Thursday, May 14, 2009

My Neck of the Woods: Outstanding in the Field


Bonjour from Campagne Maison


This old home appears as if it just fell from the heavens smack down in the middle of this pasture. It is a typical four square home but there appears to be an upper loft/living area. It actually looks like the roof was raised and square footage was added at the top of the house. As you can see in the picture, there is a banding of different size boards all around the top. The house is definitely out of proportion, which makes it look even stranger just sitting out in the middle of nowhere.

It has a tin roof and there is no porch or stoop present. Most of the windows are still intact and curtains can still be seen hanging on some of them. There is also some furniture in the home-- kinda like it has been frozen in time, untouched since the previous owners left. Alone, as time passes it by.

In comparison to last Friday’s post, the owner of this home wasn’t as wealthy or either he was just more frugal. Whatever the case, both have a history. These homes provided shelter for the lives of precious people during a time when family, relationships, and making an honest living was all that was important.

The only thing I hate about not knowing the history of this area is that I find all this great stuff to write about but am left with only my imagination to tell its story:

I can imagine myself as the lady of this home, up early every morning making breakfast for my husband before he leaves to labor all day in the fields. I can smell the aroma of the freshly brewed coffee and the ham frying in the skillet on top of the old cast iron wood cook stove. Fresh eggs recently retrieved from the henhouse that sits just outside the back door, are sitting on the table ready to prepare. The homemade biscuits are baking in the oven. My husband is sitting at the table drinking his coffee as I am preparing our meal. The children are still asleep, so this is a bonding time for the two of us. A time for discussing important family issues, a ritual that starts our day every morning. This was a time of very little, but that little was more than enough.

Please leave a comment if you stopped by the farmhouse today. We love having company.

Au revoir,

.

7 comments:

Vera said...

I enjoyed stopping by the farmhouse, but I sure would have liked to took a tour of the house, maby next time.

Jacque said...

Vera, you and I are two peas in a pod! Do you ever just imagine how things "could be" or "should be"? Sometimes I think I should have been born in the early 1900's. I know times were bad back then but life's values were so much better. Have you heard the expression "the rear view mirror is always cleaner than the windshield"?. It is sad that we have to look back in time to see our mistakes but then it is too late to do anything about them! I guess wisdom comes with a price. Anyhoooooo...that house was a dandy! I so wish I could go in these old beauties--THEN my imagination could really tell some stories. Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse. WE LOVE COMPANY!

Anonymous said...

I look forward to reading your blog every day.

Jacque said...

Thanks! I am working hard and staying busy so I won't run out of stories to share. Thank goodness I have a lot of good memories,an overactive imagination and a blog that helps me release the stressors in life. I hope you will continue to read and comment. Campagne Maison love's having company!

Anonymous said...

It's amazing and wonderful how those old buildings can still stand after all the years. It's like, there is history here.

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

Hi Jacque,
Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such nice comments. I have not been doing it long so I find it hard to just blog about anything...don't want to bore everybody..lol. I loved yours and will add it to my list to read! Your farmhouse is so cute!
~Patti

Decorating Your World said...

Jacque, how clever you are.I love the whole idea of the 3R's. Elbow Grease....I love it!! The park bench is so fab and what's the old saying, "aint no body happy if moma aint happy"}}}:You go girl!