I Shutter to Think of It

Today's Wonder of the World could be this stone wall of a French house. It's incredibly beautiful, but that's not it. Guess what it is. It's in the picture.

Today's Wonder of the World is... Shutters!

"Shutters?" you say. "What's so great about shutters?"

Please examine Exhibit A.

Imagine that you lived in France with three sweet children like these. Children who loved to play the guitar. Children who had never had a single guitar lesson in their lives. Children who actually seemed to enjoy dissonance. Children whose guitar playing reminded you of the sound that a herd of cats would make if they were being forcibly shaved.

Now, add to your imagination a neighbor living across a very narrow street from you who treasured SILENCE most of all. And let's say this neighbor felt it was her duty to teach you proper French behavior, bless her heart, whenever you needed lessons. For as long as it took for you to learn.

Then ladies and gentlemen, you'd consider French shutters a Wonder of the World too!

I call them French shutters, but I just mean shutters that can actually shut. Most American shutters don't do that. I am aware that there are shutters that close all over the world, not just in France. I call them French shutters because those particular ones were located in France. Are we clear on that?

Take a look at the shutters I'm talking about. This is the house we had in France.

(This was taken before I realized that two measly flower boxes do not make for a charming balcony.)
I absolutely loved those shutters. If you're not acquainted with using shutters that close, here's five reasons why:

1. Old fashioned Air Conditioning. When it was hot, I'd open the windows wide in the cool morning air and close the shutters midmorning. The cool air would stay in and the heat would stay out.

2. Sound control. Guitar playing, the occasional argument. Curious neighbors.
Enough said.
By the way, scroll back to the children with the guitar picture. See how there's no light coming through those lace curtains? The shutters are closed.

3. Movie nights. The house was pitch black inside with the shutters closed. COZY!

4. Flying animal filtering. Clipping the shutters barely closed at night let the cool night air in but kept the birds and bats out. Except for one time. But that's another story.

5. Fortress building. When I was new and a chicken and Todd traveled all the time, I'd close those shutters at night and turn the house into a fortress. It was better than having a moat.

But now we're back home.
You might think we have no use for shutters.
Bwa ha ha.

I still think they're pretty, so I put some on each side of my mantle.

When I stuck them up there, Todd told me they needed a new paint job.
He just doesn't get it.
See the antique knobs? I screwed them on there because I like them too. I know they're too big for the shutters but I don't care.

I have another pair that I use in our den. I bought them at the same salvage yard where I got the mantle ones. I use them to organize my chapters when I'm writing. See?


I write the scenes on index cards, put the cards in clothespins, and then position them in order on the shutters. I can change the order whenever I want.
Pretty good idea, huh? I can be pretty inventive if it means I get to bring more shutters into my house.

One last picture.
Here is a house that I covet. You can't see much about it because there are people living in it who might think I was a stalker, so I couldn't get closer. I love this house also because it's on a nice big piece of land. And there's a red BARN behind it! And it's near the graveyard and all that moss that you know I love. And look...there are shutters. I could replace them with ones that close!

If you're reading this and it's your house, sorry about that. I'm not a scary person. I really just love to look at your house. I won't try to take it from you--unless you die, and then I'd just buy it from your relatives. Not that I want you to die, because I don't.

If you had French shutters right now, you'd probably close them on me and turn your house into a fortress. That's a great idea! Why don't you buy some? Then I won't have to do it--that is, if I ever find myself with your house.

Have a great Friday friends!
And come back this weekend. I'm going to let Tanner the Slobber Dog take the weekend shift!
He'll probably just post pictures since his doggy paws can't work the keyboard!