ART...it took me 15 days plus, plus, plus.

Not quite the 12 days of Christmas I’ve sang over the years, this year has been more of a season of discombobulation and cheer. The adventure has allowed me to enjoy the everyday moments that have been unexpected joys in the familiar being noticed as if it were the first time.

Everyday is a journey here at the Pink House, Garden Suite. One day the bed arrives, the next it’s appliances and eventually an actual hook up of the stove!! It’s Christmas time in the city alright. This kitchen is celebrating the “fish” and cooking up a Clam, Salmon, Haddock, Scallop and Prawn chowder with baguette and triple cream cheese on the side this will be followed up with cod cakes (bakalar a la Union market) with a nice salad and holiday treats to end the evening.

It’s the first Christmas eve in new surroundings and the family is coming over to have some ho, ho, ho as we roll out the old year and think about the new one rolling in only a week away. The transition for myself has mirrored the happenings here at project 851, I just can’t help enjoying keeping the best of the old and bringing it into something new; it’s like honouring the good and making it better. During the holiday season I’d like to share the joy of the rosette with you.

Let’s look at how it’s played out.

OLD

TRANSFORMED

NEW

Oh ya, cheers to the old, new and transformed Happy Holidays. May all your transformations be bright!

PEOPLE -- how the holidays work with work

This is the post celebrating the people who are working during the holiday season to make my house a home. After a long year of working hard one often finds a break is needed and sometimes that means leaving town, having a stay-cation, or just plain old doin’ nothing for a while. The holidays, as in the Xmas season, seems to bring less work, more parties, lots of food and drink and pretty much an overall time out.

Personally I’ve been feeling pretty discombobulated this holiday season, yet ironically it’s put me in a place to enjoy the moments of the holiday: the lights, buying presents, xmas markets, children bouncing, movie moments… This week has been full on getting ready to host my family for Xmas eve dinner and whooooooo are the note worthy happy worker bees? (perhaps elves is more appropriate reference for the season)

Thanks to Julia, Colin, Jay, Trevor, Caleb (Mr. Ireland), and Dino (also there’s a few mystery players dancing the elf dance).

I’m sharing some photos of my favourite things:

COMMUNITY -- and that's what it takes to get you settled

… or sort of (the settled part anyway).

Well my home of many, many, many years sold and I handed the keys over November 30th so it was good-bye to the beloved old and welcome to the new or a lovely pink shade.

…and now for a brief visual on the transition.

Did you know it’s become quite acceptable to steal from construction sites?: theft has become a cost of doing business? Whacked, right?

Call me old fashioned and community focused as I just don’t accept that it’s okay to behave so badly at somebody else’s expense. So disrespectful!! …and that’s where community comes in. Community comprised of tradespeople on site, good neighbours, friends and like minded “put off people” who just won’t take it anymore.

The solution? Get yourself a security camera to monitor the site — they sync to your phone now days so you can see what’s going on wherever your are. They’re even 2 way audio so you can provide a special message to an unwelcome intruder. Of course, notify the police and don’t be shy to call 911 ‘cause that’s what theyr’re there for, and not only are they quick but cute as well. Try to get your immediate neighbours on side, informing them as well as letting them know it’s cool for them to call 911 if they’re suspicious of unwanted activity. The best thing to do is create an activity that empowers you to feel strong and in control of you home/space/place. In my case it involved friends and fun creating special gods of protection. A trip to Dress Sew and voila!! a totem of protection was happening (Burt Reynolds eat your heart out (hehehe) — a protection totem always comes in handy, especially when coupled with an armed camera system.

Once all is in place you’re ready to settle into your new home!!

PROGRESS -- it's been a journey of balancing the old with the new

This project began with looking to the land. As the story goes, somebody once told me all good projects start with the land as traditionally that was always the starting point which makes complete sense. After all, as a rural country, wouldn’t you want to know where you drill for water, how the land drains and where best to plant things…

It’s easy to loose sight of these important factors when living in the city, after all you’re lucky to have any land around your home and often people find their home in the air. Since this project started with a double lot, meaning some land, and recalling “somebody’s” words of wisdom contact was made with Joe Fry of Hapa Collaborative. We met at Union Market for coffee and custard tarts to discuss what was possible. There’s more to this story, but that’s for another time. Focusing on this one here’s what evolved.

Yes hard to believe this has been 2 years in the making and now it’s starting to make sense as it’s becoming real. Going beyond the paper of Landscape plan, planting plan, details of paving and planting, details of steps and walls, and streetscape and lists of plant names.

See what I mean:

I love the way the professionals have been able to take my ideas and thoughts, such as blending old and new while aging in place and building a community, and manifest results that surpass anything I could come up with. The contemporary elements of concrete, which you know by now that I LOVE, with these contrasting coloured pavers and the stonework gives a nod to the past with present day craftsmanship (thanks Steve!).

Here’s a bit of a sneak peak at some of the hedges, trees, shrubs, perennials and ground cover with grasses to come. I’ll just name a few of my favourites; Katsura tree (cerdidiphylum japonica), white Meidiland rose (rosa meicoublan white meidiland), japanese forest grass (hakonechloa macra “aureola”), and mexican feather grass (stipa tenuissima).

… and check out this amazing cedar fence!!