Things I adore that are not worth money.

Now that we're getting the house ready to sell, I've been thinking about the things I love that won't mean jack to the price of the house, and most likely, won't mean anything to the people who buy it. If I had my druthers, I'd want to sell to someone artistic and respectful of the era of the house. I'm sure I won't have my druthers, but it's nice to dream. Here's a list of things that will never be printed in the brochure or listed as amenities:

1. During the day in summer, the back balcony is up in a room with walls of trees. Though we're in a neighborhood, I feel secluded. The late afternoon sun up there makes me warm and sleepy. During the night, we sit out there and pick out constellations. It's generally really quiet, and the wind makes the most calming rushing sound through the leaves. Near the Fourth of July, it's not so quiet (!) and you can see multiple fireworks displays all around the area from the balcony.

sunset from the balcony

2. In the very end of the back yard is a place where the trees overhang our yard, and under it is sometimes like sitting near a pool because of all the swaying mottled shadows and bits of light makes.

3. There is a sparrow couple who live on a beam above the back porch. They moved in soon after we bought the place, and in the winter, if you turn around and stand on tip toes at the door, you can see their little feathered bodies all fluffed out, keeping warm together.

4. When we make a fire in the fireplace, the light of it makes a path across the wood floor in front of it, and reflects upward, onto the ceiling.

5. I love the little alcove with the leaded glass window in our study. 'Nuff said.

6. I love the arches in the living room. I love that they're not plain round arches, but that they have little casbah tops.

7. This definitely isn't a selling point, but I love the creaking of our stairs when someone walks on them. I gotten so I can listen and tell which cat is coming up or down, and I know where the Boy is in the house--I just like it. It's a comfortable and comforting sound.

8. I like the handmade tile over our fireplace. We convinced a tile place near here to sell us a sample board of handmade tile that a local artist no longer makes. Sadly, I installed it really well, so it can't come with us. Like many other things here, it has a story, and I find myself hoping the next owners will care, but knowing realistically, I should forget about that.

I'm going to quit. It's making me a bit sad. I know we'll find another amazing place, though. Cincinnati's just full of interesting houses filled with stories of their own.