Cottage in the Woods
This post is for Becky over at Sweet Cottage Dreams.
Anna & Lucie's Cottage
My Childhood Home
My Children's Childhood Home
In my parents' subdivision of 70s-style ranch houses, there was one little custom-designed cottage that I absolutely loved. My parents had gotten to know the owners and they had a daughter my same age. In fact they had two daughters, Anna & Lucie (now aren't those such sweet, cottagey names?!!!).
Anna and Lucie's home was magical and I loved playing there. It was every bit as gingerbread on the inside as it was on the outside. If memory serves me correct, their mother was an artist...or at least very artistic! Anna and Lucie's bedrooms were on the 2nd story of this little cottage home. What was so fascinating to me was that the 2nd story was open; it was one giant loft!
In addition to a totally gorgeous interior, the backyard was like a secret garden. Because their property backed up to the neighborhood park, a creek bordered their backyard as well as these really tall, old trees. Their yard was enclosed by white picket fence (of course!) and included a little cottage playhouse. Warm summer days found us neighborhood girls often enjoying the cool dampness of Anna and Lucie's backyard, shaded by the giant birch and oak trees, surrounded by beautiful blooms clumped together here and there.
Today, the house is home to a different family, but the love and care of the house and yard is still evident. Unfortunately, as you can see from the pictures, ivy has overtaken the front facade. My parents said that the current owners had removed the ivy once already, but it has returned with a vengance!
Today, I live in my own magical place. While definitely more "farmhouse" style than cottage, I love my home's uniqueness among those in subdivion-land. It always warms my heart when people ask how old our home is and are shocked to learn that it is merely years and not decades old. My hope is that someday my own children and their friends will have magical memories about growing up and playing in the "farmhouse" with the "wrap-around-porch"!
Anna & Lucie's Cottage
My Childhood Home
My Children's Childhood Home
That is a beautiful home! I love the way you write.
ReplyDeleteI thought your home was older as well, you don't see new homes built like that anymore...I love it!
ReplyDeleteOH my! Your home is just beautiful. It does look older. Now and then they seem to be building homes more like they used to look years ago and I love it.
ReplyDeleteLook at all that open space you have.
You write beautifully. Neen is right about that!
Hi Valerie,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story! Always nice to have such good childhood memories. I was laughing reading your other post about the nuns doing an Irish jig! My Mom is 100% Danish, so you can imagine my exicitement when my husband and I discovered the Danish Heritage Museum in Iowa...I need to do a whole post on it, but sounds like you and your hubby might need to take a trip there if you haven't already been. It's in a small town called Elk Horn that doesn't even manage to get on most maps, but he might know about it!
P.S. Come visit my blog today...I have a surprise!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet cottage! I'm seeing more and more homes that are new that are built out in the country to match the older homes that were here already, and yours wold fit right in! I love it!
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Joni
I do like Your home, it´s in a way very different than the houses we can see around my home.
ReplyDeleteIvory is almost a weed when it likes the place it grows on. But if one, like me, want it to grow anywere it just dies :-)
Christer.
Her costume was just adorable. What a neat event. Thanks for your visit. I can’t wait to have those blue hydrangeas again, but for now I’ll be content with hyacinths and daffodils.
ReplyDeleteKate
What a fabulous post and it took me back to when I was a child and the magical place my friend and I played! I love your "Farmhouse". It is beautiful, and the style I'd love to have! Old or new! ;) Hope you have a wonderful day! Hugs and Blessings,
ReplyDelete