Thanks everyone for taking a look at our home. Nancy, You are so right about Gram and GrannyMother seeing a lot during there lifetime it is nice hearing the stories they tell about long ago... Eduarda Chase has a couple of gifts under the tree and he peeks in at them and I let him know not yet! He is so sweet! gldno1 thanks! Yesterday the sun was shining and the snow in the back yard was sparkling and it was real cold out and I failed to go snap a shot, the next time that happens I'm gonna git my rear in gear and get the shot, that would be a real magazine pix. I always referred to this place as our diamond in the rough now that pix would sparkle like a real jewel! The seasmoke was real pretty this am when we went down to the post office and I did not have my camera and we were in a hurry to go shopping....sigh I have to stop and smell the roses!!!!! Schoolhouse the style of our home is Second Empire Mansard. We traced the deeds back to when the land was sold from the State of MA to the original owner and then a few years later he sold it to his son and in 1811 his son sold the land and premise to the next owner. Cameron, it is like a dream! Seems like all those hours of work at the time it feels like it will never be done and then it is Christmas and here we are! that is the first time I've seen the frost form like that on wood, I quickly snapped a bunch of pix, it sort of looked like wall paper patters, so pretty! It melted away so fast. Thanks Annette, I hope to have more time after the first of the year ThinMan thanks! They call that fireplace a Rumford fireplace, they say it is used for heat more than just decoration because of the shape and firebox. I miss the trivia hope to participate more again! Libby Thanks! I sure hope mine come up. token28001, Thanks! The plan for the mansard is to someday do it in cedar shakes and make a course or two of fancy shapes like it probably was at one time. The mansard is considered a 3/4 story so even though we have 9 foot ceilings upstairs the house is considered a 1 3/4 story for tax purposes. Thanks everyone for your kind words and for taking a look around! Leasa

Betty, I LOVE the pink tablecloth in your tea setting. If you hadn't told us, I wouldn't have known it was plastic. It is such a pretty colour and goes so well with your beautiful dishes. What I find particularly appealing (besides sweet Hanna and the yummy food!) are the candlestick holders you used...I love candles of all sorts and those are great. Are they crystal? Thanks for keeping this post going, it's a good one! DD

I'll second, third? Lisa and Sov. Six years old is too young to teach a charity lesson at birthday time IMO. Their birthdays are about silly fun with their friends. Lisa's statement in regards to gifts (optional but please be sure to bring yourself blah blah) is as far as I would go. As the mother of a small child who has too much, I use these experiences to teach the gift of giving. The joy of finding a special toy (and a matchbox might be all that is for some but it's still special to a six year old) is a lesson I don't get to give very often so I really take advantage of it (our son is 4 and not yet in school). At 8 or 9 plus it's a fun idea to discuss giving a party for charity, but only as an idea for the child...you know when they're ready for this or if they ever are :) I bitterly remember the birthday where my father taught me about charity. I opened all the gifts and then they were given to the "less fortunate" (I had no idea who those people were because we didn't learn that lesson). It was really more about control (now that I look back on it) verses a lesson in charity, but to a small child...do they really know the difference? I think we often forget the "joy of giving" and focus on the receiving too much :) So I get where you're coming from, but for a child of six...it's a party :) Let them enjoy it as a six year old should. Goody bags aren't a tradition in our area of the country. But I think the cookie and balloon sounds great. Great for table decor and enjoyable for the kids to take home. Or you could go with a matchbox given the theme of the party (those cheap ones). I don't mind cheap crap...it makes DS smile. The fact that he does not know the difference between a one dollar car and a twenty dollar one actually pleases me. And I don't mind the matchbox's anyhoo...at least they're metal :) My DS is afraid of birthday cake (or was until this year when he's braved the frosting) so I guess we're not overly birthday focused, but he has enjoyed the parties he's gone to as long as we avoid the cake. I don't remember getting any party bags...wait maybe one, but perhaps that is just our circle of friends. I don't think a lecture on how to throw a party is necessary :) Family, friends, it does not matter. Kids should have special birthdays be it with their school friends or family or both. Special does not have to mean much. We had our favorite couple over with their two kids for DS's 4th. Then we repeated a simple dinner with grandma the next week (we were moving to her state). He enjoyed both parties immensely and both were quite simple. DS would love to attend by the way....do you allow 4 year olds? I promise to limit the plastic LOL

By the time you read this, I hope you will have had a wonderful experience, filled with friends, colleagues and best wishes for a wonderful retirement!