Hazelgrove in Thornton | Landmark & historical place

Hazelgrove

Locality: Thornton

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• Landmark & historical place
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25.01.2022 Heres one I prepared earlier. A little housewarming present for the farm down the road - because nothing says happy quite like Spring blossom.

25.01.2022 Ive been busy working on an exciting new project during Covid lockdown. There are still some bits and pieces to finalise before I can show you but I can tell you Im pretty sure youre going to like it. This little test run is going out to a dear friend and I cant wait to hear what she thinks! ... You are welcome to join the mailing list if youd like to be amongst the first to see it. (Link in bio.)

24.01.2022 (Turn sound on) Apparently our resident kookaburra thinks my latest wreath is a bit of a laugh. He is so gorgeous. He practically knocks on the window to come and talk to me every day. He also has a knack of perching himself in a picture perfect way on my garden bench and my favourite old fence post and even a little old bike I have sitting under the Oak tree. ... Any tips on what I should feed him?

24.01.2022 Thank you so much for sprinkling all that love in my last post! Wow. What an amazing family we have here in Instaland. The rain has settled in here now. The snow made it to the hills near the house but unfortunately we didnt really get it on the farm. (Insert sad face.) Last week I made the most of the sunshine and spent my time on the verandah making wreaths. ... A seasonal wreath is a really easy thing to do. I used wisteria cuttings to make the wreath and then added some layers of foliage. The first layer was some olive branches, then I added some beautiful fresh wattle. The branches are mostly just weaved in there with a little bit of string where needed to hold it in place. I just tied the string in bows to make it easy to undo - that way when it starts to look a bit tired, its a super quick process to pull out the old foliage and add in some new. . . . . . . . . . . . #wreathmaker#handmadewreath#wreath#doorwreaths#frontdoorwreath#flowerwreath#wreathsofinstagram#doorwreath#creativelifehappylife#creativelife#createveryday#creativitymatters#creativityeveryday#artistslife#creativemind#creativityforlife#courageouscreative#createeveryday#farmhouseexterior#farmhousedecor#farmhousestyle#farmhousestylewelove#lovefarming#thisfarminglife#countrystyle#countrystylehomes#countrystylehomesandinteriors

22.01.2022 I manifested a house. Actually, Ive done it twice but tonight I want to tell you about Hazelgrove Farm. I have loved this painting ever since I was a little girl. The cattle, the sunlight, the hint of a lovely old farmhouse hidden behind the trees. In my early 20s, I was gifted the beautiful antique oak frame and as soon as I saw it, I knew exactly what I wanted to put in it. ... When it came came home from the framer, I hung it on the wall opposite my bed. I did this so that it would be the first thing I saw when I woke up in the morning and the last thing I saw before I closed my eyes at night. For years and years I stared at the picture and wished to have a similar place of my own one day. The paddocks, the trees, the sense of peace and space. I would pour over @countrystylemag magazines and imagine myself living in homes just like those in the pages. I had been driving past Hazelgrove my whole life to holiday at Lake Eildon and Id always admired the farmhouse. I wondered who lived there and what it was like. I told myself, one day it would be mine. Then, it happened. Auction day came and we were able to save the house from the bulldozer of the underbidder. Have a look at these three photos I have taken over time. - The painting - The farmhouse before reno - The back paddock and cows Im pretty sure thats manifesting! What do you think? @ Hazelgrove

21.01.2022 I love looking at the before and after photos of our reno. I didnt have Insta back then and hardly took any photos either! I know, what was I thinking - but I do have some before shots that were taken by the previous owner. This shot is the cleaned up version of the hallway before the reno. The locals tell me the hallway used to be lined with old newspapers stacked to the ceiling and there was just a narrow pathway to get down the hall to the bedrooms. ... No-one ever used the front door (like most country properties) and all visitors entered via the back door. We kept the original coloured glass, the inside of the door was painted white and the front of the door was stripped back and waxed to bring back its beautiful wood tones. The floor was lined with beautiful, old, patterned, green lino. To replace it, I used a carpet hall runner in the same tonings. A nod to its past and the green bringing the outside in. The original walls were nothing more than hessian with wallpaper over the top. I cant imagine how cold it must have been! We plastered and added dado detailing before painting. Pretty much everything in this house has a story. The framed pictures on the right are old farming advertisements I found in some of the old newspapers. The frame on the left is one of my favourite things. Its a hand written letter quoting the cast iron lacework around the verandah. (Ill tell you more on that in another post.) The old ironing board and wooden crate box were trinkets I found in the old milking shed and the rocking horse was a gift from my sister. @ Hazelgrove

21.01.2022 Anyone who owns an old home will know what I’m talking about when I speak of the ‘never ending to do list’. This gorgeous little shed was once the laundry, complete with a copper for clothes washing. We are turning it in to another bathroom with storage. ... The termites have had a field day selectively eating boards and over time the guttering has rusted away leaving the little shed sitting in tonnes of water. As a result, over time, the whole building has been sinking, particularly the corner where the red brick copper is. So now we need to pump out out the water and jack the corner up before we can start the restoration.

19.01.2022 What a glorious Sunday. Is it wrong to say I was more than happy with the social distancing rules today?

19.01.2022 Snow is on its way! Ive been running around the verandah like a lunatic in my dressing gown! Sooo excited to see the farm under a blanket of snow.

18.01.2022 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - Plato Its been 9 years since we saved our little farmhouse from the bulldozer. I still look at this photo and wonder what on Earth I was thinking! When that little voice inside your head says Its too hard, it wont work heres a little bit of inspiration for you.

18.01.2022 Look. At. This! My heart skipped a beat when I opened the mail last week and found this stunning original watercolour of Hazelgrove by Lizzie at @a_vintage_twist. No catch, just a gift from the heart. Oh how I love my Insta family. ... She has so perfectly captured the peace and grace of our farmhouse. To pay it forward, I’m linking arms with Lizzie and holding a competition to win an original watercolour of your own home. Entering is simple. - Follow @a_vintage_twist and @hazelgrove_farm - Tag 3 friends A winner will be drawn at random this Sunday night 29th Nov. and notified via messenger. (This competition is in no way endorsed by Instagram). Good luck!

17.01.2022 It’s time for a splash of paint. We have four fireplaces at the farm. Two in the kitchen, one in the lounge room and one in the guest bedroom. When renovating the house, I made the decision to leave them original but I’m over the dark colour so ‘we’ are giving them an overhaul with the good old @duluxaus antique white USA to match the French doors and windows. ... There was a little piece missing from the lounge room mantelpiece. At some point it had been on fire! I can’t wait for the paint to dry!

17.01.2022 I love my friends! Ive been so spoilt this week. A card in the mail, just to say hello, the most adorable sequinned mask by @seashelldesignsaustralia and then a delivery of fresh magnolia branches from my beautiful neighbour. ... How lucky am I?! #whenyourmaskmatchesyourflowers

17.01.2022 Melbourne has been in lockdown for 101 days now. I have been in my own lockdown for 239 and I haven’t cuddled my beautiful Mum since this photo was taken in February, 243 days ago! Yes, I counted! With cancer in my lung, I’ve been all for the isolation and lockdown to eradicate Covid but the other side to this is the anguish of not spending precious time with our loved ones. You always need your Mumma. Even at my age. ... We missed the celebrations of Mum’s 70th, my sister’s 50th and my daughters 16th and 20th birthdays this year. Come on Covid. Be off with you now. I’ve got things to do. If you’re in Melbourne, tell me what you can’t wait to do.

17.01.2022 Its time to change the greenery in this wreath. The olive branches served me well and the wattle lasted a good two weeks and is only just starting to look a little tired now. I used string tied in bows to attach the greenery to the wreath, so now its a simple process of untying the bows and adding new foliage.

16.01.2022 2020 has been quite the year. For me, like many, it has been a time to be still, be at one with the quiet, go inward and listen. Within the quiet I heard a voice.... That voice has inspired me to create something new from my heart. I’m calling it ‘You Have My Word’. I invite you to join me as I bring this to life. Please join my mailing list at www.youhavemyword.com.au Stunning artwork by @youlissyscreative

16.01.2022 Its a cuppa on the verandah kind of morning here. Just me and my new handmade wreath. Yesterday I wrote about spending too much time on the Internet so I made an effort to get back to doing and gee it felt good. Today will be somewhere in the middle - straight after that cuppa.

15.01.2022 I can’t stop thinking about a conversation I had with a friend the other day. We don’t see each other very often and like a lot of us, we are guilty of keeping up to date with one another’s news via social media more than the odd phone call. She told me she was uncomfortable with something between us and she didn’t really know the best way to handle it. Shifting uncomfortably in my seat, I leaned in and asked her to elaborate.... I don’t know what to say to you she said. I don’t know whether to ask you about the cancer or not. I don’t want to upset you by bringing it up in conversation but I don’t want to seem like I’m ignoring it either. We can’t possibly know what you are really going through Mandy. We can only try to imagine and our hearts break for you. We love you so much. We don’t know what to say and we don’t know what to do. I just haven’t stopped thinking about this. It must be awful for the people around me. Near and far. It got me thinking that there is probably a bit of this feeling of helplessness in everyone around me. Cancer is bloody awful for everyone. I don’t talk about it much. I don’t want to give it any time. Maybe that makes it even more difficult for those around me. But here’s the thing. If you’re in the same predicament with someone you love, ask them how they are. Ask them how it’s going. You won’t be reminding them that they have cancer. I can assure you they have not forgotten! A terminal diagnosis is not something you can forget about. It’s the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about when I fall asleep at night. Ask them how they are. Ask how you can help. Just ask. If they want to talk further, they will. If they don’t, your concern hasn’t gone unnoticed. Just ask. Tag a friend who might like to read this.

15.01.2022 What a beautiful Spring day to be outside and do something productive. An everlasting wreath today, handmade with locally sourced materials, by me.

15.01.2022 Woo hoo! Things are getting a bit exciting around here. My ribbon has arrived. I can’t wait to package up a ‘You Have My Word’ gift box and show you. It’s going to look so pretty.

14.01.2022 Sometimes you have to just stop and smell the ... blossom.

14.01.2022 There is nothing more precious than watching the little ones with their farm animals. Simple pleasures.

14.01.2022 GIVEAWAY!!! Who said you need a reason to do a giveaway?! I have teamed up with my super stylish friends over at @merchantsofbotanica to bring you the chance to win one of their DIVINE Botanic vases.... To enter: - Follow @merchantsofbotanica - Follow @hazelgrove_farm - Tag 3 friends - Add the competition to stories or share to your page for bonus points Thats it! Ts & Cs : The winner will be announced and contacted via messenger on Wednesday night 19.08.20. Open to Australian residents only. This giveaway competition is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Instagram.

14.01.2022 Another day, another little job around the house.

13.01.2022 You have terminal cancer. Those four words turned my world upside down last year. Four years ago, at 47, I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer. Its in my family. My Nan died from it when she was 53. Back then, I thought she was a little old lady. I missed her terribly but I thought well, she is old and thats what happens to old people. (My Pa had died a few years earlier at 52.) At 51, I now realise thats not old enough! Ive got stuff to do! I went to hell and bac...k dealing with that Stage 3 situation and after the train ride from hell, I spent three glorious months celebrating being cancer free. I had a big 50th birthday party here at the farm, surrounded by all the people I love most in the world. I had my next 50 years all mapped out and was looking forward to so many new adventuresbut, it came back and ruined all my plans. So the last 18 months have been dedicated to proving the Doctors wrong. Dedicating a massive amount of time and money into beating this monster again. By nature, Im a positive person. I love a project, especially a creative one and Im always dreaming up new things to throw myself into. So besides managing the physical and mental aspects of my health (chemo brain is a real thing!) I have been working on a little something new. Im busting to tell you all about it but its not quite at that stage yet. What I can tell you, is that its a gift of love and I want everyone to have one. Oh, and the other thing I can tell you is that when you receive that bowel cancer test in the mail, DO IT!

13.01.2022 Brightening our day with a bunch of snowballs from @maison_canterbury.

12.01.2022 If 2020 was a wreath, it would have to be barbed wire. Right?! Fear not though, dear friends. Its nothing a bit of blossom and sunshine cant fix. What was the best thing you did today?

11.01.2022 Hands down, the most precious thing in the house is this beautiful old jug. I say old with one eyebrow raised, as its exactly the same age as me. My Mum gave it to me on my 50th birthday. It was the jug she used to warm my baby bottles when I was a new born. How precious is that?... This will be passed down to my daughters one day. They can fight between themselves to work out who gets it. If you didnt see my last post, head on over and take a look. Ive teamed up with @merchantsofbotanica to giveaway one of their stunning Botanic vases.

11.01.2022 Would you believe these hydrangeas are fake? I hunted high and low to find the most beautiful quality flowers for my wreaths. It makes all the difference.

11.01.2022 Seems so appropriate as Victoria navigates Stage 3 and 4 restrictions across the state. Stay safe everyone.

11.01.2022 More wreath making today. My neighbour dropped off another bunch of wisteria cuttings and I want to add some wattle in while it is in full bloom.

11.01.2022 Three cheers for the @alexandra_hotel! Not only do they do THE best croissants and sour dough bread on a Saturday, they also go the extra mile with Covid precautions. (Go the extra mile... see what I did there?)

10.01.2022 This morning we sprung a neighbour scurrying off with a big bunch of wattle that was acquired from a tree on our nature strip. Im happy for her to have it of course, but it got me thinking. Is it a sin or a thing, to bring home some treasures from your walk?

10.01.2022 Talk about 4 seasons in one day! Snowing in April!

09.01.2022 Behold our little laundry shed. Isnt she a beauty? She sits right at the back door and has become a feature of our entertaining area. I chose to leave her untouched. Just as she was when we found her. Believe it or not, the whole house was in the same condition when got it and I love having the laundry as a reminder of how the farmhouse used to look. The wooden floor has the most divine patina. A well worn path trails to the old copper in the corner. (Can you imagine how di...fficult life must have been when this was how the clothes were washed?!) The walls are not lined and there are lots of nails here and there, which Im guessing were used to hang clothes and the like. The back wall has an old, worn, concrete trough. It can sometimes be a bit tricky trying to integrate exisiting features into an old house renovation but in this case, it has worked well for us. It provides privacy from passers by and protection from the elements - and its pretty easy on the eye too. Unfortunately the termites have had a feast and the floor is falling in now, which means the walls are sinking too, so she sits as a priority on the never ending list of projects. In the meantime, she serves as another place for my little vignettes.

08.01.2022 Being a Melbournian listening to the news this morning, I cant help but think the best place to be might be snuggled up in bed today. Ive been going through old photos remembering some of the fabulous times we have had here at the farm with family and friends. Come on Covid, go away! Ive got things to do! ... Tell me. What are you missing the most? What are you busting to do when things get back to normal?

08.01.2022 Hello, welcome and thank you for following! I dont mind telling you Im feeling just a little bit special today with 2000 followers here. Im curious to know what you like about my account so I can share more. ... Is it the pretty pics of the farmhouse and surrounds, the renovation shots, the wreaths and art, the workshops and events, my cancer journey, those adorable animals? Id love to know! X

07.01.2022 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - Plato It’s been 9 years since we saved our little farmhouse from the bulldozer. I still look at this photo and wonder what on Earth I was thinking! When that little voice inside your head says It’s too hard, it won’t work here’s a little bit of inspiration for you.

06.01.2022 After waking up and finding a magical rainbow spanning the entire paddock at the back door this morning, I thought this place had delivered my surprise for the day. Then, whilst doing my @deepakchopra healing meditation this afternoon ( thank you Deepak), our favourite farmer called me and said Mandy, we’ve got a horseman out the back bringing the cattle up to high ground. Now, you won’t see me running very often, but I was off the couch like lightning, grabbing my gumboot...s and running across the grass to the back paddock for some photos. We have had so much rain that the river at the back has burst the banks and the poor cows were ankle deep in rising water. Too wet for a vehicle, the only way to move them was with a little gentle persuasion from Allan and Barney. Have I ever mentioned how much I love this place?

06.01.2022 Thank you @decobroad for the nomination. Heres to all strong women. Im so lucky to be surrounded by a loyal tribe of incredibly strong, sassy, inspirational women. Today I celebrate us. ... May we know them, May we raise them, May we be them.

06.01.2022 May your latibule bring you much comfort. I love words. I love writing them, reading them and learning them. Im watching Anne with an E on Netflix at the minute and apart from not being able to get enough of the simplistic beauty of her surroundings, I love the way Anne sees beauty in all things. I love her imagination and the way words can transport her to another time and place. ... Anyone else out there a word lover? Please? Dont leave me here... Give me your favourite word.

06.01.2022 Just some pretty Highland cattle to brighten the moooood here in Victoria tonight.

05.01.2022 Who loves a ‘before and after’ shot? I do! Check out how our kitchen looked before the reno. This house was always owned by the same family and was so untouched when we bought it. It even had the pot chains hanging down the chimney. The first thing I ever cooked in here was good old pumpkin soup in a big cast iron pot, straight over the open flames of the fire. The novelty of cooking like that wore off pretty quickly but the novelty of being caretaker of this beautiful little farm never will!

04.01.2022 You really have to be careful what you wish for. When I told the Universe I didn’t really want to do anything today, I mean, I didn’t mean it. We are only 10 days away from launching ‘You Have My Word’ and I still have lots of work to do. ... I left my computer charger in Melbourne and with a flat battery and stacks to do, I’m firmly blaming the Universe for taking me so literally! If you would like to be notified when we go live, see the link in bio to join my mailing list.

04.01.2022 A river in the back yard!

04.01.2022 A good, beautiful, sun shiny morning to you! The Lamarque roses probably don’t get as much sun as they would like here but they still look so pretty around the front entrance and smell divine.

04.01.2022 Covid isolation days. (No mad cow jokes thanks!)

04.01.2022 Image: Where Id rather be. Its intravenous Chemo day today. That means a trip to the big smoke to sit in the chair. I know it should be considered a privilege to live in a society where we have access to Western medicine but to be honest, I struggle with it. ... There is no way to measure the effectiveness of these treatments and no real way of knowing what would happen without them. The side effects make me constantly question what I am doing and I guess the upside is that in turn, that encourages me to find my own way out of this. So, I rely on what the white coats tell me and spend a considerable amount of my time researching and implementing alternative therapies too. Every day I wake up, get straight out of bed, fling those curtains open and think I dont have time for this! Ive got so much I want to do! Its just a bloody big inconvenience but for now, Ive resigned myself to the fact that this is what I need to be doing. Im not going to be that girl with cancer. Im going to be the girl that got rid of it.

04.01.2022 You may have seen my post about the hallway renovation a couple of days ago. I thought you might like to see one more, to compare both photos looking towards the front door. Cause who doesnt love a house renovation before and after shot? @ Hazelgrove

03.01.2022 Hands up those spending waaaay too much time on the Internet. I see you, I hear you! As a manic creative I have a tendency to get a bit obsessed with things. Right now, its discovering lots of new peeps and inspiration on Instagram and its stifling my creativity - Im not actually doing much! ... So today Im making wreaths with fresh foliage, using wisteria from a neighbours front gate. (Its all good - they were cutting back.) And, to gather my foliage, I get to go for a walk and breathe that fresh country air.

03.01.2022 I’m still trying to decide if he’s cute or scary. What do you think?

02.01.2022 One wreath, two ways. That’s the beauty of a seasonal wreath. Simply change the foliage with the seasons.

01.01.2022 Weve had four seasons in one day here. Foggy vistas, the light pitter patter of rain on the tin roof, glorious sunshine, dramatic clouds and pretty rainbows that I could almost reach and touch. Does anyone else break out into song when they see a rainbow? (Thank you Judy Garland)

01.01.2022 Do not be fooled by that innocent smile. Hes not called Rammy for nothing!