Wednesday, April 14, 2010

WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS

Last month, Rebecca at Diary of a Virgin Novelist posted about her writing area. Along with pics of some other great bloggers' spaces. I kept meaning to post pics of my own but things were just too chaotic and I kept forgetting. Today though, I remembered!

For those who don't know (or have never read the side bars revealing my location) I live in Florida. Many of us Floridians have screened in porches, or lanais--if you want to get fancy. I'm lucky enough to have a second living room that's practically outside. And, when weather permits, I like to write on my porch/lanai/semi-outside living area.

Check it out.
Don't be jealous of my fancy sofa slipcover (aka sheet). I have dogs. Plus, I tend to spill my wine and/or coffee a lot, so it makes for easy cleaning. Outside of those lovely French doors is my garden...

Cute huh? Some flowers are starting to bloom, but it will be much more colorful in a month or two. For those of you who are really bored, how about a little Where's Waldo? Can you find:
1.) The yellow birdhouse. 2.) Bamboo Wind chimes 3.) Kneeling goddess statue.
Okay, enough of that. It's not like I'm giving away a prize or anything.

Check out why I say this ain't just a screened porch...

Yup. A fridge AND microwave within a few steps of my sofa. This means no long trek inside the house if I need popcorn, wine, or to reheat my coffee. A TV is there too, but I can honestly say I rarely ever turn the thing on. And for those of you with superpower sight, yes, that IS a picture of a mermaid hanging on the wall. Go figure.

Not too shabby, eh? It's no Taj Mahal, but I like it. One day I hope to trade it in for a view of the ocean, but until that significant or major deal happens, I am happily content with my little oasis.

What about you? Where do you usually write?

47 comments:

  1. My writing space isn't nearly as charming as yours, but it's not half bad. My home office is located in a loft that overlooks the first floor. It's got coordinated office furniture - finally, after years of living like a poor college student - and pictures all over the walls of my favorite place on earth ...Seville, Spain.

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  2. Sadly, I do much of my writing on the computer at my classroom desk (not while teaching, obviously). I do write at home sometimes, but with hubby and the kids, they usually protest - loudly. :-)

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  3. I love your writing place. I'm a little jealous. I write in my study. There's a window, but my view is of the neighbors house behind me. Not near as pretty as your view.

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  4. Ooh, Florida. I used to spend every summer with my grandparents down in Ft. Lauderdale. Such a completely different climate than here in the GA mountains; I really miss their grapefruit and avocado trees...

    Awesome lanai! I do some writing on my porch too. :-)

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  5. Ahhh! I JUST did a "where the magic happens" post yesterday showing where I write, LOL!

    Lovely place =)

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  6. Love this! Ahhh Florida and its screened porches...er lanais...

    Being only a bit north of you in Bama I understand the need for these porches. Yes, yes they are nice to enjoy outside while having nice shady areas to flounce on good furniture....for me - ITS TO WARD OFF THE GIANT MOSQUITOS!!! My parents had a screen porch and I loved it. Sadly we have yet to add onto our deck and create a sunroom (oh its planned alright hubby - you hush)

    Ahem...as for my writing space...Well our hodgepodge room is one place, the other is on my favorite chair in the living room...with my dog at my side (NOT on the computer) and my hubby clicking through channels... yep that is where it all happens! ;o)

    Visit MY Kingdom Anytime

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  7. Awesome space. I'm so jealous. I'm in Michigan, not a lot of screened in porches around here, they exist, but can only be used a few months a year, what's fun about that? LOL

    I like to write on my recliner in the living room with my trusty Zeus (tabby) next to me ;o)

    Love the garden too!

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  8. Pretty much what Erica just said, except I don't have a cat.

    Also, for your wine, I would substitute vodka, baby.

    I'm suddenly thirsty.

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  9. What a great place to write or make jewelry???
    Florida is one of my most favorite places of I'm very envious... :0)
    I don't write but I have a studio with all my tools/beads/computer...not in Florida mind you but it does face west which makes for some awesome sunsets!

    Cheers

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  10. I love it! I'm trying to spruce up my backyard to make it prettier and more welcoming. More like your awesome garden area :)

    Recently the library has been the best place for me to write. But I go in spurts. Some days the recliner is perfect. Other days I'm too tempted by the TV. And yet other days I need to be out in the sun to write.

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  11. Very awesome writing spot!!! So beautiful! My writing spot happens to be anywhere I can park my laptop for a few minutes without it getting torn off the counter by my kids. Sigh. I would love to have a designated space! Thanks for sharing!

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  12. I love seeing where people write! It warms my heart to imagine us all typing away on couches and beds and even desk chairs all across the country.

    Since I am in CA this month I should take more pictures and post them...

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  13. I'm so jealous of your space! I'm all set up in my cockpit on the kitchen table. It's not that exciting, except for when it is. :)

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  14. I am really jealous of your screened porch. I had a friend who went to Florida and told me about those but I couldn't quite get what she was saying. Yours looks AWESOME! I also love your cute garden. I write in my dorm room, outside, and at the library.

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  15. I love your writing space! So nice and tranquil -- the screened porch! (And I found all 3 things. ;D)

    I live in the dorm, so the majority of my writing happens at my desk, on my bed, or in the library. Nothing fancy much. :]

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  16. It's your own little apartment there .. how fun! and, I bet the weather is beautiful most of the time...so nice.

    I write in my office during cold months and in my hammock during warm ones. No fridge..but maybe my hubby would run me out an extension cord..hmm...now you have me thinking...

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  17. That's a mighty fine writing space you've got. It looks very inviting and conducive to creativity.
    I write in my "office," which is a colorful room with bright pictures of parrots, palm trees, mermaids, sea turtles, whales, forests, flowers, others sorts of art. Most times it's wonderful. However, the neighbor on the other side of my wall likes to listen to Lady Gaga for hours at a time. When this happens I feel like I got dropped into a club, which is soooo not conducive to most writing. Even my i-pod can't help me escape the pounding techno beat. le sigh

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  18. Wow! I love this! Would kill to have an outdoor writing/lounging area. Not here though. It's snowing right now.

    Tawna

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  19. I have a study. It has a beautiful view...of dirt. Don't be too jealous.

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  20. How beautiful! It's so... Florida! It reminds me of my in-laws' house in the Tampa area. That's funny how everybody has been posting on writing space. I was thinking about doing it just now too. I have a cozy living room with a writing desk nook, which I adore, but it is not quite so breezy and subtropical as your spot. What a little piece of heaven.

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  21. I am so jealous. I'd love a covered porch. We have a great backyard, but it's west-facing (which is the worst, so I hear) and it's pretty miserable out there in the summer. Still, I should hook up the laptop more often than I do and at least try to write outside.

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  22. What an awesome writing spot! I'm a nomadic writer... pretty much I go where there's quiet. Mostly I sit on my bed.

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  23. That's exactly how a garden should look! Such an inspiring writing spot. It's be hard to give up all that charm even for the majestic ocean! Then again, you probably won't find mermaids in a birdbath...

    In my living room, I write by hand at a secretary desk that used to belong to my great grandmother. I transcribe those pages in my office at a desk that used to belong to my nana. My view is the red brick apartment across from ours (we all got lovely new windows last summer, so the view has improved). But I've surrounded my writing spaces with zebra print, bright colors, books, and writing quotes. So for me it's an inspiring space. But like you, I'm hoping for that ocean view some day...!

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  24. My writing area on the other side of my bedroom. Tough commute, especially during winter blizzards.

    The only view I have is of my kids' art work. But at least the flowers are smiling. :)

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  25. That is way cool! Love writing outdoors when I can.

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  26. Nice!!! So, are you going to stay out there and write when the weather hits 100 degrees? LOL It's really cute. I like sitting on my back porch too, though it's not screened or cute like yours. ;-)
    Mostly I sit on my couch in the living room. Very comfy!

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  27. Wow, that's a lot of comments! Anyways, I'd love to live in Florida and I love your sunny writing space. Your sofa is my favorite color :)

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  28. I love getting to see your little oasis! It looks wonderful to me. I write in a corner of the basement. I too am dreaming of the day I have "a room with a view". It's gonna happen! I'm keeping the faith (for both of us!) : )

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  29. This is awesome to see where you write! I usually write at the table, my couch, my bed, or my computer desk. Where ever the three year old won't attack me at the moment. :)

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  30. ...I so do miss living in Florida:) Someday...

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  31. That is an awesome writing space. Oh, and I recognized your laptop cushion thingy. I bought one of those recently, tore open the packaging when it arrived, and then I realized my laptop was too big for it. Go figure. So now it sits in the bottom of my closet, unused. Guess it would have helped if I paid attention to measurements, huh? Anyway, thanks for sharing the images. I'm pretty jealous.

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  32. Fellow FL here.. lovely tranquil yard. I hope you have some fans for summer!

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  33. wow! I love where you write! How awesome is that slip cover too!
    Looks homey and bursting with creative energy.

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  34. I adore your writing space, Karen. It looks fabulous and inspiring. I tend to do most of my writing in my own little nest, overlooking the valley park where we live. I thought the view would be distracting when we first moved here but it has been nothing but inspirational. Hope you are magically well. xx

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  35. That's actually really cool. I may throw some pics up here soon of my writing space lol.

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  36. I write on an old desk, crammed into the dark corner of the living room where air refuses to move during the summer. :(

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  37. Oh, now this is a beautiful retreat. What a perfect place to work!! My husband got me a mini fridge to keep in my office for Christmas. Ha!! I tried moving it and thought it was a safe because it was so heavy. Turns out he'd filled it with Coke Zero, my drink of choice while writing. it was like the perfect gift for me. so much better than jewelry which just gets in the way of writing.

    By the way, I found the birdhouse and the wind chimes, but not the statue! That's a lovely garden. I'm so envious of people that live in warm climates.

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  38. I stopped by your blog today. Lovely space to relax, muse and enjoy the garden.
    Ann
    Ann Summerville
    Cozy In Texas

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  39. There's nothing better than writing in the perfect little oasis on a sunny afternoon! I'm one state over (Alabama) and hope your getting a taste of the beautiful summer-like weather we've experienced these past few days.

    I'm new to blogging and would love for you to check out my site. Best of luck to you, and I can't wait to read one of your books! Tory

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  40. Looks like the perfect writer's retreat. I just usually write on the sofa, laptop on my lap. Nothing fancy!

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  41. Very cute! I like to write on my couch too, with my laptop.

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  42. How cute! I tend to write on my couch with my laptop, as well. Or wherever I am, if I have a computer and the mood strikes me. And I am able to.

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  43. Karen, I am so JEALOUS. Your writing heaven is gorgeous and so charming. It looks like a cozy, sunny, quiet place to dream and write away the summer afternoons. My writing area is not that wonderful, but it's comfortable and good enough for me. :)

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  44. Hi Karen! I'm a born and bred Baltimorean too! Your writing place looks so cozy. I basically write wherever I can--bedroom, Borders, kitchen table. I'm versatile, I guess!

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  45. Awesome writing space! We vacation in Florida actually, om Captiva. Part of my YA book takes place there and Sanibel LOL! Great blog by the way:-)

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  46. I thought the magic happened between the pages of the storybook bed spread?

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  47. oh.. I wanna read there ..looks so peaceful

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