Heated Exchange

      When we bought Stella two years ago, she had been much loved by the previous owner but also neglected. We kept all the rustic charm, she is still a very 1930's summer cottage, but the things that really needed fixing got fixed and an interior wall was removed so that the tiny  kitchen was open to the seating area that looks out over the cove.  For more details, search the Once Upon a Tide post labels where you'll find posts on her restoration. 

       At the door to the back deck was the only source of heat,  a gas operated heating stove, one we couldn't use because it didn't vent to the outside and so the odor from the burning gas flooded Stella's small interior. A few days ago we had a new one installed with a vent pipe that goes through the roof.  It still needs to be hooked up, but it will be a beautiful sight to see on chilly spring, summer and fall evenings when we want to take the nip out of the air inside the cottage. 

 The original... 

The new model

      The cottage and surrounding island , or what's really a peninsula despite it's name,  have a different vibe in winter months for the obvious reasons - and the cold inside the cottage is bone chilling.  The unmade beds, empty refrigerator and food pantry underline and highlight it.  When we began Stella's re-do, she was infested with rodents - mice droppings fell from the curtain tops and were embedded in the toaster left from the previous occupant.  There were nests in the seat cushions.  These things in particular freaked the Mr. right out, so he made sure she is now almost airtight, and we don't have meese in the rafters or the cushions or the toaster anymore. 

  While the guys were installing the new stove, I took a walk around with camera. 

 Stella from the road

 ... and from the waterfront 

    Meanwhile, we've had some glorious sunsets that 

I've captured with the good camera here on the farm

   As I type this, it's snowy-raining outside and the horses and chickens are waiting for their breakfast -  Spring is just around the corner, you can see it in the light cast across the fields at the end of the day, in the diamond sparkles on the water.  Just don't look on the ground, where there's still some of the white stuff that doesn't scream spring.  Out into that stuff I go..... 

Frosty and Sweet

    As soon as I open my mouth about bringing Spring things in, Mother Nature tells me to curb my enthusiasm. 

  Snow falling on Cedars -  My chicken coop pictured below with the cedar forest a very philanthropic woman named Elizabeth and her husband Ed planted many moons ago here on this little farm. It was upon her death at the age of 95 about 16 years ago at the estate sale that I first laid eyes on the inside of our 1835 farm house and the surrounding grounds and fell in love.  A lot has changed here in the ten years we've owned the farm - including the complete resurrection of the house.  One thing that is absolutely as it was - are the cedar forest on the left of us and Pine forest on the right, minus a few trees lost in storms.  I love them 💗 they remind me every day of the thoughtfulness and generosity of the previous occupants of Grace -  (This Old House)   We've paid it forward, so to speak - by planting many sugar maples along the dirt roads on the property.  Someday someone will enjoy the shade and glorious colors  and perhaps the syrup made from the the sap of the Mighty Maples we've planted. We will at least get to enjoy them as juvenile trees.

  Speaking of Maple Syrup -  I've been collecting the sap  from some of our ancient maples when the weather conditions encourage the sap run, and the boys have been dropping the buckets off at the Sugar House at Parmelee Farm.   It's balm for the soul, this community project.  Residents of our little town have been collecting sap from their trees to add to the big barrels at Parmelee,  helping to fill the distiller,  they've been volunteering to fill and label bottles, some even dropping off cookies and snacks for the volunteer force to enjoy while they work.  The Boyscouts and Girlscouts have visited to learn the ancient art of syrup making, as have science classes from the middle school.  All sales of the limited supply of syrup are applied to sustaining the farm and sugar house.

  That label being applied is one I designed for the project -  I'm no professional, but I think it came out pretty darn good in the -winging it- department.

      In these times of truly ugly politics, this community effort for a worthy cause is a beautiful thing indeed.  If you're feeling discouraged for whatever the reason, I strongly recommend finding a project or organization in a field of your interest that is doing something good in the world - no effort is too small, the commitment does not have to be huge, so don't let work commitments and the lack of free time discourage you.   It's balm for the weary soul. 💗

      Till soon, friends... 

Fake

       Along with some of the stuff  around This Old House, I put Spring in my blog header yesterday - just in time for more snow.  I'm not complaining, though - as we've honestly had very little snow accumulation this winter. While I love the beauty of it, and it is indeed coming down in a gentle flurry as I gaze out my office window this moment,  I don't like the work it creates for me on the farm or my boys on the job sites. 

    My mini horses, Coady and Lacey, like living up at the big barn now that they've taken over Opie's stall.   In the photo below they were begging for peppermints - spoiled kids, they are! We all  still miss my favorite redhead, probably always will.   Opie was certainly the leader of the herd, and that's more evident now than ever.  The other two Max's... our retired show horse and my friends horse seen in the pic below, still look out over the fields wondering when he'll come trotting over the hill.  They don't venture into the upper pasture without him - they walk up to the opening in the stone wall but they don't go through it - as if they're wary of what could be out there.  Or what's no longer out there to protect them.  Without his leadership they seem a little lost, a little adrift.  They don't particularly like each other, these two old men - and so more often than not, they stand  grazing or gazing, far apart in the field, where they used to tag alongside Opie wherever he went.  

   

    Coady and Lacey have each other, crying for the other if we separate them for even a few minutes.  Animals form relationships, they care about each other, they miss each other when one leaves - don't ever doubt it.

 Every so often,  our Max hears something on the wind he must think is a whinny from Opie, and he returns the call, over and over again until finally no answer brings Opie back and he gives up.  Breaks my heart.

   It does my soul good to give this old man the retirement he so deserves after many years as a faithful servant to several different showfolk.   I wish his buddy were here to enjoy that retirement with him.  We were supposed to grow old together, me and that redhead -  Wouldn't it be something to be reunited with those we loved and the animals that were also a part of our lives, when our time here  is up. I'll continue to hope. 

       So why the post title, FAKE?  let me 'splain.... I took a walk on the wild side and ordered the cowhide rug I've been coveting for many years.  Something about that look has always appealed to me but we didn't have quite the right spot for it or the appropriate decor and no one else up here in this house approved.  One other little detail... I couldn't get past the idea that I'd be walking on and looking at the actual hide of a cow - one who walked the earth and cherished his or her life as much as I did mine.  That's kinda silly and hypocritical thinking, since I've certainly owned leather shoes and jackets, gloves, and I eat meat.  Still - I couldn't do it, go figure. 

   Until... I saw these on Overstock for a decent price.  

 ( I love the abode depicted in this photo but it's not very cozy, is it. Seriously... who's gonna sit in that hard little chair and settle in with a good book or  watch a netflix original?  That chair right there reminds me of the little desk chairs in grade school that most of us couldn't wait to get out of) 

   Fake cow hide rugs! that actually look real... LOVE! 💗  They come in a few different hide patterns, this is the one I chose.   Now.. I don't have the magical touch some designers have where they can through a whole bunch of different elements and styles and vintage and new pieces into a room and it comes out looking fabulous. But.. what I do throw together at least I hope looks inviting, or warm, or interesting, or something along those lines.  

   It was delivered today in all this snow, and here's where I threw it.   The Wingback chairs were given to us by the previous occupant of  our home and have moved around the house periodically - not of their own steam, thankfully.  What do you think?   I'm still not sure it belongs, but who's writing the rules, anyway?

    

Weighing In

   Have you been watching M*chael C*hen's testimony?  I did something I've been putting off for a year instead.  I cleaned my kitchen cabinets.  Not the dishes one or the bowls one or the glasses one. Those are easy... I'm talking the cooking spices and oils one, the junkdrawer-but-it's-a-cabinet one, the other glasses one that turned into everything but the kitchen sink.   The baking supplies one...The coffee mugs and pods and filters one.   I got so giddy with all that -organization - that I then turned the corner into the pantry and attacked the medicine cabinet that is also the pets and livestock medicine cabinet.  My husband is Type A all the way, so for him, coming home to a kitchen and pantry full of neatness and ducks in a row is better than sex.  He was a happy camper last night for sure. 

   Meanwhile, I did tune in to the news now and then just to see if any bombs went off.  Nope... stuff we already knew.... it was just highlighted and underlined.   Although those who still support Tr$mp don't really care, I know this.  

     Who would have ever believed that a man who cheats heavily on his taxes and refuses to divulge them, a man who has never lifted a finger to help the common man, a man who dodged the draft by having his wealthy father pay off a doctor to falsify his medical records, a man who has cheated again and again on wife number 1, 2 and 3... has four bankruptcies and many failed businesses and unpaid contractors and lawsuits under his belt,  a man who repeatedly lies day after day and this is proven time after time, a man who attacks anyone who does not bow to him or questions policy he's driving, a man who's MO is to divide this country, not unite it... would have a following, enough to get him elected, enough to continue to follow him, apparently right over a cliff.    It's dumbfounding. 

     The G0P attacks C*hen as a liar, while they defend the Liar in Chief... The only Lie C*hen originally told was that Tr$mp did nothing wrong.  How's that for irony.   It's truly hypocrisy at it's boldest.   At least to me, The G0P has destroyed it's own credibility - First they laughed at the notion that he could win the nomination, calling him things we know he truly is... then they bowed to the King, now defending him because he is currently their only ticket on the train.  

     Meanwhile - during that testimony - the personalities of those doing the questioning came through loud and clear.  Some of the old regime, Dems and Reps alike,  sounded shrill and stupid and holier than thou.   The ones who came up with the most effective questioning were women, in particular the enthusiastic freshman so many like to attack, A0C.   It's true, sometimes she comes off as the overzealous puppy at the dog pound, but she's coming through slowly but surely with an honest evaluation of the clusterfuck we have now.   As I've said before, I don't align with any one particular party, I want to hear what they all have to say and I want to believe in the good intentions and vote on the right path for the troubles of our time.   Views to the extreme in any one direction - right or left - won't be effective or practical - that's what I feel, anyway.  Some of her ideas are not realistic, and she may be the rookie, but she is genuine and in many cases spot on, and  it's clear she isn't bought by anyone. 

If you don't agree with these words below and you were chanting "Drain the Swamp"... what swamp were you looking to drain? 

      

    In the end, I believe Mr. C*hen was telling the truth - he's got nothing to gain now by speaking out.   He described the thug many of us already knew occupied those presidential suites, he underlined what was already written on the wall.   Many people who voted for him knew he was not stellar, but they wanted a big change, they wanted someone who wasn't bought, not an old school politician. What they got was far worse, and I will continue to hope enough of them can't in good conscience continue to abide the level of division and deceit in the web he's been spinning since election.  I hope they see him for who he really is, and decide our country is worthy of something better.  I truly believe this Country we all love is in big trouble, and I pray We the People will  eventually, sooner rather than later,  right the ship. 

     Speaking of ships - my mother repeatedly reminds me that getting upset over all that we cannot control is not good for the fibromyalgia... lol... and I know it's so!   This quote below.... truth that can be applied just about anywhere.... 

'

It's a new day, all - let's make it the best it can be. 

  

Fresh Air

       While it's still definitely winter 'round these parts, and I'm about to trudge out into my "morning commute" in hat gloves, two jackets and boots to prove it,  I've been freshening things up inside Gracie (this old house). I asked my mom yesterday whether it was too soon to put out the Spring Things - and she said "no, I've put away winter already, it gets old, dull".  

     

       So I did just that - and  then drove to the nearest crafts store - which is Joann's Fabrics.  Their Spring Things are already 40-50 percent off, so I decided to make a few wreaths for the front double door, and I scored a few ready-made wreaths for my mom and I, too.  (Because MOMs... you only get one, and mine is my very best friend).  

 I'll share the finished product when done. 

My ready-wreath find... 

 Last week we repainted the bedroom -  it used to be a celery green.

Now, what Benjamin Moore calls Cake Batter, a soft buttery off white. 

I replaced the bedding too - going for a very neutral look

Belgian Flax Linens - a combo from Pottery Barn and Pine Cone Hill

The lamps replaced a few we've had for many years,

now living in the dining room.

Hard to see in this photo, but they are glass wrapped in a light

 black chicken wire.  Inexpensive finds at HomeGoods, 

and I love them. 

The drapes - Restoration Hardware - also belgian linen, lined, 

Keep heat in and cold out,  but they

do let some light in, which is what I was looking for. 

They are an investment, I usually go with cheap curtains,

but they'll last if cared for properly. 

 Frasier approves. 

 The painting above the bed I found last week browsing a nearby antiques mall. 

It is an original painting by  Robert C. Benham...

a New England artist in the early to mid 1900's. 

His paintings usually go for around $300-$400 if you find one,

and this was leaning against other stuff on the floor, dirty, with a chippy frame.

I love chippy frames - and the grime comes off with a good

careful  wiping down... 

So I offered $170, and the offer was accepted. 

These bits of paper are taped on the back. 

The painting depicts

"Trail to Burnt Head"  - which is located in Maine. 

      So, while Gracie is sporting a little Spring Bling inside... outside is quite a different story...  The view out my kitchen sliders below.... 

        And if you peer out my kitchen sink window,  my favorite doves are giving me that look -  "What's wrong with this picture, Karen.  Seed's awful low". 

Notice the maple syrup collecting bag and buckets are empty right now... in order for sap to run, we must have cold temps over night, warming up during the day. If  temps remain cold, the sap remains dormant. 

So up to the barn I go, to tend these family members...

Coady is sporting new shoes -  his soft ride gel boots, which

help him  be more comfortable with a condition he's had for years -

 Cushings Disease with a side of laminitis flare up caused by it. 

   The girls hunting for tidbits in a fresh little hay pile. 

 Just one more thing... 

Have you seen the movie - A Star is Born - with Bradley Cooper and Lada Gaga yet? If not, you must -  WOW, do they have chemistry and talent.  And I'll warn you - it is indeed a tear jerker.  When she first made the scene, I didn't like her.  Meat dresses?  Condom costumes?  But.. as she grew into who we came to know, she is truly a decent, caring, honest soul, a real talent on multiple levels.  She's a song writer, a singer, a philanthropist, she's an encourager, not a breaker-down. (those are real words here anyway...lol).  

Wishing you all a good day - 

and thank you for stopping by