Never Enough Storage for Stuff

One thousand forty two square feet is all we have in our Freedman's, that's it.  And we are squeezing out every inch of space.  We have searched out the nooks and crannies to put stuff.  Lord knows we have plenty of it.  It has been our dilemma in designing this layout.  This weekend, we pulled out the utility room storage shelves and covered our central living space with what seemed an unending mound of stuff.  Greg installed a wall of cabinets across the back of the utility room, leaving a space for a yet-to-be- purchased second refrigerator.  

He, also, put in a cabinet over the washer-dryer area.  It was a good time to cull out our the extras, and organize what is considered necessary.  I had this moment of clarity after about 36 hours into this project.  I laid my face in my hands.  Could it be?  I looked and gone are the wall of tools, gone are the dusty shelves and with them,  the dusty weight.  Little by little this house has chipped away at all of my strongholds.  It has been so long since we have lived in a finished house, it feels foreign, but I long for order because it hits at what bothers me most.  Order and simplicity diminish my anxiety, and finding a space to relax that has some semblance of order has been a daunting task these many months. I have learned we don't need as so very much to survive, and can even thrive in the midst of the chaos.

After Christmas, Charleston had one of the top five largest snowfalls in our history.  There was close to 6 inches.  It closed down the city for a week.  You would think these days would be productive days for us, but due to the temperatures and the moisture, we rested, ended up with cabin fever, and finally ventured out on foot to see Hampton Park under canopy.  Truly amazing to experience. 

Just weeks prior in November, we planted a winter crop of collard and turnip greens in our courtyard, and the plants were oddly not affected by the frozen precipitation.  The plants thrived, hence, the term winter crop.  I couldn't help but consider how they are adapted to take the snow cover.  This picture is taken when the garden was at its peak.

With the warmer temperatures, below will be some of the last greens I'll cook this year.  I cut a number of bags of greens and shared with my neighbors.  A newbie to our street was passing to market the day of my cuttings and inquired about having some for Sunday dinner.  I had plenty to share and hung them on her gate.  Greg has vowed to cut back on our planting this Spring, but we will see.  

In just a few weeks, Greg hopes to take off the end wall of the house that borders on Congress Street, in order to re-frame some of the rot on the corners.  This front will be covered in plywood and housewrap, a moisture barrier with new windows installed.  We are excited to see the old, rotten part come off.  It is some of our last demolition work.  The ceiling inside has already been framed.   This is our ceiling joists to open it up to a cathedral ceiling inside matching our morning room.

Greg tore off the remainder of the siding last month.  It was a heavy job and his parents came to help.  Marvin, his father, made his cuts and his mother, Sarah, worked on sanding our wrought iron fence.  His father's instruction is where his journey in construction began, and his mother is always up for a project.  We were grateful to have them visit.  Until next post, I hope you feel Spring upon you, when all things are continually renewed.