Saturday, July 4, 2009

Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest...

Certain people have often wondered where we live. While it is possible to look on a map, even to the point of getting satellite pictures that nearly allow you to count the number of tiles on our roof, it still lacks the personal touch, and hides great deal of what our "home" looks like, rather than simply our "house". With that in mind, I have assembled a few photographs, depicting all of the rooms in our house, and making up our home; with appropriate commentary, of course. So, sit back relax, and enjoy a free tour of the Hector family abode....


First off, this is our living room. Honestly, the room we spend the most time in as a family. Devotions, reading, talking and quite a bit of playing are done here, especially during the winter, when the woodstove adds a special glowing allure to the room!


Just behind the living room is the "studio". All of our houses have had one room christened by this name, since the days when my mom ran her own graphic design business out of the very first Hector home. It has just stuck.


Also off the living room is our dining room. Meals here are always a loud and enjoyable affair. It took a great deal of time to find a table big enough to fit all of us, and at the same time fit with all of the design requirements (width was an important one).


Through the door in the dining room is the kitchen. Perhaps the most important room in the house! We recently painted all of the cabinets white, and it looks a whole lot brighter and cheerier since then!


Care to take a guess how much laundry passes through here in a week?


No one should have to see our garage!


We added on to the house about six years ago, this is one of the rooms that was added, called the "Great Room". Plenty of space to clear for dances!


"Stairway to Heaven". Actually, it just goes upstairs, nice pictures, though...


At the top of the stairs in the master bath, with plants in it! Who has plants in their bathroom? It is just weird!



A room with a view, the master bedroom. Any guesses as to who sleeps here? Hint: It is not Sara.


View with a room! See there is green.....


Our much beloved oasis. All it needs are some palm trees....


Our back yard is where we eat many summer dinners, lots of bbq! (More green!)


Here is the hallway, down to the West Wing. Our front door is just off the camera, to the right, but no one ever uses that door. We come in the back way, like family.


What a funny place to keep coats...


Girl's room, with GIRLS!


The girl's bathroom is decorated with "original" Winnie the Pooh motif. Even the shower curtain.


This shot was taken to show the old master bedroom, aka. boys room, at it's best angle, and the one that didn't show the large pile of stuff in the lower right....


Nic's room is the old master bedroom closet, which was HUGE. As you can see, he likes his little hideaway.


Boy's bathroom, big, isn't it? Now, picture this filled with six guys, all trying to get ready for church at 6:45am. Small, isn't it?


Back deck, a peaceful place to repose under the spreading of the mighty oaks.


Here is the bunkhouse, where Thomas and Ben sleep.


Ok, there isn't a big stone fireplace, rolling ladders, or a spiral staircase, but it is still a pretty cool library, because it is FULL of books. The rest can come later.


Lastly, Thomas and Ben's bedroom. This was painted by our whole family a few years ago, since the plain white walls did not fit the refined "flair" that was being looked for. Yes, the flag clashes with the wall color, but it still adds to the room's flavor.


So, that is our home. If y'all are ever in the area, give us a shout, and we'd be more than happy to put you up for the night!

Now, I'm off to go take a dip in the Oasis! Later.....

13 comments:

JB said...

Nice pictures Ben. Have you considered real estate - your photos are far better than any house for sale flier I've ever seen.

Kind of fun to see our home through the eyes of the camera. I'm off to put new light bulbs in the girls' bath - I just noticed on the photo...

I still believe our house is better in person and with people in it of course!

LY, Mom

Hec @ 19 said...

This place looks strangely familiar, I know I've been there before.

kymk99 said...

Matthew said the flag hanging in Ben and Thomas' room has the right colors, but not enough stripes going in the right direction. :o)

Mrs. Reynolds :o)

Cheryl (Copper's Wife) said...

Ooooo, such fun to see all the changes since we were there. You really do have a warm and lovely home. BTW, I don't think it's weird at all to have plants in the master (or any) bathroom, Ben. ;-)

Hec @ 19 said...

Don't be trash talkin' my garage. It's very guy friendly. It kinda looks like your bedroom.

Simply Tiffany said...

Yeah!! It's one of the posts I've been looking forward to! Come now, Ben, your photography isn't as bad as you say it is!

Hey, you've seen our garage, right? ;)

Okay, now that is one massive couch! That is the new one, right?

Plants in bathrooms are very nice...especially when you have hanging greenery coming from the ceiling like we do. :)

lol, yes, while there is very little of it, there is some green...:)

Ha! Your line about the boy's bathroom sounds like a line from a Dr. Seuss book.

Love home...thanks for posting.

Mrs. H.,

Houses are always better in person, especially when such delightful people reside there. :)

Jessica McDonald said...

The "Great Room" is definitely my favorite room! Those windows are nice and big - I love them!

Thank you for sharing those, Ben!

Hugs to Y'all, Jess

Simply Tiffany said...

Ha! It was supposed to be "Love the home..." *smile* I need to get some sleep...

Miss Amy said...

It's a wonderful home, but even more wonderful are the people who live in it! We have many wonderful memories of staying in your house!!!! I can't wait for the next time!!! :-)
We miss you all!!!

DeusPrimus said...

Mom,

Any light bulbs yet?

Mrs. R & Matthew,

I kind of like the stripes they way they are. I pray frequently that you will see the light....

Mrs. L,

No comment. At least they aren't plastic.


Dad,

When my bedroom is messy, it takes 10 minutes to clean up. I'd like to see how far 10 minutes would get you in the garage. I will admit, it is guy friendly, except when I trip over the anvil....

Tiff,

My photography may not be bad, but when compared to the high standards by which I am surrounded, there is no home for my self esteem, it is a smoldering pile of ash in a vacant lot, sitting in the midst of Bel Air mansions. How can I compete?

Yes, but you haven't seen ours....

Yep! That is the new one, very comfortable it is.

Which bathroom has the plants!?!?! I don't remember that.

Jess,

We love our windows!

Tiff (again),

Yes, you do! Rest, relax, sleep!

Amy,

Neither can we!

Later,

BFH

Melanie H. said...

A lovely house which is home to lovely people. At least, we're pretty convinced y'all are lovely people. Still dissapointed that y'all didn't make it to Washington. Next year perhaps (please)?!

-MKH

P.S. Watched 'Gods and Generals' the other night. Gotta' appreciate the Union Jack in the big boys room. :-D

kymk99 said...

Well, since our whole family is now members of the Sons of Union Veterans and the Auxilliary of the Sons of Union Veterans (thanks to my great-great-great grandfather who died at Andersonville Prison) I don't think we will be joining the south any time soon. :o) But we do love spending time with all our southern lovin' friends! :o)

Mrs. Reynolds :o)

Joy said...

Kay and I enjoyed seeing pictures of your house! (Though I noticed that there are no longer bunkbeds in the bunkhouse...)