-18 degrees outside with wind chill. Since we cannot fly to the tropics we are keeping busy on this wintery day! Jack Frost’s creativity and beautiful artwork in the windows inspired some of my own.
While we are inside trying to stay warm it seemed a very good time to put on some music, turn on the propane heater to help the stove along, and work on Christmas presents and art.
Last month I had an idea. I am both fascinated and sad looking at old, dilapidated homesteads, long ago abandoned by the road side. The idea was to take photos of these homesteads then transpose a scene of what it may have looked like in its hay day via paint and a bit of imagination. So one day I had my camera and asked Doug to stop at one of them. I am not much of a law breaker (outside of selling raw milk by share) and I was nervous about trespassing. I kept asking Doug, “Is someone here?” There were no windows or doors on the property so of course the answer was no, save for the coyote pup that dodged under the foundation and a few pheasants that disappeared from our camera lens. I wish I had relaxed and taken better photos but what I came up with sparked my imagination.
This is the old barn on the place. I placed a piece of glass over it and drew this scene…
The photo is underneath to show what it looks like now and the paint shows what it might have looked like then.
Doug put on the Perry Como Christmas album, the heat is starting to penetrate our chilled skin, outside the world is a magical wonderland, inside is a holiday workshop.
What do you like to do on cold days inside?
Farmgirl School 
Katie, I love your blog. Keep it up, farm girl!! 🙂
I saw that picture of the old barn, and thought to myself, “Katie and Dougie need to have a family portrait taken by that barn.” Good time for Emily to get out her camera!!
And trespass again?! That place would make for some great photos.
Oh my goodness, you do have it cold! Stay warm, we are thinking about you in our unseasonably warm late autumn!
Thank you for the compliment and we are certain that this arctic front must pass soon! The sun is shining this morning!
… And I love the homestead painting!
I agree. I love the painting (glass) over photograph. I share the feelings (seeing old homestead, even in the East, between here and shore of the Chesapeake Bay).
I wish I could buy a few up and restore them! Would love to see pictures of them if you have any.
I love your idea! What a wonderful (and creative) way to honor those old abandoned places. We have lots of them around here (including some on our own farm). A pity you aren’t a neighbor as I’d love to see how you imagine them in their glory. 🙂
On days when it’s too cold to do much outside I try to write. Hoping to finish a project this winter on ethical eating. But as you know there always seems to be something outside that needs doing, no matter the weather.
And of course, after all the summer’s constant activity, it is nice to sit and write! I look forward to reading your new work. Feel free to email me photos of your old homesteads, I would love to see them.
To try and keep you home warmer get bubble wrap from Wallmart or a moving company and put it on all outside walls and windows. Then put blankets up on the walls. Also you can use clay pots to warm rooms with candles.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzKbFzUEWkA Hope this helps..Jan
Thank you, good ideas! Not workable in this house though. Small home with almost all outside walls and a million windows and thumb tacks don’t go through these walls to hang the blankets. But, it is a good idea nonetheless. I think a good wood stove in the main part of the house will work next year.
blanket statement – wood burning. Interesting, we have a fireplace (circa 1970) and generate enough on this suburban (rather small) lot to provide all our needs for the fireplace (metal insert).
Ours certainly did not do well in subzero temperatures. We will certainly be looking into an additional stove! Everyone else around us is cooked out of their house with theirs. Not sure what the deal is with ours.