Pinot and a Papillion

We moved most of our things out of Hentennial today, and eventhough I felt a pang of sadness to be leaving there, I also felt happy for the memories that it gave us. We found ourselves there. As a couple and as a family. It was the doorway to our new adventure, and if we never bought that place, we may have never bought our new farmhouse. So for that I am grateful. The new owners will love her even more than we did. They will finish the house, and put their horses in the barn and pasture, and the house will be lived in the way it should be. Loved.
So, we filled the Uhaul trailer to the brim and got almost everything out today. We just have a few large items to move and the toys in the barn. But Roger and his brother will do that on the next trip out. Now we just have to find places to store it all until we move out of the Franklin house. I haven't really begun packing anything here yet, just some clutter. But I am going to have a huge estate sale and get rid of all the furniture and items that I know we don't need in the new house. A lot of our pieces here don't really go with a Centennial farmhouse decor, so I'm better off selling them. I already have much of the new house decorated in my head, and on paper, and I can't wait to really dig in and fill my days treasure hunting and plotting. I'm so ready for a new look. New colors, new styling, just different. I love change. I love developing my taste over time. And I have realized lately that it took me until the age of 40 to really find my style. Not my personal, clothing style, but my house style. My taste has definately evolved over time and through many houses. I know what I like and what I don't like now. I know what colors I like. What style of furniture, what kind of antiques, what kind of bedding. So hopefully in this new house I can put it all together in one, perfectly imperfect collaboration. Vintage, comfortable, traditional, timeless, romantic, nature inspired, and very, very me. I will post pics of the before, and during the whole make over process of the new farm as soon as we close on it in a few weeks. We don't have to do any major work on the interior, just some cosmetic changes, paint, carpet, etc...And we want to take out a wall between two rooms upstairs to make a master suite, and knock out a wall in a room that they had made into one very large room from two original smaller bedrooms. Also we want to bump out part of the kitchen to make an eat-in area and sitting/t.v. area with lots of windows and french doors leading to the pool area. So there will be work, but not nearly as much as we did on the first farm. Well, just different work. Fun projects that will just make it better. And it's pretty great just the way it is right now.
And when I'm not busy daydreaming about the decor, I'm busy searching for my new furry friends to add to the farm. I found a woman who breeds Mini Silky Fainting goats and she is going to call me as soon as the kids are born so we can go pick a couple out. They are so funny and adorable. They have long sily hair like a Yorki Terrior, and they are super small, only 25-30 lbs as adults, and some even have blue eyes! Plus, they faint when startled! I'm obsessed with them and want to get two as soon as we can. I also have my baby chicks ordered for a March delivery and will be reserving more from the feed store in Ortonville. They get different breeds all month long from March thru May. So you can just pick what you want and they will hold them for you. But for now, it's all just planning, moving our things, trying to organize and plan where to put what, what to keep, what to sell, what to trash. And on top of it all, just living, and hoping that all of the closings go smoothly!

A glass of Pinot and a Papillon on my lap is good therapy! Calm before and during the storm comes in all forms, especially furry with four feet! And for that I am also grateful!

Here's to it all running smoothly....ahhhhh!

It's all in a name

So, we need a new name for our new farm and my blog. I don't think we should keep the Hentennial name, since that was a completely different place, different adventure. We are open to any suggestions. I have a few ideas that we have been throwing around. And one of them is Daisy Hill. The meaning behind it has nothing to do with the flower. About 12 years ago, when Roger took me on my first country drive out in Oakland Township, we came across a beautiful, old, white, stowic, farmhouse that sat up on a hill. The little weather worn sign in the front said, "Daisy Hill", and from that day forward, that was what I wanted. It was picturesque. Quaint, lived in, cared for, and had a lovely old barn and a few little outbuildings. I never forgot about it, and I feel like we have been searching for our own "Daisy Hill" ever since. So, I like the idea of borrowing the name for our new place strictly for sentimental purposes. But we are also open to new ideas. Something original. They say the basis of the name should be either your family name, what animals you raise, or the setting, ie: Valley Oak, Frog Holler, Maple Knoll. Or, Milk and Honey, Ponies and Jam, etc....You get the idea. So, I happen to have a few that may work: Fat Dog Farm (solely based on our bagel loving, 94 pound Goldendoodle), Forever Young Farm, Firefly Farm, Happyhen Farm, Amy's Acres. The house is a Centennial farm, it will have chickens, goats, mini horses, ducks and a mini pig. Plus our 3 dogs, 2 cats, and a tortoise. The house is white, and does sit up on a hill with a river rock wall along the front of the property. If that helps at all with name ideas.
I will post some pics as soon as our closing dates are set in the next few days. Too superstitious to post before that.
All suggestions are welcome!

One step closer

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."~ Elenor Roosevelt
I love this quote, and it resinates with me so deeply right now. We have some family and some friends who are not especially happy that we are moving, but luckily, mother is my best cheerleader. She recently told me that she is proud of me for going after my dream, and for not giving up, even in the midst of madness. It is just what I needed to hear to keep a positive attitude. People will always have opinions about your choices. They will always judge and you can either let it bother you, or just hold firm in your decisions. It's life. And I have certainly learned in my 42 years, that I can't worry about what people think. Life is short, and I want to make the best of it.
We are so excited because our offer on the new house was accepted! We are now one step closer to closing. We are just waiting to set a closing date on our Franklin house and then set a date on the new house. We will also be moving our things out of Hentennial in the next 2 weeks. The new owners are wonderful and love the house as much as we do. They have horses so the barn will now have two new residents. It will be lovely to see people living there and enjoying it's beauty.
So, with emotions running high, I am trying my best to keep a level head. To not let the stress get to me, and to keep our homelife as normal as possible. It's not easy. I want to celebrate, but I can't until we actually close. I am very superstitious that way. The popping of the cork will have to wait a few more weeks. But until then, the planning, the decorating, the ideas for the outbuildings, are all consuming. It will be a the beginning of our new adventure, one that is long overdue...