Creating a Natural Environment

Yesterday, I met with our Landscape Architect, Joe Cross. He is a kind man with a wonderful right brain, the creative side. I was told by many locals that he knows native plants better than anyone in the region and he likes to include different plants that provide color during every season. Together we looked at pages of images from many magazines and books. When it was time to discuss O'Mesa specifically, it was simple: "I want the landscape to blend into the environment, use grasses and plants that are native to our area, and the plan to be simple, looks like it has been there for years...as though the gentle winds brought the seeds and spread them in a blanket of color." It isn't easy to make something look unplanned...it's art for sure.

Moving to the Interior

"Moving to the Interior"....whatever that means? Carl Jung would say that on our path to individuation it happens around midlife. That is we begin realizing the importance and balance of our "interior castle". In building a home it happens about mid-way through the project when the exterior doors and windows allow protection from the weather changes. The exterior has to be strong enough to withstand extreme weather like 70 mile an hour winds, driving rains, 110 degree heat and 10 degree cold. Now that we have much of the exterior complete, many of the workers will move into a protected, warm space to work on the interior design.

Some of us work our whole life on our exteriors(good curb appeal),while never realizing the importance of the interior design. Some of our homes remain empty, some with furnishings that are mis-matched, some the interior design lacks warmth, character, creativity, authenticity and for some the inside and outside are not reflective of one another and therefore seem in conflict with the style (personality). At times, it has been quite a challenge to build the interior and exterior spaces to feel authentic, companion with one another, reflect the environment and landscape, feel comfortable, inviting and peaceful at the same time strong, secure, protective and beautiful. It will remain a work in progress even after our family moves in.

For now, I am working on the interior design with loving thoughts about how our family will use this home in the future. This week I purchased several rugs for the Great Room. This has been another challenge as I balance function with beauty. Our family loves dogs and they will always be a part of our life. We anticipate grandchildren and many other family and friends staying with us. Therefore, today I am looking at these beautiful antique rugs and smiling....knowing camels walked on them years ago and they are still beautiful...our dogs should do just fine!

Insulation, Sheetrock, and more of the things you never see....

It is mid January 2011, cold, bitter days with the wind chill in the teens and temperatures in the 20's. Add the wind factor and the teeth begin to chatter. This isn't cold for Jackson Hole, Wyoming or Buffalo, New York but this is cold for Fredericksburg, Texas! The crews have been working inside on all those important details you never see once the home is complete. It is kinda like all those important experiences that shape a woman's soul but you don't remember. The insulation is nearly complete and the crews are beginning to sheetrock the interior. All this will be covered with beautiful hand plastered walls in a soft beige color and in the old style. At some point we won't remember that the sheetrock and the insulation behind it are really what keep us warm and cozy.

Building this home reminds me daily of all the unseen layers behind our struggle to keep warm. I think about how we have to adjust the thermostat nearly daily to keep up with the changes. Then I thank God for the solid home being built that will withstand the wind, the rain, the bitter cold, the bright sun and the dry heat in these parts. Sometimes I wonder if I choose the best insulation and the sturdiest sheetrock. The choices are important. It doesn't seem to matter today but someday it will be very important, that is, when you least expect it.

Yep! It is 2011 and moving along....

Here is Emily Dickinson's Poem that I love and want to share:

The Props assist the House
Until the House is built
And then the Props withdraw
And adequate, erect,
The House supports itself
And cease to recollect
The Auger and the Carpender-
Just such a retrospect
Hath the perfected Life-
A past of Plank and Nail
And slowness- then the Scaffolds drop
Affirming the Soul


Beautiful, don't ya think?

Is it really 2011 AD?

The priest at St. Mary's Church explained that we are still in the "year of our lord" and not to worry about anything! Even though I know this, it was comforting to here: it's 2011 AD ( the year of our lord).

And today, this is what our home looks like during our site visit. We have a long way to go but as you can see, it is beginning to look like a home. The masons start back tomorrow and soon the sub-contractors will be concentrating on the interior. I am also concentrating on the interior ( thinking about this symbolically).

Happy New Year 2011

I sure have been dreaming alot lately. Over the last week, I have had many dreams and most of them have been about Bill or Fritz. Without spending alot of time explaining what may be going on in my very complex unconscious, I will just say this: The year 2011 should prove to be very interesting.

Last night we had our traditional New Year's Eve Celebration at the Hill Top Cafe. Johnny knows how to throw a party with good food, great music and lots of our favorite family and friends gathered to toast. After a wonderful dinner and lots of good Camus wine, we headed to Boot Ranch to sit around the fire and bring in the New Year. Bill and I headed back to Travis Street to watch the ball drop in New York City and fell asleep with Fritz by our side. As I drift off to sleep I count my blessings and review the joys and sorrows of 2010.

O'Mesa has taken much of my energy in 2010 and will continue to do so through 2011 and until this home is complete. It will be our gift to our children next Christmas. I wanted to include a picture on this blog page of our progress but technology is not cooperating with me. Before the sub-contractors and artists left for their holiday, we have most of the stone complete on the backside of the house and the interior insulation just about complete. Jim is getting ready to lay the interior flooring and must have the interior temperature controlled for this to happen. The most significant changes, since my last visit, have been the rainwater collection system is in place with temporary downspouts which will be replaced with copper at some point. Also the chimney caps and small windows with iron accents look quite authentic.

While visiting the site yesterday, I realize that the image I have carried around in my minds eye is coming into physical form. It brings tears to my eyes as I know this is yet another miracle. How is anything transformed without first an intention, thoughts, positive energy and faith. As I comtemplate this idea to build O'Mesa, I remember my hesitation. It is as though I was kicking and screaming not to do this "project" but I allowed what ever was to happen to happen. I know God's hand is in this because from the start I have been fighting the idea to build this "house on the hill". Once I was affirmed on June 11, 2010, I have been following God's lead and it has just fell into place. I heard a very loud voice say " build your house on rock and I will be there".

Going into the New Year, my intentions remain, my thoughts are focused on this home on sacred ground, my energy is positive that it will come together just as it is supposed to with faith and love that it's just one more way that God's beautiful spirit manifests Himself in our world. This is not our home. This is a home God is building using our talents and will remain on the hill side as long as he wants it there. I am grateful for the opportunity to glorify him as I look to the unobstructed view to the North at Enchanted Rock. What better reminder than this that beautiful Mother Earth is God's playground for us to enjoy. YET ANOTHER GIFT. Happy New Year 2011!

Christmas Eve 2010

As I am preparing for Christmas Eve dinner for family and friends, there's alot of sorting going on. We are spending Christmas in Shreveport this year and everyone will be coming for dinner after church. As I set the tables and shine silver, I have piles set aside for things that will go to OMESA for next Christmas. My emotions are close to the surface as I find myself using some of my beautiful wedding gifts for the first time. It's hard to believe that these beautiful gifts have been wrapped and stored all this time. For many years we didn't have the money to entertain and when we did it was picnic style because that is what works best with kids and dogs. Now after 32 years I am using some of my grandmother's hand crocheted linens, my mother's crystal that she was given at her wedding and gifts that people gave us over the years.

A friend of ours lost his wife early in their marriage ( early is after 30 years) and they were not able to live out their life into the Golden Years. After she died, he found drawers of things from night gowns to china, all of which she was saving for that special day. Why do we pospone living when life is right before us? I am guilty, yes, I pospone because my Mom and Dad posponed living. Then my Dad unexpectedly died and never took the trips he wanted to take with mom, never wore his fine suits or ties, kept his finest material things in boxes with the tags still on them. Yes, I am guilty. I want to leave everything for our children too. However today I realize that I have been postponing and it is time to use what God has provided. Reminds me of the scripture about the men who were given money. One used all his, one made more with what he was given and one buried his for a rainy day. I don't think the Good Lord was too happy with the one who buried his nor was he happy with the one that spent it all foolishly. It's a good idea to assess ourselves and try to see those blind spots in ourselves. The hole has much buried and it's time to dig it up and use it for God's glory.

Yes, I will take many beautiful things to OMESA but in the meantime, I will use, give, multiply what God has provided and isn't really mine at all.

There are great lessons for me this Christmas Eve 2010, lessons that life doesn't end at the grave, that love is eternal, that God loves me just as I am ( this pitiful person that tries to be perfect at times), and that the Holy Spirit, God my Father and his SON, whose birthday we celebrate are with me NOW. Life is just as it is supposed to be. JOY TO THE WORLD!