Without the two cats in the yard. Which is not very Colorado of us, as my family reminds me weekly. But we’ve had cats and well, we don’t anymore. To be fair, they keep asking me to agree to adopt a dog. I have many reasons why I’ve declined. But that might sour this sweet little story about ‘home.’ 
What makes your house a home? Other bloggers are writing about their home experiences in the Live a Little blog prompt with Skimbaco.
The first thing that popped into my head is a favorite song by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, which lent itself to become my post title. I stop in my tracks whenever I hear it, like the other day while I worked a shift at Eddie Bauer. I saw other customers singing along, so I know it has the same effect on others. It simply makes me happy.
That’s how I feel about my home. The people, the stuff inside, makes me happy. I’ve chosen them, well, okay, my husband. The kids are our blessings – and the things on the walls, in the baskets, in each room – I’ve chosen them all very carefully. Some items have been gifts, which also makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Yes, even on the days when it is cluttered or I’m mad at them or more likely, they’re mad at me (mean mom syndrome).
A good friend and her husband are closing on their dream home this week. They hope it is the last home they will ever own. Not that they plan on going anywhere. They’ve build it ‘just right.’ Like the baby bear in the Goldilocks fable.
I vlogged about a profound moment, during a dark time in my life when I had to leave one of my homes. My mom gave me the best feedback I could have heard at the time.
As I look around the room, I know she was right. Moms have a way with words sometimes.
Tell me what you like about your home. I never tire of our mountain views. 
Aww… the mountain views. You really make me miss Colorado and living on the mountain side. And you _almost_ make me hope I could have the “last home we ever have,” it sounds something you just want to wrap your arms around and makes me think being old with my husband and watching the yard as grandkids play saying “that’s where your mom used to play too when she was a little girl”. Sigh. You can never have it all in life, right?
(Oh, and I? I will be taking grandkids on world tours saying things like “this is the country your mom was born” and “Colorado was where your mother learned to ski”).
Katja, I think it is the most wonderful education for everyone, especially kids, to travel the way you have! This home in Colorado is the only time I’ve moved from my Ohio home. My husband and I have talked about a year or two in London and other places in Europe. How I’d love to be your neighbor, but instead of sugar, I think I might borrow wine
No, make that share it.
What I like about my home is something that I could never get anywhere else – it was the house my dad was raised in.
I bought my grandparent’s old home!
Jenn, thank you for sharing that. A big part of the reason I love blogging is to learn more about people from their comments. How special. Your house is clearly a treasured home!
My home is my safe haven. I hope it will always be that way!
Jo-Lynne, there really isn’t anything more important about home than the comfort it provides. I’m thankful every day! I hope yours will remain too! We are very lucky.
I hope that our apartment is just temporary. I’ve been saying that for 2 years….but the truth is, we’re happy here because there is more time for family with less house to clean and no lawn to mow.
My home is where my family is!
Well, we aren’t “Officially” in our new home yet, however, what we love about it so far are two things. Number one, as we were recently married, it is a new begining for us and a new place to start our new life/adventure together. Number two, we had it custom built for us and we picked out every detail and every color in the house. That makes it a one of a kind for us and its something we got to do together (And believe it or not, we never once got in a fight during ALL the decision making that had to happen for the house to come together….LOL) Our plan is to move in this week and have a “Moving Box” bonfire in the back yard as we never intend to move again (Unless circumstances dictate that we have to).
Our home isn’t big. In fact, it’s pretty average. Stuff 10+ people inside and we rub elbows a lot. There are plenty of things I gripe about, but when it comes down to it, I am able to appreciate little things that make it home. Like the way the sun shines in through the windows in the morning, casting interesting shadows on my bed linens and the fireplace brick downstairs.
I have realized the past few years that it’s the memories I’ve made in my home rather than the “stuff” that is important to me. This really came to light when helping my Dad clean out his house after my Mom passed away. I realized it wasn’t the belongings or the house itself I was going to miss there, but the memories that had been made over nine years. Any house can become a home with the many friends and family that go through your front door!
I have to agree about the cats but it is always good to think about the little things that add up to make your house into a home.
Given this is our first home, I wish I were more in love with it, but I consider it a lesson learned (unfortunately the hard way). Despite that, I do love what we do to make it our home. Always have, particularly the ugly on-post homes we’ve endured living in.
I love your house, too, btw. And I bet those views are FANFREAKINGTASTIC! Le sigh. I miss mountains. Born and raised in NY with mountain’s a-plenty, I don’t know what to do with all this flat land.
Lisa, I’ve heard the NY mountains are lovely too! I am happy you are experiencing your first home, verses military homes, although, I must say, I’ve noticed vast improvements in military housing too. We didn’t build this home, even though it was a new build. There are things we love, others we would have done differently, but overall, it is a wonderful place to hangou our hats. You are welcome, anytime!
There are some parts of my home that I love, but I wouldn’t mind moving to a different home in the neighborhood. My next big move is going to be when I retire as a snowbird!
Jessica, I often admire homes in the hood. Sometimes to get ideas on curb appeal, other times to dream BIG. Snowbird, where? Might we be neighbors some day? Or are you thinking Canada or elsewhere?
I love your post, I have always wanted to live in Colorado, I don’t know why, but it says home to me.
The kids tell me I am free to go live there when I’m old ;/ lol,
Ha, Lily, we enjoy living here in our middle age
But we hope to be here when we’re old. Maybe we’ll be neighbors!
I used to think my home had to look so good when guests came over. I wanted them to think I had it all together and that my home should reflect that. One day I realized that a home should look lived in and not a model home for all to see. My home now has that lived in look with art projects on the walls and the fridge, animals everywhere…and even unmade beds. NOW my home is “homey!”
So happy you took the time to comment, Robyn. I couldn’t agree with you more!
My favorite thing about my house is the garden. I’ve got iris from my grandmother’s garden… who has been gone for over 25 years, rocks from special trips to the mountains with my daughters, old farm fences I snagged from estate sales and things I hand-painted or were made for me by friends. Our recent addition of a puppy even seems to understand that my garden is important.. even when his ball goes into it he stops and very gently steps inside “my” space to snag his ball band bring it back tail wagging… he’s one of my new favorite things… I really do have two cats in the yard.. only with supervision of course in the land of coyotes and hawks but they delight in creeping along the fence behind the mass of flowers to hide in a favorite shady spot or sun themselves on a big rock.. It’s our happy place.
Your garden, with the special additions representing you and your family, sounds lovely Chrissy. I’ll need to stop over to see it sometime. I love whimsical decor and need a bit more of it in my garden.