I had another dream, one I shared with my husband. That dream was to have a little place on an island – a place we’d be able to go for much-needed breaks from our busy lives. For me, an art studio was part of that idyllic picture. In 2014 our island dream also became reality when after more than a decade of on-again-off-again searching we managed to purchase a dilapidated little yellow cottage in the woods on Mayne Island. Grateful doesn’t do justice to how that felt – it was like a miracle. We could hardly believe we’d done it!
I’m grateful my husband was able to taste that dream given
just a few short months later his life suddenly ended.
A black year of solid grief was followed by a grey year of
re-grouping as I struggled to figure out my solo path. My gratitude for those
who helped me through those times is beyond measure. The same goes for the constant presence of my four-legged
companions who got me out of bed each morning and curled up with me at night.
And when life on the mainland was too hard to bear, the little yellow cottage
provided refuge, a place where I could find solace among the trees, listening to
the wind and birds ...
... or get going on some of the therapeutic physical tasks of fixing and maintenance.
Being there helped me in ways I can’t put into words. Even during the darkest times I understood that despite everything that had happened, I was lucky to have such a place and I was grateful.
... or wander to the nearby beach, perhaps to observe a summer moon reflected on pink water ...
... or get going on some of the therapeutic physical tasks of fixing and maintenance.
Being there helped me in ways I can’t put into words. Even during the darkest times I understood that despite everything that had happened, I was lucky to have such a place and I was grateful.
And now phase two of the island dream is becoming
reality:
When we first purchased the property, we dreamt of building
a modest house and turning the somewhat scruffy little cottage into an art
studio. That dream was shattered but instead a re-worked version of it is now
coming together. The cottage has benefitted from some TLC, and just across the
driveway a tiny art studio will soon be complete. It’s not much bigger than a
glorified garden shed but it’s snug and it has windows that take in the view
of the big trees to the east and the sunny meadow to the south.