New space

We've officially been in our new place for three weeks and for the most part have everything set up the way we want. We're just waiting on a little island for the kitchen and some doors for a shelf in the bedroom. I can't be productive until I have my space set up exactly the way I want it, so getting every detail set up has been a priority. I've briefly worked at my desk here and there, but excited to find a rhythm again. While we were moving I wasn't able to do any drawing, but I only have a couple pages and change left until the format of this chapter changes significantly.

​Here is an unnecessary number of pictures to celebrate having everything settled in (finally)! Arranging the books into every nook and cranny has been a challenge, but pretty fun to figure out. Note the Harry Potter book collection in English, French, German, Dutch, Polish, and Italian... Also we get some great sunshine in the living room in the late afternoon so I've stationed as many plants and sun catchers as possible by the windows. I'm also really happy with the hanging glass float. I put some wire lights in the netting so at nighttime it's a gentle light source. During the day, it catches the sun. Before, this was hanging on our deck, and before that, in my grandparents' lanai.

Living Room

​Chris's desk for music is set up in the living room, while mine is set up in the bedroom. We figured I would need a quiet space where I could shut myself away to work without taking the living space out of commission. I put a lot of decorations out that I inherited from my grandparents too. I hadn't felt comfortable setting them out when we had roommates because many of them are breakable, so it has been nice unpacking and finding a spot for each of those.

I decided to do the same with a cross section of my snow globe collection from childhood. I still have a half dozen more tucked away in a box but these are my favorites. Bermuda, Baltimore Aquarium, Boca Grande, Endicott, 1000 Islands. The most fun snow globe to shake is the Aquarium one, because it looks like the dolphins are nosing through the sand. Another childhood collection that came out of storage is a stack of around 100 cardboard coasters. I've been collecting them for over 15 years.

Bathroom and Kitchen

An inevitable truth I had to face over the last couple weeks is that I have far more framed pieces of artwork than I have the wall space for. I have two suitcases filled with the surplus, and some large items stored in Chris's parents' attic too. I just hate clutter and that goes for wall clutter too, so I had to show quite a bit of restraint (doesn't seem like it though, does it?)

Bedroom

​My various collections above the bed were such a pain to pack up and then rehang but I like the type trays clustered together in this way, rather than scattered throughout the space. I ended up numbering each item so I could just match them with the appropriate compartment rather than try to find a good spot for everything all over again. So far no rocks or coins have fallen on our heads. They were fine in the busy living room at our last place - I think only a seashell or two came loose over the course of 6 years - so I think we should be fine. (Knock on wood.... just not on the wooden type trays.)

I'm going to try and squeak out a few panels before dinner now. Glad it's a three-day weekend!