Monthly Archives: December 2013

FAIRHAVEN-a walk in my garden

In 1993 John and I traveled to Stella Maris, Long Island, Bahamas for a 5 day time away together. Long story short we had a dream-and might I add NO $$$$- but a huge dream to live on an island-LONG ISLAND- someday….in 1995 we bought 5 acres, in 2000 John came for 30 days to begin the building process…..which took 7 total months over 4 years…..30 days at a time here and then (mostly when $$ allowed us to ship more materials.)

However, I want this post to be about our new house-which many of you know we were blessed to sell our1st house- 5 acres/4 bdrm/4 bath/3200 sq ft house in 2008. We searched for land to build much smaller and finally in 2010 we began the clearing of our almost 2 acre plot here in Thompson Bay! John designed the house-with my help of course- and had a Bahamian crew of 3-5 local guys to oversee for 4 months. We moved in before the tile or running water was done but I wanted to be up on this hill!!!

For 2 winters- 6-7 months each- we have finished many large projects, huge gardens and a wonderful rock entrance wall.

as you drive up driveway and rock wall at entrance with our daily view

I will attempt- to take you on a tour of our home……

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WELCOME TO FAIRHAVEN COME IN!!! John hauled everyone of these rocks out of the bush and hand stacked them himself!!

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found ring on the beach and John painted our house name on it!

 

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walk way leads up to garage

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view from below the deck

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walking into the garden…..

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looking back over the wall

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we built on a hill so house is up there!

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heading up sidewalk to kitchen entrance

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just a few more steps…..come on up….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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green bottle wind chime – yep you guessed it- John made it!

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big sun catcher John made for me 6 yrs ago! bottles all found on beach-of course!

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table full of beach finds….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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more beach finds. Window looks into kitchen

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looking down back deck

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John loves to get coconuts and pot them- he has grown everyone of our …..mmmmm…100 or so coconuts on our lot!

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shade house area- where we pot and the nursery where we keep cuttings….yea- not a bad place to work!

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this area was here when we started to build. All I had to do was clear away some bush and when stepped in……OMG! Clear and ready to use!

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walking down path on north side of the house

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outdoor shower!!

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this used to be the construction drive. When we got the last load of working materials up here I begged John to let me close it off and make gardens. He even hired a local to help move the rocks to build it.

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sometimes I get so busy in my garden I forget where I actually am. Then I turn around and gasp at this view…….awwwww….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAIRHAVEN….come on in for a visit…….

front deck, new water feature (that not allowed to use much-uses more power than we have some days) yep! we're "off the grid"-all solar

front deck, new water feature (that not allowed to use much-uses more power than we have some days) yep! we’re “off the grid”-all solar

living room. Bookshelf John and I put together during Hurricane Sandy last year- it kept my mind off the weather!!!

living room. Bookshelf John and I put together during Hurricane Sandy last year- it kept my mind off the weather!!!

John built this table to display shells. The main part all divided was a shadow box he painted!

John built this table to display shells. The main part all divided was a shadow box he painted!

a wonderful sail boat friend saw this very old ugly lamp shade in my house, had pity on me and took it back to her boat and painted this underwater scene on it!

a wonderful sail boat friend saw this very old ugly lamp shade in my house, had pity on me and took it back to her boat and painted this underwater scene on it!

THEN she made me this one-it's 3D. The palm fronds are a shredded paper towel painted!

THEN she made me this one-it’s 3D. The palm fronds are a shredded paper towel painted!

AND then she made me this scene from beach finds!

AND then she made me this scene from beach finds!

I love pictures on our walls-can you tell? The 2 yellow fish was a house warming gift from a friend here-all made from bush she finds and paints!

I love pictures on our walls-can you tell?
The 2 yellow fish was a house warming gift from a friend here-all made from bush she finds and paints!

LOVE parrots!!

LOVE parrots!!

spare bed- it's a murphy bed that folds up into the wall. The room has french doors so they open up and this room becomes part of the living space! All the bottles found on the beaches here!

spare bed- it’s a murphy bed that folds up into the wall. The room has french doors so they open up and this room becomes part of the living space! All the bottles found on the beaches here!

spare room

spare room

front deck, new water feature ( not allowed to use much-uses more power than we have some days) yep! we're "off the grid"-all solar

front deck, new water feature ( not allowed to use much-uses more power than we have some days) yep! we’re “off the grid”-all solar

our bedroom....does the bed look higher than normal? That's because we raised it and store 6 months of supplies under it! Sail boaters taught us to use every space- plus living in a camper we learn!!

our bedroom….does the bed look higher than normal? That’s because we raised it and store 6 months of supplies under it! Sail boaters taught us to use every space- plus living in a camper we learn!!

bathroom- John made the lights from bottles off the beach!

bathroom- John made the lights from bottles off the beach!

open concept shower

open concept shower

kitchen-my other work space I LOVE!!!

kitchen-my other work space I LOVE!!!

bottle collection from the beach!

bottle collection from the beach!

the glass  tiles are the colors of the seas here...shades of blues and greens!

the glass tiles are the colors of the seas here…shades of blues and greens!

dining area....I didn't catch the lights over the table-dang! YEP- like the bathroom ones!

dining area….I didn’t catch the lights over the table-dang! YEP- like the bathroom ones!

pantry and looking into the spare room

pantry and looking into the spare room

morning coffee/sunset area on front deck

morning coffee/sunset area on front deck

the green chair was dark wicker and I painted it the trim color! It was my great grand mothers. The driftwood chair and table-yep-you guessed it! JOHN boy made them!

the green chair was dark wicker and I painted it the trim color! It was my great grand mothers. The driftwood chair and table-yep-you guessed it! JOHN boy made them!

drift wood swing guess who made it!

drift wood swing guess who made it!

the back early evening chillin spot to catch the breeze!

the back early evening chillin spot to catch the breeze!

 

our morning coffee/sunset view off the front deck!

our morning coffee/sunset view off the front deck!

AND THAT MY FRIENDS….is FAIRHAVEN! inside and out!

Island Christmas visiting 2013…..

putting cookie plates together with friend Susan

putting cookie plates together with friend Susan

Baking all last week was a stress. Too many clouds to produce enough power for our solar. Some of my breads turned out dry  =+(

However, now that that is done and the day was here I was very excited!!! Susan and I put together the plates and began our visit south. She had to stop at a Bahamian woman who bakes wonderful goodies and breads for her fruit cake. We then made our first stop at the Cartwrights, Delbert and Emma.

our first visit was with Delbert and Emma Cartwright....they have been married for 70 yrs this Dec 27th!!!

our first visit was with Delbert and Emma Cartwright….they have been married for 70 yrs this Dec 27th!!!

Emma is very spry and active.A beautiful lady!

Emma is very spry and active.A beautiful lady!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love listening to Delbert’s stories and he recites poetry that he wrote many many years ago telling stories! Their family is well known- Larry was our island representative for many years (like our governor). I have enjoyed getting to know Larry’s wife- Ann at the farmers market on Saturdays lately! She loves her garden like me and would be in the yard more than in the house!  Larry’s brother Gary runs the local establishment we ll hang out on Friday happy hours-Midway Inn. Another son- Locksley, is a fisherman and loves to take others out on his boat to the unknown parts of the island!

We made many stops driving back north to friends, dropping our cookies off and wishing MERRY CHRISTMAS to all……it was past 1 when we realized we were hungry, we were having so much fun and there hadn’t been a quite moment in the car in between stops!

We just pulled off the road to this beach and enjoyed the breeze and our lunch I had prepared!

finally made our lunch stop....perfect setting!

finally made our lunch stop….perfect setting!

breeze softly blowing while we ate our fresh greens from my garden!

breeze softly blowing while we ate our fresh greens from my garden!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We made stops at local business friends who were very surprised with our cookies. They serve us all the time and wanted to bless them! Even our very busy “Nurse Spense at our local clinic. (She was very very busy so we just dropped and left!)

Ophelia Smith

Ophelia Smith

Ophelia clears her farm herslef......

Ophelia clears her farm herslef……

Ophelia's original cook house

Ophelia’s original cook house