There is the Middle.

I do love the Before and Afters, I love the process of taking a space and changing it to enhance the way we inhabit our home. But between the Before and the After is so much of the Middle. There is real presence in the Middle; of planning, and measuring, and thinking through the details. We are very much in the Middle right now of our biggest project to date on the farm, and I adore what is happening! When I walked through the house the first time, I thought "Whoa, gotta change that...and that.... and that..." and then, because this is how my brain works, I started moving walls and creating a graciousness and a flow to the home where it had felt dark and closed in. After we bought the property, I rethought that original plan a dozen times. I listened to other experienced people, architects, builders and tried on their ideas for size. I really loved some of the ideas. But, then I'd figure out the budget to implement the ideas, and it was a no-go. Three years later, and the vision is taking shape! It is very similar to the vision I had when walking through the property in 2020. Some of those first impression plans have matured into improved ones; I moved one more wall than originally planned, giving me a much better primary bathroom space. I figured out a few things that were just "not right" on first thought. My dad was a huge help here- if we look at a problem toghether, we can nearly always find a solution or work around. But, I am pleased to know that that original vision is not only going to be spectacular, but maybe, just maybe, on budget!

Also in the Middle is all the unglamorous stuff that make a huge difference to the way a house lives. It is mostly invisible in the end, and costs a mint, but really changes the game. I'm referring to changing plumbing from copper (it was splitting and leaking) to PEX. And for adding spray foam insulation to make the attic and knee walls temperature controlled and useful space, making our HVAC more efficient and our house so much warmer! Now. I think so much cooler in the summer. It is changing out the electric panels that are kind of crazy- we have 4 in the house, added on over time, and they were starting to fail. And changing out the HVAC systems to increase efficiency. Before we started the project, the air coming into the house as "heat" or "cooling" was pretty close to the outside temperature;cold air blowing on your face all night long in the winter, and a decidedly hot air in the summer. I am so grateful for the hardworking crew that have been diligently moving the ball down the field for the first months of this project. I am about to get put in the game as more than a coach. The dry wall is nearly finished, and I get to start implementing the dressing of the design. The architect, framers, electricians, HVAC guys, the plumbers, the insulation team, the project manager, and the drywall crew are either done or taking a break as the finish crew arrives! I am the painting and trim, the tile guys arrive this week, and the wood floors are stacked in the space getting acclimated so they can be put down when I am done with the bulk of the painting. We are still in the Middle. It is a mess here, with drywall dust and blobs of joint compound flung about. Rugs are folded back, there are footprints everywhere. My furniture is stacked up like a nightmare from Hoarders, I know living in a renovation isn't for everyone. But this isn't our first time here, and every morning when I open my bedroom door (we have moved to a guest room, and it is stacked to the rafters with all our contents) I see the space I envisioned when we looked at the property in 2020. It is light, and bright, and spacious and gracious. Move over Dorothy! We aren't in Kansas anymore but in the technicolor world on the other side of that door. It is going to be beautiful. PS- If you made it through reading this blog- Kudos. For some reason this is all written in a different format than usual, I don't know why, but it takes all paragraphing out between the writing and the publishing phase. I am always frustrated by blogger.com, and it keeps coming up with new ways to challenge my patience. And your eyeballs. If you know how to fix it... let me know. C

Foxcroft Farm Before and Afters- "I Know Why" the first guest room

 Three years ago, more than, we moved to this beautiful farm, and I began the slow process of making it ours, one room at a time. I have enjoyed sharing that process on here, and I hope it inspires some of you to do so yourselves. To look at a space and think- how can I use this differently? Or, how can I make it more beautiful to my eye? How can this live more comfortably for my family? How can I welcome friends and make them feel like they are treasured, in some place special? 

When I plan a renovation on a whole house, I like to consider its strengths, it's essential character, what it wants to be, what design, what feeling, what makes it unique or special. Foxcroft at its core is after an early colonial, with its gabled dormers, large center chimney and keeping room. It is built in the style of the Everard House in Colonial Williamsburg, circa 1718, with the additive American vernacular, or additions over time. So, I wanted Foxcroft to have that dignity of age, patina and generations of living having come and gone behind its doors. If I can, I like to know the history of the building, and the people who made it what it is now. For Foxcroft , it may have had the soul of a colonial, but what made it unique is it was it had been grown by Horsepeople. The Foxcroft Farm sign features racing silks in the farm design. Green, with an orange "x" on the chest and orange stripes on the sleeve. Foxcroft Farm was a place for racehorses. I think, certainly, there were riding horses here too, but the race horses were special. From what I understand, at one time there was even a practice racetrack right here on the farm. So, I knew that when I planned the design of the house, I had to keep that essential racehorse heritage in mind. That racing silks "x" has made it's way into the garden fences and porch railings, as well as other design details inside. 

The house has 5 bedrooms. It had 6, but you had to walk through one room to get to another, so it couldn't be used any longer as a bedroom. This is not that unusual in the vernacular style. when you add on over time, those quirks come with the territory. So, 5 useful bedrooms. I'll cover that more when I do the "Before and After" of the current project. But that means, that at some point we will have 4 guest bedrooms. I think it is nice to be able to tell a guest where they are meant to stay, and although I don't mind the traditional "Green Room, Blue Room, Yellow Room" set up, I prefer to be more distinctive. 

So, it wasn't long after we moved in that I decided each guest room would be named for a racehorse from Foxcroft Farm. For you who know more than I, I will take nominations for the next three guest rooms. But the first Foxcroft Farm racehorse I knew about was a gorgeous chestnut gelding named "I Know Why."

So, when I tackled the first guest room this past year, that it what it was to become. 

Welcome to "I Know Why". 

Wait. 

I suppose I should take you back to the before, prior to going into the after!

The room is dated, yes. The wallpaper and stained carpeting have to go, along with the ceiling fan and the crip crap on the ceilings- discussed a bit ad nauseam here in every other before and after at Foxcroft Farm. At this point, I think my body may be 60% water and 40% dust from fixing ceilings.  Baseboards are being swallowed by the carpet, and the shutters are great at blocking sun, but overly efficient when paired with the light-eating ceiling treatment that descends the sloped ceilings, bringing the eye down and making the room smaller and darker than it needs to be. Wallpaper also absorbs the light instead of reflecting it, so nothing in this room shines. Not the floor, ceilings or walls. I think light, the way it bounces off things, surfaces and shapes or is absorbed and softened gives rooms depth.  

As for this rooms assets? It is fairly large, certainly plenty big for guest accommodation. It has two windows, but they are fairly deep, narrow dormers, so they come with some design challenges, or as I see it opportunities. The views of the fields are spectacular and need to be shown to advantage. I try to identify what makes a room unique or can give it character, and that wall of dormer windows with the knee-wall space smack in the middle is what stands out right away. That is where I come to play!

So, again, Welcome to "I Know Why"...

How pretty is that? It is a lovely room. 

One of the things I like best about it is it is packed with details. I think everyone notices the wainscoting right away. That was a labor of love, but I wanted this room to feel like a fresher version of a library or an old church. It also solved a problem of wall damage. The wallpaper was non-cooperative. In fact, I believe it was a 5 week long odyssey of destruction between the walls and the ceiling. So, I had to repair and re-tape all the drywall, but only the area above the wainscot need be perfect. Plus, the tall wainscot meant I could really get some glossiness into the room with shine of the paint softened by the warmth of texture. The gloss white paint bounces the light, the geometric texture cuts all the white. Somehow, this old wainscot techique looks traditional, but current. 

 The next thing noticed is the green floor. This is an homage to the entrance hall at Monticello. The floor is the most fabulous green. The closest I could come was SW Arugula. I adore painted wood floors, and this is one of my favorites! There were not wood floors on the second floor, so I did it up my way, and painted 'em green. Delight. 

The room got taller when the sloped ceilings became sloped walls. Just turned them from one into the other by getting rid of all the ceiling crip crap junk, (its a process for sure) and then painting them and the walls the soft color of sweetmilk. 

As I said, the dormers are deep. So, I wanted a window seat but it took planning. I wanted a seat to be high enough that you sat in the window properly. Plus, I wanted to maximize the storage in the room, so the top is hinged and can store loads of extra duvets in the summer, and the sleeping porch bedding in the winter. So, deep enough seat to be comfortable, high enough to be in the window. And, comfortable, so a big thick cushion. Also, if it is that high it will need a stair to make it easily used. Plus, you need a cute light for reading, and a place to put a drink. A vintage lamp from my grandmother's house and a built-in wall depth shelf, tall enough for a glass of wine, deep enough for a mug of tea. 

My friend Chrissie was all in on a book and the window seat. 

In the other dormer, I wanted the versatility of a ladies table that could be a desk. We all learned a lot about work from home suitability in 2020! The window is really great for applying makeup, and I wanted the desk to have some storage, but not be cluttered. Newly built, but not "new". So, I built a hinge top desk, with these lovely offset antique hinges from my dad's collection. The mirror and lamp sit behind the hinges, so you don't have to move them to access the desk storage. I used these cool old table legs, also in the salvage collection of my parents, and left cord niches, so you can plug in a lap top, leaving the cord inside the desk. The vintage lamp has a charming mirror base with flowers etched into it, and I painted the lampshade with a two different green stripes, imprecisely, a bit of casual comfort. The soft chair with the medallion back and the embroidered quilted fabric was a gift from my mother. 

And between the desk/ladies table and the cozy window seat was the center knee wall storage. It had been pretty scary, dark, and cold. Not insulated from the outdoors except by some wisps of old pink batting, I doubt it had really even been useful storage for much of anything. I thought it could be cute. So, cleaned it out, insulated it, walled it, floored it, trimmed it, painted it, and created an enchanting kids reading room! 

It has a Dutch door on the front, painted a sweet blue. The shelf I made for the window seat also became a window into the little room. I painted that wall in rich blue chalkboard paint because, art.  I am going to play "store" or "restaurant" with a little one through that window the next time EZM brings her kids. Plus, big siblings can't close you in the dark so easily if there is an open window. ( I was the youngest, I think of these things.)

Keen eyes- the book on the cushion is called A Pony For Keeps a vintage story book by a local author, and it has wonderful old photos of Foxcroft Farm within.

In the little room is a comfy cushion and pillows, favorite kids books and my dad and Youngest added a light within, in case you do want to go in there, close the door and do some serious reading. My requirement was the light could be turned on and off by an adult- no crawling. On the wall opposite the window I painted a scene inspired by the 1950s book "Toby" about a boy and his horse. With I Know Why in the foreground, and the barns of Foxcroft Farm behind. And, yes, I had to paint a lot of it lying down on my right side- tricky painting for a rightie! 

On one of the walls of I Know Why, I put blacksmith created horseshoe nail hooks for robes, towels, guests to hang clothes and I put the polished up halter from I Know Why himself! My friend, Mary, purchased him after his racing career and foxhunted him with the Keswick Hunt. She was kind enough to gift me his halter and two of his race win photos, which are framed and on the wall. In between his race win photos is a little painting I did of him, three years before he was even born. I did not know at the time it was him, I just painted the face of this pretty copper chestnut and it has been knocking around in my collection for 20 years. When I hung the race photos, his face looked so familiar... dug around a bit and came up with his portrait, already done. 

I did another one of him, for this room. But this time a conformation side angle watercolor, and all in blue. I hung it over the bed. 

The bed was my grandparent's four poster. I think it is maple, but it is also has a chestnut luster to it, just like the horse for which the room is named. 

The curtain fabrics and pillow feature a hunt scene with a game chestnut hunter- a tribute to his second career after racing. I chose it with this sweet blue background- to echo the color of the little Dutch door. 

 I added the gothic cornice tops to the windows more recently, to complete the feeling of a church or library, and elongate the windows, like a pointy kitten heel elongates a woman's leg. The cornices still need to be painted. 

The glam is brought by the gleaming chandelier. I do like sparkle! It had been in my parents Maryland home. 

You can't tell from the pictures, but this room smells divine! The rug is woven leather, so it smells like a tack room full of clean tack. Horse person heaven. I put a flokati next to the bed for sink-your-feet-in softness. 

As for the stall plate on the door, I am not sure that I Know Why was foaled on site, but I decided it could be true. And, I'd like to think so. 

I realize the last wall isn't really shown- it has vintage dressage posters from my childhood. You'll have to visit in person I guess to see it. 

The closet is deep, and had a bi-fold door on it. I am not a fan of bi-folds. I see their purpose. Still don't like 'em. So, I took it off. I put an antique shutter there for a bit, but it is a true relic, and would leave chalky residue on anything that brushed it. So, outta here. And, it is a guest room, and guests tend to not really use a closet, they can hang things on the blacksmith hooks if they have hanging clothing. So, I outfitted the closet with deep shelves for our quilts and blankets. They are pretty, so I decided no door needed. With the current renovation going on, this is the only linens closet we have in the turmoil, so it also now has sheets, duvet covers and pillow cases as well. Plus, one massive English down featherbed. The shelves are removable, and the hanging bar is still within, so can easily be converted back to traditional hanging space. 

One last detail. A reward for those of you who have persevered. 

The door to this room is hollow. Ick. Dislike. Also, this was a budget redo, and I didn't want to buy a new door. So, who cares, right? Wrong. For some reason, a deadbolt had been installed on the door previously, keyed both sides. Not interested in having that anymore, but that left a big fat hole in the door above the handle. Cannot leave a big hole in a bedroom door. No. So, creativity gave me the fun solution.

From outside the room, if you turn the disc on the door and look in, you'll see the eyeball of a chestnut horse looking back at you. 

Do the same from inside the room, and you'll see this instead. 

For the curious, some in progress photos...

Assists and resources:

Huz- Kilz coating everything while I was ill

Youngest, Huz and my dad- electrics help moving outlets and hanging lighting

Mary S.- gifting IKW halter and race photos, sharing his story

Colors- Floor- Sherwin Williams SW 6446 Arugula

               Reading room dutch door- SW 6520 Honest Blue

               Walls- Valspar Betsy's Linen

               All trim gloss white

Fabric- Spoonflower

Rug- World market for leather woven rug, flokati is vintage

Green velvet custom cushion- Etsy, anemurium.   www.etsy.com/shop/anemurium

Hooks- for similar, try amazon

Stall plate on door- smartpakequine.com

 

    

2023- Photoblog Year in Review.

My friend Amy said she went through her year of photos to organize and erase the useless ones. But it caused her to reflect over the year gone by, and I decided to do the same. I am recovering from Covid, so have more couch time than usual. I saved some in a folder to remind me of the year that was. Decided to share it here in case there are others with more couch time than is usual on January 2, 2024. 

Some of my favorites from 2023. It was a very good year. 

 I am a nester at core, and January is a month for cuddling a kitty by the fire and moonlit barn chores. 

February brought friends Kaylee and boyfriend (now fiancé) Luke, of Van Winkle Eventing and Luke Gingerich Horsemanship LLC, to pick up "Vander," a lovely son of "American Pharoah" Huz and I purchased for Kaylee to train and compete. 

He's grown so much in a year! 

Our youngest turned 22! 

The mild winter allowed for horse time on Daisy. 

March was filled with family and friends! A visit from Dr. Chrissie,  

and a trip to OH to see the girls and some of the gang. 

St. Patrick's Day dinner, sister Stephanie and her girls joined the Virginians. 

Huz took Henri for a paddle in the pond. 

Animal photography. Some people make it look easy. Other people. 

April brings with it the Virginia Bluebells! SPECTACULAR. I felt like Dorothy, in a field full of poppies. 

I got to ride with Huz! He is just starting to ride, but Baily is a good partner.

April features Virginia Garden Week, and I hosted a little party for the local garden tour and then late lunch in the Foxcroft gardens, featuring the glorious tree peonies transplanted in 2021 from my mother's St. Michaels garden. Here with mom and Dr. Betsy S. 

One of the blessings of this decade has been reconnecting yearly with long time dear friends. 

 2023 found us communing in lovely Sedona AZ.

May is maybe the prettiest month at Foxcroft Farm. 

The gardens are putting on a big show. 

And Daisy and I managed to make our way to a show too. ( I did purchase this photo from SDH Photography and it is framed!) 

Daisy and I had a lovely spring, gallavanting. Lookit those ears! 

And, sister Stephanie came for a ride or two this year. She got me hooked on these beasties nearly 50 years ago. 

June was IRELAND. I have never had a "bucket list", but if I did, 

Ireland would've been right near the top! 

It is gagagorgeous. This is Slea Head Drive on the Dingle Peninsula. 

A sheep on the rim of a Faerie Fort. 

When the view is too pretty to be mucked up by my mug. 

A lough in Glendalough. 

We returned from Ireland, and Huz came down with Covid, and I did a cool thing, illustrating a short film for filmmaker friend, DeeDee. The film was set to premier in November, so I painted it all in 5 days! 

Also, that busy first week of July, I acquired my newest equine partner, Luna. 

For my birthday, celebrating 55 years, we were joined by Ohio pals Amber and Bill, I was surprised by Middlest showing up before my first cup of tea ( I do love a surprise and a visit from one of my babies? The best!) 

And we even had drinks with previous OSU President Gordon Gee. I am the only one in this shot with zero OSU affiliation except by marriage, parenthood, and 20 years of proximity. 

 

Birthday hike to Blue Hole- refreshingly brisk on a July day! Virginia is so beautiful.

It is a joy to be a stopover spot for traveling friends. Reen and Sheebs, thank you for putting Foxcroft Farm into your schedule!

 The end of July was so fantastic. The entire Drost Family came from all points for a week at Lake Santeetlah, NC. IMO the most beautiful lake in the east. College pal Kelly introduced me to this place in 2018, and I've been wanting to share it with the family ever since!

Also celebrating Opa's 89th birthday, and Nana and Opa's 61st wedding anniversary. 

I have been very, very blessed with the best in-laws and loving family. 

I mean. 

August is a bounty of TOMATOES. Aren't they beauties?

And, another beauty, we have a PhD graduate! Dr. MD, M.S., Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science with a specialty in Statistical Analysis. 

Ohio State University still has her working a Post-Doc this year, working in academia, the private corporate sector and for Ohio state government. 

The beauty next to her, GDD, began her Master's in Library Science this year too! Her husband, Jesse is getting his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. More graduations to come. 

In August Huz and I went west, to Oregon, where I got to catch up with Christine, and have wonderful Willamette Valley wines. 

While Huz works, I get to play, and I took myself up the Columbia River Valley. Wow. It is stunning! 

I wish there was a photo of my face when I came around a corner to this spectacle. Glee. 

My parents celebrated 60 years of marriage in September! 

What happens when you go to take a nice sisters photo, and you realize your "big" sister is really, really little. 

 An impromptu quick visit to the Eastern shore with friend, Marie, to visit old friends of hers, now new friends of mine!  

And back home for the bliss of quiet dinners from the garden with Huz.

September and October bring cubbing season for Keswick Hunt Club, and Daisy and I got a few times out in the field. Our fixtures are so beautiful, I always feel so blessed to be a part! 

In October we lost my Aunt. I have only had one aunt in my life, and, wow, did I get a good one. She was a firecracker, smart, witty, athletic, tough, cheeky, invincible. I took many lessons from her about looking at limitations and planting a thumb right in their eye. 

We Hamilton girls celebrated her life in Pittsburgh. 

Huz and I are still on top of the world after 29 years of marriage! So, we walked there. 

  Field Hockey brought my friends Tommy and Maria to town a few times this October, and it was so great to see them! Their daughter, Kelly is a star on the NCAA Champion UNC team. Tommy and I have been getting up to no good for more than 45 years. 

Cue the band!! 

Huz and I went to New Orleans in October. He is the Executive Director of the ACVR and hosted the meeting in NOLA this year. I haven't been to New Orleans in years and I have to say I had a wonderful time! 

We even got to lead the second line for a parade through the streets, led by a rocking HS Marching Band and a police escort. New Orleans knows how to throw a party. 

Halloween! My sister was dancing with the Lexington Witches for the Witch Dance, so, I went as a support witch. 

Sometimes my ancient history as a model comes out. 

November on the farm is showcased by the lovely light. Every day, I just take pictures of trees and sky. 

Sometimes there are chickens. 

Perhaps the most interesting thing I did this entire year was illustrate the film for DeeDee. It premiered at the Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival. The film is called "Away for Awhile" and it is about returning Native American art and artifacts to their origin nations. The film is so good! I was lucky to have a small hand in its creation. 

Cheers to the filmmaker! And, it appears we are scarf girls. 

 The Blessing of the Hounds is a spectacle, with the most beautifully turned out hunt receiving a blessing in the shadow of the stunning Grace Episcopal Church in Keswick. These two fit right in. Mom and Dad have traded sailboats and sheep for mountains and horses. 

We celebrated Mom's 81st Birthday at Thanksgiving. 

December at Foxcroft is always special, but this year it brings it's own unique challenges as we are in the midst of a large scale renovation of the second story and the last rooms on the main. Lots of dust, tracked in mud, large areas without electricity and daily power tool activity mean we have modified the way we live a bit. 

But when the evening comes, it becomes calm and bright. We lined the driveway with maples and crepe myrtles this spring, so I got to hang stars in the trees this year. The moon lends its own light. 

The elves at work on Christmas cookies. 

And, there is Pearl. Pearl loves all equally. Be more like Pearl. 

Family started rolling in and out again during the holiday. 

Youngest hosted us at his new job, bringing the festive spirit to Southwest Mountains Vineyard! 

Huz is pretty festive too! 

Christmas Eve Crew. 

Christmas night chaos. I love this picture. Some plates are gone to get filled. And I just have the goldware in the urn on the table. But, it shows it is warm and feels like Christmas. We had 13 for dinner this year. And, about that many minutes to prep for the meal. Huz had pre-made lasagnas and mac and cheese that he just put in the oven. Thank goodness, because we finished "Christmas morning" a half hour before the rest of the crowd arrived! 

Including this guy. In these pants. I have a photo of him in these same pants from 1975. We girls were all little and wearing crocheted red and white dresses, made by my Gram. 

We ended the year with family- treasure. Thankful for 2023.