Some people flip houses. They buy up homes that need work, fix them up and sell them. I've always had a special spot in my heart for run down farmhouses. When we drive by one, I yearn to stop and explore...then love and restore. I'd probably even want to live there for awhile. But then I (the second me, of course) would likely see another lonely, abandoned farmhouse and want to do the same thing all over again. And this is why if there were another set of us, I think we would flip farms.
This past weekend, we visited some relatives that recently moved just two hours from us. They built a beautiful home and we had a beautiful weekend with them. I want to respect their privacy so will just give you a taste of the beauty- this was the guest room where we stayed.
Our hosts graciously allowed us to walk back the gravel lane behind their place and show us the old farm that currently sits empty.
The house is old and in need of work.
The yard in unkempt, overgrown and full of weeds.
The barn is exquisite.
And it sits on a large, gorgeous piece of farmland.
We were in love.
But alas, it isn't for sale. And there is no second pair of Jamey and I to move in and love it back to health.
And so we'll just keep loving on our own little farm this summer- restoring painted floors, giving our barn a facelift, protecting other outbuildings with stain, fighting back the weeds, keeping up with the repairs, and nurturing animals and flowers and gardens.
For the empty little piece-of-heaven-farm, we wish it visionary owners who will swoop in and love it back to all its glory.
And then invite us back for another visit.
What a lovely piece of property, I like you found the barn breathtaking, but I am always drawn to barns. My brother is an artist and he teased me about my love of old barns and then drew me a beautiful run down barn with a sign in front that said "For Sale" love it. want to say I enjoy your post. God Bless
ReplyDeleteI'm like that too. Only money, time and energy are keeping me from doing it. Ha! But in a daydream I do it all the time!
ReplyDeleteThat barn is beautiful. They don't build them like they used to. Hard to imagine what lead to the farm's abandonment - they left in such a hurry they forgot to take their hammock? Perhaps they were elderly and passed and their children didn't live nearby. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'll help you flip farms. :)
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Looks a lot like our area of WI. Are you Penn? I don't remember. Maybe Virginia? Your seasons are ahead of us, I know.
ReplyDeleteSo what are they going to do with the barn/house/property? Unfortunately some people look at a barn like that and see it for its individual parts on the resale market and have it torn apart for the restored lumber and hardware. Sad. Too bad you can't rescue it.
Our family actually does that, when a property comes for sale adjacent or very near to where our property borders are now. We just bought an older couples farm and apiary. They are moving into town to a retirement eventually. We have info disbursed to all the our extended relatives about the availability of the buildings and fields. Someone will snap it up...the cousins are working with the bees, my oldest daughter included. They had actually been working with the couple for the last couple of years, learning the trade.
So it has been interesting following your bee adventures, and I have shown them your bee posts. I love the restoration, gradual though it may be, of your homestead.
I find it difficult to see old buildings (barns, houses, even coops, etc) "go to waste." It's sad that our modern way of life doesn't promote the use and care-taking of such things.
ReplyDeleteSmiles
My husband flips houses, so we know what goes into it, and quite possibly if our children weren't small we would move into the special ones to bring them back to life. My problem would be planting the fruit trees and improving garden soil and such. I want to harvest the fruit and pick the flowers. We both love old houses and hope to someday buy one of our own to bring back to life. However since we've moved about eleven times in 9 years, I do have to wonder if we'll ever settle even somewhat permanently or if after several years we'll see another house to love. -Crystal
ReplyDeleteIt is so beautiful! And, I agree it is something that needs someone special to give in more TLC. On another note, I love the guest room décor of your relatives home!
ReplyDeleteOh my that is absolutely breathtaking. Wish I could move there.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Connie