This September marks the 13th anniversary since my husband and I, then just a pair of 25-year-old dreamers, discovered our own little slice of heaven.  

Driven by our desire for change and a new adventure, we quickly found ourselves standing before a century-old farmhouse. The enduring beauty of her weathered wooden shingles and layers of peeling paint, exuded a timeless charm that evoked the spirit of simpler days. It was more than just a house on some land; it was to become the foundation for the next chapter of our lives, a place where we could have a family and a future.  

With a small twist of fate and a little help from our parents, the cozy, 1905 farmhouse officially became ours. While it didn’t come with modern conveniences or even running water, (we spent our first year without water and relied solely on wood heat), the house gleamed with potential and character—a true diamond in the rough to proudly call our own. We embarked on our mission to transform our farmhouse into a flourishing homestead.

Together, we sowed seeds, planted trees, restored some of the archaic outbuildings, and laid others to rest. We tamed the wild landscape into carefully nurtured garden beds and created a sanctuary for many personality-filled goats, a deserving pony and our sweet pup. Our new neighbors shared tales of the old farmhouse’s previous inhabitants, giving us glimpses into the lives of those who had shaped the home's character. More importantly, we discovered all the wonderful people surrounding our newly claimed home.