In life, there are some things that are "meant to be" and we both feel that "Doug and Teddi" were meant to be. How else would one person from Missouri happen to find someone from the New York/Pennsylvania wandering through their lives? If it were not part of God's plan, Jehovah, Allah...whoever we each believe is a part of our own individual lives...we would not have found each other. We were both wandering through this life feeling that something very vital was missing, and yet not really knowing or understanding what was needed. Our lives touched each other one evening when we met for dinner - and our wandering came to an end.
Doug and Teddi. Two people that have now found their places in life. We care for and love each other, we spend time together and enjoy it. We give each other the space to breath always knowing that the other is but a whisper away. We allow each other to be ourselves with no expectations that we will try to change each other...because we love each other just the way we are. Nothing fancy...but very happy. What more could a person ask for in life?
Each day, for a while at the beginning almost every few minutes, we have found things that we both enjoy, that we remember, that we want in life...we have many similarities and yet some differences. And it's okay to have things you are not the same in...Doug could eat spaghetti almost every meal but Teddi's isn't THAT fond of it. Teddi loves fish fixed almost any way possible and that is the last thing Doug would want for a meal. Those kinds of differences are OKAY in life!
On the important things...we agree. We agree that people should treat other gently and with love, and that it's wonderful to hear the one you love say "thank you" for all those little things. We know that it feels good to have someone hold you close and really care when you're feeling a little down - or just simply because they want to! We know that life is too short to fuss and fight - and that talking things through works so much better than anger and hurt feelings. As adults we have finally learned these things as part of the process that got us to where we are today.
We plan on making the most of the years that we have left. Both of us have been in previous relationships and as in all relationships, there is both good and bad, and these are a part of our memories...and a part of our past. At this point in life, we are focusing on today and tomorrow...content with the life we have, yet never failing to thank heaven for each other.
What follows are some pictures of where we are now, which we hope you will enjoy. No one in the family is a photographer (which I am sure you will agree before you get through the whole page) and we don't have the fancy cameras...but then again...those things aren't important to either one of us, so....what you see is what you get! Smile, laugh, and squint at the pics...and have a GREAT time!
This is our home...
Welcome to Brace's Hill...our own place in the country, where you can sit down and relax, and just plain enjoy living! Take your time and look at the pictures - there are a lot of them, and with time and the seasons we will add more!!
Living in the country may not be for everyone, but it certainly is for us! We started out in town, with close neighbors, but not people that we actually knew or talked to. Everyone was so busy running around - and no one knew each other.
This is another view...
Where we are now, folks wave when they drive by, and you learn who your neighbors are. There is a comfortable feeling - one of knowing that your in the right place and at the right time in life. Being away from the rush of the traffic, away from all the noise and sounds of "city life" is wonderful!
This is the house from the road...
This picture was taken from across the road, in front of our barn. We have about 6 acres on both sides of the road running in front of the house. As you can see from this shot - our house is on the hill...Brace's Hill!
This is the barn across the road from the house...
This is the barn I was just telling you about! It's sort of an example of what I was saying earlier about the difference of where we now live! It didn't take a long time to find out that "Pops" who lives down the road with his family was the one that built this barn for the family that had lived here before us. When we moved out here, we put all the "extra boxes" in here with the intention of going through things... Hopefully that will happen in the spring!
This is another shot of the barn...
At one time, this barn had been used to raise a variety of animals - but it doesn't look like it was used for very long. Before we moved we went out and cleaned out the place- you want to talk about dust! The land on this side of the road is primarily woods - lots of firewood for the fireplace, wood stove Doug plans to put in the living room - and the wood stove that is planned for the garage... It's looking like we will have to find a dozer soon though, because the land over here is primarily gullies - much to steep to take a regular vehicle through!
This is "old" barn that is behind the house.
^
This is the "old" barn that is in back of where the house sits. We would love to know all of the history of it - it's fascinating. Initially we had talked about tearing it down - but it didn't take us too long to change our minds! At this point, we have 36 guineas living in the "back" section, and we will be setting them free this spring. More on the guineas later....
This is the detached garage...
One of the things high on our list when we started looking for a place out in the county was one that had at least a two stall garage - and so this was one of the selling points when we found this place. There is plenty of room for a nice workshop - although at the moment it is a bit disorganized - but it doesn't stay that way for very long! Once it starts to be scattered Doug can't handle it and gets started putting things where they need to be! When you stay busy with projects all the time like he does - things just manage to get disorganized...and he has really been busy since we moved out here!!!
This is Doug holding our puppies...
At first - we didn't plan on getting any dogs...but we ended up getting them before long! The first time, the neighbor’s dogs attacked the ducks, tearing through the fence. No damage - just scared them a lot. Only a few days later...they chewed through the chicken pen and killed most of our cochen chickens. They didn't eat them - just killed them. We don't even want to talk about how Doug reacted to that... Suffice it to say - there was one less dog running around - but that was one out of six...
It wasn't fair - to our birds. Doug put up an electric fence to help protect the birds, now all we had to do was make sure we didn't get shocked!!! After talking it over, we decided to get a border collie - and amazingly there was an ad in the paper just a few days later for free border collies! And so...Pokey and Shilo joined us.
They were very different dogs from day one. Pokey knew no fear, bold, brassy, challenging everything and everyone. Shilo was the timid one, terrified of almost everything - especially his brother. He would shake and shiver...and when they played Pokey was always the leader, with Shilo timidly following. For a while after bringing the puppies home - the other dogs stayed away. Then one day we found the first dead duck down in the old barn. We figured that somehow one of the neighbors dogs or a predator had managed to trap her down there without us hearing anything, or while we were gone. A week or so later we found our first duck egg...and a dead duck in the front yard. It was obvious something wasn't right. We were both angry and confused when we returned one day to find more of the chickens killed - in their own pen again! What was going on???
Sadly...we finally found out. Pokey started getting bolder - and one evening he cut off one of the geese and was stalking her. I managed to stop him - but less than 5 minutes later he went after another one. We didn't actually "see" it...as we heard the fuss and came running. At that point, we stayed on the porch in the dark...and watched Pokey stalk one of the geese and then try to run it down the hill toward the lake for the kill.
We put an ad in the paper and found a really good home for Pokey. It was a tough decision to make, because of the two dogs, Pokey was the one that made the best guard dog - being brave and bold with other animals is important - but we couldn't let him keep killing the birds. We've heard from the people that we gave him to - and he has adjusted well and seems very happy. They couldn't have been happier - it was Matt's first dog as he had grown up in the city. His wife Erika was happy because before she had gotten married they had always had border collies on the farm...
This is Shilo...chilling out in the sun...
Shilo had a tough time initially when Pokey left - because they had been together since birth and he was really lonely. One of the adjustments - was getting him to realize he could go ahead and eat...Pokey wouldn't let Shilo near the food dish till he had his fill. Even getting two dishes didn't settle that problem, as Pokey would move between the dishes if Shilo started to approach one.
Shilo has really blossomed with time. He is still a little timid, but he is growing out of that more and more. He loves being the center of attention - and it's unbelievable how fast he can run! He has a rubber newspaper squeak toy - and loves for Doug to throw it as far as he can! He even barks now - something he just didn't do when we still had Pokey...although I'm sure the horses in the field next to us could care less when he starts it with them! They just ignore him... He gets no respect!!!
This is Doug and his tractor...
Busy, busy, busy! Doug is on the go constantly - there was a lot of grass to mow - and he mowed about six acres of it! One of the things that happened pretty quickly was taking down some of the fences out of the yards! No sense cutting yourself off from your own land - and why have to mow around even more things???
Both of us love animals – particularly birds…
These are our cochins – beautiful black chickens with “feather pants” that drape down over their feet. At the point this picture was taken they were still in outdoor pen – but they have moved inside now and the ducks are in this area.
These are what our ducks looked like when we first got them – so tiny!
These were the ducklings – and they grew soooooo fast!!!!
The ducks in their pen…
These ducks have done a lot of moving! First they were in the potting shed, then in this duck pen, and for a while roaming free. They loved that – but after loosing a few we decided it was safer to have them penned up…
Another shot of the duck pen…
The ducks have given us some real laughs! They were in the pen and finally we decided they were probably big enough to turn loose – with the lake so close it didn’t seem fair to keep them in a pen. We both told ourselves it was time – but we still had some separation anxiety… We loaded them up, took them down and set them free. They were delighted – jumped in the lake, swimming around and diving, coming up looking like they were laughing in delight! After about 20 minutes we started back up the hill…still concerned but knowing it was time to let go… Imagine our surprise when we weren’t 10 feet away and they all started getting out of the lake and “following” us home – and went on their own straight into the duck pen!!! We laughed till it almost hurt! It was fun to go for an outing – but they weren’t letting us out of their sight – it was time to come “home”!
This is the guinea hoop pen. It started out for the chickens and when they outgrew it – it was the guineas turn!
The guineas have been a learning experience for us! The first ones we knew nothing about – and probably set them free too quickly. They didn’t last long – there were 7 – either the neighbor’s dogs or else predators got them. So – we ordered more, and got 36. We have kept them penned up till they are mature – and will let them go when they will have more of a chance to fly or get away from other animals.
The guineas are Doug’s critters…
We moved right on…and the geese were next… Teddi’s daughter in laws’ mother and dad are also into birds – and when they decided to get rid of their geese…guess who was more than willing to take them? They tend to come running…. Then they spot you and take off running! Actually – they are wonderful “watch dogs” – as you always know if someone strange is around – they throw a fit, fussing and squalling! They are Mr. Bascum, Wilma and Betty – and we keep hoping that maybe we will be around sometime and find an egg soon after it’s laid – to put in the incubator. They roam free and are not known for nesting, so if we find one – it will be up to us… The field next to the house has some horses… This is Doug and Big Red having a talk one hot summer afternoon. The horses don’t get any attention so it doesn’t take too much to get them to come to the fence for a little attention – and just to have a chat! Doug and the Doodle Bug… A friend of Doug’s gave him his old van – and Doug cut it down for a doodlebug. It’s amazing the amount of trees Doug has pulled out of the woods with this thing – and how handy it is for hauling things around from place to place out here. It just seems a little strange to Teddi to be sitting in an “open air” van – talk about a MAJOR sun roof… This is the driveway… One thing that is really nice is the circular blacktop drive up to the house! The one side is steep so if there is any snow or ice it isn’t safe to use – but there is plenty of room to turn around! Doug’s truck (his pride and joy) is sitting in the driveway by the garage. There are lots of trees…I mean firewood… Doug worked hard at cutting firewood – for the fireplace, but most of it isn’t seasoned. The people hardly ever used the fireplace, and the old woodpile they left had been there for years! There was an old duck house down by the lake… For some reason though – none of the ducks seemed to care for it, even though we tried putting food in it to get them to go in. The geese were the same way – they are usually at the back door – or within a few yards most of the time… The back of the garage… This was where Doug originally put the duck run…complete with a big puddle he made for them. They totally love the water – just not the lake! Through the summer the garden hose was usually hooked up to give them a gentle shower – and keep their puddle filled! Needless to say – the ducks are just a little spoiled… They have their own bath tub now – and love it! The view from the backyard… Is the lake in back of the house… It’s an acre and a half – and has some huge fish in it! Another shot from a different spot… The country out here is beautiful…and the lake is so awesome to look at… The sun reflects off of the water – creating visions that change and shift from moment to moment… This was the original picture we saw of the lake… And it simply does NOT do it justice! The first time we came out – we saw the lake and were looking for the little pond in this picture… They should have fired that photographer… More pictures of the lake…. The shadows in the water…the majestic trees…the clouds reflection… ^ This is the levy at the end of the lake - very quiet and peaceful It’s a wonderful spot to stand and look at the lake - pondering life - The spill area is on this end – but it was a dry summer – not too much to worry about. This is Doug and the tractor one beautiful afternoon when we were in the glen he cleared out a week or so before. I hadn't been on that side of the lake till then and was amazed at how peaceful it is! And this is Teddi at just about the same spot that afternoon. I guess it was only fair to take a pic of me too – that didn’t mean that I wanted to have one taken, but if Doug asked, yeah, I gave in. I love to see Doug smile! This is taken on the far end of the front of our land There was an area for a mobile home – including water. It’s separate – with it’s own fenced in yard and parking area. December 15, 2002, Teddi’s daughter moved over there temporarily. That is a LONG story! Another view NEXT – are wedding pictures… December 29, 2001 The wedding invitation… We designed it – and printed it – so it would be just the way it should be… Doug and Teddi before the wedding... Doug and Teddi before the wedding, when the photographer was taking pictures. Everyone was glad that we took the pictures before the wedding - because all of the smiling, shifting people around, and standing still got very old VERY fast! I think that after the wedding we probably all would have said "forget it"! What a group! Brandi, Teddi, Doug and Andru (Brandi and Andru are Teddi’s children). By this time most of us just wanted to get things moving!!! More family! Carol and Sal Amato joined the group up front for pictures… Carol is Teddi’s sister – and wasn’t expected to be able to make it because Sal had surgery just days before the wedding. It was a total shock and delight when they showed up!!! The wedding cake! was delicious! Another view! It was carrot cake - and in the evening with the lights off and the fountain lighted - it was also beautiful! Mr. and Mrs. Brace! You may now kiss the bride... Doug??? Teddi??? Hey guys...Doug? Walking down the aisle together – beaming!!! An interesting note: The couple that stood up for us, Milton and Belvy got married after we did - but they slipped off to Vegas without a word to anyone! This is after we cut the cake smiling and very happy! Another cake picture Another view! It was carrot cake – and totally delicious! When the lights were out and the fountain was running - it was beautiful. We kept things on a small scale, and did all the decorating and setting up ourselves (with some help from the kids). Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Arthur Brace!!!
From what we have been told – guineas don’t really get “tame” – but they have really adapted to Doug – he is the “food man” – and man can they eat!!! They are supposed to eat ticks – and we do have a lot out here, so in the spring hopefully it will all be worth it. At this point though, all they have to do is see or hear Doug and they start screaming! Have you ever heard 36 guineas screaming at one time??? I am so glad that they are in the old barn down the hill from the house! When they were still in this hoop pen they were almost at the back door – TOO close!!!
Doug and Teddi are delighted you stopped by and took our tour! We love to hear from people - so if you have time, drop us a line! And have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!
