This was one of my mother's art students. We had a glass-lined art room at Aspen Grove where we kept the huge showcase of artifacts we dug up. Mom in the springtime would have art shows in the boxwood mazes. Marguerite (artist) is standing in the back boxwood maze (we had one in front and one in back of the mansion) near the hickory grove.
From the back corner of the house, a long wisteria arbor stretched towards the back boxwood maze and gravel driveway. In the spring, we kept our windows open and at night you slept to the scent of wisteria. I still get sentimental when I smell it.
We mowed all the acreage with this ancient McCormick Tractor. We parked it near or freshwater well because you had to roll it downhill to jumpstart it.
My sister, Tina, had her wedding reception in the back boxwood maze. It was a beautiful formal event. My sister, Kathy, was the maid of honor. I (not in picture) was a bridesmaid. It was very idyllic.
I suntanned on our front veranda. It was the era of suntan worship.
Wondered if I was a tomboy? This is proof. Me in front of the little cottage out back (there were 2 cottages, a barn and stables). My brother Scott (makes you think of the Brady Bunch, huh?) and sister Kathy (blond) and Tina (brunette) and our pets.
We had badminton, croquet, ping pong, a basketball hoop and putting green on the grounds.
Scott and I doing ping pong on the front veranda.
Outside of the larger of the two cottages, up against an enormous black walnut tree (yum).
Yup, me up a tree.
Sixth grade field trip was to my house. How weird! Everyone played soccer after the tour and teaching them how to use a metal detector.
Yup, that's me. A squirmy little thing that loved winter!
The estate was mostly surrounded by woods. It had a creek running through it. There was an apple orchard, cherry orchard, hickory grove, two boxwood mazes, miscellaneous fruits, vegetables and flowers, a stable, barn, 2 cottages, grape arbor, wisteria arbor, willow trees. It was a glorious place to fall in love with nature and the seasons. I thought I'd share a taste of what it was like there. I know some folks are intrigued by such a strange upbringing. I was always ashamed as a kid because everyone else lived in modern houses. Now, I'm glad I grew up that way. It tied me to the land and nature and fueled my horror stories with lots of atmosphere. Oh, and of course spawned a future ghost hunter!