Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Looking for Purpose In a Transitional Moment - The Challenge of the "Holding Pattern"

I'm in a holding pattern.  We close on the new house at the end of April. We are selling the current home, so I have spent a lot of time over the last few weeks, preparing it to show. The studio is closed. I can't have the clutter.  So what's a girl to do?  Two things... One, keeping the current house clear for showing. Two, going crazy looking for purpose during this transition.

My daughter has kept me busy the first half of the month.  She just completed production in the school play, Peter Pan. She played three characters, Nana the Dog, The Croc and a Pirate. The day before opening night, she fractured her finger, which made crawling on the ground interesting.  What a trooper.

She is such a ham too.  While all the other girls wanted to play Wendy, Mrs. Darling and Peter Pan, my daughter took on the challenge of hot and heavy costumes.  Quite a sacrifice for a middle school girl, who I am sure would prefer looking cute and pretty.  That's my girl...always taking on the non-conventional.  

Lunch Spot on the Back Dock 
So here I am.  Having cleared the house of photographs, making sure beds are made each day, towels are hung up in bathrooms and wiping up surfaces like a crazy person.  I have tried to enjoy this time, by taking a moment to stop for a nice lunch on my back dock, reading a magazine front to back and keeping better tabs on laundry.  My best friend suggested that I fill some of this time with cooking. Cooking is something I use to really enjoy.  I might also start to clear out closets of stuff that I am not really going to take to the next house.

I am looking for great ideas.  Got any?  I can't really blog about projects.  I can't have the disruption and the clutter in my house while trying to sell.  I can't consider new things for the new house having not closed yet. Plus I have a rule that until I have moved into a house, I don't buy a single thing for it.  I feel that I have to live in the space before knowing what will work.  Twitting my thumbs here people.  Help a girl out!  Ideas?

-The End-

11 comments:

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Lesley, every post doesn't have to be about a project. I would be interested to see what some of your favorite recipes are, what you decided to part with, what you're keeping, and why. If you think about it, there's a lot you could share.

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

BTW, I wouldn't mind having lunch on that dock.

Unknown said...

try ti enjoy your break... I would be so busy cleaning things all the time...but I WOULD ALSO FIND TIME TO READ BOOKS
opps I hit caps lock
-KAT-

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

I just checked last night to see if there was any action from your neck of the woods. Congrats on finding a new home! I hope your current house sells fast so you can close the door on that chapter of your life. If you were closer I'd put you to work on all the unfinished projects in our house! You could bake cookies and pies. Don't they say that the smell of baking sells homes faster? I've got a day off and I better get my butt moving so it looks like I've accomplished something when Bill gets home. It's my first week of part-time ( 3 days per week ) and it feels like a vacation!!! I've been waiting to do this for a long time.

Crossing my fingers that you sell soon!

Cassie Bustamante said...

i agree it doesn't all have to be projects! i think tips on homestaging or selling your home would be helpful to readers... not me cuz we just moved, but other readers! ;)

Twice Nice said...

I love Cassie's idea on staging your home for sale or the baking that was suggested. How about looking for some short 1 day classes on something you've always wanted to learn to do/make? Or some self-pampering treats...mani's or pedi's, maybe a facial or a massage. Or go hit some movies you haven't seen in the late morning when the tickets are dirt cheap.

Deneen@dreaming-n-color said...

If you have the time to blog, use it as a tool to help you and your day. Use it to vent, tell us what you learned, show us something beautiful in Florida!!! We are just glad you are here and wish you all the luck selling your home.

Sam I Am...... said...

Yes...showing what your house looks ready to be
shown" or in the showing stage would be helpful to me as I am working on getting mine ready to go on the market. Also, cooking is great...and usually the smells make a home warm and inviting. When I quit smoking I had to come up with something to keep my hands busy when I was too tired to physically work at the end of the day and didn't want to do candy or snacks as that was just replacing one bad habit with another so I took up needlework and although I like to sew by machine etc...it is the handwork that I really love. It is soothing, relaxing and you come out with something beautiful and handmade. Just some suggestions. I will pray for a sale!

Sam I Am...... said...

P.S. I know you said you wouldn't buy anything for the new house but since you already own it could you plan out your furniture placement and color scheme's etc? I love to plan and find it the best part...carrying out the plan is always tougher. You could take pictures of the rooms and get all your measurements and make a notebook with all your ideas in it and swatches of material, paint chips etc. You could even custom make your notebook with decoupaged papers or covered in a favorite fabric. Whoops...just saw where you said you haven't closed yet. Okay...well how about just the notebook for the new house? You could fill it with ideas from Pinterest.

Grammy Goodwill said...

Great news about your new house and good for your daughter and the school play. But now not so good for the added stuff for you. All the other commenters have given you good advice, so I'll just say good luck with all of it!

Lisa Montsion said...

Can't think of any ideas sorry.

lisa