Monday, September 2, 2019

Such a pleasure. . . . . . .



. . . . . and such a beautiful farm, nestled in the New Hampshire countryside, 'far from the madding crowd'
and so welcoming thanks to lovely Jeanne.

Jeanne and I have been online friends for several years after I somehow 
happened upon her great blog, COLLAGE OF LIFE. At that time she was 
living another chapter of her always interesting ex-pat life in Ho Chi Minh City.
Having visited Vietnam, as well as other countries where Jeanne has
 lived, we shared many stories and interests online and hoped we could
meet up some day. When Jeanne and her husband decided to make 
their permanent home in New Hampshire, it was great knowing at last 
we would have a get together. . . . . . .which we did a couple of weeks ago!


There are no words to express the beauty of Tahilla Farm. . . . . . . .the house both
 inside and outside, the traditional red outbuildings, flowering beds of color, hand
 built rock walls, and the fields gently rolling toward the woods with Pack Monadnock
 mountain rising 2,290 feet in the background.
Since purchasing this property, Jeanne and her family have worked nonstop
restoring the c.1790 farmhouse, barns and awesome carriage house, and bringing
 the surrounding land back to a place of delight to walk and wander about in, 
sit and relax on, or just stand and breathe in nature at its very loveliest.



Bob and I were thrilled to share a few hours with Jeanne, enjoying a tour and a
delicious luncheon she prepared for us. I think we could have talked until sunset 
that lovely afternoon, however we had to hit the road for Vermont, but we will 
always be hoping we can meet up again in the not too distant future.



Jeanne and Mary - meeting up at last 'down on the farm'.

If you are a follower of Jeanne's blog you will be familiar with Tahilla Farm
 as well as the many countries she has lived in and shared with us over the years.
 If not, do go HERE for lovely posts on everything beautiful, elegant, interesting, 
including Jeanne's new venture, Tahilla Gatherings, where you too may have a 
chance to visit Tahilla Farm this Autumn.


Jeanne gifted me with this special book on gardening which
I'm enjoying so much. It will always be a fond reminder
of that lovely afternoon in a very special part of New Hampshire. . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . .and meeting yet another blog friend who now feels like family.

18 comments:

  1. What a beautiful spot to settle down. The work it must have taken, but Jeanne must enjoy that part of the process, too. Glad that you were able to meet after all these years of blogging.

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    1. Would love for you to be up for a get together Vee. If we're in Maine next Summer lets try to meet - it would be so nice.
      Mary x

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  2. Oh how delightful Mary. Beautiful place, which has been a labor of love for sure. Lucky you

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  3. How wonderful. SO happy the two of you got a chance to meet.

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  4. Dear Mary, it was so so much fun spending time with you and Bob! I absolutely adored our time and to share share a meal around our table. I agree, we could have talked all day and then some. I look forward to your next visit and if we are lucky, Mr. H may be able to join us as well. Thank you for your kind words in this post...truly, my pleasure in being able to spend time with you. Jeanne xx

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    1. Thank you again dear Jeanne for the warm welcome to Tahilla Farm and your generous hospitality - we enjoyed it all so very much. We will certainly look forward to meeting Mr. H next time - tell him to stay home, haha!!!!!!!
      Mary (and Bob) xx

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  5. Mary,

    Jeanne mentioned to me a few weeks ago that you were going to be visiting. Like you I "met" Jeanne online and have followed here for over 10 years, I am hope that now that she is in the states we will be able to meet one day. It looks like you had a lovely visit to this enchanting farm.

    Thank you for coming to visit me, I found a cashmere herringbone "jacket"/sweater you might like. https://shopstyle.it/l/7A1l If you are looking for something else let me know I will find something else.

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    1. Hi Elizabeth - thanks for the heads up on the jacket - apparently no longer available.
      I just shopped Garnet Hill though and found really great sale buys on two good looking sweaters - one cashmere, the other alpaca.
      Yes, hope you and delightful Jeanne meet up some day soon - or even the three of us - we would have a grand time I'm sure!
      Mary -

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  6. How lovely to meet another blogger! I've not visited Jeanne's blog, but I'll be going there soon. It looks like she is settling in well at that lovely property.

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  7. It looks like a wonderful home, welcoming to visitors and family alike. As you said, creating something as beautiful as this does require a lot of work, but it is work well worth the effort.
    So pleased for you that you had the chance to meet up! When is the return visit? :-)

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    1. We'd love to go back next year - we try to visit New Hampshire annually even though Bob has no family there now.

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  8. Always fun meeting up with blog friends in real life. Her family has chosen a beautiful spot to settle down. That book looks and sounds lovely. Enjoy!

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    1. Tammy, we should try to meet some day too!
      Mary -

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  9. Jeanne is such an engaging person through her inspiring blog which I’ve followed for years!
    She and her family lived in New Zealand many years ago - sadly that was before I discovered her blog!
    Tahilla Farm looks amazing and it’s been fun watching the transformation by Jeanne’s vision and skilled direction.
    Reading Jeanne’s blog posts is like catching up with an old friend. She is always ‘on trend’ with what’s happening.
    If I want a good book recommendation, I know I will find plenty to interest me on her book lists!
    She would be at the top of my list of bloggers I would like to meet!

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    1. Yes, Shane, we talked about New Zealand and Jeanne's years there - which she loved!
      She's even more lovely in person than in blogland - if that's possible! Made us so welcome at her awesome home.
      Mary

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  10. What a gorgeous house and property! And how wonderful to meet up with a blogging friend. I have several of Penelope Lively's books, but I have not seen this one. Gorgeous cover.

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  11. Always so much fun to meet a fellow blogger. Her farm looks beautiful. I am off to check out her blog.

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  12. Wow! How very special. What a lovely farm too. Now I must visit her blog. The book looks like a good one too.

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