I thought since I'm rubbish at talking right now, some pictures might do the trick. I can open my photo album and bore you instead. A thousand words and all...although come to think of it, has anyone tried to write a thousand words about a pic?

High school seniors beware.

Welcome to our house, built in the late 1800's. I planted the flowers myself-this picture is a few weeks old, as they haven't done so well since we bunked off to Egypt for a week and they didn't get watered.

Kokopelli, whom I bought in Mexico, greets you on the inside front door. I figure if the God of Mischief can't be the welcome wagon, who can be?

Our coffee table is an antique Victorian pine box, which we use to keep blankets in. Or at least we do when it's not otherwise occupied.

Our house has antiques here and there, actually. In our kitchen window are two of my orchids (I love orchids, I just love them). In the middle is a vintage French milk jug, a find that I am absolutely in love with. On one of the window panes is a pale frame with purple flowers. A gift from Melissa to Angus it was the former middle window-pane of a Victorian front door.

Er....please ignore the laundry hanging out back to dry.

In the kitchen on top of one of the doorways is something that's very important to me-a street sign I picked up in Sweden. I literally picked it up-the flat I was living in with my Ex was being renovated, and I went into the cellar one day and saw this old street sign from our neighborhood laying in a pile of rubbish. I had to have it, so I nicked it and have kept it. I will never let it go as something about it is so beautiful.

I have a vintage American street sign arriving soon, a little 1950's gem that simply says: "Main Street". I can't wait. And we both agree we'll get a street sign from England, as it's nice to have constant reminders of where we've been and how it'affected who we are today. I guess it's weird (read: nerdy) that street signs are something that I like, but in some ways they're things I know, things I recognize. And something about having a Main Street in my house makes me feel like I'm never that far away after all.

Maybe I'm not that far from it anyway-in our living room I've mounted three old photos of our families. In the large picture are my grandparents on their wedding day, her looking resplendent and him so chipper in his Army uniform, and in the upper right corner are my great-grandparents, whom I remember fondly. The bottom picture is Angus' grandfather and his workmate-Angus' grandfather drove double-decker buses, and I love their cheeky positions leaning against the hood of the bus.

On my dresser I have a tiny dressmaker's dummy that I use to hold my necklaces (and my pink Lola wig usually goes on it, too). I also have a Barbola mirror from the 1930's, and a few Demeter perfume bottles. I just bought another Barbola mirror that needs some reconstruction love which I will study up on how to do. I've seen that they sell for about $650 in the States, but I bought this one for £8.

Yesterday Angus was reading his usual tittilating material on the bed and Maggie decided he needed some help. You know. As cats are so helpful in doing.

Yesterday flowers arrived at our front door. A florist presented flowers to the recipient with a smile and a will-you-sign-here...Angus. I have heard from the team (and seen in my own home) the effect that work is having on many of the partnerships. As such, I took my credit card and bought roses for all the wives (and for Angus and one other boyfriend) of the project managers who have been working long hours, as a thank you for their patience.

Just because he's a boy doesn't mean he shouldn't get flowers.

My world is full of words and images. My home has one thousand pictures that will slip by unnoticed in time, but which when I look at mean the world to me. My heart is in these walls and with this man and these felines. These images are priceless to me, and while they maybe mean very little to anyone else, the view from our study window, a cat in the box, a stuffed turtle on the printer...these things make this place my home.

I've been working since 6 am. I have over 20 voice mails and a few hundred emails, even after me deleting them all on Monday. I have conference calls and documents to write. But there is still sunshine, and there is still time to just sit and think. So I think instead of digging into work this morning, I will sit in the doorway with my guard dog and watch the world for a little while, lest I let a moment go by me.

-H.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 08:45 AM | Comments (22) | Add Comment
Post contains 881 words, total size 6 kb.

1 Helen, thanks for the comment on the nebula photo. Is is fabulous, isn't it?! I love this post and the little peek inside your world. The absolutely best photo is the last one; your precious kitty looking out the door, surveying her domain. I love the one of her in the boxes too; I had an old blanket chest similar to yours, but I gave it to my kid to use as a coffee table.

Posted by: kenju at September 23, 2005 12:06 PM (+AT7Y)

2 Wish I were sitting there with you-it is all gorgeous and almost surreal to this small town girl. The pic of Angus? Made me swoon. What a lucky girl you are-good for you sending him flowers. He is beautiful!

Posted by: Teresa at September 23, 2005 01:00 PM (zf0DB)

3 Oh Helen, That was a wonderful little glimpse into your world. After reading your site for awhile, I've found myself (as with others, I am sure) trying to put a face or a picture to certain things that you've said/written. This helps! Have a good weekend

Posted by: wn at September 23, 2005 01:28 PM (zh/oU)

4 oh, i love these pics! it feels like home. :-) and i couldn't help but have a good giggle over maggie helping angus with his reading. my kitties just love to help me study too.

Posted by: kat at September 23, 2005 01:28 PM (DLLH+)

5 That's too cool!! A visual tour of Helen's abode.

Posted by: ~Easy at September 23, 2005 01:34 PM (NL+Vn)

6 Oh, I LOVE orchids, too!! Yours are magnificently healthy...I have two that are bloomers and two that are pouting, but I'm slowly coaxing the flowers. It seems you have a beautiful home. )

Posted by: Serena at September 23, 2005 01:53 PM (OX+n1)

7 What lovely pictures! I loved the orchids. I think I'll get some too. I've been meaning to grow flowers, now i've made my mind which ones I want. I love your kitties.

Posted by: plumpernickel at September 23, 2005 02:25 PM (lYBOm)

8 Lovely photos! I think you and Angus have a beautiful home. You've also made me decide on which flowers to get for my new apartment--orchids. Yours are gorgeous!

Posted by: Kathy at September 23, 2005 02:50 PM (0qhAf)

9 That was fun! Thank you for sharing. You have a very nice home and your view is amazing.

Posted by: Lisa at September 23, 2005 03:24 PM (MzcD8)

10 I love your cat!! :-D

Posted by: Brandy at September 23, 2005 04:01 PM (4ko+2)

11 Lovely. Just lovely. And I ADORE the picture of the open door and Maggie (or is that Mummin?) a/k/a "Watchdog." You have many, many hues of love all over your home. Thank you for letting us in.

Posted by: Margi at September 23, 2005 04:25 PM (nwEQH)

12 Awwww! Lovely! Thank you for allowing us a few peeks into your life. Looks so beautiful. :-) And I'm crazy-stupid about your cats. So CUTE!

Posted by: Amber at September 23, 2005 04:55 PM (zQE5D)

13 Thank you for sharing... it's always nice to put a 'face' on the things you've talked about. Kitties and Angus are definately keepers! ...and your flowers are gorgeous. You'll have to post pics of Blackberry (did I get that name right?) ... Hope things get better for you at work SOON. Been there, done that, HATED it... {{{hugs}}}

Posted by: sue at September 23, 2005 04:56 PM (WbfZD)

14 Great pictures. Just to let you know, Kokopelli is also the fertility god (wink, wink). My wife and I bought one on our first anniversary.

Posted by: Dave T. at September 23, 2005 05:12 PM (hkvGr)

15 What a beautiful welcoming entryway you have. I would love to walk into that every day!

Posted by: justme at September 23, 2005 05:39 PM (RPyFS)

16 I always think of your house as the OLD house. Like when you talk about going to the bedroom or your desk or the kitchen I always think of the ones that I visited. I suppose this means I have to visit again.

Posted by: emily at September 23, 2005 06:11 PM (mG6wy)

17 Thanks for having us over for a visit. Everything is lovely! I think you're cats have a great sense of humor!

Posted by: Kathy at September 23, 2005 06:50 PM (flb/n)

18 love the picture of your kitty at the door in the sunlight. And your house is just lovely.

Posted by: caltechgirl at September 23, 2005 09:19 PM (n7KAD)

19 What a lovely home you have there, Helen. As evidenced by your final selection, it positively radiates. There seems to be a lot of exhaustion going 'round these days. Be good to yourself and I hope you have a restorative, peace filled, restful weekend.

Posted by: Jennifer at September 23, 2005 09:30 PM (1X5Jq)

20 Thanks for having us in for a visit, and damn, but your cats have beautiful faces! Oh yeah, and Angus isn't too bad either :-)

Posted by: Jocelyn at September 24, 2005 03:51 AM (p6cmr)

21 You have such a beautiful house.... I hope that someday I can have something so nice and warm and ... homey. Enjoy it!

Posted by: Hannah at September 25, 2005 10:02 AM (ImQx2)

22 Absolutely charming, Helen! Flowers, kitties, sunshine, knickknacks and your love. You are a rich woman, indeed!

Posted by: Ms. Q at September 27, 2005 12:16 AM (WUM14)

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