This will be a bit of a sentimental post. Take heed.
Garland and I moved to Belleclaire Ave in Longmeadow on August 11, 2006.
We only had Eleanor at the time and she was just shy of a year. We always said that Longmeadow was a 3-5 year place, that we'd move on eventually and it would never be our forever place. And now five years, three beautiful girls and a host of friends later, we are moving to a new city: Chicago. And that day in August seems so long ago.
We were so naive to think that we'd hang out here for a few years and then leave with no tears shed.
At the risk of sounding terribly cheesy and silly, I can say with most certainty that those five years will always be remembered as some of the happiest of my life. We are leaving behind beautiful friendships and my beautiful house.
So here is my ode to Belleclaire Ave and my beautiful house that I will miss so much.
Our brick and stucco tudor with the roundabout driveaway, always a host to scooters, bikes, push toys and glasses of wine.
Our living room where we held Justin Beiber dance parties, Christmas morning, and game nights with friends.
The little bathroom that overlooked the patio--took me two years to get some sort of window covering. Made it a teeny tiny bit awkward to go potty when your friends could see you from the grill.
The dining room. Game nights, dinners, holidays. How many prime ribs, steaks, turkeys and pots of clam chowda were eaten here?
The living room--where we'd line the kids up in front of a movie so the adults could eat (and drink) in peace. Also, the sight of Saturday morning cartoons and new nursing babies.
Mary Larkin and Eleanor's room. Every night they read their books before bed, play with their American Girl dolls.
Our upstairs bathroom with the shower faucet that is centered on the ceiling of the shower--perfect placement AND high water pressure. HOLLA.
How many times did we have people gathered around this island for happy hour?
And breakfast around the kitchen table--the chairs we got at the Longmeadow dump and our neighbor, Corey, covered them with faux leather that I picked up at Osgood's, the best fabric store ever!
The guest room--started out as the nursery but then we moved the baby to her room and made this the guest/sewing/computer room. I used to spend every night up here--sewing, blogging, etc.
And another shot. We took this in the springtime when everything was in bloom. Such a beautiful time of year in Massachusetts.
What will I miss?
Our friends. Every last one of them.
The Cape.
Our friends.
Halloween in New England.
Mild summers.
Our friends.
Semolina for lunch.
Quick trips to Boston Children's Museum.
Dinner at Cafe Lebanon.
Hopping down to the neighbor's to watch an episode of Glee.
Watching Eleanor ride her bike to Center School with the mass pack of kids.
Neighbor kids coming and going.
The joy when spring finally hits.
Did I say our friends?
We will be back to visit.
2 comments:
and the tears are flowing! how did you get through writing this post?!
What a beautiful tribute to your home. I know leaving the 'Meadow will be hard, but you will find another four walls to call home, and your family will draw new friends to it like moths to a flame. XOXOXOXO
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