A Journey inside "Grammies House"

I used to run up these stairs when I was a little girl because I was afraid of the bees that darted around the heather plants. On each side of the porch there were large pink rodies, you can still see part of one on the left side if you click on the photo. They were Grammies favorites. Come inside and we will take a tour. But be careful, we haven't fixed the steps yet!

Welcome

You have just entered "Grammies House". This is where the "Bay Center Witch" first scared the neighborhood children. She wore a costume made by my great-grandmother Mary Rhoades Wilson, originally used for a community play. The mask was especially scary. When Grammie became too old to play the part, she past the tradition to her next door neighbor and cousin Margie Rhoades. She was "notorious" all through my growing up years. She even frightened teenage boys! Many years later I donned the costume and kept the tradition going... The floor still has the original Linoleum and the wood throughout the house looks beautiful.... We will continue our journey moving to the left.

Living Room

We are in the Living Room. The windows behind the sofa are facing the front of the house (Main Street). The corner on the right is where Grammies large black upright piano used to set. She loved Ragtime and didn,t need shet music. When she was a young woman she began playing at the silent movie theaters in South Bend, Raymond and sometimes Ilwaco.... Continuing through the Living Room to the left we will enter the kitchen.

Entering the Kitchen

I have many happy memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. We would gather around the small wooden table, Grammie and Gramps, Aunt Mike and Uncle Walt, Mom, Dad and I. Grammie always made pumpkin pie and often creamed new potatoes that Gramps and I dug from the yard. It was also here I learned to play Scrabble while watching the "word masters". .. When mom and I would visit on cold winter mornings I always wanted "Grammie Toast". It was specially cooked on top of the wood stove and flipped with a turner, and flattened....

Kitchen

The white door in the back leads to the Pantry, a place with delicious treasures. Look to the right side of the picture and you'll see part of the back door jam. This leads to the porch where I often ventured to find "Stubby" the cat or Gramps out in the woodshed.... Continuing to the right we will find the kitchen sink.

Pantry

Grammie always had a cookie can inside the pantry, left side, just within my reach. I would usually find Lorna Doones or sugar cookies, both Grammies favorites. She always kept them soft by placing a heel of bread inside.

Kitchen Sink. EEEW GREEN!

These are the original cupboards, counter, and sink I remember. I think Grammie had them painted a soft yellow. A hot plate always sat on the left side counter. I remember doing my best to avoid dish washing and would go find Gramps.

Kithen Circle

Where the small stove and fridge are located is where Grammies big wood cook stove once set. It was the perfect place to warm your hands on a chilly spring day. To the left of the small range a wall has been cut out to allow entrance back into the Living Room. It will also improve heat circulation......There used to be an oil stove that would have set behind the current range and fridge area. The heat is now provided by electric wall units in each room. The door you can see in the background is the entrance to the Bed Room. If you look over the fridge and to the left of the microwave you can see just a bit of the front door window.

Back at the Front Door

This time we will go right, into the bedroom.

Bedroom Closet

The window you see over looks the yard on the right side of the house. Grammie used to have several rose bushes there. I remember her picking off a large thorn and wetting it on the back side and sticking it on my nose like a rhinoceros! She also grew beautiful iris and lots of other flowers.... That's the closet in the back corner.

Bedroom

Whenever I came to grammies house, this is where I most often found her. She would be setting on the big white bed that came across the plains in a covered wagon. In fact it was the bed where she was born. Propped up by pillows, she would be embroidering something, usually a pillowcase or apron. The double window facing Main Street is where Grammie had her old treadle sewing machine. Sometimes I would come and there would be an apron or a dress in progress. A dresser sat in the corner between the window and the door. Here I would find the little jar of pennies Grammie saved for me.... Our next step will be to go out the door and turn right, the bathroom would be straight ahead.

Attic Entrance / Back Room

We've now entered the Back Room which is to the right of the bathroom. Keep your eye on the rug and the bench, you'll see them in the next two pictures.... This is where Grammie had her oil painting studio. It often smelled of fresh paint & turpentine. Tubes of paints were be laying here and there with a palate close by. I loved her paintings because hey were so realistic, you could just walk inside.... The original access to the attic was via a staircase that was raised and lowered by a rope pulley. The attic was also a favorite place because that is where Gramps had lots of neat rocks, pictures, baseball team banners and other mementos. The small bed and a few books made it a great place for a mind adventure.

Back Room Left Size

Same rug as in the previous picture.

Back Room

This room has a west facing window to the side yard. Notice the bit of green bench to the right and the presence of the rug. I am guessing that this is a full size bed.

This house may appear to others as an old dump, for that is the impression you might see from the outside. But for me, it is alive with a million memories and hundreds of stories yet to be written....

To all of you who have made it to the end, thanks for taking the tour of "Grammies House." We don't know yet if we will be blessed to buy this house, but perhaps with enough prayers and the Lord is willing, then it will come to pass. When I write the first story, It will be "The Miracle of Grammies House".

Love to you all....

Gramma, Mom, Aunt, Sister, Friend....

(That should cover everyone!)