Thought I would share this with you. It was torn from a 1981 issue of Country Living.
If you enlarge the plans you'll be able to read the room diagrams. The shocker about this old beauty was that in its heyday (1894) the cost to build this home was only $7,000. That price includes the third-floor servants quarters, five bedrooms for the family and a library (I've always dreamed of having one of those). There are 6 fireplaces pictured, but I suppose the servants quarters had them as well. The master bedroom measures 12 x 20 1/2. The smallest bedroom was 11 1/2 x 12 1/2. Only one bathroom for all of those people, but at least there was indoor plumbing.
The cute country store and apartment above could be built in 1887 for only $3,800. The apartment has only 2 bedrooms, but the parlor and the kitchen were huge. I do have to point out one downside to the store/apt.....there was no indoor plumbing and only closets for the pots and the china.In my defense, I don't have magazines going back to 1981, my mother gave this one recently along with some newer issues. Also, I actually have done some cleaning...dishes, bed made..okay, not much is done yet.
Now, back to the real job at hand....keeping myself on track...there are the rest of the decorations to put in place, the kitchen floor to sweep, groceries to purchase, clothes to wash and dry.........I've got Christmas CDs playing to encourage me to keep cleaning. Like the little train...I just need to keep chanting....I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.....I know I can....if I get off this computer...now! See ya later!
That top photo reminds me so much of two films: "Beloved" and "Cold Mountain". Do you see it too?
ReplyDeleteWhat cds are you listening to?
Both are darling, yes I'll take them!
ReplyDeleteI know you can, I know you can!
good luck with the cleaning!! :)
ReplyDeleteYeah.. the computer is the culprit. It enticed you into a blog post while you're supposed to be cleaning. I know what that's like. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe pictures and prices are amazing, it is unbelievable how much a dollar got you just three decades ago;)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your cleaning and Christmas preparations.) I LOVE the new header.;)
xo
Zuzana
I love the cheerful holiday header. Now, get to cleaning.
ReplyDeleteStevie- stop by "Keepsakes" where I've given you an award.
ReplyDeleteI love old magazines too and hate throwing them out - I wish I had a bigger house! Hope the cleaning got done though Stevie, it's getting nearer now...
ReplyDeleteI'm also playing my Christmas CD - well why not, it's only once a year! (copy of, snail-mailing 2 U!)
Thank you Blogaire. How exciting!
ReplyDeleteI thought, when I retired, I would get all sorts of things done, go through mountains of boxes, accumulated things, clean out, downsize, etc. So what do I do, start this blog and discover other people's blogs. All I want to do, for hours a day, is stay at this computer. If only there were some way to mount it on the treadmill, I could feel totally virtuous about the time spent!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds stupid, but I put on a CD and think okay...before this CD is over, I will have cleaned the dining room, living room, and kitchen. I take a deep breath, start the CD, and then I race. I tear through the house. When I am done, I treat myself to a cup of tea and then I sit down at the computer for an hour. Then I put on another CD and do the bathrooms and our bedroom. Seriously. If I do this even every other day, I'm good. After a while, you find yourself looking for the more to do because you've gotten the work done and there is more CD. At that point, you're 'deep cleaning'.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Debbie. I'll have to try it. I am a seriously slow cleaner because I don't enjoy doing it. I have to have motivation. Music is really good for setting the pace. I've never thought of giving myself a time limit.
ReplyDeleteI always get off course when I am cleaning. If I can not stay on task, I set a timer for how long I think I will need to get it done. Believe it or not, it helps. I have a stack of old magazines to go through. Looking forward to seeing the gingerbread houses.
ReplyDeletedenise
I am looking forward to seeing the Gingerbread houses
ReplyDeleteI'm an often-waylaid cleaner myself...too many other interesting things to do besides dust...
ReplyDeleteI've given you an award, my friend - come by and have a look!
ha ha I can SO relate! Those clippings are so much fun! Amazing to see those prices and at that time they were probably thought to be a small fortune to build.
ReplyDeleteGreat houses.Cleaning house is not fun. I will just put that out there. I need to try the CD thing also. Of course, I'll probably get bogged down trying to figure out just the right CD. I can find a million other things to do besides the actual cleaning. It feels so wonderful once it's done, but what a chore. Why does my OCD have to exhibit itself in other ways than the cleaning? But noooooo...that would be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI am the same way!! I have solved this problem by not buying magazines anymore. I don't miss them at all, t least not at the moment.
ReplyDeleteYour gingerbread house party sounds WONDERFUL!!