Our new home truly is everything we dreamed it would be.
We live in an old Victorian house on a historic avenue. The house is surrounded and shaded by tall old oak trees. There are 11 of them just out my window. They are scattered to their own areas and look very much like tall old kings guarding something sacred.  The shaded yard is covered in acorns and happy squirrels. Sometimes at night you can here the acorns drop on the tin roof of the porch, then quickly after, you hear a squirrel scurrying over to collect it. Rabbits hop up and down along the white fence, and Ravens are everywhere. I have never seen so many ravens. They are beautiful in their silken black cloaks with hints of metallic blue shining from their wings.
I suppose I should start a new series of paintings. Of squirrels, rabbits, and ravens. All posing in front of tall oaks and a very old house.
One of our favorite places is a little sitting area in the long front yard, nestled under 1 tall trees and a big gardenia bush. Many a breakfast and afternoon tea will be had there and I'll be sure to lay out some rabbit food so that maybe, one day, they will join us for tea.

so here we are...

Charlottesville, Virginia.

I sit in my new home of 3 days. Boxes everywhere, only a few things unpacked. The floors have been taped down with brown paper and little dots of red and green paint have splatted on it here and there. The cat is enjoying the crackling of the paper beneath her paws as she takes the long walk from her bed to the bowl of cool clean water that awaits her.
We are a family of 3. My husband, myself, and the Cat. And we've all arrived in Charlottesville for some very good reasons.
He, to study the beauty of the written word, of coffee shops, and old bookstores, of theater, and of croissants.
I, for the study of plants and herbs, of ballet, and wet paint, of trips to the farmers markets, and antique shops, of lace, and most of all, flowers.
and the Cat.. for the study of naps, of figuring out which window gives just the right amount of light, of squirrel watching, and late night adventures while the whole town is asleep.