The day I met our house...

'I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, 

which, if we unconsciously yield to it, 

will direct us aright'

Henry David Thoreau

Original post first published December 18, 2012

A country leap of faith...

I followed the wise words of Henry David Thoreau and made a decision…a country leap of faith to be exact. In October 2012, I wrote that we were looking for a home in the USA..here I drove along the coast roads of Maine to the southwest corner of New Hampshire and found a house in each to ponder. I took lots of photos and winged my way back to our expat home in Vietnam to confer with Mr. H and to make a decision. For lots of reason but mostly for that feeling you get when you just know...we chose…

A gentlewoman's farm...

We chose an antique farmhouse in a small town in the Monadnock Mountain Region of New Hampshire. I was told the house was a gentleman's farm, one for pleasure rather than income. For me it will always be a gentlewoman's farm, for that's what it was to the woman who owned it before me, for many years. 

Small towns story…

This is a small town story that started with this blog. In 2010, a lovely reader, Lisa, placed a comment for a surprise giveaway I was having on Collage of Life. To enter, readers had to answer a few questions about themselves.

Lisa wrote...

Coming to you from Vermont (home of the Trapp Family)

...Yes, the hills are alive!

I follow cashmerejeans, but also visit Collage of Life.

- My eyes are blue/green with flecks of brown.

- I love Fall.

- I rarely wear perfume.

- Last book was May Sarton- Plant Dreaming Deep 

and Jud Hale's Inside New England 

( I read two at a time, depending on the mood!)

- Last movie- The King's Speech

- Last CD- Nick Drake and another by Sam Bush

Our email trail into friendship began with this comment. As luck would have it, she was one of the giveaway winners. We wrote emails back and forth and along the way Lisa told me about a town in New Hampshire, where she once lived and longs to be again. She had me hooked from the start. We corresponded the following year about small town life in New Hampshire and Vermont. She had a wealth of knowledge to draw upon for she has settled many people into new homes from her experience as a realtor. She has a genuine desire to help people find the right fit and has a gift for it too.

The rewards are it's people... 

I grew up in a small town so I know all about it. It's a small world. Lisa introduced me to Joe at Notes from Juniper Hill  who happens to live close to Tahilla farm. 

Lisa wrote...

You would have to know Joe and his eye for detail and his humble ways, as his home and gardens are a true reflection of his soul.  He would often stop by as I was in my garden and remark how beautiful it looked...

I wrote to Joe and he wrote back and another friendship was born. The email trail into friendship continued. I also connected with his wonderful partner in life, Paula. For the past year we have all been writing back and forth, like the oldest of friends. I was thrilled when we were able to meet while I was house hunting. When I asked if they would mind having a second look at the house with me, they were happy to do so. As soon as we got to the property...they felt what I felt.  I knew they would.

Team Tahilla..

When we decided to make an offer on the house, I asked for help. Paula recommended Jim, an attorney. Jim recommended  Gary, a house inspector. It was with the help of Lisa, her partner John, with Joe, Paula, Gary, Jim and Jim's assistant, Tricia...that it evolved. 

My thanks...

With this come my thanks for the time and effort they all put into making our dream a reality. I had to put my faith in them for I was in Vietnam when it was all happening and could not be there. Lisa and John travelled three hours back and forth from Vermont, where they live, for every inspection, every appointment. Joe joined them on each occasion. Team Tahilla was in action, reporting to me on every front. Many of the photos were taken by Joe on his many trips to the house. He spotted the deer in the woods from the front of the house. Thoreau's subtle magnetism in nature at it's best.

Small town love...

Paula helped me keep my sanity with her wit and charm and reports on activity in the region. Along the way I met Maude, who wrote to say that Joe had recommended Collage of Life to her and she was pleased to know that I would be moving to town. Hands and words stretching out across the sea..small town love.

To every story, there is a beginning...

This is our beginning for Tahilla Farm. Down a dirt road...in the southwest corner of New Hampshire, where the birds sing, the trees reach to the sky...and silence is golden. The first of many country chapters in the collage of life.

2013...

I want to thank you all for your words of encouragement these past few months. When we moved to Vietnam in July, life was full and it has continued to be ever since. My mind has been here there and everywhere with little time for blogging. I thank you kindly for your patience..I have been so remiss in staying in touch. As much as I enjoyed 2012....I am ready for 2013. I will be back with more on Tahilla Farm. There is lots more to share, stories to tell and most of all I will need construction, decorating and gardening advice. It will be a journey...I am so glad you will be there with me! 

A Christmas wish for a Christmas farm...

In case you are wondering what Tahilla stand for. It is a place in County Kerry, Ireland. I like to think it as two places, each one connecting at the end of a rainbow. The pot of gold is sitting in New Hampshire.

Sending you blessed Irish wishes for a very Merry Christmas...

Jeanne xx

With thanks to Joe for many of the photos above.