This is my favorite room in our 1857 farmhouse. I've had friends over for a lunch or a dinner at this table and afterwards we share a pot of tea. There is much chatter and laughter, sometimes there are tears. I like to think that this room has been used for friends to gather together for the past 140 years.
Enjoy the virtual tour of our home, what I like to call "on The Farm." "on The Farm" is comprised of The 1857 Farmhouse, The Little House and The Barnyard. We hope your visit is an enjoyable one and that you will return often.
The 1857 Farmhouse
I thought people weren't so extravagent back then but our house was originally lived in by a Boston weekender, and that was back in 1857. It's a typical farmhouse that is currently very in vogue and in demand in the country life type magazines. There is a wrap around porch in the front with a big old maple tree. The 1857 Farmhouse is small and practical, nothing fancy, and we like it that way.
If you come to visit, we'll invite you for a seasonal beverage -- egg nog at Christmas, lemonade in the summertime, warm mulled cider in the autumn, and hot cocoa in the winter. You're likely to hear music going at all times. We're into Michael Card, Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, George Winston, Jim Brickman, instrumental, period, and Celtic. On a good day I'll be baking something from scratch or picking fresh tomatoes and herbs from the garden. Ahhh, farmlife is wonderful.
On July 30, 2000, we hosted a fortieth birthday party on the porch. Originally, the party had been scheduled to be held at Tanglewood but at the last minute we switched to the front porch because of the rainy weather. We played music on the porch as we enjoyed a gourmet meal of salads and breads, then had a wine tasting party, followed by carrot cake birthday wishes. Coming soon will be on-line recipes and how to's for hosting such an event.
The Little House
In 1992 we purchased our pre-Civil War built home. It came with a little, empty, rundown building. That building is known to long time Hampden residents as the "tramp house." Louis Ludace built it in 1899 to house migrant mill workers. For 50 cents a night a worker had use of the wood burning stove heated house with a bed, dinner and breakfast. Today, it's original purpose has been restored and it is a guest house. We are now booking for the fall of 2001!
The Barnyard
On our farm there are not cows or sheep or other big livestock. However, we got our first chickens a few years back. We began with ten little cute chicks. We watched them go through the awkward "teen" years and into adulthood. They are stupid animals who have provided us with free-range eggs, and humor. We are down to the final four, having lost six to disease and raved by other animals. We highly recommend the movie, Chicken Run. Oh yes, there seems to be at almost all times, two cats in the yard.
A House Becoming A Home
This house has been so easy to move into. After over ten years of city living we longed for country life. It has not been disappointing. I've had fun picking out colors to paint the various rooms. The kitchen cabinets are blue and I've hand painted the floor with blue and white diamonds. The family room and dining room have what I call "grey poupon yellow." I've had fun being an Artist in decorating and restoring our pre Civil War farmhouse. I love picking out the right colors, hunting for antiques (Brimfield Antique Show is just down the road!), and doing some landscaping, such as an herb garden.
Picking out just the right colors is a part of making a house into a home. It takes time for it to feel like it is our home. It now feels like it is our home. There is so much more to creating a home than buying a house. I'm making a home for my family and for my friends. When I am old(er) and gray(er), the home that we've created together, will bring back memories. I will remember the laughter in the walls of good times spent with my family and other loved ones. I'll remember sleepovers that the kids had with their friends, tea times with friends, parties with international students, friends dropping in for the weekend, family visiting for the week, international visitors we invited in for a special meal, and also Christmas dinners, as well as summer barbeques. That's what is the most important to us -- spending time with people.
The 21st Century Family
Who lives "on The Farm" now? David and Kimberley along with their children, Hannah and Nathan, the chickens, as well as at least two cats.
What's In a Name? Plenty! Our children's names we picked carefully as we have our house name. Hannah means full of God's grace while
Nathan means gift from God. And we the parents, were given meaningful names at our birth -- David means beloved of God and Kimberley means stream flowing from the royal fortress meadow.
Beyond all of the above we are commited to being a family that encourages one another to grow and reach our full potential. In fact The Converse Company Family Statement is develop potential spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, in all ways that we can for each other. As Christians, we place special value on emphasizing the spirtual .
The 21st Century Crops
onTheFarm we have traditional crops, as well as 21st century "crops". We have crops such as herbs, tomatoes, flowers, a few apple trees, a blueberry patch, and a section of raspberry canes. But we would starve if we had to live off of the land. Let's just say we don't have much of a green thumb. Instead our cash crops are information services rather than
corn and tomatoes.
Here are two of my crops that I am currently harvesting...
..........
Click here to...
All photographs and text copyright 1996-2000 Kimberley Converse. No portion of this transmission may be reproduced in any form by anyone unless getting written permission from Kimberley Converse.
Sponsored by
