I first laid eyes on the Kauffman family property in 1987. Recently engaged to Tom, we had gone to Western New York for his parents’ 50th Anniversary celebration. I was smitten with the place. And it’s had a part of me ever since, for 34 years and counting.

Dad Kauffman walking to the woods

That first week

The week at the farm included a houseful of family in the 100-year-old yellow farmhouse; a ride in a wagon pulled by a tractor up into the woods for a picnic; Tom carving our initials on what came to be known as our “family tree”; plus stories and memories of family history served up with each delicious meal. And then there was that high school graduation picture on my bedside table of the handsome man who soon would become my husband. My, oh, my!

The little house which was Tom’s parents’ first home was still standing, as was the home his mom had lived in as a kid. Bits of evidence of Grampa Kauffman’s sugar shack still stood. It was here he had boiled down the sap he gathered from several maple trees to make maple syrup.

We delighted in the beauty in that part of the world! A few drives and a walk around a “country block” (it took an hour to get all the way around that block) enchanted me. We took what would become the first of many trips to Letchworth State Park, to eat at the Glen Iris and enjoy the waterfalls.

Our big adventure

We returned to Seattle, married, and had two baby boys. Five years after our first visit to the farm we moved our family there. Dad and Mom K now lived in a new house Dad had built. The big, wonderful yellow house became our home.

Samuel leaned to crawl uphill and run in his baby walker on our sloped floors. (He was a force to be reckoned with.) Tommy helped Tom feed the chickens and collect the sap for our own maple syrup production.

Tom and Tommy drilling the hole for the sap to come out

Checking the level of sap in the bucket

Our temporary sugar shack, 1995

Life was full

We published a magazine we called Family Scrapbook: the Magazine for, by, and about Christian Families, creating our office by building a half-wall in the middle of our large living room. We had meaningful work with the magazine and the important role of raising our sons.

Three of our magazine issues

Our days were full. If we weren’t working on the magazine we were exploring Western New York. Tom’s parents were great neighbors, wonderful grandparents, and quick to embrace us all. (Remind me next Spring to share with you the best way to enjoy strawberries, a lesson I learned from Tom’s parents. You might find it good enough to try yourself.)

 We successfully published eight issues of our magazine before we ran smack into a profound truth we had somehow missed previously. That is, publishing a magazine is a very expensive endeavor!

Big changes

So after three years of country life we returned to the Northwest in 1995. By late August we were settled into a townhouse, Tom went to work in the aerospace industry and we were making plans to enroll both our little boys in public school. 

Over the years we’ve made several trips back to the farm. Tom’s parents are gone now but the house, barn, pond, and woods still stand. It was the site of our third Kauffman Siblings Reunion, three weeks in late September/early October, 2021.

I offer you a tour of the place we call “the farm.” Some of the photos were taken when we lived there and some when we visited. I hope you enjoy the tour.

Our “Family Tree”

Tom carving our Family Tree, 1988

Family Tree 2021

At the Family Tree, 1993

Around the house and property

“Kitchen helpers,” 1993

Our barn

The pond

Tom, Ginger, Marilee, Dan (l to r) after a ride through the woods, 2021

Letchworth State Park

Glen Iris at Letchworth State Park

Inside Glen Iris at Letchworth State Park

Letchworth Park, Middle Falls

Letchworth State Park, Upper Falls and railroad bridge

Kauffman Family with Tom’s parents at Letchworth State Park, circa 2002

Our family at Letchworth State Park, 2002

On my right are Dan and Carol; on my left are Tom and Marilee

The four siblings

Dan and Tom

Carol and Marilee

Dan and Carol

Tom and Ginger at Letchworth State Park, Middle Falls, 2021

We got more that we expected… We got to see balloons, up close!

Letchworth State Park, 2021, Balloons being fired up

Letchworth State Park, Balloon Rising 1

Letchworth State Park 2021 Balloon rising over the Upper Falls and railroad bridge