Our first home was an old tiny rental cottage on a farm
about ten minutes’ drive from the nearest town.
I drove past here last year and the place has now been demolished and
replaced with paddock.
The cottage was small – it had a tiny kitchen with a bathroom off it, two very small bedrooms, and a living room with an open fire. Attached to the house was a porch area with a wash-house and toilet. There were no locks on any doors, even the external ones.
The chimney used to leak every time it rained, and occasionally I would find toadstools growing in the carpet beside the hearth!!
But it was our first home and we loved it. We planted our first garden, both vegetables and flowers. Along the fence line we had dahlias – the best display of dahlias we ever grew.
We also got our first pet, a Chinchilla named Misty, who loved water. When we watered the garden, she would lie in wait behind the lettuces and dive out at the spray of water. Here she is sitting beneath a dripping tap.
We lived here for eight months before moving on. We were young and life was an adventure. We were happy there, but now I like to have a bit more comfort in my life!
Keep smiling J
Margaret.
LINKED TO Timeless Thursday
Oh my goodness I (the F in Tigger's blog) remember homes like that, different levels in the floors where bits had been added on, and toilets at the end of the garden path. A copper in the wash-house (and today they would think you are referring to a member of the constabulary), but yes, they were happy homes and we didn't know anything more grand then. The veg and flower gardens were plentiful, there were water-races to play in and quiet roads to ride bikes on (even if they were shingled and a nightmare for a young cyclist after the County grader had been by to 'tidy them up'). I've been instructed by Tigger to add - "we love your cat, but water? Really?"
ReplyDeleteShe still is the only cat I know that adored water. She even liked jumping into the bath, although I would fish her out and dry her off afterwards :)
DeleteI grew up with bikes and shingle roads and grazed knees and elbows!!
Reminds me of some disasters that we lived in though we didn't ever have toadstools growing in the carpet.
ReplyDeleteAmazing what you put up with when you're young and actively enjoy!! It's that feeling of freedom too. You're on your own and you can do what you like
What lovely fun memories of your first home together. When you first said Chinchilla I thought 'I didn't know they had those in NZ' then realised it was a chinchilla cat. :)
ReplyDeleteSmall space living is the In Thing now so you were ahead of the time!
ReplyDeleteI like a bit more space and comfort now too
What a beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteAnd you are right. Things we accepted and loved (like living in an open house with Ingo´s Granma, who was very curious (acceptance, noo... we loved her, too!) or living in cars throughout travels in Australia) I now would like to have more comfort.
Sad, actually, isn´t it? Or: Thankfully we were allowed to live these ways.
My "little" Brother never did any of this and I think he lost out big.
We can always sit back and think, remember those old, crazy, fun times?
I decide for myself: It were gifts!
To a great day and thank you for pushing me into memory lane, Ixx
I never thought of those early times as being crazy fun - but they were! I'm glad we did them :)
DeleteYES! :-) Valerie btw had THE solution for comments, just look on edit > comments and each comment, even if on an old post turns up first row, so evenn stupid spammmers have no chance no more!
DeleteMany of us started early married life in similar circumstances. Our expectations were probably much lower back then,
ReplyDeleteIt was all such an adventure, setting up home for the first time. Our expectations were definitely lower and we just took everything in our stride. I think I've got softer as I've aged!
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteWonderful memories! I think we all look fondly back at our first homes. The cat is cute! Enjoy your day, have a happy weekend!
Margaret this is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing this precious part of your life to us and it makes me sad to hear that it has now been demolished. Glad you have pictures of it to save its memories and now you shared it to us! I really really love that basket weave grills near that doorway! It's very beautiful and creates character!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for joining Timeless Thursdays Margaret! You know how I love your entries so much and I very much appreciate your efforts in looking for these treasures and sharing them to us weekly! They make my hearts so happy and so as the other views surely too! Happy Weekend Margaret!
I love reading memories...I am glad you shared yours. You just got me to go hunt and old post and repost it.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great start by the sound of it. Great memories!
ReplyDeleteWhat a unique home, a special start to life's journey.
ReplyDeleteI love your memories of your first home as a young married couple. I wish we'd taken pictures of the various homes we lived in.
ReplyDelete