Today is my 5 YEAR BLOGIVERSARY. I can’t believe it’s been 5 years since I first hit the button that said “publish”. The time has flown by.
I thought it would be fun to take a look back.
2011
Here’s my very first post. Can you tell I used to be a portrait photographer?
I wasn’t sure exactly what I would write about. I named the blog after my farm. I originally named the blog Cedar Hill Ranch. We called it a ranch because we don’t really grow anything there besides hay. I felt it was cheating to call it a farm. Finally I changed the name to Cedar Hill Farmhouse because apparently no one thinks of French interior design when they see the word ‘ranch.’
I also had no real goals for the blog. I wasn’t focused on numbers, just on making it as high quality as I could with helpful information.
My husband and my friends didn’t take it very seriously. They would say,
- Do you STILL have something to write about?
- Aren’t you about done with this phase?
- Isn’t that an expensive hobby?
My mom didn’t get it at all. One day with Google shut down my blog over a misunderstanding, she said it was for the best that it was gone. What???
My husband didn’t get it until I had my first sponsored post by Cavenders. He was so impressed that someone was actually paying me money.
I was getting my feet wet, working on my photography, trying different topics, road trips, talking about my family, projects, and recipes.
I did a home tour of my friend Caroline’s house.
I also had my first big break with the post on my back porch daybed redo. It was featured every where.
2012
This was the year of our big wildflower party. The bluebonnets were spectacular that year.
This was the year I converted my living room and bedroom from red and gold to neutral colors by making many, many slipcovers. If the room doesn’t look familiar, it’s because it’s from our old city house we sold when we moved in 2013.
2013
This was the year we built our dream house, and moved from the burbs right into the heart of the city.
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON OUR CITY HOUSE
It was also the year for my first magazine feature.
FEATURED IN ROMANTIC HOMES MAGAZINE
We moved into our new home in August. The move in was delayed several times. I thought we were moving in July. So that explains how I got myself into a little pickle. I was part of a blog tour that took place just 4 days after moving into our new house. Thankfully the tour was just for the kitchen. What it doesn’t say in the blog post is that I pushed and pushed to get moved in, and then got strep throat a few weeks probably from sheer exhaustion. Lesson learned, or at least I HOPE I learned it.
2014
This was the year I got the book deal. I wrote, and wrote and wrote this year. Meanwhile I kept up with my blog.
I had some projects I did, but mostly I wrote the book. Writing is hard work.
I also worked on many updates at our farm. It occurred to me that if I was writing about French design, then my farm needed to look more ‘Frenchy’. Think of how you finish those projects right before company comes over. Then imagine that the company is going to be taking photos of your home and that lots of people will be seeing those photos. Makes you take a much harder look at your house is all I can say. That pushed me into making everything look its best.
2015
I finally had the kitchen painted in 2015. And, you guessed it, they got done just in time for the final edits of the book. The results were worth it!
Then later I opened my online shop, and wow, I was not prepared for the amount of orders!! The vintage grainsack pillows below sold like HOT CAKES!
CHF ONLINE SHOP (closed in 2017)
Finally in August my book came out a few weeks early. My publisher sold out of the entire first run in 8 days (I think that’s right.)
affiliate link
FRENCH ACCENTS, FARMHOUSE FRENCH STYLE FOR TODAY’S HOME
Right around the time my book was released, I got word that my house made the cover of Country French magazine. Here I am with my friend Peggy.
MY HOUSE ON THE COVER OF COUNTRY FRENCH MAGAZINE
I also became a columnist for the ROUND TOP REGISTER in 2015.
COLUMNIST FOR THE ROUND TOP REGISTER
2016
This year we bought a house that we hope to retire in. It’s in BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC.
Congratulations on a fabulous 5 years. I am looking forward to many more years of your wonderful blog.
5 years? That’s all? You have accomplished way more than 5 years of blogging! Yay You!
Happy anniversary, Anita! I enjoy your blog very much; it’s like visiting with a friend and catching up with what’s happening in your life.
I tried to order your book with the discount, but could not get discount using PayPal. HELP!
Anita, help I tried to order your book but there is no where to input a discount code of $10. Also what is the code. P.s. Thank you for the years of valuable information.
Thanks Dorothy. I’ve got it all taken care of for you.
Glad we got it taken care of.
BOOK10 MY apologies
Happy Blogiversary Anita!! You have accomplished so much in the last five years!! Congratulations and keep up the great work!!
Maxine
Thank you Maxine. I appreciate your sweet words.
Congratulations Anita! Love your blog and oh my! – you have really accomplished a lot in 5 years.
I found you with the wildflower party!!! Loved everything you have done!
What an awesome last 5 yrs. Congrats!!. I pray the next 5 are just as awesome. Have a Blessed Day!!
Congratulations on all your success!
Congrats on making 5 years!! What accomplishments you have made and so glad you stuck with it an believed in yourself, I always love reading your blog and the beautiful pictures you have to show!!
So kind Cheryl, thank you so much,
I love your blog! Congrats on 5 years! I want to order you book but not seeing the code ?!? I’m probably looking r at it too 😉
BOOK10 I am so sorry. I think I forgot to include it, but just fixed it.
Congratulations Anita! What an accomplishment – I really enjoy your blog.
Thank you Patti.
Hey Anita! Congratulations on 5 wonderfully accomplished years!! Wishing you continued success, but also the balance you crave… 🙂 I figured it was time I got a hard copy of the book as well, but didn’t see the code. Let me know what I need to do to get it. All the best, Lory
I just realized it was missing. BOOK10 Thanks for the heads up Lory and thanks for all of the good vibes.
Hi Anita,
You will most likely fall in love with NC. Originally from San Francisco area , I lived 50 minutes outside Seattle for the past 15 yrs. I worked like crazy 7 days a week and had a huge mortgage and hated the nasty weather. As a single woman almost 60 I decided to completely change my life. I knew I wanted to downsize my 2400 sq. ft. home and acreage. I shopped online for a home under 700 sq feet to simplify and find sunshine and a slower pace of life. I bought a sweet 100 year old farmhouse online in a town I had never been in my life where I did not know a sole but for my real-estate agent. I sold my WA state home and then I packed up my Vintage trailer and loaded up my Rottweiler, a Rott-Mastiff, two Husky cattle dog mixes, a Mini Aussie and an orange cat and drove 3200 miles to a small mountain town in NC not far from Highlands. I pulled into my driveway last April. It almost took the wind out of my sails but I am still afloat and have never regretted one minute of this huge life change. Only wish I would of relocated to these amazing mountains earlier in life. The view, the weather, the streams, lakes and oh the people – so sweet. And I also had my tiny home towed here to NC. It is sitting next to my farmhouse. And I have not blogged in over a year. And I feel GREAT.
A bit of advice. Do not be in a hurry to get things done when enlisting the help of so called professionals here in the mountains. They are definitely on ‘mountain time’. I have just had to go with the flow and slow myself down to get on mountain time. You will learn just what I mean soon enough. But don’t sweat the small stuff. Also – you can get a lot of ideas on Air B and B. and sites such as that. Just look for home rentals in and around your NC home. You can click on pictures and see that even the homes with black bears and fishes and skis as the focal point for décor still get great reviews. Those that want to rent your NC home are not looking to rent a French chateau. You can always re do the décor when the cash starts rolling in. Welcome to NC.
Anita, Congratulations! I love your blog and your style! I will order your book using the code: BOOK10!
Many thanks,
Lucy