Funny, but I never really expected it to be this way, ever, when I first knew I’d be moving here. Quiet, I mean. Serene. A relative oasis of calm in the midst of a tightly-packed, long-established city neighbourhood.
Yet so many times, more than I could have imagined, it is.
Our houses are within arm’s reach of each other. A narrow laneway separates one backyard from the next. Unlike the larger lots of suburbia, there’s not a whole lot of either space or privacy here in this close-to-downtown neck of the urban woods.
But there are times – hours at a time – when the not-so-distant noises of the city, the cars, the neighbours are muffled into insignificant background by a melodious cacophony of insistent birdsong… by the scampering pitter-pat of tiny squirrel feet chasing each other in play across the roof tiles… by the calmative bubbling splashes of an outdoor fountain. Times when a soft breeze ruffles the leaves of the tall trees… captures and disperses the heady fragrance of the lilac bushes… composes a tinkling harmony with our neighbour’s collection of wind chimes. Times when the aroma of cut grass and even the mechanical purr of a lawnmower a few houses away elicits sweet memories of summer days, barbecues, laughter with friends.
This is home.
This is MY home.
Jenn May 5, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Oh I loved reading this. You are so descriptive– I like your description of home
Cheers, Jenn
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Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
May 5, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Thanks so much, Jenn!
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Lou Lou Loves May 6, 2012 at 4:12 am
Oh I love the smell of cut grass too, it does suddenly transport you to childhood summers! Your home sounds wonderful…
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Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
May 6, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Thank you – I am very happy here!
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Susan
Twitter: susandusterhoft
May 6, 2012 at 8:25 pm
Thanks for sharing…I remember when I first moved to the city after living in the country for what seemed like forever. I had a hard time sleeping. It was my first time on my own and I lived next door to the fire department. Oh what a joy that was…wish it would have been more like yours now!
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Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
May 7, 2012 at 11:26 am
Yikes – that would be just a little disruptive! Especially in a city like mine, where we have an as-yet-uncaught arsonist on the loose!
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M. J. Joachim May 6, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Didn’t see that coming:) I’m glad you like living in the city, and can still hear the birds and enjoy all the things you talked about in your post. Sounds like a wonderful place to live:)
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Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
May 7, 2012 at 11:27 am
Thank you so much – glad you stopped by!
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Jess May 7, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Your home sounds lovely, thank you so much for sharing – I feel like I just took a stroll through your neighborhood! I found your blog through the SITS Spring Fling Link-Up and I am now a follower. Good day
Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
May 7, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Thank you so much for your kind words, Jess – so glad you stopped by! Very nice to meet you.
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Classic NYer May 7, 2012 at 6:52 pm
It sounds beautiful. There’s nothing like the feeling of being completely at home, is there?
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Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
May 9, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Agreed!
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