Sunday, January 3, 2010

The Family Home

One of the things that I love about going home is, well...home. My parents have lived in the same house since 1981, and over the years it has come to reflect who they are and what my family holds dear. Each time I come in the front door after being away (as I did just a few weeks ago) I feel as though I'm walking into a familial embrace.

The kitchen is probably where I spent most of my waking hours at home growing up. The day always began with a fortifying cup of tea

(Mom and Dad's tea stash, 2009)

which I suppose explains my enduring dedication to the morning ritual of the teapot.

There were always recipes to try out and ingredients available to make them,

(the dry goods and cookbook wall, 2009)

and plenty of implements at hand, ready to be employed in culinary service.

(the most highly trafficked kitchen countertop, 2009)

The nightly family dinner was a tradition that was adhered to faithfully,

(Christmas roast, Christmas 2009)

to which I attribute my family's general functionality and affection for one another. And accommodations were always made for whatever food regimes my sister and I were trying out at the time (although my sister has been vegan for more than a decade now so I suppose she's past the "try out" phase).

(Christmas tofu, Christmas 2009)

Fauna have always been welcomed, from the ever-present cats

(Zazie and Abby, 2009)

to the birds which my parents feed religiously (with three different types of bird feeders, meant for three different categories of bird),

(Mom and Dad's front yard, 2009)

to the butterflies they attract through strategic choices of flowering plant in the garden.

And of course the fauna is no less important, not only outside (and there is a lot of outside), but inside as well.

(an amaryllis and Christmas Cactus, kitchen, 2009)

(an extraordinarily prolific vine, kitchen, 2009)

Music was always encouraged,

(my sister's cello and sheet music, 2009)

travel was always endorsed,

(spare bedroom bookshelf, 2009)

and the mementos from such travels are kept at hand, to serve as reminders of adventures past.

(an oil lamp from Turkey, standing in as a mistletoe holder, 2009)

Nostalgia for earlier days is appreciated,

(my Sassy magazines from the 1990s, which my mom has kindly retained, 2009)

and above all, family. Relatives of today,

(Mom and Dad's dresser, 2009)

relatives of yesteryear,

(Mom and Dad's hallway, 2009)

and the things that they treasured

(holiday table set with grandma's linen and silver, embroidered and engraved with a "K" for her married name, and with great grandma's china, 2009)

are never far from mind, eye or heart.

Here's wishing you all a new year filled with the love and happiness of your families.

17 comments:

Mise said...

That's a great sense of a happy and busy family life! I admire the quantity of cookbooks.

brismod said...

I'm surprised you ever moved out? But you are right - there is nothing more comforting than going back home to family.

Jane said...

What lovely images. And dare I say it I think your parents are reasonably far along the hippie 1960s spectrum!! But clearly sensible hippies. Love the Christmas Tofu how accomodating of them. My mother would have made my sister a green salad and said that's it. Happy New Year.
XOXO

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

What a wonderful family you grew up in..you were lucky...and best of all.....you know it....

love the tea and cookbooks and pantry and the kitchen....just perfect....

wishing you a peaceful and happy new year, Laura..

Love,
kary
xxx

Angie Muresan said...

There is no place like the home one grew up in. So pleased that you enjoyed it. Happy 2010 to you, Laura!

Laura said...

Mise - And that is the pared down version!

brismod - Yes, I wonder myself sometimes why I ever left the nest...

Jane - They are indeed, although they have certainly evolved from the 60s, which not all of their friends have!

Kary - And you as well!

Angie - Agreed, it is quite a special place. Happy new year to you as well!

Pinecone Camp said...

I love the shot of the Christmas tofu!
Actually, it does look good.
Happy New year!

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

Oh Laura, New York does sound cold...
Thanks for stopping by...

wish you were here, dear friend...

more later

love,
kary
xxx

Unknown said...

That oil lamp was from Turkey - you should remember, you were there when I bought it!

Laura said...

Robin - Noted and amended. I have no recollection of this purchase by the way, but then it was a while ago.

Unknown said...

I hope when my daughter is older, she will blog about our home and how it makes her feel. Looks like a beautiful family home full of love and good food!

Samy said...

Aww what a sweet post, like the above, I hope one day my daughter blogs about this house which I try everyday to feel like a good home, this way. I love the pictures in the hallway :)

Elaine Prunty said...

hello laura and thanks for your very kind comments on my blog, you are welcome to come sit in my sitting room anytime......i'm delighted to find your blog now and all these new york secrets you'll be sharing.
Your parents home looks really wonderful...are pj tips a new york kinda thing? i love that there's a magazine called sassy.

La Belette Rouge said...

There is something so very touching about these portraits of your family home. Really lovely.

Happy New Year to you, Laura!

gina said...

What an amazing and creative atmosphere- I'm totally inspired.

Jeanne Henriques said...

Great post, brought back lots of memories!
Happy New Year...Jeanne :)

Anonymous said...

A lovely and very affectionate post. And also really wonderful to see glimpses of a family home, lived in rather than simply 'decorated'. Feels real.
Anon.

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