Tag Archives: Musings from the Dream House

Making the Magic

December 24, 2010UncategorizedMusings from the Dream HouseMrs. Blandings

It has been a flurry of activity readying this white Christmas. The boys are placing their usual demands of cookies and Christmas Eve bowling (a Blandings family tradition) so things must seem even to them. My office, and the basement, are piled high with boxes, but no one seems to think piles of boxes of books are any different than rows of shelves of books, so all is well.

My husband, and our contractor friend, assure me that the click and rattle in the ducts is just the way they are responding to the heat and not the rodent infestation that I suspect (what house of mine would be complete without mythical mice?) and I am sleeping easy assuring myself that not a creature is stirring.

I am wishing you a season of joy.

I am very grateful for Room Temperature for sending me the image, above.

Six of One

December 22, 2010UncategorizedMusings from the Dream HouseMrs. Blandings

“Could you stop at The Dime Store and buy white lights? I can’t find any.”

“Hi. There are packages of 50 and 100. Should I buy two?”

“I’m confused. Two what?”

“Two packages of lights.”

“Wait. Two hundred lights?”

“Yes.”

“Um. No,” and she considered telling him one-thousand, but knew that in relation to his assumption that two hundred would likely be more than enough that this would lead to a conversation for which neither one of them had the energy, “get eight hundred.”

“You’re kidding.”

“OK, six. Six hundred.”

And in the year of scaling back and not making a fuss, of only putting up the tree and hanging the stockings, it was fine. Though she knew, every evening at dusk, that two hundred more lights would have made all the difference.

Blank Slate

November 15, 2010UncategorizedMrs. B at Home, Musings from the Dream HouseMrs. Blandings

Living Room

I am a big believer in the jinx. Absolutely a knocker of wood, a thrower of salt and I’d be a over-the-shoulder spitter, too, if I thought I’d miss my jacket.

Dining Room

Let’s just say that, in theory, this is where I could be living mid-December.

Kitchen

If it isn’t hit by a meteor, lightening or an earthquake. Which could happen. Well, it could. I plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Family Room

I like the dark floors. I like the white walls. The light fixtures and fans? Not so much, which has the boys up in arms and they are lobbying heavily to keep their ceiling fans, “No one will see them but us!” Silly, young, naive things that they are, they think they have a chance. They do not.

Sun Porch (which will be my office)

I’m pushing furniture around in my head, of course, but sometimes I realize I’ve used the same chest twice or factored in tables that are mine only in fantasy.

Master Bedroom

Mr. Blandings has asked more than once, “Where will the Christmas tree go?” but that is too real, less dollhouse playing, so I just keep responding with, “Hmm…we’ll see.”

Master Bath

When we packed for the “in-between house” I told the boys to pack like they were going on a two-week vacation. Given these parameters Mr. Blandings stood, puzzled, looking at the stuff I was taking. “What’s all this?” “A dark dress in case there’s a funeral. A cocktail dress in case there’s a party. Three pairs of cowboy boots. Essentials.” He didn’t bother to ask about the file boxes of tear sheets.

Moving On

October 29, 2010UncategorizedMusings from the Dream HouseMrs. Blandings

Process, as is often the case, was the answer. A little like pregnancy in reverse, the unbuilding of the house eased the ache of leaving it behind. It was, in the end, four walls. As so many people had told me, the best of it went with us. It was the first house that I lived in that I had chosen myself; this may be the reason that I let it take on an unreasonable significance. Still, Rosie has lost four pounds in ten days so it is hard to ignore the fact that moving is stressful.

Stay tuned. I’m going to change the subject before I become the person at the cocktail party who makes you think, “Quick! To the bar! I can’t hear about her stamp collection one more time.” As Maxminimus says, onward.

It’s American Royal Time!

October 26, 2010UncategorizedMusings from the Dream HouseMrs. Blandings

Taking a break from the packing and sorting, Mr. Blandings and I took the boys to the rodeo Friday night at the American Royal.

Nothing better to take your mind off of the mundane than calf roping and barrel racing and bronc riding.

Oh, but I do love those bulls. You know how some people want to jump out of planes or climb Everest or swim the English Channel? I always wanted to ride a bull. Not so much since I’ve had children, but there was a day that I thought I would be really something if I could ride a bull.

Don’t let those brown eyes fool you. Eight seconds of pure terror. Gives me a little bit of a rush every time I see it.

Bull riders aren’t so bad, either. Cowboys in general, actually. Don’t miss out on the fun, the rodeo is in town next weekend as well. The Invitational Youth Rodeo has matinee performances all this week and I can’t think of a better reason to play hooky. The American Royal calendar of events and tickets can be found here.

All images courtesy of Elizabeth Maday.