3/17/2015

This Past Week ...

This past week has been, erm, interesting.

Not, of course, that my interesting will necessarily be your interesting. But the nature of blogging is that we, as bloggers, ramble on regardless.



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On Tuesday morning, our dear, dear friends left us once again for their mainland home. Alex and Elsie have been coming to our communion weekend for a number of years, and our pleasure at having them increases every time. (If you don't know how we first met, you'll find the story in this post.)

We'd had such a lovely time of worship after breakfast that morning. We sang Psalm 84 - always lovely - and Alex read Isaiah 58: 6-14. The words meant so much to me, as did Alex's beautiful and heartfelt prayer at the end.

Oh, what a joy to spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ! What a joy Heaven will be when we never have to say Goodbye!




The sign says Welcome, but we were, of course, saying our Goodbyes. This time was different from their previous departures from our home in that we realise this may be their last time here. Of course, we're glad that we will - all being well - see more of them when we move to the mainland, but nevertheless, there is a poignancy to seeing them leave this home, in which so many wonderful memories have been made, for the last time.

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Late one afternoon last week, we had a a knock at the door, resulting in our first viewers! This couple - she has local connections; he now has work on the island - had been told this house would soon be on the market, so she knocked on the door to ask if, indeed, that was the case. We spoke and then I asked her for 20 minutes, at which time her and her husband could have a look round.

Oh yes, I did need these 20 minutes! And it's amazing how tidy one can make a house look in that space of time. I really must practice this more often - not just when viewers come around, but all the time. A tidy house is both welcoming and relaxing, don't you think?

After they left, I took some photos of all the rooms. I know that photos show up things that the naked eye (at least the untrained eye) doesn't catch. And, sure enough, many of the rooms have little bits and bobs I'd change before displaying photos on an official 'For Sale' site. The house will 'officially' be for sale in a couple of weeks' time.

Here is the Guest Bedroom ...





What do you notice? What would you change? What would you add? Give me all the tips you can think of, please.


And here is the Hall, taken from the front door. Again ... whatcha'll reckon?




And the kitchen. I was having a laugh with the couple who came to see it, admitting that there was no smell of freshly ground coffee, no bread baking in the oven, giving off that welcoming aroma that would entice prospective buyers! Twenty minutes was useful, but not long enough for that!




The Family Room is what it is. I love this room. It's relaxing, it's comfortable, it's FULL of memories. It's also full of books, which makes my heart sing a little, but when I saw the photo, I realised that the books look untidy. They don't - in a photo - do for me what they do in real life. 

Does that make sense?




What do you think? Honesty, please ... remember, you're helping me :)


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This week, too, was the week in which I finished our lovely sponsored girl's blanket. It's so unusual to be able to send anything like this to India, but in God's providence, a team are heading out from England to Compassion's headquarters in India next week, and they said they were able to take it out with them and see that my dear wee girl gets it.





It's such a blessing to sponsor a child. If you don't already, please consider doing it.




Compassion (I know there are others too, including an American Compassion) do such an amazing work, and the stories adults, who were once sponsored children, are able to tell of what their education allowed them to do are so inspiring.


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How can I leave the week without giving you some evidence of our changed weather! 

Our mornings have been breathtakingly beautiful. When I open a window, or open the back door, and the only sounds I hear and the skylarks and the sound of the sea (so beautifully termed in Gaelic: Ceòl na mara - and what an apt term, because it really is music to my ears).




There is such peace and joy flowing from sitting in silence, looking at this scene, before the busy-ness of the day descends.



Later in the day, the colours are much more vivid, 


and then, even later in the day ...



new colours delight our senses.


Yes, my fairly constant stream of sunset photos has begun ... And how my kids know it!







20 comments:

  1. It is so beautiful, all of it. The house, your location, the sea, the sky, the sunset.

    Your house is wonderful, the only suggestion I would make about the books (we have a lot here too) is to have some books stand up, some lying down, but vary it on each shelf. Here is a link to the idea of what I am talking about -http://mrsrabe.blogspot.com/2015/02/literary-cafe.html Hope this is helpful!

    I think your kitchen is lovely and all of your windows! Beautiful!

    Deanna

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    1. Thank you, Deanna,for these comments :) . And thanks for the link. The bookcase in that lady's blog looks way better than mine ... a whole lot neater. So, I'm gonna keep that bookmarked and try and put some of that into practice. Thank you!
      Anne x

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  2. Whoever buys this home will be truly blessed. It is lovely and the views are million dollar views.
    I have so enjoyed finding your blog and look forward to each time you share something new.
    Shirley in Virginia

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    1. Aww, thank you, Shirley. I love 'meeting' new people here, and you are so welcome to join me here :)
      I really do hope and pray that whoever is in this house after us will have something of the blessing and the happiness we had here. It has been a wonderful decade for us all :)

      Thank you for taking the time to comment (and from my favourite place in the WHOLE world!!)
      Anne x

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  3. I'm seeing your pictures and finding things I want to take from your home and PUT IN my home! :) We went through the whole crazy selling thing 6 years ago and it seriously looks like you have it perfectly in hand! The only thing, as you had already noticed, would be the books maybe perfectly in order as only a prospective buyer might want to see. (don't look at my library - it's hideously packed and chaotic!) The family pictures on the wall up your stairs are beautiful and will make buyers picture their own family pictures there. I had to laugh at your baking smells in the kitchen - we heard that, too, and I never had time. OH well! Enjoy this time with your family and keep making those memories. Thanks for the pictures - the sunsets are, as usual, stunning. I miss them here! Too many trees.

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    1. No trees here!! And of course, the benefit it that they're not there to hide the sunsets :)

      Yes, I'm definitely gonna look at sorting the books out - as you say, *living* with the books is different to what a prospective buyer wants to see ...

      Anne x

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  4. Your house looks lovely.... A friend of mine has her books in groups according to colour of the spine. It's a surprisingly satisfying look, if you can be bothered...! xx Angela

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    1. Well, well, Angela ... that might be a really lovely look. You know, I think I'll see if that will work here. Thanks for telling me that, and giving me an idea I'd never have thought of :)
      Anne x

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  5. Your house is a delight and the views stunning. I wouldn't change anything...

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    1. Thank you, m'dear :) . The view - for me - is our greatest selling point!

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  6. Your house is beautiful. If mine was half so tidy, I would be happy. I love the idea of sending something handmade to a sponsored child.

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    1. Erm .... you didn't see it PRE the 20 mins scramble ;) !

      And yes, I do so hope it arrives at our dear little girl safely (and I hope she won't end up like Joseph - causing envy because of her 'coat' of many colours ... I do keep thinking of that, but I'm hoping I'm worrying about nothing)
      Anne x

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  7. You do know you can put apple slices with cinnamon sticks boiling on the stove. Makes yummy smells for incoming house viewers. Did "The Builder" build your house?

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    1. Ahh, Susan, cinnamon has SUCH a gorgeous smell ... that sounds lovely :)

      Yes, my Builder built our home .... see, you knew there was a good reason I married him ;) !
      Anne x

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  8. Your home is beautiful! Ah books...I use a variety of 'tricks' to try and get a neater look...baskets that fit on the shelves, magazine files (white IKEA, sourced on Amazon) for maps, papers and, well, magazines! Best wishes with the sale.
    Arlene

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    1. Aye, I was wondering if a bit of variety on the shelves might look nice, with a basket here and there (I do love baskets!) ... might try that.
      (I'll need to get the girls and their Pinterest pics 'on the case'!)
      Anne x

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  9. I wish I could buy your home. :) Then I would let you come visit whenever you missed it. You've done a great job of making the home warm and inviting. I don't think it needs anything. When it comes to all those rules about putting a house on a market I think some are ridiculous. I know when a house is staged and when it's loved and I prefer loved. I never bought a house because she had the perfect pillows on the couch or a delicious smell. I bought it because it was suitable for my large family.

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    1. Aww, Mindy, that would be lovely - I could come back AND visit with you :)

      I do think you're right ... that some of the 'rules' of selling are OTT ... tidiness, yes, but not a totally un-lived-in look. I'd agree with you
      Anne x

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  10. Your home is just lovely Anne, I am sure they would have found it as perfect as it looks from here. I think your books look great as well; they re always nice to look at in any format. Love the beautiful blank that you made for your sponsored child. What a sweet idea. We sponsor two children with Mission of Mercy, and have for many years, but I must say, I have never though to do something so lovely for them (ours have always been boys). You have inspired me. I will continue to pray that the Lord will bless you in all of your new adventures, and all of the changes that are coming.
    Love and Blessings,
    Pam

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  11. Since you asked, and you are sincerely wanting to make a good show for sale, I thought the guest room needed a bit more contrast color (perhaps in a bedspread?), In the foyer my eye went to the tangle of cords by the cute little stand (could they be shortened or wrapped up a bit?) Your kitchen was lovely, I think if you reduced your books by half and introduced a few decorative items of interest interspersed between book sections, or a few photos maybe? Some like organizing books by color. This is only for eye appeal. Real book lovers could care less. I imagine leaving your home will be very difficult. Hope all goes well. Pam

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