Jim, my maternal grandmother moved in with use when I was about 5 or 6. So I had two mothers.
I have very fond memories of the house that my grandmother and her sister owned. Although my grandmother never really lived there, just my great aunt by herself as she never married. This house was huge - built around 1860 - had 5 bedrooms, a big bathroom with a claw footed bathtub, a double living room with two sets of sliding wooden doors, gorgeous woodwork, 2 porches and the front porch was huge with a big swing hanging from the ceiling, and two big wicker rocking chairs. It had no cupboards in the kitchen but a big pantry. The house was filled with antiques. There was a front and back staircase and I found the back staircase from the kitchen to the back bedrooms to be very spooky. Always thought someone was hiding there. I loved to rummage through chests in the attic. To this day when I smell that kind of musty odor you get in an attic or from old books or antique shops, I have fond memories of this house. It was close enough to a river that you could see it from the front windows and often heard the big ships tooting their horns.
My sister and I spent a lot of time in this house, often staying for weeks at a time. I was heartbroken when they sold this house when I was 14.
