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FRENCHIE FARM

Modern Homesteading & Sustainable Farming

in Family

We’re moving

Frenchie Farm

It’s officially time to share the news – we’re moving!

We’re moving

I’ve been meaning to write this post for quite some time, but to be honest, I’ve been putting it off. Typing and publishing this post somehow makes this move feel more real. I have so many mixed emotions about our decision to move. Although I’m excited to begin this next chapter, I’m also heartbroken to be leaving our farmhouse.

Ben and I experienced quite a few “firsts” in this house. It’s where we got married, designed and remodeled our farmhouse, and started a family. Our babies had their first baths in our farmhouse kitchen sink, and took their first steps on these floors. It’s where we learned the true meaning of new parent sleep deprivation. This home is where we developed new holiday traditions, and where we celebrated our kids’ first birthdays. We created so many memories together as a family within these walls, and it makes me so sad to leave it behind.

This farmhouse is where we made our homesteading dreams a reality. It’s where we built the most darling chicken coop ever. Our little farm taught us how to raise goats and chickens, how to grow our own food, and even how to delivery baby goats. So why are we leaving? Perhaps I’ll simply start from the beginning.

… and don’t worry, even though we’re moving, the animals are coming with.

Frenchie Farm we're moving
Frenchie Farm we're moving

Moving to the farm

When we made the decision to move to the family farm about 4ish years ago, it was filled with so much hope and excitement for the future. And a whole lot of fear. To be honest, I didn’t initially want to move to the farm. 1.25 acres seemed like A LOT of land to me, and seeing as we had zero plans of starting a backyard farm, it seemed unnecessary.

But Ben had a dream of moving to the family farm, so when his grandmother unexpectedly passed away, we made a deal. If I was unhappy with the move within a few years, then we would move back into town. Fast forward a few years and we’ve decided that we’re moving… but for a completely different reason.

I can’t imagine going back to city life. Collecting eggs, milking goats, and planting a garden are just a few of our favorite things. I love raising our kids with the values of simple living. I’m so grateful that Ben encouraged me to move to the family farm, but now it’s time for the next step.

Frenchie Farm we're moving
Frenchie Farm we're moving

Our remodel

When Ben and I got pregnant a few months after getting married, we realized that we needed to expedite our remodeling plans. Ben and his dad literally poured every ounce of themselves into this house. We planned to make this house our forever home, so we accounted for every single detail. Ben and Brian completely remodeled our farmhouse by working long hours every night and weekend, and somehow managed to finish before I delivered Finley (two weeks early!)

I remember our first night in our farmhouse. I was SUPER pregnant, and I felt like I could finally take a sigh of relief. This was it – our forever home. But now here we are, about to embark on moving again … but with 2 kids, 2 dogs, and 26 farm animals.

I think we’re crazy.

Frenchie Farm we're moving
Frenchie Farm we're moving

We’re moving

Ben and I have been entertaining the idea of moving for the last year or so. We hoped to purchase part of the family farm surrounding our 1.25 acres, but it unfortunately wasn’t an option.

If you live in Chicagoland, then you may already know that it’s nearly impossible to find acreage at an affordable price point. We love our current location, and we ideally wanted to stay in the same general location. When we started our home search, the vast majority of the properties were located far away and priced too high for the amount of work needed. Seeing as we love our house, we didn’t want to simply “move to move”, but we also wanted to keep our options open.

…and then we found our dream house.

Frenchie Farm we're moving

1800’s farmhouse

When Ben and I saw the listing for the new house, we were in awe. For months, we searched for a farmette with an old farmhouse… but it just didn’t exist. Until this house.

Within seconds of stepping foot on the property, Ben and I knew that this was it. The 1800’s farmhouse was everything and more than we’ve been searching for. The house was filled with so much charm – original woodwork, wood burning stove, Dutch doors, built ins, and so much more. The property was pure perfection – old barns, rolling hills, and the perfect location. We immediately put in an offer, and we were shocked when the sellers accepted.

There’s one catch – due to reassessment issues with the county, we can’t close on the new property until sometime around March. That’s about 6 months after we close on our current house. So what’s the plan for our little family and homestead in the meantime?

That’s a good question… for another post.

Frenchie Farm
Family photos: Red Maple Photography

1 Comment

Previous Post: « Easy egg salad recipe with farm fresh eggs
Next Post: Moving a homestead & an update on our move! »

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Comments

  1. Chelsea says

    October 10, 2019 at 9:53 pm

    I’m so happy and excited for you!! This is going to be such a great thing for your family. Congratulations!!!

    Reply

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Colleen 🐐🐓🐶
Well, despite my denial, I suppose that it’s off Well, despite my denial, I suppose that it’s officially fall 🍁 I tend to hold onto summer time as long as possible, especially because the bitter cold winter months are brutal in Chicago. With that being said, I’m learning to appreciate all of the seasonal changes that naturally occur on the farm, even if they aren’t my favorite 😉 Early morning chores are filled with brisk air while fog covers the rising sun. It’s beautiful in its own unique way, and maybe one day I’ll love the changing seasons as much as I love the summer heat. Or maybe I’ll move somewhere warmer in another life, who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️
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Do you prefer the heat or cold fall days?
After such an emotional weekend, I woke up feel ex After such an emotional weekend, I woke up feel extra drained today. I wanted to press snooze when my alarm went off, but I decided to get up early for a quick workout and chores instead. And gosh, isn’t it crazy how those simple decisions turn your day around right from the start? Plus, seeing these boys run toward me every morning is simply the best.
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What are some things that energize you after a rough few days?
Today was hard. . . Today was processing day for o Today was hard.
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Today was processing day for our first round of meat chickens, and I’ve spent much of the last 24 hours crying. I said my good byes this morning, and I feel grateful for Ben taking care of the logistics. Does it get easier? Is it supposed to? I don’t know.
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I usually share the fun, light hearted parts of homesteading. This part just feels hard. And sad. And I feel a lot of guilt. I feel comforted by the life we gave to our birds, but also guilty that we’re the ones who took it away. 
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Homesteading is just really hard.
Tomorrow is the day that I’ve been dreading for Tomorrow is the day that I’ve been dreading for quite some time - processing day for our first ever round of meat chickens. As a previous vegan, I’m struggling. I’d be lying if I said that I’m not tearing up typing this, or that I didn’t tear up while walking by their pasture during chores tonight. This part is really hard.
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But here’s the thing - I don’t think “hard” is a bad thing. Actually, it’s a good thing. Because if we don’t have a level of guilt and appreciation for animals, then there’s something seriously wrong ... and that’s exactly what’s wrong with our current food supply system. 
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So I’ll continue to feel guilty, because I SHOULD. And I’ll continue to feel grateful, because I SHOULD. And I’ll continue to feel really sad knowing that I’m responsible for loss, because I SHOULD.
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And the second I lose sight of that guilt and gratitude? Well, that won’t happen. Trust me ❤️
Nope, that’s not my incredible white farmhouse, Nope, that’s not my incredible white farmhouse,  but maybe one day ours will looks similar! 🙌🏼 Have you met my friend Maddy over at @addisonfarmssc? We’ve been friends on these little squares for quite some time, and holy moly, she’s definitely #onetofollow ! 
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From her perfectly beautiful farmhouse to her darling farm with a major swoon worthy garden and beautiful horses, I’m just in love. Plus she’s the sweetest, so you should head over to her account and give her a follow! ❤️ Happy Friday, friends!
The face your LGD makes when the bucks try to flir The face your LGD makes when the bucks try to flirt and blubber at them 🤣 MOM?! HELP ME!
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Swipe to see the progression 🤣 These sweet boys are simply the most patient, yet ferocious pups around! What are your LGD’s like?
The moment you realize that you literally have the The moment you realize that you literally have the most handsome buck ever 🙌🏼 Chester is a rather refined buck - he prefers to stand majestically while the other two crazy boys do all sorts of weird things, including but not limited to, flaring their lips, blubbering, flirting, and drinking pee 🤢 What kind of questionable things do your bucks do?
Tomorrow marks our first (official) day of homesch Tomorrow marks our first (official) day of homeschool preschool, but when you live on a farm, aren’t you always “schooling” one way or the other anyway?
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Well before COVID, I started thinking about homeschooling our kids. I didn’t understand the reason for being drawn toward homeschooling, but now it all makes sense and feels like the perfect decision for our family. I’m loving how sweet and cozy this homeschool room feels, and I hope our little ones grow to love learning here too ❤️ I know some of you are homeschooling pros, so I would love to hear any tips!
When the new @beekman1802 Bloom Cream is incredibl When the new @beekman1802 Bloom Cream is incredibly moisturizing, formulated with goat milk, AND packed with probiotics, the goats can’t help but check it out! #ad 🐐 I’ve been using the newest Bloom Cream moisturizer for the past few weeks and I’ve been LOVING it! It’s an incredible mix of super hydrating, gentle, and light weight all mixed into one. Perfect way to re-hydrate after long days on the farm.
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@beekman1802 also recently launched at @ultabeauty, so it couldn’t be any more convenient to try out a few new clinically kind goat milk skincare products! Shop in store or online - you’ll thank me later 😉 What are some of your favorite skincare products? @beekman1802 @ultabeauty #beekmanblooms
Eggs, eggs, eggs! Between beautiful duck eggs and Eggs, eggs, eggs! Between beautiful duck eggs and rainbow chicken eggs - give me all the eggs 🙌🏼 We’re drowning in eggs, which means we have more than enough to share with our farm class friends during their final week of class. 
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So much to be grateful for, and so many scrambled eggs, frittatas, egg bakes, paleo pancakes, etc! What are some of your favorite ways to use up extra eggs?
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