How Many Houses??
As I've been packing for my move in July (yes, I'm moving AGAIN), I've been going through old photographs. I have especially been drawn to those of my different homes. What diverse styles!!
I only have a few memories of my first house. My favorite parts of it were the big porch, the stair landing, the little sewing room in the turret, and the big playroom. To this day I am very fond of porches--they call to me!! My brothers and I sat on a limb of the big pecan tree next door and bemoaned the destruction of it. It was to be replaced with a modern house.
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| A grand old house! |
The next house was very different as you can see. It was a very modern house and had central air conditioning with a tower in the back yard. Italian tile floors were laid throughout, which needed mopping every day because every footprint showed! A house cleaner's nightmare!! My favorite parts were the double fireplace and the large wooden hanging light shaped like a dog bone.
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| Quite a change! |
This little house in Albuquerque was my first purchased home. We bought it for $25,000, the price of an automobile today! We had a marvelous view of Sandia Peak from the backyard. I had so much fun decorating that house.
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| Maybe I'll find a photo when the yard was in! |
Next, a move to Clarksville again, and a house built by my daddy and designed by my mother My favorite part of it was the kitchen, with its apple green countertop.
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| A special house! |
Next, on to Plano and another house. I liked the den, with its built in bookshelves and nice paneled walls. And I loved the fact that the elementary school was in the neighborhood--my boys could ride their bikes to school.
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| A snowy day! |
Then for 10 years, I lived in apartments--no photos of them!!!
Life is strange. I was forced to finish raising my boys in apartments (yuk) and it wasn't until after they graduated from high school that I re-married and moved to Algonquin, Illinois. What a change in many ways. This was a little add-on house neighborhood next to the Fox River. Wonderful old lilac bushes,beautiful flowers, a little screened porch, and a birdwatcher's paradise.
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| I learned to shovel snow here! |
Then, finally, back to the South! In Atlanta we had a two-story house with a basement. (The mover told my husband that we had certainly "come up in the world". :) Lots of stairs!! My favorite room in this house was my bonus room upstairs--I could spread out all my craft supplies!! Also I loved the little study where my husband and I each had our computers.
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| At least the snow didn't stay long here! |
Whew--another move--this time back to Texas, on the Guadalupe River in Canyon Lake. This was to be our dream home--I spent a year designing it--but alas, my husband died two weeks before it was finished! I do have a lot of good memories, though, of my time there. I had so much fun decorating it, hosted my son's wedding there and had lots of company. I had a beautiful kitchen, walk-in pantry and wonderful bathroom. Also both a covered porch and patio overlooking the river. My flowers flourished - probably because of being watered from the river. I loved the river at times but at others, felt threatened by it. Two years after I sold and moved, the river did flood and the water was up to the roof! For once, I listened to my "gut" and moved at the right time.
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| My dream home! |
Next, on to Sun City in Georgetown. My worst real estate venture. I loved the house, especially my open plan and the patio and backyard. But I did not like the closeness of the neighbors and the general atmosphere. I lost a lot of money in order to get out of that situation. But it was worth it!!
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| Too many restrictions here!! |
Sometimes one has to be very, very unhappy in order to take a leap and make a drastic change. I had been filled with grief since the death of my husband. Nothing I did seemed to make it better. But then I took the trip to Colombia, and finally I gathered my courage and made a significant change. ( You can read all about that on another post.) At age 59, I bought a young, spirited Paso Fino and thus began a wonderful adventure. Every day I couldn't wait to get out to the barn. So I moved to an equestrian community, bought another horse for the grandchildren to ride, and and began learning all about training horses, buying hay,dealing with farriers, and living in the country!! What fun--I do think this time in my life was the absolute best!! My favorite things were the porch and the barn there. And of course the horses. I am so grateful for that experience.
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| The wonderful wrap around porch! |
However, one more move was yet to come! I moved back to my hometown, Clarksville, and started over once again. This time I moved to the country, not in a neighborhood. My house is 10 minutes from town, yet secluded enough to be private. I've loved it out here. The horses settled right in, I adopted a dog and three barn cats (who think they are front porch cats). I've had so many good times here identifying flowers, riding the horses, bird watching and just enjoying nature. My little house has been easier to take care of and note that I also have a nice front porch!! I told you I love porches!!
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| My little slice of heaven! |
Well, never say never!! When I moved here, I said it was my last move. But circumstances change. With much sadness I have now boarded the horses at a good place and am moving to Vienna, Virginia to live with my son and family. That will definitely be a change. I've had very mixed feelings, as you can imagine. I vascillate between crying and being excited. Once again, though, a book called out to me and I just read one that has inspired me--it is
Home Sweet Anywhere, by Lynne Martin. It is about a couple near my age who sold everything and travel the world. Obviously with my health and financial situation, I cannot do that. However, it did reinforce my thoughts of beginning a new life and trying new things. I will turn 70 this year--sometimes that seems ancient-but I guess it is true that you are only "as old as you feel" or "act". So I'm ready to move once again and try new things. Who knows, maybe my 70s will be my best years!! Oh, and here is the final photograph--maybe my last house???
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| I wonder what I'll like best about this house?? |
I cannot decide which house is my favorite. There are parts of all that I like. Which is your favorite??? I would love a comment and vote!!
I do know that a house does not make you happy--it is the people in it and the life you lead outside of it. I had just as many happy times in that little house in Algonquin as I did in my big houses.
Stay tuned for the progress of my new life in Vienna, VA!!!
