Red Dirt Farm and Studio

All of y’all have been so awesome in joining along and commenting on the Cottage family adventures.

No, we aren’t moving.

 I told y’all my gypsy heart doesn’t wander far from home.

This is a story about a love affair – and the possibility of re-imagining my whole life.

My heart knew this was our forever home when we drove up the driveway for the first time all those years ago.

This place immediately spoke to my heart.  You either get this or you don’t.

  It was love for me because of the great big spruce tree beside the front porch.  Because of the tin roof, and the buildings on the property.

Because I always wanted to live on a farm.

With chickens, and cows and pigs.  Maybe it could be that place…

The years passed and we made this our home.  We decorated and painted and remodeled a bit.  Our home has had a lot of different looks.

Instead of chickens, cows and pigs we rescued cats and dogs.

Now our lives have changed.

The old tin roof has 80 years under her belt and now she is leaking.  We had an earthquake a few years ago that rocked our plaster walls into all kinds of crazy cracks and crumbles.

The chimney which runs through the middle of the house is collapsing and is no longer safe to use.  Which is a real bummer because we rely on our wood-stove for winter heat.

Coral Cottage is tired and needs major repairs.

The recent passing of Mother Cottage has Father Cottage reflecting on his future.

 While he isn’t sure exactly what he wants, he does know that he doesn’t want to live in an assisted living facility when the time comes.

We have invited him to live with us here at Coral Cottage.

 But, we don’t have room for him.

We have come to the conclusion that since we must do major work to the house in order to take care of the has to be done things, we might as well do some of the things we always wanted to do such as putting on an addition.

 When Father Cottage decides he wants to come here, there will be room.

Really all this isn’t as easy as I’ve put it.

There are three lives that will be changed, not to mention the whole house make over that will be a complete pain in the you know what.

The roof will be removed, the chimney torn out, the plaster walls gutted, new windows to replace the old and an addition added.

On the positive side, I’m looking at this from the point of view that now I have the opportunity to re-imagine my life and my life-style.

Our old farm-house will get a face-lift and maybe in a way, get back to her roots.

Father Cottage will have a place where he will be welcome and cared for as needed.

We may have a few chickens in the yard.  Maybe a goat or two…

A new chapter.

If you had the opportunity to re-imagine your life – what would it look like?

See you later,

Bye!

Kim

This post has been shared on the HomeAcre Hop.