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Hackett Hill Farm House Renovation Update- Week 8
Can you believe we have been at this farm house renovation for 8 weeks?! I can hardly believe we bought the farm, much less that we are 8 weeks into a full on gut job of this little home. Working full time, raising babies, and all the other curve balls that life throws definitely present some challenges to a timely completion of things. Some weeks I feel like I am 100% just spinning my wheels and not going anywhere. But then I look at how far we have come so far. The purpose of this blog in the beginning was to document our process through this adventure of remodeling our…
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Easy Pecan Cream Cheese Pumpkin Roll
Ahhhh fall. There is no other season that compares to fall with its gorgeous yellows, vibrant oranges, rich reds, and earthy browns. Beautiful confetti leaves falling from the sky as Mother Nature celebrates yet another harvest year. Fall is nature’s last glorious hoorah before winter’s white chill sets in and we are reset with a blank slate in the Virginias. To some it is a sign of the year coming to an end, but to me it is a celebration of all that has been and is a time to reflect on the many blessings we have been given. What better way to celebrate fall’s arrival than this easy pecan…
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Quick and Easy Beef Stew with the Ninja Foodi
Beef stew is one of those warm you from the inside out kind of dinners, full of veggies, potatoes, herbs and beef that will stick to your ribs and please even the pickiest of eaters. It is a take you back home to your momma’s house kind of meal. Unlike traditional beef stew recipes that cook all day in the slow cooker, this version is super quick and easy with a start to table time of under 30 minutes. You can’t beat that, especially on a busy weeknight. The reason this recipe is so quick and easy is due to using my Ninja Foodi to shorten cook time while still…
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The PawPaw- What It Is and How to Grow It
Growing up in West Virginia, I had heard of a PawPaw, but never in my life had I ever seen one. I honestly didn’t really even know what it was until my husband walks into the kitchen a few nights ago and says “Babe, what is this?” cracking open a 5 inch long oval greenish maroon fruit. The smell was sweet and delicious like a banana mixed with citrus. It was a delightful scent, but I still had no idea what he had found or if it was something we should try to eat. So I did what I always do when I have no idea what a plant is,…
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Pawpaw Quick Bread Recipe
Pawpaw bread is a delicious moist quick bread made with the fruit of the Pawpaw tree. The pawpaw tree bears a sweet smooth skinned fruit that looks similar to a papaya on the outside with a banana like custard on the inside. This custard like filling is a great addition to your fall baking recipes. I had never had a pawpaw before this fall, and knew very little about the tree and its sweet fruit even though it has been growing right outside our back door for years. If you want to learn more about the pawpaw and how to use it and grow it check out our post The…
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Restoring What Was Once Lost
Our new home was built in 1900. The little farm house sits on a little knoll overlooking the mountains, hay fields, and pastures not far from the little village of Fairfield. The property is split in half by a little one lane road giving us hay fields on both sides. The property is dotted with little barns and outbuildings that have been constructed over the years to increase storage for the small 1200 square foot home’s residents. There’s even an old canning shed that I am sure was once full to the brim with delicious canned goods from the garden to keep the family through the cold winter months. My…
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Let the Demolition Begin!
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Easy Hearty Homemade Chili
I love fall with its cool mornings and warm afternoons. I love watching the leaves change from the bright green of summer to the varied crimson and brown tones of autumn. It makes me feel all warm and cozy on the inside. Since demolition has started on the house, I have found myself reaching for my Ninja Foodi more often than usual. The Ninja Foodi is a pressure cooker, air fryer, and slow cooker all in one! I have been in love with mine since my husband and kids bought it for me for Mother’s Day. It is seriously one of the best gift they have ever given me. Quick…
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Easy Homemade Bread Recipe
Is there anything better than homemade bread? There are very few things, in my mind at least, that can compete with the deliciously warm and cozy smell of freshly baked bread right out of the oven. That is why today I am sharing my momma’s easy homemade bread recipe with you! I love baking homemade bread. This is especially true as the weather turns cooler and the trees begin to take on their fall colors. It is that time of year when I get the itch to make a batch, or two or three. Baking a loaf of homemade bread solidifies that fall is here and it is time to…
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Let the Demolition Begin!
We are just over 1 month into the demolition process at the farm. As soon as the key was in my hand I was ready to start tearing into this little home to discover all the secrets it holds. Built in 1900, we have limited knowledge of the house’s full history. Based on the information we have found on the property, we believe the house has only belonged to one family, the Snyder’s. Left to their daughters, the home was passed down the family line from 1900 until 2020 when we purchased it. My husband, daughter, and I moved to the area around 6 years ago and purchased a 6…
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Restoring What Was Once Lost
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Welcome to Hackett Hill
Hello and Welcome to our Blog! I am so excited to finally be here talking to you! For years I tossed around the idea of starting a blog. But where to begin? What would I write about? When we decided to buy our farm, I decided it was now or never. What better reason to start a blog than to chronical our adventures in the reimaging of our new (old) home?! I started this blog as a way to document our renovation process, but quickly decided I wanted the final product to be much more. I wanted a platform to share our home’s whole story: to bring you into our…
