Through a Window, Darkly

Just realized I have an oil pastel/collage of a woman looking out a window, and a photo of my reflection in a window (will post later, when I find it), and a photo of my mudroom right now, stripped down to the studs, showing part of a window.  Theme time!

This is a combination of collage and oil pastel.  I made it in an altered book class, in what started out as a completely pedestrian board book.  I had no theme when I began, but every spread ended up having wings. There is something about windows and partially open doors and gates that strikes me as particularly evocative.  What lies beyond? And wings inevitably inspire thoughts of upward aspirations, especially if you don't think about Daedelus and Icarus and their unfortunate little escapade.  Dream big, but know your limits, I guess.

And here is my mudroom, stripped of its moldering (and molding) sheetrock, redolent of possibility, or as much possiblity as a barely 9' by 5' room which as to accomodate a washer dryer can have.  It is fascinating to realize it was once a lean-to, crudely stuck on to the back of my house.  And I can see some the original colors of the house: a subdued (some might say "sick") green, a dark brown.  Neither exactly my cup of tea.  Which is probably obvious, given that I had my house painted pale pink last year.  This is a photo of a window of opportunity, quite literally.  Of course, the contractor has disappeared for the last three days, but are we worried or disheartened?  Well, a little.  But I know he'll show up again, so I'm not desperate.  Just lightly annoyed, I suppose.  Anyhow, the plan is to raise the ceiling line so it matches the kitchen this room adjoins, to put in energy-efficent windows, maybe four lights or six lights over one, and some simple tongue-and-groove wainscot (it turns out, there was wainscot under the sheet rock).  As for the floor, I love light hard wood, but I think terracotta tile is more practical.  The contractor wants to use his left-over marble tile, but I think it is too formal.  I am thinking of using for the bathrooms instead, when they get their makeover, after the mudroom and then the kitchen.

So I wonder - what does lie beyond the window?  I hope a happier house.