Sunday, August 2, 2009

OUR FIRST PLACE!

Metamorphosis Monday is once again hosted by Susan of Between Naps On The Porch.
Please check out her charming blog for all of the participants today.

To me, this is an unbelievable metamorphosis. Forty-seven years ago, we bought our first house - this cute, little 1940's house on a half-acre lot in Denver.

We sold it a couple of years later to return to graduate school, but it always had a place in our hearts as Our First Place! We knew that in the 1970s someone had added a simple second story to the house.

Well, a week ago, we were in the neighborhood and decided to drive by our old house; and this is what we found! The house had been added on to the side and the back even more; then refaced with rock and stucco. Not too much was recognizable - just the front living room window and a jut-out of the front bedroom with it's little side window.

There was one thing we recognized, however. The picture below was taken in 1963. My Dad had filled this barrel with concrete and added the post for our mailbox. It weighed a ton!

Here is the picture of the mailbox we took this past weekend. Evidently, no one can destroy that barrel of concrete.


Time marches on!!

38 comments:

Joyce said...

Guess your Dad did a solid job with that mailbox:) Don't ever have to worry about knocking that box down!
Joyce

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

Isn't it great to see your old house so lovingly taken care of?! Linda

A Hint of Home said...

How funny! If it wasn't for the mailbox, you would not know it is the same house.

Signing Out said...

Wow, that mailbox was built to last!

Jane

bj said...

AMAZING..shows what one can do with a lot of hard work and a lot of money. Thanks for sharing this with us, Sally girl.

Sarah said...

Sheesh! That mailbox has stood the test of time. I wish we could do so well, we've lived in several places where they've been hit by cars, baseball bats and who knows what else. The mailbox always looses the fight!

Your old house hardly resembles itself anymore! What a huge transformation it has had.

Michelle said...

Is that really the same home? Such an amazing transformation.

We always drive by our old home, too. The last time we did, we found out the new owners painted it blue. I kind of wished I hadn't seen that...lol.

Gwen said...

This made me laugh so hard that I had to share with my better half. He got a kick out of it too!

We need a mailbox like that:)

susan said...

Wow on the transformation! I am so glad it is improving and not headed in the other direction. Your dad built that mailbox to stay!

Anonymous said...

Wow that's amazing!

Thanks for sharing.

Linda

Sandi (Meme) said...

How funny! That beautiful house and a mailbow in a barrel of concrete! It's kinda bittersweet going back again, isn't it?

xinex said...

Wow! Sally, this does not even look like the same house. What an amazing transformation!...Christine

Terry said...

I think a barrel of concrete weighs more than a battleship.

~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ said...

What a great story and what a change. I love the quilt on your header the cherrys are so sweet. Did you make it?

I just posted lots of quilt pictures from a national quilt show I attended. Please stop by and take a look I believe you will enjoy~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

Little Lovables said...

Wow, what an amazing transformation! I'm glad they kept the mailbox, so sweet.

Anonymous said...

Wow Sally I think I would have driven by the place not realizing it was the same home! That is so funny that the mail box is still there= wonder if that will have a major transformation done to it!

Did you have any damage from the hail storm that went through Pueblo? We were on our way back from NM so didn't experience it but saw all the trees and leaves shredded when we went to the Dr. Friday! Sounds like it was quite the storm!

blessings
mary

ImagineCozy said...

That kind of experience brings all kinds of feelings. So fun to see the mail box still there!

Unknown said...

Sally, what an amazing transformation. I wouldn't know they were the same house! Not surprised the mailbox is still there!

Have a great week!

Tinaa

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

Wow, looks like totally different house! Alot of work has gong into that place!

Manuela

Kammy said...

That house is great ! Too funny on the mailbox !!!! Ours has been run down quite a few times.....
Kammy

Christi @ A Southern Life said...

Wow, that is a transformation. It must have been a great house since people have kept just adding to it. Love that they kept the mailbox!

Christi

Decor To Adore said...

What sweet memories~!

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

Wow, what a metamorphosis, Sally. How wonderful your first house has been lovingly cared for and added onto, through the years. I love the fact the concrete filled barrel is still there!

Brenda Pruitt said...

Isn't it wonderful to see someone take such pride in owning their home that they beautify it to that extent? So glad it looked better instead of worse! That would have been disheartening for you, having lived in it. They did a great job.
Brenda

SmilingSally said...

Your former house is beautiful, but that mailbox i a treasure of stability.

Tamara Jansen said...

Well would you look at that! And your mailbox is just the same....too funny :)

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Wow!! What a transformation. Isn't it wonderful to see the owners are taking care of it? Guess time marches on doesn't it? For everything but the mailbox..lol.. What a treasure to go back and see your first home..hugs ~lynne~

Anonymous said...

Evening, Dear Sally! Oh, I know your were thrilled to get to see your first home again! The owners did make a few changes, didn't they? The mailbox is still standing! Hallelujah!
Thanks for popping in to see me.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;0

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Sally! Wow! That's some transformation! And what a nice little touch it must have been to see the mailbox still there! Your dad did a great job! Happy week!...Debbie

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

It's obvious that someone still loves your old house...sweet post Sally!

Sorry but I'd have to find a way to get rid of that mailbox. ;o)

Tanya said...

So funny. With all of that renovation, they looked at the mailbox and wouldn't tackle it!

Rue said...

Hi Sally :)

That is one incredible transformation! At least they still had the mailbox ;)

rue

Anonymous said...

Dear Sally, you and come and bring me compliments just any ole time you want to! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Elaine said...

I think I like the little house best. Sometimes renovations take away the simple charm of a home.

Susie Q said...

What a transformation but I know you are happy that it is so well tended to! But the mailbox...what fun. I bet it does your heart good to see it still there, exactly as before!
Love,
Sue

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

How many times did you drive by before you realize it was the same house? I guess the mailbox gave it away. What a cute first house it was. It has apparently been a good home to several more people since then. laurie

caren said...

That is amazing. Good thing you had the mailbox as a reminder.

Sue said...

about ten years ago on a trip back to Jersey we drove past the old home and saw that it was for sale...Worried that if we knocked on the door and tell the owner how I grew up in the house for 25 years they would think I was some kind of nut and not let me and daughter in so we did the next best thing.....We called the realtor and said we were interested in seeing the house....You know, like potential buyers...with video camera in hand we drove over to the house and parked out front waiting for the realtor to arrive.....we see a car a good block away coming slowly done the street....looking at house numbers I'm sure....Well, she was really concentrating on finding the house and didn't see a car parked infront of the house next to ours.....Yes, she slammed right into the back end of the car...I have to say I felt really bad and sort of responsible for the accident....ofcourse I didn't feel that bad....after she composed herself she showed us the house...we video taped the whole place then told her it only had one bath and we really wanted 2 baths.....The owners had painted white over all my father's beautiful knotty pine paneling over the fireplace it was awful........the house was eventually sold for back taxes....