My new home in Social Circle, Georgia
One year ago today I had hip replacement surgery on my right hip and a year's journey began that ended with me living in the cottage in my mind for real. It was a year full of unsettling things, heartbreak, and finally joy in finding my new house and beginning a new chapter of my life. Between April 11, 2016 and April 11, 2017, everything they tell you triggers stress landed on my head! Three surgeries in thirty days ( hip replacement that went badly with a fractured femur and infection) and seven weeks away from the nest where my dogs were waiting for me to return. Thanks to my friend and pet sitter and a few good doctors, we were all reunited the end of May. My mother had a terrible health year and at the end of August we lost her. A blessing that ended the pain that engulfed her but a loss I still can't comprehend. I sold my house in Florida that had been her home for years, where she had been happy and started writing again, a house I loved but could not afford to keep. For so many years I have wanted to move from my own home in Decatur. Mother encouraged me to follow my dreams but the timing was off. In 2015, I had left hip replacement surgery and then the fiasco surgery in April 2016. In January of this year I knew it was time for me to find a new path. My lovely home in Decatur, the one my husband bought when we were first together, before we married, was overwhelming to me on my own the last few years. I'd found a little 1906 cottage in the charming town of Social Circle, an hour outside of Atlanta, and made an offer. My house in Decatur sold to a wonderful couple, the first to look at it, in less than a day on the market. So, February 28th we closed on the sale of the Decatur house at 9AM and at noon I purchased my cottage. I had thirty days to move, which was a blessing with all my things that had to be sorted through and hard to pack since I am still on my cane, but a necessity since I had to have a privacy fence put up for my dogs to go out in the yard. The house is in a historic district so all had to be approved before the fence could go in. My fence was completed five days before I had to leave the Decatur house. I also had the interior of the house painted white, a farmhouse white, since once I moved in I would never paint it myself. The dogs and I spent our first night in Social Circle March 26th. The adventure has just begun. I am happy. I want to call my mother and tell her the news, just like I always called her to tell her everything. Somehow I know she is smiling. When I started the process in January I knew exactly what she would say. Go my darling. Spread your wings. I am tossing my cane aside and beginning to fly again.
Exterior
A dream come true!
The little shed in the back yard.
First roses in bloom.
Fresh Paint
After painting, looking down center hall to front door.
Keeping room off kitchen.
Shelves in kitchen
Vanity in bathroom. The previous owner had renovated the house beautifully.
I just added my paint colors.
Dining room.
The Dogs Arrive
(transported by a friend in animal rescue
who brought me April and Rascal originally.)
And feeling right at home in the midst of all that needs to be done.
Sleeping every place they can.
And walking carefully between boxes, art, and books.
A Happy Camper
(more to come as progress is made)
