Hidden Lives

Little Beach Shack, what secrets do you hold? Hidden beneath your window sill donned in thick evergreen paint are traces of your former lives ...


Sanding back the paint I see that when you were new, your window sill was crisp and bright white. Did small pots of herbs sit on your happy sill? Did roses grow beneath and dance lazily in the gentle sea breeze? Did children peek in the window and speak to someone baking cookies in the kitchen?

Tired of the white, I see you then sported a warm terracotta red - I bet it looked lovely against the creamy stucco. Spanish looking and inviting. I venture to guess that the bougainvillea by the front door was planted during this life -- the one with treasures buried deep within it - an ancient string of Christmas lights and a small green garden bell that fell deep within the thorny branches when the slender rope holding it rotted with age.

Bright school bus yellow was your next season. I can't help but think of a sunny side up egg with this color combination, and wonder who lived within your walls during this part of your life. Were beach cruisers with baskets leaned against your walls and surfboards stacked on the peg slats by the back pergola? What flowers grew in the window box, beautiful then, neglected and now desiccated underneath your sill?

Your green phase followed -- first with a light, bright green, followed by a deep evergreen. This is how we found you. The people who dressed you up in the shades of the Torrey pines didn't do a very good job. Somewhere care began eroding, and dilapidation was allowed through the door. Paint was just slapped over the peeling paint beneath. Your happy windows were painted shut. Edges were sloppy and the oily deep green smeared well into the stucco. I think they just wanted to cover up the sunny yellow in more ways than one. Mission accomplished... but, worry not. The oppressive oily mess is all gone, now.

The next era -- the golden era -- going on the 80th year of your life -- will soothe and revive you, sweet little cottage by the sea. Desert shadows, sea salt and ocean pearl are in your very near future, will renew your weary spirit, and I think you will be quite happy, indeed. It's my way of giving you a gentle and loving hug.

... The Guest House exterior is almost done, I'm working on the trim while Poor Tired husband is on to the Main House! HOORAY! (That is the kitchen window sill pictured above)