Come on in to the house that Grandpa Graf built. We'll walk through the outer porch where Dee's mother got a braid caught in the old wringer washer. If you look closely, you'll see the old washer sitting in the back corner. There's a notepad hanging by the door where our friends leave us a note if we're not home. You're welcome to do the same.

Now, we'll just pass through the breakfast nook and kitchen, on into the dining room, and from there into the living room. You might notice a handsome looking gentleman and his wife in an old picture hanging over the fireplace. That's Dee's great-grandfather, Emil Graf and his wife. Emil fought in the Civil War in the gallant First Minnesota Regiment. Because he was injured by a runaway artillery cart on the march in to Gettysburg, he was unable to fight during the battles there and thus survived. Dee has a list of interesting Civil War sites on the mantel.

Grandpa's old desk is over by the window. That's where Dee does most of her writing. She says it inspires her to look out and see the huge old fir trees that she calls "the Heidi trees." When she was a girl, she would take one of Grandma Graf's rolls fresh out of the oven, put a slab of cheddar on top and go stand under the trees, dreaming that she was Heidi in the Swiss Alps. If you are an aspiring writer, you might want to check out the Writing Links that Dee left on the desk.

Dee has her sewing machine set up in the first floor bedroom. You can just see her Bernina over the piles of sewing and crafts projects. There's a quilt set up in the frame just waiting for you to pull up a chair and try your hand at quilting.

Let's go upstairs now and visit Laura and Jason's rooms. The stairs are pretty steep, so watch your step.

If you open the closet door off the kitchen, you'll find a hidden trapdoor leading down to the root cellar. Here at Cloverdale Farm, we're mighty proud of our roots. George's ancestors were in the U.S. before the Revolutionary War. Dee's side of the family were late arrivers. They didn't cross the Atlantic until the 1800s. Between the two of us, we embrace Scotch-Irish, German, Swiss, and Dutch roots. Our immediate family line includes the Herrmann, Porterfield, Graf, and Loose families. George spends hours tending the "roots" cellar and has discovered some very helpful genealogical sites.

Sewing and Quilting Links from Dee

Bernina Homepage

Bernina Fan Club Homepage

American Home Sewing & Craft Association

Craft Net Village

Quiltropolis

World Wide Quilting Page

Writing Links from Dee

Writer's Toolbox - Internet Resources for Writers

California Writers Club - Resources for Writers

Christian Writers Resource Links

WriteIt's Wroost: Directory

Civil War Links from Dee

	Camp Chase Gazette
	Other Civil War/History Links
	Welcome to the U.S. Civil War Center!
	RECREATING HISTORY Home Page
	Victoriana, Resources for Victorian Living
	The Costume Page
	Historical Reenactment
	Vintage Dancing
	Hope Greenberg: Godey's Lady's Book
	The Victorian Fashion Pages
	Milieux: The Costume Site
	Citizens' Companion
	Getting Started: So you want to be a Reenactor
	The Daguerreian Society
	Civil War Women - Internet Sources