We have made our way out to Hentennial quite a bit lately. We love going there and getting work done, snowmobiling and warming up in front of the fireplace. But it's nice to see the house progressing. Now our master bedroom is done. New carpet, wall painted, furniture moved in. It feels just like home! I can't wait to sleep in our room, rather than the upstairs guest bed. We saved our old Ethan Allen sleigh bed when we upgraded to a king at our house in Franklin. And now it feels right where it belongs at Hentennial. And I found a great old chest of drawers at my former High school's summer garage sale for $80.00, and it looks like it was left behind in the farmhouse. Everything is coming together so well. Now we just need to really tackle the kitchen. It is such a daunting task. We decided to tear out the old cabinets. They are useless. Too high and too deep. I would rather have nice, white, open shelves to display some antique dishware. We also need to install the tile floor, get the fridge repaired, (it's not cooling) and buy an apronfront sink. Then we need to find a stacked washer/dryer set and hook that up next to the laundry sink that Roger took out of a house they were about to tear down. The fridge is from that house too, and although it's in great shape, it doesn't seem to be getting cold. That's the bummer about getting things for free. They don't always work!
But, I'm sure it will all come together in time. Just need to phase it out and get busy. Then, we will only have the bathroom to finish. And it still needs to be gutted.
All in all, the progress is pretty good. Considering our time constraints, money constraints, and that it's only been 11 months since we purchased it, I'd say we are right on schedule!
It's a lot of work and a huge undertaking. Between Rog and I both working, and raising three kids, three dogs, and a bunch of other critters, some would think we were crazy. But we wouldn't have it any other way!
Dexter and Lilly
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
My forbidden fruits (and vegetables)
Please read this article recently published in the New York Times!
"My forbidden fruits and vegetables"
It is quite eye opening and sheds light on the struggles that our farmers face and what they are allowed to grow!
www.nytimes.com
"My forbidden fruits and vegetables"
It is quite eye opening and sheds light on the struggles that our farmers face and what they are allowed to grow!
www.nytimes.com
Our first farm night
We did it! We spent Thursday night out at Hentennial. After 10 months and tons of work, we loaded up the kids and dogs and headed out for the night!
It was really fun to make a fire in the fireplace (first one) and cozy up on the sofa in our jammies and know that we didn't have to drive back to Franklin. The kids just hung out and played, and Rog and I got to work painting the master bedroom. Two coats of Benjamin Moore's Elmira White, and three coats of bright white on the window trim. We also met the carpet guy out there Thurs. evening and they installed it Friday morning. It was the only room in the house where the floors were not salvageable. Now our bedroom is finally done! It looks great. The kids helped us paint and they made a fort in our closet with blankets and a (non flame) lanturn, and their MP3 player with speakers. It was really cute that they all hung out in there for a couple of hours. I chose a color scheme that is on an opposite spectrum from our home in Franklin. I want the farm house to be really different from our main home. Bold, brighter colors, more patterns and simpler styling. The walls are all neutral, but the furnishings mix red, black, yellow and green. I call it "equestrian/country." It suits the house. It makes the house feel happy, warm and inviting.
Most of my inspirations come from a vision board that I had created before we actually bought the farm. I had torn out and collected various photos and quotes and images from magazines for months and put them all together on a poster board which I looked at daily. It helped keep me focused and it kept me motivated to move ahead. The house was a huge project and daunting at first, but we both knew that we would be very happy there during, and after the work. All the rooms are mostly done, we just have some finishing touches. Next on the list is the kitchen and bathroom. And we have already done most of the prep, tearing out old flooring, priming, etc...but there is still a ton of work to do. Hopefully that will be done before summer so that we can focus on the outside projects then.
On another note, when we slept there we realized quite quickly that our rooster, Oreo, loves to crow at all hours of the night. He is quite loud and eventhough it is a farm, we don't want our closest neighbors to be annoyed by his constant crowing. So, I posted a pic of him on Craigslist and we already found him a wonderful home right down the road from us. An older couple who raises Arucana's(the blue egg layers) wants a roo for their breeding stock. So it worked out perfectly. We can even visit him when we want to and get chicks from them in the spring. February is baby chick time, and we can't wait to replenish our flock!
Well, things are moving along at Hentennial. And it truly is a labor of love.
It was really fun to make a fire in the fireplace (first one) and cozy up on the sofa in our jammies and know that we didn't have to drive back to Franklin. The kids just hung out and played, and Rog and I got to work painting the master bedroom. Two coats of Benjamin Moore's Elmira White, and three coats of bright white on the window trim. We also met the carpet guy out there Thurs. evening and they installed it Friday morning. It was the only room in the house where the floors were not salvageable. Now our bedroom is finally done! It looks great. The kids helped us paint and they made a fort in our closet with blankets and a (non flame) lanturn, and their MP3 player with speakers. It was really cute that they all hung out in there for a couple of hours. I chose a color scheme that is on an opposite spectrum from our home in Franklin. I want the farm house to be really different from our main home. Bold, brighter colors, more patterns and simpler styling. The walls are all neutral, but the furnishings mix red, black, yellow and green. I call it "equestrian/country." It suits the house. It makes the house feel happy, warm and inviting.
Most of my inspirations come from a vision board that I had created before we actually bought the farm. I had torn out and collected various photos and quotes and images from magazines for months and put them all together on a poster board which I looked at daily. It helped keep me focused and it kept me motivated to move ahead. The house was a huge project and daunting at first, but we both knew that we would be very happy there during, and after the work. All the rooms are mostly done, we just have some finishing touches. Next on the list is the kitchen and bathroom. And we have already done most of the prep, tearing out old flooring, priming, etc...but there is still a ton of work to do. Hopefully that will be done before summer so that we can focus on the outside projects then.
On another note, when we slept there we realized quite quickly that our rooster, Oreo, loves to crow at all hours of the night. He is quite loud and eventhough it is a farm, we don't want our closest neighbors to be annoyed by his constant crowing. So, I posted a pic of him on Craigslist and we already found him a wonderful home right down the road from us. An older couple who raises Arucana's(the blue egg layers) wants a roo for their breeding stock. So it worked out perfectly. We can even visit him when we want to and get chicks from them in the spring. February is baby chick time, and we can't wait to replenish our flock!
Well, things are moving along at Hentennial. And it truly is a labor of love.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Vintage sleds on a vintage farm
We headed out to the farm on Sunday and got there around 4 p.m. It was lightly snowing and we had about 6 inches on the ground. The boys couldn't wait to get the old Artic Cats runnin'! As I tended to the chickens and our one majestic Roo, the boys got the sleds out and started them right up. After being stored since last winter, it was pretty impressive. Dylan, our 10 year old, and Evan, our 8 year old were the first ones out. After a few minutes I ran and grabbed the camcorder so that I could capture it on video. For my husband, Roger, this was a personal dream come true. He has had a love for vintage snowmobiles since he was a little boy, and he has been collecting old Artic Cats for the last 8 years or so. So, naturally our boys have developed the same passion and it is so amazing to finally have a place of our own to ride them. The intertwinded dreams of Roger and I of owning a place where we can blend all of our interests has truly come to fruition. The very old farmhouse filled with character and charm, the acreage it sits on, the surrounding horse country, the sturdy old barn and all of the vintage toys, all make for a heavenly retreat! It's funny because Rog often comments on moments that he knows he will remember for years, but this particular evening must have left a huge impact. He mentioned more than once on how happy it made him to see all of us ripping around on the sleds, laughing and having so much fun. And I have to agree that it was one for the memory books. Even Kelsey, our 6 year old daughter, and I, had a blast riding around the pasture. It was good old family fun. I think it's the simplicity of it that makes me feel like a kid again. The sheer joy of the wind in my face, the smell of the winter air, and the sound of laughter and happiness. These are exactly the reasons why we wanted a place like Hentennial. We want our children to enjoy the same things that we did as kids. Being outdoors, loving nature, being unplugged, and being together. We live in a fast paced society. All technical, constant stimulation, not enough talking, not enough family connection. But there are ways to combat the bad habits of today. Get outside. Get unplugged. Do something active. Do things as a family. Building special memories is important for our children, but it is just as important for ourselves. We want to look back on our lives and smile at how we lived them. We want to be grateful for the simpler times. The times where everything seemed to just slow down.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Holiday Spirit
This year we decided to do something more memorable than going to the local Home Depot to buy our tree. Although, when the kids were younger, they did believe that the employees at the Depot were actually Santa's helpers, and we did always choose a nice tree. But this year we found a wonderful family owned tree farm in Metamora where we took the kids to cut down a tree. It was such a gorgeous day on Saturday too. Sunny and cold, but not snowy, and we remembered to dress really warm. The farm is situated on 400 plus rolling acres, and they have a tractor that will give you a ride down into the hilly spots to go search for the perfect tree. Then, after you cut it down, they haul it out for you and shake and wrap it. All of the trees are the same price, regardless of size. They also have warm chestnuts and hot cocoa for sale. The kids loved it, and so did we! We all decided that this will be our new tradition and we plan to go to the same farm every year. We chose a 9 foot Blue Spruce, mostly for it's pretty blue color, and because it's a change from all the Frasier Furs in the past. It's perfect.
So Saturday was my idea of getting into the holiday spirit. In the morning we went to a warehouse where we wrapped all the gifts we bought for our "adopted" family. It's such a wonderful charitable organization and it makes us feel so good to be giving back to the community by providing those who have nothing with a little Christmas cheer. Also, I think it's important for my children to learn about giving back, and helping others in need. Especially around the holidays when so much focus has shifted to consumerism and not what it should be about, giving back. When we were done at "Santa's Workshop", we headed out to the country to get our tree. It was a fun filled day with the family. Then we spent all day Sunday in our p.j.'s decorating the tree and the house. The snow was piling up outside which made it all the more majical, and Rog even took the kids sledding in the Village. This was a memory-making weekend: Giving back, tree cutting, snow falling and fireside snuggling all weekend long!!!
The farm is called Nicklas Tree Farm, 3847 W. Brocker Rd. Metamora, MI
email: connienicklas@hotmail.com
So Saturday was my idea of getting into the holiday spirit. In the morning we went to a warehouse where we wrapped all the gifts we bought for our "adopted" family. It's such a wonderful charitable organization and it makes us feel so good to be giving back to the community by providing those who have nothing with a little Christmas cheer. Also, I think it's important for my children to learn about giving back, and helping others in need. Especially around the holidays when so much focus has shifted to consumerism and not what it should be about, giving back. When we were done at "Santa's Workshop", we headed out to the country to get our tree. It was a fun filled day with the family. Then we spent all day Sunday in our p.j.'s decorating the tree and the house. The snow was piling up outside which made it all the more majical, and Rog even took the kids sledding in the Village. This was a memory-making weekend: Giving back, tree cutting, snow falling and fireside snuggling all weekend long!!!
The farm is called Nicklas Tree Farm, 3847 W. Brocker Rd. Metamora, MI
email: connienicklas@hotmail.com
Sunday, November 28, 2010
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.
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.
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About Me
- C1
- I am a busy mommy of 3. Ages 10, 8 and 6. Two crazy boys and a just-as-crazy daughter. My husband Roger and I have been married for 11 years this June. He runs a family owned Architecture company in Bloomfield Hills. I am a clothing consultant for a wonderful company. But for the most part, I am just a country girl at heart. I have an amazing love of animals, all kinds, big or small. I love nature and feeling the rythms of the earth. I love to garden and grow my own veggies and fruits. So, it was only natural that I would some day grow up and buy a farm. I am just a mommy who wants to share my passion for all things natural with my family and friends. So, we are giving it our best shot!