Tasteful Tart buys a house
I’ve been a bad blogger.
I’ve been trying to buy a house and oh my goodness what a to-do that is. Time consuming is an under estimation. Stressful, compromising and expensive is the upshot, but to finally be the proud owner of an 1857 federal style home is my triumph. Not only this but I also get to reside in the lovely community of Buchanan MI……where the hell is that you say? It’s 90 miles from Chicago, inland from the lake, a river town with lots of history. I will be posting more in stages about the work on my house and history on the home and the area. For now, here are some pictures of the house as it is now.
And what does this have to do with food you say? I will be building my own kitchen. The original kitchen is tiny so I will be moving it into the dining room and converting the kitchen that was into a laundry/pantry room. I have a certain struggle with the fact that the rooms have so many windows (oh poor me) so configuring appliances is going to be complicated but I have the benefit of brilliant local minds. Alan Robandt, a former Chicago antique dealer, now located on Front Street Buchanan, is a gentleman, a scholar and a pioneer and who I have to thank for inviting me to town; William Cameron, an architect; Pam O’Connor, historic preservationist and Peter Lysy, an archivist at Notre Dame University. If it weren’t for the interest and support from these people I don’t think this new venture of mine would have happened.
So, here’s some pictures of the house to be mine and check back in for updates to the development of a kitchen built from used and vintage furniture.
Wow, my daughter is a grownup! She has bought a house, a pretty house. I do know that when the time comes for her to do all that she wants to do it will be unique to her. She appreciates beauty and style and all things condusive to owning a beautiful home. Where ever she has lived she has put her own individual mark of beauty and a determined mark of what Jolo does best for herself and her home. I guess now I need to put a ginormous lock on the attic door (joke) to discourage her from going through a lifetime of hoarding that has been stored away, and in my mind forgotton, but Johanna has the memory of an elephant and all things I believe are logged into her memory. Shall you be taking the doll house, scooter,Mickey Mouse comics, wedding dresses china et al? Goodness, if she does, I shall be able, maybe, to sleep at night without worrying that the ceiling in my bedroom will stay up for another night! I must admit my daughter caught the hoarding bug from me, but I have not been so bad these last few years. Her house is going to be beautiful, warm and happy and I thank all the people in Buchanan who have encouraged her, I hope maybe in the summer to meet you all. I guess the dream of travelling to the USA with just one suitcase is just a dream, ask Johanna why her mother has the arms the lenghth of a gorilla? I cannot wait to see it. Mama X
Oh Jo!! It looks so beautiful and I am so happy for you. I can’t wait to see what you do with it…you have such an extraordinary sense of style, I can hardly wait!! I miss ya, Jo. Glad to see you back on the blog and I hope we can hang out sometime soon.
Congratulations! I look forward to making my way to visit this summer. Cheers…
mpb
Jo, Very cool. Congratulations! I look forward to seeing your photo updates.
Good work, Jo. Your home looks like an enjoyable spot to cook and live. If you have time, wander over to Pears Mills when you need some freshly milled grains for breads and baking. http://www.buchanan.mi.us/pointsofinterest.htm
First blog I read after wakeup from sleep today!
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Welcome to the area! Delighted you have ‘discovered,’ and appreciate, what we have here! Have traveled far & [world]wide, but there is, indeed, something ’special’ here[my roots are 3rd generation, Buchanan+Three Oaks, another rural gem!] Enjoy the process, and thanks for celebrating, and sharing with us, your investment.