So, all the other kids are getting their ears pierced and you did too. So, all the other kids are wearing Jordache jeans and you are too. All the other kids have Bastaad clogs so you do too.

Seriously- leave your damn old house alone- it was built a certain way for a reason and it wants to live that way after you are dead and gone and returned to the earth! Do you want an old house or do you want a NEW house on top of an old house?

Listen- I live in Western New York. If there were only two things that the people around here love and MUST have it’s this: Basket Auctions and Glass Block basement windows. Basket auctions- well if you don’t live here you don’t know what the fuck that is. If you do live here, you go to one every frigging week and accidentally run into one at least another time that same week. I’ll have to explain that all some other time. If you get cancer or your house burns down, people will throw you a basket auction.

But basement windows. PEOPLE. What is your obsession with them? Leave them the fuck alone. This Spring, (LIKE A FOOL), I went to this agency here in Niagara Falls called Center City. A few years ago they were advertising improvement grants for the exterior of your home if you live within a specific area (of urban blight).

I went to the office, hoping to get a long term somewhat forgiveable loan to get the outside of my house painted and shutters put on. After filling out a LOT of paperwork- I found out I meet all the criteria and I got an appointment with a consultant in the agency. The appointment was, well, interesting.

You see, their program has CHANGED. They tell YOU what you want to borrow money for. First, he says, if you don’t have hardwired smoke detectors, they will have to do that. If you don’t have the most up to date circuit breakers, they will rewire your entire house. If you don’t have the remote control electric meters for the electric company, you will have to pay for them (about $20K he said), and pay to have them installed. That’s just the beginning. THEN he went on to list ALL the other things you have to take out a loan to do and it’s not what YOU want- he kept telling me- it’s what THEY determine you need. For example, water pressure and slow filling toilets? All new plumbing. Stair rebuilding. Roof rebuilding. New gutters. Entirely new replacement windows- you are NOT allowed to keep your historically correct windows NO SIR. Then new furnace- new hot water tank. It went on and on and on and finally he says, “also basement windows. do you have glass block? no? oh well, that’s another requirement. we will remove your basement windows and then install glass block. and then we’ll install a special ventilation system because usually the glass block seals dampness into a basement and you need ventilation.” By the time he was done, NO SHIT, he didn’t think he could do my project for under $150K, for my house appraised at $45K and all I really wanted was a paint job. Oh yah, and because no one can agree to legal verbage, they put 4-5 liens on your house from the very beginning before work can start and if you are still living there years later you can start repaying 30% and then when that’s done, you get to have the 5 liens taken off your house.

(SIGH) I’ll have to write another article about why CENTER CITY can KISS MY ASS.

So my experience is this: I want my goddamn old windows. This is why I moved into an old house. Does NO ONE in Niagara Falls see the value of an OLD HOUSE? I like the wavy glass- that means it’s old. You know? Like antiques are old? I like the wood frames. You know? Like wood when there used to be trees to cut down? Like when windows were made with natural resources by people and not by machines with chemicals.

My basement was damp. My stuff was smelly down there. I went down to the beautiful old wooden frames, and lifted them up. Someone thoughtfully had a hook hanging on the bottom of the window. On the basement ceiling, they went really low tech and had the “eye”. So I used this novel thing called a “hook and eye” to fix the windows open. Wide open, not just 4 inches. All across the whole basement.

A glorious cross breeze came through! In two days, the musty smell was gone, the dusty musty must blew through and out and it is dry and fresh down there- you know- kind of like virtual air?

If it’s really bad- I’ve heard of people putting a FAN in the window of the basement to get the air out- drawing it down from the above ground portion of the house- creating a beautiful draft.

You see, old houses BREATHE. You call them “drafty”- I call them “breathing”. I like it this way. Call me Laura Ingalls- but I actually like windows you can see through and open up. I don’t see the sense in throwing money into bullshit. But I guess if it’s government money, it’s fine? Or if everyone else is doing it, it’s fine? Stop and think.

This takes some time to load, but watching it is worth it.

New York City has a brand new park and it sits right on top of abandoned elevated train tracks! It meanders rebelliously through the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen. Highline Urban Park was inspired by a photographer showing how nature reclaimed abandoned tracks, several people came together to design, build and showcase nature in the middle of a metropolis. Or rather- they took Nature’s cue and simply amplified Her voice?

I absolutely LOVE this idea and think that it is exactly what New York City needs. The architect is right- NY is filled with anxiety- and I think this “green ribbon” would be such a welcome respite. Imagine just having the sun chair to lay down on.

But I wonder, do they close the park? It seems it could be bad at night. (?). I just think about our city and how even the benches at the bus stops have to have bumps or bars on them so as to prevent unfortunate human beings from having a flat place to sleep.

I digress, what do you think of this idea? I think it is fabulous! It seems to me many cities could have something like this. In a way, many cities sort of do thanks to a great program called “Rails to Trails”, which is a nation-wide conservancy that makes beautiful biking and hiking trails on top of abandoned railroad tracks.

However, I do believe this is the first one to be elevated through the middle of a city. At any rate, this is wonderful and I can’t wait to go see it in person!

Found this cute cottage in Niagara Falls this past weekend while “yard sale-ing”. I snapped it’s picture but failed to get it’s address to pass it along. Anyway, they are doing a great job making their home look beautiful in the city. I’m pretty sure this was somewhere in the numbered streets of LaSalle. Probably in the 60’s or 70’s.

I love the vinca vines flowing out of the second story flower boxes. These 1920’s & 30’s cottages are so charming when loved. Summer in Western New York is wonderful!

The other day my yellow dog, Prairie Lou, drove me around the town for some diversion. (She’s a really careful driver.) We decided to tour the bedroom communities in our area and really visually study the mid century split levels.


My loyalty to old homes should not be questioned. I will forever be in love with the homes of the 20’s & 30’s. I’ll always admire the gorgeous Queen Anne or the stately brownstone. A swooping Cotswald Cottage will forever make my heart go pitter-patter.

However, there’s something about an American split level from the 60’s & 70’s. Maybe more so the sixties. When wood was still on the floor and window casements. When doors weren’t hollow yet. What is it that has been charming me?

I’ll tell you what I think it is. It’s the wide open spaces. It’s the flagstone foyer. It’s the sunken family room with a big brick wall and fireplace. There is somehow a quiet to them. I venture to say, if emptied of any Spanish Revival furniture or stuffy knick-knacks, there’s a ((( zen ))) . Strip off the misplaced 90’s country curtains, wall to wall carpeting, and Home Interiors packages and you have zen bones.

I especially appreciate the ones owned by older gentlemen who are shrubbery artists. Plaid lawns, geometric bushes, and not a shred of flaking paint? Driveways so smoothly paved your rollerskates make solid contact with the sealed surface. Man I wish I had the discipline to maintain the exterior of my home like that!

We took some photos of some well maintained homes that we liked. I’m thinking of starting a collection of mid century photos.