Saturday, September 18, 2010

Nido de Amor

I think I first fell in love with the love. It wasn’t the house we eventually purchased that made me fall in love with our neighbourhood. It was the modest bungalow down the street.

When my son was about two months old I began attending a postnatal physiotherapy class for moms whose backs were still sore from childbirth. It was about then I was realizing my son came with loads of “stuff” and our cosy – and finally renovated to our taste! – house was too small for the three of us. After class, my son would fall asleep in the car and I began to take that opportunity to cruise neighbourhoods looking for a new home for my little family.


The bungalow was pale yellow, with a little tyndall stone around the front door. It was nestled in amongst mature shrubs and perennials. Not a house you would probably take notice of; there were plenty that style and this one had no added features, good or bad, to attract looks from the sidewalk. Except for that sign out front. Tucked in a rugosa rose that had long overtaken it, there was a hand carved sign that read “Nido de Amor”.


[This is Gryffindor, our front door lion who keeps us strong and brave]

That evening at home I asked my husband what that meant. He said it was probably something to do with “Love Nest”. Oh. How lovely. As a new mom, that went straight to my heart. I imagined the husband, thirty or forty years ago, carving that sign for his little family. I imagined the day he pounded the post in the ground, hung the sign and, together with his wife, planted the rose. So I went back the next week after physio and drove by it again. Then I began exploring the neighbourhood and was smitten.

My requirements were pretty specific. I wanted a two storey home, the master bedroom facing the back garden, a family room on the main floor, a powder room on the main floor, interior walls (I like actual rooms), and a good-sized back garden with mature trees. I also wanted to be near a large natural wooded area with trails I could wander and dream. A river or creek would be nice, too.


I found my house. It came up for sale about six doors down from the yellow bungalow. It was in dire need of renovations, the gardens were a wreck, the fence was fallen, but the bones were good and the inspection proved the house was sound. Best of all, the back garden was a tabula rasa with a stand of large trees at the back casting dappled light over the garden in the evening.

We have been here three years now and are gradually working on the house and garden while raising our little son. I have never been happier.


The little yellow bungalow is for sale now. A few days after the For Sale sign went up the Nido de Amor sign came down. I hope they are taking it with them to wherever their next stop is. It some ways, I feel the sign is still here and that they have passed it on to us. Thank you, little bungalow, for sharing the love.

21 comments:

Victoria said...

Beautiful post...i love the doorknocker..gorgeous!! Wonderful photos!! Lovely!

Anonymous said...

Dear Ms S, How beautifully romantic. I am so pleased that you found a house to love and cherish and I am sure that your garden will be just perfect one day too.

Dave said...

I wish we had a view of the back garden from the 2nd floor bedroom. We've been thinking of putting in a dormer. As well as giving us more opportunity to enjoy the garden, it would improve the air circulation in the summer. Only trouble is the loud and obnoxious hyena boy in the rental next door. Oh well, winter is upon us and maybe someone more responsible will move in next. It would be great to look down on the birds at the pond and bubbler in the early summer mornings.

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Kiki: Thanks, Kiki! I was seeking a lion door knocker and finally found one whose "gravitas" was perfectly suited, not too fierce and not too friendly. :)

Dear Edith: I am glad you enjoyed the romance in my little story about our quest for our home. It is deeply satisfying to put down roots here and make this our home.

Dave: Go for it! The hyena boy won't be there forever and your garden will be. Enjoy it! It is amazing how often I look out that window to get a full view of the garden. It is one of my favourite views.

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

Such beautiful writing, thank you for sharing your story with us. Your Gryffindor is amazing. Our house/yard/location requirements are shockingly similar! :)

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Rebecca: You are too kind. :) After living in homes where you realize what you would change if you could, it's just so nice to find one has the features you've come to realize are important to you. (The right house is like the right hubby, oh so important!) :)

rilla said...

As always, I loved this Ms S!

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Thanks, Rilla! That is a real compliment coming from you. :)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great house and garden marriage... :)

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Zone3b: Sometimes things just work out - serendipity. :)

Anonymous said...

What an endearing story. I'm glad you found a place to call home and I hope another young family moves into the yellow bungalow. How fun it would be to have a kindred spirit three doors down.

OF SPRING AND SUMMER said...

What a lovely story! Love your photographs of autumn flowers. Wonderful!
Have a nice day.
Ingrid x

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Great post. I love your photographs- wonderful and warm just like your story.

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Grace, I never thought about who might be moving in there - now I will be watching for a kindred spirit! :)

Ingrid: Thank you for stopping by! All the best of this fine season to you. :)

Jennifer: Hello and welcome! Thank you for the very kind comments. While I really enjoy photography, I barely know what I am doing so I am always pleased if a pic turns out half decent. :)

RURAL said...

I have a dream house also. We drive by it whenever we are upcountry. Gar always say's to me, Jen it's not for sale. And my reply....yet.

Lovely photos today.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Muddy Boot Dreams: Jen, hold on to that "yet". Life if full of serendipity. :)

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Ms S : )
I am catching up on posts bit by bit.
This was lovely ! .. our nests are so important to us especially when we are in need of that special place away from the world .. our comfort zone our haven/heaven ?
We had less than 8 days to pick and buy a house coming from the Netherlands on a military house hunting trip. Add the 6 hour difference in time we had to over come as well .. to think logically and understand that this would most likely be our first and last home .. I nearly cracked, but husband held strong through it all and steered me kicking and screaming to our little nest here that we both appreciate so much.
I would love to have the wooded areas you have : ) but we can't have everything can we ?
I love your door knocker and the story of the beloved sign .. small details to some, mindful.. loving additions to others : )
Joy

Laurrie said...

I loved this little story, and its wonderful celebration of finding "home". Delightful.

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Dear Joy, I'm so glad your husband's steely resolve led you to your home that you are now making your special nest. :)

Laurrie: Thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed this little bit about us finding our home. ;-)

Andrea said...

Very good writing style! I have always admired those who write so well, even just a simple thought can be magnified and laden with lots of drama, and the readers are not bored. I love to be like them, but not anymore, i am not born to be such! haha, contented with what i have now. But whatever things you posted there, i love that cabbage the most!

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Hi Andrea: Welcome! Thank you for your very kind comment. I do enjoy writing and this blog has become a lot of fun for me as a place to express myself. Thank you for stopping by. :)