If Walls Could Talk...

I've always loved old houses.  The house I grew up in (where my parents still live) was built in the 1790's.  It has so much character, beautiful original beams and wood floors and I've always loved imagining what the lives of the families who lived there before us must have been like.  My parents did their fare share of tearing down bright blue peacock wallpaper and other aesthetic improvements when they moved into their house in 1985, but they didn't have to gut the house. 

The house that Scott and I bought (built sometime in the mid-1800's) couldn't be salvaged with just a little TLC, we had to gut it down to it's studs and slowly put it all back together the way we want it.  During the gutting process, we came across some incredible finds buried deep in the walls behind 4-5 layers of wallpaper, sheetrock, plaster and lathe.  These pieces of history absolutely fascinate me and I'm excited to try and do more research on the house to see who lived there long ago.  The owner before us lived there for about 10 years and prior to that the house belonged to a little old woman named Matilda.  I remember this house as "Matilda's house" as she lived there for my entire childhood.  She was a sweet single older woman who worked at Proctor's dining hall and lived in this green house until she passed away.  Beyond her thirtyish years in the house, I don't know anything about it's inhabitants, but we are piecing together it's history with the incredible findings we've made in the walls.  Check out some of these pictures to see what we've discovered!  (Maybe I'm just a history dork, or am too wrapped up in personal stories, but this stuff absolutely fascinates me!)...
One of the most fascinating items we found is this old diary from 1866! 

In the front it has calendars of the year and details of the moons phases.  It also contains pages and pages with details about the "Memorable Events in the Secession Rebellion."  Amazing!

After these early pages, a beautiful diary was kept every day of the year chronicling the life of the couple who lived in our home.  Almost every day they talk about chopping down wood, heading down to the "Flats" (which Scott and I presume to be Wilmot Flat) and other daily happenings.  Incredible to look through.  I believe it's written by the wife.  She has very poor spelling and no punctuation, probably not very educated...

 Another amazing thing we found was a piece of paper completely folded up with perfect handwriting on it.  Along the top of the page it says, "List of...to King Solomons Lodge No. 14. April 13th 1870"

 The list of names includes many local names of families that still live in the area.

This lock is engraved with the initials E. F. S. and has the date July 4, 1871...

At some point little children lived in the house.  We found these old blocks in the walls...

 An old paper doll outfit and a playing card...

This ledger is from 1890 keeping track of hours worked and expenses...

An old Boston Daily Globe - August 10, 1894...

 The Boston Globe - April 21, 1910

Old Spoons...

This postcard was addressed to Mr. Harold Swett, Andover, NH and was sent from Baltimore, MD on January 8, 1913...

Here is an old photograph of a dog...

Not quite as cool, because it's not nearly as old, but we also found this old licence plate...

 And here is a sampling of some of the lovely layers of wallpaper we uncovered!

It's pretty fascinating to find so much history in our new home and it's much more exciting to write about this stuff than the old cat skeletons that Scott dug up.  We'll post some pictures soon of where we are in the renovation process. 

Merry Christmas!

What a wonderful Christmas we had this year!

The day before Christmas we celebrated with my family.  We had a wonderful day opening presents at my parents house and then were treated to a delicious dinner at the New London Inn by my Grandparents!  Here are some highlights of our time together...

 

  Camden loved the Christmas tree in the lobby of the Inn...

After a little family time with just us and the boys on Christmas morning, we spent the rest of the day with the Allenby side of the family.  Both of Scott's brothers and their wives were up for the holiday so we had the entire family together!  It's been so fun to have new sisters to share these family times with!

 Newlyweds Brian and Sarah...

 The girls showing off our beautiful cowls and felted mittens that Mom made us!  She's super talented!

 Family snuggle time...

We are so thankful for our wonderful families and for our beautiful boys.  Camden was very tired of being bundled up in his jacket and hat and driving all over the place and expressed what many of us feel during the holidays saying, "Christmas time too busy"...but as he was opening presents in the quiet of our own home Christmas morning his attitude changed - "Christmas really, really fun Mama!"  I guess it is the combination of hustle and bustle and family and fun along with the quiet moments sitting by the tree, listening to Amy Grant and being thankful for our Savior's birth that really make Christmas so special every year.  One of my favorite seasons has come and gone, but if I have it my way, our tree will still be sparkling and beautiful until at least February!  :)
Merry Christmas everyone!

Peninsula Results and some Christmas Festivities

So, the final vote count came back at 18 votes for the flat-top peninsula and 25 votes for the step-up peninsula.  And one of you wonderful blog readers voted for "Other" - do you care to explain?!?!  :)

Scott and I were leaning one way before asking your opinion, and though we value all of your wonderful opinions and feedback, we've decided to stick with our first instinct, which happens to be what the majority of you also felt, and go with the split level peninsula.  I received many wonderful explanations from you giving the pros and cons to both ideas, and I loved reading your ideas.  It really helped us finalize our thoughts...so thank you!  Our main reasons for the raised peninsula (and yes, I do mean peninsula and not island) are that:
-  we like the idea of having a separate space that kids could be eating on or doing homework at while we cook in the kitchen
- we won't have to worry about water from the sink getting all over their homework, etc, when we're doing the dishes
-  you can store soap or sponges etc, behind the sink and can't see it from the dining room area since it's hidden behind the raised part of the peninsula
- I know there are more reasons, but I can't think of them right now.

We actually got some drawings set in stone today with our kitchen designer from the local lumberyard/hardware store.  Did you know people work with you to design kitchens and bathrooms completely for free and with no obligation to buy?!?!  It seems crazy, but true!  Our kitchen guy, we'll call him Mr. J, came over to our house and measured the exact spaces that we needed help with and came up with plans and ideas for us that we were able to talk through with him!  How fun is that?!?!  And his cool computer program shows you in 3D just what your room will look like!  We finally feel like we're getting somewhere here!

On another note, we've had fun getting into the Christmas spirit the last few days.  Last night we went to our annual stone chapel service that my mom and a couple of friends organize every year.  It's a special time for family, friends and neighbors to gather and sing carols, read the Christmas story and share special music or readings.  We've been doing it for about 15+ years and is a special part of our holiday.

 Caren, Dave and Clara led all the kids in a version of The Friendly Beasts...

 Camden couldn't sit still...

 Silent Night by candle light at the end...(sorry it's so blurry!)

Tonight we went over to the McAllister's house for our annual family Christmas Eve(ish) gathering!  We having been doing this for as long as I can remember (18-20 years?).  Lindsay M was my best friend growing up and our families are very close.  Their house is gorgeous and we love spending time with with old friends, sharing good food (Jeanne's baked brie is to die for...) and singing songs, laughing and talking together.  Here are a few pictures from our evening...
Lindsay saved some cookies for Camden to help decorate...

 My Dad and my grandparents...

 Scott and Micah talking to Grandma Sylvia (she looks pretty good for a great grandmother, doesn't she???)...

 Lindsay's mom Jeanne and Grandma Sylvia...

 Ami reading with her grandchildren...

 Craig saying hi to Micah...

 LindsAy M and LindsEy B.  Love her...

 Ami and sleepy Micah

 The group of five Benson and McAllister kids has grown in recent years (and we were missing Lindsay's boyfriend Tim this year!)...

Thank you McAllisters!!!!  We love you and love this special Christmas tradition!!