Giving thanks

Thanksgiving at our house was wonderful! We didn't get to have it at Hentennial this year, but next year is lookin good! I asked everyone at our table to say what they are thankful for this year. It was nice to take a few minutes to go around and hear what everyone had to say. And aside from my family's health, and for having a roof over our heads, and for my wonderful children and husband, I am also so grateful for our little farm!
We spent a lot of time out at Hentennial this weekend. We finally moved the chickens into one stall of the barn. Now they have heat, and light, and a water heater base so their water won't freeze. We also put up new nest boxes for them which we got at the local farmer's market. They are wonderfully aged wooden vegetable crates that they were just going to throw away. It was our lucky day yesterday when we pulled up to ask if they had any laying around. We also put up the old chandalier that used to be hanging in the house when we first bought it. I must say it looks much better in the new coop than it did in the house! And the ladies seem to like it too! We laugh thinking that they went from a tiny shack to the chicken Ritz! But now we can sleep well knowing they are safe from the cold, safe from predators, and very comfortable in their new digs!
The kids and I set up our Christmas tree and decorated it with lots of little owl and acorn ornamnents. It is the perfect little country Christmas tree. And it's so pretty to see it in our big picture window from the road. The house looks loved and lived in. I'm sure it's a nice surprise to all the locals who saw it empty and run down for so long.
We got tons of stuff done during the last few days. And next we need to tackle the master bedroom, paint and carpet, so that we can move the bedroom furniture out of the main living area. Then, we can work on the kitchen and bath all winter. It's really feeling cozy and homey there now. It's hard to believe that it's been 9 months since we bought it.
Well, it's the start of the holiday season, and with Thanksgiving behind us, and a long winter ahead, I am just so very grateful for my life. I am grateful that my parents taught me to dream. And because of that, I held onto my biggest dream of owning a small farm one day. Now my dream is a reality, and every time I am there, it feels like heaven on Earth!
Still pinching myself and still amazed that we made it happen.

Progress...

Well, we spent the day at the farm. Brought all the snowmobiles out, put them away, fed the chickens and started on the house. We organized, cleaned, and moved furniture into place. It looks amazing! The floors turned out so beautifully. The wall color is gorgeous against all the rough wood beams. Better than I had imagined. So I took lots of pics and are posting them as well. Now we just have to tackle our bedroom, on the main floor. Paint, and put in new carpet. Then we can finally set up our bed and other furniture. I can't wait.
Now it will be much easier for the kids to hang out while we work on the kitchen and bath. They have the whole upstairs to themselves, and now a living room that's done. Now I really want to put up some Christmas decorations in there! Maybe that will be this week.
Progress, progress....Ahhhhh, gotta love progress!

Transformation

The floors are done! YAY! My husband is so amazing! He worked so many long nights getting those gorgeous old wide plank floors stripped and then pickled to the perfect shade of off white. I was out there yesterday and had not seen the final result. The whole house is transformed! No more layers of old urethane, no more pink trim and blue walls, and musty smells. The house looks open and fresh, and clean. All of our hard work made such a difference. The wallpaper is gone, the old dirty carpet padding, the ugly paint colors and fixtures. Just the bones and the integrity are left.
Now our upstairs is done, fresh paint on walls and floors, and furnished. The main floor just needs the walls painted, (white dove by Benjamin Moore) and then we can move all of the furniture into place. I have been stock-piling treasures since we bought the house last February! So, I cannot wait to decorate! Although it has taken a long time to do the work, it seems to be coming along quite quickly. Soon we will be spending the night, cooking in our kitchen and spending lots of time at our little farm.
Last weekend, on our way out to Metamora, we stopped for lunch and saw a miniature Highland calf that someone had just bought for his farm. He pulled into the gas station and she poked her head out of the small horse trailer that she was in. So, of course we ran out to get a closer look. She was so sweet and soft and adorable! He said they had one already and had decided to add another one. And since I had researched the breed, I was more than extatic to meet one in person! The kids went crazy when they got to pet her, and we decided on the spot that we will be adding two of those to Hentennial next summer. It was love at first sight!
Well, there is still more work ahead, kitchen reno, bathroom, and installing windows. But we are really close to being done with all the big stuff. It has been a dream come true fixing up that little old house. We thank her every time we are there, and she thanks us right back!