COBBLESTONE FARM
small town charm & life on an old farm
I grew up on small farm in Southwestern Ontario and have always loved small towns, quaint shops and fresh local produce. I think it was just a natural progression to move to Paris from Cambridge. It is an idealistic, simpler, less hectic life, or so I thought, and so began the quest for a meaningful life and my family's rural journey of self-discovery.
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A HOME
the cobblestone farm
Good fortune shone upon us when we found a lovely historical property that ticked all the boxes for us on the outskirts of town. It needed some TLC, but we knew we were up to the challenge and that we could make it our own. Definitely a labour of love, as we sculpted and reminisced about the house and what life must have been like in the 1860s when it was built. With each patch and repair, we hoped it would reveal the stories of previous owners; those ghosts of the past. With a sense of history in mind, every update we made respected the original design and set things back to how they once had been, plus a few modern conveniences.
FIRST YEARS
getting settled
Our first years here were busy, reviewing and selecting an elementary school, repairing and renovating or old home and venturing into the unknown space of entrepreneurship. The yard was a big job too, it seemed to take forever just to cut the grass. But cutting the grass, was a great way to unwind and just think. A time to contemplate life, a time to just enjoy the splendor of the countryside. The mindless act of mowing the lawn offered time to reflect and appreciate.
THE BUS
school years
At first the school bus was nostalgic, it reawakened memories in me about my own experiences riding the school bus. And, I remembered my mom, how she always had a smile for me as she waved while I rode away.
When my son started riding the bus the tradition began again. I loved those moments when we walked together to and from the bus each day, chatting about his school day and hearing all the news. But by grade 7 and 8, gradually the walk to or from the bus became his solitary event; he was growing up. Then I took my place, like my mom, watching at the window, smiling and waving.
THE SNOW
snow days
Of course, all through the school years, the best and most wonderful days were always Snow Days!
I may have loved them even more dearly than he did! And of course,the Snow Day Predictor App was a very important tool all through high school!
A TOWN
rural neighbours
We had no regrets with our move to Paris; work, home and small town life is blissful, and the Paris locals are a friendly and kind community of caring citizens that are always willing to lend a hand and help a neighbour.
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City frustrations like the hurried pace of modern life with angry drivers lashing out are not much of a concern here. The anger does not bubble-up here the same way it did in the city. But of course, when we venture beyond our small hamlet, away from our Zen, we rejoin that hectic chaos of the world and become swallowed up by the mass hysteria of automotive anonymity racing frantically from place to place.
HARD WORK
tending the orchard
A hobby farm offers peaceful respite from a busy modern life.
It confers room to relax, to experiment, to be creative, to refresh the senses, stretch the eyes and explore.
It bestows room to breath, to reflect, to contemplate and embrace nature.
It nourishes our being with its cosmic soul.
THE PACE
winter calm
Here we notice the changing seasons. A fresh start begins each January, as snow covered trees with glistening ice signal it's time to once again plan for the coming spring. When we go outdoors in February, the endless winter drags on but we relish the occasional bright breaks of sunshine and sounds of waves of returning robins as they make their way back to the summer nesting territory. In March, we nestle under our blankets as we hear the late night yippes of wild coyotes' echoing in the distance. In April, the coming showers dampen the countryside but awaken the earth. In May the perennials reawaken and green up, and in June the garden starts to delivery fresh asparagus and rhubarb again. In July the wandering deer and doe appear and take sanctuary in the rhubarb. We relish the summer sounds of nature like the chorus of buzzing insects and fluttering of friendly Monarchs. And then comes the fall, and with it the wild turkeys forage and gorge themselves on the scattered seeds of summer's bounty. As October draws to an end the night air cools and wafts through our home as we slumber. The changing seasons transition and as summer turns to fall and fall colours fade to winter, the fireplace keeps us warm and then we begin to dream about the coming spring.
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It's a suave for the soul, we relish the crisp of winter, the quiet of the moment, the shimmering white as we slumber fireside through silence.
