When we first stamped out the dimensions for this room in the snow, and later laid miscellaneous branches around the frozen ground to get a perspective of the size of the space, we had not envisioned an “alpine room.”  What is an alpine room, one might ask.  I’m not really sure, except that it evokes images of Heidi (Arianna’s favorite book) — a sloping roof, steep mountains (well — a steep hill), and two tiny windows that flank a chimney.   All we need now are flower boxes overflowing with spring flowers — but that will have to wait ’till spring.

During the course of construction — it looked big — when we just had branches marking where the walls should be.  Then it looked small when they poured the cement footers.  Then it looked big when it started to take shape.  Then it looked small when the walls started to go up.  Then it looked big when the dry wall went up.  Then it looked small as the fireplace was completed and the trim went in.  So small, in fact, that we were shopping for a smaller alternative to our sofa and loveseat.  And then we decided to just wait.  Wait and see what it was really going to feel like when we moved the furniture in.  Not only does it fit, but it feels like home.  We have the pictures hung, the TV connected and the fireplace is ready to go — if we can stop unpacking long enough to strike a match.