Back in April when this view of tender foliage was outside the window of Spare Oom, I started on a new construction project in Narnia. Then life got in the way, and construction ground to a halt. Now that working inside to avoid the suffocating heat of summer seems like a brilliant idea, I thought it was time to take my construction project public. Maybe that will keep me at it!
“WHAAAAT?” you might well ask. “Didn’t you just finish creating Narnia in your attic? What could you possibly be building now?” Well, here’s the answer to that very good question . . .
I’m building a house! A dollhouse, yes, but a house! This time I’m the general contractor, builder and decorator!
I bought this house before we moved to France in 1990, and it sat in storage with our furniture until we came back to the States in 2001. At the time I thought I would decorate it in French style. But it sat . . . and sat . . . and sat . . . in a closet. Then in 2008, two things happened.
1) We left my beloved Victorian house in Tennessee and moved out here to the country. It was my idea to move, but oh, was it hard to leave my dream house!
2) Our first grandchild, a girl, was born. Now at last I had a really good reason to pull out the dollhouse and get to work.
But of course the work of turning this place into a farm took precedence, and somehow the dollhouse languished again. Then earlier this year during the process of furnishing Narnia, Charis (now 4 1/2) saw the dollhouse and was enchanted.
That was all it took! I realized that the idea of making a French house no longer seemed so appealing. Instead, I would rather recreate my beloved old Victorian. So I ordered lap siding and set everything up to begin construction–again!
So this is an invitation to join me up in Narnia while I build a house-within-a-fantasy-land-within-a-house. And when I’m done with this, there’s an old Lionel train waiting for its own world to come to life in the basement. So there’s plenty of magic still left in Narnia, just waiting to be breathed into life!
Through the Wardrobe 
This post made me get emotional. Really. I love that you are doing this. There is just not enough magic in this world. I am praying every day that you realise all of your goals and have a wonderful time doing it. The children and I have just begun turning our garden into a fairy forest. (In nevada this is quite a process, let me tell you.) We are having so much fun constructing out special place. I hope someday to be able to cisit you and person and give you a well deserved hug. ❤
How very precious, Ionia! You almost made me cry! I would LOVE to see pictures of your fairy forest! I didn’t know you were in Nevada, but I can imagine how much of a challenge that is!
I hope this doesn’t make me sound creepy and scary, but I would be too thrilled if you really did come for a visit! And bring the kids! You can stay in Narnia and play with the dollhouse while we take the kids to see the animals and ride the pony. And then you can take a break from writing reviews and read some of your old favorites from the bookshelves in Cair Paravel. We’ve been so blessed here that we love to share with others. So consider yourself invited! And hugged back!
amazing as always! You are talented, creative and inspiring. I feel close to you from our sharing and think values wise our families are similar. That doll house is beautiful!
Thanks so much, Brooke’s sister! I feel a kinship with you, too, and think we’d have TONS to talk about! Maybe over a horseback ride? 🙂