Kate Payne de Chavez

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Leap!

It’s been five and a half months since my last blog post. I suspect that this is too long, but it’s been a very important time in the development of our plans for what our life will look like living on two continents, developing two homestead businesses. That being said, over the next few weeks, I plan on updating you all on our progress with the house here, and what we did to prepare for our most recent trip to Peru. We left the States back on December 4th, and we’ll be here until late February, so I’m hoping to create shorter, more frequent posts to fill you in.

I’m not one for New Years resolutions and the like, but I have decided to choose a theme word for the year…or at least for these first few months.

Leap!

I’ve done a lot of risk mitigation and excuse making these past few years as I’ve started my business. I think it’s time to take a leap and really make a go of it. So here’s my promise to myself and the universe - I’m all in, committed to progress with balance and self-care in the mix. My ideas deserve a chance in the world, and I’m committed to doing what I can to supporting and inspiring others along the way.

While there are legitimate reasons that I’ve had to rearrange my schedule and priorities, I have great ideas and life is a limited span of time. So I’m officially making you all my accountability buddies. I’m going to do some business/life goal planning over the next few weeks and share out the best bits. I give you permission to be my loving critics and to pester me when I don’t get back to this blog. I adore you all and thoroughly enjoy interacting with you, and I like to think that reading about my experiences may also help or at least entertain you in some way.

For today, a Jaguey, Perú, house project update. When we got to Camaná this past December, my father in law Miguel had some exciting news for us. The mayoliquero Maestro Santos was lined up to work on putting down the tile in our bathrooms, finishing the living room and kitchen areas, and also doing the floor board tiling in all rooms. All we had to do was choose tile and purchase it - “all” - it was actually a little insane, but we managed it.

My Papi Jorge wanted “simple and bright,” and I was able to select his tile here in Camaná.

For the guest bedroom, aka Mamá Irma and Papá Miguel’s room when they stay over with us, and also for the kids’ bathrooms, Jhan and I were able to create a simple design that can be further personalized/decorated with artwork and shelving. We had to travel to Arequipa for more options and better prices on tile.

For our master bath and for the guest bathroom (1/2 bath downstairs), I wanted something a little different. I found the floor tile for our bathroom first (pictured below), so Jhan and I were able to design around the flooring with our separate shower and tub areas. We haven’t purchased the tub yet, but we’re working on it. For the 1/2 bath downstairs we found a tile for the back wall that we love as a jumping off point. More on the 1/2 bath later.

In the studio:

My creative practice has been a little lackluster in recent weeks, but I managed to do this little travel log acrylic sketch from a photo I took in the Andes.

And I started this acrylic painting of a coffee plant.

More on the project soon!!

What are your intentions for this new year? Do you choose a theme word to give yourself focus and direction? I’d love to hear how you keep yourself on track!