Snow in December

I took this photo today through the window from the breakfast nook. It has been snowing for most of the day and accumulation started about mid afternoon. That is not so unusual, but the wind is terrific!! It blows in sudden gusts and the wind chill is -10. I have put both mares in the barn for the night and will probably do the same for tomorrow night. It is expected to be even colder then. Needless to say the doggies are snug inside. I think that the weather is becoming more like it was in this area when I was a child back in the sixties...just gave away my age:).

I am babysitting my husband's business partners dog...well actually I think "Junior" is a small horse in disguise. He's gigantic: 1/2 Great Dane, 1/4 Labrador, 1/4 Australian Shepard. He is so sweet, but likes chasing Molly. She thinks its a game and so does he, but when she's had enough, she charges at him with her ears back and her teeth brayed...oh gosh the lights are flickering. I'll post a photo of him later.

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving with our family at Laughing Fox Farm. We are grateful for one another, the blessings we have received and pray for those who find themselves in difficult circumstances.

Molly Did Very Well at Her Show

This blog is also about life on a farm, and a big part of my life at Laughing Fox is my horses. Molly has decided that fox hunting is not what she wants to do. So, Lily Wray-Davis and I took her to her first show in five years. She competed in the Hunter Under Saddle Over 2' Jumps Division and, out of 10 riders, came in second!!! An outstanding showing. She's for sale as a show horse (I like to say she's my "Show Girl")and will only get better. Thanks to Lily for making her look so good and to Heather Mullan Ransom for getting her in show condition!!

As Soon As I Get My Laptop, I'll Post More Photos

I had the APTA sign installed in the front yard last week. It looks very nice, and I will post a photo as soon as Andy gets my laptop to me:)!

I had a very hard worker come to the farm and clean out all of the out buildings (Summer Kitchen, Smokehouse, chicken coop),so when we are ready we may start restoration on any of them...don't hold your breath! I guess you have to play the lottery to win the lottery, right??

The same man has cleaned out old fence rows, taken out saplings, and generally is getting the yard into some semblance of order.

Oh, and did I say that I am looking for a new fox hunter? Life is always lively on the farm!

Good Golly Miss Molly Jumping

This is the video that I took of Molly jumping in front of her stable in July, 2010. My young friend, Heather is riding her.

Gardening...Lessons Learned..Some Tongue in Cheek Observations

I have never had a vegetable/herb garden, never had the sun for it...until this year. Here is what I have learned...

If you think you have planted your plants far enough apart...go further...unless you enjoy the jungle look...much like the one my garden has.

Place aluminum foil around the base of your tomato plants unless you want Cutworms to do what their name implies...

Organic gardening is impossible for me...I succumbed to Sevin Dust when worms ate the leaves and blooms off of my squash plant...notice that I used squash in the singular...

Squash plants grow as big as a breakfast table...and produce a LOT!!!

Those upside down planter things advertised on TV aren't so great...should have realized this when they were on 50% off sale at Wal-Mart...

Horses will try to eat anything in the garden...and the cat thinks she is helping with the fertilizing aspect of gardening...

Lavender gets big...if you give it room. Mine look like Lilliputian Lavender plants...

Basil and Mint will take over...

Weeding is NOT for sissies. I am, therefore not doing it...can't tell the weeds from the mint...smell is a clue...and speaking of smells...

Cilantro smells just awful...

I have learned to make lost of dishes using mint, basil, squash and tomatoes all together...makes for a bust of color, not so sure about the flavor...

Mint in iced tea is a given, but try Basil in iced tea; it's really good!

Just because it looks good does not mean Andy will eat squash...

Mosquitoes do not respect the gardener...except for their need for food in the form of the gardener...

It's HOT in the summer!

will have photos next year...it's too embarrassing to post what my garden looks like this year!...but at least it's producing!!

I will do it again next year!

I would appreciate any and all gardening suggestions...and I promise to post photos of our next restoration project on the farm.

Day Lilies

Andy really likes flowers (getting in touch with his female side) and wanted me to post these Day Lilies...they're everywhere...anyone want some??

The Barn at the end of the Rainbow

I took these pictures yesterday. We had a double rainbow, look closely to see thye faint top rainbow.

The Master Bath

These are photos of our finished bath. The white wall paint and trim paint is Dover White, the greenish blue wall color is Rainwashed, both are Duration Home paint by Sherwin Williams I am so glad to have a master bath on the main floor right next to the master bedroom! I'm not sure if we've ever had the two on the main floor together...

Aerial Photo of LFF and the Duck River

This is an aerial photo taken by our neighbors, Max and Dianne Hegler. Our farm is in the upper center to left of the photo. The house and horse pasture are surrounded by white fence to give you some perspective. Meteorologists were estimating that this was the worst flooding of the Duck River and all rivers in middle Tennessee in over 500 years. We are grateful that it did not come near the structures of Laughing Fox. It seems that people of the 19th century knew how and where to build to stay out of harms way. Thank you, Heglers for sharing this shot.

A Sad Day

I am sorry to have to post a sad piece of news, but know many of you would want to know. Emma, Andy's precious Golden Retriever had to be put down Monday. She had cancer and was such a soldier for a year. She will be missed.

You Can Have Dogs or You Can Have Things

I was once told that I could have dogs, or I could have things. When you see the attached photo, you'll see that we have dogs and they're leaving their marks on our things...but we still love them and wouldn't have it any other way!

Flowers With Faces

Back last year I wrote a post on trees with faces. Today I noticed that this Pansy looked like a man with a mustache. The photo is a little blurred, but you'll get the idea...

Spring Is Here!!

Thanks to my sweet little yellow dog, Gracie who is the not so sweet mole hunter and destroyer, I have tulips!!! I'm so excited...yellow ones, white ones, fuchsia ones, red ones, wow-weeeee (OK I'm over the top...what can I say?)

Spring

Andy loves Spring and took these photos at LFF, enjoy!

Companies and Individuals That We Used

I thought that making a list of the companies and individuals that we used to help restore the house might be helpful to those reading the blog and who may be considering restoration or currently restoring an old house.

Contractor: Innovative Designs, Chris Gill, Lyles, TN
This company charges by the hour, when restoring an old house this is the only way to charge for that sort of project. They did demolition,insulation,installation of new windows, carpentry that included building doors, replacing flooring sections (this involved matching the existing flooring), restoring the original windows and shutters, exterior column sections, some chair rail, adding a bathroom and a bedroom to the second floor, building screen doors, exterior painting, restoration of the banister, roofing, subcontracting having the chimneys rebuilt, subcontracting having the dry wall done, refinishing floors, and leveling the house. Chris also taught my husband and nephew how to hang tongue and groove oak planks for the stable and how to "cut in" interior paint in the house.

Plumber and Electrician: Frank Jones, Williamsport, TN
This company did an excellent job with rough-in wiring and plumbing and made sure that we were adequately wired in both the house and stable. However, this company is VERY POOR in following up on work that needs to be corrected. The entire guest bedroom's electrical supply failed, and it took the electrician over a month to come by. He stated that "I no longer do this." He said that the breaker was bad "they're no good breakers" (so why did he use them to begin with?? He was not able to stop the smoke detector from alarming, and literally left while I was asking him how to repair it. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY IF YOU ARE EXPECTING FOLLOW-UP ON ANY WORK DONE.
Decorator: Jane Cherry, Columbia, TN
This decorator helped me with colors mainly but also with the foyer wall paper, cabinet builder, drawer knobs and pulls, and interior stone choices. She is very experienced and easy to work with.

Stone Masons: Middle TN Stone, Nashville, TN
This company did an outstanding job with the stable stone work and were very reasonably priced. I hope to use them to lay a walkway.

Interior Painting: My husband and nephew. They are not for hire:)

Movers: Jet Moving, Columbia, TN
This company was great! They took fantastic care of our furniture, were very mindful of protecting the walls in both houses, were efficient and professional.

Cabinetry: S.C. Brown, Nashville, TN
This company did an outstanding job with the cabinets, see photos on this blog. Seth was very mindful of making the cabinets blend with the Shaker influences found in the original cabinetry.

Drapes: Sharon Adam, Smyrna, TN.
She was very easy to work with, did a wonderful job and is reasonably priced.

Stone Fabrication, Kitchen and Master Bath: Eagle Fabricators, Nashville, TN

Geothermal Heating and Cooling Choice Construction, Nashville, TN

Iron WorkGeneral Machine, Columbia, TN,
This company did the restoration of the front door lock and the post and sign surround for the APTA sign

APTA Sign B's Tee's, Columbia, TN
This company did the actual sign and was very easy to work with and reasonably priced. They do anything that has letters on it.

Furniture Reupholstery: David Smith, Columbia Reupholstery, Columbia TN
This company did an excellent job with my sofa, chairs, ottoman, foot rest.


Where I found Things Needed for this Project:Paint: Duration Brand at Sherwin Williams, Dickson, TN
Toliets: Nashville Winnelson (Toto brand)
Plumbing Fixtures and Kitchen Farm Sink: e-Faucets.com
Cabinet Knobs and Pulls: Top Knobs found at a hardware store that Seth Brown recommended in Nashville, TN
Wallpaper for Foyer: The Wallpaper Warehouse, Nashville, TN
Wallpaper for Guest Bath: A wallpaper company in New York (can't remember right now)
Tongue and Groove Oak for Stable: Fox Lumber, Leipers Fork, TN
Drapes and Reupholstering Fabric: The Fabric House and The Fabric Gallery, Nashville, TN
Antiques and Decorative Objects: Westbury House, Columbia, TN
TV Armoire: Bradford's, Nashville, TN
Guest Room Vanity Top: Dickson Cultured Marble, Lyles, TN
Roofing/Windows/Guest Bath Tub/Ceiling Fans: Lowes, We chose a roofing that is guaranteed to last the lifetime of the house...we'll see
Master Bath Tub/Whirlpool, Including the Faucets: San Siro, Baths of Distinction, Tampa, FL
Gas Logs: Hearth and Grill, Nashville, TN
Sideboard Restoration: Randall Grace, Nashville, TN
Period Door Knobs and Latches: Restoration Station, Nashville, TN


Challenges:
Getting door knobs replaced (we still have some doors without them)
Getting the kinks out of the geothermal unit. It seems to be working fine now.
Finding a local propane company, may have to go to a Nashville company
Weather
People not showing up
Stolen 4 wheeler, air compressor, inside a/c unit
Getting furniture inside without clobbering the walls (Jet Movers did a great job!)
Andy trying to decorate:)
My impatience

Restoration is an on going process, stay tuned for more!

Farm Snow Video

This was shot from the road in front of the house...

Snow at LFF in Jan 2010

This is a video that I took today of Andy and the canines walking down our road in the beautiful snow that we got today. It was so much fun!

How to Find Photos of the Early Stages of Restoration

I have been asked how to find photos of the early restoration progress. On the Home Page of the Blog go to the right side of the page, scroll down and find "Blog Archives." Each month has photos showing the early stages with torn out walls, missing roof portions, and so on.

The "Original" Lamp

This light originally hung in the foyer. It had been wired for electricity, but we wanted to return it to an oil burning hanging lamp. So I took it to a restorationist in Nashville, TN who specializes in restoring lights. It now hangs in the Dining Room and is a decorative piece. It is dated somewhere between 1860 and 1880.

Ms. Charlotte's Salt Cellars

Andy has a client in the north east, and Charlotte, the client's mom, who I think is in her 80's very generously sent us a part of her Salt Cellar collection. They are such beautiful and delicate things and each one is truly a work of art. One would have been placed at each diner's place, would have had a tiny spoon,like one you see here and would have been used to personally spoon onto one's food, salt. These are late 19th century and early 20th century pieces, and will have pride of place in, of course, our Dining Room. Thank you, Ms. Charlotte!!

Christmas At LFF

Andy in the Dining Room before Christmas 2009 says good-bye, the mantles in the Master Bed Room and the Living Room.