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Monday, May 2, 2011

NOT Move-In Ready

Whenever we go to another
town I am one of those
weird people
that likes to
drive around
and look at houses

Now, we have
NO intention
of moving to a different town..
but I am a dreamer..
and I can look at a house
and see it restored to
its former glory.

This is my top pick
for this past week.
It is in the town of
Wisconsin Dells,
on a side street.

Time cannot dim the
beauty of this place.
From the front..

From the side..

Isn't she a beauty?
She is do-able,
don't you think?
It looks like someone has
started rehabbing her.

This one is a little
more complex..
an old abandonded
mansion
near
Springfield, Mo.
Here's the reader board
and you can see her in
her glory days.

Here is part of the overlook.

It overlooks this...

Imagine the
social events held here.

It is eerily quiet here

And I can only imagine
the beauty when she
was in her prime.
When I leave I feel
a bit forlorn..
like there has been
a piece of magic
lost.
A piece that, now,
will never be restored..
I can only dream
of what once was..
when she was young
and fresh and filled
with the voices and
laughter of family
and friends.
It makes me want
to hurry home to enjoy
the place that is mine
and listen to,
and appreciate fully,
the family that surrounds me.

23 comments:

  1. Yes, I know what you mean. We have an abundance of empty places in Australia. Out in rural areas they are a dime a dozen. Some lovely, some not so much. I would love to know more about who lived there, where they are now etc etc. If only all these places could be bought back to their prime.

    x

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  2. Gorgeous place. Very surprised it is not restored, kinda sad to let such beautiful grounds be untouched.

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  3. You're in good company, because I do the same thing! It's fun to imagine the entire renovation plan for a forlorn old house, then put the car in 'drive' and roll off to the next object of your imagination.

    The second house you showed reminds me of an old European ruin. It's perfectly normal in France or England or Italy to see a ruin and understand that it will never be a home for anyone again. The United States is too 'new' to understand this yet, I guess.

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  4. Oh wow! It is a shame to see beautiful old houses in disrepair. All that charm & workmanship down the tubes. Hopefully someone is working on the first house at least.

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  5. such lovely photos,, beautiful old house , really sets the mind to thinking of all the possibilities for sure,,

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  6. Am i correct that the one in Springfield burned?
    We've driven around the Springfield area looking at houses, and I've always thought that would be an area I'd love to live, but it would not be in an old mansion, probably the gardener's cottage, lol.

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  7. I love both houses, but the second one reminds me of all of the castle ruins in Japan. I used to love going to castle ruins and trying to imagine what was. But, I'm sure my thoughts were pretty far off, since I really don't have a good grasp of the Japanese culture.

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  8. Both places are amazing. I always daydream about what it would have been like to actually be there in the prime of such wonderful places, seeing the history unfold. Shame the second mansion will never be rebuilt to it's former beauty.

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  9. WOW, I ♥ all of those places Ü Would enjoy that ride around myself Ÿ

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  10. An overlook! how fabulous! I think I will start calling my deck an "overlook". Sounds a lot more grand that way. :) Have a happy week! xo

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  11. I love to drive through neighborhoods and look at houses too and imagine who lives there or lived there. It is wonderful when someone will renovate those really old places and bring them back to life.

    Danielle

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  12. So glad to know i am not the only "weird" person who drives around to look at homes!
    I will have to tell Sam this...he always complains about this habit of mine!
    Lovely homes Diana!

    Pamela xo

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  13. This is one of my favorite things to do! I love trying to picture old home places the way they were. Even whole farms. When you run across a stand of trees and know a home once stood there, you just wonder.
    Who lived there and what lucky bride was carried over the thresh hold? How many children?
    And what I would do to it if money were no object?
    Hugs- Tete

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  14. Around here empty houses are part of "ghost" towns :-) I've been spending alot of time in my garden this week, so I'm catching up with reading today. I laughed so hard at Sweet Cheeks adventures at Lowes. Babysitting? I'm going to have to try that one.
    I sooo know what you mean about boys too :-)
    Have a wonderful week dear Diana!
    Blessings,
    Marcia
    P.S. Loved the houses too :-)

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  15. I love looking at homes too. And the first one is so interesting. I would love to be able to see inside. I am always so curious about old homes...I would love to be able to restore one some day!!

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  16. Decayed homes make me sad. They remind me of spent dreams and days gone by. I love the idea of reclaiming old homes though I lack the skill. Beautiful post.

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  17. Oh gosh, such amazing structures....and I think we all love our own the best not only because they're special, but because there's a big part of us in them.
    XO
    Cindy

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  18. That last place reminds me of Wuthering Heights after the big fire at the end! Do you know that one? Totally agree that it leaves you with a sense of loss and emptiness. I lived in Springfield growing up and don't remember ever hearing of that place but I'm sure the history is fascinating. That first place was absolutely gorgeous and it is nice to see that someone is loving it back to life!
    Vanessa

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  19. Oh, How I love to do the same thing,
    Sometimes, DIL'S & I will look for estate sales in big old houses, just to get inside..
    (Thanks for stopping by earlier...tote was for my aunt, who is close to my age & really like my sister, I know her so well, I knew she would like it :)

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  20. We are birds of a feather. I also love looking at old homes and imagining how I would restore them. It really is heartbreaking to see one abandoned or torn down...we lose so much history with their loss.
    I love the two you have shown us. The first one has so much possibility and the second one stirs the imagination to what once was. It definitely brings to mind the ruins one sees in Europe. I guess the older I get the more I appreciate things with age!!!
    I was just catching up and loved your story about your trip to Lowes with Sweetcheeks and how little baby E is turning into his toddler years...boys certainly are different, aren't they!

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  21. Such Beautiful Treasures, I can almost imagine the Glory of these Lovely Homes in their Prime.... the Shell of the Stone Home is eerily Breathtaking~

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  22. I know where you can buy a house almost like the first one!!! But, there is a catch...the land it is sitting on doesn't come with it, so you will have to have it dismantled, and have it shipped from Alabama.
    A local nursing home owns the house and wants to build on the land.It's really heartbreaking. I hope whoever buys it will put it back together again. But you could make a fortune selling the pieces as architectural salvage...hmmm
    Rhonda

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