after almost four years, our time in this old cozy rental is coming to close. when we moved to utah we had almost nothing - aside from a secondhand bed frame, a 1930s chair i found, fb marketplace couch, & our personal belongings. we came here knowing only each other & having zero knowledge about the place we were driving ten hours to. the day we pulled up to this home is something that will be etched in my mind forever. it was so ungodly hot that day we immediately realized living in the “high desert” meant. we cracked open all the blinds, set up my easel in the empty living room, ended up putting the mattress on the floor because the bed frame was broken, & happily ate horrible mexican food that night. over the years the walls of this creaky old rental have held the pieces of us tightly together through heartbreak, new friendships, loss, dinner parties, unemployment, family visits, depression, endless winters, diagnoses, & so much more. it’s an incredibly odd feeling - to be both grieving & exhilarated at the same exact time. sad to be leaving the place that finally felt like home but eager to be putting down roots in something more permanent. i will deeply miss the uneven floorboards that i have memorized, our family of mice in the basement, & the drafty windows that always let in hot summer air. and yet i cannot wait to start this new chapter at The Cottage... and to be able to share that with you 🤍