Time for a Change
I think if bindweed could grow in a gardening blog, this page would be choked with twining green stems. I’ve neglected writing for a few months now, but I have a very good reason:
I moved to Portland, Oregon.
Jon and I opened up Perch Furniture, a cute little shop right in the Pearl District. We are there, every day, making the dream of owning our own business happen. The process has been terrifying, and exciting, and fun and exhausting. It felt like a beginning, and an ending, and limbo all at the same time. Moving, opening the shop, writing my book, and leaving our garden and chickens all at once took almost all of my energy, physical and creative.
But now we have landed. We found a wonderful renter for our house in Seattle. She makes pie, loves to garden, and adopted our chickens. Our shop is open. My book is growing page by page every day. We rented a lovely little house, with just enough space for a vegetable garden and the perfect spot for chickens.
Just the other day I was out in our new yard, poking around, thinking about the space and what I want to grow where. I was reminded that one of the best things about gardening is that you know what will happen. And you don’t.
You know if you sow a bean seed it will crack open underground. A little root will emerge, and soon the emerging bean will nudge aside a lump of soil. The sides of the bean will open up like wings and a tiny plant will unfurl slowly like it just woke up from a very long nap.
But sometimes a bird gobbles up the seed. Or your dog digs up the bed. Or the seed just doesn’t germinate. It’s a mystery. This risk factor is what makes gardening and life so interesting. It is never the same. The expected and the unexpected happen. And that, of course, is the whole point.
Welcome to Portland! I’m love your blog and am so excited you are now in Oregon. Best wishes on getting settled.
October 27th, 2010 at 5:42 pmI have been wondering where you are! Many changes!! Are you still doing the show on KUOW? The last time I tuned in you were not there! I am excited about your book and wish you the best.
October 27th, 2010 at 7:42 pmno! really? seattle will miss you. I am wondering the same thing as Pam- will you still be on KUOW ?
October 27th, 2010 at 8:05 pmoh, and exited for you and your new business!!
October 27th, 2010 at 8:06 pmWelcome to Portland! Actually, I moved just outside the city about a year ago, but am a native Portlander (I know, that’s rare, eh?). Anyway, I’ve enjoyed your blog. I think you’ll find Portland and Seattle very similar.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:01 pm.-= amy manning´s last blog ..I’m moving this blog to http://www.MySuburbanHomestead.com =-.
I’ve missed your posts…and kind of felt a kinship knowing you were in Seattle like me… Good Luck on your new endeavors. I’m looking forward to your book.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:49 pm–Dancing Garden Mom
Big moves like that are challenging. When we decided to uproot our lives, cats, and chickens it felt like I was being turned inside out. I’m so glad we’ve done this, but it was also in many ways one of the hardest things to do ever. It’s good to change it up now and again. Often, like in a garden, you don’t know what you’ll get – good or bad or somewhere in between – from that seed you plant. I say good for you, and I look forward to hearing/reading about your further adventures!
October 28th, 2010 at 5:08 am.-= Joan Lambert Bailey´s last blog ..Tochi Time Or Chestnut Harvest =-.
Congratulations on your move and your new venture! As someone who is also in the process of taking a big risk to start a new business I can definitely empathize with how scary and also how unbelievably exciting it is! I wish you guys the best, if the website is any indication it promises to be fabulous!
October 28th, 2010 at 8:56 amI was wondering about you… Good luck with your new move! Portland is super fun!
October 28th, 2010 at 9:57 amHey, we’re in the same city again! Welcome and best of luck with everything. I will be sure to stop by your shop soon. We have plans to build a chicken coop this winter! I’ll need to hit you up for tips!
October 28th, 2010 at 11:43 amCongratulations!!! Great news… Too funny also… We’ve been talking about the “perfect couch”…. you might just have come to the rescue!!! I’ve already sent your link off to my boyfriend!!! How exciting.. Hopefully your furniture will land at our home in the Adirondacks!!!!
So happy to learn that your chickens have new foster parents!!! Ours are soon to make the move from our Vermont house to the Adirondacks!!! Lucky girls… All the best!!!
October 28th, 2010 at 8:17 pmCongratulation on your move! But does this mean you won’t be on kuow on Tuesday anymore? That would make me sad.
October 29th, 2010 at 6:59 amWilli! I am so excited for you! I LOVE portland! You really choose a great place and your website looks great! I just recently made a big move too…to San Diego and the feeling you described above about packing and leaving your home and finding a renter really rang true to me. Leaving our home and garden and family and friends was one of the hardest things I’ve done but driving over the hill and into the gorgeous san diego valley just felt right! I wish you and Jon the best of luck in Portland and congrats on being business owners!
October 29th, 2010 at 10:17 am.-= chassie´s last blog ..a little something i should tell you =-.
Thanks so much for all of your nice well wishes!!
While I now live in Portland, I’ll still definitely be in Seattle quite a bit. I will still be on KUOW (I was just sick last week) and also teaching another class at the Corson Building next summer. Plus, I’ll be up for several speaking engagements next spring!
October 30th, 2010 at 4:13 pm.-= Willi´s last blog ..Time for a Change =-.
So glad to know you are not completely cutting your apronstrings to Seattle. I love to listen to you on KUOW.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:17 pmWhat an exciting adventure for the 2 of you! The website looks wonderful and what a great concept. The next time we are in Portland we will definitely stop by and check it out.
October 31st, 2010 at 1:14 pmCongrats!
I’m also wondering if you will keep your blog going. I sure hope so. It will be fun and educational to hear about your new garden. Would you mind posting the applesauce recipe you cook in your crock pot? I’d love to try it.
November 1st, 2010 at 12:25 pmTHanks,
Karen
How very exciting! Wish you the best with your new business and new home. Congratulations!
November 3rd, 2010 at 4:47 am.-= Elaine´s last blog ..Gifted =-.
Willi, I’m so sad to have you go, but so happy for you guys. I think it’s great you guys are taking risks to make your dreams a reality and totally agree that’s what makes life fun and interesting. Good luck to you! I look forward to hearing about your experiences on your blog and KUOW, and in person sometime!
You go girl!
November 3rd, 2010 at 11:20 amCongrats on the big move Willi—you’ve got ALOT goin’ on!
I’ll be in Portland in December for a girls’ getaway and we’ll be sure to check out the new shop. 
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:42 pm.-= Anne´s last blog ..August Update =-.
Portland…lovely choice! Just checked out your perch site and I have to ask…Do you ship or do I need to head down to the Rose City with a U-haul?
November 4th, 2010 at 9:46 am.-= Tall Clover´s last blog ..Almost Wordless Wednesday =-.
Beautiful post, Willi! Congrats on your new adventures! Love and luck to you both.
November 5th, 2010 at 9:54 pmOne more reason to visit Portland. Congratulations on your move and for becoming a small business owner. I look forward to seeing your new garden grow.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:44 amHappy for you my friend.~~Dee
November 20th, 2010 at 10:26 am.-= Dee @ Red Dirt Ramblings´s last blog ..Up and down =-.