It's Beginning To Look A Lot (Little) Like Christmas

The month of December has really snuck up on me this year, and I'm really struggling with the fact that this year is coming to what I feel to be, an abrupt end! That being said, I'm really struggling with how to decorate for our first Christmas in our beloved farmhouse. Usually when I move I know EXACTLY where the tree will go, what the theme will be, and can see it in my mind the day the contract is signed.  For many reasons I have not really thought about all of this until now which is 6 months later...So. Not. Like. Me. 

When we decided to start a farm, I don't think we had any idea how things would change our daily routine and how much time we would have to allow each day to do our chores.   Now, leaving for the day is not as easy and quick as it used to be.  Cows, chickens, and goats have to be fed and watered in addition to all of the other things that have to be done before we leave for the work.  Believe me, I am NOT complaining at all! I LOVE this life and would not change a thing! What I am saying is that the added animals have taken over some of the "free" time I used to have to devote to planning and decorating the house this time of year.  I would not change it, but if I could just please have one extra hour per day to get my decorating started that would be great. Thank you.🎄

When we moved 6 months ago, I went through all of my holiday decor and edited out anything I didn't LOVE, and anything that I could not remember where I got or who gave to me so what was left was truly cherished.  I went from about 10 tubs to 4, and you know what? I don't miss any of it! Sometimes we put things out out of habit and guilt, so I decided to not let my holiday decor guilt me any more! I have had much of my decor passed down to me by my parents, much was created by my children, and a lot was acquired in thrift shops. I didn't donate anything that was sentimental, just the stuff that was, well, stuff. This time of year, by the way, is an excellent time to snag Christmas decor in thrift shops because people are doing what I did last year and cleaning out. You know what they say about another mans trash...

So this is what I'm willing to show you thus far.  Yes, my trees are up, but not dressed.  Yes, my outdoor wreaths are up, but the lights are not. I usually spend a couple of days getting things just perfect. This year I'm not going to sweat it.  I have a cow. My own REAL cow who needs to have her picture taken with a wreath around her neck. Once I get that picture done then I will get the tree done and the lights up. I'm taking a little more ME time this season and doing the things that really matter to me, and taking the pressure off myself to have the best decorated house on the street.   In the grand scheme of life, it's not that important to me anymore.  I don't want to be known as the woman who always had a beautifully decorated home for the holidays.  I'd much rather be remembered as that woman who made other people's homes gorgeous, had calluses on her hands and paint in her hair from painting beautiful furniture for others, and took a great Christmas photo of her cow with a wreath around her neck. 

Cheers! Joanne

My collection of holiday memories

Every Farm Needs Animals

Our Goats, Penny and Star

Our cows, Ruby and Nellie

Our  farmhouse was once part of a much bigger farm, but the land has not been used as farmland for quite some time. That being said, aside from the three outbuildings we have, we have had to start from scratch with fencing, housing, etc for our small but growing farm. We have kept chickens for about 6 years now so we were well versed when we moved all 16 of them from our suburban home here to the farm last June.  Our coop, which is quite large, was loaded up on to a flatbed truck and delivered to the new place without a hitch, chickens inside! We had the coop fenced in so as to give them a secure place to range when the dogs are out. In addition to the chicken area we also fenced in a small area for future goats. The two areas are further enclosed in what we call the back pasture, which was previously open. Needles to say, getting ready for the animals was a bit of a financial hit because we had to install a lot of fencing.

We wanted to raise goats, and had started the research last winter before we found this place.  We drink goats milk for the health benefits, but didn't even know where to start when it came to which breeds are the best milk producers, which ones produce the amount we need, and which would fit our overall  needs the best.  We visited as many different goat farms as we could, read as much as we could put our hands on, and also asked anyone who was willing to share their experience with us.  For the record, most goat owners are very willing to brag about their pets, and are more than excited to share their experience with you:).  After months of research we decided that the Nigerian Dwarf was the breed for us.  We decided that the size was good, and that the amount of milk produced daily would be perfect for our needs.  Deciding on the right breed was not too hard, but finding the perfect pair proved to be a challenge! One of the first breeders I spoke to was able to help us and hook us up with a friend who had two 12 week old does, so we visited them fell in love and brought them home about a week later in mid July.  We are currently looking for a buck for them and hope to breed them in the late winter, early spring.

As if goats were not enough, we decided to add two Minature Hereford Heifers to our menagerie! Ruby and Nellie are a little over 6 months old and are like giant dogs!  They moo when we get out of our trucks, they moo when they see us come outside, and they follow us everywhere.  These girls will take a little longer to mature, so won't be bred for another 2-3 years.  These two will serve as our breeders, and from them we will be able to produce more cows to sell and for meat.

All of the dogs, cows, and goats are getting along famously.  There is an order out there in the pasture, and it's quite interesting to watch!  I can say one of the sweetest sights I have seen out ere was my husband on the ground trying to get a halter and rope off one of the cows a few days after they were delivered.  He was on the ground, in the woods, with a cow at 12 o'clock, another cow at 2 o'clock, a cat at 4, and a dog at 6. It was literally one of the moments of this adventure I will, never forget. I can see the back pasture from my bedroom window when I wake each morning, and I love being able to sit up,  look out, and see all of our animals before I head downstairs.   I usually take the dogs out for the last time around 9 pm, say good night to all of the girls outside, and am excited as a kid on Christmas Eve to wake up and see them in the morning!

Building a farm, both literally and figuratively is quite a process.  Getting the right animals, the right feed, the right fencing, and then hurry up and wait.  It had taken us almost 6 months to get this far, and now we are preparing for our first winter with this many outside animals.  Filling the barn with hay, figuring out how to keep water from freezing, and so many other new problems to solve, but we would not have it any other way!

Cheers!
Joanne

Welcome Fall!

 Fall is my favorite season of all.  I love all of the seasons, and am grateful that I live in an area where we experience all of them, but fall wins every time.  The first time I walk outside and smell a fire burning, the first time I have to put on my slippers in the morning before venturing down the stairs, and the first time I have to slip on a sweater before I head outdoors are all welcome signs to me that fall has arrived! The weather is not feeling very fall like here yet, but that has not stopped me from getting the house looking cozy and ready for cooler weather. Since this is the first fall in the farmhouse I am still playing with where things go, adding and editing as I do, but I think the porch is done.

I love a very layered look in the colder months, so the minimalist look that has been the theme of the house this past summer has been added to by bringing in the fall accents that will carry our home through Thanksgiving.  I have been adding in blankets, pillows, candles, and all kinds of coziness throughout the house the past week or so.

Phase one of the fall transformation was our porch.  Now, trying to find mums when it is 100 degrees out is tough.  Keeping them alive when it's 100 degrees out is even tougher, but I have been watering like crazy and so far so good.  One thing I am NOT known for is a green thumb, so I usually add in some artificial flowers here and there if I am really on a roll of forgetting to water.  I was able to collect a few different sizes and colors from my local HomeDepot and Tractor Supply, and was able to fill the porch for under $50, and nothing has died, so that's a victory for me!

The rockers are an eclectic mix, but unified by the black Rustolium spray paint that was used to give them a quick facelift.  I love using spray paint on chairs because it's faster and easier than rolling paint on, and since they are exposed to the elements, I can freshen them up easily when needed by just taking them out  to the grass and giving them a quick once over. I wanted to add some texture and color to the rockers for fall and happened to score the Woolrich buffalo plaid throws for $29 ea! This was truly my find if the week because I had been eying this blanket for years, I mean YEARS, but could never pull the trigger since they sell for $98 on the Woolrich site.  When I came across these in Gabes, a discount store, I snatched them up. They are seconds, but who cares? They look perfect, and will be nice on the cool fall evenings when we want to sit out front.

In addition to the rockers and mums, I have added in some wonderful vintage apple baskets, a vintage  bench, an antique English pine desk, and some other accents for a layered, cozy, and welcoming entry.  I also added several artificial pumpkins, and will add some real ones as they become available.   To get a layered look, start with your tallest items, then work forward ending with your smallest in front.  Different textures, and colors give interest to a fall porch display, so don't be afraid to add something vintage or unexpected for a truly layered look.  Vintage lanterns, old galvanized buckets, and even mason jars with cut flowers in them are a wonderful addition to your fall porch, and don't break the bank.

I will be adding some more as time goes on, and hopefully I have inspired you to "get your fall on!"

Cheers!
Joanne

Sunday Morning Rituals

I am such a creature of habit, and you can pretty much find me doing almost the same thing every week.  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday are set aside for meeting with design clients and working on painted furniture either for the shop or commissioned pieces for clients.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday are my days in my shop, Shabby Cottage, and Sunday's are reserved for fun and relaxation with my husband.

Our Sunday's start out the same every week and I would not have it any other way.  We sleep in a little bit, then after doing our animal chores we head to the Shepherdstown Farmers Market. we love this particular market for its intimacy,  because it is only about 4 miles from home, and because we like to support local small businesses.    Shepherdstown is the oldest town in West Virginia, and is filled with charming old buildings and packed with an eclectic mix of restaurants , shops, and home to Shepherd University, so it's a cozy place to spend a Sunday morning.

Strolling along the narrow side street where the market is held is a great place to meet new friends, socialize your dog, and hear some great acoustic music, for free!  We all have to eat, and we all have to buy food, and the experience of the farmers market is surely more enjoyable than going to the grocery store.   In this intimate setting full of beautiful magazine worthy fruits and veggies, dogs and children, I feel happy.

The peaches won't be there this week, but there should be a great selection of onions, potatoes, lettuces and tomatoes to feast on. Apples have been added to the selection, so I see some apple pies in my future! As I write this, it is Saturday, which means I'm in the shop,  but we won't be going to market tomorrow due to my husbands work schedule.  This weekend marks the 15th anniversary of the day that changed the world and my husband along with many other first responders will be working to maintain our safety.  Since this is something we do together it feels weird to go without him, so I will stay home and start my fall decorating instead. I guess this means I am breaking the route in. Until next week, farmers...

The Circle Of Life

On July 27th, we welcomed this little bundle of joy in to our family almost 5 months to the day that my mom, his great grandmother passed unexpectedly.  One of the things I am so grateful for was that my mother was able to see my daughter finally get pregnant after years of trying, and was able to share in her excitement.  I will always be thankful that I got to see her smile when she was told of the impending arrival of her third great grand child.

 Jackson Ryan Simpson came in to the world 5 weeks early and sick with infection, bu much like his great grandmother,  he is a fighter. As much as he fought to get out, my mother fought just as hard to stay here.   My daughters pregnancy was not an easy one and we were anticipating possible complications, so when he arrived early and spent the first 18 days of his life in the NICU we were not surprised.  From the day she announced she was pregnant we all were on pins and needles, first getting through the first trimester, relaxing a bit in the second, then on high alert in the third.

My mother  an was ambitious , hardworking, family oriented women, who lived her life to the fullest.  She grew up in poverty, and decided as a young woman that she would never live as she put it "hand to mouth" like she grew up. She put herself through college and grad school, and went on to have two wonderful careers in her 82 years. She loved her family fiercely, and although we did not always see eye to eye, she was always there for me, right or wrong.

In February I was in the hospital with my mom watching her die, helping her pass by playing her favorite music, talking to her, and holding her hand.  Deciding to take someone off life support is a difficult decision to make, but in the end as hard as it is, we are honoring our loved ones wishes by doing so, although that does not make it any easier.  That week in February was awful. We went from having her here to having to plan a funeral. When she passed away I was heartbroken because she was the glue that held our family together. She was the one who had always planned the family get togethers. She was the one who answered the phone when I would call home. She was the one who kept me abreast of what extended family members were up to. I experienced an overwhelming feeling of loss and void in my life.

The early morning of July 27th, the void that I felt  was filled by a beautiful new baby who stole my heart. When I look at Jax's little hands I wonder what those hands will do in life.  They will be in dirt, up his nose, wiping away tears, holding his own children some day, and hopefully his grand children and beyond.  I look at those tiny soft feet and I wonder when they will first hit the floor, where the will walk in life, and how big the will grow.  Right now they are soft and small, one day they will be cracked, dry, and well worn.  I look at Jax, and I see how whole life before him.  I know that someday he will come to me and tell me he is expecting a baby, and the circle will continue to grow.

This year will always be, in my eyes, one of the most emotional ones I have had so far. With the bitter came the sweet. We said good bye to our matriarch, and welcomed a new baby.  They call my generation "The Sandwich Generation" for good reason.


Cheers,
Joanne

What's In A Name

Every farm needs a name.  Every farm has a name, and ours needed one now too.  The home was built in 1895, and was previously known as Engle Switch Manor we believe, but it was time for the home to have a rebirth of sorts, and reflect us and all of the transformation that she had seen in the past two years before we purchase her.  Having remained in the same family for several decades, the home went in to decline with the previous owners, and needed a complete overhaul.  That's where the wonderful contractor came in to the picture and restored her to the beauty she is today.  I can't take credit for the remodel but I can tell you I would have done it the exactly the same way.  The contractor kept as many original characteristics to the house as possible, while bringing her in to the current century, and did a beautiful job.

We used to call our small rancher the Funny Farm because no one had as many animals as we did in our suburban neighborhood, but that name did not seem to fit the new place, so we decided to come up with a name of our own.  We decided to name out farm Engle Switch Farm, and the blog to be entitled Bright Yellow Farmhouse after the color of the house.

I believe that the exterior of the house was originally white, but was painted a bright, warm, yellow color during the restoration.  Honestly, because my husbands favorite color is yellow and this house and all of the out buildings are yellow helped seal this deal. I'm not really a yellow fan, but this color is so wonderfully happy that I love it.  There is nothing like pulling in to the driveway and seeing that inviting yellow drawing you back like a warm hug.

So that's the story behind the name of our new/old farmhouse.

Cheers!
Joanne

What's In A Name

Every farm needs a name, and ours had one once upon a time, but since it has not been used as a farm for many years our taking ownership and turning it back in to a farm seemed to perfect time to rename it.   Our property was once part of a large apple orchard and has a few remaining second generation apple trees that we are trying to bring back to life.  Our goal is to add to those trees, and plant some peach and cherry trees as well, along with a large garden next spring.  As far as animals are concerned, we brought our flock of hens with us from our previous home and added goats about a month or so ago.

 The home was built in 1895, and was previously known as Engle Switch Manor we believe, but with all she has gone through over the past few decades, years of neglect, and then a complete restoration, our home is in many ways, a home with a fresh start. Having remained in the same family for several decades, the home went in to decline not with the original family but with the one after that. Two years ago a contractor bought her and restored her to her glory, and gave her all of the bells and whistles of a modern home while maintaining her charm.  I can't take credit for the remodel but I can tell you I would have done it the exactly the same way.  The contractor kept as many original characteristics to the house as possible, while bringing her in to the current century, and did a beautiful job.

We used to call our small rancher the Funny Farm because no one had as many animals as we did in our suburban neighborhood, but that name did not seem to fit the new place, so we decided to come up with a name of our own.  We decided to name out farm Engle Switch Farm, keeping part of the old, but making it us by adding "farm." The blog became Bright Yellow Farmhouse because of the color of the house.

I believe that the exterior of the house was originally white, but was painted a bright, warm, yellow color during the restoration.  Honestly, because my husbands favorite color is yellow and this house and all of the out buildings are yellow helped seal this deal. I'm not really a yellow fan, but this color so wonderfully happy that I love it.  There is nothing like pulling in to the driveway and seeing that inviting yellow pulling you in for a warm hug.

So that's the story behind the name of our new/old farmhouse.

Cheers!
Joanne

Moving On

Greetings! So, I thought I would start my first official blog post with a little background on the name of this blog.  For ever, and mean FOREVER, it has been my dream to own a farm.  Ever since I was a little girl watching Little House On The Prarie, I wanted, no, NEEDED to be self sufficient, live off the land, and have lots of animals. Like most things in life, we don't always have or get what we want without a little effort and a lot of time, so it's no wonder that it took me 52 years to finally get my farm.

After successfully flipping several (I think 11) homes in my adult years, I was always looking for "the one" that would pull at my very heart strings and make me want to stay forever.  My loving, caring and supportive husband told me a couple of years ago that if I found it, he would consider it.  Well, I found it, and we just moved in to it a little over a month ago.  I really didn't think he would go for it because it added quite a distance to his commute, and requires significantly more upkeep than the small brick rancher we left behind, but after we toured the property he just looked at me and said "Well, you did it."  I still am not sure if he was happy or not about that, but here we are.

When I found the house on the internet, I seriously could not sleep the night before viewing it in person.  In my head, I had every piece of furniture in place and I was already living there. I just knew In my heart of hearts that THIS  was "the one" that would be the forever house. Believe me, I have never said  that about any house I have ever been in. After owning so many homes, I had really narrowed down my priorities when it came to a property, and knew that I could do anything with the actual house, but needed the land to be perfect.  I have owned big homes on small lots, and small homes on big lots, and knew

We pulled in to the long winding driveway and I was actually salivating I think.  The tall old trees, the inviting front porch, the land...the entire thing was just perfect to me.  I think I had memorized and zoomed in on every aspect of the house so didn't really feel like I needed the in depth tour of "my" house, I just needed to get in, get out, and go write the contract before someone else swooped in.  Within 24 hours our offer had been accepted, and we were getting our house listed for sale.  We saw the house on a Monday, and our house sold in record time by Friday.  Now we had 30 days to get financing secured, home inspections done, and moved in to our dream home.

Looking back, I'm not sure how we did it, but we did! After a 13 hour 20,000 pound move, because not only did we move our personal items but my business inventory as well, we were exhausted.  We moved 16 chickens, 5 dogs, 2 cats, 1 bearded dragon, and one cockatiel as well as three vehicles, one trailer and one tractor.  Let me tell you, this was no small feat! We hired movers for this move and had someone move the chicken coop for us from the old to new property, but the rest was on us.

Well, it's been a month in our new surroundings, and we are loving the entire situation.  We are adding to the menagerie this week with goats, and may even get some more chickens come next spring.  But for now, we are content with the peace and quiet that comes with country life, and just feeling blessed to be where we are and to be here together.  We have made a deal though. No more moves.  This is it. Life is complete now that we are in our Bright Yellow Farmhouse.

Cheers!
Joanne

Welcome!

I am so excited to begin this journey of blogging, and am so excited that you have  found me!  If you have been following me on Instagram or on my Facebook page, then you know that I have a tiny shop in Hamilton Virginia and also do interior design.  I am a mom of 4 grown children, 3 beautiful daughters, and one son who we lost in 2009 at the age of 26 years old.  I am blessed with two wonderful children from him, and am anxiously awaiting the arrival of grandchild number 3 from my oldest daughter.

While raising my children I worked in real estate because it was flexible, and I was born in to a real estate family so it was kind of a no brainier. I learned that I loved, loved, loved, being in homes, and loved making them functional and pretty so they sold faster.  My real estate career lasted for about ten years, and overlapped with a new career in staging and painting furniture, which then expanded to full scale design work.

I started my shop,  Shabby Cottage, in its current location in April of 2015.  I absolutely love the entire aspect of owning my OWN shop, running my OWN business, and answering to no one but Me!  Don't get me wrong, it's not always easy, and I actually probably push myself harder than any employer would, but I would have it no other way.  I enjoy my customers, my design clients, and look forward to going to work each day.  Each day is different.  This past week involved three days in the shop, two days of design clients, and two days of painting commissioned pieces, AND getting this blog started!

My goal with this blog is to provide you with decorating and cooking hints, as well as fabulous recipes, and lifestyle hints, as well as give you a glimpse in to life on the farm in the Bright Yellow Farmhouse!  Let's have some fun, get to know eachouther, and make life a little less stressful and enjoyable together!

Cheers!

Joanne