I thrive on atmosphere.

While some might find that silly or frivolous, I find that I do my best when I’m in an aesthetically pleasing space.

In order to be more proactive with my writing I’ve scheduled writing time into my daily “schedule” (I’m not organized or cool enough to have an actual schedule.) This “schedule” is subject to change, and does often due to my husband’s constantly changing schedule. Right now what works for us is spending our mornings together until a little before noon.  At that time he heads up for a pre-work nap and I head over to my computer in the dining room to sit and stare at the monitor and online window shop. (I’m very good at filling a shopping cart and then closing out the browser after I look in horror at the total.)

We’re currently watching Grantchester on Amazon Prime during our together time. If you haven’t seen it- you should.  Especially If you love period shows like Downton Abbey but want a bit more murder and mayhem. I highly recommend you try it.  An inspector and a priest solving crimes together in 1953. Well, I think that’s the time period.  I’m too exhausted to think.

I’m over here sweating to death as I peck out this post.  I love Maine summers but what I would love even more is air conditioning.  We don’t have any.  (Well 5 out of 6 of us don’t.) I decided to write this while I “cool off” from rearranging what used to be the dining room.

You see, I did it again.

Some of you may remember my older posts regarding our dining room in New Mexico.  If not (or you’re new), you can find it here. Back there I took over the dining room out of necessity.  There was simply no other place for me to set up my own writing space.

Here in Maine I’ve a whole plethora of options. If you had asked me a year ago when we first moved in if I would convert my new dining room into my office/study I would have broken out in hysterics and declared no way.

I had a tiny room on the second floor just for me.

 

Well, mostly for me.  We all know that mom’s never get a space all to themselves.

 It’s a good thing this dining room (no matter it’s function) is big enough for all of us, because I guarantee they will now be in here all the time.  Just like New Mexico….

Back to the now.

That little room on the second floor was mine for only a few months before we decided to upgrade and move our master bedroom to the finished attic which up until that point had housed two girls.  Those two finally ended up with their own bedrooms after years of begging and pleading and countless rolls of duct tape used to draw lines in their previous rooms…..

The kid in the plaid pajamas ended up in our old master bedroom (which has the only window air condition unit by the way.  She refuses to let us in to bask in its frosty delight.) Our youngest took over my office.  It’s just big enough for her twin size bed, the bookcase and a dresser.

From that moment on I was a nomad. A writer with no home, just a computer, her wits, and a bag of snacks. Ahem.

I had first set up camp in what I thought would be my new permanent home- the dormer area of my new attic bedroom.  It was perfect.  Window seat with views of our front yard, deep built in shelves that held my printer and other junk.  And a good spot for a desk I bought from my neighbor for $5.  I even had privacy.

Too much privacy.  Therein laid the problem.  I was two flights of stairs away from the hub of our life.  And the coffee maker.  Not to mention there’s no bathroom in the attic.  I lasted 2 or 3 months before I made my first move down to the kitchen nook.  Then the living room.  Back to the kitchen and finally I settled for the dining room.

Just like New Mexico.

Only this time I wanted to be here.  I still have options including the nice and chill basement, but I like being near the bathroom, the porch in case UPS stops by (I do love Amazon) and of course- the coffee maker.

So here I’ve been for a few months now and it’s been great.  Except, it wasn’t quite mine.  I was sharing with the dining room.  A dining room, might I add, that only sees actual dining a few times a year. So after chewing on the idea for the past few days I decided to stick my metaphorical flag in and claim this rarely used room.

I don’t waste time once I hatch a plan. Much to my family’s chagrin.

I started by hitching the chandelier up higher.  This enabled me to claim the table as my desk.

I needed it closer to the wall so I could plug in my computer. My original plan was to have the table parallel to the wall with the mirror and sit between wall and table but then I’d have a cord hanging.  Hello hazard!!

I then enlisted my son to help me move my big, ugly, but very comfy leather chair and pedestal table from the living room.  I’ve plans fo that wall, but for now it’ll wait. 

My green desk is now chilling over on the side.  This is where I’ll park my computer when I need the dining room.  The majority of chairs are now downstairs in the basement where they will remain until needed.  This desk will also serve double duty as storage and the occasional landing spot for one of my four kids while they do their “school work”. (Homeschoolers, we use “” for everything.  “Everything.”)

There’s more to do.  The cabinet behind me will be robbed of it’s collection of coffee mugs by the end of the day.  In their place will be books and the odd knick knack or two. And eventually that wall above the old squashy chair will be full of inspiration.

Here I sit now feeling tired but satisfied.  I’m home.