We’re in week three of calling our cozy one bedroom basement suite home. With our house torn up across town, living out of suitcases in close quarters in a place no kitchen and no television the most unexpected thing is happening. I’m relaxed. Free from house projects, cleaning and kitchen duties, our evenings are spent exploring the neighborhood, eating together at the food carts and local restaurants, reading books, playing games and making lots of artwork.

Our host family living upstairs has been extremely welcoming. They’re the type of people you can’t help but like, feeling as if we’ve known them longer than just a couple short weeks. Generously inviting us up for dinner, backyard campfires and leaving treats of fresh picked plums, pumpkin bread and tiny toys on our doorstep. And babysitting!

The kids are loving The Sellwood House as well. With an art shop, library, toy store and park within a few blocks there’s no shortage of activities and excursions to keep busy. Another unexpected result of not having playmates close by: they’ve been bonding and getting along better than ever.

Favorite features of our temporary home sweet home:

Shadow puppets on the big screen:

ET: