Thursday Doors – French Style

A couple of years ago I was luckily traveling in France. Here are a couple of doors. I was not posting doors then but these captured me.

Whole doorway.

Close up of door.

Amazing work over the door.

It Was Just One Of Those Years – 99 Word

We were going through a rough patch it seemed. Steve had the radiator cap blow off and sprayed him – severe burns. We had just recently discovered our “dream” house had no insulation in the walls or ceiling – no easy fix available. My dad had a major stroke and passed away after 3 weeks in the hospital – my universe crumbled.

Sometimes when we look back it feels like years are marked by bad stuff and some by good. This year many of us had a collective bad year. Now is the time to focus on our good stuff for this year.

Inside Doors

I have been sharing some doors from this interesting area and have a friend who lives in a fabulous house here. I thought it would be fun to see some of the doors inside the house. The doors that separate and exit to the outside are about 10 feet high with the trim. All are solid wood.

Both sections of this door open.

One of 2 interior doors with a transom.

Built-in from the dining room, bottom portion.

The fact that these are intact in a house that is well over 100 years old is such a bonus. Hope you enjoy as much as I do.

The Cottages – Thursday Doors

These early spring days with sunshine are reason enough to walk about, adding door photos is a bonus. This time I focused on the “cottages” and these are nothing like a lake or mountain cottages. These homes are typically one floor with attic and sometimes basement space. One family lived in the building and were one step above the factory or shop workers. Perhaps a supervisor or manager. Most are mixed in with the 3 flat apartment houses.

Here is a row of 8 houses. These are typically brick (after the Chicago fire) and decorated but not elaborate.

Today many of these are turned into 2 or 3 apartments. They have dormers added to the attic space and often a door added for access to a basement/garden apartment. Here’s this week’s door assortment.

Sweet Potatoes – 99 Words

Photo by Nastasya Day on Pexels.com

We only look for sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving. They are dripping with butter and brown sugar, I try to ease it a bit with pineapple chunks, then we drown everything in marshmallos. I do love to eat this knowing it will come around next year.

With half as many people last year I made twice as much food. I have gained a lot of weight and what does my dieters group suggest. Sweet Potatoes.

So my current schedule is to add potatoes to every meal. That should really help my weight loss journey. Once Covid leaves I will start.

Challenge # 50 Beach Time

This challenge comes from a small writing group.  We have a large series of random questions that we answer and share.  The goal is to answer at least one per week.  My personal goal is to do this for one full year. I am so glad this is almost over, it has now reached the tedious level and I have no plans for after it’s over. I know the writing group is getting together but I have not been brave enough to attend a gathering of that sort yet.

Question: You’re barefoot in the sand on a beach, and the waves run over your toes. Describe what you are feeling.

Beach Time

Relaxed and peaceful, just watching the water come and go, listening to the sounds of the water and birds. Whenever I go on vacation by the beach I do the opposite of most of my friends. I love to be up before the sun and watch a sunrise over the water. Next once the sun is fully up I enjoy walking barefoot in the sand just to soak in everything.

My second favorite thing is to watch the sunset, like in Florida it depends on which side of the state I am on. If you look at my stored photos you will see endless sunrise and sunset photos.

I have also taken far too many photos of my own foot in the sand and water. Almost ashamed to admit that I have posted these pictures on line. It has been well over a year since I have been able to go to a beach and I can only hope it happens this year. I may have to stop up the bathtub so the water overflows and raid the kids sandbox so I can walk in the surf and sand soon!

Thursday Doors II

Last week in Doors my subjects were colorful and elegant and in some cases very unique. That portion of the city was built by industry leaders. Store and/or shop owners, manufacturers, attorneys and doctors.

This week I am only 6 blocks away but these are 2 or 3 or 4 apartments in each building. It’s where the workers lived who staffed the shop or factory. Most have 4 or 5 buildings per block with the corner buildings being mostly 12 flats or small shops. The neighborhood grocer or tavern or deli. Sometimes a small church. A very different feel only 6 blocks away.

99 Words Only – Frozen Life

Under the 3 feet of snow a small world has been surviving. About 5 years ago I put out a small fairy house, knowing they would arrive, because who doesn’t believe in fairies. All the magical things that happened to the flower beds must be their doing.

How did one purple tulip appear amid white ones? Who protected my delicate blooms from freezing during an unexpected early frost? Where did that pesky squirrel go who decided to taste every tomato last year.

Now that snow is melting and the house is visible from under the snow, what treats can we expect?