Inspired

Really, I AM...

excited that we’re building a new home and I keep thinking that I’ll post a picture or two of the shell…the bones of the structure…but then I take a photograph of something soft and poetic that speaks to the heart of me and that’s what ends up on these pages.

Something like this…

or this…

 

Rain screen paper over plywood walls and interior studs just don’t have the same magic.   I spotted these vintage slips and little girl’s dresses while wandering down a street lined with antique shops in Victoria last week.  I was mesmerized by the light shining through the sheer fabric of the clothing and immediately wanted to capture the sweet tenderness that it evoked in me.

But…I didn’t. 

I left the shop and walked up the street and back down again.  I knew I had to go back in and ask the owner if she would mind if I took a photograph…even if the answer was no.  Happily she enthusiastically said “Sure!  Take pictures of whatever you want”.

…so I did.

Thank goodness I didn’t let shyness and insecurity stop me from taking a risk because I love these sweet dresses!  Very seldom am I timid about asking for something but once in awhile it surprises me and pops up when I’m least expecting it.  Does this ever happen to you?

And so you’ll understand what I’m talking about with the house…

…exciting yes, but not the least bit poetic!  This has all happened in just over 5 weeks so with my fingers and toes crossed, we may very well be living in it by mid October.

Speaking of poetic photography, Maddie at Persisting Stars is offering a five week e-course in September.  Maddie’s work is simply lovely and I have gazed longingly at her talent for several years.  This course…Bones of a poet ~ photography and the wonder of seeing…puts expression before technique.  It will “experiment with techniques that break photographic rules and put us in the path of happy accidents”.  I love happy accidents!  If this sounds like it might be of interest to you, head on over and join the fun.

Construction at the Cove

I hereby do solemnly swear not to bore you (too much) with pictures of our home during construction.  Because it's obviously a major focus in my life right now, I've decided to document it from start to finish and make a little slide show of it for ourselves. (why did I pack the video camera in storage!).

  

This is a picture of the destruction that happened last Wednesday.  It looks like a worst case scenario for clear cut logging.  One of the tallest trees came down in the middle of the old cabin (better that, than on our neighbours house!) and we left one lone tree in what will be the front yard.  It's a lovely Arbutus, for which Vancouver Island and the Pacific North West in the US, is well known.

It was a huge "gulp" for me when I saw this, but I know once the house is up and we've landscaped, I'll barely be able to remember it any other way.

 

...and then this week, it's been cleared and the foundations dug.  It's all happening so quickly!

We've been thinking and planning and talking about it for so long...and now it's real.