One of my favorite places in our new house is our bedroom. After painting its stark white walls bluish-gray and putting in a sitting corner, it’s a place I’ve come to enjoy just hanging out in. After Bea goes down for her nap, I’ll come in and read by the window, not wanting to go downstairs where reminders of things to be done wait.
One of the best parts of our bedroom is the natural light. The entire south wall is filled with windows and a sliding door. A balcony separates our room from the backyard and neighbors. Tall, old evergreen trees tower over the house and now that the deciduous trees have filled in, it feels like we live out in the mountains, rather than in the heart of the suburbs.
We also have an east-facing window, next to our bed. After making the bed each morning, I’ve taken to looking out and surveying our yard. It began in early spring, just to see what was going to bloom. But, after finding a stray book left out overnight under a tree, I’ve taken to looking to make sure indoor toys are recovered. This morning, I look out and see Bea’s bike parked in the easement. Seeing it reminds me of the hours she spends out there. She showed interest in her bike before, but with a house on a busy road and a backyard decorated in flagstone, we didn’t have many places for her to practice.
Our realtor had concerns about this easement, as it belongs to the city even though it’s fenced into our yard. It’s been one of our favorite features. On nice days, Bea will go and ride for more than an hour. Daisy, whose herding instinct is strong, loves herding her around, running just behind the bike. Bea’s confidence has grown and she’s able to balance and maneuver around old pots and piles of leaves.
One of our biggest concerns about buying a bigger home is that the yard would get smaller. Even in these early days of spring, it’s been fun to see how our smaller yard seems to be more used than before. The nooks and crannies and groves of trees that the previous owners (who happened to be landscaper architects) created have been the perfect place for a little girl to run and imagine. I’m looking forward to this summer and its days of outdoor living.
What’s your favorite view? Do you have a spot in your home that’s best for looking out and reflecting?
Annie Rim 
I love windows that allow the natural light to pour in. Since we live in personages, we get what we get. Always comfortable and nice but some we have to learn to fit in more than others. And I don’t mean space. Our last place in Memphis had a large window in the breakfast area overlooking a large backyard. From it we could watch the hummingbirds drink from the feeder, ducks swim in a sometimes flooded yard and even a chipmunk scurrying around. I do enjoy a good view! Yours is lovely.
I’d imagine each home you’ve had has had its quirks! Must be quite the adventure making a house you are given into a home that reflects you.
Being laid up for awhile, I’ve spent a lot of time on the couch on my laptop. I started by facing the Chris’s big screen tv (which I don’t watch, and frankly annoys me by its very existence) but then realized if I turn around on the couch, I can see my lovely fainting couch, European art, the fireplace, and sometimes the cat. That’s much better than the TV, even if it is mostly peripheral vision outside my computer screen.
Amazing how a small shift can make a big difference! Hoping you get off that couch soon!!