Friday, November 9, 2012

Introducing...Our New Farm


A week ago today, we became the owners of a 42-acre farm and this small, funky farmhouse.


I realize this announcement is completely out of left field, so let me share the back story:

Even though we've lived in our current house for a mere five years (and put untold hours into building it, decorating it, and most recently, landscaping it), my husband and I have come to the realization that this lovely log home of 2,200 sq. ft. is too big for our family of three.

Don't get me wrong, this is a wonderful house and it seemed like everything we wanted when we built it in 2007:  3 bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths, a dramatic living and dining area, kitchen, office, loft, separate laundry room, wrap-around porch, etc.

But when you boil it down, I've become a very practical person the older I've gotten.  And apparently I've become radically more practical in the last year or so because I now loathe the fact that out out of 2-1/2 baths in the home, we mainly use just one: the master bathroom.

Since both of our families and most of our friends are local, the guest bedroom, which is one of my favorite rooms in the house, goes unused 99 percent of the time.

The Cath Kidston-inspired loft?  So pretty to look at, but rarely do I go up there when I can just as easily lay on the couch or on my bed to read.

The gorgeous 10-foot deep wrap-around porch, which totals an additional 1,000 sq. ft., is a pain in my you-know-what to keep relatively clean and free of delightful presents from the chickens.  And confession: we've never really used the porch all the much. 

Such first-world problems I have!  :)

The other side of our situation is that we pined for more land on which to keep animals and garden.  To many folks, the acre-plus we have is a ton of space, but for homesteading and animal husbandry, it's not nearly enough. 

So, when an old family farm--only three-quarters a mile down the road from our current house--came on the market earlier in the fall for a very reasonable price, we found ourselves considering a big change: downsize on house and upsize significantly on land.

The farm house in color
A view into the far back pasture and the 20+ acres of woods beyond
We mulled this possibility over for several days, and my emotions alternated among:

-feeling totally loco for considering a move from such a new house (that I literally just finished landscaping!)

-recognizing how joyful and at peace being on the farm made me feel, especially when I walked across the nearly 20 acres of rolling pastures

-experiencing unexpected sadness at the idea of leaving this too-big house

-delighting at the idea of re-doing the dated mish-mash of a farmhouse and making it a cozy, bright, cohesive, and happy abode

-wrestling with, and mostly resisting, the idea of change in general

-realizing that this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I'd regret passing by

So, we took the leap, made an offer, and the sellers accepted it.

An old well house in the side yard

Over the next 6-9 months (fingers crossed), we'll fix up the modest, but perfectly-sized-for-us farmhouse, and then say goodbye to this log house we have called home for five years.

We're already in the midst of working on the farmhouse, and the DIY renovation will be documented here on the blog.

An 1800s homestead on the property - the previous family used it many years ago as a tobacco pack barn

I will end this post with a shot of the pastures that lie behind the house.  They remain my favorite part of this beautiful place so far.

"She needs wide open spaces..."

31 comments:

  1. oh wow! it's beautiful and i totally can feel through the post that it is the right decision!

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  2. Congrats! Sounds and looks like an exciting adventure for you and your family!
    Farmhouse hugs,
    Cindy

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  3. Congratulations on embracing your dreams. I wish you many years of joy and love in your new home.♥

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  4. I am proud of you for following your heart. You will be very happy, and I look forward to seeing your progress in your new home and property. Peace and Blessings, Nancy Carr, Vieques, Puerto Rico nancythedove@aol.com

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  5. This looks like a fabulous place to live!

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  6. Beautiful Erin. I envy your resourcefulness. I know you will make the house perfect. The countryside already is.

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  7. Sounds like Heaven to me! I can totally relate to wanting to downsize, and certain area's of the home not ever being used. Looking forward to your post of renovating the new-old farmhouse. LOVE it!

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  8. Beautiful Erin. I know you will make it perfect. Enjoy reading about your adventures.

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  9. Oh Erin how lovely...I am so jealous of you, when we down sized that was exactly what I wanted but hubby just could see that vision. I very happy for you. Di

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  10. Can't wait to see the inside. Love the out building:)

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  11. Gorgeous! Congratulations on a wonderful purchase! My husband and I made a similar leap of faith a year and a half ago; we moved from Raleigh and our 3500 square foot house on one acre (after 28 years there) and bought a 55 acre farm between Oxford and Creedmoor. We had to fix up the house even though it was only 20 years old, but it was a total labor of love. It's 1000 square feet smaller than our old place --- just perfect. We raise hay for the neighboring horse and cattle farms. We have a pond, a creek, woods, and meadows. I have free-ranging chickens, all of them pets, and a delightfully energetic farm dog who's the best companion for my daily walks and supervisor for our outdoor work. It is the best decision we ever made. We are in our late sixties and have taken on a lifetime of work. Worth every minute. Keeps us very young. So I wish you many blessings on your new farm. Anxious to keep up with the renovations. After a year and a half, we're still doing that on this property. The work doesn't end, and the blessings don't, either.

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  12. Congratulations :) that's so exciting! & when you go with your gut, you usually do the right thing. It's going to be wonderful!

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  13. Oh my goodness, Erin!! I am sooo happy for you- this is awesome! Downsizing for more land is a fabulous decision in my opinion. And sooo cool you have an older farmhouse and a 19th century building! You HAVE to show me detailed pics so that I can help you date the structure and give you some preservation tips :). I can't wait to see more!

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  14. I am so happy and excited for you, Erin! You are living a little dream of mine! The farmhouse is utterly charming and I can't wait to see your renovations and styling. And the land is just stunning! looking forward to each upcoming post! I wish you well.

    XO,
    Jane

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  15. OMG - crazy!!! WOW, what an exciting adventure. i don't blame you at all for having mixed emotions but I am glad you took the leap! can't wait to come along for the ride :)

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  16. I'm so excited for you, Erin! You are just going to love living in an old farmhouse. Granted, there are always suprises and things that need fixing up....but nothing compares to the peacefulness and serenity of living in the middle of a lot of land. :) Looking forward to seeing the transformation on this little gem!! :)
    xoxo laurie

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  17. Well, besides the fact that I am green with envy, I am thrilled and excited for you! I think the farmhouse is absolutely charming and just think of the memories it holds. Oh my goodness, the land is fabulous! Can't wait to see the transformation!

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  18. WHAT!!!!!! Holy cow! And, OMG, i LOVE IT! And... I love love pastures... That is an adorable, charming, perfect old house. Your current home is amazing, but i have to say, this one just tugs at me. Everything about it. I'm dying to see it, i have a thing for older homes... and you're right, sometimes a smaller place is even more wonderful. I can't wait to see it!

    Cindy

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  19. Oh Erin! I just did a very quick read through and will be back to ponder it all...but good for you!!! Downsizing. Wow. That's great. The land looks just beautiful; love love that old homestead/tobacco barn. I really look forward to seeing more of this. Maybe I'll call you one day and come visit??? When you get settled, of course! I've been out in the garden all weekend; was hoping to do some of the Orange County Art Tour, but no go. Too nice outside in my garden and my new Encore Azaleas and flats of pansies!

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  20. Well, you know I a super excited for you and the possibilities of this new house and farm! So exciting g!! I completely understand why you are doing it too. Looking forward to seeing all that you will do with it! Gonna catch up with you on email too and respond with the photos you sent of it :)

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  21. Wow! I am so jealous! I totally love it! I can't wait to see what you do on the inside.

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  22. What a wonderful new adventure! Congratulations. Have fun turning this house into your home!
    hugs,
    Caroline

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  23. Erin, I've heard Frankie speak of your new adventure...how wonderful to read your post and see pictures. It looks like a dream come true for you guys and I admire you for stepping out and doing what makes you happy. Remember, life is too short to wait around and wish for things that make you happy. I hope you, Jason and Jacob will truly love your new home! Kaye

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  24. love love LOVE following your joy! Sending hugs and renovation luck! - Linnet

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  25. I am so proud of you two for taking the leap! You must be so very excited. I know I am excited to see the inside of your new home and watch how you transform it into something more "you". Your property looks amazing, love the shot of the field with the trees in the distance. What type of animals are you planing to raise?

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  26. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations.....So peaceful looking!!!!

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  27. Congratulations!!!! How exciting! I cannot wait to see how you transform your new cute little farmhouse!!!

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  28. Oh my goodness, Erin, what exciting news!! I cannot wait to read about your projects in the farmhouse and I am just in love with the 1800's homestead. Congratulations! I know it will be amazing and you will just love it.

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  29. Wow Erin!!! I'm so excited for you! I can just imagine how fabulous that farmhouse will be when you guys get thru with it :) We, too, are contemplating a move to downsize (but upsize our mortgage YIKES!), but building a craftsman bungalow. NOt sure yet if it will pan out, and we'll need to finish some stuff on our current home to prepare to sell...BUT, looking for the future of empty nesting and LOTS of grandbabies at the holidays :)

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  30. While your previous home was very beautiful, I think you're going to enjoy your new one just as much! The property looks huge, and all that land must feel very peaceful and tranquil. I'm sure by now you've found lots of great ways to make your new house feel like a home. There are a few different things I know you can do with some of that pasture!

    ~ Gertrude Poulsen

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  31. While your previous home was very beautiful, I think you're going to enjoy your new one just as much! The property looks huge, and all that land must feel very peaceful and tranquil. I'm sure by now you've found lots of great ways to make your new house feel like a home. There are a few different things I know you can do with some of that pasture!

    ~Gertrude Poulsen

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