A New Chapter: Our Last Day Living in the United States

Today marks my last day living in the United States of America.

As I sit down to write this, I’m filled with a mix of emotions—nostalgia, excitement, and a profound sense of purpose.

The Bauernhaus has always been more than just a business to me; it’s a tribute to a lifestyle and culture that I hold dear, deeply inspired by my grandparents’ life in the small town of Winnen, Germany.

Earlier this year, my family’s world shifted dramatically. Within four months of each other, both of my grandparents passed away — something that, conceptually, I always knew would eventually happen, but a reality I conveniently and emotionally chose to avoid. They were the heartbeat of our family and a huge part of the soul of the town they lived in.

Oma and Opa grew up as neighbors. Opa always joked that he never had to travel very far to meet his match. Like many families in the village, their lives were always intertwined, trading neighborly favors for farm made goods and an extra set of hands. It was, and still is, a true sense of community.

After they were married, they combined their family farms and built a house at the top of the hill overlooking the valley. Three generations under one roof — my mother and her brother, my grandparents, and my great grandmother. This house quickly became the main hub for social gatherings aside from church on Sundays. It’s where my amazing mother grew up. Where family continued raising dairy cows and livestock, bailing hay and driving tractors. The daily rhythm of the farm was always beating, and yet, time also managed to stand still.

As it would happen, history would continue to repeat itself, always housing three or four generations at a time; from parents to children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Until this year.

60 years have gone by since they broke ground, and this house is special. No frills and certainly not fancy, but that’s the charm of it — always holding on to the lingering energy of its inhabitants and visitors. This house embodies love, resilience, and the essence of our family’s heritage. With their passing, I felt a compelling urge to protect and preserve their legacy.

Tomorrow I move to Germany to live in my grandparents’ home, our home. It’s a decision rooted in respect for the life they built and the values they instilled in me.

The house needs renovation, and I see this as an opportunity not just to restore a piece of family history but also to breathe new life into it.

The European lifestyle and diverse culture have always been at the core of The Bauernhaus. My aim has always been to capture and share the beauty of this way of life through stories, food and art. Now, I have the chance to immerse myself fully in this world, living the life I’ve long admired and aspired to.

The journey ahead is both exciting and daunting. It’s a bizarre feeling, you know? — to have created The Bauernhaus in the USA in honor of this farmhouse in Germany, only for it to manifest its way into reality — and here I am, about to live in the actual bauernhaus that inspired it all.

That said, renovating a home is no small feat, but it’s a labor of love that I’m ready to embrace with the help from my mom and the support from my husband and family who all share the vision of bringing this place back to its former glory.

I’ll be documenting every step of this process, sharing the highs and lows, the challenges and triumphs, with all of you. I hope that through my experiences, you’ll get a glimpse into the rich tapestry of my family’s heritage and the timeless beauty of the European countryside.

As I embark on this new chapter, I carry with me the lessons and love of my grandparents. I hope to honor their memory and protect their story.

Thank you for being a part of The Bauernhaus community so far. Your support means the world to me, and I can’t wait to share this adventure with you.