read when you are too exhausted to move one more thing! That is my wish for you!!!!
There will be a domino effect, of course. That means I’ll have to clean out the closet, which means I’ll have to….
Good Morning Claudia, when Meredith showed us her office/craft space I thought it was beautiful. It would be wonderful if you could make a space at your cottage too. I share my space with my Hubby and it works just fine. We share a desk and a file cabinets but the rest of the room is mine. :-) I’m keeping you and Meredith and your family in my prayers. I know how hard this is but I’m so glad you have each other.
Blessings,
Betsy
Thank you so much, Betsy. Meredith and I are accomplishing a lot and I hope that I’ve eased her burden, because she’ll have to deal with the trust, etc.
Concentration will be scattered for some time, so it’s good that you’ll have the studio/office project for productive distraction.
It will help a lot, Margaret. Not sure when we’ll start, but in the next month or so.
Organising a work space sounds like a good thing. It may prove a distraction and you’ll end up with a positive result. When I’m puzzling over a solution to a difficult file at work, I usually undertake a physical task around the office until I think it through. At very least my filing is kept up to date.
I’m sorry you have to take a rain check on the miniature show in PA – some of the vendors have lovely product and it’s a lot of fun to attend just to look. Next year!
I’m disappointed, but since it’s beyond my control, I have to let it go until next year.
Finally having some workspace with a little elbow room? You’ll be loving it, AND it will help occupy your mind when you get home too. Keeping busy really is helpful. Smart idea too. As the experts say, you’ll be “making more efficient use of your space.” While it’s always nice to have a guest room, it makes more sense for that space to be used year-round – by the folks who actually live there. Rather than tied-up 360 days a year, waiting for a very occasional guest. Have a safe trip home. ?
Exactly. We live here and we need to use all of the space – space is at such a premium in our little cottage!
Sounds like a good project to keep you busy and occupied! (Like you need more to do – LOL)
Travel safe.
Love,
Judy
Well, as it gets colder and we’re more housebound, I think this will be just the ticket, Judy.
I totally ‘get’ you. I always write to sort out my thoughts. It’s the only way I can truly center myself.
I, too, am a nomad. I’m doing the exact thing you’re doing and reassessing space in order to improve function. I have lost square footage with each house but was unwilling to part with too much furniture…and I just HAVE to do it. We are stumbling over stuff, banging into one another and it’s causing too much frustration. I have to keep pushing to reduce my material life; there’s just too much stuff I inherited from too many relatives, plus my own lifetime accumulation.
Tomorrow, my husband and I are actually going to our offsite storage facility with the aim to entirely clear out one unit (vowing to bring NONE of it back to the house) to reduce our monthly fee (can you believe it, I have THREE of these small units…who can afford this..!..NOT ME!!). Back at the house, I have furniture that I just despair to get rid of but it’s taking up room where I need things that I really, really use or need to have…such as a desk, same as you! What happens with me is that I can’t organize with the way things are and I even wind up missing deadlines on paying bills because I can’t spread out, have an ‘in’ and ‘out’ tray and stuff like that. Just yesterday, I completely re-did my calendar for the next few months, combining too many bits and pieces of notes and stickies because I’m so afraid I’m going to miss an appointment (I’ve recently had appointments with two separate specialists/doctors who were booked three months out; if you miss an appointment, it’s another 3-month wait). And, wow, it’s such a good feeling to be streamlined and organized, at least now with something as simple as my calendar.
Maybe as we age, we’re willing to give up some things to make our lives work better. Maybe we can still combine function with beauty…like, if I have to give up a gorgeous table to make room for a functional desk, I can at least put things atop the desk which are pretty, like collectible vases or mugs as pen holders (no big leap in the decorating world, of course…it’s probably what most people do all the time!).
Life just seems to get more complicated, so it’s important to have your surroundings not add to that. Simplify. Rein it in. Make it work better. All good. Yes, it’s going to make you feel great to get your home office set up, Claudia; and you’ll be back home before you know it. It’s good to have things to look forward to; will keep you focused when you have 10,000 things going on and you’re a swirl of emotions with a lot inside your head right now, on overload.
Make it work better is my motto, Vicki. I know I will feel so much better if things are organized and in one place. I realize there will be some overflow into other spaces, but I’d really like to function like an adult for a change! I’m headed home tomorrow.
Have a safe trip home. Don must be happy you are almost home! Doris
He is, Doris1 Thank you.
If I can’t have my own office/studio – I can enjoy watching you create one! I’m sure it will be as lovely as the rest of your cottage.
Fingers crossed, Regina Anne.
It sounds as though you and your sister have accomplished a great deal in the last week. Busy work is sometimes exhausting but keeps the mind occupied when grieving.
Your office/crafting space sounds wonderful! Weeding out what is not necessary only makes us realize how little we need to make us happy. We did that when our children left home and it has made our later years far easier. I love my crafting and office space and hope when yours meets its completion, you will enjoy it too!
Safe travels home.
Purging is on the docket for this winter, Sue. Right about this time every year, I want to dump things.