I am giddy like a schoolgirl. There is bright light flooding the kitchen in our house and I just finished eating one of my all-time favorite breakfasts: steel-cut oats, chopped banana, fresh raspberries, brown sugar, chopped pecans and milk. Everything is in it's place (FINALLY) and now we can really get down to the business of working on the house and enjoying the summer. I even broke in my graduation gift from Ty last night (Kitchen Aid Professional 610 Series Stand Mixer) and made a batch of chocolate chip cookies. I almost wept from joy of being in a normal kitchen with an oven door that doesn't come off every time you open it. I don't think I'll ever get used to this being my kitchen.
I'm in love with this house. I love how solid it feels and I love knowing it's been around for 100 years. I just finished reading Michael Ruhlman's book "House" and it's given me a whole new appreciation for buying an older home. I will never get tired of walking around this neighborhood. Every home is unique. Every one of them (almost) is a total charmer - a place that I would love living in. Obviously some are kept up better than others, but the real lovely part is that when these homes were being built people took care to make an individual mark - not one of them is alike.
We have a porch!! I can't even believe it. Spending my last 7 summers in New York City I believe I truly understand the value of this. For so many reasons:
1. There's a PLACE to SIT OUTSIDE.
2. There's a connection to the outdoors.
3. There's a window to the world.
Ok, I realize that's it's all really the same thing, but it's an IMPORTANT thing that we have truly truly been missing. I'll never get over how happy this makes me. You can smell things out there on the porch - GOOD things. Plants and wet grass and....I don't know dirt? Anyway, it's a lot different than the smells you get in NYC during the summer months. Especially when Joe Homeless has decided to camp out in your vestibule again for June/July/August (his timing is really impeccable).
I've got to take some photos of the magic that Duncan has worked on this place. I have some "before" pics too, so that will help with seeing the progress. He's a miracle worker and has given Ty and I our dream bathroom in the tiniest space imaginable. Photos of that to come....
4 comments:
couldn't be happier about the blogging doll. i'm going to expect daily entries now you know. you are a fantastic writer, it was really nice to read that. it also made me completely jealous as i just walked one block in the dripping heat and humidity and smell of the city sewer. boo. can't wait to be sitting on your front porch.
I love it! And boy does it make me long to someday live in our house in Portland, with a porch! And while I do love the city, I have to wear "fancy pants" to work and we are beginning the season of the angry gorilla (silverback) - i.e., the look on my face as I walk to the subway after a fresh shower, and now I'm wet again, from sweat, the fancy pants and shirt look like I wore them to bed (Jenny understands) and on top of that I have to worry if that hipster who sat next to me has bedbugs. I really do look like I will kill you if you touch me or talk to me.
I love this.
Can't wait to read it frequently.
And the cookies look crazily scrumptious.
So happy you are settling in so beautifully.
We just got back from the Arctic Circle last night!!!
oxoxox love - heidi rose
Holly,
I too, am a fan of the front porch. Time was when folks walked their neighborhood,s saw someone on the porch, and came up and 'sat a spell' and actually talked about things of the day...(No text messaging here) Just real conversation. What a great invention.. that front porch. I believe it led to a lot of friendships, caring, civility, love and lots of other things too numerous to mention.
So glad you love your front porch. I love that you're living so close (for a time) to my front porch.
Love, DAD
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