One year later...

We fell in love with this farm one year ago. We had looked at it once before then and were decidedly not impressed, but it was this visit that finally convinced us to jump on this project. The photo on the left was taken during that visit and the photo on the right was taken last month (and after a new roof, painted front door, etc.). Here's another overgrown photo from that day. The house had been abandoned for several years and in serious need of care.

Since that time we've spent a lot of time outside, trying to get everything in check before Spring. Here's what the house looks like this week. I trimmed back the bushes along the front of the house and left the clematis vine alone. I also cleaned up all of the pine trees and took down tons of invasive/non-native bushes.

This photo was taken last summer, right before we owned the house. I cut down the hydrangeas (don't worry- our local hydrangea expert told they'll come back even better) and trimmed down whatever those other bushes are (they seem to grow really fast). I've been sort of shocked by how much time it takes to prune trees and trim bushes.

So, here we are one year later and I've found myself considering how things have shifted since that visit. The smell of cow manure, the 4 mile drive to town, the muddy driveway, the giant lawn, and a major renovation haven't changed. What has changed is that all of that finally pales in comparison to the gardens, the creek that rambles along the property border, the pastures, beautiful mature trees, the big red barn, the outdoor fireplace, the circular driveway, the hydrangeas, and the peonies.