Actually, the century-old farmhouse did not quite look like this when we bought it in 1988. Like many old Ontario farmhouses it was in dilapidated condition, the stucco peeling off the walls and the upstairs divided into tiny rooms in which I could hardly fit my then Mac IIfx. But having a son in the house-renovation business helped. We gutted the upstairs, which is now one open room with a cathedral roof. The top left corner with the blinds half drawn (to keep the glare off the monitor) is Rod's computer command centre. Stephen made the laminated, semi-elliptical window -- because that was a lot cheaper than ordering a custom job. The gingerbread is Merike's design (as are the wavy trellises for the vine).

Actually, since this photo was taken, we added (in 2001) a one-storey Music Room (right in front of the southern facade you see in this photo). We should get an up-to-date photo eventually. The Music Room is the site of several SwallowHill concerts each year. To the right, just off the picture (don't you hate people who make off-stage references like this?) is our Guest House, where our friend and tenant Pierre Moreault currently lives.

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