Is there no place like home?
In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy spent most of the film trying to find her way back home. In year three of the Pandemic, many of us are stuck at home with our version of Toto. Leaving us to wonder how we can click our heels together and create a place that feels better than anyplace else.
We can take our cues from Dorothy and close our eyes and imagine what makes our own home feel good. Do you have fresh flowers? Cozy throws and a fire roaring or a sparkly pool inviting you in for a dip? A bar cart ready to help mix a cocktail? A fun playlist humming in the background? Some years there was playdough stuck to our carpets, or a highchair covered in food, or four of us maxing the Wi-Fi during the lockdown, but the homes we have shared as a family have always told our story. Our house contains a collection of things we love, photos and items from places we’ve traveled, and enables us to share our joys with our guests.
No need for a formal living room, we decorated the space in our house for music and working. Moving my desk by the window enabled me to enjoy the natural light while working and keep an eye on our dog, Simba. I keep my favorite children’s books for inspiration, a cozy chair to change up my writing space, and plenty of journals and pens. Our sons were taking piano lessons on an electronic keyboard but they were struggling to practice and stay motivated. My uncle rescued our piano from a local church and it is not in the best shape, but it does play music. By strategically placing the piano in the boy’s path, they often stop to play a few tunes as they walk by. A sign from local shop Laurel Grove displays the song from Mason’s first performance at SunnyHill Preschool. “I love you in the morning, and in the afternoon, I love you in the evening and underneath the moon.” It inspires me to share the prized video of Mason singing that sweet song.
We added a gas stove to our porch which gave us another place to gather together for meals or conversation. When it snows and we sit out there with the fire going, and it is like being inside a snow globe. As the sign says, it truly is our “Happy Place.” Some of the signs friends have gifted us send a subtle message, such as the one at the door that says “thanks for coming, please leave by 9pm.”
As a mom of teenagers, I spend a lot of time in the laundry room. Having it situated off the kitchen makes it easier to manage. We added a galley of photographs taken by our boys on their phones so they are inspired to keep up with photography.
Our mantle has a glass bottle of my grandfather’s, our bookcase has a wooden angel that my Grandmother made, we curl up under the blanket she knit, and my desk features a tray, a candy dish and a painted box the she gave us at Christmas. My in-progress needlepoint is in my grandmother’s tote bag, and I have my mother’s needlepoint collection framed as a reminder to get to the finish line. The story of my grandmother sharing her gift of homemade presents inspired my very first blog post.
Each morning, I see the golf ball that Todd gave me and the framed lyrics of the song he played when he proposed twenty-six years ago. Photographs are framed throughout the walls of our house to highlight the adventures we have shared. Savoring costly vacations decreases the sting of the expense.
When asked what brings us joy in our home, I do not list expensive furnishings or the actual house, but the little items that tell our story. Winter is a great month to take stock of your home and plan Spring projects before you head to the beach. Every room is an opportunity to highlight the memories you have created and display them for your guests. If your home doesn’t tell your story, now is a great time to write it.
