FirstBorn and family came a visitin’ last week. They stayed in the cottage where Mama lived until she died last spring, repurposed now as my studio. Before they arrived I moved everything that could remotely endanger a two year old to the back rooms where I make art. Including Studio Quat and her kitty needs.
She’s an old kitty. I’m sure the peace and quiet of her bed on my worktable was preferable to the attentions of the granddaughter and granddogger. Both of whom are rambunctious, one of whom is rather large.
Then I got those baby proof things that fit over the doorknobs. The ones you have to squeeze a certain way to open the door. Studio Quat was ever so grateful, kitty privacy guaranteed.
I haven’t had the heart to get rid of Mama’s furniture yet so the kids had all the comforts of home. Comfy furniture. Satellite TV. Complete kitchen and laundry. Most of all they had their own place to get away to. Perfect arrangement for family harmony.
But next Christmas someone else will be living in the cottage. Because I came to the conclusion last month that Studio Grande is too valuable as an income property to be trashed as an art studio. Something Mr. Spouse had been pushing for ever since Mama died but I couldn’t see the big picture. It had been my studio before she lived there and I wanted to reclaim it now that she was gone.
And I wasn’t ready to have someone else living in Mama’s house.
Then one day in late November the universe whacked me upside the head. AHA! Just like that. Clarity. I could design a studio just the way I want it. A wall of windows to the south. Skylights to the north. A vent fan with a hood. Countertops, storage, a layout that works for me. I could pay for the materials with my inheritance and Mr. Spouse would have a project to keep him busy.
He didn’t waste any time. We got the slab poured last week. And once it’s finished and I’m moved in we can rent out the cottage. Rent out Mama’s house.
I’m okay with that now.
After the kids left this morning I went down to reclaim my space. They cleaned up after themselves before they left. Sheets and towels were in the laundry. Dishwasher loaded. Kitchen counter tidied up. Perfect guests.
And then I looked at the counter and saw something was missing. I searched the cabinets and the drawers but it was gone. No doubt thrown out with the trash. Of course, why not–to them it was only another bottle cap.
But it was much more than that to me. I found it on Mama’s patio a few days after her service last April. After the patio had been swept clean and tidied up from the reception where we’d toasted her memory with beer and dark chocolate. Her two favorite food groups. I’d been visiting the oak grove where we buried her ashes and when I walked past the patio I saw it sitting there in plain sight…a bottle cap. One that I swear hadn’t been there before. I bent down to pick it up and almost cried when I saw the words printed inside…Ola Life!
Overlooked trash? A message from my mother? Or something planted by a well meaning friend…who can say? It brought me comfort. I’d left it in a special place on her kitchen counter and looked at it from time to time. Because it made me feel good.
And now it’s gone…
But you know what–I’m alright with that. Like the cottage studio it served its purpose. This is a new year…and it’s time to let go and move on.
Susan what a great post and great start to 2012. I love that you are getting your own studio space! And isn’t it interesting that you lost the bottle cap at the same time you decided it would be okay to let someone live in your mom’s cottage? Isn’t the universe amazing?!
And your granddaughter is beautiful!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you, Judy!
The universe is indeed amazing. Connections, coincidences…it’s ALL there. And I’m looking forward to discovering it. 2012 is off to a great start!
And yes, my fashionista granddaughter is a beautiful little cutie-patootie.
Love this story – it is both you and Edith! Hope you are enjoying the next stages…xo, Sher
At this point it’s all about moving on and enjoying the process, Sher. xo back atcha!
Beautiful post, Susan! The bottle cap story made me misty eyed. There’s something about mamas in particular that tug at our hearts more than anything. Can’t wait to see your new studio!
Should be in the new studio by summer, Vicki. I’ll be expecting a visit!
What a lucky person you are. You must have excellent karma going for you! Can’t wait til you start brewing up some great art work! Oh…do be selective when renting. You don’t need any hellraisers tearing the place apart. I’ll bet Mama will help with that one too!
I plan on being very selective when renting, Donna. Got lots of time to put the word out. As you said, good karma. The right people will be there at the right time.
And Mama will be an influence one way or another, especially when I tell them the former tenant is under a rock out front.
What’s the size going to be? Running hot/cold water? Good reading chair and don’t forget the music…
Size is 14X24. Cold water in a sink outside. I wash my brushes outside all the time so as not to clog up the plumbing. Mama’s old loveseat in the comfy corner. Counters running along one long and one short wall, under a bank of windows. Under the counters will be shelves and cabinets. One end will have a fan hood for ventilation. Big work table in the middle, maybe two if I want to do classes. No potty but only a few steps to the back door and the powder room in the house. The big thing for me is it’s behind the fence in the backyard, close to the house. I can come and go late at night with little worry about running into a buck or a bear.
Music, of course. This is all subject to change as we go along…whatever works best.
Sorry about the bottle cap mom. I married a clean freak.
S’alright, kiddo. Love you both!
Wow Susan…..wonderful story. It can be such a good feeling to let go. I had the choice of recently having something that I had strong feelings of Mum from. It had been hers for many, many moons. But I just thought I dont need more things around. She is so strongly I didnt feel I needed her things any more. So I understand about the letting go.
Your studio is going to be delicious!!!! Bravo!
Look forward to more blog posts
Fre xx
It’s liberating, isn’t it Freda…just letting go of things. xo
I love everything about this post. Thank you for the inspiration and for showing us what accepting the good with the sorrow looks like. Life seems to mix it all up for us. xo
Thank you Judy. Your plaster class is what pulled me out of the grieving process last summer, made me get up every day with a smile on my face and make ART!
How fabulous to be building your own studio – definitely something on my dream list too!
Susan…so glad I came over to read your story…letting go can be so difficult but doing it always opens the way for bigger possibilities…your new studio is going to be so beautiful and your mama will be right there with you always ♥
How right you are, Tracy. How right you are…xo
Great story! I did the exact same thing with some of my inheritance from my mom. We built a 16x 32 studio but I gave my husband 8 ft to store his law mower and 4 wheeler. Heck, it was the least i could do. This spring will be three years and it was the best thing I ever did. I also have a bathroom just steps away, just inside the back door and I also ran only cold water. I did plumb in for hot water just in case I decide to add later but I really don’t see a need. I had the concrete floors polished and stained them with a brown stain but ran a river of turquoise haphazardly thru the middle of it. I also included a loft over my husbands storage area where I now have climate controlled storage for my Christmas decorations. It’s got a really high cathedral ceiling where I dropped a galvanized ceiling fan and 4 Galvanized drop lights. I splurged a little on the lighting and a few cypress beams. Also included mega fluorescent daylight lighting. We had the entire building insulated with icilene insulation. This was the best thing we did. My electric bill did not change, very energy efficient! I had a girlfriend who was a builder help me with it all. She even knew a window and door salesman in FL who had a warehouse full of leftovers. He gave me an 8 ft tall glass door, plus 7 windows. All it cost me was 3 sacks of crawfish sent by way of my friend and he sent it all back on a trailer. We didn’t even have to pick them up! Have fun in your space, I know will love it. I do believe my Mom is looking down on me smiling!
I believe your Mom is smiling, Carolyn. I know mine is!
Your studio sounds great! I love what you did to the floor. I’m planning on staining or painting mine as well but the river of turquoise…oh my, I may have to borrow that. Haven’t figured the lighting yet other than the skylights and windows. But I do need light for night. Ahh, still much planning to do….