Fantasy life

Hello, if anyone is reading this blog sorry it's been a while...... Life has been happening. Last August when I was to return to preschool let us remember in short the preschool closed. I took a part time job at our local library. I loved it . It got me through the winter. I still love it. But time for me to move on. My mother is still on this earth and I hope to spend lots more time with her. 

And really throw all of my creative energy into building the business Vintiques. 

Will has been working on the building itself.  

I have been all winter quietly planning the shop in my mind working out ideas, shop layout, merchandise, hours, taxes, ect...

Now it's time to put it all together. I have a show to do on May 2 I hope to show case some of what the shop is about.

Also farm camp is putting its pretty face forward for another year.

Time to really get the farm cleaned up and the farm stay ready for real guest this year! Oh I hope it happens. 

So much on our plates this year of 2015! And just to let some of you who don't have ADD know what life is like... While you have all this going on plus so much more ( like all of us ) .... You have a secret fantasy of buying a tiny house in the city one that would take up all of your time and money to fix her up! As much as you could never live there full time.... It's just a fantasy..... Right! 

Still here ......

Well it's been a while but I am still here!
So much going on and nothing to exciting. The shop is getting a complete overhaul.... Remodel Refresh..... When I moved Vintiques into the shop I was fully making it up as I went. Now having a few years experience I truly know more of what I want. And what I want the space to look like.
But nothing is happening yet. We are waiting for the spring thaw before we start. So we are all just enduring this winter stuff . If you are reading this ( anyone ) I hope your world is well!
Till next time
Sharon

A tiny surprise

Last winter we saved some architectural salvage from our historic farmhouse before it was torn down. 

We dismantled some fireplace mantles. Dragged them through the house. Loaded them onto the back of our pick up. Hauled them about a half hour away to our barn. Unloaded them. Put them into barn. Then over the summer we moved them around again in the barn to store them out of our way. A couple weeks ago I was in the barn yet again and moved one of the mantles. ( leaning) it away from the others. I was by myself and there is no way I can move one of them alone. When my eyes fell on something.

You can see it in the first two pictures. Lying on a tiny ledge on the back side of the mantle covered in years of dirt. How many years? I have no idea. But of course in my mind I have it belonging to one of my great, greats! Coming in from work, emptying his pants pockets on to the mantle. And somehow slipped behind it. Gone forever? Till I found it. A treasure for sure in my eyes. A friend suggested letting it soak in a little oil do I could open it. A tiny pocket knife lost so many years ago. To be found in the future . What a story I have no idea how it stayed on that tiny wood ledge with all of the moving. And then for me to spy it, by happenstance ? I don't think so....

Good bye summer can't wait to see you again

Gathering the last of the summers harvest. We had a break in the clouds and rain over the weekend. It was a beautiful weekend. After I gathered the last of summer I spread it around the house.

Old abandon houses

And a few random ones thrown in. My friend invited me over for this warm special drink. Good friends two or four legged are awesome!

When we bought our home almost over 20 years ago, it had set empty for a number of years. And before that it housed a couple that lived and farmed here for decades. They grew old here and yes eventually passed over here. The house had seen it's better days. For more than 20 years not much was done. 

I feel that was a blessing sometimes. No one came to "remodel" her. Tear out old windows, cover up old plaster walls, update the bathroom ( that was installed in the 50's) yes we still have the outhouse! 

So on days like today when it's chilly out and dark with rain clouds. As I sit reading in the living room it's very quiet and a bit dim. You can easily imagine what it was like for many years here as she sat empty .

I've removed too many layers of wall paper, painted walls and 12 ft cealings. Replaced very few windows. Installed a modern kitchen, new floor under the claw foot tub. Ect. But there is a beauty of detail and charm that is still here. Money can't buy it. It's the feeling I get when I am here alone. This old house and I we like each other a lot! 

So as they say love is in the details. The Skelton key locks, old wavy glass, transome windows, a mud porch off the kitchen with beautiful farm house doors to let the light in. Old creaky real wood floors. A floor to cealing cupboard in the kitchen that opens on the kitchen side and the dinning room. A fireplace mantel and surround with an old iron cover. Still with the original tiles, and beveled mirror. 

For many years when my daughter was younger we hosted many many fall parties here out in the barn. So many Christmas parties.... Over 10 years of farm camps. So many people passing through. I always felt the farm was at it's best when it is full of people and animals . So many praise this place of huge trees, picket fences, and welcoming doors, and spirit. And yet today I'm at a different place in my life, a quieter place. And this dark and rainy day I feel the spirit of the house shining so brightly . I hope you enjoy the pics of old house charm.

Let's catch up!

Ok so here it is we are on the verge of October! So I have a new job. Our little preschool closed after 52 years. I miss it daily. But I am slowly adjusting  to my new position in the children's dept of our library. It's still just part time just the way I like it. 

Fall is arriving here on the farm. We finnally got the chicken coop done. And not a moment too soon. Nestle the money eating horse is doing very well. Her shoes continue to be more expensive then mine. 

We had the chance to do a historic home tour just outside of Indy, fun but I still love mine better. Always interesting to see where folks stick a bathroom where there was none. 

Our shop vintiques was open over the weekend and I did fairly well and sold quite a few pieces of furniture. Dropping the prices on a lot of stuff to get it out so we can do some work on the building and reopen with a different slant on things.

All in all things are going well in our little area of the map. I hope things are well with you too. 

Random pictures..,,

Maine

So we got the little house rented just in time to head out to our tiny vacation cottage in Maine ! What a trip 2 days in the car one way! Ugh hate that part. But Maine never disappoints . The countryside is just amazing! The local people are jewels. 

We did a little more to our space this time . New flooring, some painting, and some furnishings and curtains ! It's starting to have a bit of personal feel to it now. Making it our own. The weather was warmer than expected but only in the afternoons. The morning and evenings, and any time spent by the water was fantastic. So here are some pics of the cottage and surrounding areas. The highlight for sure was getting to go out in a working lobster boat, followed by a lobster meal in our tiny place!