So then there was the long hallway between the foyer and all the bedrooms. Many closets, many doors. I told the contractor not to worry about it at all, that I would take care of it. He looked doubtful. I painted the walls a comfortable green, left the trim in its prior ivory, and have now begun to add painted agaves, cactus, hibiscus, wisteria and the trees of flame we saw in Oaxaca. The plants extend from green walls across closet doors, and up onto the ceiling in some places. I hope to finish it this coming weekend, when the workmen won't have to step around me. It's funny--once I started to draw on the walls they got interested, and now they're quite enthusiastic about each new addition. I'll post photos when it's nearer completion.
It's very good to be engaged in this big project at this time of the year. No point in trying to have a Christmas tree in my current house (too many boxes) nor in the new one. So I don't have to feel guilty or even sad about decorating--which I really don't feel like in any case. But this is a very good excuse in most people's minds. Another year I will have wreaths and decorations and cookies. This year, I have the Jungle Corridor.