Our Family
Our family of four has been resourceful makers for two very full decades. From baking to woodworking, crafting, drawing, metal works, music and more. Homeschooling for nine years also afforded us with much margin to create whatever delighted us at the time. What a gift that was to our family!
Three years ago we moved from Willamette Valley Oregon, near my parent and siblings, back to Ohio, where my husband, Jeremy was raised, and actually where both our kids, a daughter and a son, were born. After several years of saving proceeds from side-hustles, and selling our craftsman on a quarter acre, we were finally able to afford a long awaited farm, after ten years of dreaming! (Housing in the Midwest is much more affordable than the overpriced Northwest, albeit beautiful!)
Our Farm
Our quiet homestead in the country is flat and grassy, giving stunning views of both sunrise and sunset. (A sweet consolation after leaving the eye candy topography of western Oregon.) It's 5 1/2 acres with a one hundred year old farmhouse, where we reside, and are gradually updating. We immediately, dug a good size garden space, for raising our own vegetables. The fenced pastures are where we rotate our small bovine herd, which we raise for grass-fed beef to feed our family (Jeremy, “The Cowboy”, I call him, is the undertaker of this operation). In the unfenced grassy acreage, we raise hay to feed them in the winter.
Pa
There’s also a few sturdy barns on the property. In the front half of our “Long Barn”, is Jeremy’s wood shop, where, in his free time, he builds custom farm house tables and picture frames from repurposed wood. In his “day job”, he’s a contractor for the Air Force. After that, he’s a part-time piano tuner, and regular musician in our church band. And as mentioned, a part-time cowboy. He’s an ever-working country boy! He makes this place run. As I often say, there’s no flies on this guy!
Sister
The back half of The L Barn is where our small flock, of ducks and chickens, are bedded down for the night. Our daughter Quinci, who’s a tender hearted animal whisperer, and rotates with Jeremy, in caring for “the birds”, having a special affection for ducks. She’s also an accomplished multi-award winning pencil artist, her specialty, pet portraits. She even had her own gallery display for a full month last year! Currently, she’s studying herbalism and aims to “be her own doctor”, and later, help others. Quinci’s enjoying making health tinctures and “potions”, as I call them, both from our organic herbs garden, and those she sources locally. Then, there’s singing at church and helping on the production crew there, as other volunteer ventures she serves in. Like her daddy, few flies on that girl too!
Brother
Copeland, our son, also does a ton to keep his hands busied. During the summer, is Jeremy’s assistant in yard work and on-going farm projects. He is currently about to conclude his high school years as a precision machinist apprentice, at our local career tech center. He enjoys building very much, both with wood and metal, and resourcefully creates, and sells, wood ornaments and jewelry from vintage silverware. And, I’m content to say, he really likes to cook and bake, sharing with us his tasty concoctions he creates. (I’m so very happy when we cook together in the kitchen!) Finally, Cope is a jazz drummer. Both inquisitive and talented, he plays out often. Periodically, in the jazz band at school, but mostly in church (three bands), plus the occasional coffee house gig. He even started a Christmas Jazz Band that toured around last year! So much fun! We are incredibly proud of both our young adult kids, and their inspiring accomplishments! They are incredible blessings to us, as well as our community!
Ma
Me, I’m here for the food. I’m passionate about low-sugar baking and no-waste cooking. I preserve our large garden harvest, which feeds us well all winter. It's satisfying to fuel my crew with healthy scratch-made meals, much of which we raised ourselves. I spend many a' waking hour in my farmhouse kitchen, aiming to have nothing wasted! Yes, it is a lot of work, but a rewarding and gratifying vocation that I'm thankful for!
Then, I also really love resourceful crafting; the other portion of my creative outlet! Repurposing things like brown bags and vintage books, and cast-off clothes and linens. My go-to: mixed media greeting cards! Also, whimsical torn-fabric garlands, perfect for party decor and photo backdrops. For a season in Oregon, I held monthly Mom's Night Out events for homeschool mamas, where we made cute crafts from resourceful materials. Loved that! Hopefully, one day I'll get to do that again. Girltime rocks! Last, I’m a farm market vendor, selling treats and preserves, plus my handmade fabric and paper crafts. (read more here). So really, not many flies on me either.
Gathering Barn
Finally, we can’t forget to mention our “pasture barn”, as we originally called it. Affectionately re-named, The Gathering Barn. This is the part of the “farm dream” that I’d wished for the longest! I love parties and having fun, so being able to have an entire space dedicated to playing and entertaining is just so dreamy! Our first few months here, we churned through some minor renovations, and clearing of much manure (it houses miniature horses by the last owners). We were able to swiftly start hosting gathering in this 30 x 60 foot rustic but cozy shelter, starting with Quinci’s early graduation from homeschooling. We’ve regularly hosted gatherings for our extended family, plus many church events. But most often, rousing youth ping pong parties is what it holds. We absolutely love it, and are so blessed with this charming space!
Well that’s us in a nut shell. We’re so happy you’re here and hope you’ll hang out with us often!
“She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.”
~Proverbs 31:27 MSG
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