The Nichols-Hardman House 1869---A Sampler in the Making!

 My creative mind never tires of ideas and places to go and homesteading in the mountains!  Alot of times, I don't have to go very far to find the absolutely stunning gems in the North Ga. mountains, valleys and hills.

I would like to share with you some pictures Mr. Darcy took this afternoon of the old Hardman House right here in Sautee-Nacoochee, Ga, very close to where we live in this beautiful mountain country we call home.  He drove by and stopped to take several pics of the gorgeous, absolutely stunning restoration of a home from the 1800's here. The house touring will start and open this week. He said he had to take the pics from the road. A couple of folks were there still working on the inside of it today.

 People from all over visit Helen, Georgia, the little town next to it all year long. 

The house was originally built in 1869-1873 by Captain James H. Nichols. Nichols actually served as a Colonel in the Confederate army, but was called, "Captain" by those who knew him well. The farm was sold in 1893 to Calvin Hunnicutt of Atlanta. He sold the farm to Dr. Lamartine G. Hardman in 1903. Hardman later served as Governor of Georgia 1927 - 1931.

Captain Nichols named Anna Ruby Falls after his daughter, Anna Ruby, which is a beautiful waterfall just a couple miles away. I think I have posted pics in the past of Anna Ruby Falls. 

The house has been in the process of restoration for several years so I'm excited when I drive by to see all the restorations in progress and almost to completion now.

The estate will be reopening this Thursday for tours. A lot of the furniture of Dr. Hardman still remains in the house.

This is the main house. Yup. Isn't it beyond beautiful? Would this not make a gorgeous sampler???????

 It was modeled architecturally in an Italianate style after Nichols' aunt's house in Milledgeville and he called it West End.  "An unusual feature of the porch is clustered columns. A scroll-saw railing encloses the porch. The arched entrance has double doors with sidelights carrying over in the form of a transom arched at the bottom and top".~~~ from Digital Library of Georgia.

This is a fountain to the right of the house.

This is a second house on the property.  Not sure right now, but we think it was a guest house or the home of the care taker of the property years ago.

Side view of the Hardman house

One of 15 farm buildings on the property

The left front side to the Summer kitchen

Three of the fifteen other buildings on the property

We can't wait to see what is inside this fenced in area.

All these pics are taken from the highway or outside of the property until it opens this week.

This is a close up pic of the Summer kitchen.

http://www.snca.org/bp/history/bldgHardman.php for more information on the grounds.

These pics intrigue me for a future sampler design. I can feel the birth of a new design to work on right now! So, somewhere down the road..........in the future, know that I will be recreating my take on this beautiful house.

#inspirationisrightatyourfingertips

I hope you have enjoyed these pics that Mr Darcy made this afternoon and when this site opens, for an inside tour, if they allow pictures, I will for sure be taking some detailed pics for the blog. I never thought of myself as loving history in school so much but as I get older, I really enjoy seeing something old, restored and valued just as before. 

A sampler of the entire property front, or including the Indian mound across the road.....just ideas now....... I do know that the first picture with the detail of the house would make a gorgeous linen sampler. The red roof, the white house and the shutters.

Of course, when the leaves change their beautiful colors in just a couple of weeks, my heart will be happy soaking in the views here. 

There's always, always, always, things to do at the homestead here and with working full time as a practitioner, I've been quite the busy one. However, I'm still clicking my needles at night and weekends, along with reading some good books and taking one room at the time right now week by week, cleaning out and redesigning our home for the two of us. I'm still on track with my 2014 goal to simplify.

I love to stay busy in my life, especially when I'm so blessed with a loving husband, a continuing career in women's health as an NP, and the love of needlework, homesteading, designing, music, and reading. 

~~~~~~~ And all of this started with a dream in my heart at age 10 in Ridgecrest, North Carolina with my church youth group. I said a little prayer to God that He would let me live in the mountains
when I grow up..........because literally each Spring when we traveled there and then again to Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the Fall with the church group, my heart fell in love especially during the Fall. 

Being raised in South Ga at the time and really not thinking that life would slow down enough for me to have that dream come true, I pushed it away until one day. One day, I made the move. God didn't share with me all the things I would have to go through to get my dream of a loving, kind husband, and a home in the mountains, and working in nursing but I can say it was all worth it in the long run. I know He watches me.

 If you are reading this and you have had dreams and prayers, please know even though it seems the impossible, with God all things are possible. It's the timing that makes the difference. He showed me through circumstances, some very surreal, what His promises hold in His timing, not mine. It's so good to know He loves us all unconditionally without rejection and judgement. After all, we are sons and daughters of a King.

I always appreciate all your comments, both private and public. They really do mean so much to me and have through the years. Have a Blessed Monday!

Best and Blessings,

Jennifer

Mary Todd Lincoln in Progress

I got up bright and early this morning, started the wood stove and made some coffee. Read alot and decided to finish up a design, Mary Todd Lincoln, to match with the sillouhette of Abe that I posted earlier.

  I tried to adjust Abe's sillouette a bit by adding his first initial in the left upper corner but my computer will not let me transfer this new one right now. I have no idea why but if you want to add an A to his that would be good to have them facing each other in 2 black or dark brown wood frames.

 

These should be quickies. Since I'm flying by the seat of my pants this week, I have many projects to work on, XXXXXX my fingers to finish Abe and onto Mary.

 

I really wanted oval black frames. I'm going thrifting today so I might find some.

 

 

If you remember the posting about Mary Lincoln, the book I recommended is quite old. You might be able to find it at the library, It's called  Mary Lincoln: Biography of a Marriage by Ruther Painter Randall. If you are interested in history or the Lincolns, this book is supposed to fill you in on untold stories and the REAL Mary and Abe as found in safety box letters.

The book was published in 1953 and is really good.

 

here is his:

 

 

 

 

Happy stitchin'

Jennifer

Time Off---Priceless

Yep, so we decided on a very hot, humid, North Georgia day to go on a day trip.

For the first time myself, even living up in the moutains for a decade, finally made the trip inside the Gold Museum/ old courthouse in Dahlonega.  Very interesting tour and movie inside.

Didn't leave with any gold, but definitely know a little more about local history of it.

Wondering during the 1800's where those samplers and needlework treasures were in homes in the local area and how life was so much more simple~~~~~~~~ gentlemen were gentlemen, and ladies, were ladies.

Sometimes, I guess we all live in a place so long and forget to take in some fun things right in front of our eyes!

But, again, it's always better when taking adventures with a best friend!

Even the fudge shop was more fun.

  sharing good times.

And at the end of the day...............it's all good.

It's all good, the way it should be when you know you are doing the best you can with what is given. Those that don't understand haven't walked in your shoes. Just keep walkin'

God is still working in my life and showing me alot of life lessons.

He didn't promise us it would all be an easy road. However, trusting Him in His own time, to shape our lives with honest, patient, and loving friends is well worth the struggles we all go through.

~~~Honesty is still respected as the right thing to do.

~~~Every day is a gift. Even with aching joints in the morning when I wake up, I thank God I'm safe and have another day, a gift.

~~The basic fiber we have in ourselves is respect, friendship, love, and our faith.

~~Treasuring the times we have together is important with positive people, for life is way too short to surround ourselves with the negative people who just don't choose to be loving and honest.

~~Unconditional love, respect and honesty are priceless.

~~Remember not to question the One above that blesses us even in small things for it's in His time, not ours, and that prayers are answered when it's all said and done at the end of the day.

Hope your Summer is spent with positive, loving folks.

Makes a world of difference!  ;)

 

Enjoy!

Till later,

Jennifer

Cool summers, back porches, frogs, and nesting = HOME

If ya'll know me.......you know how I LOVE to feather the nest!  I've had some things for a while to show you and when I walked out on the back porch (our summer room of relaxation) I took a few pics. The temp right now at noon is 62 degrees here in the North Georgia Mountains and I'm off today. YEAH!

I had a couple of things to help my creative spirit last week. My best thrift find was this:

Yes, it's WAY too comfy and covenient for my laptop which fits perfectly on it and also a table top for sipping tea or stitching smaller pieces. I enjoyed it this morning and took it out since the weather was absolutely gorgeous to enjoy. I feel so blessed.

I got this bright red metal flower to add some cheer to my corner of the porch.

The stand was also a thrift find.

This old quilt block was thrown in a pile of "junk" at the store and I grabbed it up for pennies to make a cover for a pillow for this chair. I still have to finish it. Just wanted you to see it. It's all handsewn by some sweet soul years ago. I love the cheery, bright, but slightly faded colors in it.

The old crocheted blanket at the end I've had for about 10 years. Paid 5.00 at a thrift store in Augusta, Ga at the time. It's been well-used, one of Ren's previous favorite blankets. I miss him so!

This is one of two windchimes we have on the porch which plays calm tones with the gentle breezes. Got this last year at The Cracker Barrel in Pigeon Forge. Recognize the chair design?

Below this is an old wood glider chair, again, at a thrift store for less that Walmart plastic chairs. The spindles were firm, absolutely nothing wrong with this chair and fits perfect in the corner. Usually when we are out on the porch, BodyGuard sits here to smoke his pipe and ponder what makes folks tick....LOL

The seat is solid and it glides smooth but I put a cushion in it for comfort.

The wood handles are a bit worn. If they could only talk....I bet there are some stories behind the former owners of this rocker.

And my friend, Thomas, also known as Allergen, is peeking in while I roam on the porch.

I love this cat more than you'll EVER know!  He is a gift to us thanks to Brandon several years ago.

When I came inside, he resumes his favorite top of the settee on the side porch and he and Abbie have a love/hate relationship.....I mean, honestly, they do. It's quite funny.

Right now she is watching CNN but wait, till she sees Thomas.....

Thomas has never provoked her but I'm here to tell you Abigail Dalenberg dislikes cats like no other.

And I can't dare say I love you to Thomas as she gets very defensive and has been known to pout for hours after that.  LOL

This also at the thrift store in Cleveland, called The Mall. Needs dusting but I can only imagine stitching something up to put over the rod here. It's glass and has paper cuttings in it. Very pretty and great shabby chic.

I'm always on the lookout rummaging through the store for old frames and I saw this for 3 bucks. I will not remove the piece in this one though because it's too cute as it is. I had the perfect spot in our kitchen for it.

And I wanted to show you a scissor frog I got on Ebay last month.

A Williamsburg piece, SO much like the ones I saw in the museum......perfect for special scissors here.

on the bottom Colonial Williamsburg, Delft, restoration piece

Hope your afternoon is cool, colorful, and counted blessings!!!

A Journey for a Day at Dot's Farmhouse

A new day, a new Spring day and the daffodils along our driveway road looked shining and beautiful with the car lights as we drove to park the car late last night.

I had so much to share from our 24 hour trip that with my best friend's permission, Dot (previously blogged about her before), just wanted to share with you her precious, beautiful farmhouse that is like her second Heaven. It is the home where she grew up, a family home, now preserved.

Dot is definitely not her age. She has the charisma and energy of a 20 year old, the determination of a wise woman, and the best Godmother you would ever, ever want.
We met Dot after we moved here as she lives right down the road and her faith in God, and her life journey wisdom, has constantly been a source of strength for me and BodyGuard.
Dot likes to have fun, she is real, and loves to find humor in anything. She is one of the wisest women I've ever known.

We went by her farmhouse that she has in South Ga on the way back from our trip to Ft. Stewart, Ga.
Several years ago Dot remodeled and restored her family house. It was going to be abandoned but Dot, loved her mother and her family home so much that she restored it.
It was where she grew up and it has alot of character and memories. She tells stories of when she remembers going from the well to the house to draw water, when the yard was sand and not grass. She remembers the old smokehouse for meat hanging.

I thought I would share the pics, as I had her permssion, because I know there are alot of folks who, like me, love, love to see older homes restored and the country life.

She still lives here but has through the past years, traveled many times to her home in South Ga. for a peaceful haven, as she calls it. A house full of memories. A home.

This is the old barn.

This was her mother and father's bedroom, her favorite room of the house.

I love this room too. Love the old iron bed and her touch to restore the clapboard house.

Look how sweet she made the bathroom!  She said growing up this was the only bathroom for the whole family.

Here is Dot giving us the tour.

The second bedroom with repainted clapboard walls and her finishing touches.

There are twin beds in this room.

A closet in this room was remodeled to a half-bath. I love this idea!

Now she is showing us the beautiful dining room, the center of the house.

Here's the farmhouse kitchen which has 2 high windows to watch the cattle and see the beautiful landscape.

The kitchen is in the back of the house and then the dining room. You see opening on the left wall was enclosed but when she grew up, it was an opening to pass the food to the dining room.

The chair on the left was one of the original chairs her mother left her from the dining room table. Her brothers and sisters all got one of the chairs when she died. Dot kept hers here.

In the corner of the dining room is a fireplace which actually also opens to the living room on the other side. The mantel and fireplace are original to the house.

The whole house has sheer curtains in lace which makes the sunshine show the beautiful character of the home.

In the front room/living room here is a pic of the old house as she grew up.

Here is a pic of the house from the front door.

A little tilted but I had been up all night and all day so by this point I was a bit off balance! LOL

This is the fireplace on the reverse side of the dining room, facing the front room.

A picture of her mother and father, both deceased now.

I couldn't believe how much Dot looks like her mother!

The Bible her mother gave her in 1954.

Her name is Dorothy, but we all call her Dot.

She is truly a gift from God.

Her mother's chair, original, but recovered years ago.

On the front porch.

A cool breeze was blowing yesterday through the screened porch.

While sitting on the porch, in the background (hard to see here but not in real life) is a cemetary where her mother and father are buried.

Body Guard holding a pic of her father while plowing the fields.

A pic of the old vaporizer that her mom used to help them get over colds and illnesses.

Ok, here is my husband staring at a bull with a red shirt on!  Hey, babe, the bull is staring at you hard. They stared at each other for a while. I digress......LOL

Here he is at the old well and looking at the old barn.

While the bull was still staring at him.

But I got a closer pic of one of the sweet cows. Her brother lives close by and runs the cow farm.

This is the Smoke house where meat was hung and cured.

The old sausage grinder for the meat

In the Smokehouse the original screen door, old farm tools, pots.

A journey for a day.