A Lovely Tribute To Our Old House

As a lot of you know J. and I live in an old farmhouse that we bought 39 years ago, basically because it had barns attached to the house that we could use as studios. [Link here]  Renovations started with turning the barns into studios, then we started the work on the house. And then we ran out of time, energy and money, as everyone who has renovated or built tends to do, so things went on hold until the next urgent repair was needed. In 1995 we tore down the barns and rebuilt the studios as a berm, earth on 3 sides. The house has become more functional for our lives over the years and continues to change as money and circumstances dictate. It has been such a kind house to us. People have been born here, married here, died here, and we feel so lucky that for this space of time we get to call it ours. Esther did this wonderful article on the house for Houzz, thanks so much Esther.

My Houzz: 38 Years of Renovations Help Artists Live Their Dream

Houzz- Kitchen Design, Bathroom Design and More »

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And just in case the link doesn't work here is another link

A Little Nostalgia

A group in the village are putting together photos of what the village used to look like and asked us if we had any old photos of the house from when we moved in in. It was great fun going back and trying to find the photos. So this was February or March of 1974, a snow less winter, rather like this one. But what really stuck us was how young we were and how much work there was to do. Not that that bothered us, we had loads of energy and knew anything was possible. Not knowing a thing about old houses, renovations, plumbing, electricity, cabinetry didn't seem to bother us in the least. After all we had a book, "Architectural Standards", which we didn't really understand but the pictures were helpful!

West side, that's me sitting there with pigtails

Where the white clapboard starts was the summer kitchen, which became our kitchen and the green buggy doors to the right went into my studio. The summer kitchen and attached barns were 65 feet long and to two young artists space for studios, the selling point of the house.

East side

The barn and house from the other side complete with a 3 seater outhouse. J's studio was in what was the cow stalls and hay loft above. In those days we could see across the valley. Now there is the thicket of birch  and pine. [link here]

Glimpses of Change

The Fall Equinox has come and gone; ahead lies the monastery door of winter. Dawn wakens me at 6 am instead of 4.30 am, and lying in bed this morning, watching the mist or low cloud come and go, lighting the maple outside the windows, reminded me, once again, all is change. The 1st window is at the bottom of the bed, the maple tree slowing putting on her party clothes, while I have to move my head to see out the second window where the hills and mountain come in and out of existence.

From the bedroom windows

Wishing You All The Very Best

Wishing you all the very best however you celebrate the season. We will go the route of family, friends, food and drink, books and music, studio time and walks with Zoe. The trees are up and decorated, and I am about to make tattie scones, something we always have for breakfast on Christmas morning. Basically left over mashed potatoes and flour, mixed to the consistency of pastry, rolled out very thinly, cut into triangles and fried. I think you might have to be a Davidson or Scottish to enjoy these, but I love them.

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