Serendipity took hold of my Sunday. How else can I explain what happened.
Yesterday Greg (my brother) posted on Facebook his painting of a house.
What he said got me.
I think this painting is finished. I’m going to leave the triangle of sky unpainted as a reference to my abstract work. This the house I grew up in, 3-12 years old. I’ve done this image 4 times in the past 35 years
I knew exactly where this house is. It is only a 5 minute drive from my house. So, I said, let me get a picture for you. Cool to compare the painting to today’s reality.
So, that is what I did today on the way to Schmitz Reserve Park. Drove up and bang… there was a for sale sign. Best part there was going to be an open house.
First thing I did was take a few photos with my phone and send them to Greg. Then I walked around and took some photos of the exterior.
The front Door
back porch
Thee was a cherry tree there once
South side of house
The old washer shed on West side
North side of our old house
Front porch looking south
A couple of hours later I came back and sure enough there was an open house. I told the realtor who I was and he was interested to say the least. So, I went poking around and realized that what seemed so big as a child was really pretty tiny.
Then a young couple and their Dad showed up. When I came back out of the kitchen the realtor told them I had lived here. Greg had told me our parents bought the house in 1951 for 3 grand. What a hoot in today’s over heated house market. That started the most wonderful conversation and me showing them the small window in Greg’s and my bedroom closet. Funny things we remember huh?
Here are the interior photos I took there and of the for sale brochure
Then there are the stairs. They are the same granite as the State Capitol was built of. Mom always reminded me of that. They and the rockery were built by our parents when 37th & Kenyon SW were paved. The bulkhead we had been not so hot after that.
So, yes you can go home but it is only a peek into the past. Enjoy it but remember it is important to “Be here Now”. The past is great but our loved ones need us here today.
Thanx Greg.. this was super special hope you enjoy the pictures.
Crows of Arroyos 