My Little Stone House
This is one of my great loves!
A little crumbling stone house with faded blue doors and shutters in a village nestled into a hillside in Eastern Crete.
When I first met her in the late 1980s she sang to me.
There was something about the peeling patina; the crooked way the doors and shutters sat in the old stone wall; the well-worn stone step at the front; the slightly crooked roof line and the rusty hinges.
Recently there have been many changes to this part of the world.
There are now “holes in the walls” for 24-hour banking; tavernas which home deliver and everyone, even the local shepherd has a mobile phone!
But my crumbling little house has hardly changed at all.
Every year, the oleander bush at the front continues to flower in summer; die back in autumn, endures a severe pruning in winter, ready for buds in spring.
Her old stone walls have chipped and peeled and she’s been propped and prodded to fill the gaps and the old girl has seen a splash of faded paint at some stage.
But her shutters are still weather-worn. Faded. Peeling and sun-bleached. They still hang in a crooked line and the ironware has rusted even further.
She has aged sublimely.
Oh that I could own her,
for I would leave her just as she is.
To forever stand on the narrow cobbled street leading to the mountains as a gentle reminder
of
what was,
what has been
and sadly,
what will never be again
May she never change
For great beauty only ever comes with great age.
No matter how old she is, there will be a reminder of the beauty once she was, for as long she will be standing…..
I think she is aging gracefully Francesca.
And, once again, I must thank you for the poetry you share with us with your photographs.
Costas
I understand so well your love for this cute old house! In french we 'd say we"let it in her juice"(la laisser dans son jus), it means to let it the way it is , in its own charming way , without changing anything..
I think I will weep this is so lovely, Francesca.
This house looks so much like the houses in our villages in India. The tiles the crooked window, the rust, and the narrow lane.
Nice capture and description too, it could be anywhere in this world.
Thanks for sharing .
What a beautiful post. You've captured the essence of some of our favorite memories of Crete.
A dream house indeed. Wonderful photography. Like the text as well. Please have a good new week ahead.
Oh Francesca this is too sad – but the memories it evokes and that we shared are anything but sad. Love you
Beautiful post Francesca I am like you and love the old and weather beaten character, she is beautiful just the way she is and those shutters are the most divine colour! She is definitely aging with grace.
Carla x
PS Glad you enjoyed my holiday posts thank-you for the lovely comments 🙂
How graceful. Both the photographs and the words
Thank you Costas – you must see so many like this. May they all age gracefully. F
What a lovely saying Malyss – that is exactly what I mean. F
Rama would love to see some when you can post them. I just love their character and quirkiness. F
Thank you – glad that this post evoked some lovely memories – it's what it's all about after all – memories or a sense of wander lust to visit! Have a lovely week. F
Thank you Robert – indeed a dream house. I just hope she is still there when I visit again. Will keep you posted. F
Thank you – that really makes my heart sing – that you can see her beauty as I do. Have a lovely week F xx
Thank you Mum – we certainly shared some magical times – how lucky we were to be there at that time together. Love you xx
Thank you Carla – as you will have noted I am drawn to the old and the aged! And as for that blue – I cannot put a name to it – but it should be bottled and sold! Have a lovely week.Ciao Fx
Welcome and thank you for your words – looking forward to following you with gusto! Ciao F