“We need to get you a desk. You’re gonna need one,” he said.

I shook my head. “Babe, we got the dining room table, and I can ask work if they’ll let me buy my old laptop from them.”

But he persisted. And I don’t say that in the oh, bat my eyelashes way. He genuinely, authoritatively decided we would have a home office. With a desk. And I would write.

Tucked in our little gentrified 1920s golfing area of Atlanta’s Decatur neighborhood stands the little ranch house we renovated, Wes and I. Though by “we,” I sincerely mean his family, mine when they could make the drive, and my charming chiming in (lest I think) on the Sherwin Williams-related matters.

The grace of a home office reminds me of my place in this story. Working from home as a writer age 27 wasn’t what I saw in the cards, but it’s working and our God is good. So today, I want to give you a peek around the digs.

An unfiltered, iPhone shot peek at my Ballard outlet purchases and more.

Here we go!

Scrolling through Anne Lamont’s writings now and came across this: QUOTE. Appropos, in fact, and here’s the current collection. I’ve mentioned that certain tales lie laden in the leather ottomon until thoroughly marked up and past inspection, then they’ll make it here. They make it through the ottomon, they can make it anywhere.

It’s home, tried and true.

Also home. Because a true southerner is always “from” her hometown, right?

Calligraphic tools await. Mostly pick-ups from the treasure trove of Binders and Michael’s.

To my right sits the calligraphy inventory of paper and pens and nibs. I also — endless packrat I am — print, triple punch, and bind any handout or printable of worth I find. Those live here.

Beautiful, right? This was a gift from my sweet Aunt Nancy back home in Montgomery, and it matches my vintage ink holder from mom — mama, don’t look at that ink dribbling down. I promise it comes off!

Always fleurs and a candle.

More books, though here like mostly a few reference guides. A couple of textbooks, A.P. Stylebook editions — DUH! I dream in AP style, I believe, a couple of PR text books, and Strunk & White’s Elements of Style.

The board’s a mess, but it’s my mess, and I love it.

And that’s a wrap! Well, apart from the vintage wooden table that leers behind me with stacks of envelopes awaiting my hand. But that’s a story for another day.