A New House, Family Memories and Our Home on Pine Street

A New House

This week we have been busy getting Clayton's new house ready. Painting, flooring and setting up a kitchen for someone who at best can make Kraft Macaroni and Cheese have kept me busy.

We tease Clayton that unfortunately takes after his Grandfather Schultz not Pahlke. Growing up he would hear Grandpa Schultz's common phrase "Shirley make me a sandwich". My mother-in-law would make a face, laugh if she saw us watching and ask him what kind of sandwich he wanted. We would tease her and she would assure us that it did not bother her.

My father, on the other hand, was quite the cook. Granted it all took place in his favorite skillet, but he made everything from egg sandwiches to porkchops. The funniest part of all of this is Clayton grew up with his father doing the majority of the cooking. His retort is that he can read so he will be able to cook for himself. This should be interesting.

Our Home on Pine Street

While we were prepping Clayton's house for painting I started remembering all the pictures of my parents moving into the house on Pine Street. Once we lived there a while Dad decided we needed a basement, so one weekend the house was 'raised' and the basement dug and poured. I am sure it was much more complicated than that, but since I was about 5 years old, that is how I remember it.

My sister Mary was born in 1961 and there were more changes to our home. Mom and Dad decided we needed more room and an inside entrance to the basement. The family room and master bedroom were added opening up our small kitchen. Oh and my room was cut in half with the new stairway to the basement. Mmmm maybe that had something to do with my attitude toward my new baby sister? Naw.....

Looking back on the pictures of the house on Pine Street I see how the house grew into a home. When we first moved in my Uncle Larry and various cousins and friends slept on a 'convertable sofa' on the recently screened in 'coal porch'. Years later when Mary was born we added more rooms. When I was married my half bedroom became the dressing room for the expanded bathroom. Mom and Dad were either sure Chuck was the right man for me or wanted me to know I was on my own.

The point is when you are looking back on your family history think about the places you have lived and relate the circumstances that may have influenced when your family moved, enlarged the house or when other family members came to live with you.

I think I may be uncovering more reasons I refer to myself as an only child.

Just joking Mary!

Take Care,
Pattie

P.S.
The first picture is me sitting on the side porch around 1954. The second picture is Mary in either 1963 or 1964.

Looking at these pictures I realized that the addition to the house was later than I remembered. If you look to the right of the house in the picture of Mary you can see that Dad built his garage BEFORE Mom got her new master bedroom.

I think it is time to make a timeline for the various phases of the family home.