Post #3
My mother always said "company came to the front door, relatives, close friends, and salesmen to the back." How times have changed. Now it seems as though you're never quite sure which door to enter. In the Dutch community I live in, it is common practice for everyone to use the back door. I guess the more to keep the house clean of the dirt off your shoes.
Anyway, I'm not Dutch American so we will enter the front door, my favorite way to enter this house.
Off to the right of the door is the porch swing that my father made for me. I love to sit out here and read. Sometimes my husband and I swing before bed and listen to the crickets in the evening.
The hardwood floor that Duane, my husband, stripped, sanded, and varnished on his hands and knees.
The stairs, railing, and spindles had been painted white in the 40s or 50s. A previous owner did all of the work before we bought it. It took her a year to do it using dental floss to get around the curves of the spindles.
The wall of pictures is the result of my years of genealogy. I'll show you some of them close up in a minute.
This is to the left of the door. The woman who did the stairs had this enlargement made of the original house and asked that it always be kept with the house. I'll pass it on to the new owner. The pedestal holds a silver tray with antique calling cards that I have collected.
Straight in, this hall goes to another hall and then to the blue and white breakfast room I showed you on post #2.
This is a picture of Dr. Lanting, the doctor who built the house in 1907. It's his medical school graduation. I might leave this one behind too.
Immediately to the right of the door. We used to own an antique shop and this was left over. No one wanted to buy it, so I kept it. Isn't it beautiful? The lady I got it from said her mother brought it from Italy. It serves well as a last check before going out the door.
My father's World War II Company picture. He's a decorated vet.
My husband's great great uncle, Civil War picture. We both have many Civil War relatives and many who were in the Revolutionary War. Some of mine fought for the British, but I don't talk about that much :)
My father-in-law as a baby with his parents.
This document is written in old German. I had to have it translated. It gives my great, great grandfather permission to come to the US for six months. He was a serf and had to prove that his debt was paid before he could leave. It's dated 1885 and stamped with a wax seal by the Governor of Mecklenberg.
The top of the stairs, leading to bedrooms, etc. We'll get to that soon enough. I've probably held you up long enough so we'll continue in a few days. Thanks for stopping by.
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Thyme for Herbs
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Tickling the Ivories
