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A 2008 Update.......
We moved last summer to a wonderful Greek Revival property nestled in a small valley in Trumansburg NY between 2 of the Finger Lakes, with the idea of opening a bed and breakfast and small boarding/breeding facility, as our employment situations had changed, with Leslie consulting and working in softline retail sales.......For those interested in riding in the Finger Lakes National Forest, located just minutes away or exploring our beautiful Finger Lakes wine country, Amish crafts and hiking, fishing or boating in this region (see www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com) .............However, due to a wonderful job opportunity for Paul and Leslie in NSW Australia, we will be relocating over the next months to Wagga Wagga, home of Charles Sturt University. Here Leslie and Paul will be performing research and extension with emphasis on alternative pest management strategies for Australian cropping systems. The friendliness and support of our Australian colleagues and the opportunity to retire in a warmer climate surrounded by vineyards and horse farms was hard to resist. Nicole will be finishing her high school studies here in New York State and plans to graduate in 2009 with her class in Trumansburg while Leslie starts her position this summer of 2008, with Paul moving later in 2009.
Sadly, we have had to downsize and leave behind most of our beloved mares and show string. However, we will be taking our young stallion, Time To Be Radical with us to Australia. He will be standing and training in Victoria in 2008-2009. We will also be importing another quarter horse stallion in the future to continue our ability to breed and show high quality western performance horses in Australia, based on top performance lines here in the US, with a focus on western pleasure and western riding. As a result, we have sold most of our older Appaloosa stock, to some wonderful homes. We have made many friends through these linkages and are happy to have our horses in such great show homes. However, we have several wonderful young prospects available for your consideration. We hope to retain a mare or two in partnership so we can continue to breed a foal or two yearly here in the US. When you see our foals of 2008, you will understand why we hate to part with these great producers.
Another heart wrenching consequence of moving down under involves the eventual sale of our farm and home. It is currently being offered for sale to the right party, and is reasonably priced. A full description and photos can be found on our farm link, and if you would like more information, please don't hesitate to contact us. We hope to eventually complete our move in 2009, after Nicole graduates. Due to the increased tourism and wine sales in this region, and the fact that Ithaca College, Cornell University and SUNY Cortland are all within 20 minutes of this location, there is a great need for high quality inns or bed and breakfasts in this location. We will be opening our inn this spring and welcome any visitors, both 2 legged or 4 legged, as we have space for all!
The house and grounds consist of an 1845 Greek Revival Home that has been carefully restored to its traditional Empire style, sitting on 7 protected acres, surrounded by large trees and adjacent fields and woods. We moved in 2007 and added an 8 stall barn with tack and feed room and large spacious stalls (12 x 16 and 12x 20) with dutch doors/windows. The wooden barn was carefully constructed by local Amish builders using oak, hickory and pine and finished with iron grill work in stalls and doors, dutch doors and windows, running water in pastures and barns, rolling stall and barn doors, and a spacious insulated loft. We are currently fencing and establishing new pastures using our favorite post and electrobraid fencing.
The historic gardens have been recently updated and restored and slate walkways uncovered. The blue slate patio is now surrounded by perennial gardens and is covered by a beautiful trellised arbor of table grapes. The 7 plus acres have a wonderful 2 story historic barn, numerous gardens, a fenced gravel patio and play area for our dogs, and some lovely mature trees and pastoral views. Wildlife includes wild turkeys, owls, pheasant, songbirds and deer.Additional adjoining acreage surrounding the house is available. A two acre woodlot containing sugar maples, oak and butternut shelters the barn and pastures.Additional adjoining acreage is available for purchase as well.
The house is in superb structural condition due to great care over the last 160 years (it stayed in the family until 1978) and has been now upgraded with efficient propane heat in all living areas and has a functional wood furnace as well as an efficient fuel oil furnace. Two wells provide ample high quality water to the house and grounds. The house was built in traditional Empire style with a beautiful curved circular cherry staircase, tall 12 foot ceilings, wonderful eyebrow and full size windows giving each room lots of light, original wideplank pine and fir flooring throughout, original light fixtures in some rooms, a large brick fireplace in the living room, spacious dining room with formal woodwork and moldings, library, 4 separate bedrooms, 3 with attached baths/showers, and a renovated summer kitchen/loft/family room with original wooden beams and french doors overlooking patio and gardens. We have used traditional colors and wallpapers to decorate throughout. The full dry basement is remarkable in its inlaid slate floors, slate tables and original shelving. The large attached garage/shop provides lots of storage and can be heated with a wood burning stove as well. This one of kind property was owned by only 4 families during its 165 year history and was built by a prosperous merchant family, The Biggs, who owned and operated the first hardware store in Trumansburg NY. The 4000 square foot home could be a large family home or a lovely bed and breakfast.
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