Get the Chickens in the Road 2009 Wall Calendar! Click here!Posted by Suzanne McMinn on March 21, 2008
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. 
Get the Chickens in the Road 2009 Wall Calendar! Click here!Posted by Suzanne McMinn on March 21, 2008
5:21
am
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
5:23
am
ps, your trim work looks fantastic!
5:51
am
I love the earthy, neutral tones you chose for paint colors, and the brushed nickel is nice too - much better than brass or gold-colored faucets!
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
am
Everything is coming together. Soon, we’ll be seeing chickens mingled in with the dogs.
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.
8:34
am
Ah, love all the pets!!!
8:40
am
I have enjoyed watching all of this come together…I am so envious of your property and view…it is just breathtaking…I am from Oklahoma…flat…pretty…but flat…I always take trips to the mountains in the summertime…you are truly blessed.
8:57
am
Your changing with the times. This is good. Looks great.I also have four “attack” dogs. Their bark is definitly worse that their bite.
8:59
am
P.S. You forgot to light the candle.
9:12
am
I like your choice of colour and fixtures very much.
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!
9:30
am
Ohhh, I LOVE the view! I agree, never change it. I can’t wait to see it when everything is green and it is covered with leaves. Even better will be in the fall when you have an explosion of color.
10:07
am
I love, love the colors you’ve chosen for your house too. And I’m a big fan of brushed nickel. We built our house seven years ago and we’ve bought in all brushed nickel or silver and I’m still not sick of it. I love it.
11:11
am
I like soft colors and fancy metal face plates (all matching)…my poor hubby spent weeks lurking at our local Lowes waiting for new orders to come in so I could have them all the same.
Hi doggies…my lab loves those hard as rock chicken breasts — so I’ll send over a virtual bag for your babies!
2:08
pm
“Lessons learned through the years” sounds so much better than “getting to old for this *&%$.”
That must be why you’re the one who’s the writer.
BTW, my Mom has a farm shih-tsu named Susie. She always reminds me of an old industrial mop head.
2:19
pm
Tastes in decorating change. Everything looks lovely! And the animals will all settle down soon.
2:42
pm
Looks like you and your animals are settling in nicely.
3:19
pm
Love all the pictures!!! And give those big old attack dogs a hug for me.
3:30
pm
I love your menagerie
:sheepjump:(maybe some day) 
(again, you never know)
I’ve always loved earth colors and everything looks beautiful.
3:53
pm
poor dookie….hes just the saddest lookin little thing!
I cant wait to see your house!!!
6:41
pm
I love your colors and you make me blush with embarrasment, I have all white plates and switches in my house. They were here when I moved in and I was too lazy to change stuff then. Now, I just change broken ones when they happen and since I don’t want to “switch” out EVERYTHING, ’cause well, the cost, you know…I change the broken ones with white, to match.
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?
9:37
pm
I just finished (yesterday) painting my kitchen and bathroom. They all have cream face plates and I thought I really wanted to change them. But now, I’m ok with them. I feel so validated. thank you.
1:41
am
I think it would be so cool to live on and walk the very land that your ancestors inhabited. What daydreams it would inspire!
9:43
pm
White switch plates are out??? I’m so depressed. We are on oppisite ends of the spectrum because I can’t wait to have my own place and put white and color together! But I’ve been w/out it for awhile…but I LOVE it all in your house! It’s beautiful and so totally works…and I’m in love with brushed nickel…I’m so there.
9:01
am
You need a new toothbrush. I can only say, if “Stupid” hates your blog, go away, and dont’ come back. I’m new to your blog, and it’s very interesting.
Keep up the good work.
9:01
pm
The neutral paint you chose is really big in our area too. I laughed because you are like us…we bought our house, new, in ‘95 and everything was GOLD fixtures! White kitchens…Now that is out and rustic is in - rustic wood fireplaces…and brushed nickel or bronze faucets…no gold kitchen cabinet knobs - they are more shell type and silver…and we changed the gold faucets to silver/gold..round and round we go, to keep up with what is new. LOL Changing out paint, faucets, ect.