I live on a mini-farm near Seattle with my husband, daughter, some horses, two cats, and a number of Collies -- we're a dog show family. Our vintage farmhouse needs constant upkeep, which we can barely keep up with, since it always needs new paint or new fences or...Luckily the most recent thing we repaired is the plumbing, so that's working pretty well these days. With us living out in the country, we experience frequent power outages. There's nothing more romantic than huddling under blankets in front of a cozy fire in the fireplace, with more blankets blocking the drafts from the other room...