Parts of the post are from the past...
and parts are in real time.
THE OLDEN HOUSE aka THE ABODE
Abode :
"House, a human-built dwelling with enclosing walls, a floor, and a roof ..."
♥
"House, a human-built dwelling with enclosing walls, a floor, and a roof ..."
♥
My abode is very humble, fairly small and LOVED to the moon and back.
Loved mostly for all the memories attached to this brick and wooden structure.
It's a 50's Ranch and pretty much like every other house on the block..
I strive to make it 'just a little different' from all the rest....
The large windows on the right are in our dining room...
I love my little hand painted mail box. I bought it at a local craft mall....
The metal flag on the wall of the house was made by a grandgirl...."
O, and the cool, iron 'CONKLIN' above my house numbers...our son, DAVID, made this when he was still in high school. *heavy sigh and bursting heart and plenty of love.
♥
This is the house where we raised our two precious children...the house that all 10 of our sweet grands call, MEMAW'S HOUSE...
I am pretty sure that I will never move from this little, plain vanilla house.
(NEVER say NEVER)
So many fine and treasured memories here...
I just love it...IT'S HOME !
This is the house where we raised our two precious children...the house that all 10 of our sweet grands call, MEMAW'S HOUSE...
I am pretty sure that I will never move from this little, plain vanilla house.
(NEVER say NEVER)
So many fine and treasured memories here...
I just love it...IT'S HOME !
The little cottage- white bench is a purchase from Goodwill about 35 years ago.
My mother was with me when I bought it...
she made a beautiful cushion for it but it wore out a long time ago.
I remember how much fun we had that day.....eating lunch.....shopping at thrift stores
with a few garage sales thrown in.
I sure would rather have my little mama than this stinkin' ole bench !
♥
My mother was with me when I bought it...
she made a beautiful cushion for it but it wore out a long time ago.
I remember how much fun we had that day.....eating lunch.....shopping at thrift stores
with a few garage sales thrown in.
I sure would rather have my little mama than this stinkin' ole bench !
♥
As you can see...SWEET NOTHINGS really IS a cottage...♥
MR. SWEET made the shutters for me....
and the little gingerbread pieces on each side of the round posts.
The next thing I would like is to replace these small posts with much larger ones.
Maybe this coming summer...........
See what I mean by so many memories and attachments to this home ?
So much of it is associated with my family.....♥
It really is a HOME and not just a house.....and I am thankful.
...the Before and After of the little, tiny plants that set my feet a'dancing.....
.....adding the awning and pretty window box last summer added just
a bit more CHARM.....
Thanks again, Mr. Sweet....you did a magnificent job on the little window box....I love it. 
We sold our house of many years last winter.
Our son and his family graciously wanted us to live in their beautiful
pool house .
It's so so nice...we love being here...and we are making all new memories.
We are blessed.....and we know it.
♪♪...if you're blessed and ya know it, stomp your feet....♪
I posted on LADDERS the other day and mentioned my little yellow, decaled,
vintage wooden step ladder.
When we sold our house last year, this little ladder was outside, leaning up against the back fence..
it was overlooked by the movers and by me.
So, I was totally LADDERLESS ....yes, I wanted my little ladder...
but didn't want to ask the new owners for it...
why...?? because I am spineless and just hated to ask for it.
I received the following email the day I posted about
THE LADDER.
THE LADDER.
♥
"Hi BJ,I am the one that bought your "olden" house. I found and started reading your blog quite awhile ago in hopes it would give me decorating inspiration. Unfortunately, I don't have any talent yet, but I still have hopes for one day!
I saw your post on your ladder today so I felt I had to contact you. Your ladder was so adorable that a photographer borrowed it to use in her studio so it is still in existence! If you would like it, I am happy to ask her for it as she trades out props fairly often. If finding is part of the fun, then I don't blame you for going in search of a new one! I did want you to know that it is still being appreciated.
If anyone out there thinks I'm not
BAWLING MY EYES OUT
over this kindness,
YOU ARE SO WRONG...!!
When I FINALLY stopped crying and got myself "together",
I answered her email, thanked her, said YES to getting my ladder back
and asked if I could print her email on my blog.
I was glad to know I'll get it back...
When I FINALLY stopped crying and got myself "together",
I answered her email, thanked her, said YES to getting my ladder back
and asked if I could print her email on my blog.
I was glad to know I'll get it back...
but gladder to know what a sweet and caring person bought our house.
******************************************
I will contact my friend today about the ladder and see if
she is done with it. I may have to run my daughter to her studio and get
pictures with it first though!
"BJ,
Of course it is ok to share! I was so excited to find your blog
Of course it is ok to share! I was so excited to find your blog
because
you had this house set up so wonderfully when we bought it that I hope
one day to have it half as cute!
I can't imagine unpacking after 40 years in one house. I am still unpacking and attempting to be organized after almost a year. Usually I just blame having a toddler on the chaos. This has been a wonderful house too have a child.
Our friends and their kids are always coming
over and we love it!
I can't wait to look at your old blog. You have some fantastic ideas and we have quite a few items I started looking at in a new way or have painted in a fun color to bring it back to life.
I have used more spray
paint in the last few months than I ever have before!
I will let you know as soon as I hear back from my friend and it was so wonderful to hear back from you!"
are as happy and comfortable in the "olden" house as Mr. Sweet and I were....
I'm SUCH a cry baby.
THE END
♥ ♥ ♥
LOVE IS A PLACE CALLED HOME.....♥
PINK SAT. with my reds here...
SAT. SHOWOFF
that is SO very sweet of her to contact you - and to reclaim your ladder for you!! awesome!
ReplyDeleteOh BJ bless your heart. This was such a touching post. I loved it. I know what you mean about new owners of your old house...that's how I feel about our old place too. I drive by once in a blue moon and it's refreshing to see they are keeping it up nicely. I know the lady in our old house and she and I have become friends , in a way. We do not run around together...but do hug when we see each other. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! Sally
ReplyDeleteThat is so precious! She is inspired by you and by the beauty you brought to that dear old house and that is maybe the best part of this whole story. That, and the fact that the house got someone else who will love it and whose children will have such fond memories of growing up there. I can't believe the ladder will be back with it's rightful owner, what a story and that will also make the ladder more special to you than ever. Thank you for sharing this with us BJ. How absolutely heartwarming! ♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteBj home is always where the heart is and your heart is enormously loving and it's no surprise that ladder is finding its way back to you.
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend wishes
xo
This is a wonderful surprise. Getting you ladder back. I know you are so excited. Have a blessed day. Madeline
ReplyDeleteThis makes me want to cry! How wonderful that the new owners are loving the old house as much as you all did. My MIL is still in the home she raised my hubby in and I know it will be hard when the time comes to sell it.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! I'm so happy that you are getting it back!
ReplyDeleteI adore stories like this!!
ReplyDeleteNow that gave me the old "goosie bumps" . . . you know the ones that run up and down your arms and then tickle your back a little bit too. What a wonderful email and catch up and such nice things to say to you.
ReplyDeleteOh my, if only everyone would be that way, wouldn't it be just this best thing ever!
Thank you so much for sharing!
I have no idea where my little step stool is . . . I think mine was sold in my big move. I know I didn't leave it leaning on the fence for the new people to find it.
May I ask . . . why did you sell and move . . . I have only been following you for awhile. Maybe you have posted about that earlier?
What a sweet post, BJ!! So nice to hear that such lovely people bought your home and love it like you did! And, you are even able to get your sweet ladder back!
ReplyDeletethis brought tears to my eyes, and they say the internet is so impersonal, this was just a magical moment for sure, she sounds lovely,
ReplyDeleteYou will always have your memories, just not material treasures you once had. At some point in our lives, we will all have to make decisions that hurts, but still be blessed. Remember the past and enjoy the present. You were lucky she read your blog.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how we miss stuff when we about to get rid of something. I had search my old car at least five different times before finally getting rid of it. It is easy for stuff to just hide until you finally find it.
ReplyDeleteThat is very sweet of her! You and she have a mutual friend...the cottage.
ReplyDeleteWhat a happy post! I am glad the new owners contacted you, and I know you are glad to know the owners are making new memories for their family in the house
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend!
This is one of my favorite posts you ever did, bj. Seriously.....I have a lump in my throat and it is not even MY ladder. lol How precious that she found you and that she loves your style...and is trying to do similar things. Look at the inspiration you gave that sweet girl. I forgot to ask --- how far did you actually move? Are you still in the same general area?
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great weekend. xo Diana
This was a wonderful post. Doesn't it make you happy that your previous home is so well loved. How fun that she read your post about the little ladder and contacted you. It will be nice in the future for you to keep in contact and get to see what is going on with your past home.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Susie
Ahhhh, so sweet. Many have had bad experiences with the new owners. She sounds like such a sweet and appreciative person. Glad you will have your ladder.
ReplyDeleteWhen we moved here 29 years ago the doll furniture I wanted to keep if my daughters, dissappeared. It was from a cardboard doll house of Betsy McCall. The pieces were plastic but so cute. Still hoping someday I find them. Hugs
bout made me cry too, I just love this kinda stuff I'm so glad to be blogging with you bj.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that you are getting your ladder back. Who would think that blogging could lead to things like this? I also love the family things you shared. Ten grandchildren! What an incredible blessing. So glad you are a grateful kind of person.
ReplyDeleteOh, my goodness! How sweet that she wrote to you and that she returned your ladder. And how sweet that you have inspired her. You know - odds are you'll probably share lunch with her someday in YOUR olden house. How cool will that be?
ReplyDeleteAh, so sweet. I am crying, too. You love love and joy in your home which is now being shared with the new owners. What goes around comes around, and your joy will always follow you.
ReplyDeleteHappy Pink Saturday, dear BJ.♥
What a wonderful tribute to your olden home. Must be so nice to have a house you loved in such good hands.
ReplyDeleteIsn't our God wonderful? Putting that sweet lady into your unbeknownst life? Your home was so beautiful and is still loving its new owners! She is right you are a gifted designer!! I just know there will be more tears when that pretty little ladder comes home to you.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Gert
Who'd have ever guessed! This delightful twist of fate has me grinning ear-to-ear. Life is good, indeed.
ReplyDeleteOh BJ, I am so happy that the lady that purchased your home found you and that you are getting your olden ladder back. Never know what's around the corner do we. This post was so touching and restores faith in people.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this post with us.
Mary
Now if that isn't a story with a happy ending, I don't know what is??!! You don't have to go searching for a new ladder and it seems like just the right people bought your olden house! Amazing!!
ReplyDeleteNice story - and there is never anything wrong with vanilla!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
What a heart warming story. My husband and I have moved many times over the years. I sometimes wonder about the people who now live in our "old" houses. Our moves have been hundreds or thousands of miles so not much opportunity to drive by and check out our old haunts.
ReplyDeleteHello
ReplyDeleteI checked and Nillas Handelsbod has no
translation, that was a pity. And i guess you
mean bloglovin on my blog, has not succeeded
to post that on my blog yet.
Wish you a happy week
Hugs/AM
Oh bj, how sweet of her to contact you.
ReplyDeleteI hope the photographer still has it.
We just never know who may be reading our blogs.
A while back I posted about a book I would love to get and read.
A very sweet lady saw my post and sent me that book, with a nice bookmark.
We have always rented, so I will miss those cherished moments when we move.
Such a heartwarming story bj ... so happy that you shared it with us. So glad you have kind people enjoying the olden house.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
That is just the sweetest thing EVER! I loved that olden house of yours, the front porch was precious, the bench, the swing, the window boxes and the list goes on and on! I am SO happy to know that the new owners are loving it too and making memories for their family! ALSO... the ladder possibly returning to you is just a SWEET blessing! YES, this made me have tears too! Enjoy your evening dear friend, HUGS!
ReplyDelete