the road home

💙

your home, your story

living in history

I sit in the quiet of this home, built brick by brick...square nail by square nail in 1857.  I feel this abundant awe living in the midst of history and recognizing those who stood here before me.  Knowing that Augusta became a town in 1857 and that the Civil War was yet to be when this house was built is humbling.  Thank you Joseph Strader for coming here from New York to build this "magnificent brick house" 160 years ago.

The following excerpts are from "The History of Augusta" written in 1874.

Buildings, fruit trees, fences, improvements and everything, denote order, industry, and economy. ... Joseph Strader with his magnificent brick house, Fletcher Dighton, S. E. Cooledge, I. G. Bills, William Arries, James Surgeon, Lindsey Wright, F. A. and S. H. Denison. Peter O’Blair, and scores more, all model men, now well-to-do, though they were all poor but a few years ago when they came to the valley. Nothing short of good markets, health, good habits and rich soil can produce such results in so short a time. This is a truthful picture of this beautiful valley, and it is by such men that we are surrounded, as neighbors and friends; intelligence and true friendship are embodied in such a class of men.

Up to 1861, the local advantages were about all our citizens took any special interest in. but when the news came that Sumpter [Fort Sumter in the American Civil War] had been fired upon, the people of this valley, in common with those of the surrounding country, felt the insult as though it had been specially aimed at them and from the first three months until the final surrender the valley had its full show of representatives in the deadly strife [of the American Civil War]. During all those years of weeping and mourning, we had in the Union army a large list of our best citizens, many of who never returned to their families and friends. Some of them do not even share the honor of our decoration day, but are buried in the shade of the Rocky Mountains or in the sunny south, where their dearest friends may never find their graves. 

May their memories be for a blessing.  Happy Birthday Meadowview Farm! May you always be a home to compassion, hard work and the democratic spirit.

home

My home is an 1857 Federalist style brick house in Augusta, Wisconsin.

It is the love of my life.

My home is a 28 year old boy living on his own in Mill Creek, Washington.  

He is the love of my life.

I cry when I leave both ~ that is what makes them home to me...

lights will guide you home

Winter in the country is dark.  Quiet & dark.

Night comes early, and I am amazed that all that often

lights the farm are just 4 lights: our security & porch lights 

outside and a kitchen & livingroom light inside.  Acres

and acres and just four lights.

When I used to travel to an office in Madison, I would

return late on Thursday night.  Knowing how much I 

had missed home, Dave would "light" up the farm...

turning on every light ~~ like a beacon.  

I like both: 

Knowing home by heart...just like I do when I 

get up in the middle of the night.  

And knowing home by how it reaches out to me 

across the fields, lighting the night sky like a shooting star.

Lights will guide you home...

To my Ian... "Lights will guide you home".  (Coldplay)

Safe travels my son.

art should touch your soul

When I first found Jamie Heiden's art and words...I felt I had

come home, again ~ just like when we had found our farm.  It was not

a surprise to find she just lived south of Augusta, I could feel western 

Wisconsin in her artistry.

As I looked through her gallery    http://jheidenphoto.net

this picture took my breath away ~ titled "Our House...is a very very very nice house"....

Art should touch your soul, should reach into your heart and should take you on a journey home.

Our 1857 home...

homeward

I am a home body....no questions asked, no doubt in my mind.

Home centers me.

I have been away from home since early Sunday.

Started my week with an exceptional adventure with Jani, Nan & Sarah

(you may know them here as the Barn Sale "Barn Cats") at the Columbus Antique Mall!

We shopped & shopped and laughed & laughed.

Good for the soul!

Then I traveled on for a week of training in Milwaukee.

My Ian and his Emma live here.  I was blessed to have supper with

them both on Monday night....with Ian tonight.

But, now my home sickness has arrived...one more night away.

As I peak at pictures on my blog, I discover just how much I miss home. 

I miss Dave, my kittens, my goats and the warm embrace of our farm.

Ian & I talked about city life and country life last night.

He loves the energy of Milwaukee.  

He is comfortable in this urban setting, with so much to do.

I am so proud of his ability to fit in here.

Me, not so much.

It feels like too much, too many cars, too many unknowns.

I like a slower pace.

I like the comfort of home.

So two more days of training (a great training I might add)--and

then I will point my little blue car toward the NW.

HOME calls to me.

my nest

This is where I sit, reading & thinking.  Dave has his bait shop open, the 

farm cats all have found nap spots, and the goats graze or stand 

on their bridges awaiting a troll.  The birds sing...and it all feels a bit

magical.  

Just this morning I found a bird on my steps, perhaps she had 

flown into a screen, all the same she let me lift her to the safety of a raised 

planter until she was ready to fly off.  I assume she may be sitting in a tree 

branch above me as I write this on my deck....knowing I am the being 

that shares this farm with her.  That her home is here.

I look around and feel just a bit awestruck.  This lovely farm is mine...

and I am hers.  We both found each other at that moment when we

both needed each other.  Just as I helped to breathe life back into 

her nooks & crannies, she did the same for me.  I wonder what I 

would have missed if we had not made that unpretentious 

decision that we would live on a farm in western Wisconsin. 

Just like that bird, I had flown into life head first.  This farm picked me 

up, ever so gently, and welcomed me home.  And this is my nest.

my house, my home

As I sat in my study....I looked over to this stack of books, one caught my eye. Nestled down five from the top was the book, Your House, Your Home.  It made me think about my own decorating style...which is never ever based upon resale or rules.  I know some folks think the resale & even the decorating rules way, and good for them - but not me. I think of my house as just for me & my family, not really for others.  It is my home.  So if I love green, then green it is.  If I want to add layers of vintage goodness, then I will. It is my house, but more importantly, it is my home.

A day does not go by that Dave or I do not share how much we love everything about our home - everything.  A day does not go by that something in my home catches my eye and makes me smile.  That, to me, is what makes a house a home.  It reflects who you are.  If anyone walks through my home, they will know what I love, what makes me smile, what is special to me.  

I love that we each have the ability to make our house our home.  It is our individual nest, just ours.

window to my heart

One of the favorite features of our home are the floor to ceiling windows.
They are surrounded in charming white woodwork.  With ledges deep & wide.

Our indoor cats love them too.

August Rose in the window.

McCoy in the morning sun.

Living in the country affords us the luxury of windows that do not need to provide privacy.

They provide views...lovely views of fields and the hills that surround us.

It is said that our home was named "Meadowview Farm" because the original owners could view a meadow from every window.  We are greatful to continue that name.

Hidden Treasures

I am quite tickled, actually blushing just a bit...
We are pleased to be featured in the Chippewa Valley's Hidden Treasures - Autumn Edition
available online by clicking here

Lori, the founder of Hidden Treasures, shares the story of our arrival to Augusta, the finding of our farm in 2006 and our move to the beautiful Chippewa Valley in 2007.  It shares information about our biannual Barn Sales.    I feel especially honored as Hidden Treasures was my map to this amazing area when we first moved.  To be now featured, truly a dream come true.  Thanks, Lori!

All reminds me again of the words of my girl, Tracy Porter...

"Dream with your eyes open".  We are trying!

home again...

I am a home-body.

I simply & honestly love to be home.

If I could, that is where I would spend 99.9% of my time.

I am just plain happiest at my farm.

But, truth be told, I spend a fair amount of time away.

I just returned tonight from two days spent in Polk County for my job.

Polk County is absolutely gorgious...

and I spent last night near the falls in St. Croix Falls.

But....

coming home takes my very breath away.

Are you a traveler or a home-body or

somewhere in between?

Our Study - home tour continues...

This is the one room where Dave has really made his mark...

with his vintage fishing collection on full display-

and, gasp, even a fish mount or two or three.

This is our study on our second floor
...outfitted with a cozy chair,

a desk, and a wall of shelves.

The desk is a fabulous chippy door topping a table

with a piece of glass over it. 

The drawer unit on top was purchased at auction

and houses everything from tape to note cards.

Above the desk are baskets on a trellis --

This is where bills await (and wait)...

Also above the desk are two bulletin boards made

by covering foam-core with fabric & attaching to a frame.

Storage is found in containers

suitcases

boxes

little drawers

toy wagons

metal tins

and even a dresser or two.

The wool rug was found at auction and stored for many years

until it found the perfect use in this room.

It totally set the dark & cozy color scheme.

Shutters are installed as shelves along the ceiling.

Other details:

The monkey lamp...well, from Tracy Porter's auction...

featured in her books.  Love it.

Not old -- but fabulous!

Find out about Tracy by clicking HERE

Cozy, studious, organized...

that is our study!
It is what we aspire to!



coming home...

Saturday I traveled - to my sister's place -- my nephew from California home - a party, a celebration!
Tuesday I traveled - an antiquing adventure -- three hours each way.  Morning to Night.

As I traveled back last evening --
I felt this overwhelming emotion. 
Thoughts of Homecoming. 
Trying to define what that was, what that means.

I know it by the pull & tug of my heart:
Seeing Kevin, my nephew, with his son in his arms -- a homecoming. 
Watching as my own Ian, arrived at the celebration -- his blue car coming up the hill -- a homecoming.
Seeing my farm as I traveled back, tired from a day away -- a homecoming.

It is a warm embrace at the end of a journey.
It is a welcome that quietly calls to you.

At my own farm, my little Chestnut kitten waits under the birdbath near the porch.  All day she waits, listening for the squeak of the porch door or the flap of a wing.  "Homecoming" is defined in this little kitten's world as "there you are".  I like that definition about the best.  It can end with an exclamation point or a "..." It is faith & hope & celebration & joy -- all wrapped up in this sweet, enduring coming home.

What does homecoming mean to you?

Yes, I confess...

have to, wouldn't be right to not step up & say it...

so here goes...

I love T.J. Maxx.

There I said it.

Now, you must understand as much as I love antiquing,

I hate shopping.

But there is something about T.J. Maxx.

And I also believe there is something about

toning down too many vintage items with

just a bit of fresh.

My "fresh" generally comes from T.J. Maxx.

So -- just behold my latest:

Fabulous padded chairs in this fabric...

happened in just as the clerk was clicking a new sales sticker...

bingo, nabbed at $30 each!!

Honestly, other shoppers were applauding my good find as

I left the store.

Are you a T.J. Maxx or Marshalls kind of girl too?

P.S. don't get me even started on IKEA.

Wash Day - home tour continues...

Come on in & take a look around our

Laundry Room.

This was indeed one of the last rooms we redid --

up until then, we called it the "icky room"...

'cause it was, well, kind of icky.

In our green & blue & yellow color scheme -

we went off the map in this room --

with a big dose of deeper blue & a punch of red.

Gray calms it just a bit.

Now, I can't imagine this room was ever so rudely titled, "icky"...

I would now call it our "work horse",

likely one of the hardest working rooms in our house.

So, let's get down to business with a little tour---

you enter thru the kitchen.

 A quilt hangs in the doorway if need be to close this room off from view.

Or in my Kari world - to just look sweet.

The former Summer Kitchen -

this room has one of our three home entrances.

This one now goes out to our deck & back yard

(called a "door yard" on a farm)-

and clothesline.

Grill on the deck is conveniently located too.

When our house was built in 1857 -
every room was taxed - even closets...

so - this house has just one real closet - in the upstairs landing.

Since this room is a big contender for home storage --
we had to get creative.

We now hang coats, grouped by season,

on a coat rack salvaged from another home.

Below it stands an Amish bench.

Apple crates & a Chimney Cupboard store our everyday supplies:

cat litter, tools, string, glue...

This beauty was purchased at the Columbus Antique Mall

in Columbus, Wisconsin.

Our Washer & Dryer are angled around a green dresser Dave found

along the curb --- the green table to the right was also a roadside find.

This dresser stores all our gift supplies:

tissue, gift bags, gifts-in-waiting...

The table has a sweet tool caddy that

keeps the ribbon, scissors & gift tags organized.

This fun shelf was purchased in Waterloo, Wisconsin -

have to have fun stuff to look at while folding laundry. -

right?

This freestanding wall hides a sink...which is still on our

"to do" list.  For now, we keep our "grab & go" items here.

There is actually one small broom closet in our laundry room -

big enough for a mop bucket, mop...and of course

a broom on the door.

And here is where my collection awaits a trip to the antique mall -

this old bassinet corals it just right.

See this room works as a waiting station & tagging central

for my antique business too.

So -- what pulls it all together?

 -- a table in the center of course.

Might I add, one hard working table.

You might find this holding folded laundry,

set up for gift wrapping,

or

filled to the brim (above & below) with antiques.

The tablecloth provides a bit of

"don't look behind that curtain"

hide & seek magic for antique overflow.

And sweet stuff has to live in this room too.

I have come to absolutely adore

this Laundry Room.

Instead of cringing, as I did in 2006 when I first walked into this room

and wondered what we would ever do to fix it up...

it now makes me smile.

P.S. -- if you click on "Home Tour" under the labels

on the right you will find other rooms of

our 1857 home highlighted.

Addendum...
to see an update to this post click HERE