Tell Me About Your House (Dedicated to Marianne M.)

Well, where we live now is not special, but i have had 3...My first until 12, then 12 to 17, then the big house in Westmount, Montreal...

Maybe some in Boston, not sure...Maybe in Chicago...

I have named some of my suitcases....

Charming house, and lovely story.

Great article, Mariana. Refreshing and lovely read. Fantastic verse of Mark Twain.
Let our house have a single name, dear friend - 'Earth'. All living in peace, harmony and joy.
Wish you a marvelous 2009!

Hi Mariana. I just call my home "Tomi's Little Acre". Some of my friends call it "Critter Haven" and I think my neighbors call it "What the hell is she doing now!" I've missed you!
Tomi

Oh, and I loved your article!

Looks wonderful! ;-)

Hugs and blessings - S.

Where I live is home. I will have to give some thought to naming home.

The house I live in was originally built in 1880. (According to my landlord. The historical society has records of taxes being paid on improvement in 1902.)

Yes, I love my house; and hope it's the last one I'll ever live in. It doesn't have a name ~ yet. But only because I'm torn between two.

It does have a soul, and a pulse to it. Throughout these years certain modifications have been made, of course. The kitchen is only about 35 years old; I have no idea when the bathroom was added. I love its quirks, its creeks, and the fact that the "original" portion of the house leans about 1" towards the west....just enough to cause the front door to be cock-eyed. One of the exterior doors actually takes a skeleton key to lock.

I name my cars.The one I drive now is the Happy Honda.

Well I rent from my roommate. It's his house. I don't have any real love for it other than it's a roof over my head. It's not the layout I would choose for my mortgage.

I've never named a home.

A house definitely has its own unique vibe and feeling. We spent three years shopping before we found the one for us.

What a charming home you have. We don't own our own home.

Love the Mark Twain quote. That's the kind of house to live in. Very nice article to read this morning.

My house in Texas is special, we have searched for a name for it, but so far we ahve not found the right one.

We tried to name our house after you suggested so last year. We named her Clementine, as she's an old farm house and that name seemed to fit.

However, we just don't use that name when we talk about "home". We use our cars names when we talk about them , but I think it's because we gave them names when we first got them. It's hard to change the way we think at this point in the game.

Your article request is very similar to a group I'm planning on starting next week. I think a lot of people will enjoy it.

I am a locallized gypsy. Instead of travelling many places to live, I move within a certain perimeter.

I name my cars because they always take me where I need to go.

We've been in our home for almost 19 years, and despite the longevity have never even thought to name it. Contrary to your lovely comment anout the archways you noted in a photo...it's not a Spanish bungalow, but rather a ranch-style home built the year I was born (1954). From the street I figure people have long thought we had children sleeping 3 or 4 to a bed, as the house appears quite small. However from the back one can observe the additions and see the basement rising from the ground....we actually raised 5 kids here; each in their own bedroom. They were small rooms, but at least each one was afforded his or her own space. Quite nondescript in its style, we've finally undergone some long overdue renovations including a new kitchen, so it is updated and far more comfortable than it's ever been.

We were blessed to purchase a second home in Florida seven years ago....a spacious 2 BR 2 BA condo with a light, airy feel, that we started redoing s-l-o-w-l-y last winter. This will undoubtedly be a owrk in progress for many years. While it doesn't officially have a name, I do affectionately refer to it as "Paradise" from time to time!

What a lovely post, Mariana! I am so moved by it!!! And Mark Twain's quote is splendid! We love our home, where we have lived for the past 30 years. We moved here as a young couple, raised two amazing children ... and now it's just the two of us again. That's what has ultimately made this house so special all these years ... living here with my best friend.

Many thanks for this beautiful dedication ...

I live in Miss Emmas home. I never thought of naming it but what a great idea. TY
Nice post. TY for sharing it.

Many years ago, we thought about naming our house Twin Oaks, because of the enormous old oak trees front and back ... but decided it sounded too grand ... like an old southern plantation!

More likely, we should call it Squirrel Haven ... because of the hundreds of 4-legged critters running around outside and the slightly nutty 2-legged variety inside ...

we have named are farm desired haven farm one day i will write all about how it got that name

That is absolutely enchanting. Enjoyed the article.

Your article is an inspiration to think of my connections to our place.

We've never named our home, but it is special because that's where my truest loves live: hubby, my daughter, and our doggie.

Our current house we love, but it is not special. Our first house in our last town we lived in from 1990-1996. It was 4 stories, 4 baths and the original house was built in 1909 with the "new" house built around it in 1928. A wealthy plumber lived there and it had 4 bathrooms (tile) and interesting things like a pulley system in the garage to work under the car, a huge thing in the basement that we had removed before we moved in that was used to dry clothing. It had the first dishwasher in the county (long gone) and many other interesting things. There were built in arched china cabinets, archways between the rooms, a winding staircase. It was beautiful, but in complete ruin when we bought it. We worked for 2 years taking it back to the home it once was. It had been featured in early books about the area's most expensive homes, and we found relatives of the plumber that were willing to share stories and pictures with us. We also found the original blue prints from the 1928 build buried in the basement. We always felt that the house loved us. That she was grateful that someone was finally taking care of her, and making her pretty again. People would actually knock on our door and ask if they could have a tour. It was mostly older people who had grown up there and always wanted to see the inside of "the house." It was a labor of love that almost killed us. We did almost all of the work ourselves, and it took all of our free time and way more money than we expected. When someone offered to buy her at a time when housing was horrible in that town, and our future there was uncertain...we sold. My husband was sad, I was thrilled because as much as I loved the house-it was a money pit for sure. It was certainly a wonderful house to decorate at Christmas...we used to but up 4 trees. Three inside, and one on the balcony outside of our bedroom.

Beautiful house, Marianne and very beautiful thoughts.How sweet of you to post this article and the mention about Marianne M's house.My parental house(built in 1969) is in India and though we have a joint family, it's really big and my grandfather named it 'Hawa mahal' means 'space- palace'.Right now I don't have any pics but will try to get it scanned through my bro in India.There's a tradition in India. I would like to share with you.House name is kept after wife's name.So you will find most of the houses named after the names of women, sometimes only a surname and fewtimes some sacred name.

Charming house

Kay, thank you so much - I think charming describes Isabel. She and our Santa Barbara house were built around the same time between 1928 - 1935 - just guessing.

Buzzy, I didn't know about that Indian tradition of naming the house after the wife's name. What a beautiful thought. The house back in Louisiana is called MamaT's house as that's where my precious mama lived for 40 years.

Sue* I totally love your description of your house - wow - sounds totally so filled with exciting stuff & I really have a deep penchant for old Victorians. I wish you had held on to it but I can understand how you must not be enslaved by your abode. I spent the years 8 - 14 in two old Victorian sisters and I often dream of them both.

Nancy, some houses are meant to be unnamed but the word home conjures up so many beautiful thoughts and feelings.

Priscilla, in my old medicine cabinet at Florence, my SB house - I wrote the words, "Everything has a soul". I do think that the minute you name something, then you begin to have a deeper relationship with it and a special bond or connection. It's just the way I feel. Everyone's world is special.

Thank you so much Priscilla - More later. Salud

Rainne, I look forward to reading your article. Please let us know when your article is ready for viewing! Thank you.

Marianne M. Somehow rising from the top of my head is the name Melody. I do not know why - perhaps that the house sings to itself! Thanks for allowing me to use your lovely house information.

Janet B. Perhaps Miss Emma wants the house named after her - Miss Emma's house seems to have a clear ring to it!

Kimberly, it sounds lovely and nice that each child had his own space as it doesn't matter how small, just the fact that they have a place to go to call their own! Thank you - your house sounds lovely and congrats on the condo in Florida - that is my dream but then I already have so much to take care of - oh well - have a blast!

Sharon, Sugar Mama - that's precious - a localized gypsy - well, you know we can often take many trips without leaving the farm. A house, a computer and a great mind can travel to all corners of the earth wearing Pajamas and slippers! Stay wonderful.

Miz Ina, the name has to fit the house and perhaps Clementine just didn't fit - perhaps a French name like Rene' or Adeline - well, it will come to you or maybe it's a house of many spirits and one name shouldn't be used - you just have to get the vibe - my third eye has a parallel universe in and of itself so I get names that float in and out and sometimes they stick or not - I name everything because as I mentioned before it establishes a bond and connection in the ethers of all small worlds.

Priscilla - I think that somehow in the spring, the name will come to you in the form of a flower - yes, I think your house needs a flower name - just wait - it will come!

Lynn a. I've often thought that I was born an old lady and became young as the years whisked by - so I have great reverence for the lady who built and lived in this house for so many years - she spent time here and loved it and planted all the trees, moved all the rocks, tiled - did everything. Even though it needs lots of work in some places, we love the charm and can feel that special love that the original Isabel had for her home for so many years.

J, whether you own your home or not, the rooms around you have thoughts and feelings that will go with you wherever you go. Does your family farm have a name?

Stacey, I would love to hear all about your home!!! More later. Salud

Kathryn, oh those suitcases - if they could only talk, huh! yes, I've lived through a few of those as well! Thank you.

Vijay, my wonderful poet friend - thank you for that bit of wisdom...earth - yes, that's the name of our collective home filled with love and peace. Blessings to you and yours.

Tomi - OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH wow my dear old buddy - I have truly missed you as well ! Are you back for now? I always loved your stories and want to know how your family is doing. I too live in my own little world or worlds and as you know there is a certain contentment to that - to enjoying the shadows of the critters around us and finding happiness in the small things going on around us! Keep in touch please.

Svetlana - so good to see you my friend - have a blessed New Year and thank you for viewing this!!!

Oh Rick - for 30 years, my husband and I have named everything - we still have B.T. his 67 pickup truck and Daisey, my 1970 VW as well as Ruby the Jimmy I keep in Louisiana and well on and on - we have a Ford flatbed out here called Casper since it's an old 1972 F250 flatbed ranch truck. Grayzy is the name of our (sorry folks) gas guzzling Yukon but we use it and have a low footprint anyway - ok well, keep naming thing Rick and congrats to you and Donna S.

Hi Michael, well if it happens naturally that's ok, if not maybe it doesn't want a home or calls itself what it wants to be called!

More later - Salud

Aunt Boni H. So good to see you - I have to really get out more - I absolutely love your house description - it's the kind of place that I love instantly! I love the skeleton key thing and you know there's about three different skeleton keys huh - I actually found some new ones at Home Depot! Yes, shinier than the ones that came with the house! Why don't you take the two names and combine them? Let me know and maybe we can come up with something that resonates with your way of thinking!

Donna - Happy Honda sounds like a happymobile! Glad you have a sweet name for it. I can almost see it smiling!!!

Marianne, well, someday you'll be passionate about a place and give it a lovely name!

Thank you all for dropping by - it's a real treat to hear about your houses ! blessings to all. Salud

What a delightful article/post, Mariana, thank you so much, dear lady!

Great article! I love your and Marianne's houses. With my own house, it's love/hate. But it's a work in progress, thankfully!

Unfortunatley we don't own a house. But fortunatley, we do have a home. We take it with us wherever we go. We put a little bit of ourselves into the places we rent. When we move on, we leave a bit behind. Hopefully that bit that we leave makes it a better "home" for the next tennants.

Even though I know whatever we do must at some point be left behind, we take great pride and pleasure in planting gardens and such. Maybe someday we'll have a place to call our own?

Moggy - a home is what you make it - could be a house or many - I'm glad you have a home and that's what counts. I always loved your gardens! Salud

My Santa Barbara house is like that - too much clutter and not enough room - that's why I didn't have to buy a thing for Isabel - we even have our 80's turntable and albums here! Salud

Thank you Alison and thanks so much Curt! Thank you everyone - this was fun! Salud

Wonderful post. Never really thought of naming any of my homes, (my vehicles maybe lol!) but some have gone by things that describe them, such as the home I now own, which had already been dubbed the stone house years ago. Everyone in these parts knows this house. From what I understand it has some history, but I have yet to do any extensive research into it. I do know the Mayors daughter resided here at one time, and the Mayor himself has done some renovations on it during her time when living here, as well for us. The stone was put on the house somewhere around the late 80's I believe, by the Mayor's son-in-law, (its cement under that)and it has since been called the stone house, that overlooks the entrance to the state park, and local cemetary. I have yet to verify when it was built, but my insurance records state it was built in 1955. I have been told by someone (cannot remember if it was a local) but supposinly this house had oringinally only had one room and the others were added on. I do know this area is very rich in civil war history, and would love to know if this land (if not the house it'self) has any ties to that history.
I have had many who had told me they love the charm of the home, and I always agree, as, it is, what had attracted me to purchase it. It has seen a few poor tenants who have not kept up with it in the years prior to my buying the home. And some who have done work on it, obviously did now what the heck they were doing. But I have been refurbishing this home the best I can, and giving it the tlc it so seems to deserve, since I moved here a little over 2 years ago. Since my partner has moved in a little over a year ago, we both have been on a mission to make this the place what we feel, it can be. She fell in love with the home as did I. Hopefully in the years to come our fruits of our labor will be worth it.

Dee - oh bless your heart - what a terrific comment! I love how you've described your stone house - and immediately the name Sam popped into my mind. I do not know why - perhaps someone named Sam lived there or helped build it - who knows - You can dig around at the courthouse for more information. I bet there's some history hidden right there. Please keep us posted - a post about your house would be most interesting for sure. By the way, I love your icon and could already tell you lived in an interesting house as the picture is very unique - love the doggie as well...I am sure that if you and your partner enjoy the house daily and love and cherish it that it will love and cherish you both back...respecting the past, helps the future respect you...have a great year, Dee. Thank you for commenting. Salud

I live in an old mobile home, but it's free, and the roof doesn't leak, so I'm happy.

Will build my own cabin, one day.

Nice picture. Nice house. 10!

I plan on checking the courthouse some day soon, Mariana. Hopefully there I can find out for sure when the house was really built (if the ins records are not precisely correct) I may go to the historical society as well, theres one locally) in hopes to find early pics of this house or the land here to gleen some information. I was able to find some information about the state park accross the street and its historyhowever. Many civil war battles were fought there, and at one time this town was considered to have the white house erected here. If any thing of any noteworthy interest comes up in my research, I will be sure to post it. And yes the love is already being felt by this house. The ghost feel it too lol! Um thats another story.

I love ghosts stories, Dee. Grew up in a haunted house down on the bayous...actually, a couple of them but the last one is right across from the cemetery. I hope you find some information. I love digging and once you open that door all sorts of skeletons fall out of the closet. Sometimes in the tax assessor records there are pictures of the house about every so many years - that's how I found a picture of mama's house when it was first built in early 1900's.
If you get the names of any earlier occupants, you can also do a census check and see who all lived in the house.

It's all fascinating so keep us posted please! Keep in touch, Dee - have a good evening. Salud

Dorothy H., I love the idea of building your own cabin. This was was built by a woman and that holds lots of cherished treasured thoughts for me. A mobile home is very comfortable. Most of the ranchers around here live in them and in town as well. (I thought I already wrote this comment but it disappeared). Salud

A couple of years ago you and I were talking about house names, and I closed my eyes and the name Florence came to me. It seemed to fit the house. When someone asks where we live I say, "Bill and Betty B-----'s house," and the old timers know just which house it is. They lived here for thirty years. This is the first home we've owned because Van was a career soldier. Two years ago we had a major overhaul of the kitchen and bath and decided that while the carpenter was here we'd have a backdoor put in. That'll allow us to stay here as long as possible because that's an entrance without any stairs.

Wow - it seems I remember that Miz Vick - and you know my Santa Barbara house's name is Florence! how wierd - she was named after the place where the carpenters came from - Florence, Italy. It was built in 1929 something like that...wow. Thanks for dropping by - I remember your kitchen was red - I loved it!!! Salud

I love the quote by Mark Twain, Mariana. After reading your post about Marianne's home, I had to run over there and see her English cottage/Prairie style home. I love houses that are unique.

My own house is a shingled, Maine cottage with a large farmer's porch facing the road, a deck facing the pond and on the side a screened-in porch. After the fire burned down our previous house in 2002, an architect from Plymouth contacted us and said he had read about our tragedy and would like to help us design a new house. After several talks over coffee and muffins, together we came up with a design.

We bought a newly constructed house. I am still making changes to give it that personal touch. Most of my changes have been to the yard since we did not have anything there when we moved it.

What a lovely post, and a very lovely cottage!
Sadly, we no longer have the home that was all of this to me, but I had it once, and the memories will last forever.

You have been so kind and concerned in your effort to help me and my family, with your
prayers and commenting on my posts. I cannot do more than keep you in my prayers and
comment on your works as well, for the moment, so please accept my sincere Thank You, and some points for you.

Thanks Anne and my thoughts are indeed still with you.

David, I love your house and gardens very much but what's her name? I think a good Civil War name would be appropo like Magnolia!

Bob, I've often thought of your house and the area around it and all the wonders that go on there in such a happy state. Thank you for your wonderful comment. Salud

I named my cat Shiloh for that reason. I will have to think of a name. I do not have any magnolias around the house in fact there are not many trees of any kind. I will think of something...

Our place in Alaska is All Things 39 as that's the milepost where we live and multiples of 13 have been astonishing in our lives (I'm an 8 and my honey is a 5). After building, our eldest who like the rest of the crew, names absolutely everything, called the "New House" the Badarka, a traditional Inuit kayak. As a twelve year old, all things were adventure. Our home is so much about the landscape that All Things 39 fits best.

Absolutely loved the Twain Mariana. Thank you so much. This has been like an old fashioned house warming party. It's been a wonderful way to get to knows other a bit better.

elizabeth e., Bob, I'm so sorry you lost your home. Having always heated with wood, it's been a long running fear we've always just lived with, but... sad things happen to good people. I'm glad to know you've recovered from such a tragedy, or so it appears.

Nice to spend time here today. Thanks to all.
Adrian

Adrian - do you and Bob know one another - she's a dear friend of mine and you two have much in common! I love your comment - what a great name for your house and very interesting about the number 13...The Bardarka sounds really wonderful! Salud

Mariana:

I found Adrian several months ago when she put up her first post on Gather. I forget now how I found her...I think it was an article about Palin. Anyhow, I do love her writing and just the other day I was looking at some of her images.

Kewl, Bob, great minds must hang out together! Salud

Hubby and I have lived here for 20 years and we love it!!!! We just call it our "little piece of heaven"!!!

i absolutely love that picture... and i hope to visit isabel on of these years if she'll have me...

i think writing about our houses is a great idea. my 1810 federal has lot of stories to be shared...

I love my house and the woods it sits in.

I do not own my own home yet, but someday I will. When I do buy, it will be because I love it for one reason or another, and it will be worthy of naming! You have a lovely home!

hi Mariana... what a lovely story... very special... i hope all is well with you...
love and hugs...



Spicecomments.com - Happiness Comments

Houses can be very special. They do not have to be large, expensive or spectacularly beautiful to possess a great deal of personality.

You have a real picture book home, Mariana. It must be a wonderful place in which to live.

I moved house at the beginning of November 2008. My new home is a refurbished villa and a shingle on the front verandah quietly proclaims, Magi Sanctuary. But the newly constructed patio out the back - bedecked with gleaming mirror balls, glowing baubles and glistening strings of beads - has a sign, The Divine Drop Cafe, to greet passers-by. But on the reverse of the sign, facing inwards towards the villa, is this: The Devil's Tea House. That's the ying and yang of it.

I hedge my bets with a very large dream catcher under the front verandah and another huge dream catcher under the rear patio.

What a great story and love the Mark Twain piece.
My house is a 1923 arts and crafts brick bungalow. When I bought the place (nearly 13 years ago) and read through the deed I realized that the first owner and most of the subsequent owners were all women. Unusual for those early years, especially in a provincial area like this one.
The garden still had the bones..if overgrown...of a lady named Jean who owned the place ten years before I got it. My mother met her once and she was a talented gardener. From the neighbors I learned that she was a delightful lady with bad taste in men. She had two little dogs that she loved (there's a tiny stain on the hardwood floor by the french doors attributed to them) and apparently her jerk husband had the dogs put down while she was in the hospital. Big-tough-me cried when my neighbor told me that story and it still chills me to think of it. (Aren't we lucky that we have wonderful partners?)
So, Jean, wherever you are....your house is filled with people and animals who love the nooks and crannies and all the details. Like you pointed out, dear girl, homes have histories and
they reverberate thru the decades. Love to you and yours!

That, "Home is Where the Heart Is" you've proven once again
by the responses to your thought on personifying home.

I'll add one more. We have a special place north out of the city
that, like many others do, we call "UpNorth". I have long sought
a -different- name, but for now this one holds meaning for us.

Oh my Krista - I am sorry but I must have been in transition or something because I missed this spectacular post. Talk about bad taste in men - to me, if a person does not like your animals aka children/pets - then, get rid of his sorry arse as soon as the sun shines again - that's so sad...I love hearing about your wondeful garden as I know it has your whole being into it now with only traces of Jean in the bud of the rose - I'm sure you've named a rose bush in her honor huh...I enjoy looking at your garden through your eyes and it is filled with love. Thank you Krista always for your lovely comments and Happy Birthday until the next one rolls by way too fast! Salud

Paul, I think upnorth suits your home - why not - if your tongue languishes in comfort saying the name then, so be it - I want to hear more about "Upnorth"
Salud