Sometimes good things happen to good people.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 4:22PM Take me, for example.
I've experienced my share of difficult times. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I worked two jobs to get through college. I spent twelve years teaching public high school. I've had loved ones die suddenly, been through trying family times, and borrowed trouble from tomorrow when today's troubles were more than enough. Just like many of you.
And I've also turned around and seen the writing on the wall, the writing that was never apparent when I needed it to be, but that time and experience illuminated. Most often, the writing looked like an outstretched finger, marking a direction that I didn't want to take but did anyway, not knowing it was going to someday be for the better.
Yesterday was one of those days. One of those days when you feel like the universe coalesced into something good, something good for a good person.
Yesterday a realtor quietly slipped me the keys to the house I've been dreaming about for fifteen years -- a bright, inviting old house with gobs of natural light, hardwood floors, a yard just begging to be gardened, and the type of quirky charm that you just can't find in houses built after a certain time.
Sometimes good people do get to move back to their hometowns, open a yarn studio and buy a house five minutes from Grandma.
The purpose of this post is really two-fold: 1) to tell you that sometimes good things happen to good people. If you're about to give up hope, don't. If you spend all your time thinking you can't catch a break, stop. If you're borrowing too much trouble from tomorrow, knock it off. Let tomorrow worry about tomorrow.
I also want to tell you thank you.
Without all of you reading this and supporting my little endeavor by buying yarn from me, none of this would've happened.
Is this getting too mushy?
Here, I'll distract you with some pictures.
This is my new kitchen in my new old house as of today:
I ain't no fool, I've got three kids. It will never look this clean again, I know.
I should frame this picture and hang it on the kitchen wall or something.
But starting tonight, this kitchen is going to change. I can't abide by the beige walls, I just cannot. Even though the cabinets are brand new, they're going to be changed, too. The wreath on the right? It's going bye bye.
Here's another view:
My kids call these the secret stairs. They go up to what had to be the maid's bedroom once upon a time. (I've informed my boy that he is going to have to be the new maid. You sleep in the room, you clean the house. Right? Of course right.) On the right is the back entry way, which has a lovely coat area, with lots of hooks for handknit scarves, hats, and mittens. Of which we will need plenty living here in the frozen north.
At the top of the secret stairs is something I need your help with.
What is that little window? It goes into the maid's bedroom. The window appears to be original to the house -- the glass is old and wavy. If the window were for light in the hallway, why not put one at the top of the stairs? (It's an exterior wall, after all!)
Here's a view of the weird little window from inside the maid's room:
Why is this window here? I'm dying to know. Any ideas? There's also a fireplace in my unfinished basement (original to the house), but that's a story for another day.
My house has an extra room off the dining room that was probably a parlor at one time, but that we're going to use as a library. I can't tell you how happy this makes me. I love libraries.
I'm going to put a daybed in front of the windows, paint the room a deeper shade, deck it out in books, and spiff up this old fireplace:
Coal burning, at one time. I think it needs a more substantial mantel, don't you? Someday.
I can't wait to pass a winter Sunday snuggled in my handmade knitwear, reading a book on the daybed in my library.
While my children scrub the kitchen floor and prepare a small assortment of baked goods for my teatime.
The thing I love about this house is that we can enjoy it today as it is, and we'll be able to enjoy it more each year as we fix it up, stamp our personal (colorful) touches on it, work magic in the garden, and watch our babies grow. As they are wont to do all too quickly. I am certain that my youngest child was born about a year ago, and she informs me that she's three. How is this possible? Tell me.
What have we learned today?
1. Don't give up hope -- sometimes good things happen to good people.
2. You need warm clothes in Minnesota.
3. Y'all are the best peoples in the worlds. All of them.
4. Old houses are quirky. I intend to get quirkier with age, how about you? (A friend's mother said to me yesterday: "Just wait until you get old, and then you'll get a really weird sense of color -- you'll be painting your bathroom bright purple!" I did not tell her that I already intended to paint my bathroom dark pansy purple.)
5. Yarnista's son is her maid.
6. I hate beige. I am missing the beige part of my brain.
7. Children of all ages grow too quickly, and try to lie to their parents about their ages.
I will be sure and update you with more house pictures and on how my kitchen progresses in the next week. Move-in day is seven days away!
P.S. Thank you again for everything.
Reader Comments (45)
Hey dear. I'm betting that bizarre little window was probably the exterior of the house at one point. I've found in the past that if you have a wierd inside window it was originally an outside window. I say embrace it. You've got a built in accent piece!
When I saw your fireplace I first though "it need a bigger mantel" then scrolled down and there you'd said it! I'm rather jealous of your kitchen and a bit sad to see those cabinets go (I'd take them from you if you were closer! My kitchen needs love in that area)
I'm so happy for you and your home! I still dream every day of my own home where I can splash color and quirky things everywhere. As stressful as it is, revel in the process. Take lots of photos! I love working on old homes to spice them up. Congrats and love!
FairyofYarn
O congratulations on the new/old wonderful house! I'm with others; please keep us posted on your color updates in the house!
My guess with the little window? The maid's room needed an exterior window for light in that room & the wee window to the stairwell was a less expensive way to get light in that area without having to a) cut a bigger hole for a bigger window in the stairwell's exterior wall and b) keep the # of exterior windows down to also cut down on the Artic winds threading their fingers around the frames and into the house.
The house is beautiful. I'm with everyone, please post pictures of the changes and updates you make. I'd love to live vicariously through you!
Oh! I'm so happy for you, Sharon! And also, a little jealous. That seems a lot like one of my dream houses--big, old and quirky with a secret staircase. If I'm willing to be the Yarnista's maid, will you share the house with me?
A library????? I die of jealousy. It is a beautiful house. I don't envy the fact that it is "in the cold North". Can't wait to see what you do with the colors. Congratulations.
Oh Sharon, it's perfect! I am so happy for you guys. And I totally intend to force my husband to look at these pictures and find me a house just like that. I am with you on the beige, and on the library. One day, I will write a book and maybe you could keep it on your shelves and it would be so cool.
Love it!! I'm so, so happy for you as are we all. I just love seeing you get your dream and thank you so much for sharing it all with us. The house is beautiful.
FWIW on the maid's window: I think they put it in to get the light from the window in the maid's room.. That's what it looks like from the pic's though. Not sure of the need exactly there. 8-)
Great house! Congratulations! I know you will make it a wonderful place to live.
Gwen
p.s. I loathe beige also - seems pointless to me!
Gorgeous new home, Sharon! Congratulations:)
The window was in keeping with the prevailing way of thinking years ago (and unfortunately to some extent still) that domestic help cannot be trusted.
Sharon, your new house is beautiful! I love the little quirks. Congratulations!
what a stunningly beautiful home. what a blessing. many congratulations!!
This is a wonderful house! A dream house! I love it! Love love love it!
An absolutely fantastic house!! So happy for you!
Congratulations! It couldn't happen to a more deserving and lovely person. I love the new old house and know that you and your family will be very happy there. I can't wait to see the personal stamp you put on the place.
Huge congratulations on your new old house! I love old houses, too, and hope that one day we will have one of our own.
And thank you so much for this: "If you're about to give up hope, don't. If you spend all your time thinking you can't catch a break, stop. If you're borrowing too much trouble from tomorrow, knock it off. Let tomorrow worry about tomorrow." Maybe I'm feeling a bit emotional today, but it brought a tear to my eye. My husband was laid off 6 months ago (company then went out of business) and it gets old hearing that he is overqualified for jobs sought. Maybe he needs to dumb it down. (-; Anyway, I needed to hear that today. Thanks.
I'm going to hazard a guess that Yarnista's mama MOST likes this about your new old house: "a house five minutes from Grandma" - I know I would if she were me! I can also imagine the kids are beyond excited even if they do end up having to scrub floors, serve tea and fan Queen Yarnista as she reclines on the daybed in her library!
As far as the dormer window, I did also think of both possibilities others mentioned, though the pollyana in me would rather think that the light-directing purpose sounds more plausible, however I'm not naive enough to think that some employers wouldn't use it for spying purposes, for whatever reasons, distrust being only one. The prudishness of the Victorian Era was only a thin veneer, if you get my drift...
One request, since you are so generously sharing pictures (and I am definitely enjoying this chance to live vicariously through you as far as dream homes go), please share some outside shots? I'd love to see front and back views of the house (side views a happy bonus) as well as some shots of the current landscaping layout. I will be looking forward to your reports and pictures as you transform your new old house into the loveliest of dream homes!
I am thinking that you might enjoy visiting this blog, as well as associated links found there for some nifty decorating ideas:
http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/
Lucy (the author of Attic24) is a fellow color enthusiast, crafter (crochet) and mom to three "Little People", including a recent arrival, living in the UK. There is also a Rav group started by folks who have been inspired by her blog, called "We Love Lucy". In many ways she reminds me of you.
Congratulations, Homeowner!
Congratulations! And thank you for sharing this with us, it gives me a warm feeling to read your gratitude and happiness. I wish all the best for you and your family in your new old home and hope you will update us with all of your color and decorating decisions. I would LOVE a library with a fireplace to curl up beside...and I am sure you will end up with a stunningly beautiful home...anyone who can create the amazing colorways you do will no doubt work the same magic on her many new walls!
((hugs)) Sharon... we're all happy to have been able to share in your journey. <3 Even almost 4 years later, I've never once regretted clicking on that "Buy It Now" button on Universal Mama in December 2006 for my YOTM subscription.
Keep the quirky windows. You will be somewhat unique and it adds to the charm and history of the house. Also, keep the wavy glass in the one window. Put a little window seat in front of the odd window, a reader's nook, for your maid son. :-)
I agree with Sarah - it's to bring light to the stairwell. Unless the Minnesota women of long ago were veeery tall, looking into the room would mean standing on tiptoe.
LOVE the house.