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Houses, somebody mentioned houses, one of my favorite subjects.
I have never lived in an apartment. I used to want to, I thought that was where all the fun was. We have always owned. We bought our first house at 19, and shocked even ourselves. It was a cinderblock tract house 2 bedroom, tiny living room, large kitchen for its size. Wall heat, evaporative cooling. I painted the kitchen pink. Yes I did, and the bedroom a soft blue. We bought cheap furniture, did not own a t.v., and had a used V.W. for transportation.
I felt trapped in that house, it was too ordinary a tract house middle middle everything. we sold it. We were too young to settle down like that.
We owned a townhouse in a trendier area, more open fresh design, and were happier there. We went to school, shared with friends, had kids, moved and came back.
Then hubby decided he could build. I was not sure about that, but we invested in a lot, and he asked me what I wanted, so I sketched a 'U' shaped house with a courtyard entry, and he set to work. He used salvage timbers from a conservation camp of the 30's for the ceiling beams, the courtyard door and the front door. The house was stucco with spanish tile accents, tall narrow windows and open beams stained dark. We (he) carefully worked around a palo verde tree in the courtyrd It was beautiful, still is, we drove by it a couple of years ago, looked great. I loved that house, thick walled, quiet, peaceful. But small, with four children eventually, we sold, and bought a larger property.
The next house was an ambitious project. we ordered double sets of french doors, for every entry. Except the front door, he made that himself. The house was very large, cinderblock stuccoed a warm rosy beige color,stone, and red tile accents again.
It had a 24' high ceiling in the entry, which was open to the 20'x30'iving room, and the 20'x30' dining room. We put in a large fireplace which was our main source of heat. There was a stuccoed bench along the dining room wall I used to put large houseplants on.
Our bedroom was a loft, overlooking the living room and the fireplace. There was no wall, so at certain times we had to stay away from the balcony. Otherwise it was open airy, warm and perfect. The stairway was open, with pegged wood steps, no nails. The heavy wood double front door had brass lion doorknockers. and a large blown glass front porch light. The beams were 12"x12" to hold up the front balcony, and inside for the ceilings and supports.the hallways were done in an anled 'U' again, with the doorways on the angles. the children shared rooms, two boys in a 18'x20' room, and the two girls in the same size room. Their closets were huge. I used to check on their progress room cleaning...fine, closets? trashed. Funny thing is, we usually all ended up in our room every night. This house was on acreage where they had freedom to roam. We had a large pool a little away from the house, with a block wall around it for safety. It had an iron gate and a good lock. Thank God my children did not go in without supervision. We did use to find friends in there sometimes. But that is another story. I have lived other places, but that house was the one I will always call home. I will tell about the ponies in the bedroom another day. |
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Posted by circe on 2008-04-30 17:55:35 | Rating: | Views: 87
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I love houses too, you describe yours like they were old friends...I lived in the same house growing up for 19 years. The other day I drove around the old neighborhood and ended up going down the ally, I have ally memories..another story...but unlike you, I never liked that house, at all, but I love some of my old memories of my block. I dont think Im making any sense, Im kind of tired tonight...should go to bed, but I had to comment on this post...I dont like the house we live in right now, we have been here 22 years, my husband built it, was the general contractor...I was proud of him that he was able to do it, he had never built one before, but he did not consult me on anything...I was too busy working to care all that much, long story, but after we moved in... Ive spent 22 years trying to change it...another story...but, like the old house I loved in as a kid, I love our block!
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Posted by roe
on 2008-04-30 23:54:47
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