Help Me Pick Paint Colors!

I've been planning on painting the farmhouse for a while now. When we first bought the house, the paint was in good shape, I just wasn't crazy about the colors (the green felt dated and the white-on-white main field and trim caused a lot of the Victorian detail to get lost). Now, the paint is really chipping off and the house looks a little, well, dumpy. The last time the house was painted was probably 20 years ago, so I'm hoping that with good preparation and quality paint, this paint job will last another 20.

 Here, you can see some of the details on the house... I'm also working on new landscaping, so stay tuned!

The front of the house... I'm hoping to put a front porch on the house in the next few years.

The roof is dark green, which kind of limits the colors we can use on the house. But that's okay, since I really wanted to include some green on the house, anyway. I've tested a bunch of colors on the house and I think I've finally narrow the choices down... but I need help! Here are the three color schemes I've decided on - would you be so kind as to help me choose one? Thanks!

So, here's how the palettes work: The upper left color is the main color on the house. The upper right color is the primary trim color (mostly on the window trims and shakes in the gables). The bottom left color is the secondary trim color, going on window details and other architectural trim. The bottom right color is the accent for the Victorian arches in the gables, the doors, window boxes, and some detail around the bay window. (Heads up: The colors read a bit darker on the screen than in real life).

Option One:

Option Two:

Option Three:

Whaddya think? The colors definitely read differently here than on the house, but I think you'll get the gist. As excited as I am to paint the house, I'm not looking forward to the grunt work. Thanks for your help with the colors, and if you have other ideas, please share!

Hosting Houseguests

WAAAY back in September I had the marvelous pleasure of hosting Liz (from Octavia and Brown) and Tara (of The Prippy Handbook) at Silly Goose Farm for a few days. I absolutely adore both ladies and I'm so lucky that I get to call them my friends. While both gals are the easiest house guests ever, I still wanted to make them feel welcome and especially special. Here are some helpful, sustainable tips for hosting overnighters at your home that prove useful for me!

1. Make sure your space is clean. This is probably a given, but eliminating the dust bunnies from under the bed shows you care about your guests' comfort. It also helps deter any allergic reactions that your guest might have (no one wants to be sneezy from dust and dander). To that point...

2. Use neutral cleaning products. Make a concerted effort to use natural, eco-friendly agents when tidying up your home and doing laundry. Some detergents and products rely on harsh chemicals and overwhelming scents to create the "clean" feeling. You can clean just about anything with a little borax, salt, vinegar, water and/or essential oils. The fabulous Kate Payne has some great suggestions on her website. I'll be posting my own all-nautral, homemade cleaning remedies soon!

3. Find ways to brighten up your space. Fresh flowers and soft candlelight are great ways to do this. If guests have a problem with the flowers, it's easy to remove them. Invest is long lasting, lightly-scented or non-scented candles that are soy- or natural/beeswax-based.

4. Don't let your guests get bored at night. Visit your local library and check out some magazines that suit your guests interests or highlight local places and spaces. Some libraries even have bins of magazines they are looking to unload, so grab some for yourself, as well. (bonus - it's free!) You could even check out some DVDs or music for your guests' enjoyment.

5. Anticipate your guests needs. I'm not saying suddenly become clarvoyant and read their minds. But think about what they might need while at your home. I like to keep a basket with toiletries (extra toothbrushes, lotion, asprin), a few snacks, and a bottle of water or two in the guest room (I also throw in other little things, like lint rollers, for "just in case" situations). What a relief it will be for your guests when they can turn to that basket for a forgotten necessity after a long day of travel! Another helpful trick - leave a basket of blankets, quilts or pillows available for your guests in case of a chilly night. These things make all the different, I promise you.

6. Keep local information handy. Have a few maps of your area in the above basket, or turn to Dr. Google to print off some maps and highlight local eateries and attractions. Go paperless and suggest that your friends download some smartphone apps like OpenTable, UrbanSpoon or Foodspotting to use while they explore your neck of the woods.

7. Think of the small touches. Isn't is always nice when you go to a new hotel or inn and you find mints on the pillow, or a chilled bottle of wine, or a simple note? Create that same experience for your guests. Leave a little card letting them know how happy you are for their visit. Present a simple gift (I sent Tara and Liz home with some jam. Try including a little box of chocolate or bar of soap from a local establishment to remind your guests of their time at your house). One night, I left some chocolate-chip cookies on the nightstand as a midnight snack. Think of something sweet and simple you could do to make your friends feel extra-welcomed.

9. Be sure to leave a light on. Or at least a nightlight. You don't want guests stumbling around in the middle of the night trying to find the bathroom, so put nightlights (or electric candles) out strategically to help night owls find their way.

Any other tips you can suggest? What to do you do to prepare for houseguests and weary travelers? Leave me your thoughts in the comments below, continue the conversation on Twitter, or shoot me a note on Facebook!

Images courtesy of Martha Stewart Living, Nicola Laird's Pinterest, Janey Pugh's Pinterest, and Mariah Hermsmeyer's Pinterest, 

Announcements and Updates

A little bit of housekeeping to take care of.

To begin, the last week in May marked my first "blog" anniversary! I had been blogging for clients and other sources for years, and last year I finally bit the bullet and created my own blog. Here are links to some of my favorite blog posts from the past year:

Welcome to Silly Goose Farm!

Blueberry Buckle

Barnside Movie

Rockport: Part One

My Dream Vehicle

I hope you will check them out! My parents came to our house for the Memorial Day Weekend, and because my father owns every single tool on the face of the planet, we did a lot of work around the farm. Besides getting my veggie garden in (finally - more on that later), we also chopped down a bunch of trees and brush and took the rest of an old barn down (it had collapsed from heavy winter snows). Here are some before/after shots:

Front of the House Before (don't be fooled - this photo was taken May 2008, and the shrubs in the front of the house had grown up to the second story windows):

Front of the House After

Backyard Before (the humongous Arborvitae in the right of the picture was overwhelming the Eastern Red Bud, as were two huge yews behind it):

Backyard After (It makes the yard look HUGE!):

Old Outbuilding Before (you can barely see it - all that snow made it collapse):

Old Outbuilding After  (We are planning on a big bonfire to burn the rest of this down, and it will be the future home of a lovely pergola):

So much work to do on the farm, but I'll update you on other projects later. Prior to all of this work, my dear friend Kelly stopped by the farm to chit-chat, take pictures and eat some yummy coffee cake. Kelly moved down to Brooklyn the following weekend, and I miss her so much (though I know the move was absolutely the right thing for her to do). Thankfully she's only a 2.5 hour train ride away! I hope you'll check out some of Kelly's amazing shots!

So, this summer is already shaping up to be a busy one. Between all the traveling we've done, and all the upcoming projects and parties we are planning, I have a feeling Summer 2011 is going to fly right by!

How to Live Sustainably: Go Vintage

One of the basic tenets of living sustainably is to follow the three Rs: Recycle, Reduce, Reuse. Sure, I buy new things when I need to, but the thrill of finding a great vintage or thrifted item is too good to pass up. Edith and I didn't make it out to the antiques festival this weekend (we all slept in a bit on Saturday morning, then decided to include "the boys" on a family breakfast down at the Duanesburg Diner), but I did make a quick stop at the local Goodwill. In search of some new entertaining pieces, I easily could have hopped online and ordered from Pottery Barn; instead, I used the opportunity to live sustainably and go vintage.

I really love the look of pressed- and hobnail glass, and had been eying these tumblers from Pottery Barn for a while:

Set of six Victorian Tumblers, $36

I lucked out and found a similarly-styled version at Goodwill:

Sure, they aren't exactly the same, but they feel heavier and of better quality than the PB option. I could only find four, but that amount will certainly suffice for a few mojitos or Pimm's Cups shared with friends on the sunporch this summer. And the best part? This set was only $8.

I also stumbled upon this set of pressed-glass serving bowls. Perfect for candy, nuts or relishes ($4):

My favorite find of the day might be these little candle holders. I can't wait to use them ($4):

In one trip to Goodwill I was able to practice the three Rs, and found three sets of new goodies for less than half of what I would have paid for the PB purchase.* Before you toss out old household items, think about donating or saving for a tag sale. If you are looking for a few new pieces to add to a collection, consider hitting up your local thrift shop. It's a fun way to encourage sustainable living!



*In my opinion, if you can't find a second-hand item that fits your needs or makes you happy, buy new. Don't feel guilty about it! If you are against thrifted items all together, consider purchasing new goods from companies that include social and environmental responsibility in their practices.

Who Wants To Live in the Country?!

Ever dreamed of living in your very own farmhouse? Fantasized about leaving the hustle and bustle of the city and escaping to a quieter country retreat? Well, you are in luck! Silly Goose Farm is available to rent from September 16-19, and also Columbus Day Weekend.

If you are a fan of this show, you'll definitely want to take advantage of the September opening. Harvest Festival in Sharon Springs is guaranteed to be a good time! Read more about it here and here. Silly Goose Farm is located about 25 minutes East of Sharon Springs, and the famous Beekman Mansion (home to Beekman 1802).

Fall is quickly approaching, and the first blush of apples is in sight. What better way to celebrate the season than to pick apples in your very own orchard?

Or take leisurely strolls along the pastures and woods of the property?

Enjoy a quiet meal at home, or indulge at local restaurants, including this one, this one, and this one.

Start your morning of exploration with a cup of coffee from the kitchen...

Or, just lounge about at home.

Either way, sleep deep and soundly at night.

If you are interested in renting Silly Goose Farm, please email us at sillygoosefarm@gmail.com.

Cute Quilts

My mother in-law, Christine, is widely known for her creativity and talent when it comes to quilt making. In fact, she teaches many classes and has helped her students develop a true eye and passion for this time-honored craft.

The last time Dave's family came to the farm for a visit, Christine presented us with these two beautiful quilts.

Sorry for the bad photos, I wasn't really sure how to capture these beauties!

They are smaller than bed quilts (the quilt below is about 3'x3', the one above is slightly smaller).

I think it would be really nice to build a shadowbox with a hinged, glass front that I can rotate and display these in. I would probably hang it in the entry, or above the fireplace once the kitchen remodel is completed.

This is the label on the back of the quilt to identify when and where this quilt was made.

We have two other queen-sized qulits that Christine has made. I'll have pictures of them when I reveal the new guest room. Thanks for your generosity Christine!

Random Pictures

Just a few random photos from life on the farm. This pasture is used for dry cow and cows that are pregnant. It's so fun to see little baby calves in the pasture right after they are born (I'll try to snap pictures next time one arrives)!

These cows are actually heifers, meaning they've never had a calf before. Once they do, they can be milked and officially called "cows."

Here's a picture of the North side of the house. The back half of the house will look much different once we complete the remodel (the roof will be raised, chimney moved, and dormers installed).

And finally, a picture of "farmer Dave" out mowing the back yard.