Dinner Bell, Dinner Bell Ring

Good Morning beloved reader. I hope you all had a wonderful, restful weekend. I am happy to report that I successfully unplugged yesterday, and it felt fantastic. I didn't post a single picture, answer a single tweet, peek to see who had emailed, (wink, wink Kelly), or even get on the computer at all.
I did however have this lighting bolt, came out of no where, thought for a blog, and so I wrote it down to bring up with you this happy Monday morning. Hope you all have a good cup of coffee, and let's get started.

Can we talk about our front doors for a moment? A strange topic I know, but just stick with me here.

I once had a real estate agent tell me that "the doorway to a home is a very important selling point because it tells the buyer whether or not the rest of the home has been cared for." By looking around I could clearly see what she was getting at.
We were standing outside our second home that we wanted to sell and I believe she was sadly disappointed with our presentation. There were leaves that had collected in the bottom right corner since November, it was now April. There were cobwebs in the upper left  corner of the deck, and a broken ceramic stone thing that my kids had made me. I was pregnant with our fourth child, and barely surviving the other 3. I think my look must have said it all to her because she quickly said, "Moving On."

Even though at the time I was in no mood to hear this agents helpful words of advice, they have always kind of stuck with me. There is something about the doorway to a persons home. Have you ever gone over to a complete strangers home and taken in all the clues that are outside that door?  Before you even really know them, you feel you kind of know them. Do you know what I mean?

There are certain things that I think door signs tell about a person.
A sign that says, "Shoes Off Please" means they a "good, responsible" carpet people. I am not a good carpet person which is why I no longer have much carpet in my home. I just can't keep it clean, so I prefer hard wood floors.
A sign that says, "Welcome One and All" means these people love people, and probably are even friends with their postman.
A sign that says, "Happy Everything" and has all the holiday signs below it means that persons life is so full, so busy, they don't have time to change door signs. So get with the program already people!!

Do you see what I'm saying?

In addition to door signs there are other clues outside a persons home that can really fill it all in for the random onlooker. Toys all over the lawn means kid friendly home. Potted flowers means, well that you have time to put some flowers in a pot and brighten the world. Little animal trinkets here and there means of course this person loves animals. Bird feeders means we have a bird watcher on our hands, an observer of life if you will.

Well I wonder what it means if you have a dinner bell and you don't live on a farm? Before you answer that I think that it's only fair that you should know; I have a new dinner bell.
Well, I have had it since winter but it hasn't really been put into use until the last few weeks of nice weather have provided just such a scenario. When I look at this dinner bell I think back to that agents words and I think if she could only see me now. Decking it up. Sweeping off my front porch. Getting rid of the cobwebs. She would be so proud.

Also, when I look at my dinner bell it brings me great joy, because I have always wanted to have a dinner bell. I'm not exactly sure why? I just think it's from all those days of watching Little House on the Prairie.
It kind of makes me laugh when I ring it and my kids come running.
Make No mistake, they are indeed being herded. Like Cattle. 4 Kids. Eh, I guess it works.
It is also used to get my three dogs attention if I see them wandering a bit too far down our driveway, I just ring that dinner bell.
And then of course I don't have a door bell so if you ever come over feel free to use it and get my attention. I need to be herded from time to time too.

Do you have some thoughts about your doorway? A favorite piece to welcome friends? A certain color that you have always dreamed of having on your front door. Do you think it's true what that agent said?

And now I give you a happy lil diddy from They Might Be Giants.
Happy Monday Friends <3