It totally amazes me at all the new blogs out there that I’ve never visited before. You too?
I happened to click on a link off of Twitter one day and ended up at a beautiful blog called Meadowbrook Farm. Having never visited before, I was immediately smitten by the beautiful photos that Teresa shared on her blog. I began reading about her family’s journey from the city to the country and how they ended up in an old farmhouse out in the hinterlands of Montana, miles away from life in the big city.
Her writing style is witty and welcoming and I’m in awe of her beautiful photographs. Even though my style is not so much cottagey or country, I love seeing those type homes. She sucked me right into the blog vortex.
Teresa is the mom to 3 strapping and handsome boys, all lean and very tall. Aren’t they a good-lookin’ bunch?
If there is anything that will suck me into a blog right off the bat, it is beautiful pics! Teresa is my newest photography hero and I’d love to get as good as she is. She told me that she only got serious about photography just a few months before she started her blog in the Fall of 2009. The girl is good! Since I started blogging, my interest in photography has grown leaps and bounds and seeing gorgeous photos like this just makes me want to get better and better. She has a honkin’ big-girl Canon 5-D and says she takes zillions of pics to get them right.
Prepare to be amazed and in awe of Teresa and her family’s story. It’s a good one! Here’s what Teresa says in her About Me page:
Nine years ago, I was a happily settled, cul-de-sac residing, suburban mom. I had Starbucks, shopping malls, and every other convenience known to man at my fingertips. Now I am a country girl living on a small farm 500 miles from the old neighborhood. My husband and I, along with our three boys, decided to leave the rat race behind for a slower pace and a simpler life. It was a leap of faith.Let me give you a little introduction to Teresa’s farmhouse and you can see for yourself. When they found the property in the Montana country, it came with a dilapidated old 1902 farmhouse. Originally, the plan was to build a new house on the property and they were going to live in the farmhouse until their new house was built.
That soon changed, when they fell in love with the house along the way and decided to make the necessary renovations in it so that it could be their forever home. And it’s a stunning farmhouse transformation. Their youngest son called it the Junk House and that name apparently stuck. As in “when are we moving out of the Junk House to a real house, mom”.
This is the house in its Before state. Cute and quaint farmhouse, yes? Lots of work, definitely. And here she is After. Quite the transformation, don’t you think? Wait til you see the inside! It took a lot of vision and hard work to get this house whipped into shape.Hallway BeforeHallway After! Can you believe the difference?
Wait! It just gets better. Dining room Before….And after. Teresa’s charming cottage style just oozes warmth and welcome.The kitchen changes are just jaw-droppingly beautiful….from this to….
See! What did I tell ya? Isn’t this a wonderful Before and After story? I think a magazine should get ahold of Teresa’s house and show it off.What a kitchen this is. Dreamy and so special.Stairway Before and Afters.
Teresa has gorgeous photos all over her blog, so I picked a few to share with you. Of course, you’ll need to go over there to see it for yourself.
Teresa’s Christmas pics were amazing.
She even has a greenhouse outside. How fun is this? She gardens too! OK, I’m officially jealous of Teresa’s talents. Not only amazing photographs, but she grows beautiful flowers too. Like this one of the front of her farmhouse, captured in the early morning fog. Ethereal. She bakes and takes yummy food photos too.Babies are not immune to her photos either. She practices on all sorts of people. This is just beautiful. She traveled to the South last year and visited Savannah and Charleston and took more awesome pics.
So, I’m gushing a little over Teresa’s fabulous photos, but really wanted to introduce her to all of you too. She doesn’t know me from Adam (except when I emailed her to ask if I could feature her blog), but when I see a special blog, I enjoy sharing it with all of you. And I do think Teresa’s talents should be shared.
So, go on over and say hello to Teresa at Meadowbrook Farm! Tell her I sent you.
You might want to get in on the discussion going on over there today too. You’ve gotta love a girl talking about Velveeta cheese.So what if Velveeta is fake cheese, my mama made the best grilled cheese sandwiches outta the stuff.
Ricki Jill Treleaven says
*Still drooling over Teresa’s greenhouse.* Thanks so much for sharing, Rhoda. I will definitely visit Meadowbrook Farm! Her kitchen is adorable, and her pictures are, too. It makes me want to rush out and upgrade my Coolpix camera 😛
xoxoxo,
Ricki Jill
Donna says
Thanks for a WONDERFUL post!! I will definitely look Theresa up…that was like an inspiring vacation tour!!
Sissie says
Oh my goodness, this girl has truly got it goin on!
Lovely photos and her home is so pretty. What an amazing transformation of the befores and afters. I am also in love with her green house. She’s certainly living th good life.
hugs
Sissie
Courtney @ LivingABonaFideLife says
Thanks for sharing! What a gorgeous blog she has!
Living A Bona Fide Life
laura trevey says
So charming!! I love the sweet plates on the wall with the sun pouring in the dining room…
xoxo
Connie says
I just found your blog from someone else’s blogroll, and I clicked over here to see what you would say about Teresa. I have followed her blog forever, having been hooked and reeled in with a single photo of her wonderful kitchen. She is just as nice a person as she is a beautiful blogger and photographer. It is great that she’s getting this kind of attention … she DEFINITELY deserves it.
Heidi Milton says
Rhoda, this is fabulous! She is something! I can relate to your new interest in good photography… I’m on that road myself and enjoying every minute of it.
Headed to your favorite Fabric and Fringe today for a new project– freshening up the family room. 🙂
Nancy Thomas says
The house is totally not my style but it really is beautiful and a labor of love. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Kim says
Rhoda, I found her blog a while back and have it on my blog roll so I don’t miss any of her wonderful photos. That home surely belongs in a magazine. Wonderful transformation!
Teresa says
Thanks Rhoda! You can write my bio anytime, girl! You make me want to live my life all over again.=)
Thank you so much for the kind words, and for sending all your wonderful readers my way. I knew we’d be friends from the beginning, but your love of Velveeta has sealed the deal forever!
Have a great day, Rhoda. I’m going to spend mine meeting all my new friends.
Teresa
Luciane at HomeBunch.com says
This is like a movie, isn’t it? I felt really inspired. Wow. so much work, and everything look so beautiful.
I’ll be going to check her blog out. I can’t wait to meet this beautiful family!
Thank you Rhoda! I hope you have a sweet weekend!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
PS: I’m missing on my blog. 🙂 Go take a look if you have a minute, ok? But if you’re busy I understand. 🙂 Take care, sweetie!
Heidi Elyse says
How do I follow her blog? I am new at the blogging thing, and I know one of you fabulous ladies could help me out! Thanks in advance!
Rhoda says
Heidi, I don’t think Teresa has a subscription to her feed over there (she does need to do that), but if you already have a Blog reader set up thru Google reader, all you need to do is copy her blog url & add it to your feeds to keep up. Or you can click the Google Friend follow button too. That works too.
Heidi Elyse says
Thanks Rhoda! She is an awesome blog find! I have been stalling at work (oops) and reading through her beauty. Thanks so much!
Down Comforter says
Oh My Gosh! that is a jaw dropping transformation, I can understand why they didn’t want to leave. and you are absolutley right her blog is filled with just amazing photographs–thanks for sharing!
Dana @ Cooking At Café D says
Thank you so much for featuring her blog! How amazing. I’m heading right over to check it out.
theenchantedhome says
Beautiful pictures, great story..I am sooo into gorgeous pictures that take you somewhere. Great post. Please if anyone has a minute take a look at my 5 day old blog, we are using it as a journal of sorts to chronicle our building of our dream house in addition to sharing all my house decorating, interior design and lifestyle dreams! I am having a blast and already meeting so many wonderful people and I love reading all about what others are doing..so many interesting people out there!!
http://www.theenchantedhome.blogspot.com
Happy new year!
Beth says
What a fantastic find! Gorgeous before and afters and I have to agree that her transformation is most definitely magazine worthy! Perhaps Kevin & Layla should fly out to Montana for another Cottages & Bungalows shoot!
Julie says
Hi Rhoda, how fun to see you feature a familiar blog. I feel like I “know” her. Meadowbrook Farm was one of my first blog loves. Isn’t she amazing? I love her greenhouse! I’ve told her she may find me hiding out in it when her weather warms up!!
sandy says
Okay. I visited and I am green with envy. Thanks for the intro!
Tonya says
What a GORGEOUS home! I LOVE it! I think I just found another blog to add to my list!! Thanks Rhoda for this great post & introducing me to Meadowbrook Farm!