My grandparents owned one of the most beautiful homes in the area. Very old, very lovely. My grandfather died, then my grandmother retired from nursing and moved to Arizona. The house of course was sold. First to a lawyer from NYC, then to an artist (a very successful artist). The artist put up a 2,000 square foot studio. It's almost as big as the damn house for Chirst sakes!! The property went up for sale about 2 years ago. I went on the virtual tour, everything. I wanted that house. My entire family wanted that house. Everyone except Dad. Dad grew up in the house and felt no connection to it whatsoever. I remember asking him why. He said "I've already lived in it." I said "Dad, wouldn't you enjoy coming to Thankgiving or Christmas there? You must have fond memories?" He replied, "They're memories. I've moved on." What's up with that? My wacky dad.I didn't get the house. It was over a half million and I stopped looking because I couldn't sell this one fast enough and after calling the zoning committe realized I couldn't turn the art studio into two rentals because local zoning forbid it. However, I could subdivide the property (3 acres), turn the art studio into a home (at great expense) and sell it for about a half million! *Suze buries head in lap and rolls eyes in head.* God, please help me. Life is often so damn complicated. Is anything still simple? Anything?
I covet one thing in that room. The table, front and center. I have an insane love of tables (oh, and chairs as you all know!). Especially rustic, folk art sorta, kinda tables. It's so pretty and just the right colors. Do you see how beautiful aqua is? Yup, me too.
XO
23 comments:
That picture makes me want to take everything down off of the wall and reorganize it in straight lines. My OCD has a problem with that photo, Suze.
Honey, this is just the first floor of a very, very, VERY productive art studio. The woman's worth millions. Don't touch her stuff and ruin her consentration. She took good care of my grandparents home so I have a soft spot in my heart for her. Honestly, I do. Oh, and darling, artist require inspiration. We all have walls with lot's and lot's of photos. It's how we create. However, I do understrand organization. My refigerator magnets are perfect!!! No really. Absolutely perfect.
Hey babe. Your hair's orange. Oh, and is this Saturday evening or Sunday morning?!!!
XO
concentration
Where is the Canadian goose? Oh yeah, on the post you deleted ;)
Oh Bob. I know. I'll put them back. I had the most amazing conversation with a park ranger this morning. Just absolutely blew me away. I don't think I'll ever delete again. I realize it all matters. Not to everyone, but to someone. Thanks for noticing. You know how much I love you. And thanks baby.
XO
Life is full of opprotunities. Too bad it takes a lot of luck, timing, and MONEY to accomplish so many of them. The table? I think I saw it on Martha Stewart's "Home Collection" once .. (wink)
Hello from SpeedyCat!!!
Suzanne!! If you did not DELETE so fast, I might get to read them too before you hit that button.
I love this table too...and you!
Take care of yourself...*strolls thru bar listening for the ROAR of the PPT* Vavoommmm....there she goes......
That's a pretty cool looking studio.
Concentrate vt -trat'ed, -trating 1 to focus (one's thoughts, efforts, etc.) 2 to increase the strength, density, etc of - vi. to fix one's attention (on or upon) - n. a concentrated substance - con'centrat'tion n.
Now see Bob, how the hell was I supposed to spell it properly when I don't even understand the damn description? I don't think that dictionary ever finishes a sentence. Oh, and by the way, how's the new Executive Assistant working out? Good. Okay, cuz I need a job. I promise to be good. Sorta. But I can't drive all the way to San Jose everyday, so the university is going to have to relocate to Sacramento. "Sacramento, a lovely city located in..."
...the middle of a field.
SH
Crack me up. Is it sold at at the Martha Stewart store? Oh, excuse me, Kmart.
You don't know me well yet. I can make it, and I'm going to. I'll prove it in about 6 months!!! But if I'd got the house I was going to write into the agreement that the table had to stay.
XO
Giggie, I love you so. I tried to call you Mother's Day. No go. I couldn't reach you, Cece, Bindi, Shara or Diana. My phone just sounded dead. I finally realized it was the storms. The South just cut me off.
I'm not going to delete any longer. I'm on a new path. The path to enlightenment. *Suze looks in the dictionary for decription of enlightenment. "I know it's here, I know it's here." Kicks PPT out of the way. "I know it's here. Stumbles over the "missing" IV. "Damn, this is harder than I thought! "*
I love you so much darling. Here, let's sit down at the table with a few chairs I've had stashed in the garage. What are we drinking darling? Your call.
Giggie. Hold on. I love you so. Thanks for always showing up. It always matters because you make me LOL and you're absolutely adorable. Yes, I still see those damn outfits from Brian's Cafe. (When I see you I also see Robyn.) You and Robyn are two of the funniest women I've ever known. EVER!!! And most important, you both have spirit. You know I love you to death baby.
Cece called the other day and I said "Honey, Giggie's struggling a bit and I think needs us." She replied "Don't we all baby." What the hell is this? Monty Python? Here...I'll kick her ass for you. Okay, so no help from Arkansas, but California's holding strong.
I love you. You know that.
XO
Megan,
You bet it is. And there's more where that came from. 2,000 square feet. What's up with that?
You know it's funny, when I went home I drove by and stopped to look, cuz I just love the house and the memories so. This was before the house went up for sale. She was standing in the front door and looked at me as if I was a bit crazy. I almost got out because I wanted her to know "this is my house and I know every inch of it." I thought the lawyer from NYC still owned it and she was his trophy wife. I would have sounded like a fool. She owns the whole damn place. She's very famous and I'm so grateful she found our family home and made it her own.
"The middle of a field." Baby, what in the hell are you talking about?
I've gotta come in gangbusters and agree with Suzy--Cece, I'm a tidy woman, but the thought of organizing someone's art studio, their creative space, into straight lines, nooooooooooooo!!!!!!!.
I simply cannot stand it. I protest the mere idea!
LOL, but SERIOUSLY!!!!!! Leave the walls alone!!!!!!
Suzy, we gave up the family brownstone where we'd lived for generations. We're still heartbroken about it--so much so that I've never even written about it, and you know me and how I kinda let it all hang out...it is so weird, so indubitabobbally weird, to know a house like that, every creak of the floor and click of the latch, but not live there. I know how it feels. I hate it. Another thing to make peace with!
xo
Sacramento, a lovely city located in... the middle of a field.
I know Bob. I just reread all the comments and got it. Megan's such a little Rascal. I don't know how I missed that, but I did. I finally figured it out on my own, but thanks for always playing backup. You're the best. Just for that I'm going to volunteer to be your Wedding Planner!
XO
Leah. Amen. Anyone who knows an artist knows a wall. I don't have a clue why we all need one, but we do. I think inspiration is so important and the more beauty you can tack up, the better. I'm like Cece, very, very organized, but that wall means the world to me. It is technically impossible to make a studio perfect. IMPOSSIBLE. Why? Because, an artists needs to imagine. What people don't realize is painting is such a small part of what I do. It's thinking, looking, watching, waiting, sitting. It's so many things, and then it's painting. I know it's that way for so many artist. To be an artist you have to be an observer first. You have to feel the pulse of this planet. And then you find your voice and create.
Leah, I'm crying. I know you know. That's my home. What you see is just the studio. The home is stunningly beautiful. And the grounds. Oh my God, just beyond gorgeous. That's MY home, and yet, it's not. I don't live there. I don't own it. I was absolutely flabbergasted when my dad had absolutely no interested in bringing it back for our family. He could have done it. There is not one single family member, except Dad who doesn't love that home. And that was his house. It doesn't make sense to me.
And it wasn't just Gram's house, it was Ma's house. I was studying architecture while living in Berkeley and realized Ma's home was so old. So, so old. I wrote a long letter about the hand blown windows, the architectural deal, etc. She sold the house. It was on property with another home. The guy rehabed the Victorian and raze my grandmother's house. This was before the Historic Society was established. He raze the first home ever built in Lexington in the mid 1700's. Dug a big whole and just buried it. How do you do that to a beautiful home? How does a town let that happen? It was such a stunningly beautul home and it's no more.
Honey, I understand the connection to a home. I understand architecture. The love of it. The love that seeps out. And when it's gone, I understand the agony. I didn't know you lost your home. I'm so sorry. You know me honey. You know I mean that. I'm so, so sorry. We're always here for you baby. We love you so much, you can always talk to us. About anything. I wonder if houses know how much they're loved?
XO
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am sorry I have been tardy stopping my yours. I could dole out some lame ass excuse; but it would just be a lie.
Can't wait to read more!
I like tables too. Thanks for sharing this one and your love for this home with us.
Thanks Suze for the support...like everyone else I am trying to hang in there. It will all work out with me or without.
love you too,
Giggie, xoxo
Teresa,
Thanks for stopping by. I love your blog. You are one very funny lady! Oh, and honey, this isn't my blog. My blog's Rose Cottage. The Wild Onion is where the gang hangs out. You're always welcome here too.
XO ;)
Giggie,
What a day this has been. I hope yours has been a bit easier. I'm writing this while looking at Cece's temporary orange hair. You know that cracks me up.
Giggie, why's life so complicated? Why can't 6 days of the week be easy breezy and just 1 complicated?!!! Hang in there. I hope Mr. Big's feeling much better soon and you get to relax a bit more. I love you dear.
XO
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