Happy 100

In the fall of 1996, we were blessed to be able to purchase our current home.

 2011 marked its 100th year.

circa 1911

2011

Structurally sound, it was a blank slate that had been sitting idle for a couple of years.  We will always fondly remember the vine growing in through the back door.  We giddily moved in with an eclectic collection of semi-modern furniture that had filled our previous house, now sprinkled throughout this cavernous beauty like an incomplete set of building blocks.

Throughout the years we have done some remodeling, some restoring, some collecting of antiques, and best of all: gathering of heirlooms. Every room, graced with precious pieces that once belonged to parents, grandparents and great grandparents, is furnished with a comfortable mixture of the old and new.

While our home has been the gathering place of many family, social, and church events, these are usually confined to the downstairs, the more public areas of the house, if you will.  But on this, the 100th anniversary of the house, we threw privacy to the wind and had an Open House on New Year's Day, to celebrate the grand ol' girl, share her with friends and neighbors, and satisfy some curiosity. Countless times we have had remarked to us: "I would love to see your house sometime."

Preparations began the day after Thanksgiving--a now or never type decision: the official 100th year was drawing to a close.  Christmastime would be a good time, with the ol' girl all dressed up in her holiday finery. We made a list of back-burnered projects and over-looked eyesores (when you start looking around your house with the fresh eyes of visitors, you see things very differently) and set to work.  For a while, the list grew; even as some things got checked off, more were added.  Finally, we began to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

This past Sunday, January 1, we opened our home to family, friends, and neighbors.  It was a wonderful day.

While I work on a photo collage to post, (now that I'm not cleaning every.spare.minute) you can read more about the deliciousness we served our guests (and snag the recipes!) here.  My very own generous and gifted daughter 'catered' the affair!  Never mind all the historical  mish-mash: these cookies were all the rage!!