The Altar
When we bought our house, we put in an offer sight unseen. The market was absolutely nuts - at the time, we’d have six houses to look at in the morning, and by the time my husband and I got off work, every single one would already be gone. This went on for months.
My husband fell in love with this area. He was determined to find something in this subdivision because of the larger lots and the big, old trees. We’re close to the city, but it still feels rural in its own way.
I don’t actually recommend doing this, but when my husband saw another house pop up on the market - this house - he called our agent and put in an offer immediately. We were terrified, and honestly, we should’ve been. They accepted our offer right away. Of course they did.
When we finally saw the house, we were devastated. It wasn’t what we hoped for. The house hadn’t been loved the way it deserved, and we were going to have to do a lot more than just clean. The real estate ad said “move-in ready”, and hoo boy... it was not.
It’s been six or seven years now in this home - our home. Despite that early disappointment, and even though we still wish a few things were different, we’ve poured love into this place. And now, I truly love it.
In our family room, the fireplace wall is a masterpiece. The mantle is covered in rocks, feathers, sticks, pinecones, candles, little tokens and trinkets from vacations, from passed-on loved ones, and from moments we simply wanted to keep. At Christmas, everything usually comes down to make room for the grandpa-made stocking holders and the stockings.
But this year, I struggled. I stood in front of the mantle and didn’t want to take down the trinkets from loved ones who are gone. It felt too soon, or maybe just wrong. I needed them near me.
Upstairs, our family room is decorated in skulls. Yes, skulls. There are well over 100 tucked into that room - from candles to a hutch full of skull mugs and wine bottles, to warmers, to framed art.
Seeing my hesitation about the mantle, my husband installed three small shelves and told me to place those items there so I could have an altar of sorts year-round.
The result is exactly what I needed
.