After a rather interesting evening in a karaoke restaurant in a regional town ended with an older man trying to invite me to his home to smoke weed and probably do something naughty, I drove outside the town to look for a place to camp for the night. That summer I decided to spend my entire summer holiday sober, which meant that I often sat in bars sipping non-alcolholic beer before driving somewhere to rest.
I found a spot in a new area of the town, where the roads had been built, but there were yet no houses. Just before I parked, I noticed a house, which looked abandoned. I did a small evening walk, but it was too dark to get good photos. I decided to return first thing in the morning.
And first thing in the morning I indeed was there to explore.
The yard was so overgrown, that I couldn’t even find the driveway. I later checked from Google Maps, that it was next to where I took the first picture, yet I decided to enter from the back side.
A sweet sight: an open door.
The first thing that greeted me inside was a pair of skis. How Finnish!
Does this count as vintage?
Despite the break in, the house was almost in an original condition. The kitchen table looks like the inhabitants had just left.
A nice collection of hats here.
As common with old houses, there were two stoves. One wood powered and one electrical. This one can’t be considered too modern.
Important items like laundry detergent and lubricant. The place looks more and more like the owner left with their boots on.
We have something in common. Even I enjoy my occasional scotch.
That looks like an ash tray. Decades ago it was common to smoke inside, but this is actually the first home where I find evidence of it happening.
The house was fairly small. A kitchen, a bedroom and a living room. This is the living room.
Which also seems to have acted as a bedroom.
Among the papers were newspapers from 2014 and car tax bills from 2010. They are about a 1987 Volvo 240 estate, a car, which I’ve wanted to have since my childhood. In old Google Maps photos the car is even visible on the yard of this house. Sadly it’s gone now.
Not a very common find in Finnish homes: a cuckoo clock.
An old Singer sewing machine. Looks pretty mint to my eye. These are sought after nowadays.
A second post from here coming up.
I’m deeply grateful for the legalization of cannabis in Vermont, as it has provided a healthier alternative for coping with stress. In the past, I struggled with alcohol, often resorting to heavy drinking to manage the traumatic experiences I faced at work. There were several instances where I drank excessively, leading to situations where the police had to escort me home after finding me running down the road completely naked.
On a related note, these pictures are amazing; some of your best work in recent months, I think. The photo of the kitchen table by the window is truly remarkable.
Thank you for sharing, even though those are not the easiest things. Although I am a pretty talented drinker myself, I am yet to be escorted home.
And also thank you! I also like the one with the kitchen table by the window. I publish almost everything I photograph to let people see how the places I visit really look. But sometimes I manage to get spectacular shots, too!