Chain, Chain, Chain
On the calendar, summer is finally drawing to a close. I hope you have been able to travel somewhere and get out of the suffocating heat we have experienced this year. Even if it is only for a short time, any time away…
The Quarterly
Water in the Desert
Water is in the news a great deal these days. If it’s not enough water, it’s too much water. If you are like me, when I came to the Phoenix area in the 1970s, I didn’t give water or the lack of it a second thought. Sure…
A Few Thoughts from Terri
As I sit here reflecting on how all our lives have changed this past month, I realize once again what truly is important! When I was first asked to share how our family is getting through this crisis, Corona virus had…
From My Home Front to Yours
In this strange time we find ourselves in, I want to reach out and let you know how my household is doing. We have been quarantining for about 45 days now and find the best way forward is one day at a time. So what is…
Your House at Your Front Door
Aren’t you amazed by how quickly and what a variety of things can come to your front door? It used to be in days, but now sometimes it’s in hours. I think it all started with Amazon and books. Instead of running around…
History: How Much Is It Worth?
By Barbara Andersen Have you ever passed an old house or building and noticed a plaque near it saying it is on the National Historic Register? Loving architecture and history as I do, these plaques are always brain teasers for me. Why…
Free Land, You Build the House!
Imagine what this headline would mean today. The Homestead Act of 1862 was the biggest land give away ever by our Federal Government. It basically said that you could obtain permanent ownership of up to 160 acres of…
You Can’t Go Home Again
We have all heard the phrase, “You can’t go home again.” Nowhere is that more true than when we are talking about visiting a specific house where we used to live. If you visit a childhood home you will be amazed by how…
Home Owners’ Associations: Are They Good or Bad?
I have the story of two Home Owners’ Associations to share with you. Somehow my husband and I managed to simultaneously belong to two HOAs the last couple of years. The HOA for the home we have in Phoenix has a rule…
The Historical Perspective
If you love old houses like I do, you probably had a few tears in your eyes this week as you drove by 3rd Street and Northern Avenue in north central Phoenix. A house built in 1914 was being demolished. I got to tour it…