Theme Thursday = Home
Although this is not the house I grew up in,I did live in a similar house growing up.
Most of you know the song "Little Boxes" written
by Malvina Reynolds. That song was about these
houses and the Daly City, Westlake area, south
of San Francisco along the coast.
Imagine, when these were built, they were only
around $9-10,000.00. Today, these same homes
are selling (I believe) for nearly $500,000.00
or more, if they can get it.
click to enlargeWe now live in this little bungalow in indy-anna.
As you can see, the house next door is similar,
but lacks the built in pocket doors, book shelves
and very tasteful wood floors that we have.
Sears and others sold pre-made houses
that looked similar to this.. We had
hoped this may be one, but it isn't.
It's the most sound home I've lived in and is
very quiet and peaceful.
There is a boiler in the basement,
and original radiators on the 2 floors.
It's the perfect heating system for
winter. There's nothing like a
good boiler system and fits quite
well for this part of the country.
A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire
for the mind as well as the body.
Benjamin Franklin
==============================
I feel as if no matter where I am,
with or without a house,
my home is really me,
And always goes with me
no matter where I end up.
The following song illustrates best
how I feel about it all. Imagine
the World, and your body parts
those parts of the World.
It may not be as far fetched as you think.
Islandman - Waterboys
16 comments:
your street in "indy-anna" looks very much like many of the streets around me. I've been drawn to bungalows for a long time - they are a most charming style of house. sounds as if your home has some lovely details - pocket doors ROCK! I don't know why more houses don't have them! they make so much sense in terms of space.
I wonder if those premade sears homes were soundly made? that reminds me I do have a photo of one in my archives - last year while driving to columbus with some friends to see an exhibit, a sears premade home was pointed out to me, I asked my friend driving if he'd pull over so I could snap a picture of it...he was happy to do so. it was a remarkably large house and unlike my preconceived notion about what a sears house would look like....
thanks for the waterboys tune, haven't listened to them in a while. I see the connection!
oh no, I have the tune to 'little boxes' now stuck in my head!! earworm, earworm.
cute turtle!
what amazes me is how people altered the little boxes over time, and with fix ups and landscaping managed to make them look different when at first they were all identical. people feel the need to work on their homes, so it's always a work in progress.
I love a good porch.
Reminds me of Edward Scissorhands.
I like the Sears Catalog homes--I've seen a few and they impressed me.
I hate to admit that I like the little blue box a lot! I want one, only I couldn't afford it. I bought during a buyer's market many years ago, putting all my energy into the idea of home, and am in that "can't afford to move" situation now.
The house you live in looks lovely. I've never seen a Sears house, so I'll have to google around to get a look. We are househunting right now in northern California. The current economic crisis has not made much of a dent in house prices in Humboldt County. Little boxes for $500,000.
The little blue boxes remind me of the "worker's cottages" all around the harbor area of Los Angeles - small tracts for the Longshoremen. I like your Indy-anna home.
ahh the sameness. I am finding townhouse living a little restraining for there must be consistency and the rules of what is appropriate is someone else's taste and what the hell do they know?
Anyway home is best for sure.
"Imagine the World, and your body parts those parts of the World - what a great concept - I love it!
And those bungalow-types of homes can be the coziest.
Cozy is good. : )
♫ ♪ ♪ "There's a red one and a green one and a blue one and a yellow one, and they're all made of ticky tacky and they're all made just the same"
♪♪ ♫
There is something to be said for modular construction: If its well done with quality materials it can be cheap and efficient. (as we all bow to the god of wood trusses!)
mouse: We are unusual, as we only have grass in the parking strip out front. You know, you're supposed to have grass and mow every week, with the neighbors. Now, it's kind of full of weeds, as we are ready to make it front and back mostly natural grasses. You know, something that needs no care or "has" to be watered.
From what I've read, Sears and others used very good materials.
bd: In Daly City though, these houses look now, just as they did then. There's really not enough space to do anything much to them. But, the amount of space surely is enough for most people. Bigger is not always better. ; )
kurt: Yes, we keep saying we should use ours, but then, there are the neighbors, if you know what I mean. Can't be a sitting duck ya know.
bitchlet: In a way you are right.
phd: When I think back just how cheap they were in the 50s, it's amazing. I'd never spend that kind of money now, "even if I had it" on something in an area like that now.
Although, half a block away was the cliff and a short climb down to the beach.
robin: It boggles the mind, doesn't it? I remember renting a 5 room flat with bay windows in SF for $95. month. I want that again, but it will never be I'm afraid! ; (
diva: Yes, around SF and Sausalito there were areas specifically built for the ship builders at the time also. They became ghetto areas when they closed the shipyards down.
collete: I can't imagine the condo scene, having lived in one a short time many years ago.
cbb: I always wonder why people do not believe they are connected to others around the world, no matter where it is.....
goatman: Yep, but those days seem to be gone, er, using quality materials and affordable. ; (
Yes, a turtle is the perfect unit. Why didn't I think of that??
Yes, those little houses are in the stratosphere now, I believe. Ten years ago, D looked at a job in SF, and we could have literally bought a garage for 500K! Needless to say, he didn't take the job.
PS: I think I need to listen to Kimy's and your music picks. They are broadening my horizen.
tut tut: Having lived in the bay area most of my life and having had a good job until I left, sadly it appears to be too cost prohibitive to move back.
Rural areas, despite it's lack of "normal" things, is easily the most affordable places to live anymore, if you're lucky enough to be able to make a living doing something you enjoy.
I just returned from a trip to my hometown in NW Ohio, and your street scene looks so familiar. Good move to put in the mow-less lawn. Are you a pariah on the street?
phil: How did you guess? Although, we have left the weeds this year and in the fall will change our total yard yet again. Natural grasses of course.....
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