Yesterday from 2 pm to 6 pm Lou Ann & I hosted an open house for our island community. Finally I had completed almost all of the work on my new (old) house. All of the antique electric wall sconces were installed, the red enameled gas log stove was hooked up in the parlor, the bathroom mirrors were hung above the sinks, and the last piece of quarter-round molding in the kitchen was finally nailed to the floor.
We cleaned and swept and vacuumed. We polished the brass and shined the silverware. Pumpkins and Indian corn adorned the front steps. Ocracoke Preservation Society sent a beautiful fall flower arrangement. The folks at the Flying Melon Restaurant carried in trays of vegetables, fruit, cheeses, & sweets. The punch bowl was filled to the rim. We opened bottles of Merlot, Shiraz, and Chardonnay. A fire was burning in the cast iron stove.
For four hours family, friends, and neighbors stopped by, toured the house, snacked, looked at old photos, and told stories (not a few about the house, my grandparents, and other assorted relatives).
Sandwiched between days of rain and wind, the day was just about perfect -- bright & sunny, and cool enough to fire up the stove, but warm enough to enjoy the screened porch. All in all, we couldn't have asked for a better day.
Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the Old August Storm of 1899, published September 15, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news091505.htm.
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Sounds like a Great Open House!!
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of "cast iron stove"??
Will be on the Island week of Nov. 5th, will stop by towards end of week when wife comes down to join me.
You'd need the cast iron stove today, its blowing snow & sleet here in the NC mountains today.
See you in a few weeks,
Nollie
NC Mtns.
Glascock Stove Historian / Collector - founded by my great, great grandfather 1873.
www.Glascockstove.com
Hello again, Once again I am reminded of why I so love to visit Ocracoke...The visions of all of your friends and relatives coming to admire your work brings back memories of winters here in Vermont and the whole family gathering at my grandparent's home for a grand sledding party. Mostly the kids outside on the sleds, but the warmth of coming in to the home
ReplyDeleteand melting by the fireplace, the smell of woolen mittens drying on racks by the stove, and hot chocolate or tea to warm the insides...Not quite the same, but still similar memories. Hope that you are warm and dry after the remnants of the hurricaine passed you by. We had between six and twelve inches of snow here on the 25th...Judy