It’s deep in the race for a man to want his own roof and walls and fireplace.” – Peter Bailey, It’s a Wonderful Life.

There is something inherently appealing about having a place to call your own, somewhere to go at the end of the day, a space to let your hair down and put your feet up, where you can say and do what you please, gather with those you love and know you’ll be accepted for exactly who you are – a space containing what we call “the comforts of home”.

Homemaking seems to be a desire from deep within, and while for me, it may not always emerge with style or grace, it finds its way, creating an environment of individual ownership, uniqueness and love – fulfilling a mysterious desire I crave – the making of a home.

People of all cultures and nations build and design their homes in a way that feels right to them.  Nesting mothers can go a little off the deep end in their efforts to prepare the home for a new arrival (our husbands will attest to this as they scrape out gutters in the middle of winter and repaint perfectly adequate nursery walls at the request of a slightly insane mom-to-be).  Homemaking has a significant impact on us, and it is my desire is to harness the power to create a highly functional environment, discovering the secrets to a connected family and finding ways to foster the goodness of true retreat in the place we call home.

So what can we do if our home making skills seem to be lacking?  Hunt for what you like – start with a magazine or an online search.  Some of the best tips and ideas are found in articles and staged scenes in magazines.  Furniture stores are another fun place to hunt for aesthetic answers.  You don’t have to be in the market for furniture to browse the great coloring pairs, furniture arrangements and unique use of wall art.  Even if you can’t afford what they have to offer, you can do something similar with what you already own…or keep an eye out at yard sales and thrift stores.

The greatest thing about homemaking is that it goes far beyond what they eye can see.  I will be digging to find what lies beyond the funky décor and layers of paint to find what makes a house a home.

“I gotta get home there’s a garden to tend. All the seeds from the fruit buried and begin their own family trees, teach them thank you and please, as they spread their own roots then watch the young fruit grow again.” Jack Johnson, Home

Stay tuned for a detailed journey of Homemaking as I venture out (or in) to discover the power of homemaking…

What makes your house a home?