Here’s how spring is progressing in our home! Musica for today: our new favorite song . . .I’ll get you hooked yet!♥
But first, just so you know, the drawing for the Rose Chintz teacups is still open; just leave a comment at the bottom of this post, and you’ll be entered in the drawing! You can read more about it and see pictures if you scroll down one post.
I just couldn’t wait to show you what we found in the hall next to our dining room!
I think many would see this as a harbinger of spring, which was exactly my first thought; plants are bursting up through the floor! How adorable! Get the camera!
But, with a little help from Joe’s more mechanically-minded, reality-based thinking, our second thought was, What’s going on in the basement? Is there massive plant growth down there? Now we’re afraid to open the basement door! 
Well, Joe’s probably not, but I kinda am. I’ve never really gotten used to having a basement even on a good day.
Our basement was dug in 1849; it has a dirt floor so it smells like old dirt down there; the walls are made with granite blocks. It’s very deep, plenty high enough to walk around in, it’s very cold, and it has rooms! They probably kept their apples and potatoes and other garden produce down there in the old days. And who knows what else.
You get there through an outside door on the porch; the door opens with a long creak to a steep set of granite stairs going straight down into a dark, what appears to be, hole. The stairwell is very deep and draped in cobwebs suggesting that a person should definitely duck when they go down the stairs; the corners are alive with long legged black creatures that seem to “winter” here; they like it in the summer too; I don’t know if they jump. I’ve only been down there maybe four times in the twenty-three years we’ve lived here. Our basement goes under the entire house. I call that area of the house “Man Country.” It’s where Joe keeps his paint cans, for one thing; and he seems to like it down there. But of course, he was born in this part of the country (Connecticut) where every child grows up with a basement.
I grew up in California, no house I ever saw had a basement; all I ever learned about basements was through Halloween stories (“he’s on the first step; he’s on the second step . . . slooowly he turns…” . . . my dad, entertaining us around campfires with ghost stories), horror films, and movies like Arsenic and Old Lace, where the darling old ladies buried their gentlemen friends in the basement. So basements, to me, had no lure. I wasn’t all that wild about attics either, for the same reasons.
Having 
basements and attics were two of the many new things I had to get used to when I moved to this part of the country; every old house has them!
I never went into the basement of my first house until I completely owned it; did not visit it in the course of buying the house. Even then I knew it was man country down there (this definition comes from having four brothers and learning very young what was and what was not, man country; I’m sure there are plenty of intrepid happy normal women who love basements too, don’t get me wrong; I like the basement, I just don’t like to go there!), there were no men around me at the time; I rest my case, pathetic as it is. It never occurred to me (because I was young and this was my first house) that it might be the place where the furnace was, which is something a savvy home buyer should take an interest in.
Now I understand that having a basement is a wonderful thing! It’s extra storage space! It’s where many people do their laundry; it’s where they keep their children when they turn into teenagers; but I’m also pretty sure it’s where Lizzie Borden kept her ax. I will love our basement if, and when, a giant hurricane comes to the island; we’ll make friends then. Why am I talking about this? Oh yes, Joe (Oh yes, I’m spoiled) needs to go find the beginning of this plant before it eats the house!
I really didn’t think I’d be writing about basements this morning! I meant to write about happy harbingers of spring, and then our basement crept into the story. That’s how letters to my girlfriends have always been. We go from cheese blintzes, white tablecloths, and Rose Chintz dishes to scary old basements in the blink of an eye. That’s another thing I like about us! We’re diversified!
Now, here is a true harbinger of spring. Normally, one hundred percent zero things bloom on Martha’s Vineyard in February, no camellias ever bloom here this time of year. At least, I’ve never seen it. But, I went to my girlfriend Annie’s house the other day 
for tea, and the six foot camellia bush next to her front door, outside, was blooming, all over, like this!! I want to be afraid about what this could mean, planet-wise, but I’m too happy having them on my kitchen windowsill right now! I will let this pass for one winter; if it’s like this next winter, I’m going to start having a fit. Let’s all have one!
What else? Oh! You know what I think would be fun? If, when you leave your comments, at the end, you always type in where you are, what city, state, or country. I love hearing where people are so I can imagine, or try to, their surroundings. Plus, then everyone with the same name will start to look a little different! We have girlfriends from Alaska to Florida, Maine to Hawaii, and so far, just today, I’ve heard from Finland and France! Love it! Sing with me!
♫ I’d like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony. . . ♪
I was going to show you more of my dinner party diary, but I think I’ll save it for later, this should be enough for today; I have stuff to do, and you probably do too! I kept you long enough the last couple of days! Love hearing from you! Love how you’re connecting with each other too. Have a great day! ♥
Figured I might as well put the oregon in the title. Roseburg actually. probably wont put that in again.
Love it here. Love CA too. Never had a basement but they would scare me too.
so I want to know.. where was the plant coming from? We are having a lovely warmer winter here too but dont worry the cold will be back next year. Love the flowers. In CA at Disconsos Gardens in LA they have TONS of camellias blooming under Oak trees around Easter time every year. We went one year and it was awesome. I took so many photos. So to be blooming there is truly Amazing.
Hi, Susan!
You brought great big smiles to my face! When we lived in our first house we had a semi-creepy basement, but the house we live in now has a wonderful tons of storage space extra refrigerator basement!
I love your blog and I look forward to reading at the end of my work day with a cup of tea.
Happy Thursday,
Terry
Kinnelon, NJ
Sitting here in Upstate New York waiting for a predicted wintry blast to hit us around 2:00 this morning. What a blessing to find a camellia bush in full bloom in February! Like you say, we’ll rejoice in it this year and maybe worry about it if it happens again next year. Do love the spooky little sprout coming up in your dining room.
Hi Susan, When we bought our house from two little old ladies the garage was filled to the rafters. On moving day we discovered a trap door and stairs and we too thought of Arsenic and Old Lace! We found a cellar beneath our living room that had old shelves and we were able to see under the whole house and out the crawl holes. Neighbors told us the cellar was used to store home made canned food. We love it! We keep some wine, Holiday decor, camping gear, etc. and our kids used it as a hideout… Love your Blog, Willard, and Arroyo Grande. We have camped and waterskied at Lopez Lake and crave Bernardoz ice cream…
I would love to win your teacups so my daughter and I could have tea with them. Really enjoying your blog! We have had a mild winter here in Wisconsin with a string of days in the 40s (yay!), although we are expecting snow tonight.
Thanks for all of the lovely things you post!
I grew up in Massachusetts with basements and attics, so I’m okay with them. In fact my parents’ house had an attic that one entered through the ceiling in my bedroom closet (no pull down ladder or anything helpful). My dad used to “boost” me up there, because I was small, to help get things up or down. There was no flooring up there, just insulation between the two-by-fours and some plywood pieces he had set in there to store things on — so you didn’t walk too far up there.
But what creeps me out is crawl spaces. The kind where you get under the house, onto the dirt, and cannot stand upright. The place one must go when the pipes freeze, or the lines connecting the furnace and compressor unit live. Nasty place. Definitely a place for men only.
I’m living in Dallas, Oregon now, and thankfully have a husband who can brave such places…
Hi Susan and girlfriends!
I loved your basement story!! Brought back memories of when I was little and living in Flint, Michigan. My Gramma had a basement that I thought was so creeeepy, yet, since I wasn’t allowed down there alone, I always wanted/needed/HAD to go! I’d go down with her when she did the wash. She had a wringer washing machine and it was the most intriguing thing in the world to me! And I would very quietly sneak down when no one was around. I guess I was naughty but, it wasn’t my fault! Adults should NOT make children so curious. 😀 That’s it – I was CURIOUS, not naughty! She had all kinds of nifty things down there to look through, although I really only did the looking when she was around. She use to let me go through her father’s old trunks and old wooden boxes and I’d find so many treasures! Toys that she and her brothers played with, old photo albums and albums with antique Valentines and calling cards and newspaper headlines (WAR), old dolls and their wicker furniture. (Somewhere in here I should mention that she was born in 1900 so all her things would now be considered pretty darn old!) Although I now have much of it, there are some missing things that I’d give most anything to have now! Mostly, her.
As always, thank you for dredging up my old memories. You are a great story teller!
Love the teacups and saucers!
And the flowers!
(oh, meant to mention that it’s normal for us to get camelias starting in about Feb. Maybe you’re getting our weather and we’re getting someone elses. Things are definitely changing!!)
And SPRING!
Bye from Buckley, Washington in the beautiful Pacific Northwest!
♥Deb♥
It looks like it might be English ivy. I’m with the others who want to know “what is it?” and “where did it come from?” and “No, I’m not going down there!”
Spring? Yes. I saw blooms on our Bradford Pear tree today for the first time. It was a balmy 71 here today in Sherman (about an hour north of Dallas, TX.) The little girls next door are dressed in pink sun dresses and jumping on their trampoline. A definite sign of spring.
Looking forward to hearing the “rest of the story.”
Oh, Susan – basements like that give me the “willies” (what IS a Willie anyhow?) – We looked at farmhouses long ago and their “basements” with dirt floors etc. This city gal had a hard time dealing with these dungeons and after we bought our farm I had dreams of the basement foundation separating from the house! Anyhow, we never had a mouse up in the house but yes sir we did in the “basement”! And they would leave their “calling cards” inside my garden shoes – ick! I did get used to things eventually and when I would get ready to go to the basement I would pound my foot on the door and yell “Coming down!” so if any were close by they would scurry away – darn, I’m allergic to cats or I would have adopted a sweetie like your “Jack”. Love your posts – so cozy!
I love the fact that you are keeping the little Ivy for a bit! I know you can’t keep it for long, but just the idea of something SO determined to find light and warmth….the little Ivy deserves a chance to stay for a while. Yay! As for “winter”, it’s been a little weird here too. No snow to speak of, not much ice, just one storm…green grass and green Iris. Even though I love plants and flowers, it’s a bit odd really, not the usual. Hope next year goes back to normal.
and i would like to win your tea cups, too!!
Pink Hugs,
Dee
Dear Susan,
I grew up in suburbia, with a fine, cement basement in our 1950 “colonial”….but in my Grandparents’ 1840-something house was a dirt cellar with TREE TRUNKS for beams (the caps are to show how much I hated going down there). It smelled, and there were several rooms (one for coal) and a great hulk of a furnace with arms going every which way. I would BEG not to be sent down to the fruit cellar for a jar of whatever was needed for dinner, but always had to go if asked. No one , not my aunt or uncles who lived with my grandparents nor my own parents, could understand what I was afraid of. Fast forward to my first post college apartment…a small town duplex with a dirt cellar! I lived there for one school year and never ventured down the stairs. We didn’t have a furnace so I didn’t have to contend with that, and all of our jars fit in the great country kitchen cupboards. But your post brought back the shivers of my childhood and the dread of my early adulthood! Thanks for the memories…
XOXOXO
queenmum
Aloha from the Big Island of Hawaii! The Rose Chintz teacups are quite charming and you are sweet to offer them as a blessing to one of your girlfriends, Susan! I loved reading about your basement and attic anxieties. While I was growing up in PA back in the 60’s, in a small house full of five noisy and active kids, my Dad would often escape to his “mancave” to listen to the baseball game, do the crossword puzzle and fiddle with his tools. I never did see any hairy spiders down there but always felt like one could jump out at any time. The attic was far more appealing and mysterious — no doubt because, as an avid reader, I had dreamed of finding some long-lost clues to the happenings of a bygone era hidden there. I never did find such things but the idea of the search was exciting nonetheless. Hawaii is now my home. We have no attic. The basement is open air under the house built on post and pier. Our critters consist of the dreaded centipede (which has a nasty sting and grows very large — I’ve seen 6″ ones making their way across the floor). They come up from below much like where your plant is coming from. Balancing the dread is the adorable green gecko (think Geico) which runs freely throughout all homes in Hawaii and eats other less desirable bugs for us. I’m looking forward to seeing the tender shoot grow into “a lovely branch” while in your care! With aloha, Kim
Aloha Kim,
We started planning a move to the Big Island a couple of weeks ago. I think it will take a year to get everything in order to move. I kept asking my husband about the bugs. We had smaller centipedes in WI. Yucky! My father is from PA. We are thinking about making Hilo home for our Ohana.
Margot in Virginia Beach
Hi! I’m with Lucy – you will need to tell us what Joe discovers in that basement! Yikes – maybe some industrious creature brought it in for the winter, tucked it away, and then forgot about it – especially since we haven’t had much of a winter here this year. Life finds a way, doesn’t it? The camellias are lovely and remind me of home (Seattle) – my mom would use the leaves to make chocolate leaf decorations for cakes – brush the top of the cleaned leaf with melted chocolate and then freeze! They would peel off beautifully and make such pretty decorations. We’re in Natick, MA enjoying our mini spring break!
Your post reminds me of my late grandmother’s old basement. Creepy. I think she had an old coal furnance down there. And probably skeletons, too…..boo 🙂
That is so funny about the ivy…..I loved that. Even plants search out your bright light!
Metrowest, Boston MA (for 2 more weeks, then moving to Park City, Utah)
Is this the place to be considered for the teacups? Hope so, but if not, I’ll just say hello and tell you how much I love your artwork and that you share your “life and times” with all of us. You truly have the soul of an artist . . . noticing, feeling, sensing all around you . . . you just soak it up and then give it to us in the form of your art or an anecdote. “Jack and the Beanstalk” . . . now that’s just too adorable! Thanks. Linda Stone, El Paso, Texas, where it’s a very warm day . . . high 70s . . . with a bit of a breeze.
Hi Susan, I love, love, love rose chintz! There’s something so charming about roses. I have to enter this drawing. Thank you for offering them. xoxo Janet
I would love the teacups – I could share with my best friend in Arizona and we could have tea together over the phone!
Susan, you just made me laugh out loud enough that the kitties looked up at me as if to say “what is it Gramma”…OMGolly when you said the plant might eat the house….did Joe find why you had a plant growing where this one was?? I am with you on old basements and my main reason is the dampness and the COBWEBS which means spiders!!! Yikes….I’m usually not on the computer this time of night but my dear hubby just went to the grocery store so I decided to see what was up and was surprised to see this blog. I’m using the lenten season to give up snacking between meals especially early evening watching TV which is my danger time…Jim just called from the grocery to see if that means doughnuts and I told him for me it does!!! I think baby carrots will be my best friends for awhile….hope you find out why you have a plant growing from your basement and you may have to go down there to rescue Joe!!!! Good Luck….Loved Annie’s beautiful flowers…so pretty! New Whiteland, IN
I love it! We had a wild strawberry plant grow from the woods through a basement window to grow down the wall! Couldn’t believe it when I found it!
Sitting on my deck as the sun goes down over the Tennessee River in Knoxville TN. It was 70 degrees here today and we had the windows flung open wide to catch the breeze blowing through. I knew I wasn’t too early to start decorating for spring 2 weeks ago! Put my name in the hopper for those darling tea cups, would love to add them to the collection my mother passed down to me. And I agree about basements Susan. Since you and I grew up in the same area of Southern California in the post WWII-built houses on solid foundations, I’ve always thought basements were a little suspect. We have one now but it’s “Neverland” because we never never go there!! Thanks for your happy cheery thoughts!!! You are a blessing!
Hi Susan!
Hmmm…spring…well, right now in Qingdao, Shandong, China, it is still the dark heart of winter. Last week with the windchill factor (Qingdao is a windy city) it was -10 degrees celcius. In the day. So, it is still cold here and that is why I love your photos of spring. Qingdao experiences the vernal equinox about a month later than inland China cities. On the other hand, we are on the sea. Does that make up for a long winter? I am still figuring that one out.
Enjoy your lovely spring!
Mary, Qingdao, China
What a wonderful surprise! I too think I would leave it the ivy for a while. 🙂 We too are having signs of a very early Spring… the geese are flying North, the lilac’s are showing signs of buds, saw a Robin yesterday, also many other of my feathered friends are gathering for their Spring clutches…
Thank you so much for sharing your life with us…
Gentle hugs from Oregon
Rhonda
Love those camellias! It is a beautiful spring-like day in Monterey CA!
Well Chris, you’re right! I live in Monterey and work in Carmel. It’s been gorgeous. My dafodills are blooming as are my flowering plums and crabapple. And (drumroll please) so is my Camelia! I never had one when I lived in New England.
Greetings from Granger, Indiana! I never tire of your messages to us. It’s how I wind down after a day of teaching second graders. Milder than ever winter here too, but we are under a winter storm watch tonight. I will be up all night watching out my windows hoping for a snow day, a true pleasure to students and teachers alike. Looking forward to the next breakfast get together details.
Loved the basement story. My Grama had a basement like yours, yes they stored vegetables down there in the winter. It was called a Michigan Basement,couldn’t tell you why, everyone is gone now. It was scary, the steps were not as safe as yours. I didn’t like to go down there either as it was scary. Pat M. in South Bend, Indiana near Notre Dame Univ. Where we are to get snow tonight. So much for Spring.
It’s so cute! I also live in an older home and have some ivy that looks just like this growing beside our front porch steps. If one came up through our floor, I would keep it as long as I could. What a conversation piece that would make!
Autumn from North Carolina
It’s a balmy 76 degrees here in Spivey’s Corner, North Carolina today! quite windy but loving the warm temperatures!
We’ve had quite the mild winter in Wisconsin, too. I live in Grafton which is on the Milwaukee River just about 40 minutes North of Milwaukee, which is 2 hours North of Chicago, IL…and only a few hours South of Door County. We have an 11 month old Siberian Husky and you KNOW she isn’t happy about this lack of a real winter. Snow is predicted tonight, though. I love the Bing Crosby tune and totally understand about the basement. We only had a “crawl space” under the house I grew up in in Southern Illinois. All kinds of creepy things going on in there andno speedy escape. Blessings upon my six-foot-two father who once rescued a stranded kitten and frequently had to repair the plumbing while lying on his back.
Hi Susan,
Love everything about your blog and life! I wish I were artistic and could cook.
I live vicariously through you, enjoying your wonderful stories living on Martha’s Vineyard.
I live in San Diego, California. A very beautiful place to be, but we’re missing changes in seasons and basements!
thanks for all the fun.. ; D
Sincerely,
Bonney
Here in the south, we like to take the camellia and float it in a beautiful cut crystal bowl. You are definitely enjoying a Georgia winter on the island!
I would love to win your Rose Chintz tea cups! I ordered Zinnia from Emma and I just love it. Then I ordered your breakfast mugs, two, so I’m looking forward to receiving those. All three cups were ordered from your web store, which is such a pleasure to shop there! The Rose Chintz would look so pretty with my new cups!!
Again, I love your blog–thanks so much for connecting all of us together. Hugs from Barbara in GA
I LIVE IN Lancaster, N.Y.[ 13miles east of Buffalo] almost all houses here have basements new and old. I,ve lived in both.NEW BASEMENTS ARE A PART OF OUR EXTENDED living space.They are very nice when taken care of, waterproofing & drainage.great kids play space.Old and damp some time cause health problems. Nice storage space which I need plenty of. Thank-You for your blog starts my day. Have a great one!!!!! Flo [from Buffalo]
Basements and attics have always been interesting to me. Entrance to the attic was in my bedroom when I was little. Always wondered what was up there but never found out!
Love, Love,Love, your blog!
Beautiful pictures & drawings & words!
Thank you for sharing.
I remember when we first bought our old house (built in 1920 so not as old as yours), there was some kind of plant growing up, in what is now our dressing room, around the baseboard. We fixed that little problem with Roundup! LOL. I wish we could fix the no winter problem that easily. I was walking around our back yard today and went back into the orchard part of the yard and discovered, much to my surprise, that the fruit trees are almost ready to spring into glorious bloom! In FEBRUARY? And it was 78 degrees here today. I hate to think what this is going to mean for us temperature wise in, say, August. Going to have to move the tea parties in from the porch to the air conditioned dining room! But for right now it is wonderful! Hugs from Southeast Missouri.
Hi Susan,
You left us hanging! :-)… I am waiting with bated breath to find out what happened to the monster plant in the basement that stuck it’s little finger up through the crack in your floor to check on the weather up there. (or maybe it heard all the comotion with Jack and was checking on things. 🙂 )
Thank you for investing your time and talent with us!
OK, as a California born and bred person l was getting creeped out just picturing your basement. I lived in NYC for most of the 90’s and I visited our basement exactly twice. When your blog ended with no explanation of the plant critter I had to come to ask WHAT IS IT!!!??? I’m glad you updated the blog to explain. Isn’t nature wonderful?
Love the basement story! I refuse to go down into mine EVER again. A few years after we first moved in and I was down there doing laundry, I came across an utterly disgusting creature down there and that was it for me. My husband did laundry for six months until he moved the washer and dryer upstairs — which has been just wonderful! He is so talented. ha, ha. One of our kitties loves to live down there and my husband says that has taken care of the creatures. I’m still not going there! Ours is an 1860 adorable little farmhouse in very northern NY a couple of miles from the Thousand Islands Bridge to Canada.
Oh, I’m making your chicken stock recipe today. My son is coming home from college tomorrow and I can’t wait to make him chicken soup and chicken pot pie with it. That’s what I did with it last time when you first posted it. My husband thought I was wonderful! (I did tell him it was all you!)
You described your basement so wonderfully scary! 🙂 Can’t wait to hear what Joe finds in the basement.
New London, WI
OhSusan,
In Texas basements are rare, but how I long for one. I live in a little house built in the early 70’s with my husband of 42 years and Molly[the springer spaniel]whose feelings will be hurt if not mentioned. But back to my point, I would make friends with your basement, as I am a hoarder of fabric. My little house has fabric tucked into every conceivable hiding place. Out of sight, out of mind—no not mine, but my husbands. How delighted I would be to have a huge area to hide–oops, organize my fabrics ? It would even be coolish in our 100 plus summers.
Thank you for once again inspiring us to dream.
Shirley Burt, Aledo, Texas, west of Fort Worth
Wild and windy in Sacramento Valley, CA today…at least there is Sunshine and I see daffodils and narcissus blooming as travel to work every morning. I didn’t ever have a basement until I moved to Oregon and had one there. (I loved that house with sky lights, and big open windows!) But, I did keep my 2 teenage kids in the basement, they loved it…covered their walls with posters, set up a fly tying room and also had a nice space for storage. It was “their” space and I was happy to let them have it. But, today…I have no basement and wish I did to store some of my collections…ah, if wishes were dollars…I’d be a millionaire!
Oh, Susan… I know all about basement phobia. When I was a little girl my aunt had a basement off her kitchen and she would tell me that a ogre by the name of Youwhodee ( I don’t know if this is the correct spelling) lived down there. I was always so scared and would walk as far away from the door leading down there as possible. I had such a lovely aunt and as I got older I asked my mom why she would say such a thing and my mom said it was because my aunt thought that perhaps I would open the door to the basement out of curiosity and tumble down the stairs…. Fat chance of that happening after she frightened the curiosity out of me. I have to tell you that I share the office with my husband here at home and he gets such a kick out of the sound of the little birds when I get on your blog. He knows I am happy when I am reading all your sweet postings… By the way it is warm here in Laguna Beach, Ca.
Hello Susan,
love the Beanstock….wow…is that not cool??? Only in your house Susan…I think its neat…and thanks for sharing it with us Friends…oooooo and the Basement…I would not go down…watch too many scary movies about Basements…but you are right…it would be good in a Hurricane…I would sit there…for sure…ok, we are having 80 degrees here in So. Cal…ok…I will come closer to exact area…the Beach area in the South Bay..along the coast from Long Beach to Palos Verdes, you know the area Susan…anyway it is very warm…and we are loving it.
Thank you for sharing.
Carol O. in So. Calif.
I always LOVE the music you put on your blog! Am a big fan of old musicals, so it is right up my alley! The teacups remind me of my mom, as kids my brother and I always gave Mom either a beautiful teacup and saucer or teapot. Sadly many were broken in an accident, but I have the remains on her teacart in my dining room! Enjoy SPRING SPRING SPRING! (Riverside, California) :o)
I do LOVE the music you put on your blog. LOVE old musicals, so it is all so right up my alley. I love your teacups, reminds me of my mom. My brother and I, as kids, used to always get mom teacups or teapots for Mother’s Day. She had a good collection until her shelving collapsed and she lost many of them. I have the remains on her teacart in my dining room and love them all! Enjoy your SPRING SPRING SPRING! (Riverside, CA)
I love tea, coffee, chocolate, pastries, EVERYTHING!
I’d love to win the cups for assorted hot beverages 🙂
Happy Spring!
Hi Susan and GF’s!!… Oh, Susan I thought at first glance that you had started doing some artwork on your walls!!! Then by the second picture realized that you had a life-sized terrarium starting!! LOL.. Well, as a girl born and raised in the good ol’ Midwest, basements have always been a part of my life and am always very thankful to have one… especially in tornado season!!! We have had good ones and some not so good ones, but it is funny cause in our house that we raised our sons in… we utilized it for everything you mentioned… laundry, storage, a place for teenagers to sleep!! well, they are quite versatile!.. Loved the musica! It was a gorgeous day here today! Tomorrow promises to be cooler, but that’s o.k. I haven’t gotten my fill of cozy fires in the fireplace just yet!! Have a wonderful evening all!
Diana, from Highland, IL (close to St.Louis area!) GO CARDS/BLUES/RAMS!!!
Susan=cuteness
Hi Sue,
Boy, your talking about the spooky basement brought back many a memory for me. Our family owned a farm called Strawberry Hill in Upstate NY and the house was over 150 years old. It too had a dirty floor the wall were make out of rocks and there were “many” dark rooms down there. Just way toooooooo spoooookkkkyyy for me. My uncle used to tell us stories to make it even more spooky. I’ll be more than happy to have that fit with you if the winter next year turns out like this one did for you. I so miss the cold and snow and all the things that winter brings along with it. Living down here in Florida just isn’t the same. Don’t get me wrong…it’s nice but I sooooo misss the country living! Well, have fun with your vine (I’d snip it in a few weeks and plant it in the yard where it can cling to something and grow). Loved the basement talk! FOSB 4~Ever!
~Doreen~ from Florida
What great fun … exploring an elderly basement! That ivy plant looks like it means business … I’d get rid of it before it moves your home! We spend the summers on Bainbridge Island, WA, and English ivy is on the noxious weed list in Washington State so we go after it at first sight before it climbs up the trees and eventually causes a lot of damage. Who knew! I always thought it was beautiful. lol
It is a gorgeous sunny day here … 75 degrees. The trees are budded out and the first flowers blooming. Not much of a winter here either this year. Have a wonderful evening Sue and Joe and also to all the Girlfriends.
Jackie in Las Vegas
The only thing better than winning the teacups would be if you hand delivered them and stayed for tea 🙂
May I join you two?? 🙂
Me too…
Holiday, Florida – Soon to be Georgia!! I hope!!!!
I had a basement growing up in Connecticut and LOVED it! When summer was blazing down on us, we went to the basement where it was dark and cool! In Florida there are no basements. One of our must haves in buying a house in Georgia is a basement!!! Susan, you MUST make friends with your basement!! 🙂 LOL!!! No winter….. If you ask me, me not being a very patient person… I say we should all throw a fit now! Nevermind waiting. 🙂 We have not had a winter here either, not even by hot sweltering Florida standards!! We need a change in seasons! It is good for us to be able to look forward to the wonders of each season 🙂
The joys of living in an old house. I would not trade it for anything. Love the tea cups!
I currently don’t have a basement (live in a Condo). Growing up we had one and I was always scared to go down there.
Rosemary
I’m with you Susan… I don’t think you’d find me down in the basement either… that is unless there was a tornado or Miss Gulch (Wicked Witch of the West) coming after me on her bicycle…. scwery! :0)
I love it! That is one of the funniest and most interesting plant growing locations I have ever heard! Spring is showing up in the most unusual places. I bought a lovely bouquet of cherry blossom (?) branches at Trader Joe’s the other day, cut the ends and placed them in a vase. The buds are open now but there are also leaves growing! I may just have to plant these little guys and see what happens! I’ve never had the leaves come before. Is this common? It made me thing of Enchanted April. Remember how the walking cane sprouted?
Mission Viejo, CA
We have “that” sort of basement too. Built in 1864, it’s mostly dirt, with a bit of concrete flooring. It’s the kind of basement you need to bend over to walk through…no way I’m doing laundry down there! What makes me smile, when I do have to go down to the chest freezer, are the 6 trees that are apparently holding the house up…kinda scary!
The Woodlands, TX. It’s in the mid 80’s today. Much too warm much too early. But like there, things are blooming, like our jasmine,and petunias which never died back this winter. So at least there’s a feast for the eyes! I love putting spring flowers in pretty tea cups and giving them as gifts to friends. Hopefully one of my special girlfriends will get one of the ones I win!!!
Hi! I live in Murfreesboro, TN, which is the geographical center of Tennessee…yes, there is even a marker to prove it! We don’t have a basement, just a crawl place, and I am definitely not going under there….even in a storm!
Loving the Spring, Spring, Spring musica! It feels a little (a very little) like spring here. Yesterday….rain! Today….snow. That is spring-ish here. LOVE the little ivy growing up into the house. Everyone have basements here. They are a bit of a hassle, but good too, as you now know. Happy Spring Happenings!
jody
Love hearing about your old home and all its little nooks and crannies. That plant growing through the floor is too funny! Its growing toward the light.
Loved reading your Willard yesterday and was so excited to see the great selection of your beautiful hooked rugs available. I was lucky to get the one I wanted (Island Farm) before they were gone. Can’t wait for it to arrive. (Milltown, NJ)
I have that one, I would venture to say, you’re going to love it!
We used to live in Alaska- for 25 years- but now live in Manchester, Vermont. Still waiting for winter to come but secretly hoping for spring! Going to start seeds this weekend.
Wow we had nearly a summer day today in Nashville, Tennessee….78 degrees, but alas, tomorrow we are returning to winter with 40 degrees…yuk. We had a really great Tenn thunderstorm too….love em and they are scary too. I love your ivy growing in the house. I’m afraid my kitties would eat it up before I ever saw it…lol. They eat everything. Have a great one….Lorie
I love your blog! Please enter me in the drawing, thanks so much.
Love to read your blog. Our basement is finished but there is a small hole in the sill somewhere that we cannot find and from spring to fall whenever we have a spell of wet weather we will find a toad, frog, or salamander scurrying around on the carpet–it is always somewhat of a surprise!!!
Well, I’m glad to see the link to “mystery solved” because I was so curious to know how that plant made it into your house! Ivy is pretty amazing and grows so fast. Our old house had a side yard covered in it! Thanks for your newsy, happy posts – they always make me smile. And you are TOOO fun to do all these giveaways!
I live in Dothan, AL – about an hour from the Florida beaches!
I love a basement! and always have, although a little creepy. The house I grew up in, as the house I live in how, has a “dug out” dirt floor basement. Where all the essentials are kept…hot water heater, furnace, electrical box. But I do have to admit that there are times when I do send my hubby down into Man Country when one of those things goes whacky! As for the Attic… a little different story for me. Growing up in my parents home there was a crawl space attic in there 100 year old home that was always creepy!! it made for, and still does, the best Halloween house on the block. I spent my entire childhood sleeping under the opening to the attic in the ceiling of my bedroom… talk about letting the imagination run wild! To make matters worse, the house has one of those star windows on the front, you know the kind, in the south. Maybe you dont? Not sure if they have those in other places… anyway, every time you would drive by or walk by your own house you would be looking at that window- waiting for some creepy face to be leering back at you. Thankfully that never happened… yet! ha ha!
Now I have an older home of my own, and the attic is partially finished and actually that is where my craft room is, and where I spend most of the hours of my day, and where I am right now! So I have overcome the fear of the attic. Now… I’d have to say I’m more afraid of the ENGLISH IVY!!!!! and the damage those things can do. You are a brave woman to let that thing live!!! I would like the spiders better, at least they wont tear the brick work in your house apart…. but that’s another story, for another day!!
Have a great day girlfriends!
Amy Lynn
in Southwest Virginia!
Hi there girlfriends!! I live in Brazil, IN – it is about 56 degrees and overcast. Brazil is a small town about 65 miles southwest of Indianapolis. My house has a basement and it is creepy. I mean really creepy. I don’t ever go down there unless I absolutely have to go. EeK!!
I just love this blog because it feels like a big family. Thank you Susan for bringing us all together!!
GOD Bless. Love and Hugs, Tricia B. XOXOXOXOXOXO
I am going to try reposting this comment as I don’t thin it has shwon up as yet — just found it still saying awaiting moderation and it’s after 9:30 in the East — can’t imagine how it got lost but — hope it’s okay this time around.
dottie says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
February 23, 2012 at 3:13 pm
Have had a lot of smiles reading the comments today — and loved all the locations — saw two OH posts in a row — Hi, Greenfiled for one — I’m a born Buckeye girl myself though I have been in the OC for forty plus years now — well, except for the five we lived in Belgium. And the OC is NOT like that unless you are money, money people which I am not — just in case anyone remembers the “reality” show. So plants growing into the house — I’ve had that and can’t wait to hear what’s up with your little sprout. Basements? Oh yes, LOVE my basements — all of them — the little rooms at the first one — under the front porch storage space, along the wall two fruit cellars, in the opposite corner the coal cellar — close to the coal furnace and a couple other small ones. the wringer washer and the two rinse tubs lived there and Monday laundry days were a party for children as long as we kept out from under foot when mom, grandma, great aunt and sometimes an aunt were busy doing load after load of laundry to be carried out the slant cellar doors at the back of the house and hung either in the yard on the lines or on lines under the back porch — and in spring — spring time cleaning — the lace curtains stretched on pin edge curtain stretchers drying in the sun. Summertime between Mondays — found us lounging in cool water in those big laundry tubs hauled out to the side yard! Storms found us in the basement. Always a basement till moved to CA long ago. No rea l attic though. Then came Belgium — they have some basements there — high ceilinged with arched stone over one’s head — strange little cubbies here and there uneven floors. And attics there one could have moved into multi level houses and still an attic above. LOVE houses — they’re all unique and all the same — to shelter us and give a home to cherish place and people.
this dottie’s in the OC
Sorry Dottie, here it is!! We had company for dinner last night, couldn’t get to all the comments in time!!
I just had the thought that it might go poof into the ether somewhere so — lazily — didn’t want to reformulate all that and try to post again and aimed for cut and paste. I thought it might have somehow fallen out of sight and if I simply posted again it might help. I can’t believe you can keep up with this place as well as you DO — no need to appologize for the vagaries of how these posts show up for you. Loved this post as it brought back so many good childhood memories associated with basements — even more than I spoke of here.
Well, I just feel bad when people don’t understand why their post doesn’t go right up — believe me you aren’t the only one, so I don’t mind telling it at all, then everyone will understand how this works. I never knew myself until I started the blog!
Hi Susan,
I’ve always loved basements! They are such great places to “play.” As a child, I can still remember roller skating in the basement on cold, winter days! When I bought my own home, I was looking for a house with an unfinished basement. I still like to “play” downstairs whenever I’m working on a messy project, like refinishing furniture or craft projects.
We live just west of Chicago and are expecting several inches of snow tonight. It won’t be long until Springtime arrives here,too! Can’t wait to see my garden wake up again!
Snowy hugs for all!
I was at an Antique shop recently and founc]d 3 pink chintz saucers- and 2 cups- just had to rescue them and put them on the shelf in my kitchen. tea was delicious in the cup and 2 of the saucers look adorable on the plate rack in the kitchen! Thank you for pointing them out to us! They are ADORABLE!!
Oh so happy you found some!
Susan, I don’t have a basement, but my youngest DD does. It is creepy. The stairs are open on each side, so I always feel like I am going to fall when I go down them. They bought this house, just before they got married. It was built in 1920, 2 bedrooms. They have been married 3 1/2 yrs & have a 18 mos. old & 4 mos. old so lots & lots of laundry. The laundry is down there, so being good Mom I am tried to help her with laundry some while she was preg. or had just given birth. It is probably 1/2 size of their house, but one side of it goes under it & you can see the earth. I hate going down there & was always afraid she would fall. They also have an attic, but it is finished. She makes jewelry, so she works up there. It has a very narrow, steep stairway.
It is sure acting like spring is here, lots of bulbs plants are sprouting up. It was 70 here today. I remember once when I was a kid in 60’s we got a 12 ” snow in March. The weather is certainly different, seasons seem to be all mixed up. From Mid Missouri. Love your posts. Diane
Had to chuckle when I saw the greenery coming into the house. We had a tiny snake come in through a crack one time. Would love to win the flowered cups!
Oh, my, I now have a new favorite pattern. Would love to have these to start my collection…..
I love the ivy growing thru your floor. I undestand how you might want to leave it there for a while. A nice Spring surprise. In Modesto, Spring has arrived, the almond trees are starting to bloom. I’m tempted to cut a branch for my table. I won’t though……. Love the tea cups! So pretty!
I do hope you’ll let us know what’s happening down in the basement! The only basement I ever visited was in an 80 year old school where I was Principal. We never went down there except to find old student records. Well, my custodian went down….
Yes, send out the custodian! 🙂
Basements are just too scary for me. Going down the stairs and then…… creepy, crawlies and things that go bump in the night. I have shivers just thinking about them.
Beautiful today in San Luis Obispo, California and those cups would be perfectly wonderful in my house.
Thank you for all happiness you bring to all of us.
Just love your blog and photos and reading about all your adventures! Your basement story brought back memories of my late grandfather’s cellar with a dirt floor. I was only down there a few times since he lived out of state, but I remember the dirt smell and all the tools, jars, etc. How we kids wanted to explore!
But we did spend time up in the attic filled with all kinds of attic stuff. We could only last so long because it got really hot and had that attic smell! What memories!
I think your little plant is adorable, it sure knows who to visit!
Thanks for sharing all your talent!
P.S . Crossing my fingers for the teacups!
!
hi susan…I just LOVE reading your blog…look forwards to each new post. I am from Kansas, smack in the middle of the United States of America…where Dorothy and Toto are from. Love everything Wizard of Oz…except that darn tornado…we don’t like those, not one bit, and I guess I’m not real fond of that darn wicked witch of the west either!…Thats another story! Have a great day, Judy
Your name is Judy … you probably sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow!
Spring has sprung and the daffodils are about 2″ tall and naturally a snowstorm predicted for tonight here in Illinois. I live in Homer Glen a south west suburb of Chicago. I also hate basements. Even though mine is not creepy, still don’t like them. I liked it better when I lived in Florida and there weren’t any basements but there were lots of snakes and I am not sure which is worse.
Yes, you have your basements in one hand, and snakes in the other. I think, yes, definitely, I will have the basement!
Wow your basement is pretty creepy looking. I wouldn’t go down there either! I can’t wait to hear what was discovered with the rogue plant in you home.
Wow your basement is pretty creepy looking. I wouldn’t go down there either! I can’t wait to hear what was discovered with the rogue plant in you home.
Charlene in southern California
North Kingstown, R.I. had a nice Spring day today. I have some grape hyacinth and crocus popping up but no color yet. Once though, I had a beautiful rose bush from a cutting of my great grandmother’s roses and it was planted on the side of my house. I never really paid much attention to it unless it was blooming but all of a sudden I noticed that it was coming right into my bedroom through the screen in the window…which was on the SECOND floor!!! We moved it to a very nice trellis in the back and it was very happy. Love the tea cups and love you!!
When I saw the little plant, I was reminded of driving through the mountains and seeing trees coming out of rocks!! Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
What a beautiful camilla! Our camilly bush hasn’t started blooming here in sunny Southern California. Our daffodils have begun to bloom, however, the earliest ever. An early spring for us, too.
Orange, California
LOL Susan, The basement creeps me out too and I was raised with one. But my sister would lock me down there and turn out the lights. I liked spiders though and chased her with them, so I guess I was even. but too this day I’m very very afraid of the dark….BOO!
Have a Happy Weekend!!!!
Ain’t childhood grand? 🙂
Hi Susan….from Beaver Falls PA. Right outside of Pittsburgh,but sometimes I think I live on Martha’s Vineyard with a best girlfriend next door named Susan,with two precious kitties,and a wonderful guy named Joe.Thank you for that,and for all the great books you’ve introduced me too,and all the music,and all the wonderful old movies,and recipes.Thank you for the trips,the dinners,brunches.Thank you for Jack and girl kitty,most of all,thank you for making so many people happy!!!! XOXOXO Ruthie
Lol…I meant Susan who has two precious kitties and a guy named Joe.I have a sweet dog named Molly and a guy named Pete 😉
Thank YOU for saying that xoxo!
Spring is still a long way off here in the foothills of Mt. Rainer in Washington state. We get SO MUCH rain here that if you have a basement it most likely has flooded at some point. When we were thinking of moving to Maryland I adored all the finished basements. It was like an extra room! But we are still here, in our old house and still very much in rainy, cold and blustery winter. Sigh…
While it might be a little odd I think it’s kind of nice. It’s trying to tell you that spring is right around the corner. Unexpected things are the best. I love it! Have a great day.
I’m in central Illinois now, (with nothing but a big crawl space under the house, darnit) but I grew up in Missouri, where we had a big old Victorian with a big basement, and I used to love it down there. In the back part, that is, with the concrete floor, and the old davenport for my girlfriend and me to lounge on, and the litters of kittens that usually ended up there, and the washer and dryer and shelf upon shelf of pretty canned stuff in Mason jars to admire. I’d read books for hours down there, snug in an old quilt. And run out the back cellar door to the garden or the fruit trees for snacks, then back to my books…
But…. the basement’s big front “room” was another story… dirt floor, lower “ceiling” (floor joists), dark and cobwebby – and there was an old fridge where Dad kept his earthworms, or fishin’ worms, as he called them. We sold them in the spring and summer for a little extra pocket money. I used to hurry in there, load up a container, and rush back out to the relative comfort and safeness of the back part – fast as I could, since it was scary up there!
I miss having a big ole’ basement – and then there were the root or storm cellars that both Grannies had, (they called them by both names) but those are another story! Thanks for bringing back the memories! 🙂
Loved them!
I woke up to falling “snow” in Bakersfield, California this morning. Of course it was only the blossom petals from our blooming ornamental pear trees. Our patio is covered in white. They always bloom in February and have reached their peak. Soon they will be entirely green. Love your spooky story telling. I think that little plant working its way to your hallway is so funny. Keep us posted.
Good Evening,
Thank you for all that you do to bring such joy and happiness into my life and millions of others. 🙂
I absolutely LOVE all your books and I look forward to your blog and Willard. You are so wonderful, I wish I could meet you someday.
(I live in southern Illinois and it was 69 degrees today.)
Please enter me in all drwings, I would cherish anything and everything coming from you.
I am your biggest fan … no I am NOT Kathy Bates from “Misery!” LOL
Take care, love you.
Barbara B.
Hi Susan
You made me giggle this evening! I’ve always lived in places with a basement so they are not scary places to me, but your descriptions of why you fear of basements made me laugh! You are such a clever writer! I hope that plant was not something that was causing damage to your foundation, and that Joe took care of it!
Yes, it has been a nice, mild winter…but I certainly hope it doesn’t mean we will have a terrible spring/summer! I don’t mind heat, but I could do without humidity!
Hugs,
Pat
Brooklyn, New York
Greetings from South Texas! Love your blog and always special to have music to listen to while reading it. Thanks for having drawings for such beautiful items.
Love your blog! And I’d really like to win the tea cups; they are pretty!
Writing from the suburbs of Jackson, MS.
Here in Omaha, winds gusting, windows rattling and me …… well, I’m cozy in bed reading my friend Susan’s blog of course!! Ahhhhh, alls right with the world. 🙂
Hello Susan! Today I picked up some Zinnia flower seeds to start growing indoors, so I can plant them outdoors, come Spring. How exciting that you have a surprise “sprout” already waving “hello” and announcing Springtime indoors, making a personal visit to you!!!!!! That little ivy is adorable!!!! Has Jack or Girl Kitty made friends with it yet? I wonder what they will do when they come face to face with that happy little sprout? Now that would make a cute children’s story!!!!! Good night from Dearborn, Michigan…..home of Henry Ford!!!)
Susan, I loved seeing the pictures from your Anniversary dinner party…you really don’t leave out a thing it seems, and it is great that you share all the beauty! Always getting ideas reading your posts…you are so creative! Thank you always, for taking the time to let us all enjoy your world. Not sure about the basement (I don’t have one) but good luck! It’s been a moderate temp. day in Indianapolis today. Can’t wait for spring!
thanks for the smiles today…and I see from a previous post i was not the only one imagining Joe descending the steps a la Indiana Jones( handsome man,your Joe…he’d suit the part!) armed with a machete ;..and the basement full of rampant greenery . 🙂
“kia Ora” from Tauranga,New Zealand.
When I was three years old my Mother came home early to find the babysitter kissing a boyfriend and when she found me ..I had been locked up in the basement and I was sitting on the steps crying my heart out! My other memory of basements is a babysitter who had a big, black bearskin rug at the bottom of the stairs to her basement and I was always reluctant to have to go down there to play……..ugh to basements….I am with you!!
Your mom must have had a FIT!