The Love Farm: We Bought a Farm!!

The photo shows my mother and uncle and their prize oxen, circa 1924. The photo was taken on the farm that we now own. Note the heart-shaped blaze on the ox at the left. So fitting for the name of our farm!

We bought a farm!!, a 105-year-old farm in southern Illinois, where my mother was born and raised. Included on the 40-acre property are a house, barn, machine shed, granary, garage, pump house, and chicken house. The farm is still a working farm thanks to our two renters. We have lots of plans for the place -- renovating the house, repairing the barn and outbuildings, re-establishing the vegetable garden and orchard, making a "she-shed" from the chicken house, and more. First on the list, and supposed to begin TODAY, is removal of the back porch to make way for an expansion of the first floor that will include a sun room, laundry room, bathroom, pantry, and wraparound porch. Check back again for updates; you'll get them as I get them. I live in Oregon, which means we are managing this renovation from halfway across the U.S.) The reno team includes an architect, a contractor, and a 'window guy' (expert in restoring old-house windows), all of whom live in old homes. If you're going to successfully undertake a renovation/restoration project from afar, these are the guys you want to have on your team. They 'get it'. Meanwhile, here some 'before' photos of the house.

First three from 2016