One year of Co-housing

It's been about a year since the Friday night Ruth called me at work and proposed co-housing. It's been a great year, so many shared meals, conversations, the treat
watching Liam grow day by day, word by word, the even deeper treat of his kisses and welcoming hugs and knowing he knows me as a real, daily part of his life. It's been a hard year with Bob having a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism in January and everyone facing career and financial challenges. The group of us has taken a house that was prtty disorganized and cluttered with lots of run down furniture and redundant belongings and turned it into a much more beautiful and orderly home (with a beautiful deck out front, even). Ruth's sense of the aesthetic and hard work, Chris' constant and very effectve eggort and nurturing (including diligent shopping and amazing cooking), and Bob's steadiness and planning abilities have stood us in good stead. Liam, flowering before our eyes, and now K.K. moving in, already in bloom, add so much to family life. I do like the fact of really living in a family again. The transition of Bob back home full time to teach at Andrews has been easier than I expected. We're still a bit overflowing with stuff, but Bob is working harder at minimization than I ever thought he would, and the effect is obvious.I feel a little overwhelmed in my life these days, but I believe the joy of the co-housing counteracts this overwhelm. Bob chose a cookie cake tonight at HEB to celebrate our year together. I wonder what great changes we will experioence in our next year together.

KK's House (part one)

Notice what's missing from the photos below? (That's right--the house! Err, barn)

The order is placed, the check is cashed. The crew will be out soon. In a matter of a few days the view from our rear windows will change dramatically. Picture, instead of orange marking tape, an 8 foot high (pale yellow) barn-turned-house with huge windows, a fun loft, a door, a porch light and even her very own mailbox.

Soon we'll have the outside of the building built for us. And then we begin the trenching and wiring and drywalling. Eventually KK's room (complete with GREEN walls and a large tree frog mural) will sit right here:

Changes

Ruth is drawing the final plan for K.K.'s little house, with loft. K.K.'s belongings are piled in the garage waiting. K.K. herself will be joining the family soon, registering for Lamar middle school next week. Bob and I have started filling closets in his new classroom with supplies - exciting. Liam is more darling than ever, executing spinning jumps tonights.

A little House for K.K.

is moving from imagination to dream to plan in our back yard. It's staked out now, and Ruth and I trimmed some trees to make room. K.K., very excited about her potential apartment helped too until a mosquito left a huge red welt on her forehead and her Auntie sent her in. The mosquitos love that child as much as I do, unfortunately. I know it is hard for Joanna to be away from K.K. so the girl can live in Austin and dance, and it's hard for me to have Joanna and the boys and Tracy and Drea moving to San Antonio for work - and I am excited about K.K. being a more everyday part of our co-household.

A Thank you poem for Chris

Home Cooking


Barefoot in the kitchen,
madras shorts, wild curls,
science fiction book open
on the counter. NPR on radio,
fluffy scruffy dog under foot,
you teach your son, one,
who stands on blue stool.
You teach him to break egg.
stir batter, place dishes in sink.
He brings you garlic, olive oil,
grater, parsnips, chocolate chips.
You pound the chicken thin,
make two sauces, spicy, mild,
consider all tastes, feed family.
Great blessing, you home cooking.

Happy Birthday Bob!

Today is Bob's birthday--We didn't do much of anything official to celebrate the day itself but it promises to usher in an exciting new year now that Bob will be officially back in Austin teaching 6th grade. (So thank-you AISD for a great Bob-Birthday gift). And thank you, Bob, for letting Liam and I bake you a cake even when you can't eat it. We love you!

Changes

So much is changing in our Stardust house. I can't even really keep up day to day. For sure Bob is coming home to teach sixth grade at Andrews School here in Austin. We are all thrilled about that, though a little overwhelmed by the work involved in closing the Corpus apartment. Also Joanna's family is probably moving to San Antonio for a work and housing opportunity and K.K. will probably stay with us to continue dancing at Ballet Austin. I find that pretty exciting, but again, there will have to be some structural changes to the house to accomodate her and her stuff - so much happening at once! The atmosphere is good, warm and full of laughter, often following Liam's lead. There is just a lot to do, and probably adjustments in the future for all of us. Life does feel very alive in the midst of so much love.