Thursday, July 20, 2017
Restoration Farmhouse has moved!
We have moved our antique booth to the best antique store in Waxahachie! Old Town Village Antiques! I'm so excited! I have shopped here so many times and now I'm a dealer there! I am still in the process of setting it up but here's a preview!
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Teenage Boys...
I have probably aged 10 years since my son has been in high school. Before I start my whining I do realize I am very blessed to not have a son on drugs or who has run away or is constantly skipping school. I am just talking about the normal or maybe above normal teenage hi-jinks.
My son is a senior and especially this year every morning on Facebook I look through my memories. One little gem I ran across was "can't y'all do more than just ask if I have homework because I'll just say no every time." That was from 7th grade. It's been a long road...
He has enlisted in the Marines but doesn't leave until August. It seems that he is going through some type of mid-teen life crisis. Maybe it's that he's leaving. I don't know but I'm about worn out. Just this week he got in trouble because he joined a picture for a club photo that he is not a part of, encouraged others to make obscene gestures while the picture was being taken then decided to sign a name that wasn't his (to mark where they were standing so they knew whose name to put in the yearbook).
It is so hard when your child has a goal. Then he proceeds to do things that would keep him from that goal. As a mom you feel like you're carrying dead weight on your back trying to get him to the finish line.
I've tried not to be a quote "helicopter" parent. I have let them suffer the consequences (most of the time). This senior year I have reflected so much on my parenting and lack there of. I could have not dreamed of a better dad for my kids. We haven't been the best. We've failed in areas. I wish we would've attended church regularly, prayed as a family more, had more family time and the list could go on and on.
In his mid-teen life crisis he broke up with his wonderful girlfriend who seemed to keep his crazy in check. Our whole family loves her and we're heartbroken. We're praying things will work out in the future.
I guess some good things we've done as parents is instill in them a love of country, love of the outdoors. They love to fish and hunt and are both great shots. When they were upset about life or whining and complaining about something I would say what's my motto? "You didn't raise wimps." (this is not about crying or genuinely being upset this is more about saying the yard is too hard to mow. So don't message me about how I'm heartless.) We have hugged them, kissed them, cuddled them and at the same time tried to raise them to be physically tough, not afraid of anything (within reason) and to realize there is nothing wrong with physical labor. (Maybe this is why they both want to be Marines. Ha)
So in his mid-teen life crisis I'm trying to remind myself that God is ultimately in control. I cannot protect him or stop him from being a total moron.
All I can do is to continue doing the job God entrusted me with 18 years ago. Now most of the doing is praying. Praying he'll make it to graduation, he'll make it to ship out date and most importantly that'll he'll be a good man. As the song says:
My son is a senior and especially this year every morning on Facebook I look through my memories. One little gem I ran across was "can't y'all do more than just ask if I have homework because I'll just say no every time." That was from 7th grade. It's been a long road...
He has enlisted in the Marines but doesn't leave until August. It seems that he is going through some type of mid-teen life crisis. Maybe it's that he's leaving. I don't know but I'm about worn out. Just this week he got in trouble because he joined a picture for a club photo that he is not a part of, encouraged others to make obscene gestures while the picture was being taken then decided to sign a name that wasn't his (to mark where they were standing so they knew whose name to put in the yearbook).
It is so hard when your child has a goal. Then he proceeds to do things that would keep him from that goal. As a mom you feel like you're carrying dead weight on your back trying to get him to the finish line.
I've tried not to be a quote "helicopter" parent. I have let them suffer the consequences (most of the time). This senior year I have reflected so much on my parenting and lack there of. I could have not dreamed of a better dad for my kids. We haven't been the best. We've failed in areas. I wish we would've attended church regularly, prayed as a family more, had more family time and the list could go on and on.
In his mid-teen life crisis he broke up with his wonderful girlfriend who seemed to keep his crazy in check. Our whole family loves her and we're heartbroken. We're praying things will work out in the future.
I guess some good things we've done as parents is instill in them a love of country, love of the outdoors. They love to fish and hunt and are both great shots. When they were upset about life or whining and complaining about something I would say what's my motto? "You didn't raise wimps." (this is not about crying or genuinely being upset this is more about saying the yard is too hard to mow. So don't message me about how I'm heartless.) We have hugged them, kissed them, cuddled them and at the same time tried to raise them to be physically tough, not afraid of anything (within reason) and to realize there is nothing wrong with physical labor. (Maybe this is why they both want to be Marines. Ha)
So in his mid-teen life crisis I'm trying to remind myself that God is ultimately in control. I cannot protect him or stop him from being a total moron.
All I can do is to continue doing the job God entrusted me with 18 years ago. Now most of the doing is praying. Praying he'll make it to graduation, he'll make it to ship out date and most importantly that'll he'll be a good man. As the song says:
"He's gonna love me and hate me along the way
Years are gonna fly by, I already dread the day
He's gonna hug his momma, he's gonna shake my hand
He's gonna act like he can't wait to leave
But as he drives out, he'll cry his eyes out
If he's anything like me
There's worse folks to be like
Aw he'll be alright, if he's anything like me"
Years are gonna fly by, I already dread the day
He's gonna hug his momma, he's gonna shake my hand
He's gonna act like he can't wait to leave
But as he drives out, he'll cry his eyes out
If he's anything like me
There's worse folks to be like
Aw he'll be alright, if he's anything like me"
Friday, March 25, 2016
New Adventures!
Hi, Y'all!
I don't know if anyone will read this. Haha. I can't believe it's been so long since I posted. I took a detour through life where I learned a lot and glad I did it but now it's time to get back to who I really am. I'm opening a booth at Red Barn Antiques in Waxahachie! I move in on the 30th and I couldn't be more excited. I'll have furniture that I've painted or restored and various cool antiques. Come see me!
Saturday, August 2, 2014
The 30th Anniversary of Tiffanie's Death
I've thought a lot about how I would acknowledge this sad anniversary. I wasn't sure if I wanted to revisit this painful part of my childhood by writing about it but for some reason I feel compelled to. This event affected our entire town of Columbus, Texas, and I know I am one of hundreds that were devastated by it. This is just my story.
Tiffanie and I were best friends from the time we were little. Our parents were friends and we grew up together. I have good memories of going to their cabin, fishing, playing in the barn, girl scouts, the playground at school, going to choir and GA's together and dove hunting with our dads. Honestly I was a crazy, emotional little girl (haha) and she put up with me.
This is us at church. I think we're between three and four years old here.
Crazy to think six years later we would be having her funeral here.
Us at our friend Donna's birthday party. I think we're around four to five years old. I think it's funny we're all wearing dresses for a birthday party!
Here we are on a float with our Brownie troop for a parade. Pretty sure this is 1st or 2nd grade.
It's so hard to put into words how she was. I think all of us who grew up with her can just simply say she was the kindest, sweetest and most endearing friend.
We would laugh because she was short and I was tall. She had brown hair and I had blonde hair. Both of our birthdays were September. Mine the 2nd and hers the 24th. And people always spelled both of our names wrong.
On the last day of school of 4th grade she gave me a decorative plate that had a poem titled FRIENDSHIP
on it:
Within the garden of my heart
Where flowers of friendship grow
There are blossoms of remembrance
Forget me nots so blue
And purple velvet pansies to tell my thoughts of you
And roses that will always bloom whatever be the weather
whose fragrance is the memory of days spent together.
That would be the last time I would ever see her.
On August 2, 1984 Tiffanie 10, her sister Donley 3, her brother Cliff 7, two of her cousins, her mother Robbie 35, and her grandmother Wanda 55, were traveling down Highway 36 through Brazoria planning on going to Galveston. At that time 36 was a two lane highway. There were stop signs at the entrance ramps. A man driving a dump truck ran the stop sign. Her mother swerved and when she did an 18 wheeler hit them head on. They all died instantly except for one of her cousins who died on the way to the hospital.
On the morning of August 3rd the phone rang and it was one of our friends. She said have you heard what happened? Tiffanie died in a car accident. I just remember saying you're lying. You're lying. About this time my mom walked into the room and said put the phone down. I think my mom took the phone and hung up. They had found out the night before but were waiting to tell me. My dad had to go somewhere that morning and they wanted to tell me together. She said I'm sorry it's true. I remember my little sister standing there in shock, staring at me. My mom was hugging me, I was crying uncontrollably. That was the moment my childhood ended.
I remember the next day my Dad took me into town to buy me a fish. I can laugh about that now. Like a fish was going to help make it better. At the store (Winn's) there on the check out stand was the funeral notice. I remember thinking nothing will ever make this better.
At the funeral walking into the church was so surreal. This is where we went to vacation bible school, GA's (girls in action) Sunday school and then I was at her funeral. It just didn't seem possible and yet there were four caskets at the front. Tiffanie's had her girl scouts sash on a wreath. I spotted one of our teacher's across the aisle with her finger on her nose. She had told us in class whenever she's about to cry she puts her finger on her nose and that stops it. My sister had fallen asleep on my mom's lap with her head back and mouth wide open and I laughed. (Which, by the way, set a precedent for laughing at inappropriate moments for the rest of my life.) I had no control over my emotions. I was all over the place. I don't remember anything about the service except that I was looking for her dad and didn't see him. I know I walked out holding my dad's hand and crying after it was over.
At the burial I finally saw her dad and he was sitting under the tent in a black suit. He looked completely in shock. I remember thinking how is he going to go on after this.
Then...we went home and it was kind of like now what. I didn't know how to act. My parents didn't know what to say or do with me. My aunt Janet had come to see me and we were sitting in our yard. We looked up at the sky and I said I would never believe in God again and I will never step foot in another church ever again. All she did was hug me and let me cry. Years later she told me when I said that I scared her to death. Luckily God is bigger than our anger and can take us being mad. It took until 7th grade but I did come back around.
A month later I turned 11. It hurts to look at this picture because I know how much pain that girl was in behind that smile. I remember thinking I wonder by my 12th birthday if I'll feel better.
A lot was going on during this time period. My Dad's family owned business was dissolving and there was a big feud. I was close with my family and it hurt to see them all turn on each other. Then my dad moved to the DFW area to start a new business and we lived apart. It was very hard. When school was about to start I did not want to go back. I didn't know how I was going to face a first day of school knowing she wasn't going to be there. I don't really remember much of 5th grade except for just being sad and angry. Sixth grade was somewhat better but then we moved to Dallas the summer before 7th grade and my world was turned upside down again. My grandparents had lived in Columbus since they were in their 20's and my parents in turn had lived there their entire lives. It was a huge thing to move but ultimately it was the best decision. My dad's business did very well and it was a way of starting over.
I still continued to struggle with the what ifs of August 2nd. What if one of the children had needed to go to the bathroom it would have delayed them or vice versa. If the driver of the dump truck had stopped for coffee or not it would have changed his arrival time at that moment. If the man driving the 18 wheeler had pulled over for a nap or something to eat it would have changed everything. Why did it all line up so perfectly? That haunted me for a long time. I use to think when I get to Heaven I'll have all these questions answered but I have a feeling when I get there the why won't matter anymore.
Mr. Lewis went on to re-marry a year later and eventually had two daughters. I am so happy he was able to go forward with his life. In 2000 I wrote to him and told him that I've never stopped thinking of him or Tiffanie. I came to visit him in late 2000 and he got to meet my oldest son and my daughter, who was also born in September. I'm so glad I was able to do that. He eventually died in 2006 of cancer and is buried along side them.
I do not know what happened to Robbie's brother. I don't know how you deal with the unimaginable pain of losing your mom, your sister, your nieces, your nephew and your own sweet children. I've thought about them so much over the years.
I know the name of the man who caused the accident and have chosen not to publish it. He was arrested for vehicular homicide. I do not know if that charge was reduced. I looked him up on public data one time and he had applied for a license in 1985. So, I'm guessing he didn't serve much if any time. One day years later I was talking to my dad about him and how much anger I still felt. He said, Shelley, back then these were just hard working men trying to provide for their families. It was a simple accident with horrible consequences but still an accident. That really helped me especially when I started driving. How many times have we been distracted and made a stupid mistake driving? I myself have accidently run a stop sign. My heart dropped. I don't know if he really was a good man but I choose to believe he was. I can't imagine living with the guilt of causing an accident that killed seven people.
As for me I feel like I've lived most of my life since waiting for the rug to be yanked out from under me. I met my husband when we were 17. He really helped me heal. I felt a little less broken when we were together. He showed me how to live care free without being self destructive. I've never given him enough credit for loving and putting up with me. I love you, Joe.
Her death left me with a lot of fear and a need to live for right now because it could all be gone tomorrow. It sounds like a nice sentiment to "live in the moment" but living in the moment out of fear can cause you to make some bad decisions. The future deserves to be planned for and I have not done a very good job at that.
I wish I could say I grew up to become a great child psychologist, or an awesome teacher, or started a foundation in her name, or has led me to do great things in her name but nope. I wish I had some great words of wisdom of why bad things happen or why God doesn't stop bad things from happening, nope, none of that. All I know is that we live in a fallen world. We are not perfect. We screw up and make bad decisions and mistakes but God is always there to help us through. Being a Christian does not immune us from the world. I love the line in Step by Step by Rich Mullins:
"If I stand, let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through and if I can't let me fall on the grace that first brought me to you"
I'm a wife, a mother of three, an aunt, a sister, a daughter, a friend, nothing extraordinary to the world. No big accomplishments to speak of. Just a woman who tries to tame fear of the future, raising her children the best she can, a woman who's had more than her share of cake (just ask my thighs).
This is us at church. I think we're between three and four years old here.
Crazy to think six years later we would be having her funeral here.
Us at our friend Donna's birthday party. I think we're around four to five years old. I think it's funny we're all wearing dresses for a birthday party!
Here we are on a float with our Brownie troop for a parade. Pretty sure this is 1st or 2nd grade.
It's so hard to put into words how she was. I think all of us who grew up with her can just simply say she was the kindest, sweetest and most endearing friend.
We would laugh because she was short and I was tall. She had brown hair and I had blonde hair. Both of our birthdays were September. Mine the 2nd and hers the 24th. And people always spelled both of our names wrong.
On the last day of school of 4th grade she gave me a decorative plate that had a poem titled FRIENDSHIP
on it:
Within the garden of my heart
Where flowers of friendship grow
There are blossoms of remembrance
Forget me nots so blue
And purple velvet pansies to tell my thoughts of you
And roses that will always bloom whatever be the weather
whose fragrance is the memory of days spent together.
That would be the last time I would ever see her.
On August 2, 1984 Tiffanie 10, her sister Donley 3, her brother Cliff 7, two of her cousins, her mother Robbie 35, and her grandmother Wanda 55, were traveling down Highway 36 through Brazoria planning on going to Galveston. At that time 36 was a two lane highway. There were stop signs at the entrance ramps. A man driving a dump truck ran the stop sign. Her mother swerved and when she did an 18 wheeler hit them head on. They all died instantly except for one of her cousins who died on the way to the hospital.
On the morning of August 3rd the phone rang and it was one of our friends. She said have you heard what happened? Tiffanie died in a car accident. I just remember saying you're lying. You're lying. About this time my mom walked into the room and said put the phone down. I think my mom took the phone and hung up. They had found out the night before but were waiting to tell me. My dad had to go somewhere that morning and they wanted to tell me together. She said I'm sorry it's true. I remember my little sister standing there in shock, staring at me. My mom was hugging me, I was crying uncontrollably. That was the moment my childhood ended.
I remember the next day my Dad took me into town to buy me a fish. I can laugh about that now. Like a fish was going to help make it better. At the store (Winn's) there on the check out stand was the funeral notice. I remember thinking nothing will ever make this better.
At the funeral walking into the church was so surreal. This is where we went to vacation bible school, GA's (girls in action) Sunday school and then I was at her funeral. It just didn't seem possible and yet there were four caskets at the front. Tiffanie's had her girl scouts sash on a wreath. I spotted one of our teacher's across the aisle with her finger on her nose. She had told us in class whenever she's about to cry she puts her finger on her nose and that stops it. My sister had fallen asleep on my mom's lap with her head back and mouth wide open and I laughed. (Which, by the way, set a precedent for laughing at inappropriate moments for the rest of my life.) I had no control over my emotions. I was all over the place. I don't remember anything about the service except that I was looking for her dad and didn't see him. I know I walked out holding my dad's hand and crying after it was over.
At the burial I finally saw her dad and he was sitting under the tent in a black suit. He looked completely in shock. I remember thinking how is he going to go on after this.
Then...we went home and it was kind of like now what. I didn't know how to act. My parents didn't know what to say or do with me. My aunt Janet had come to see me and we were sitting in our yard. We looked up at the sky and I said I would never believe in God again and I will never step foot in another church ever again. All she did was hug me and let me cry. Years later she told me when I said that I scared her to death. Luckily God is bigger than our anger and can take us being mad. It took until 7th grade but I did come back around.
A month later I turned 11. It hurts to look at this picture because I know how much pain that girl was in behind that smile. I remember thinking I wonder by my 12th birthday if I'll feel better.
A lot was going on during this time period. My Dad's family owned business was dissolving and there was a big feud. I was close with my family and it hurt to see them all turn on each other. Then my dad moved to the DFW area to start a new business and we lived apart. It was very hard. When school was about to start I did not want to go back. I didn't know how I was going to face a first day of school knowing she wasn't going to be there. I don't really remember much of 5th grade except for just being sad and angry. Sixth grade was somewhat better but then we moved to Dallas the summer before 7th grade and my world was turned upside down again. My grandparents had lived in Columbus since they were in their 20's and my parents in turn had lived there their entire lives. It was a huge thing to move but ultimately it was the best decision. My dad's business did very well and it was a way of starting over.
I still continued to struggle with the what ifs of August 2nd. What if one of the children had needed to go to the bathroom it would have delayed them or vice versa. If the driver of the dump truck had stopped for coffee or not it would have changed his arrival time at that moment. If the man driving the 18 wheeler had pulled over for a nap or something to eat it would have changed everything. Why did it all line up so perfectly? That haunted me for a long time. I use to think when I get to Heaven I'll have all these questions answered but I have a feeling when I get there the why won't matter anymore.
Mr. Lewis went on to re-marry a year later and eventually had two daughters. I am so happy he was able to go forward with his life. In 2000 I wrote to him and told him that I've never stopped thinking of him or Tiffanie. I came to visit him in late 2000 and he got to meet my oldest son and my daughter, who was also born in September. I'm so glad I was able to do that. He eventually died in 2006 of cancer and is buried along side them.
I do not know what happened to Robbie's brother. I don't know how you deal with the unimaginable pain of losing your mom, your sister, your nieces, your nephew and your own sweet children. I've thought about them so much over the years.
I know the name of the man who caused the accident and have chosen not to publish it. He was arrested for vehicular homicide. I do not know if that charge was reduced. I looked him up on public data one time and he had applied for a license in 1985. So, I'm guessing he didn't serve much if any time. One day years later I was talking to my dad about him and how much anger I still felt. He said, Shelley, back then these were just hard working men trying to provide for their families. It was a simple accident with horrible consequences but still an accident. That really helped me especially when I started driving. How many times have we been distracted and made a stupid mistake driving? I myself have accidently run a stop sign. My heart dropped. I don't know if he really was a good man but I choose to believe he was. I can't imagine living with the guilt of causing an accident that killed seven people.
As for me I feel like I've lived most of my life since waiting for the rug to be yanked out from under me. I met my husband when we were 17. He really helped me heal. I felt a little less broken when we were together. He showed me how to live care free without being self destructive. I've never given him enough credit for loving and putting up with me. I love you, Joe.
Her death left me with a lot of fear and a need to live for right now because it could all be gone tomorrow. It sounds like a nice sentiment to "live in the moment" but living in the moment out of fear can cause you to make some bad decisions. The future deserves to be planned for and I have not done a very good job at that.
I wish I could say I grew up to become a great child psychologist, or an awesome teacher, or started a foundation in her name, or has led me to do great things in her name but nope. I wish I had some great words of wisdom of why bad things happen or why God doesn't stop bad things from happening, nope, none of that. All I know is that we live in a fallen world. We are not perfect. We screw up and make bad decisions and mistakes but God is always there to help us through. Being a Christian does not immune us from the world. I love the line in Step by Step by Rich Mullins:
"If I stand, let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through and if I can't let me fall on the grace that first brought me to you"
I'm a wife, a mother of three, an aunt, a sister, a daughter, a friend, nothing extraordinary to the world. No big accomplishments to speak of. Just a woman who tries to tame fear of the future, raising her children the best she can, a woman who's had more than her share of cake (just ask my thighs).
Another Rich Mullins song, Hold Me Jesus, that has given me so much comfort and is so me:
Well, sometimes my life
Just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small
CHORUS:
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart
CHORUS
Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something
I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees
And this Salvation Army band
Is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin
CHORUS
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Swiss Avenue Mother's Day Home Tour 2014 Part 1
I love, love, love this event!! If you're not familiar with Swiss Avenue in Dallas let me give you some information!
The following is from the website:
"At the turn of the last century, Robert S. Munger, a successful cotton-gin manufacturer and forward-thinking real-estate developer from an influential Dallas family, had a pioneering vision. And a unique plan. In a city where zoning had yet to be practiced, on any scale, Munger conceived the idea of building a planned, upscale residential community, just east of downtown. His development, Munger Place, was the first deed-restricted neighborhood in Texas. And at its heart, he would build an exclusive enclave of grand and stately homes along Swiss Avenue, stretching from Fitzhugh Avenue at the east, to La Vista Drive at the west.
Swiss Avenue became the first paved street in the entire city of Dallas. The surfacing material selected was bois d’arc block (horseapple tree wood), known for its extreme density and durability. A trolley line was installed to provide residents with convenient transportation to the downtown business and shopping districts, and a railway spur track was laid in what is now the alleyway between Swiss and Gaston, allowing residents who were well-heeled enough to own private rail cars to simply board at the rear of their homes and travel to anyplace the rails could transport them.
Munger’s building restrictions stipulated that the homes on Swiss Avenue had to be at least two stories in height, the exteriors constructed of brick or masonry, they were not permitted to face a side street, and each residence had to cost at least $10,000 to build, a hefty sum at the time. No home could be constructed ‘on spec’, all houses had to be built and occupied by their intended residents.
Prominent Dallas families embraced the concept, they hired nationally renowned architects to design and build their showplaces. These included Bertram Hill, Lang & Witchell, Charles Bulger, Hal Thomson, Marion Fooshee, C.P. Sites, Marshall Barnett, and W.H. Reeves, among others.
In 1973, Swiss Avenue was designated as Dallas’ first historic district. On March 28, 1974, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is an official Dallas Landmark District.
Today, Swiss Avenue stands as the finest example of an early 20th Century neighborhood in the entire Southwest. Its eclectic mix of homes, spanning its 2 ½ mile stretch, represent virtually every popular residential design style of the day, including Mediterranean, Spanish, Spanish Revival, Georgian, Mission, Prairie, Carftsman, Neoclassical, Italian Renaissance, Tudor and Colonial Revival. It has evolved from one man’s unique experiment in planned urban development to become a living testament to America’s architectural diversity."
So off we went on the tour!
House number one!
This prairie school design was built in 1914 for 16,000. It was built for Texas rancher, Thomas W. Newsome by architect C.P, Sites. Four years later it was sold to Mentor B. Terrill founder of the nationally known Terrill School for Boys, which later became St. Mark's School Of Texas. Through the years the home served as a halfway house for recovering alcoholics and as a boarding school for blind boys. Today it is a single family residence.
My favorite part of the house has to be the beveled glass transom windows on the first and second stories. When you walk in through double doors there are two rooms. On the left is the winter parlor with it's original rock wood fireplace. On the right is a summer parlor.
In the rooms are detailed mouldings which is not true to the prairie style nor are the Grecian columns that were added in the 40's. Unfortunately we were unable to go upstairs. We were bummed.
Along the way there were classic cars on display.
This gorgeous house turned 100 this year!
It wasn't on tour but they did offer a photo op spot! Here's my sister and I sweaty and gross. Ha!
We also passed by the infamous 4949 Swiss.
The impressive 7,000 sq. ft. Prairie-style home – which has a third-floor ballroom where Maddie Caruth had her debutante ball – achieved most of its fame and notoriety when it was owned by the John Logan family from 1949 to 2004. The home was purchased by the Logans for $17,500, a discounted price because it already needed repairs.
"Back in her day, Logan daughter Mary Ellen was a blond beauty and fashion model who was named by Life Magazine as “The Most Beautiful Woman in America” and posed for an elegant art-deco statue on Fair Park’s Esplanade. Mary Ellen Logan Bendtsen – the daughter of a Sanger-Harris men’s clothing salesman – also was an accomplished pianist and held court in the music room at 4949 Swiss. Her husband was said to be a Danish Baron, also a pianist, and some remember “dueling pianos” between husband and wife on occasion. Mary Ellen also entertained at the Adolphus Hotel – President Harry Truman was in her audience one evening – as well as other Dallas supper clubs and country clubs. As you might guess, invitations to the beautiful mansion on Swiss were prized."
(For more of this article visit http://hometowndfw.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/texas-castles-behind-the-scenes-at-historic-notorious-4949-swiss-ave-mansion-on-2012-homes-tour/)
Sadly in Mary Ellen's elderly years she "befriended" by two swindlers who (on her death bed) had her make them her sole beneficiaries
Thus ensued a battle between her daughter and these two con men.
In the end the daughter won and the house sat empty and was then sold.
The whole house needed restoration. I hope eventually it will be put back on tour!
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Old House Dreams
Wow I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted anything. I really thought it had only been about two weeks. I've been one busy lady. The living room is coming together and looking pretty dang awesome!
I wanted to tell you about a blog I've come across called
I could seriously sit at the computer all day and look through it. Here is what Kelly says about her blog:
"My name is Kelly, the owner of Old House Dreams. This is a blog featuring old homes I find for sale across the nation.
I’ve been fascinated with houses since I was a teenager. I was the girl that grabbed real estate magazines to cut out my favorites, adding them to my scrapbook of nonsense. As an adult I bombarded my moms email with houses that neither of us could ever buy, just enjoyed looking at.
In 2009 I started Old House Dreamer (later changed to Old House Dreams) to share my finds. 15+/- hours a week are spent searching every state. I like to stick with houses that are about 70% original but will post some, including remuddles, as long as it retains some charm. I no longer accept house submissions, sorry.
I hope this site inspires those that are thinking about buying an old house to take the plunge, help those that are restoring or to day dream about what could be."
She also has this site very well organized. There's even a way to create a favorites list!
Please, check it out! If you're a lover of old houses you will love this blog!
Here's a recent house posted today!
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Living Room Dirt
The living room is coming along. I now have all of the sheetrock down on the walls and ceiling. I knew it would be messy but I just didn't know how messy.
In my first post I explained that normally when a house had shiplap boards they were not really made to be seen. A muslin/cheesecloth type material was nailed with little tacks onto the wall then wallpapered over. This wallpaper looks like actually someone painted over it. I'm just going to guess in the 50's or 60's.
Whomp whomp...I found past electrical outlets that left big holes.
The trash cans were filled many many times. I'm sure the trash men are cursing my name.
Where there use to be a window
How the wallpaper looked after the sheetrock was down. In a few places it looked like someone had applied tape over it.
This is what the back looks like
It looks like some type of water damage maybe?
I knew taking down the sheetrock and wallpaper would be the worst on the ceiling but it's one of those things that you know is going to be bad but you're praying it won't be.
So you make your teenage son go first:
The sheetrock itself wasn't as bad. But when the wallpaper was pulled down about 50 years worth of dirt came down too.
It was this really fine black dirt. The kind that you sweep and sweep and it's still there. I had to get out the shop vac and do it that way.
The ceiling is in very good condition. There are spots that have some gaps so I applied Great Stuff to those.
Primer! I'm painting the walls white and I'm going to just polyurethane the ceiling.
To fill in the holes I sprayed Great Stuff again and then used wood filler.
I'm almost done painting now! I can't wait to get my furniture back where it goes. Another project that I can't believe I actually did. Words cannot describe how disgusting the dirt was. My daughter wouldn't even go in the living room. Ha Final painting pictures coming soon!
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