There's a twist on this week's I WANNA live there - all of the homes you're about to see have been..................... Abandoned INDULGY My love of houses began at a very young age - especially period houses - none of my friends " got " my obsession ( and yes it was a borderline obsession - today it's a full blown out one ) My Aunt & Uncle lived in the Laurentians when I was a little girl - in a cabin in the woods owned by my Uncle's family - They were going through hard times financially and gratefully accepted the free cottage but as soon as they were on their feet they quickly moved back to the city - quite literally walking away from that little gem. It was too lonely, my Aunt explained - there were no phone lines - no electricity - no modern conveniences, so I completely get that it must have been difficult with 3 small children. But it had the most magnificent fireplaces - and an Aga stove in the kitchen - there were 4 bedrooms with dormers under the rafters - and there was such a feeling of warmth in that little house. As a teenager we went back to visit this abandoned cabin - which had long since become a hunting cabin (or a place for vagrants to come in from the cold. ) My family was horrified at what had happened ( what did they think would happen, I wonder? ) but I was completely mesmerised - and my strange love affair with abandoned buildings began. They're all hauntingly beautiful - and though I'll likely never know any of the stories that go with these places, they still manage somehow to speak to me.............. TUMBLER I'm not so much into classical Art - the Picasso's of the world are far better left to those who can really appreciate them - As for me? I was almost moved to tears seeing these. INDULGY This is my art - this is what moves me immeasurably. So to think of such beauty - such craftmanship - such memories being left to return to the elements is difficult to see.- It's as heartbreaking ( in my world ) as seeing a Rembrandt tossed in a bin. These buildings are priceless in my mind - they hold memories of laughter and holidays - of wars and grief - of extravagance and frugality by necessity. Of lives lived - whether happily or sadly - lives were touched by all of these walls in some type of capacity. INDULGY Babies took their first steps Hide & seek was played And curtains swayed with Spring breezes after long cold winters TUMBLER INDULGY Music echoed from the parlors Meals were prepared INDULGY Fireplaces were lit on cold days Messes were made. INDULGY And tucked upstairs in bedrooms, big or small, dreams were dreamt ......... A Father's of providing for his family A Mother's of her babies A Daughter's of marrying Prince Charming A Son's of setting off to see the world. PINTEREST Did any come true? Did the young daughter marry her Prince ? Did a son march off to war ? Did he return ? Did grandchildren grace the rooms ? PINTEREST Did they rejoice at the end of a long productive week? Did they despair? Did they stoop as they walked up the staircase with worry ? Did the children slide down the bannister , blissfully unaware ? INDULGY Did fresh flowers greet you as you stepped inside ? Did a pipe rest on a table in the den ? Did aprons hang on a hook in the kitchen ? PINTEREST Were frogs and snakes hidden in boy's rooms ? Was there chintz wallpaper in the girl's rooms ? Was there a lake or a swimming hole nearby ? Were there home made swings hanging from great oak trees that had been around longer than the home ? Were mittens and scarves knit ? Was there bread in the oven ? Did the radiators hiss on cold winter days ? PINTEREST Did homemade quilts cover the beds ? Did the floors gleam from wax ? Did laundry sway in the breeze ? Did families gather around the piano to sing Christmas carols ? PINTEREST I'll never have the answers to those questions but what I do know is that at some point in time - long before I was born - someone sat on a porch - looked around with contentment and maybe a little awe and thought.............. " I'm home " with appreciation, pride and a sense of being blessed. INDULGY INDULGY They'd never have believed that far beyond their future - a lady would be sitting in front of her computer late at night - staring at their beautiful homes and thinking of the families that once dwelt in them. They'd have thought their lives weren't interesting enough, I'm sure. But they'd be wrong. _________________________________________________________________________________ More Abandoned beauties on my PINTEREST page. Have a great Wednesday everyone Hugs Me SHARING HERE !!! HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS THE CHARM OF HOME FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE MY TURN FOR US PIECED PASTIMES LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE I SHOULD BE MOPPING THE FLOOR BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH COASTAL CHARM KATHE WITH AN E ELIZABETH & CO. SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE MY SALVAGED TREASURES DWELLINGS - THE HEART OF YOUR HOME COMMON GROUND