My Boy, He Fishes

We've been busy. I won't blah blah blah all the details here, cause face it, we are all busy ((too busy)).  The time had come to return to the farm for a visit with my parents, a little r e l a x a t i o n and well, fishing. My boy, you see, he's like his Daddy... he loves fishing!

 

  Sister-girl watched...some.

 

BUT, Sister-girl was all "oh never mind me while I just see what I can find to get into," more frequently than she watched though ;)

 

 She was perfectly fine touching the fish though! No fear, that little redhead!

 

 

This was Rooney explaining he caught some "prize seaweed".

 

 

And this was Rooney giving me a fine explanation of how everything works in the world of fishing.

 

The P E A C E was much appreciated and this Momma's heart is full when she's watching her kiddos just enjoy life's GOODNESS.

 

This Old House ((a few pictures to share...))

I'm still fielding lots of e-mails and even text request for more pictures from friends of the "new" house.  We are busy painting and decorating ((and talking about the need to pull a few weeds)) so I really feel like most all my pictures are "before" pictures at this point.  I should clarify though that the painting and decorating is really just to make the house "us". We are every bit as in love with the house as we were the first day we set foot inside and it is important to us to hang on to so many of the "period" details. 

I decided that I would photograph a few of the little details we are loving and share...

 

The size of the tree at the left corner of the property is unbelievable!

 

I adore this sweet mailbox and the house numbers!

 

 

 

You know, I have had the latest & the greatest when it comes to stoves, but it was love at first sight when I laid eyes on this beauty and it works perfectly!! I just planted window boxes that can be viewed out that great window in the kitchen, so I'm loving it also!

 

Who wouldn't want to look at this butcher's block everyday!  Brings me such joy!

 

 

 

Above is the ceiling in the "study" area.  Isn't that detail charming? It's a shame that so many modern day homes are built so quickly (and must be built so cost effectively) that little details like that are overlooked.

 

Now in all honesty the first time I saw this light in Rooney's room I just didn't love it.  I'm rather confident that when I share the entire room and the redo soon you will be in love too!  I have a whole new appreciation for it!

 

 

Built-ins...man, this house has L O A D S of them!  Not only do I adore looking at them, they are so super useful!

 

 

Likely one of my "most favorite" things in the house are these charming old doors!  The breezeway to the original maids quarters has been enclosed and now has two sets of these...  I treasure the fact that I can stand and listen to the church bells and feel a cool spring breeze.  It has quickly become my place of "peace".

 

 

Lastly, is the "old cook house"!  What a beauty it is!

 

Hope you have enjoyed seeing some more of this old house!

Moving In!

 

After spending a week in a hotel while closing on the sale of the farmhouse and preparing for closing on the "new" house, there are no words to explain how excited we were to see the moving truck pull up! Rooney was cheering with excitement!

 

 

So, the "new" house...

 

 

Such HISTORIC SOUTHERN GOODNESS!

 

 

She's sure got curb appeal going for her!  Our love of historic homes, and this particular historic district is what guided us here, but truthfully, this house purchase was all about the yard...

 

To find a historic home on over half an acre in the downtown district is well, simply unheard of.  The beauty my eyes have taken in at the farmhouse, gazing at the pastureland and beautiful old barn cannot be replaced, but to say I am blessed to now have this is an understatement. 

 

And this window? It renders me speechless ((truth! ha! you thought it was impossible!)).

 

The home was built in 1938 but records for the property date back to 1821.  I knew sitting at the closing table, listening to stories of the home being shared by the previous homeowners that as soon as I stepped foot into the house I would be flooded with emotion.  Then, there was this surprise.  The previous homeowners had left handwritten notes for me about the home in addition to the legal "abstract" of the property. The most amazing stories have unfolded.  I'm piecing together the notes, the legal documents, and the stories being shared by neighbors. AMAZING. Each day I feel like I gain a new piece of the puzzle and each day it makes me adore these walls more and more.  It "was" about the yard.  Now it is about SO MUCH MORE. 

 

 

As the story unfolds I will share some with you... it is much like reading a novel!  But, I have promised "pictures" to so many friends, so as promised...

 

 

Master Bedroom...I love the dark crown molding!  ((this is really a "side view" - Sister-girl is standing in the dressing room that is on one side of the room.))

 

 

 

 

The home has built-ins EVERYWHERE.  The Master has two of these beautiful closets.

 

 

There are three small baths that are all very true to the age of the home and a fourth very small bath that was in the original maids quarters. 

 

 

With the Master, there are four bedrooms total...some of which will get fresh paint soon ;)

 

Have I mentioned the house has twelve-foot ceilings throughout? Mercy, I love that.

 

I have yet to get good pictures of the kitchen, dining, laundry, or breakfast rooms.  I think the boxes were being rushed in so fast I couldn't snap pictures fast enough!  If only those boxes were getting unpacked half as fast!  Speaking of boxes, I've got a "few" waiting on me...

 

A Quick Hello Snow

Fall is my favorite season ((if I had to choose)), but I really do love wintertime as well.  I love blankets, jackets, hoodies, tall boots and coffee and those are all harder to enjoy come summertime.  Sure, I do have a crazy addiction to flip flops, but I have spent many a summer day dreaming of colder weather.  A friend told me years ago you can always put more clothes on, but you can only take so much off!  Such truth!

The past few winters we have spent in the farmhouse have really been unique.  It seems we have seen more frequent snowfall than I recall growing up in this area of East Tennessee.  I absolutely treasure all the pictures I have of my Rooney in the snow when he was so tiny and will never forget having a "White Christmas" with him... it was magic to me!

 

 

 

 

I LOVE looking at these pictures from when my Rooney was T I N Y!  ((It just went by entirely too fast!))

 

((above pictures were 2010 & 2011))

 

 

Having been spoiled to all this beauty, I must admit... this winter has been scoring a big "0" from me so far.  It has been full of sickness for my babies, and until last week we have had NO SNOW. Mega letdown for this Momma who wants pictures of her babies playing in the snow!

 

We did have a Quick Hello Snow last week.  It came just before dark, was a complete "white out" for a matter of minutes, and then darkness fell and with the porch lights on we watched as it melted nearly as quickly as it had come.  My Lifetime Love was on his way home from work when the Quick Hello Snow decided to make its brief appearance.  It was really Julianne's first snow.  I'm sure there was a snow of some sort when she was super tiny, but this was really the first time she was aware that "something" was going on ((she's 15 months now)). 



 

 

She had a lot to "say" about it!

 

 

     

I'm sure Rooney yelling "It's Christmastime, It's Christmastime?!" was a sure sign that in fact something was going on!  I opened the windows and let them feel the snow that was piling up... Sister-girl screamed when she felt the cold!  It didn't take long for her to decide that squishing it in her fingers was super fun though!  ----

 

 

Since writing this we have had yet another Quick Hello Snow - I will happily accept any glimpse of a snow, but honestly, we need just ONE GOOD SNOW before this "early" spring can arrive ;)