Process

This image speaks a lot about what we are learning here at North Star Hall. 

Those zinnias are growing in an old bucket, exactly where we found it when we moved in this spring. 

Where attention goes, energy flows and results show. An abandoned, rusted garbage-filled bucket is now home to an abundant bouquet of flowers. We made our choices, as a result fresh life is coursing into new places. 

If we don't water the zinnias, they die. Our ongoing attention is required. 

Someone else might have taken bucket and all and thrown it on the trash heap. For whatever reason, Chad and I decided to make it beautiful. A living "shabby and chic" experiment. 

We are already beginning to prepare for winter. This bucket teaming with blossoms will soon look like nothing more than an old dirty bucket again. A blank, fertile canvas. For several long, chilly months there will be no visible signs of life. What will we do with the bucket next year? 

Our garden is like that. Once crowded with weeds and thistles, it is beginning to come alive and be fruitful because we are putting our attention to it in the form of constant weeding, watering and fertilizing. 

The entire Grange experience has been one of choice, attention and flowing energy where we can, or at least where it makes sense at the moment. When we first looked at this place it was a cold, dusty gray rat and bat poop-filled musty old bucket of a building. We didn't know if the water or electricity would work. I obsessed for weeks if buying this place was the right thing to do. "What if it doesn't work? But it's a great price. It's a beautiful building rich with history. But what if it doesn't work out? What will we do? Should we go for it or should we walk away and save the trouble?"

I still feel somewhat obsessed over whether we should be doing this or not. I can't say it's been an easy process, or even always enjoyable. However, after months of attention the building is beginning to hum and vibrate with life. Everything feels warmer, more comfortable, more together. Right this second Chad is preparing one of our guest bedrooms for our first bed and breakfast guests. He invested several hours this morning getting hot and cold running water in two of our bathrooms! Every day sees new improvements. Our attention and choice to shine love on this land is beginning to pay off. Flow is occurring, we are enjoying more of the results we were looking for and worked hard to achieve. We have taken this fallow bucket of a building and are turning it into a thriving bouquet of Life. 

Thank you! 

Facing East

Our classroom, facing east:

We have a lot of work to do. We feel so lucky to have the space we do. I am excited to find some yoga partners! 

One of the images I posted this morning to our new Airbnb.com page: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3857454

Please feel free to share the Airbnb page on Facebook, or with anyone you consider to be any mix of bright, happy, creative, motivated and that you think would vibe with our North Star world. Thank you! 

Bathroom Window

In what is the master bath, and what will become a beautiful, restful bathroom with a retreat, spa-like feel. 

Sand Flat School

So much going on! so much we could blog about!

We ordered a couple prints from the Lincoln County Museum (please like them on Facebook). This is an iPhone snap of a long horizontal print at the museum dated 1920. 

Yay! 

We *love* this stuff! 

We are still in the process of nailing down the specifics, but the paperwork says this building was erected in 1900. Ostensibly for the school...? 

I love knowing that this fellow shared our space a century ago. Later he became a charter member of the North Star Grange! 

Lang, Herbert R.,  Jan 3, 1974

"Services were held in CA last week for Herbert R. Lang, who died in Cambria Dec 24. Born in Keller in 1907, Lang later attended Sand Flat and Davenport schools when his parents, Frank and Caroline Lang, farmed north of Davenport. A charter member of North Star Grange, he later owned and operated the Gerome ferry, store and post office and then the Gifford ferry, which he built. Survivors include three daughters, 5 grandchildren and two sisters, Margaretta Adams, Davenport, and Frances Duckey, Mercer Island." (Dav. Times: 1-03-1974)

More info and details to come, consider this a teaser. The friendly folks at the museum are looking for more tidbits, old ads and what not generated from this building. It's very exciting! 

If YOU know anything about Sand Flat School or the North Star Grange, or anything else about this building, please contact us! 

Thanks Nina!

Nina Bjornstal is the Seattle-based realtor who helped us purchase the North Star Hall and supplied us with stellar service in the process. Working long-distance she answered all our questions, getting paperwork straightened out that was quite literally spread from Davenport, WA to India. She also managed to get all sorts of only vaguely helpful paper shufflers to work cohesively as a team and get this place closed on time. I appreciate Nina's sensitivity to our family's particular dynamics and needs. Nina went way above and beyond the call of duty. Frankly, this was a small deal for her and even so, we definitely enjoyed million dollar level service.

Recently, Nina graciously sent us a Home Depot gift card as a housewarming. Look at all the nifty stuff we got!  Right now I'm especially loving that hose! We have constant need to be dragging hoses everywhere and there's nothing worse than constantly kinking hoses. This hose is a kink-free blessing and makes our gardening much easier. The day I went shopping for these things Chad told me to go to Macy's and "get something nice for myself". Instead I went to Home Depot and got a hose. The latches are on the doors which makes it way more enjoyable to come and go. That packet of towels has turned out to be a little Bowie miracle...she has us rotating towels several times a day.

Thank you Nina! I'm proud to count you as a long-time friend. We are happy you are now an important friend to our quirky new family. Thank you for the gift card! Thank you for your professional and comprehensive service ushering us into our lovely new home. We could not have done it without you!

Welcome!

This mat newly beckons welcome at the front door of our classroom. I don't exactly remember when my grandmother gave it to me, perhaps I was gifted it after she died. At any rate, it's been my welcome mat at every place I've lived since it first came into my hands. Apparently the marbles were stomped into place by my Uncle Bobby when he was 8 or 9 years old. I think it's missing some marbles. I remember exactly how this looked, along with the ambient sounds and quiet sounds at the back door to my grandparent's place outside of Goldendale, Washington.

It's even more special knowing this welcome mat graces the entry to our home in this historic building that used to be a Grange Hall for the local farmers and residents. I like to believe Grandma and Grandpa would be extra proud knowing Chad and I were inspired to restore and breathe new life into this beautiful place. Inez and Howard Bratton were Grange members for many years.

I've been thinking about my Grandmother quite a bit lately. Like last night when the full moon shone brightly in the clear country air. Or when we work in the garden, I can see Grandma in her flowered dress, walking behind her old, single-wheeled garden hoe. I've often dreamt of a quiet rural life with my happy family. It seems as though Chad and I have a real chance at creating a viable, productive and prosperous life in a special place. I'm glad for many of the sensibilities I learned being a part of the life my grandparents built together. 

I think I'll go listen to the The Entertainer, a popular piece for our family to play on Grandma's piano.