Home

Six months in observations

(Almost) Six months into packing up everything and moving to England we are pretty much adjusted to our new life. I have some observations. 

1) Living abroad is lonely. Moving to a country with the same language certainly helps but the cultural differences are still hard to overcome. 

2) You adjust. My kids adjusted the quickest and my husband and I a little slower. Adjustment doesn't happen all at once but it ebbs and flows.  

3) Visitors from home are awesome! Our first visitors from the states came in May and we really appreciated spending time with them.

4) But when they leave homesickness will be rekindled.  

5) Living abroad is addictive. I love not being super tied down and hope to live in other countries in the future.  

6) There are so many flowers and birds in the UK! At least in the area that I am blessed to live in. 

7) I am allergic to at least some of that beautiful plantlife. This past May was by far my worst experience with allergies.  

8) I don't know why crosswalks exist since drivers constantly block them.  

9) Traffic is the worst! But walking, biking and public transit are all reasonable options. (Despite the crosswalk blocking vehicles) 

10) Living here still feels like a dream that I am going to wake up from.  

image.jpg

Energized!

After two months of setting up painting at various dining tables throughout our stint in temporary housing I am energized by my newly set up art studio! I have a filled palette for my studio and I am ready to paint all day long. In fact that is pretty much what my Monday looked like.  

Life drawing drop in is tonight. Since today is Charlotte's day home with me I really need that time out to focus on art. I need to pack my bag with the right collection of supplies.  

image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg

Settling into our new space.

It's lovely here in Oxford now that we are no longer tripping over each other in temporary housing. Just tripping over boxes, but we are making progress moving in and prioritizing certain rooms over others. I could get used to this living room view and space.  

My studio is comfortable and I was able to spend the morning painting. It's a good life out here.  

image.jpg

One month in England

It's been a month already! It has been a long and challenging month with stress and illness. But good things are ahead and I am very excited to stretch my creativity in England and the rest of Europe. In a month I will be all moved into my new art studio and it will be spring. Spring and flowers in March! I can hardly contain my excitement.  

image.jpg

Inspiration abounds everywhere.

A week ago we were winding things down in Boston, now we are getting settled in Oxford. Jet lag was rough and I am only now feeling mostly recovered and sleeping properly. Missing my art studio, especially a couple of bottled inks for fountain pens and dipping. But mostly the dining table in the temporary apartment is working well. Spent my first day exploring by myself and was frankly too awestruck by the amazing buildings to sketch them. But soon. Very soon. Right now I am busy taking it all in. 

image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg

Rainy Days

Drinking tea while listening to the wind and rain while painting in my cozy studio. Sunshine is great but sometimes I need the excuse to stay in and work indoors. Loving this stormy weather. 

image.jpg