Outside My Window – Casa Xerraire

I had a conversation of my own with Grit (of Brit and Grit ) and became immediately curious as to the views outside his window, which he was nice enough to supply . However, I was told I need to return the favor.

Here are two views when all was greener:

As you can see we have a barn next to the house. A swing in the front.

This is the house where my two hard-working parents had built to escape life in the city.
This is the house where I grew up, where I now live, and now where my children live.
This house is where I kept grabbing my toothbrush and telling my parents I was running away…but I always came back.
This is the house that has seen a lot of hardships but I always felt safe within its walls.
This is the house that saw two daughters come back actually, seeking refuge and safety from absuive marriages.
This is the house that helped the elderly live out their last months, like my Grandmom and Aunt Jesse.
This is the house where my beloved and dear father died in.
This is the house that saw and had to expand and accomodate six grandchildren and with God’s help will soon welcome one great grandchild.
This is the house that saw more people living there than I can count, exchange students from Brazil, Holland, Argentina, Denmark, and Spain. Others were friends of family that needed a place to stay temporarily for whatever reason.
This is the house that many still call and feel like it’s HOME to them.
This is the house that has invited people that I met on the net to come and stay and to introduce to them my home and country.
This is the house where young people, who all call me “Mama”, now come and go, eating up Yaya’s cooking and filling the insides with noise,  music, laughter, hopes, dreams, and companionship.

This is a house of love and dignity, it’s old and some parts need fixing, but the spirit inside won’t be broken.

As for the view outside my window…I must confess, it’s all trees.
However I managed to find the most dramatic of moments to share with you.