Assortment

When It Falls

Hello, loves. It's snowing outside. One weather report calls for 1 - 3" by tomorrow, another is saying 6 - 10". So, as usual, we'll see what falls, then measure. Grin.

It's so much like life, isn't it? We really have no idea what's going to fall in our world each day. We can pencil things into calendar days, project a schematic for the weeks ahead, we can predict, plot, and plan, but we never really know for sure. 

I like that. I like that I'm not in control, that it's not up to me to know. 

I simply need to fall in step with the dance. And put the crock pot to good use.

Honestly, some days, it feels more like I'm being flung around the dance floor, like there's barely a minute to sit and catch my breath before the opening notes of the next number begin. This is part of life, too. Those days pass just like any other. They do. Then, the next one rises out of the eastern sky, a fresh bundle of 24, most likely different from the one before. 

I never want to let the shiny wear off of that. 

Wishing you a delightful Monday, friends!

 

P.S. I'll be publishing the occasional Tuesday/Thursday post which will be devoted to all things related to the Shelter Collection. I'll be answering questions, providing news as it happens, etc. This way, if you follow Assortment because you're all about the dream of small house living in general, and the Shelter Collection in particular, you'll know when to find those specific posts. If you visit here more for the usual Monday, Wednesday, Friday memoir fare, you won't find house plan details taking up those days. Sound good? 

 

 

It's That Necessary

 

Hello, loves! First things first. A most-generously offered, heartfelt thank you to all of you for your wonderful support and interest in Shelter No. 1, the first in the collection of small house plans that I've designed. You are amazing. How fun it's been for me to see your excitement and read your comments and your email about it all (you really are a wonderfully chatty bunch). I hope to answer every question, reply to every email, and respond to every comment. I hope to. Thank you for grace as I send you replies as I can (one of me + many of you = a delightful, yet interesting situation, grin). 

And here's a wave and a welcome to all you new readers who've found your way here from Remodelista, Apartment Therapy, Country Living, & Pinterest - it's good to have you!

Now then, here's what's been happening just outside the little house...

It's all the rage here, lately. Target practice with bow and arrows.

These boys. They've paced off different distances according to the fence posts, which, you might imagine, is a very important part of target practice. They even turned it into an experiment, applied the scientific method (literally), and came up with a written paper each for their science binders.

And those kitties? Oh, those kitties. They were far too curious about this target practice thing, which required shooting pauses for repositioning of the kitties (Nellie watched safely from inside her invisible fence). 

But the best part of all about this?

It's outside. They're outside. Then, we go to watch, and we're outside. 

Outside makes us live better, fuller. 

The wide open spaces, the deep, wild places, the sun on our faces, and the wind through our hair helps set wonky things straight and brings our perspective back to center.  It broadens our small minds, stretches our small ideas, opens our small hearts. It's a portion of our sustenance, really; it's that necessary. 

Even if sitting on a high pinnacle, seeing far is all we can muster. 

 

Wishing you the loveliest of weekend, friends!

 

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Our Kitchen Featured at Remodelista

 

Hey, loves! The kitchen in the little house is featured at Remodelista today! Such an honor it be in great company over there - a veritable mecca of great ideas and inspiring spaces. The Remodelista book is a love, too - one of the few design books that quickly earned a spot in my collection. 

Oh, this kitchen, it really is a great place to be. Just this morning (it's Big Breakfast Friday, you know) one boy was making waffles, another was cooking the scrambled eggs (with lots of red pepper flakes?), I was tending the bacon, the third boy was setting the table, and Daddy made the coffee (then cleaned up for us, later, bless him). And it worked. Five of us there, together, sharing in the making. 

 

Wishing you the loveliest of weekends, friends! 

 

P.S. If you're interested in building a home like ours, only better, you may want to take a look at Shelter No. 1, the first floor plan in a collection of four, designed for those who don't want to build mansions. You'll find the Study Plan and the Building Plan in the shop!

 

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