PLAYING HOUSE

When I was a little girl

I loved playing house.

I never had a

REAL playhouse,

but I laid out floor plans

with stones to outline rooms.

Growing up on a farm,

in a rather isolated area,

meant playing alone much

of the time.

I had a brother that was

four years younger,

 but when you are kids

that is a significant

age difference
and he sure didn't want to
"play house".

When we moved to our house

on the bay,

I begged for a

REAL PLAYHOUSE.
My wonderful brother-in law,
and son
made my dream a reality.
For several summers the
playhouse was open
for business.

 Summers were always busy ones

and I loved

cleaning up the playhouse

for Summer

 Dreamdays and Parties.

The little garden

and window boxes

whispered sweet childhood

songs..

This flag outside the door

welcomed everyone..

And the front door,

complete with hat,

offered a sweet invitation

to enter.

You could sit a spell in the

newly painted wicker

furniture.  A rare find

for $2.99 per piece

at a thrift store.

They used to be natural

wicker but looked so much

fresher in white.

Pillows and baby dolls

were the perfect accessories.

The little rose mirror

was a real original and a

$4,00 find and the little
rose picture
is from my friend, Donna,
over at
My Shabby Chateau.

The "hutch" was another

$4.00 find

And the sweet picture above

the settee was $2.50.

I found a close out miniature

chandelier, complete with flowers

and crystals for a few dollars.

It hung over the little

wicker table covered with a

little tablecloth that my mother

hand embroidered when she was young.

Look! Real leaded glass windows

from the salesmen's samples

left over when we sold

our home improvement company.

A playhouse to love.

Built with love,

for the kids we love...

the ones that sat on the grass

in front of the playhouse

and dreamt their childhood dreams..

Then, hearing the call of fairy voices

beckoning them to play,

 they were off and running.

SweetCheeks

ran too far, too fast,

I wanted her to

stay little just a little while

longer...

I loved that she

believed in magic and fairies

and a Nana that could make

any wrong right.

The house is sold to another

and the playhouse is 

NO LONGER A PLAYHOUSE

it serves another purpose,

but-

just for a moment in time

it was a mine.

It was a

dream-come-true 

for me.

I lived a childhood

through the eyes of 

grandchildren that I love.

Can't get any better than that!

Hope you have something

that special in your life

that makes you smile

everytime you remember 

something about it.