Fresh decorating

Ok well here it is, the end of February . And yes we are expecting ANOTHER snow storm. Oh how I do love the snow. If it's gonna be winter and it's gonna be cold might as well have something beautiful to look at. We have had almost all of the snow melt. Now it's just brown. And dang is it cold! My water pipe froze again last night. Fortunately I had just left the hair dryer down in the hole under the kitchen sink and all I had to do was plug it in . Yes I know how back woodsy that sounds. But while living in a charming old farm house ya gotta do what ya gotta do!

So while I was home on Monday avoiding going out into the cold. I got a little head start on spring cleaning. And I was thinking how I really needed something fresh ( like flowers) to liven things up around here. So I remembered the greens that came with my long gone valentine roses. I pulled them from there vase I had stuck them in and threw out the yucky ones. Rearranged them into another vase. Freshness and green!

Next the mantle a few old bottles and a few snips of my fern. Freshness and green! Funny how we can come with something to please ourselves . 

Next take down the Christmas wreathes from the front doors!  What about a new little spring wreath a grapevine from the back yard, some craft clothes pins, and seed packets. There you have it new spring wreath! All without leaving the house ! Hang on there friends spring is coming!

Spring

In the photo it's hard to see, but that my friends is a red winged black bird! And in these parts that means spring is coming! I even spotted a robin too! Went and got a truck load of hay over the weekend. The ground is so soft and smells so good.  

Mother Nature can see that we are all winter weary and sent us a beautiful gift Saturday. Sunshine and warmer weather just to tease us and remind us good things are coming!  

In our area the DQ shuts down for winter. But was reopened this weekend. So yes we stood in line with everyone else for that first bite of spring and summer! Delightful it was.

Who turned off the heat

Cold but beautiful morning on the farm. Garden area and old outhouse.

Little jenny wren

It happened again today. While here at home on a snow day. I fed the birds as usual. Came inside had my cup of coffee, sitting on the sofa by the big picture window. So I can enjoy watching the birds eat. Occasionally a bird will fly into the window. So I made big paper snowflakes and put them on the window. After Christmas . I didn't hear that aweful sound till today the sound of a bird hitting the window. The last time it happend it was one of those days during the polar vortex. I didn't see it till too late. But today I herd it. I put my boots on and went out carefully picked up the little bird and put her on the bench on the front porch. There is a soft blanket on the bench for Ellie when she wants to be outside. Then quickly went inside. She had come to in my hands she held her head up and was moving. Most times they take a while then fly away. I took a photo of her hard to see but she is there. I hope she flies away soon. 

Old family farms

Several months ago, our family sold the family farm. There I said it. It's a hard fact to own up to and really I don't know why. My great grandmother whom I am still to this day in love with, lived here with my great grandfather that I never knew. He passed before I got to this earth. Any way this farm belonged to my great grandfathers family. WAY back into the early 1800's it was a land grant of sorts. The story I know is that there were four sharen brothers. They all built basically the same house. On different farms. They were well built in the Greek revival style. Today 3 of the four remain. But this us to change very soon. Sadly this one is coming down soon. The farmer who bought it will be rearing it down. He was kind enough to give us some notice. So for the last few days we ( myself and Will ) went out and got as much architectural salvage as we could. All 4 fireplace mantles, 6 over 6 windows, interior solid wood doors, built in cabinet doors. And a pair of 10 foot solid wood doors. A few bricks we found a few old photos ect .. Then it was time to leave. It was cold and hard work. ( no electric ) I stood in the back room looking out over the fields just imagining my ancestors doing the same. What did they see? There are some very old pines out the front view. To the road which is a state road. Across the road there is a truck stop. The main reason non of our family wanted to live here. The barns and out buildings are all gone. The little  widows watch at the center top of the roof has long had the windows boarded up and stuccoed over. I remember my great grandmother telling me that they my great grandfather s family once watched for the Indians from here. Yes it was before the civil war. I am very lucky to have my family treasures still to this day jewelry and photos ect . Yes I am the family historian. But now I have what remains of someone else's long ago dreams. I love my mantle in this old farm. I am sure they loved theirs as well. 

What am I to do with these pile of wood and glass? I am not sure but I do have a barn to store them in. Maybe my girl or niece or nefew will build a house or perhaps grand children? And they might just might be interested in history? Or perhaps I'll have boxes, coffee table ect. Made from the old door s who knows but one thing I know for sure. They are not buried a long with the rest of the house.

Snow hike

Well so much has been happening here lately. NOT! We are just right smack in the middle of January. School is going wonderful the kids are awesome. Home is good. I got to go to the big city if Dayton yesterday. We went to trader Jo's and target! Got a little bite of pizza. Went down town to a huge warehouse liquidation store. Then we noticed on a tv they had on the radar that snow was close and we were still an hour away from the farm. So we headed for a snowy drive home. Stopped by Kroger on the way then home. Where the snow fell for most of the night. Today the sun is out which makes life happier. After will plowed the drive with our great 8N tractor we took a little hike to the back field. With the dogs! Gosh they were happy to be out! And so were we. We are now just waiting for the broncos game. Being Payton manning fans we just want him to win a Super Bowl. We both hate what the colts did to him. So I leave you with some Indiana winter snow pictures and maybe a video if I can manage it.

Polar vortex

Brrrrrrrrr! Well the polar vortex of 2014 has been here for a few days and I do believe it has worn out its welcome! With several days of -22 + or - I  am ready for it to leave. Living in a 100+ yr old house has lots of charm and farm living is most of the time idealic. However not with these temps. You must waste and ungodly amount of water from your well because you must let all of your faucets run or you will be dealing with frozen pipes under your home. You would have to tear up all those lovely old growth wood floors to replace the busted pipes! And old beautiful windows with that historical wavy glass is all frosted over so much you can't even see outside! 

Now let's talk about rural living down an old dead end drive a half mile back to your lovley secluded charming country home. You will be stuck inside for many days. The county will put out warnings telling you only to travel if it's an emergency! And yes all that wonderful Christmas candy will be staring you down! But by far the most wonderful thing about these temperatures is knowing you have two big ol horses that depend on you! And that means hay and fresh drinking water. Drinking water from a tank that has tank heaters that don't so much like the polar vortex! So let me be the first to nominate the pick axe, as this centuries most valuable tool! And let's not mention animals who love to go out and run can't ! Not for long anyway. Animals get cabin fever too ! And so does your partner who cannot get to work because of frozen car doors, batteries ect.... But the sun is shining today and it + 4 at the moment so hey please disregard any negativity here. I so love this old farm and can't imagine myself any where else!