Hello! Welcome to Erstwhile Acres….we would love for you to meet our family. I am so glad you stopped by to meet us. Our family bought 62 acres in rural Ohio in 2020. We are learning new things about everyday life on a farm and documenting them here.
We have 6 bio kids and 2 adopted kids. Our oldest son is married to our wonderful daughter in law and we have 3 wonderful grand baby boys(this picture was taken before the last one was born). Next, our oldest daughter is in college and lives with a house full of girls near our home. Last but not least, our third child is married to our wonderful son in law and they live very close also. We are very blessed to have all our kids as close as they are right now. The rest of the kids are having fun living on the farm still. Fun fact: Between our first and last bio kid, they are 22 years apart! We have been parenting a LONG time which has already been a huge adventure!
Meet us
Charles and I have been married for 26 years which is another adventure that we can’t wait to continue on. We got married young and have been learning life together ever since. We started out living in an apartment, and then the city, then we moved to a more rural city. Each time we gained more land. We lived in the last house for 16+ years and learned many things about homesteading while there(we even had a flock of chickens). We loved it but dreamed of more land and a farm. In 2020, we were able to finally make that dream become reality and we moved to a 62 acre farm in rural Ohio.
Adoption is now part of our story
We began foster care several years ago. In that time, we have had many kids in and out of our home and have loved every single one of them. This last year we had the great blessing of being able to adopt the siblings we have had in care for the past few years. We feel so blessed to be part of their story.
Fun facts about me
I wasn’t going to have kids so I could own my own salon (God definitely changed these plans). Now I just cut the boys hair when I have to.
One fault I have is to want to buy every old falling down abandoned property that I could and restore it.
I graduated with honors from high school but didn’t go to college.
All my kids can plan an instrument or 2, but I played the clarinet in school and didn’t like it so I can’t play any.
Sometimes you eat your words, because I told everyone that I would never drive a minivan and now I graduated from a minivan to a 15 passenger van!
After high school, I worked at a place that made emergency medical equipment for a few years after graduation and after I quit I haven’t had an “official job” since then. 20+ years and counting.
Thrifting is my jam but Charles doesn’t like it but he goes with me because he loves me.
If you meet our family in real life it WILL be loud and crazy but we would love have you over for dinner.
I really do find enjoyment in everyday life…..
The story behind Erstwhile
We purchased this farm in 2020 mid-pandemic. It was built in 1918 so it is over 100 years old! We are only the 4th owners of the home. The farm has 62 acres that include a house, 2 barns, and garage. The land is hilly but has a stream that runs through it and a pond. It contains woods, pastures, and tillable land that we had planted in hay. It truly is an answer to prayer. You can read more about that >>>>.
The owners before us have mined rock from the pond. They have had a goat and cow business. They took care of the farm to the best of their ability and we can’t wait to refresh everything and put our own touches on the homestead. It is a beautiful property that we cannot believe we get the opportunity to take care of. God is writing this adventure story and we can’t wait to see it unfold.
Thank you so much for meeting our family…..
Thank you for stopping by to meet our family. We would love to have you follow along in our journey of finding adventure in everyday living on a farm.
