Thursday, August 26, 2010

My New House - Magpie Tales #29

Writing prompt from Magpie Tales. Check out the other entries.

email from Kentucky:

I bought it! It's mine. This is the picture from the real estate site. It is the best view, believe me. It is small and shabby on the inside. Good roof and the fireplace works, but the drains are sluggish and the water is a funny color. You can't see the STEEPLY sloping lawn in the back which leads down to the lake and a rickety little boat house and pier. There is a damp little basement down some slippery stone steps with an ancient washing machine (no dryer). I'm afraid all my clothes will soon be the same color as the water.

There was some furniture when I got here and you know I didn't bring much with me. My daughter took over the house in Florida. They needed the room and she always expected it to be hers someday. I took a few personal items and the money from the house and here I am. Let them do what they like with the rest. I was ready for a change.

I just threw slipcovers over the old couch. It looks fine. There is a very nice wicker rocker that I put in front of the fireplace. I am getting pretty good at building a fire now. Not just for looks but I will need it for survival next winter. It gets pretty cold here. My bedroom is all white and virginal (HA HA) and kind of charming with all the old, mismatched furniture.

There are a lot of flowering plants here. I only know the names of some of them. There is a hardy old gardenia covered with blooms and such a strong sweet scent. There are some remains of a vegetable garden. I am going to try my hand at that. Found some onions and small potatoes and some beets. I have been making lots of vegetable soup and sweet tea. It is all I want right now. I have been reading a lot. I am working up the nerve to take out the little rowboat on my own. Maybe I will learn to fish. I am looking forward to the leaves changing. Please come up and see me. I know I will be ready for company by the time you can get here. The kids and grandkids will be coming up next summer. For now, I am happy.

17 comments:

  1. I was reading some of the Magpie Tales and ran across yours. It's lovely. I like the way your writing flows and makes me relate to the woman. Maybe, 'cause I could be her.

    I've been toying with the idea of writing in Magpie Tales. Maybe I will some time.

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  2. If I would have written an email 22 years ago when we first moved here, it would have sounded a lot like this!

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  3. Willow, I have always wanted to know more about Willow Manor.

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  4. Well this is great, Shari. Congratulations on joining Willow's Magpie Tales, and with such an interesting take. Sounds from Willow like you nailed it.

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  5. How delightful! It really rings in with a true voice.

    Teresa

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  6. I love the feeling of change - expected and comfortable. It sounds like nirvana!

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  7. Lovely write...she will be happy there....bkm

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  8. Such a lovely piece, the optimism and joy of a new home really vivid.

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  9. Sounds wonderful. Nice Magpie.

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  10. i hear the happiness in her words...nice write...great magpie...

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  11. Your house is great! I am on my way! Send directions!

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  12. A wonderful read... loved it! I wanted to join her!!

    I'm looking forward to more from you. Thanks for writing it.

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  13. when we moved to farmhouse it was so bad inside i sat down on the stairs and cried. must have been 105 degrees that day...so hot in here...dirty..remodeling..with 2 indoor cats and a blind dog...some days i really wondered..the garden was then a concrete parking lot...where to start...it was BAD!!!

    but 3 years later...in fact just today was the final frontier..we finished the bathroom floor..what a LONG HAUL...but it was worth it...we love farmhouse now...

    loved reading this...sounds alot like me
    :-)
    kary and teddy
    xxx

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  14. What a lovely Magpie tale! I thought when first I saw the picture what a lovely, homey place it would make for some writer - love what you did with it...

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