Tag Archives: 2020

A New Remodel Project

Hwy 557 Remodel

We bought a new house to remodel! If I’m counting correctly, this makes house No. 9 for me. I’ve done all sorts of projects — a small house (less than 1,000 sqft), a 100 year old house, a house that had the worst smelling carpet ever, and 3 flooded houses. Some of them I kept as rentals. Some of them I sold for someone else to enjoy. Some of them were for myself, even when I didn’t expect them to be. Each home has had its own unique story and each of them has meant something to me for a different reason.  

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Our First Weekend Guests

Stephens + Doll Kids at Magnolia Ridge
the pond at Magnolia Ridge

I made a list. It was a list of things that I’d like to get done at #magnoliaridgeLA. Even when I made the list, I knew all of the things wouldn’t get done. Nonetheless, I dedicated a special page in my “life book” — my notebook that keeps things rolling in my world — to a list full of things to get done in one week. 

I am a list maker. I can’t operate without lists. I make lists for work, grocery lists, lists for things to do at home. I even make lists on my days off of things I’d like to do for fun. I add things like “pick blackberries” and “wash towels” to lists. I don’t know if I could operate effectively without them. 

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Guilt and Creativity.

Pamela writing

I sit — wanting to write, wanting to get something I’ve already written ready to publish — and I can’t because my mind will only think about the things I should be doing instead. 

There’s real estate work to be done — a roof quote to get, documents to send, appointments to schedule. 

There’s house work to be done — it turns out the dishwasher doesn’t load itself and these boxes won’t unpack themselves either. 

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The Last 30 Days

wedding day

I sat at home alone on a Saturday morning and tears filled my eyes. At first, I wasn’t even sure why I was crying. After a little more exploration, I was quick to realize that it was all catching up with me.

In the last 30 days, I’ve moved from a house that healed me to a new place with an entirely different way of life. At the old house, we picked up a lot of Johnny’s Pizza. At the new one, there are no quick trips to the store and we cook almost every meal. At the old house, I worked from home all hours of the day. At the new house, cell service is sparse.

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A Time for Fun + What’s Next

#PJOandO at MagnoliaRidgeLA

I read a post from a fellow hope*writer about finding our inner child during this crazy time, and it stayed with me all day. I found myself asking silent questions in my mind like:

What did I enjoy doing as a kid?

What do I do for fun now?

Do I even know how to have pure, unadulterated fun?

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5 Goals for March

tulips at Kiroli Park

Once upon a time, I set monthly goals and shared them here online. I haven’t done that since 2016. 

On Monday, I found myself thinking about the start of the new month and all the many things I’ve been working on lately. I decided to write down a few goals for this new month and then thought I’d share them here, for old time’s sake. And maybe for accountability. 

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Moving from #wfwhitehouse – One Year Later

100 year old remodeled kitchen

It’s been one year since I moved from #wfwhitehouse and into this new place. Zach and I had a conversation recently where we both admitted to missing that big, old house. We had such dreams for that place. It’s taken this full year to really process the events of that time and some days, I still can’t believe it all.

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Hello, Pamela Jo — A New Name

Pamela at Rise

I changed my name on facebook and then I watched as so many people clicked and commented in support. I watched as I felt a weight lifted from my shoulders and an extra pep in my step. I was actually sitting on the couch, but you know what I mean.

I felt like I had control of something again. I didn’t feel like I closed the door on a chapter. I felt like I busted through and slammed it shut. Sure, I still have to figure out the business side of things and I’ll do that eventually. This one small step felt GIGANTIC and gave me back some power over my life.

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