No house...sad girl

"Bummersville"
image from Cuteoverload.com

The title of the above image "Bummersville" pretty much describes my mood today! We didn't get the house. Let's just say the bank really screwed us over by accepting another offer without even addressing our counter offer. And we were the first people to be under contract with them. All in all...I can honestly say that it's been a very negative experience so if you are thinking of buying a foreclosed on home...run the other way! The good thing is that this is over now so James and I do feel relief. We just have to get up and dust off our real estate pants and start over again. We know that eventually we will find something right for us...and even better! Thanks to all of you who have been so thoughtful with your support through this. It has meant so much to me.

On a more pleasant note...James and I went to the new Anthropologie store in Boulder the other day and it was a real feast for the eyes! I saw the below Greyhound print there. It was very large and commanding hanging on the wall...and really beautiful. It was printed on hand woven paper. I'm starting my Christmas list now.

We're under contract!

"House by the Railroad"
by Edward Hopper
24" x 29" oil on canvas, 1925

Yes, we're under contract with the house I've been telling you about! Can you believe it?! It's been a pretty amazingly difficult process but to try and make a long story short...the bank lowered the price, we made a third and final offer, the bank countered, we wouldn't budge, the bank wouldn't budge, then they finally accepted our offer last Thursday. Who knows why.

Now the bank is only giving us 7 calendar days to get all the inspections done and get repair estimates back to them. Then James and I will have to decide whether or not we can afford to move forward or if we will need to walk away.

When I saw the above Edward Hopper painting this morning I had to laugh because this new house is about a quarter of a mile from some train tracks. Since I am Miss Tender Ears...I have been stressing about whether or not the sound of a train going by a few times a day will bother me. For James...he stresses about the money and the repairs. For me...I stress about the sounds and who the neighbors are! What a roller coaster week this shall be!

I don't have any new paintings to show you just yet as the two commissions I'm working on are very detailed and time consuming. Between those and the new house...I haven't had much time to do any abstracts or still lifes either. That's the way it goes though...so I am just taking things as they come and am squeezing in as much painting time as I can. Thanks to my clients who are so wonderful and patient with me right now.

Wish us luck this week...we'll need it! I'll keep you posted on our maybe, almost, could be, might be new house! xoxo

“If you could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.” ~Edward Hopper

Priest Lake Pics

James and I lounging on the deck (our favorite activity!)

My Dad's canoe...as you're looking north (you can see the mountains of Canada.)

"Kathleen and James coming in from a morning canoe ride."

Here are a few photos of the trip. James and I had such a great time with Steve, Kathleen, my Brother and Dad. They're all such fun people to be with. We're all wishing we were still there! The water was a liiiiiiitle cold for swimming but we all managed to toughen up enough to go in at least once. They probably heard my screams all the way to Washington when I first hit that icy blast of lake water!

Thanks for all your kind comments about our losing the house. Let me just say that trying to deal with a bank on a forclosed house is like sticking a pin in your eye! They would not budge an inch on their asking price and we could not afford to go any higher. I guess they would rather have that beautiful house sit vacant until they get what they want. It's a bit hard for us to move on right now because we loved the house so much...but we know something really good or better is bound to come along. I'm not ready to stop pouting just yet though. :)

Back with more art very soon! Have a good Monday!

Hunting for Houses

"One Thousand Houses #254"
Artwork by Jamie Johnson

I wanted to at least check in today to say hello! Haven't posted as much as I would like to lately because James and I have been house hunting like crazy people! This has made me think of Jamie Johnson's paintings of houses. I absolutely love her work. She has been doing a great series of "One Thousand Houses"...so check out her website and her blog when you have a chance.

So we did find a house over the weekend that we are making an offer on today (gulp!). It's pretty cool...has a big studio space for me and a three car garage for car boy (James). Those have been two musts in our search. We are trying not to get our hopes up just yet until the inspections are done...but we hope it all works out. It's on almost one acre with lots of trees and beautiful views. All the neighbors around this house have dogs...a very good sign in my world! Keep your fingers crossed, k?

I'm trying to work as much as I can with all this going on but it's been hard to concentrate. I have three paintings in the works; two dogs and a still life so hope to have those to show you very soon. Stay tuned! xo