Ladybugs…thanks for joining me for this month’s Where Bloggers Live 03.2022: My Dream Home. This month, the gals and I are sharing our dream homes with you. So far this year, we’ve given you a look at our ‘rides’ in January and our furry fam in February. Each month our fearless leader Bettye comes up with a prompt that makes me think. And usually has me traveling down Memory Lane in the process. Today’s post is no exception.
WHERE BLOGGERS LIVE 03.2022
In my childhood, I only had 4 homes. One I don’t remember at all - the student-housing apartment I went home to right after I was born. Only lived there a short time and then my parents bought their first home. I only remember bits and pieces of it from the few photos and home movies I’ve seen.
When I was 4, we moved from that starter home in Buffalo to a duplex in Boston. The duplex was old. Didn’t look anything like it does in these pictures. Just looked it up on Zillow to see how old…built in 1923.
It was built on a hill and had 5 stories; 2 levels of basement, our bottom floor which was bedrooms, our main floor which was also the main floor for the landlord’s apartment, and the landlord’s upstairs level. We lived there for 6 years. My room was brown. Cold. And not at all pretty. I longed for a pretty house. And a house that we didn’t share with the principal of my school. My mom told me someday we would have a pretty house. Someday.
That someday took 6 years to come to fruition when we moved to Memphis. My parents bought this 6-bedroom house on a dead-end road that backed onto pasture, a barn and 2 ponds. I had a pretty bedroom with a pretty blue and pink floral bedspread and dormers. And carpeting. Central air and heat. No more radiators. It was my dream house for many years. Until I was an adult, out on my own.
My Dream Home
I lived in a lot of crummy and crummier apartments as a young adult, Army wife and a young mother. Finally, when I was 33 years old, I bought my own dream house. This 1,350 square foot, 4-bedroom home. Actually, had it built. Got to pick the lot, the floor plan, the colors. Raised my daughters here. But then this dream ended.
Since 2008, I have been married to my Prince Charming. We have a far nicer home than the little house where the girls and I lived. Four bedrooms, 3 baths, formal living and dining rooms, den, kitchen and loft. I love our home. And I have shared a lot of it with you in this Where Bloggers Live series.
When I was growing up, I dreamed of living in a log cabin, or an old Victorian home. Then a farmhouse. Last but not least, a park ranger’s lookout home. But I have discovered something in thinking about and planning for this post.
My dream home isn’t a structure. It is wherever Paul is. He is my dream home. Our life together is my dream home. The 4 walls of this address or any address filled with the laughter and love that is our relationship. And the love we have for family. Our kitties. Our memories. And the hopes and dreams we have for the future.
When I was an Army wife, I made a cross stitch picture that said, “Home is where the Army sends you.” Kind of like ‘home is where the heart is.’ Or my (dream) home is where my Prince Charming, my Paully Wog, my Paul Clingan is.
YOUR TURN
The Where Bloggers Live series is kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…with bloggers! These posts have been some of my most popular. And they are fun to write!! The creator of this series, Bettye from Fashion Schlub has put together a list of fun themes for Where Bloggers Live in 2022. And we have a brand-new member to the group, Sally who blogs at Within a World of My Own. She will be joining us for the April edition. I am looking forward to getting to know Sally, her ride, her pets, and her junk drawer!!
How would you describe your dream home? Is it a place or a more of a feeling? Hope you will join me in visiting the blogs of my Where Bloggers Live buddies to check out their dream homes.
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Em at Dust and Doghair
Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Thank you, dear ones, for popping in today. What’s on the docket for your weekend? I will be picking up Brennyn, Cady and Declan at the airport bright and early Friday morning. And this weekend I will have all of my most precious loves - with the exception of Mustafa - under the roof of my house…making it a dream home indeed. I am a lucky girl.
Hugs and kisses,
That is so beautifully said Leslie! And that’s so true. Because no matter how pretty the house is, without our partners it doesn’t mean a thing.
Thank you, darling friend. It took me awhile to find the right partner to be that dream home. But I finally got it right.
Do you know the song “You’re My Home” by Billy Joel? This post reminds me of it! I do have a dream house - it was a mansion located on the grounds where I went to day camp as a kid. It was purchased and lived in after the camp moved off the grounds!
I like the way you dream big. A mansion for a dream house. I have thought I would like more of a cabin feel or even maybe a tiny home (for a summer place?) someday. But this big old house with all its stuff never feels dreamier than when my PC comes home from work!!
Now, who would’ve thought that we would end up talking about how it’s not really about the structure per se. Between you, Iris, Em, and me (I haven’t read the others yet), we certainly are birds of a feather.
You especially realize this after living with someone who doesn’t make the house a home, don’t you think?
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Isn’t that something that we all thought along the same lines with this post? That’s what makes this group my favorite. We are a very eclectic mix of gals but we think very much alike at times.
I knew it! I had no doubt from the beginning of this post journey that I would find you are likewise living the dream. A younger me might not have seen it-blinded by the barrage of “stuff”-but it’s the people who we love that make the dream worthwhile and make the house a home.
Have a wonderful weekend with your beautiful family!
Thank you so much. They arrived safe and sound in a rare March snow storm!! Was hoping for photos in the poppies but will gladly accept some quick snapshots in the snow. I have plenty…more than plenty of stuff in my house…but when my family is gathered ’round, it feels most like home. XO
A house is just a house if you aren’t sharing it with people you love, I’m so pleased you’ve found your happy home!
So interesting to hear about the houses you have lived in over the years.
Thank you, my dear friend. Cannot believe we are having snow today. But it is sunny and warm inside with Brennyn, Cadence and Declan here!!
I have all the heart-eyes for the fact that Paul is your dream home!
Hey Sally!! Thank you so much for coming by. What a sweet compliment. Anxious to follow you and get to know you better. Welcome to the gang.
Well, Leslie, of course, your dream home would be with Prince Charming…so you can live out happily ever after! Seriously, I’m so glad you found your happiness and a loving home.
Thank you!! We are very blessed to have a home we love.
That is a beautiful way to express “home”. So lovely. I enjoyed reading about the houses you lived, and we are not in a hurry to move - where we are. I love NC and our house is big enough for us. ( and 2 pups) There is such a difference between a house and a home, it really is the people in it that make it!
Have a great weekend!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
Oh, Leslie, I love this post. These words touched me deeply: My dream home isn’t a structure. It is wherever Paul is. He is my dream home. Our life together is my dream home. ❤️
Thank you, sweet friend.
Ohh! Really sweet 🙂 Yes, the people we love are really our “home.”
But a nice deep bathtub doesn’t hurt 🙂
xoxo Bettye
Haha!! Love a good bathtub.
April
Aw, this is so sweet, about your current home. And I love the photo of your childhood home too. I’m off to check out more of these. I can see why this series is popular.
Thank you so much for stopping by. This series is always a fun one for me. Please come back for April’s Where Bloggers Live!!
A house is not a home — home is where the heart is.
Beautiful post, Leslie!
Happy Wednesday!
Leslie, this was a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing this with all of us. I agree, home is a feeling! It’s where my family is. 🙂
Oh my goodness yes! It is totally about the people that fill that home that the actual aesthetics of a place. Our little 1000 sq. ft. Bungalow is adorable, not a dream place by any means, but it works for us. But our 30 ft. camper is also a dream. The memories we make in all these little locations are the things I will remember the most.
I love this series. How fun! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the kind words. Your home is so warm and full of love. And your camper brings so much joy to everyone in the family. And out!! I love your camper photos!! Your babies will never forget their childhood home and the memories made there.
Awww, Leslie, this is so sweet! You are right, the most important thing about a home is who is in it!
xo,
Kellyann
Thank you, darling friend.
Liz Klebba
I laughed at “Home is where the Army sends you.” It certainly is! Or at least was for us… Except ours was the Navy. I’m one of those odd people who likes to move house and I don’t believe in a dream home. We bought our first house when C was about to retire and everyone asked us if it was our “dream home.” All I could answer was “It’s a house. Home is wherever we are together.” Even after 15 years here, I’d be happy to walk away tomorrow. PS: Love the new look of your site! (Clearly I haven’t been by in a while…)