The Willow Farmyard

I’d like to start by introducing myself. I’m Denise. I live on a nice few acres of land in Clarksville, MI. I have 25 chickens, 2 turkeys, 3 pygmy goats, 3 cats and 1 puppy. I also have 2 older kids and we’ve got a couple of grandkids sometimes roaming around. I feel like I’m living my best life now that I’ve reached what feels like the ripe old age of 51. Fully embracing my grandma-era hobbies: the animals, a new cottage garden, a vegetable garden and pumpkin patch. Some have called me a crazy cat lady. Some call me the chicken lady. It all makes me smile.

I grew up as a city girl. Born and raised in Lansing, MI, I lived on a city lot with no animals except a dog. I went to a big high school. Rode my bike around the neighborhood. Went shopping for fun. Not really an outdoorsy type. I moved to Kalamazoo when I attended Western and lived there for about 8 years. Then I ended up in Lowell, MI. I eventually moved into a rented house in the country. Only one close neighbor and, even then, not city-close. I wasn’t sure about the whole thing at first. But, guess what? I grew to LOVE it! I loved the quiet setting and lovely views. At some point I couldn’t imagine ever moving back to a more populated spot. I wouldn’t say I became a country girl. But was definitely leaning in that direction.

I spent a lot of years in that house. Raised 2 children. We moved in when my daughter was 2 and my son wasn’t quite yet born and, when we finally moved, my daughter was 20 and my son nearly 18. It was a great setting, but the house was not so great. Everything was outdated and completely not to my taste. But, there was only so much I could do since I didn’t own the place. I made do. Made small changes here and there, all the while wishing I could find a place that I could make into the home I’ve always wanted. But, needs must. We stayed there because the rent was affordable and I ended up being a single mom without much extra income. Our rented place was definitely a home. Just not the house that I wished for.

Some years down the road, and a story for a different day, I met Chris, the man I was seriously meant to spend the rest of my life with. I don’t normally think in terms of soulmate or love at first sight, but there was something about him. I always felt like we would be great together. He finally realized it, too.

We’ve been together now for 6 years. I’ve been living at his place about half the time, on my kids’ days with their dad. It’s been a lot of back and forth for me and living between 2 places isn’t a whole lot of fun. It’s kind of difficult. I had my kids at one house, so of course I wanted to be there. But I had my new life at another house. I felt a little bit torn in half for the past few years. At his house, we got some chicks and then added 2 goats. 1 Goat had 2 kids. The next spring we got more chickens. A couple of turkeys after that. Both of us had also adopted 2 orphaned sister cats at the same time. This summer, we even got an adorable little puppy! Our little farmyard began and then expanded but I still wasn’t actually living there. It wasn’t ideal for me but, then, life usually doesn’t operate at ideal!

But a little over a month ago, we finally moved in together! We looked at buying a new house a few years ago but the market was crazy! Nothing worked out for us and he decided to remodel his place and build a pole barn for my in-home business. I own Pheonix Design Studio, a graphic design and sign business. I’ve been operating out of his basement since I started the company about 3 years ago. But moving me into his place meant also moving my two kids in, as well. So began construction on a new pole barn to house my business and 2 bedrooms and a bath in the basement. Chris has been doing everything alone, (he’s very handy that way), and it’s been quite a long process. He also owns a business and works full time. And it hasn’t been without its pitfalls. And I literally do mean falls! (Story for another day) But, somehow, we got to the move-in stage! The bathroom isn’t done in the basement yet, but the bedrooms are and eventually everything will get there!

My friend Jennifer says that I’m living my “best life.” I think she’s right. Now that I’m full time at the farmyard, I decided to take things up a notch and create this blog to chronicle the lovely life I have here. I plan on sharing photos and stories about our animals, my love of vintage decorating, my new cottage garden and family moments that I hold dear. I hope you’ll follow along as I share our life at this charming little spot I now call home: The Willow Farmyard!