Sunday, October 17, 2010

Historic Cottage

The Gift
This is Yvonne's house. 
She happened upon my blog a couple of weeks ago and wrote to tell me how much she enjoyed 
it and my story of how I met my house
She included this photo of her own historic cottage. Isn't it gorgeous? 
I asked if she would mind if I shared with my readers and she said she didn't 
but would send more recent photos.

Here it is all decked out for fall. I have never seen a house quite like this. The lovely yellow stone, 
the french doors to the porch, the window boxes, the porch...all of it so beautiful. 
She also told me the story of how she came to live in this home. 
Which is very special in itself and I include here....

How I Met My House
by Yvonne

My husband and I lived in the same house for 20 years and he swore he would never move. But, somewhere along the way, he changed his mind. In 1999, we moved from a contemporary home in the country to a lovely Dutch colonial home in a historic area in the city of Louisville known as the Highlands. We shared a driveway with our neighbor and had no room for a garage. My husband decided he was ready to give up his sports car anyway.

Seven years later, he changed his mind again and we became the proud owners of a 1967 Mustang Fastback. You simply cannot own an old historic car and not keep it garaged. So, he set out to find a new house for us, even though I loved the house we already had. We both loved the Highlands and wanted to stay in this area. After several months of house hunting, the holidays were approaching and we agreed that we should probably postpone moving until spring. The Mustang remained parked in a garage at my son’s house.

About a week later, he met me at my bus stop as I was coming home from work and said “Get in.  I’ve found it”. I let out a frustrated sigh as he had drug me to countless other houses in the past that were nothing like what I wanted. He drove only 7 blocks to an adorable stone English tudor cottage, complete with his garage and with my most favorite architectural feature - arched windows. He was right – he had found it. It had just come up on the market that week. Within 24 hours, that house was ours.

We moved into our new home on December 6, 2006. Two days later my husband died in his sleep from a heart attack at the age of 57. People have asked me how difficult it is to live in this house without him.  After 36 years of marriage, life without him is difficult, period. But, I doubt that I would have stayed in the other house without him. Too large, too many memories. I feel like he picked this house out for me to begin my new life. And, it has given me something else to focus on rather than simply being alone. After all, old houses do need a lot of attention. All the landscaping and concrete had to be ripped out and redone. New windows were next, along with new gutters, new paint….the list goes on.  

I will admit – this is pretty darn close to being my dream house. I could always use a little more room but then I would just accumulate more “stuff”. I could do without the old cracking plaster and the leaky roof.  But, every time I pull into my driveway, a little smile erupts from my lips. When a house brings someone this much joy, it is perhaps the perfect house!

And, yes, I still have the Mustang!  

A little glimpse inside. I'd love to see more of that sun room.
I love the french doors right off the dining room. I'd like to have those myself. 

I have asked Yvonne to start her own blog but she says it sounds like too much work. 
I couldn't deny that. 
So perhaps Yvonne will periodically send me photos of her house and garden for me to share.
I think that would be nice. Don't you?

23 comments:

  1. Such a wonderful story. Yvonne's house is lovely. I would love to hear more from her. La

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  2. omg, i don't know what i love more, the house or her beautiful story. you just never know what is going to happen in this life. i'm so happy her husband got his mustang before he had a place to keep it and was able to enjoy it.

    now on to the house. again, omg. how gorgeous, inside and out. i adore the front entrance. what is that window over the door called? i just love it! i have a passion for black and white floors so i'm in love and would like to see more for sure.

    having a blog is a lot of work but i sure wish she would reconsider.

    thanks for bringing this story to our attention.

    ~janet

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  3. Janet -
    That rounded window is a palladian window. Which is more commonly a feature of a colonial or federal style home. Rarely seen in a tudor revival which makes this house so interesting. It's a mix of styles and yet it works beautifully. I love the yellow stone which is something I wouldn't expect to love.

    I'm hoping she'll send some photos of other rooms too. I'd really like to see that garden room with it's black and white floor.

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  4. Wow, what a story. I'm so glad you chose to include her tale of finding her house and also all those lovely pictures. This brought a smile to my face. :)

    (Definitely share more photos from her in the future!)

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  5. What a touching and compelling story. I am so glad she stayed in the Tudor house with the Mustang. Thanks to Yvonne for sharing and Nita for posting.

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  6. Nita thank you so much for sharing such a touching story. The house in beautiful and it's owner seems very brave.
    Traci

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  7. I hope she has many happy years to come in her home!

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  8. wow. thank you nita-and yvonne-for sharing that with us. i wasn't expecting the story to go there, but it really seems like it was meant to be that house, then.

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  9. wow. thank you nita-and yvonne-for sharing that with us. i wasn't expecting the story to go there, but it really seems like it was meant to be that house, then.

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  10. Wow, I was totally shocked because I did not see the story going in that direction. It's very sad, actually. Thank you for sharing.

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  11. Hi Nita: That is quite a story but there is no denying, this house is so beautiful! Full of character and charm! I do hope you continue to periodically get photos that you can kindly share with all of us! Take care ~

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  12. This is OMG! Beautiful story & Gorgeous Home. I went back & read your Beautiful story on how you met your Gorgeous home too. Very inspiring.

    Halloween Hugs & Cosmic Blessings,
    Lyndy

    TODAYSGOLD
    http://todaysgold.blogspot.com/
    P.S. I became a follower & I hope you'll follow me too.

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  13. What a beautiful home and story! Love the front porch.

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  14. Thank you so much for sharing this. What a great house and story.I hope you can keep us updated on Yvonne!

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  15. Oh my goodness- love the house! What a touching story... I agree, think the house is something meant for her to live in too. Absolutely beautiful house and home. Thanks for sharing.

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  16. I'm pretty sure this story touched so many hearts. Thank you for sharing. The house is lovely inside and out. Have a wonderful day, Kellie xx

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  17. I cannot tell you how heavy my heart is right now. I read Yvonne's story, and her wonderful outlook, how she feels her husband meant to have her in that home, and I am ashamed. My husband died suddenly of a heart attack 2 years after we moved into this little waterfront cottage. I unfortunately, looked at it differently. I felt if we had not moved here, yada yada, that he might still be alive, and blamed everything on this old house. I let it go, I'm ashamed right now how much I let it go, but everytime I worked on it, it reminded me of him and I cried and cried. Yvonne has made me realize that loving and nurturing this little home might be just what Mike wanted for me. I so wish she had a blog so I could tell her that, yes, it took a perfect stranger for me to appreciate what my dear husband saw and wanted for us. Thank you, Yvonne, from the bottom of my heart, and oh, I sure do wish you would start blogging about your beautiful home, and your beautiful outlook on life.

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  18. What a beautiful home and such a sweet love story. :) Thanks for sharing with us.

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  19. Arlene -
    I tried to email you but it said it was a no reply email. So I don't think you got it. Yvonne did read your comment and was very touched by the fact that her story affected you. She hopes that in time you will be able to embrace your home. She says it did not happen instantly for her...that it has taken time. She is four years into it. I know from the great losses in my life that it takes years to adjust. Everyone says the first year is the hardest but what they don't tell you is the second is just has hard....but you are used to feeling sad.

    I hope things get better with you. I hope you can give your little cottage some love. Yvonne and I are both so happy that her story made you think of things in a different light.

    Nita

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  20. What a wonderful story of love!

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  21. A beautiful house and a wonderful story. Please convince Yvonne to share more of her home; I'm in love with it!

    HollyM

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  22. Hi Nita,
    Thanks so much to both you and Yvonne! I came back today to look at it again, thats how much she and you, have inspired me. You both have such beautiful homes. Please let me know if she should ever start a blog, I would love to follow her as well.

    Thanks again,
    Arlene

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