The other night I was in the basement, tonight I was in the attic. I was doing some rearranging, trying to gain a little more room. It's amazing how much a person accumulates over the years. We have been living here since 1987, almost 24 years, and it still feels like Grandma & Grandpa's house. Even though we have done some remodeling through the years, their memories and their presence is still strong. Every time I go to the attic I can still remember how Grandma would have me carry the wooden storm windows from the attic, down two flights of stairs and out back where she was waiting with a bucket of soapy water to wash the windows before I climbed the ladder to hang them on the side windows, and on the balcony door. You know, to this day we still use the old wooden storm window and screen in the upstairs balcony off our bedroom, and it still has the same screen in the wooden frame. We switch it out at the change of seasons, I always liked how the attic stairs turned as you went up the stairs. I also remember as a child, how I would sneak into the attic to look around, hoping to find something really interesting. One time I lifted a cover off an old blanket chest Grandma had in the attic, and as soon as I saw the chest, it reminded me of a coffin. Needless to say, I immediately went downstairs. That really freaked me out.
Wow, your house sounds so awesome! You’re really lucky to live somewhere that has such a connection to your past. I love the turn in the staircase, too. They don’t build houses like that anymore. Great picture.
Great nostalgic photo and family story. It must be nice to be surrounded by those childhood memories on a daily basis. Thanks for the wonderful post tonight Rick!
It's a great shot - the lines, composition, processing and textures. I love the story that goes with it even more. I enjoy when I go back to England going thru my families 'stuff'. My Grandma's old jewelry and all the pictures. I can't imagine living in a family heirloom - wonderful for you.
How wonderful to have such a history in the house you live in. How fun to recall childhood memories and you are in certain areas of the house. Great stories and shot.
Everyone said what I want to say... :-) Stairs to the attic - sounds like a novel or a scary movie. I love the way you composed this, Rick. Your captions are always so interesting. Thanks for sharing with us.
Both of my grandmothers had cool attics, but the one I liked best was the one on my mother's side. It had the same kind of stairs and all kinds of mysterious things up there. I loved to go up when no one was looking. It was a great place to imagine the stories behind all the forgotten things. Years later, I helped my aunt clean it out when my grandmother passed on. Some of those forgotten things (like a picture of my great great grandfather) now have a new with me and are no longer forgotten. Love your story too. You have an awesome talent to weave together a story and your picture.
This is a tough shot but you captured perfectly the turn of the stairs, the texture of the wood and the tightness of the passageway. I can almost smell the heat of a summer attic. Great picture.
Ah, attics! So much personality. Growing up we had an attic - we generously called it a third story. Mom and Dad rented out a room there occasionally really cheap. It was a nice big finished room but those who stayed there (usually college students) had to worry about getting to that room without meeting a bat on the way! Not sure it was worth it.
I love this picture, Rick. Wonderful angle. I also envy you being able to live in a place that you spent time in as a child and have those awesome memories of your grandparents. Did you raise your children there?? Awesome for you!!
my grandparents home had those exact stairs, there were grates in the upstairs flooring so that the wood stove would heat the upper floors, oh fond memories of the farmstead(still in the family, an historic farm in MI)
Wonderful story.
hahahahah I would be freaked out too, a coffin? To a child that is too much.