Going through my library books last night, which included the newest decorating/design book from Kinfolk, called The Kinfolk Home. I follow their FB page, and Kinfolk always has homey photos---but maybe more minimalistic than I prefer. I enjoy spare rooms, but only in other people's homes. The book has homes with lots of grey, black/white, and beige. Very light on the eyes.
But it's not cluttery enough for me. I do like, what I call, eye clutter. Lots of stuff. Rooms loaded down with things to look at. Maybe it's a security issue, but it's me.
Anyway, the photo is from the photo spread on pages 126-127 of the book. Following page after page of clean and efficiently-designed areas, I was in the mood for more. Here's what I saw:
I found it stunning. Still monochromatic, as much of the book is, but so rich in textures and wonderful things. Do find the book at the library and turn here. I just stared and stared at these pages last night.
* * *
Which got me on to thinking on who I am, and who I want to be for the rest of my life. At the library bookstore yesterday, the woman who checked me out (who could've been about ten years older) commented on my braid. (...follow along...i do have a point to make!) She said she'd always wanted to grow her hair out like I have (it's still to my waist), but never figured her hair would be thick enough to weave a braid. I told her that growing my hair out had been on my bucket list, and she laughed when I said it took about 15 years of not cutting it to get it this long---said she might not have that long left. We both laughed at that. Not likely.
So, I'm thinking....while I do still have children at home, my thinking can turn to *me* more often. Hard to manage after years of putting them first. I don't know. There are things I do that are for my pleasure only, but I have a hard time fitting them in.
And, oddly enough, letting the grey come out in my hair has been wonderful. I'm liking to see who I am under the darker hair color. Surprised at how quickly the grey is coming out, thinking the home color I've used is, more or less, fading and not so much having to grow out. How 'bout that? The least one was braiding it the other day and she commented on the silver weaving in the braid, said she thought it was pretty, and off we went. Yes, I'm incapable of doing my own hair, not having long-enough arms to do it myself. I need ape arms.
So, who am I when the children aren't so much in the picture? What place do I want to fill when they've all left our nest? My loves are design and decorating (with my Interior Design degree this is normal), an unnatural love of books (very excessive), writing, the Anglican church, and herbal studies. That's, pretty much, who I am. Oh, and I have all this hair.
You didn't want a bio, but you got one anyway! The hard part is being that person more, not just as an aside. And I think women my age suffer with this, and not sure if children cause the largest hiccup or if it's just part of the growing older syndrome.
Just thinking about stuff. My mind got to wandering, spurred on by those two pages, and this is what I had in my head. My goodness.
Enjoy the day.
