Ok---This is hard to say, exciting too: We have closed on a new home! We lost our home in the flood, and we have found a new home in Nederland. Leaving the Estes Valley will be bitter-sweet. The sweet part will be having a home of our own again. We tried to find something similar to what we lost in Glen Haven, and we did, just not as close to YOU, our community, as we would have originally planned. We not only lost our home in Glen Haven, we also lost our art studio, car, gallery (shared with Leah’s mother, Carol Simmons), and Carol’s Glen Haven apartment. We lost almost everything we physically owned. When the home in Nederland was presented to us, we felt that it was a chance at a new start. It is so difficult to move away from everything familiar to us. We feel that Mother Nature sent us a message though: Make a new start! We have been a part of the Estes/Glen Haven community for over 12 years. It is very sad to leave. You all have supported us, extended beautiful friendships, and continue to help us get through this. Without all of your love and support, we’re not sure that we’d be able to move on and start again as we are. We are deeply grateful to you ALL! I have my moments where this all seems to be too overwhelming. I’ll reach for a mug that is gone, on a shelf that’s not there, in a kitchen that isn’t even in existance. We spent so many years, and so many of you helped, making our home an artful space. Sometimes, I just lay in bed and sob. Then, one of you will call and tell us you’ve found a chair of ours 2 miles downstream or have a kitchen table for us to use in our new home! We know we have far more to be thankful for than not. We miss so many small things: It was hard to run a “quick” errand. We ran into friends, customers, acquaintances everywhere we went. I treasured those interactions and was aware of how unique our way of life was. We truly were a part of a community. Community is, I believe, at the root of successful, happy, and prosperous societies. We knew we lead a blessed life. We tried not to take it for granted. We loved living in little Glen Haven. We loved our home, the little creek that “babbled” helped us sleep so soundly, watching the sun come up over our aspen trees… I loved waking up to the little sounds of my chickens, hungry for their morning kitchen scraps. I loved the way our 3rd stair creaked. I loved that I could navigate our house in the middle of the night without bumpbing into anything, except the dogs! I loved the way the full moon would shine right in our bedroom window us at night. I loved that we walked the dogs with all of the neighbor dogs and had a funny “pack.” I loved that the chipmunks would taunt the dogs in the trees and “chirp” at them all day. I loved that when our pipes froze, neighbors came over and thawed them w/heaters while I was at work. I loved walking to our friends houses for dinner. I loved watching the neighbor children grow up. I loved the opportunity to wish neighbors “good bye” at the end of their lives. Deep down, I think I even loved being shoulder-deep in our own greywater tanks to replace the pump because we were living a “green” life. I loved coming up to “town” to take part in art shows. I loved how so many of you brought me mochas from KIND when the snow would fly, and you’d still come out to support the arts and us! I loved working with my mom. I loved creating a space full of color, art, and joy with her. I loved hearing about how our art became a part of your lives. I loved our life. I loved our life with you ALL! You helped all of our dreams become reality. Even now, I love the smiles and encouragement we receive daily from you ALL. I love the little surprise gifts left for us while we are parked at friends’ houses. I love the way so many of you show up with arms and ATVs to help us salvage things out of our home. I love, love, love still... We will only be an hour away--off Hwy. 119, a road we all know well now! We will come visit A LOT! We would love for you to visit too!
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 02:39:03 +0000
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