|
So you're going to be a guest of the Cowsill family! We can assure you it's quite an experience.
The house itself is fantastic. It's set on seven acres of land, with a cottage and a garage apartment. Dick told us that last summer they "let the grass grow, and it got to be like three feet tall! It was beautiful and we didn't want to get it cut, but finally, Mother got frustrated about it, and it was cut."
On the way into the house, you'll probably bump into Curly, the family's dog, "a mixture of cocker spaniel and dachshund." If you miss the dog, there's always the bird and the three hamsters running around.
Once inside, you'll be taken to your room. Paul and Bob would be willing to give up their room for you, but they're not sure you'd like it. Paul says: "We've got two beds, sunken in. Bobby's broke, you see—one side of his mattress is down in the framework, so we
|
|
In front of the family home (l-r):
Mom, John, Barry, Bob, and Bill.
|
|
broke the other side. I broke mine to match! I think it looks real cool. Well, anyway, we do have a beautiful hi fi and records. And we have a whole lot of books all over the place. There's a good area rug, Peter Pan windows, two closets, and dust!"
You could move in with Susan, but she tells us "I don't really have a bedroom at the moment-it's just a room." And John tells us: "My room is big, with a bed, dresser and lamp. And that's it. But I'm going to get a bedroom set of my own. I want everything in green, except the bedposts which will be black." And Barry says he lives way up where the ghost lives (you read about the Cowsill ghost last issue).
All in all, we suspect it will be Dick who will give up his room for you. "Mine's the only one that's actually been done. You see, I have the whole third and fourth floor to myself. It has character.
|
|
The walls are oyster white, and I have shutters, book cases, a couch and an antique chair. I stained two applecrates to make one of the book cases. There's a blue rug, T.V. and stereo — you'd be quite at home."
Now that you're installed in the Cowsill home, what will you do? Barry says: "We give guests eggs for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and we always cook an enormous roast beef for dinner if it's really good company." However, you might also enjoy lobster or turkey with french fries which are favorites among others in the family.
Dick tells us: "We eat in the kitchen. We have a linoleum floor there which has been there for ten years; you can count the holes, you know."
During the day, you might be coaxed into playing ping pong with Susan—there's a ping pong table in the living room; or pool with
|
|
Dick and Paul — the pool table is in the dining room. And no doubt, you'll get involved in a sing song. Barbara Cowsill says: "We're always singing. We practice about two hours a day with our instruments, but even when we're not practicing, we like to sing with the folk guitars. We really have a good time."
If it's winter, Barry will take you on the toboggan. "There's a barn at the bottom of the hill. We take the toboggan in about three feet of snow, and we go down the hill at night. The last one to jump off before you hit the barn is called the bravest. You know, it's a little game we have."
So that's the way it goes at the Cowsill pad. There are always guests, it's "open house all the time," according to Dick. Even though YOU may never be a guest of the Cowsills, at least now you know what you're missing! •
|
