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Sometimes I surprise myself.
A long time ago….like, three or four years ago? And going back probably ten years before that…. I wanted white switches and outlets and plates. It was the in thing. Those yucky old cream-colored switches and outlets? Sooooo over. My poor ex-husband re-did every outlet and switch in our house in Texas. Then we moved to North Carolina and I made him re-do every cream-colored switch and outlet in that house to white. (Amazing that I divorced him rather than the other way around after that, LOL.)
Now? I built a new house and had cream-colored switches and plates put in! Why? Those white ones? Sooooo over. Man, I am fickle. But fashion is like that, isn’t it? What goes around, comes around. And the paint–neutral all the way. Used to, I had to have color, as in COLOR. Now, I want color (without caps)–but I want neutral color. Is it changes in style sense? Too much HGTV? Or just lessons learned in decorating over time if you tie yourself too strongly to a particular color scheme? I don’t know, but I love, love, love the paint I put in this house.

I love the finishes, too. We did everything in brushed nickel when we could, silver when we couldn’t find an item in brushed nickel. But if you’d asked me ten years ago? I wanted gold. Oh, how I wanted gold. Gold was the sign of upscale, modern, stylish. Silver was sooooo over. (I’m not sure I’d even heard of brushed nickel back then.)

But this view? It never goes out of style. I figure whatever else I get tired of later and want to change, I’ll never want to change this.

That one house we can see across the river? That is a new house that is built on the exact spot of my great-grandfather’s house. My great-grandfather owned about 800 acres directly across the river from our farm. In the summer when the trees are leafed out, we can’t see out that way because we are secluded by the trees from the river and the hills and my great-grandfather’s farm. That’s good. I like seclusion. But in the winter, we can see the hills and the river and my great-grandfather’s farm–and I like that, too.
And now, a totally gratuitous picture of Buttercup venturing outside the new farmhouse. Yes! The cats are settling in and starting to explore the farm.

And here they are, the girls. Okay, Dookie the farm shih-tsu is not a girl, but with that hair, I think I can get away with that remark.
Plus, with that hair, even if he wasn’t a dog, he couldn’t read since it’s always in his eyes.

Say hello to Maggie and Roxie, our two new attack dogs.
Okay, they aren’t attack dogs.
Unless you have some pig ears in your hand. In that case, good luck.
"It was a cold wintry day when I brought my children to live in rural West Virginia. The farmhouse was one hundred years old, there was already snow on the ground, and the heat was sparse-—as was the insulation. The floors weren’t even, either. My then-twelve-year-old son walked in the door and said, “You’ve brought us to this slanted little house to die." Keep reading our story....
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by Pete on November 20, 2009
November 2009
"First it's glowing, then it's snowing! A pause, then screaming squalls and williwaws. Bright but bitter, then a thaw. Yet again it's cold and storming: What ever happened to global warming?"
Friday, Nov 20
Fair
Currently: 37˚F
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And we readers of your Blog never tire of your wonderful pictures and stories of all your sweet animals! - Liz in PA on Rush
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Entire Contents © Copyright 2004-2009 SuzanneMcMinn.com. Text and photographs may not be published, broadcast, redistributed or aggregated without express permission. Thank you.
5:21
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That view so reminds me of the one we used to have in West by God Virginia. Are you trying to make me more homesick than I already am?
It won’t be long until Buttercup is bringing you home treats from her adventures.
margiesbooboo
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5:51
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Big dogs with their big-dog barks make good ‘watch dogs’ even if they aren’t exactly attack dogs, especially when there’s more than one big dog! I think they make potential intruders think twice. I definitely feel safer with my 80-lb. black lab here. He has a ferocious bark, even if he’d never hurt a flea. I know he’s harmless, but try telling that to whomever’s on the other side of the door! They usually have that look of disbelief and fear that says “Yeah, right lady. . . real friendly dog!”
6:29
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You have done a really great job on your color palette. I too had a thing for beige outlets. And that’s what I have, they blend in with the colors I have except in the bathroom. I had to go with white in there. Even though the outlets aren’t that expensive, if you only need one or two, but they add up when you have 3 or 4 in every room.
Don’t you just want to jump for joy every morning when you get up in your new house? Such an accomplishment.
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I’m actually in the (slow) process of replacing my furnishings — things that have been with me for over a decade — as I can afford it, because my tastes have changed. I don’t care about what is currently “in,” though, as trends come and go.
Hey, how about brass and glass? Remember that? My mom *still* has the same decor in her house, almost 25 years later. Scary. Still looks tasteful, but very dated. Mind you, she’s stuck with her hubby’s 70s stuff too, in some rooms, because he won’t bend on redecorating and thinks it all looks just fine. Aaccckk! I’m *so* glad I’m on my own again!
-Kim, who can paint the walls any d*mned colour she chooses, without compromise!
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Hi doggies…my lab loves those hard as rock chicken breasts — so I’ll send over a virtual bag for your babies!
2:08
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BTW, my Mom has a farm shih-tsu named Susie. She always reminds me of an old industrial mop head.
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I’ve always loved earth colors and everything looks beautiful.
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I have an attack dog. The only thing he wants everyone todo when they come in the house is sit down, cause you know he’s a lap dog. A 130 lb German Shepherd lap dog! But everyone is afraid of him!
Your place is looking great! Can’t wait to see the chickens, ornamental cow, summer and fall colors! Sheep? Are you getting any sheep?
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Keep up the good work.
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