A 24-year love affair

In the spring of 1990, my first husband and I were halfheartedly looking for a house to buy. Driving random roads around town, we watched for houses with for sale signs in the front yards, wondering if we could afford any of them. We stopped at the end of a driveway with just such a sign. The house wasn't visible from the road, so Daniel eased the car into the driveway. I immediately fell in love with what I saw. Then told him to back out quickly; there was no way we could afford it.

A few days later, while at work, Daniel started talking to a man who had a house for sale. As the man went on, it dawned on Daniel which house he was talking about. It had been on the market for a while and was not far over our budget.

Though it only had two bedrooms, this was the house I wanted. Nick was four and Val had just been born; they could share a room for a while but not forever.

We moved in twenty-four years ago today. And I’m still in love with it. 

The view when you first turn up the driveway. A lot has changed over the years, but this is the spot where I fell in love. 

Front of the house; moving day, September 22, 1990

 Back of the house, September 22, 1990

 A few months after the addition which gained us that third bedroom, September 22, 1999. On the right is Shadow one of our Cocker spaniels who died in 2007.

 Back yard after the garage became the living room. We have a clothes line too. 

September 22, 1999

 And here we are in September 2014. Another dog in the yard, Dino, of course.

Back yard, September 2014. We have had the deck for quite a few years. A new roof two years ago. Himey is currently painting the house, so I can't guarantee these are the last pictures you will see.