Beyond the door I posted yesterday is my messy studio. 
Built by my husband, my father and my son over the space of about five years, it provided an ideal bonding experience for all three. There were some disagreements as the project expanded from a simple eight by eight structure to what it is today. (My neighbor once joked that we were building the Taj Mahal!)
We call it The Teahouse.
Of course, traditional teahouses do not have aluminum roofs but this is California where a thatched roof and paper walls are not practical. There are four barn-style doors that open to allow cross ventilation – a necessity when you’re addicted to painting with oils.
I don’t get down to my Taj Mahal as often as I should. All of this editing, blogging, tweeting, and creating a presence on social media has greatly cut into my painting. The last time I went down there, I discovered that a mouse colony had taken up residence in my paint box. Sorry mice. I’m not Bob Ross! You’ve got to find new digs.
Saying nothing in particular 
Don’t read this! PAINT!
Reclaim my studio from the mice?
Cut off their tails with the carving knife if necessary!
That is very cool – I love it! No go paint.
Thank you!
I do hope you are not mimicking the farmer’s wife. :)))
Have you ever tried to chase a mouse? I think the farmer’s wife must have been a cat!
So cool that you have this space, Jan! I hope you get to use it more.
I am going to try – otherwise I know the mice will return!
I love your little ‘Taj Mahal’ Jan. I’ve been trying to design a studio for myself and you’ve really given me a few ideas to work on, thanks.
I was fortunate because my father was an engineer and an architect! The important thing for me was the ventilation (and the light).
Oh that presence on social media! How did we live without it? Your absence in this cute house created the presence of mice… Such is a real life
I guess we got a lot more fresh air! I was very happy it was mice and not rats!
A good point 😉
So if the windows aren’t rice paper, are they frosted glass? Those mice are happy you are on social media. At least they were.
They are four by eight sheet of plastic (from Tap Plastics) which my husband glued a grid pattern over. The mice are probably waging a twitter war against me as we “speak.”
Awesome post. We all need to understand that bonding comes in those “little” moments that your husband, father and son-in-law experienced. Best wishes on your painting endeavors.
My father passed away not long after the teahouse was built so that makes it all the more special! Thanks for stopping by!
It’s beautiful! Tweeting does tend to suck the life out of creativity, doesn’t it?
Thanks Kate! It is a quiet and lovely place to listen to the creek below and the children next door playing. Luckily no internet so no tweeting allowed!
Typical teahouse roof. I asked my relatives in Japan what was the typical roof for a teahouse and this is it. The roof is very hard to catch on fire. –hubby