Friday Farm Favorites

I first discovered the Shenandoah Valley artist, Marsha Heatwole several years ago while visiting an art gallery in downtown Lexington, Virginia.  I love the way she captures farm animals and their personalities in such a delightful and whimsical manner.  Farmguy and I purchased this painting a couple of months ago at the Roanoke Sidewalk Art Show, and I absolutely love […]

Read More →

Friday Farm Favorites

Farmguy and I were in England a couple of weeks ago on vacation.  We stayed in the Cotswolds area not too far from a town called Broadway. Broadway is a charming place with a number of fantastic art galleries that we always enjoy visiting.  A friend recommended that we stop by John Noott Galleries as they have a variety of […]

Read More →

Friday Farm Favorites

Home Sweet Home   I enjoy traveling as well as experiencing and learning new things; however, after being on vacation the last couple of weeks, it’s really nice to be home again.  I always miss Green Hill Farm and all of our sweet animals when Farmguy and I are away.  Coming home to this special place fills my heart with […]

Read More →

Friday Farm Favorites

Gloucestershire, England or the Cotswolds is such an enchanting place.  We love its history, stunning gardens, art galleries, natural beauty, and farmland.  My favorite thing is waking up to the sound of lambs baahing, roosters crowing, and wood pigeons cooing. Every morning and evening, Farmguy and I walk around the little village where our cottage is located.  Yesterday, we happened upon a friendly and curious herd of cows.  They had the sweetest faces and the most entertaining mannerisms.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did! Have a wonderful weekend!  

Read More →

Friday Farm Favorites

  Here’s the thing:  As we get older, we come to realize that our parents are people, too.  They’re not perfect, because no one is.  They’re human beings just trying to help their children make sense of the world and learn to contribute in a positive way.  I’m fortunate to have a father who taught me the value of self-respect […]

Read More →

Friday Farm Favorites: The Beginning of a Journey

Green Hill Farm: A Retrospective #2 — Perseverance   “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ~Lao Tzu (c 604 bc–c 531 bc) Tao Te Ching, Chapter 64 There’s a sign that hangs in our vestibule or small covered porch that reads “PERSEVERANCE,” and it’s been our mantra since moving to Green Hill Farm.  Farmguy and I were in our early 30s when we decided to take on this project. Sometimes when we look back at pictures we say, “WHAT in the world were we thinking? Were we INSANE?!!” Whatever the answer, it was the path taken. This path has lead us on a journey that has been difficult and challenging at times but rewarding and enriching, too. Anyway, we all know that anything worthwhile isn’t easy. Which brings me to the next piece of our story.  The first day we visited the house after construction started was surreal. It was a hot, humid day in June, and the grass was starting to need cutting. I could smell the fragrance of something blooming that I didn’t recognize, and the wrens were singing away–weedeater, weedeater, weedeater, tweet! As I walked toward the house and started to process what I was seeing, I felt sick to my stomach. The large, white columns that had stoically stood sentinel in front of the house had been removed from the front porch; and where they’d majestically once stood, skinny, dark, wooden […]

Read More →