The true "czar" of the woods...

or at least our front yard...

Traveler loves the new house, especially his watch post in the front yard.  While there aren't as many cars to count there are horses to watch over and the task of looking quite stately.  He is also feeling better after being hospitalized 3 weeks ago with a systemic bacterial infection that affects the kidneys and liver, known as leptospirosis

A really cool find!

How happy we were when we found a vintage short wave radio cabinet (1950's) in the basement.  This was most likely there when the previous owner bought the house and with very little elbow grease this gorgeous honey blonde beauty is now the centerpiece of our family room.  If you notice the dial it has cities from around the world listed on it.  How cool!  Christmas came early for us on this one...

Stay tuned for photos of "the Big Lebowski," our ~8ft X 4ft section of a bowling alley that we bought and recycled from Buffalo ReUse to turn into our dining room table!   We also bought a vintage mantle there that will frame our fireplace and be part of book shelves on either side as well. 

Before...

After...

Our new TV cabinet... 

Some of my photos, Todd's photos and my mom's photos that we hung on the wall...

eric

Some before and after photos...

Some before and after of the bathroom...we have been in the house 2 weeks now and this one of the first projects that we got to prior to moving in.  The bathroom has a really cool 1950's feel to it with white and pink tile.  We liked it so much that we went with grey walls and a white, pink, grey and black theme.  Check out the great 1950's pendant lights!  Those aren't going anywhere.  Under the initial layer of vinyl wallpaper that we removed was a really cool pink floral wallpaper.  We preserved a small portion of it above the toilet.

eric

Happy New Year from czar of the woods farm!

We wish you a truly happy, healthy new year from our new home!  What could be cozier than ringing in the new year in front of a fire in our new house with all the animals happy and content!

Moved In...FINALLY!

Hi everyone
The past few weeks have been crazy culminating in the big move on Friday and Saturday of last week. 4 UHaul truck loads and multiple car loads later we are in! Thanks to the help of some truly great friends and family for making it happen. The move ended with the two of us moving our 6 cats to the new house. This involved loading them up into 6 carriers into Sarah's car along with 3 litter boxes, Traveler's crate and 2 food bins. The saddest of cat choruses sang all the way to the new house and the cats have done surprisingly well adjusting. For now they are confined to one room until they really settle in and more things are out of boxes.
Surprisingly a lot is already in place and it is truly starting to feel like home. The horses are good, the cats are good, Traveler is good and so are we. We love it out here!
I promise to post some new photos soon once things settle down. For now please visit the Flickr link to the right.
Merry Christmas!
eric

Introducing "czar of the woods farm"

A few days ago Sarah and I finally closed on our first house.  The house is a ranch built in 1962 on 3.5 acres nestled on a cozy street in East Aurora, NY.  In addition to that it also is a horse farm.  There is something truly wonderful and surreal about looking out the window and seeing horses playing in the snow.  We currently have 2 horses: one, Midnight-a Bay thoroughbred/quarterhorse mix who belongs to a friend and keeps our horse, Czar-a 24 year old Light Grey Arabian that is still full of spunk, company.  Photo of Czar above.  What an amazing scene it was the other day when I let them out into the front arena.  Like a couple of kids on a snow day, they chased each other around and frolicked for hours.  

Thank you to the previous owner of the house, Amy, for allowing me to work with the horses and get to know the routine and the horses themselves for a few months, prior to closing.  Not only that, but by her allowing us to work on the property during this time as well, my dad and I were able to build the chicken yard off the coop for the chickens that will arrive at czar of the woods farm in the late winter/early spring.  This was truly a unique situation that we were allowed and are forever grateful to Amy for allowing this.  It dropped our anxiety level immensely and now we are able to focus on the "inside" work.  So far this week cleaning, and painting have begun and the place is starting to become ours-photos to be posted soon.  It felt like home from the moment we walked in the very first time.   Can't wait to have you over.  Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Eric (and Sarah)