I Want To Live Here!

Please excuse me, I just fell in LOVE!!!!

Following from my last post about North Carolina, I went real estate huntin'! However, I was drawn to Virginia yet again! And then stumbled across this absolute gem, which is in Charlottesville, and instantly fell in love with it!

There are a few things that I must, must have in my dream home, and don't worry, I don't expect the house to come with all of them! But the house that does catch my heart, will eventually have all of those dreams encapsulated within it too! (as well as a few dreams!!) And this house, has a lot of them already!

I mean, just look at that garden in the photos above!!! It's just screaming 'English Rose Garden'!! And that porch too! Omg... heaven on a rocking chair or porch swing just waiting to happen!!

Now of course, with anything, it needs your own touch to make it yours, which I would enjoy anyways! For example, I'd change up the kitchen... although it's got a cute country kitchen vibe, I crave open shelves and a farmhouse sink. And I think the appliances need a change (I wonder if the space is big enough for my dream aga?!). Anyone who knows me, would know the walls would be duck egg blue within a week of living there! And I'd have a stunning solid wood countertop, clean white back splash tiles.... mm!! I think perhaps next I should do an inspiration post for my dream kitchen!!

This house is a 1,796 sq. ft., three bed, 2.5 bath, single family home built in 1925. The character of this house really caught my eye, and spurred on my love for it, I just don't think it's something you can get in newer houses and true character isn't something you just purchase from a store. Every home needs to start with the right foundations...

I just love the wood beams of the house showing in the living room and stairs, and I adore the exposed joint in the photo below... oozing coziness and warmth! (I would change the fireplace mantle to a big white one, with tile inside... maybe....vintage tile? hmm...) I wouldn't want to mix my woods, and loving the beams as I do, they would have priority! 

Another one of my 'must haves' is a roll top bath!! And guess what! In the photo below there is one! I have a sneaking suspicion that the plumbing fixtures would need an overhaul, and I'm curious of the actual size of this bathroom too!!

I love love love the sunroom below, with it's window seat.. a perfect little office/painting/reading spot!! Or just somewhere I could sit with a cuppa tea after a long day! If it rains, I'd watch those drops gather and roll down the window panes...

And with big bright bedrooms, including that attic room, I don't think I could say no to this house if I tried!!

The full listing with all details is here!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

This morning I read an article on how the FDA is proposing to remove the term 'irradiated' - in other words, foods exposed to radiation - from it's labeling of food products. They are also proposing a new language, or buzz word for it, other than 'irradiated' or 'pasteurized' - Link.

Sadly, since September 2007, they have started 'pasteurizing' yummy raw almonds. Pasteurizing is a process which not only kills mircoorganisms, but also kills enzymes and other living qualities - all of which our bodies need for healthy nutrition. And so be warned - if it says 'raw' on your almonds - that doesn't actually mean it's raw... For more information, please see this natural news link. 

In reading this, I again felt a strong desire to grow my own food, have my own little vegetable patch and have berries growing freely for freshly made jams too! So I went in search of some images of my dream patch, and thought I would share them here. All fresh and healthy! No pasteurization here!

Time out....

I know I promised another update of the ICFF show, but to be honest I'm feeling a little sentimental, so I thought I'd just share with you two wonderful pictures I found.... A dream I have, my own little English rose garden... one day I'll be sitting on a white porch, watching them bloom..... 

....Until then, these pictures do nicely....