yard when a large
black car filled with
elderly people, stopped
and asked, "Where are
the mansions?" I directed
them and returned to my
hoeing.
Where are the mansions?"
Can't they see the one in
front of them? No. I
guess not because mansion it's NOT. It's older than the
mansions and there's a log cabin under the farm house look
but they want to see the glitze of conspicuous consumption.
Gold was discovered in Helena in 1865. Miners were dreaming
of getting rich while soldiers from the North and South were
engaged in their civil war. Most of the miners didn't strike it
rich and either returned home or went on to the next gold
strike. The ones who struck gold, remained in Helena and
built a mansion more grand than their neighbor's.
My humble farm house was/still is, a log cabin for the family
who owned most of the land that is now Helena. They raised
cattle, thus providing meat for the miners. The house next
door was the bunk house for the cowboys. They eventually
added the looks of a farm house OVER the log house, evidence
I still run into when trying to pound something into the wall.
I call the house a dump because it's still the same old creaky
structure with nary a closet. Thank god plumbing was added.
Haha But it's a friendly house, full of ghosts. The living/
dining room (also was my studio) has windows facing all
directions and is never without sunshine. The yard is some-
thing special for me to work in.
I hope the visitors in the big black auto enjoyed the mansions.
I rarely walk through the mansion district as all the chemicals
from each property trying to "outgreen" the other, really make
me ill. I much prefer the dandelions and white clover found
in my neighborhood. LOL
I'd much more prefer a house with character in a livable comfortable area than a so-called mansion with snooty airs of grandeur and a desire to outdo the neighbors any day. A house built OVER a log cabin? How cool is THAT? (Very cool!)
ReplyDeleteSusan
DeleteMansions don't turn me on either. At the time I bought this old house, I could have bought a mansion for a song but the manicured lawns were boring to me. I love this country-like lawn. It's soooo comfortable.
The mansions are probably spectacular and wonderful, but I don't think I would get along with the neighbors.
ReplyDeleteYour dump sounds very nice.
joeh
DeleteMe too and I don't think the neighbors would approve of my chickens. LOL
Rater take your "dump" any day, those mansions would be a pain in the arse to keep clean haha plus who the heck needs that much room? Unless they have 12 kids or something.
ReplyDeletePat
DeleteAll these old houses seem haunted and at least I "know" and get along with my ghosts. I'd hate to try to get acquainted with a new set of ghosts. LOL Cleaning.....yuck.....at least a dirty house look "good" on the dump. Haha
Your home is historical which makes it much more valuable in my eyes than any gold-plated bathroom-fixtured mansion. I hope you thumbed your nose at them as they drove away. :)
ReplyDeleteBish
DeleteOh, I totally agree with you. That is why I hang on to this old place. I've let it sit vacant and go off and live in a neat little sterile community just for the mundane conveniences. That soon grows wearily boring and I always return. Now I also have my studio in the garage and adds some pomp. I name the garage dancers, "The Garage People." LOL
An interesting post indeed, I enjoyed that and I think I would like your dump (mansion) very much.
ReplyDeletePaula
DeleteThank you my friend. You have some kind words.
I'm with you. Give me a log-cabin any old day, thanks.
ReplyDeleteWendy-love,
DeleteLog cabins are really pretty neat. Lots of new ones being built around here. I love that smell of wood.
Interesting post. Yes, a log cabin sounds fun and doable!
ReplyDeleteRomance Book
DeleteA log cabin, too, can have the necessities of life and what more do we need?
I like the look of your house. If size is all it takes to make a mansion, then you have one. That's what mansion means to me anyway, rooms big enough to have room to move around even when furnished. Some mansions I look at online have dining rooms that are bigger than my entire flat! And they look so cold with their pale decor and miles of tiled floors.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about dandelions and white clover, any clover really; it's the wild flowers that bring the most bees and butterflies.
River
DeleteWhat beautiful thoughts. Thank you. When I call my house a dump, it's done with affection for the aged....like me. LOL
Some of those people are just trying to keep up the the Jones's, more about status than anything
ReplyDeleteHoly Ghost
DeleteOf course. I know a few of the mansion owners and they are "BORING."
Good to know there is such affection in your term "the dump." By the way, your place really is a mansion compared to my tiny cabin. I think you ought to have tours and hopefully a ghost will appear. Like with people, character is what counts and your house has that in spades.
ReplyDeletePATTI
DeleteThe house is not "that" big at all. It's just the angle of the picture as it's up on an incline. One neat thing that I like about the location, there is that steady incline up past my house for about 4 blocks and then you find yourself climbing a steep mountain.
A great place to walk. I'd like your "tiny cabin" and I bet you got closets. LOL
Just goes to show that while you're looking for the "greener grass" you can miss out on some pretty sweet stuff. I love your dump:)
ReplyDeleteRobin
DeleteThanks and I love your camp idea. Another "coming of age" summer for you. LOL
You're so lucky to live in a house with so much history. Your house is very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteKay
DeleteThe old historic houses do have their charm, even if there is a lack of closets and the brooms and dust pans sit in the middle of a room. LOL I've owned plenty of new construction houses in my lifetime but I chose this old house to finish out my life. It feels right and makes me very happy.
Thank you for the nice comment.
Your house must hold many stories of the past occupants. Would love to peak into the walls, see if any newspapers or remnants are hidden there.
ReplyDeleteWe once found a desiccated rat mummy in the wall when repairs were being made. And some quilt fabric tightly rolled.
Take a look?
Susan
DeleteFunny you should mention.....
When we were redoing the wiring in the walls, years ago, (there was the knob and tubing or whatever it is) and were cutting holes for the electrical boxes, we ran into newspaper that was used for insulation and was dated late 1800's. Everyone who lived here tried to make some improvements themselves and the whole house is a funky hodgepodge. I know when I go, my son (the perfectionist builder) will bring out the wrecking ball. He's wanted to already but I love all the imperfections of it.
Quilt fabric??? Right up your alley. Was it useable. Have you ever figured out the story behind that? But the dead rat.....I bet I got those too, maybe. Haha
This is actually build on the side of a mountain and when the house/cabin was actually built they tunneled a crawl space as a basement ...... by hand, most likely so it's like a little maze down there. For years I couldn't go down there by myself because it was so spooky but now I do.
Thanks for the interesting comment.
Yes I'm sure Horsemint has a proper name but everyone around here calls it Horsemint. I think Theresa said it is Beebalm, but not sure.
ReplyDeletePaula
DeleteYes and I do recognize it by that name, in fact I have some.
That's neat! I like the idea of living in a log cabin in disguise. I don't care for the ghosts, but then they were there first.
ReplyDeleteSusue
DeleteThat's the perfect name....log cabin in disguise. The ghosts are very friendly and they did have first dibs.
Its all about keeping up appearances these days.
ReplyDeleteBlogoratti
ReplyDeleteYes, I guess it's all about who or what you want to attract. I like to attract "real" anything. I don't like fakes.
I have a grown son who is searching for the mansions. He's pretty dedicated and driven, I'm sure he'll do well. I wish he'd slow down a bit though and see what treasures he's got right in front of him. ;)
ReplyDeleteRosey
DeleteYes, we usually tend to do that during those middle years. But never fear, as he get's a little older, he will see that a tree has many valuable uses....much more than just raking the leaves in autumn.
Your home, more like a blog cabin. As for mansions, I sold all of mine! :)
ReplyDeleteTake good care, dear Manzanita.
Gary
Gary
DeleteYou sold your mansions....but now you can build your dream house where ever you choose. That's a very happy thought.
You too, Dear Gary
Just dropping by to say...Hi!
ReplyDeleteThe chemicals from each property trying to "outgreen" the other... Say it ain't so.
ReplyDeleteHi :)
LOL.... That is funny!! Even the mansions don't really look like mansions so that is probably how they missed it.
ReplyDeleteDon't knock your mansion. It is very homey!! Love you!
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ReplyDelete