Blogger Friend School Assignment #1
October 15, 2006I just joined a group of blogging, homeschooling moms at the Blogger Friend School. For my first assignment, as a new student, I was asked to introduce myself and to post a picture of my dream home. Since I already live in a dreamy house, I thought I would try to find something that would be really fun. Of course, I did. What else would you expect? I could just picture living in this house somewhere in the middle of the woods where no one would really expect to find any house, let alone this house.
There are queer people in the world - a great many of them - and it is not strange that there are also queer houses. Now, as our little book is made for everybody, it is but just that queer people and their houses should be represented in it. Very few persons, we presume, will desire to build a circular house, although it is the form, as geometry demonstrates, in which the greatest possible space may be inclosed by a given amount of wall ; but for the oddity of the thing, or because economy of space may be secured, somebody may wish to do it, and look for a design to adopt or imitate. Here it is!This circular house, in many respects quite original in its plan, was erected by Enoch Robinson, Esq., at Spring Hill, Somerville, Massachusetts. No timber was used in its construction. The walls are made of plank sawed on a circle of 40 feet (the diameter of the house), nailed together, one above the other, in regular courses. The windows are made of four large panes of glass, in a single sash, which slides up into the wall, entirely out of the way. The inside blinds are arranged in the same manner.
The oval parlor is 24 feet long by 15 feet wide. The circular library, opposite, is 13 feet in diameter, leaving a fine front entry between these two curves. The kitchen, next the circular library, has a slate floor and walls of varnished white-wood. Between the kitchen and the large dining-room is the chimney and the kitchen and dining-room closets, so arranged as to occupy very little room.
On the second floor are seven chambers, two of them quite large, all opening into a pleasant rotunda, 13 feet in diameter, beneath the central skylight.
The accompanying sketch and plans will give a good idea of the general appearance and arrangement of this truly original and unique edifice.
Though made of the best materials, and of superior workmanship, this building was erected at an expense much less than that of a square house erected in the ordinary way.
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First Floor Plan 
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Second Floor Plan 
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As you can see, I would have a very unusual house, indeed. Hidden away in the woods with ivy growing up its walls, I would be able to do all of my favorite things. Of course, I would insist that the library come with built in bookcases as anything less just wouldn't do. And one of those upper chambers would have to be converted into an extravagant bath.
As for an introduction, I really don't know what to say. I'm a homeschooling mother of two daughters ages eleven and fourteen. My husband and I have been married for eighteen years. If you poke around my blog long enough, I think you will find out who I am. So come on into my dream home and share some tea and scones with me. I can't wait to show you the library!
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Comments:
Great 1st Assignment :) Your house was certainly unusual but intriging. I fixed your name.
Have a wonderful week! Our 3rd assignment will be posted on Wednesday.
~Tamara
Posted by: Training Hearts Mom at October 16, 2006 12:54 AM
Training Hearts Mom
What a cool house! That would be fun. I've enjoyed reading your blog this evening.
KarenW
Posted by: KarenW at October 16, 2006 1:37 PM
Fellow Blogger Friend School Classmate
I haven't homeschooled in a hundred years but I love visiting your site and I am always overcome by longing to push the clock back and have homeschooling little ones a part of my life again.
You also have some very cool photos.
Posted by: Dana at October 16, 2006 8:45 PM
I actually knew a family that lived in a round house! It was a log home, in the middle of a farmer's field! Very weird, but comfy inside ;-)
Posted by: coffeemamma at October 17, 2006 5:59 PM
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