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"Let's be cheerful"! We have no more right to steal the brightness out of the day for our own family than we have to steal the purse of a stranger. Let us be as careful that our homes are furnished with pleasant & happy thoughts as we are that the rugs are the right color and texture & the furniture comfortable and beautiful"! Laura Ingalls Wilder

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

the conspiracy




I'll begin at the beginning.  Once upon a May 15th, Carl and Deanie gave birth to their first born.  A daughter.  She grew up, got married, had 2 children, got saved, had 2 more children and purposed to live her life simply and joyfully.  Everything seemed to be going along according to plan (pretty much) when (ironically) on this May 15th (it was actually the 16th but we'll pretend it was the 15th because it fits the story better) something inconceivable happened.

This joyful daughter and 2 of her children were kidnapped!  It was horrible, really.  This sweet young man whom she had always trusted pulled right up, parked at the curb like he always does and said, I'm here to pick you up. Just like that.




Well, what's a simple girl to do?  I gathered my girls and obeyed.  Who knows what might have happened had I put up a struggle.  He proceeded to drive me to none other than the home of the master mind, his mother and my dear friend.  Insult to injury... how could this be?

Now the fun begins.  It turns out there are more friends in on this.  The master mind really did her work. Others began showing up and before you know it we had packed 2 vehicles and we were off to ...




...they wouldn't tell me a thing.  But 30 miles later another friend was waiting at Starbucks (now they are treating me right) so we gathered her in and took off over the mountain.  At this point I was still completely clueless as to what was going on, and I could have cared less.  That's how trusting I am.  Or how old I am. Short term memory loss you know.






When we arrived at our destination (a few hours later) I let out a little WOO HOO!  What gorgeous fun.  The beautiful Deepwood estate in Salem.  We spilled out of the cars and inhaled the beautiful valley floral fragrance and headed to the house.  And what do you suppose we found when we rounded the corner?  A dear valley friend (who's kids are my kid's dear friends) and a dear valley daughter!  Is this too much?  Yes, too, too much!









The home is a turn of the century Victorian that was built for $14,000 at a time when the average home cost between $500 and $1000 to build.











The grounds are still authentically maintained according to the original commissioned landscape design.  It includes formal gardens as well as a nature trail that leads down to the creek.  Everything was 'just so', much to the chagrin of the mastermind who is completely 'real' and couldn't handle even the thought of all this pretense! ;)




























A nice place to visit but can you really 'live' like this?  Or call it home?  Hmm, my imagination is having fun...


Blessings, Debbie

*forgive me for being so late with today's post.  I had a lot of trouble uploading my pics and am thankful to be finished!  Whew...

31 comments:

  1. Deb, what a great way to spend a day! That house is awesome. I love the mantle, the detail is unreal. And the pantry with the built in buffet with the silver pieces. Such character and charm in that house. I could live there only with all modern conveniences installed and updated bathrooms! xo,

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  2. What a great story and how blessed you are to have been kidnapped!
    That butler's pantry is beautiful. My husband and I spent a weekend in Ashville, NC touring the Biltmore, which was awesome. It's a shame the cost to build a home today.
    Please let Erin know that I am trying to capture a good picture of Beatrix before I post. These chickens are spoiled rotten!

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  3. What fun! It looks like you have a wonderful family. Trust me those old Victorians are fun, but you don't want to live in one. My husband and I restored a huge(over 4000 square feet) old Italianate built in the 1860s. Every weekend and vacation was spent on upkeep. It was endless. And the heating bill was over $300 in the 90s, so I'd hate to see what it would be these days. Much happier in my little 1000 square foot cottage, where I can have sparkling clean by noon.

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  4. I loved this place and yes, I could live like that! What a fun day you had..at first you had me feeling scared..thats a scary start to a story!! (I mailed off your give a way prizes today! :D

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  5. Kidnap me too next time :) What a beautiful house. I love to see old houses that have been maintained properly.

    Paula

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  6. Happy Birthday!!! Glad you had such a fun day with family and friends! The Deepwood estate looks gorgeous! I'd love to see it some day.

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  7. I wish I could have been there! The grounds look so beautiful and serene and the house makes me speechless :) Your post was worth the wait.

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  8. Oh My~~ that was a "Happy Kidnapping"!As others have said "isn't it amazing the beautiful homes that were built and the craftsmanship" Glad You had a Happy Day!
    ~~HUGS~~

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  9. What fun! I'm glad you were able to to get...and upload...such gorgeous pics!

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  10. What a wonderful day. Sounds like so much fun!

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  11. What a fun day and a beautiful place! Thank you for sharing all the photos with us! I'm not sure I could live like that either. It sure does have its beauty though.

    Blessings!
    Deborah

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  12. What a fun place to go and, even better, to share it with such fine company. The house looks amazing and how about those dresses!

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  13. When you began to tell us,I thought the same thing as Storybook Woods... As my one of my neices daughters was kidnapped around the age of five. Luckily she was found and she is now home safe and sound, a grown up teen.

    So relieved to see that this was a fun day, and that house is fantastic. Could I live there? I don't think so....I don't want to lug the vacuum cleaner around all day!! Haha!
    Great photos, Debbie

    Maa

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  14. Happy Birthday! What a wonderful kidnapping surprise! You have some pretty great friends.

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  15. what a super fun surprise - I want to go there -- you are loved indeed -- I could live there if I could have some carry me up the stairs -- wink! but then again I could live outside on the beautifull grounds..

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  16. Those are some GREAT friends and a GREAT outing!! Happy belated birthday!!! Woo Hoo! blessings ~ tanna

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  17. Oh what a fun birthday and you are so blessed to have been kidnapped like that and what a wonderful house. The wood work and everything is just lovely.
    So happy, happy Birthday!!!

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  18. What lovely and enjoyable fun! And what great pictures. You area blessed woman! Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

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  19. Oh how much fun...what an awesome surprise! Happy Birthday!! What a great gift.

    Thanks for sharing..I got to enjoy through pictures without leaving my house or buying gas! LOL You give a great tour.

    This is just wonderful....now I need to be kidnapped...I think I want to go to New York!

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  20. Sounds like you had a wonderful day, what a lovely surprise..I too would like to be kidnapped...maybe to a beach house somewhere

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  21. Dear Debbie,
    Yes, I make rugs. Not real good but the one thing I have learned about rug hookers they love to help. This is my fourth rug. This one has more work in it than the others. I really enjoy it but then I enjoy all kinds of handwork. I am just slow.
    I am learning about backings and trying to decide what I like best, this one is on linen.
    I have used Monk's cloth which I don't like but I can buy it here. I also like the best, Scottish Burlap. Linen is nice but it is the first time I have hooked on it so we will see if I am won over. I have so much to learn. :)
    After years and years finally getting a wool cutter is a kick, I think it is so much fun.
    I wanted to do rugs when the kids were younger back in 2000 but never had time. It is nice to have time now that school is out.
    Thanks for asking.

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  22. wow, that house you visited looks absolutely amazing, thanks for the 'tour':) I think I could live there quite happily

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  23. This was a wonderful post, and I'm so glad that I didn't miss it. What a wonderful surprise for you. I would love to visit a place like that. My favorite picture was the one where you could see the arches in the passage way. I loved that!

    What a terrific birthday!

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  24. Wow, how lovely! and it reminds me of my grandmother's home in Ohio...how I miss that house! but when my grandparents died, thehouse was sold but boy I'd love ot visit it again!
    thanks for thelovliness...

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  25. Oh wow! That is gorgeous and looks like so much fun to do with dear folks. I will admit that when you started with the "kidnapping" story, at first...you had me, I was fooled. Until you explained that it was someone you knew and trusted then I smiled and understood that this was to be a good surprise for you!
    Blessed Days!

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  26. These photos are awesome. You guys look like you're having a great time! Happy birthday, Debbie, and may the Lord bless your coming year.

    Love,
    Mary

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  27. Oh my! I love Deepwood! We used to live about half a mile away, and spent many hours picnicing on the grounds. My husband loves the garden, designed by Lord and Schryver, and claims that garden as inspiration for our own garden. When I saw your sneak preview, I thought it looked like Deepwood! Sounds like such a lovely day, and how nice to spend it in the company of good friends!

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  28. Oh my goodness...what fun, what fun! I think I could imagine living there too. ;-)

    How sweet of your "mastermind", and your other loved ones, to provide you with this delightful surprise!

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  29. Such a grand adventure . . . beautiful house, but it sounds like the greater treasure is your family and friends.

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  30. What a wonderful manner in which to spend some lady time, the company and the roadtrip.

    I especially loved the butler's pantry. I have always fancied myself having one.

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