Historic Farm for Sale

 As much as we have loved our historic home in Tennessee, we have made the decision to sell this year, in order to downsize.  This is a wonderful place, with all the amenities of a resort (swimming, horseback riding, trails, creek, farm, pastures, and country life), and it will continue to be a pleasure for a new generation.  We have wrestled with the letting go process, and finally decided this spring to do the dreaded.  I set up as for sale-by-owner listing, and acquired an MLS listing which appears on numerous on-line sites, then added craigslist which has a shutterfly link with over 100 photos.  Now we are waiting the arrival of the buyer!!!

I did a quick walk-around this morning and took several outdoor photos to post.  The front porch of this 1847 home has seen many seasons of several major eras of our country.  Weddings, courtings, and relaxing days have been spent on this same porches.  In the 1800's, the road passed right in front of this porch.  Imagine the horses and buggies that stopped here.  In mid 1900's, the road was "straightened" and moved about 100 yards from the house.  The other end of the house has a similar porch that faces the road.

 The back french doors walk out to a patio onto the concrete driveway, and to the garage.

 White picket fences separate the driveway from the pool area and keep privacy intact.

 The large 14 x 33 sunroom walks out onto the large patio which surrounds the pool and spa.  This is truly our outdoor domain, enjoyed almost daily and with many an eat-out with gathering of friends.

 Sliding doors to the sunroom and the wall of windows give the interior an outdoor feel as well.  Weatherproof speakers allow our surround sound system in the sunroom to be turned on for poolside listening.

 Of course the large screen gives the media end of the sunroom full season entertainment. A year round room now, this sunroom has a quiet heating and air system with an outside compressor and an inside air handler for comfort.  We love it, and live in it every day.

 By the pool is a natural style landscape, that requires little maintenance, with perennials for pops of color and pots of annuals for accents.

 The long concrete drive curves around to the back of the house with heirloom cleome flowers and seasonal perennials viewed from the kitchen windows.

 The antique iron gate to the poolside is a favorite we added in addition to the pool.

  

 Behind the pool is an antique log cabin that is under roof and ready to finish.  We moved it from another farm with the intentions of making it a pool house or studio, but just never finished it.  It needs windows and chinking.

 Heirloom flox graces the poolside with colored yarrow and lavender.

 One of two fish ponds, this pond is set in the courtyard by the rear drive, and has coi and gold fish.  It is always a favorite for the grands to feed the coi.

 Our large white barn has a wide center isleway, 6 large stalls, wash room tack area, feedroom, two large wings on each side for equipment or round bale storage, and a HUGE hay loft that we never have filled.  A 3/4 acre springfed pond lays behind the barn.  Numerous large paddocks are cross-fenced with white vinyl fences, surround the barn, and wrap around the the back and both sides of the house.

 Another large building, the old grainary, set slightly down from the house, has been reclaimed for a combination workshop and adjoining studio, each with separate entrances and adjoining door.  We added the deck and french doors off the studio so I could work with the doors open on pretty days.  Heat and air are provided in the finished studio room.

 White fence divides a paddock from the historic spring house that sits below the grainary.  The basement area over the spring is made with huge hand chiseled limestones. Above the basement is a room with handmade bricks, and log floor joists under the hardwood floors.  A low sleeping loft above the first floor is accessible by a ladder staircase built under the roof of the front porch.  This building predates any brick  building in our county. 

 Pots of Portulaca and petunias add color to the patio, and somehow survived the drought and heat spell (highest day 113 - not our norm in TN).

 The log cabin poolhouse begs for someone to finish and decorate.  It has an a built up insulated roof, allowing for heating and cooling apon completion.

 Even though my pictures were primarily an walk around from this morning, I threw in two of my newly refinished kitchen with white cabinets, antique pewter hardware, granite countertops, hardwood floors, and stainless steel appliances.  There is plenty of space in this country eat-in kitchen to add a large island.  We have a huge butcherblock, but we haven't put it back in yet.  I have loved the high ceilings allowing space above the cabinets for decor and collections.

Birthday gift for Daughter - Sterling Clef Note

My daughter came to visit this week.  We celebrated her birthday, and had a wonderful mother/daughter time.  We finaly got the rain we had been praying for, so we found indoor things to do...shopping, eating out, digging in my jewelry...and lots of laughs and sharing.

I gave her the music clef note pendant necklace I had made her from sterling silver, hammered and hand wrought.  I added three little rubies for her birthstone, and strung it on a black leather cord with sterling clasp.  She loved it.

She  brought her pup, Ozzie, and he is a load of fun.  Besides his tricks, he smiles whenever he greets you, showing his pearly whites in a straight line smile.  Carrie went home with other jewelry, too; here she is wearing a memory wire turquoise bracelet she found.

She also found my sterling and coral earrings that went so well with the cute coral things she found shoppings. 

We had such a good time; we need to do that more often. 

Happy Independence Day!!

God bless America!! God bless our troups who continue to keep our liberties secure!!!