Fixer Upper Farmhouse and Farm
Hi there!
I can’t believe it’s almost been three years at our fixer upper farmhouse and farm! And it’s been a very full and emotional past few days here so let’s chat about it. If you follow along on social media you saw the Kune Kune piglet we brought home ran away. I had waited months to welcome this little gal to our farm after spending a very very long time talking about what is next here for us. Needless to say we are heartbroken. We’ve searched and searched and done all the things we could think of or that was recommended to us to do to find her or get her to wander back home.
Of course I’ve beat myself up about it thinking of all the things I should have done differently. I don’t take bringing in a new animal lightly. Now that I’ve had some time to process it I can also say that unfortunately sometimes things just happen. This is a part of raising animals that sucks. I think we’ve been very lucky thus far. Well lucky, and I hope it’s fairly obvious how much I love our farm babies and do my best to care for them well. We’re still hopeful she’ll find her way back to us, but this experience has also made me pause and reevaluate what we’re doing here. What are our goals with this property as we roll into the THIRD year of living here?
Farmhouse or Farm? Me: Yes!
I’m a multi-passionate person. I LOVE interior design, styling, and old houses with all my heart! I’ve also always dreamed of having a small farm with animals for as long as I can remember. I don’t think I have to choose, but it’s a difficult thing to balance.

Reclaimed Flooring!

Kitchen Cabinet Doors
Farmhouse Plans
We still have a long way to go with this old farmhouse. We’re also on the brink of making some major progress on the interior! Next week I’ll be sharing the room we completed, which is currently our living room, but will eventually be the dining room. I’ll also be painting the kitchen this weekend to get it ready for reno part two. We’ll be laying reclaimed flooring and installing that big old gorgeous cabinet! This also means we can finally FINALLY set the newel post and the staircase will be finished lol! Oh and you’re going to die when you see our sink and faucet!! Eeek!
Read about part one of our kitchen renovation HERE!
Check out the antique kitchen cabinet HERE!
After this we plan on moving straight into the back room, lovingly referred to as the cave or weird room with no windows lol! It was once a screened in porch that the previous owners walled in without a single window. We plan on gutting it, laying reclaimed floors, and adding french doors and several windows to create a sunroom or informal family room. We bought a wood stove for the room last year and would love to be able to use it this winter. Once these three rooms are complete we’ll only have the bathroom, sitting room, and mudroom to go on the main floor, and one more room upstairs! I’m excited for all of them!!

Our keeper lamb this year, Rosalie
Farm Life
Then there’s the farm side of things. This year was our first official lambing season and it was a wonderful experience! Getting to watch those babies come into the world is something I’ll cherish forever. Making sure they get the best possible start to life is so important to me. Two lambs left our farm this year and, although I cried, I couldn’t have asked for better homes for them. I want to continue to develop my husbandry skills as a shepherd and make improvements to our setup and flock management. It’s already almost time for my girls to go back in with their boyfriend! Babydoll breeding season is signaled as the days get shorter and the temps start dropping.
You can read more about our sheep HERE!
All the out buildings and barns all need some attention like paint and gutters. And the coop still needs windows and a roof. We’re also planning on putting up more fencing. Fencing around the garden, the house, and then several paddocks for the animals. The animals themselves require a lot of time, and let’s be honest all of this costs money. Currently a lot of money. This is another part of the balance. The more I do outside the less I can do inside and visa versa. There are only so many hours in the day haha!
Remember when you were a kid and would play outside all day or swim all day and then just crash happy, content? Lots of days feel like that for me 🙂
Goals
My days would be full if I only had the house to work on OR the farm life aspect so I think it’s important to reassess my personal goals and goals for this place so I can stay focused and reach them. Right now my gut is telling me to stay focused on the house. Will we get another pig? Yes, eventually when the time is right. Will we get other animals? Absolutely! Lots! Lol! But I think the next couple of months will be about making some serious progress on this old farmhouse 😉 As a longer term goal we’ve also been discussing ways to share our farm in person as we develop the homestead aspect of this life. Stay tuned!
Fixer Upper Farmhouse and Farm
If you’re interested in any aspect of this lifestyle I hope to inspire you in some way. It takes time, patience, grit, and passion, but you’re capable and I promise you can do more than you give yourself credit for! Always let me know if you have any questions about anything! I truly believe the best is yet to come and it’s going to be an amazing year on the farm!
Follow along on Instagram for daily updates too! @midcounty_journal
Much love and thanks for stopping by the blog today!

12 Comments
Irene McLendon
I truly feel a love for you and your passion for your home, your boodles and the lifestyle you and Ed are working towards. I’m so glad I found you. Thank you so much for sharing your life and time and passion. Your spirit lifts me and though it be long distance and never met face to face, your friendship is so valuable to me. And others too, I’m sure. 🥰
Amanda
Irene! I feel this too! I talk to Ed about you all the time! You’ll never know how much your kindness affects my life! I just know we’ll meet in person someday and sip coffee or cocktails!
Darline Heck
Love reading about your house and farm Amanda gives me ideas for our house
Amanda
Thank you Aunt Darline! I hope to see you soon!
Sonia Hess
Amanda, thank you for this inspiring post. 🙏 I cherish everything that you share and our friendship. I have learned so much and can’t wait to learn even more as you make progress everywhere in the house and the farm! ❤️
Amanda
Thank you Sonia! You are such a light! I’m grateful for social media because of friendships like ours! I hope you guys are doing well! I can’t wait to hear about your house hunt and your new fur babes!
Lea
You and a couple of other ladies on YouTube and IG, have helped bring something back to life that I buried years ago. The love of home, the love of animals, and the simplicity of life. Hard work and determination as well as not being afraid to step out of the box, thank you for that.
I am so looking forward to seeing the Livingroom and the kitchen completed.
Wishing you a wonderful fall season
Amanda
This warms my heart. I love connecting with kindred spirits and I feel that we must be! Thank you for your well wishes! I’m sending them right back to you!
Myra
I just love following you and seeing what you’re accomplishing with your old farmhouse. I love your animals as well. My heart just breaks for you in regards to Dolly. I get on here every morning hoping you have found her. Sending prayers that she returns and keep up the good work with everything else you’re accomplishing. ❤️❤️❤️
Amanda
Thank you. A local friend told us this happened to them and then one day their pig showed back up. I hope she’s okay and we’ll see her again.
Ann Hall
Amanda you are an amazing woman… I love everything that you represent as a farmer (mother to your farm animals /pets)
You have such a tender heart and very inspiring to so many woman
Love your Blog/Instagram
Amanda
Thank you for saying that. Our farm babes are such a joy. This makes me grateful I get to share some of that joy too!