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We’ve been doing loads of yardwork at the farm to try and get ready for winter, and to make sure that next years yardwork is much, much, more manageable.
Mostly we’ve been trying to learn how to cut our lawn properly. You laugh, but it’s about 3 acres and takes me 5 hours to mow on the riding lawnmower. Apparently grass is very sensitive and there’s a right and wrong way to do it – who knew! On the plus side, it’s been so dry and hot…and we don’t have a sprinkler in place, so I only have to mow once every 2 weeks!
We’ve also been trimming up a lot of trees. They had been left unkempt for about 8 years from the previous owners, and were starting to looking really messy. It’s amazing how a nice trim job tidies up a yard quickly! (Don’t mind the dead grass!)
Before:
After:
We’ve also been pulling out all the old non-functioning fencing that’s around the orchard. The farm used to be a sheep farm, but without any animals for years, and without anyone really taking care of the property, it’s really become a mess! So as part of reclaiming the land, we needed to pull out all the metal wires and fences that were tangled in weeds, and made lawnmowing this area impossible.
Pulling it out:
Success:
The work at the farm is quite hard, but I can’t tell you how amazing it feels to be physically tired from a days work outdoors. It feels so good to breathe in fresh air, work hard, and see the fruits of your labour almost immediately. Unlike my day job running a marketing company, where it can be months before we see results of our work, doing a few hours of yard work shows immediate results.
It’s got to be good for the soul!
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Recently our new furniture arrived a the farm!
We had a bit of a debaucle at first. We bought furniture from Pottery Barn last March, and they delivered the wrong furniture to us! Through a long and confusing (surprising for the Pottery Barn, I know!) process we had to re-order new furniture and they finally brought it to us. (Yes, that means they took many, many, months to correct the mistake.)
We were so happy to see the big truck pull up, the old furniture get carted away, and the new furniture put in it’s place.
Old sofa:
New sofa:
We think the new pieces work much better; the old sofa was huge, but only had 2 big pillows, so it looked like a loveseat, and even thought it was big, with only 2 cushions we noticed that only 2 people would sit on it at the same time.
With the new furniture it not only looks much better (tighter fabric, a slightly more refined style) but it makes our living room look so much better with the 3 pillow sofa.
So interesting how furniture changes a room!
(ohhhh, the things we’re learning from owning a house).
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As we’ve mentioned in the past, we’ve been building a great little marketing company over the past two years.
Business has been going great, and we’ve gotten some great clients, cool projects, and an unbelievable lifestyle.
It wasn’t until this summer that I made a fantastic realization – the business works in cycles similar to that of a school teacher; busy in the fall, busy in the Spring, and pretty quiet in the summer and over Christmas! What a fantastic lifestyle!
So instead of trying to fight it, I just went with it…this summer I worked an average of 6-8 hours a day, but rarely ever on weekends, and on days where there wasn’t much to do…well, I focused on other things, like going for long walks before lunch, meeting friends, reading, and doing lots and lots of yardwork.
If you’re considering going into business for yourself NOTHING beats the freedom. Yes, it can be stressful at times, and yes, you’ll probably have some pretty tight budgets over the first few years, but in the end if you learn how to work it WILL pay off big! The freedom you’ll have from not reporting to a boss, and having ultimate decision making power, the free time you’ll have if you learn to go with the phases of your business, and the joy of running your own business…and knowing you made it.
NOTHING BEATS IT!
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Nothing beats farm fresh produce. The rich flavours, divine aromas of fresh produce, and the pleasing process of farm to table.
This summer we’ve been making a big effort to support the local farmers. We stop by the farm stand a few times a week, and peruse their offerings before picking up a few of our favourites.
This summer the peaches have been insanely good! So incredibly juicy and rich and perfect! The onions are also a hit, and we’re getting pumped for the pears which should be available any day now.
If you get a chance, buy farm fresh produce. In Ontatrio, if each household spent $10 of their grocery bill on Ontario farm fresh produce each week, it would add up to a 2.4 billion dollar annual influx into our provincial economy. Good for you, good for farmers…..good for everyone!
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Recently we’ve been on a bit of a landscaping spree at the farm. We wake up at 530am or so, have a quick coffee and breakfast and then head out to do yard work before the smoking hot sun gets too hot to handle.
One of the best parts about waking up so early is to welcome the day properly. Seeing the sky transform from a dark hue, to a misty white, to bright pinks, oranges, and reds.
It’s one of the hidden joys of waking up so early – and definitely worth it!
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Ok, we’ve been pretty absent from the blog recently…and not that it’s much of an excuse, but we’ve been busting our chops on our business, and getting the farm in order, while also trying to manage keeping up with life in the city. As you can imagine, that leaves little time for blogging…but that’s beginning to sound kind of like an excuse isn’t it.
So, to make it up, I’ll be updating over the next little while on what we’ve been up to – everything from a trip to Vegas, to major farm work, to running a business!
It’s been loads of fun, but of course, as with all things in life, trying to keep some balance in it all can be tricky. So, to try and get back to a more balanced life, we’re making Cashmere Clutch more of a priority.
Stay tuned for cool updates on what we’ve been up to!
xo
Ingrid
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This summer has flewn by!
When we’re not up at the farm, we’re normally travelling, or visiting friends at nearby cottages.
One of my friends has a cottage in the Thousand Islands that is just to die for! And when I say cottage, I really mean private island. You can see the sunrise, sunset, and everything in between. It’s surrounded by water, and there’s always people stopping by on boats to say hi.
The view:
On the boat:
Our fabulous host taking us back to the dock:
It’s the perfect cottage getaway!
P.S. Going to the cottage in Ontario is like a birthright. What’s the “done” thing in your area? Trips to Europe, camping in the backyard, or endless late summer barbecues?
