Friday, August 10, 2012

Welcome to Sparrow Hill

Here I begin the chronicle of our homestead, which we have just built from the ground up. With our two boys onside and the help of our spectacular natural setting, we endeavour to create a retreat like no other.
As my husband focuses on his work as a contractor, I will take on the development of a bed and breakfast. I am also the at-home parent for our boys and responsible for keeping them smiling - fed, exercised and ready to learn. We also have a large, hilarious, loving extended family (both blood-relatives and adopted), which makes our new space an additional blessing as we have room to accommodate many of them at once. Next Christmas will be a veritable gong show!
Five years ago I had our first son, Griffin. Two years later, Noah arrived. A lot had to go on the back burner for me, creatively speaking. This fall they will both attend school programs and suddenly, I will have bits of time to myself. I will get things done.
Sparrow Hill is in a lush woodland overlooking a lake. There will be a treehouse for the kids. Birdhouses and binoculars. Whimsical signs everywhere. Meandering paths, hiking trails, stargazing hammocks and firepits and sparkling lights strung from the trees. Gardens with things to eat, smell and feast your eyes upon. Guest suites where you can exhale; where it's all been wonderfully left behind. Quiet places to read, nap, paint, write or think. Local foods and those grown onsite - for breakfast, of course! Access to the best wine tastings, mushroom foraging expeditions, art studio tours, cuisine, regional sights and entertainment. To your left is a great horned owl, out for an early evening waddle on our yet-unhardscaped driveway. The wildlife here is awe-inspiring.
Home decor, painting, sewing, crafting, cooking, preserving, bird-watching and writing are all on my list. I am so looking forward to sharing my projects and our lovely place with you. Thanks for reading. If you like what you see, you will have to come and stay with us one day at our bed and breakfast. We hope to be open by summer 2013. Be happy, be kind and remember to pay it forward.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Sam, this is just fantastic! I love the look of your blog and your writing is wonderful. I've missed it! Be sure to send a link to our writing teacher Sue! I am bookmarking you now and adding you to all the other blogs I read. How does that feel? You're a blogger!

My husband Tim wants to know if you've tested the net below your pool with a large item, like an adult body. He thinks that would be fun. Shh, don't tell the boys that but I'm sure when they are old enough, they might test it out themselves.

All the best with you blog!

Samantha Agar said...

Thank you so much! I think that's you, Lori? If I ever figure out how to add links I will certainly put Sue in here. I am a serious techno-idiot, though so it may take some time...As for the pool-catch, I think it was tested before we moved in, and no, I will not be suggesting that the boys check it out. I'm sure they will do that on their own at some point :s

Christine said...

Hey Sammy, hope you like being called 'Sammy' in your blog. The blog is great, by the way. You know I admire and enjoy your writing! Not to mention being 100% behind you with Sparrow Hill.
When you mention the boys having a tree house, I immediately thought wouldn't it be fun for them to have a safety net beneath it, that if they wanted to they could jump into when it's time to come down? Maybe even two nets, at different levels. I bet Tim would get behind that idea.
Both for fun and for safety! And their friends would love it too.
I'll keep checking here to see what's new ;-D