How many chickens????

Today we drove up to VT for our house inspection. Gorgeous day- funny as I don't think we've ever driven into Vermont in the DAY time. We usually get there in the dark. We arrived early, but dropped in to see our friends who live in Brooklyn (who we usually stay with).

As we got up there early (yes, I drove up- the furtherest I've ever driven), we had a walk around the yard trying to work out where our land went to. This is the back of the barn. That door up there opens, but goes to nowhere (obviously)- at some point we'd love to build a deck at the back there.

The front door needs some work- we want to put a "mud room" out the front and make it echo the lovely architectural details of the house.
While we were waiting for the brokers to arrive with the key, we walked across the road and down to the river- we haven't quite worked out where the public access is yet, but there was no one around where we cut through.

There is a tree out the front which Ella is up like a squirrel!
Ok, inside. The last time the owners were there it was Christmas, hence there are loads of decorations everywhere which I just wanted to take down. Look at the gorgeous newel post!
The very front room- the "morning room" in my mind; with a sofa bed for guests. And yes, we get to keep the "bird houses".
We thought this was an electric fireplace, but turns out it is purely decorative! But the books- the complete works of Mark Twain from 1917, plus some Robert Louis Stevenson from 1901. Oh, and don't forget the pineapples!
Here's the back barn room- with the antler chandelier. And the wooden toboggan.
To tie up your horse???? We also discovered in this room a full buffalo hide (from now on known as a Gruffalo hide, because I hate the thought that we have a hide of a once endangered species).
Oh, and a bear foot stool- who doesn't need one of those?
Gotta "love" the sign...
Sleigh table. Who doesn't need a sleigh table?
I actually love these chairs- the table is a full games table- chess and backgammon pieces.
It's in the bar room...
This is the paint effect floor in the lounge. This is a GORGEOUS old house with lovely floors and SOMEONE thought that they needed to do this paint effect on the floor!!!
Ok, this is when you have to start counting the chickens.....




Yes, I know that's a goose- look at the plate...







Oh, and we mustn't forget the 4 foot Santa menu board....
Or the free standing salad bowl....
But amongst the tat, there are some lovely details.... This lamp here.
And another upstairs.
And the lovely etched glass in the 8 foot front door.
But there really is PLENTY of tat!

And chickens....

And paint effects...really, CRACKLE glaze????
And then there is the excess of TOILE....

And the amazing things like this dress makers form and the lovely "Elliot sisters" hat which is there purely because there is a hat stand.
This armoir is fortunately NOT staying....

This is the "purple room" which Ella has claimed as hers. The dormer window has had a lot of water damage and needs to be repaired , but it is such a lovely room.

And one of my favourite little corners of the house- in the upstairs hallway.

We had a real rummage around- there will be SO much stuff left behind. ALL the furniture. Apparently the owners wanted to set it up as a show house to sell furniture which is why there are so many lovely pieces in the house. And APPARENTLY the house is actually 1850s. The house inspection guy actually didn't have much to tell us that was negative. Mostly the house is in great shape. Now I can't wait to get into it at the end of September to really go through things and to sleep in the lovely beds- will post more of the original photos this week.

I hope I'm not boring people with house blogging, but after nearly 20 years of being married, it's pretty exciting to be buying our first place! And it was so nice today. We had other friends pop in to see how we were going- a more social weekend than if we'd stayed at home. I'm looking forward to having our community of friends up there.