Working within a small space, our master bedroom is just that: small (or cozy depending on how I feel that day) Here's my question (which I don't ask for very often): "Is it okay to put a sleigh bed in front of the window?" this is what my bedroom looks like now...
We enjoy our views of the barns and prairie through our master bedroom window on one side, and on the other side is a view of the ancient oak tree — another great view -
so we have tucked our bed in a sort of alcove... which is okay, but I'm up for some change, and moving furniture is #1 on my list to do, unless I think of some other way to decorate that "alcove" it is where I do a lot of reading and writing... so it needs to be soothing... serene... relaxing (input other relaxing words here)
I know I'm probably nuts to do this project now (with the holidays here and all) but the funny thing is, this is the time I go out shopping at retail stores the most!! I RARELY go shopping... so why not use some birthday money and do it right? right i thought so
My inspiration is coming from two LOVELY ladies that I adore here on the net, and am very happy to call them my friends as well... Lulu (from Dusty Lu) and Jo (from Secret Garden Cottage)
I'll be posting some Q&A with both Lulu and Jo in the upcoming week, so stay tuned for the progress!! xo+blessings,
The Master Bedroom Design Q(uestions) & A(nswers) was a BLAST! Wouldn't being a decorating reporter be so fun? I think so So many of you wonderful readers haven't asked me "why" I am re-decorating my bedroom with Jo and Lulu as design stylists... because it's obvious why! They both have great talent... What's my decorating motto for this bedroom: "un-decorate" Today's Q&A is with Jo, from the Secret Garden Cottage. Her and I have talked back and forth, because of the blogs, for quite some time, and as soon I saw her kitchen/dining area, even though it's a kitchen, it inspired me for my bedroom... and here's why:
All of Jo's Answers are in italicized print, and all pictures in this post are from Jo's beautifully inspiring blog. Here's the Q&A with one of the nicest women, Jo:
1) When you design your rooms, do you have a focal point? something that anchors the room? If so, it is usually art or architecture
A: Yes. I definitely always try to have a focal point in each of my rooms, usually architectural pieces. I don't use much art in my home, mostly because I have a hard time finding something I like 100%.
2) How do you achieve an understated feminine approach to your style? A: Well... I try to keep in mind that this is my husband's home, too, and wouldn't want to overwhelm him with too many floral prints, ruffles, or super feminine colors. I try to add a feminine touch to my decor with some of the furniture pieces I use, such as the table I recently bought and placed in my kitchen. It has some decorative scroll work and pretty, curvy legs. I also use flowers and herbs from the garden to add a little bit of romance to my home, as well as the slipcovered furniture and accessories, such as glass cloches, white ironstone pitchers, and candles.
3) what would you classify your style as? A: I think my style is very eclectic. I love French farmhouse, Scandinavian, and American country cottage styles, and I think I have a little bit of each style in my home.
4) how do you achieve an overall cohesive look to your home? A: Sometimes I fell like I struggle with this myself. I try to give my home an overall cohesive feeling by using the same color scheme throughout my home. I generally only use different shades of white in my decor, including my wall paint. I also try to purchase furniture pieces that work well together... have similar architectural lines and so forth.
5) If you were to design my bedroom, by knowing me personally, and seeing my style on my blog, while incorporating your style techniques, how would design my bedroom? what elements would you include in your design plan? A: Keeping in mind your personal style... I think that the one thing you like about mine and Lulu's style is the use of white in our decor, so I would give you an all white bedroom. I would use an architectural piece with white, chippy paint such as a vintage door(s) or fireplace mantle for your headboard. I've also noticed that you like warm wood tones in your home, so I would incorporate warm wood pieces of furniture, such as your night stands and maybe a vintage chest or bench (if room allows) at the foot of your bed. The bed linens you have would look beautiful in the room, but I would add a bed skirt to make it a bit more femine. I also noticed that you love vintage silver, which I think would look gorgeous in the bedroom in the use of accessories. I would dress the windows with sheer linen or cotton curtain panels that puddle on the floor just slightly and use tree branches for the curtain rods. Since your room is small, you would want to keep accessories to a minimum to give it a serene, peaceful feeling.
Anything else you would like to say?? I just want to thank you again for including me in your bedroom makeover, Anne Marie. I feel so honored that you would consider my ideas alongside Lulu's to inspire a room makeover in your beautiful home. You have such an amazingly beautiful style and creative mind, so I know this room will turn out to be the beautiful haven you desire, and I can't wait to see it when it's done!
Isn't she the sweetest?? I wish she lived closer to actually help me! How much fun we'd have... After I saw THIS POST she did, and she had quite a few of the same inspiration photos that I have in my design collection, I knew I would beg her to do this for me:) Tomorrow is my friend Lulu's Q&A with me... stay tuned! Hope you are all enjoying your week thus far!! peace and blessings,
I received an email this morning that got me thinking about my Bohemia roots...
the rich colors of Hungarian needlework at a market... picture source unknown as 'family legend' has it: some of my ancestors were so poor that they had dirt floors and when someone would come to visit, a design was drawn into the freshly combed dirt floor with a special type of broom
My family isn't a big family on that Hungarian/Transylvania/Bohemia side, but I do know that some of them were in fact gypsies...
my Hungarian grandfather with his team of work horses he plowed the fields with
my Grandfather today... he just turned 94 on Easter Sunday... and still in the garden Bohemia style to me is a free expression of the wild and rugged countryside of Europe cuddled with gentle touches from exotic travelers that passed through that region
my Hungarian grandmother with flowers in her hair... both are more absolute FAVORITE pictures of them (of course, the family doesn't have any pictures of the gypsies... I wish!) I chose Bohemian Italy — which could be hard to figure out — for the event, because to me, both Italy and Bohemia are so rich with culture and surprise and texture and intrigue... and I do like a challenge... Blending Italy and Bohemian style has been so much fun!! Muted colors with blasts of color here and there I am so excited for the event, and to see all of you again who came before and meet new people too... and in the true gypsy style, ALL bloggers are welcome to come to the new BLOGGER TENT!!
image via tumblr (please forgive me for not knowing the source... if you know, let me know)... I love this image! It will be a special place just for all you bloggers... to meet... mingle... have some champagne... and have a great time meeting new BLOGGERS If you are coming, let me know and I'll add you to my sidebar of 'who's coming' for those of you not coming, I so wish you could... and as you can just imagine, but life is pretty much consumed with my sweet baby Daniel and this upcoming event... Have a great day!! xo+blessings,
Wishing you all a beautiful White Wednesday and a peaceful 2011...
the front and rear entrances to my potager (kitchen garden)
and no, none of these pictures were altered... this was a gift one morning... and this is why I chose that spot for the Cake:
I turned the bend, and saw footsteps (of whose I don't know, because they stopped where I wanted the table set up) and in case you didn't get to see my cake and setting, you can just scroll down my blog to the previous post and see more of what I did in our woods for Christmas...
one of our favorite dinners this time of year is what I shared in our e-book
inside the e-book you will find originnal farm recipes for: a slow cooked apple jelly ham + homemade cranberry sauce + yeast rolls + from the garden squash
some of the things I like about this meal are that {{ it is simple {{ slow cooked {{ all from scratch {{ in season I made the ebook step by step in order for you to take your laptop or iphone onto your kitchen counter (or look to your desktop) so that everything is perfectly simple easy and delicious I am actually "in charge of the ham" this Christmas for the big family get together at Jason's family... and there is a reason for that they too love that recipe Whatever you are cooking for the holidays, think about doing something slow cooked that will feed a crowd... ham is one of our favorites, because after an early supper, you can put the ham in the fridge and eat some delicious ham and cranberry sandwiches for a late snack! you can order your copy of our ebook: simply Christmas... with farm HERE it also makes a great virtual stocking stuffer!! especially for $2.99
Have a wonderful first day of your week!and another 'have fun' planning your Christmas dinner!!! peace + blessings,
the sounds of farm life here are now of a 'new to us' tractor... Jason cannot work the farm by hand like he used to... he knows this... and we don't know the first thing about having Jordan (the horse) pull any implement, and so happy to say, this little blue beauty is now hard (and I mean hard) at work here...
dare I tell you in advance that the size of garden we are putting in is most likely going to cause me to have many more hours than i even imagine planting, weeding (oh the weeding), but able to bring more to the local restaurants, our family, and in storage... eating all the organic vegetables we want... (and there is a slight possibility that this excitement is also because the corn crib is going to be my potting shed/studio... just a slight possibility...)
the girls and i tried our hands at making 'Carnitas' and then the next day using that pork, 'Tamales'
enough to feed this hungry army... and pretty much the whole town nearby...
as the night falls, the three candles are lit and this little farmhouse is glowing
i even found time to knit and cuddle and listen to tales of old...
Hand Crocheted Organic Cotton Neck Cowl with vintage buttons... $20
I only have made 3 so far with this yellow USA grown, organic cotton, but I am working on soft white ones with some really cool vintage buttons as well, and will be listing those later this week... A bit of time went into these, but baby Daniel seems to really enjoy the comfy flannel and soft cotton (now to only make about 2 dozen more and we're good) we've named them: "na.da.farm bunz"
in the garden we pulled out a few sweet potatoes... "Anne Marie's pointers": — make sure you do not feed your children candy before harvest — if you treat harvest like a game, getting the 'biggest one yet!!' is more fun than anything!!
After you have harvested your herbs -dry them in a very dark place — hang them or put them in a paper bag — top open — until brittle
grab your most cheerful child at that moment...
crumple crumple crumple
(just sit back with your fresh cup of tea and take your cheerful child's photograph... encouraging them along the way with tales of adventure)
we have so much sage that we use large plastic bags to preserve them
the more delicate (and not as abundant here on the farm) herbs get to reside over winter in beautiful blue mason jars... respectively...
To confess: autumn is my absolute favorite in the garden... we are organically growing our vegetables, so at this time of year I can gloriously pull off a slug here and there on the pepper plants and throw them to the chickens since we have had a frost already, there aren't any other bugs (hallelujah) but it's now time for cleanup and more garlic to plant I'm hoping to find some time today to sew a pair of booties for Daniel and even my own cloth diapers (from an old sweater:) peace + blessings,
when I recently switched the dining and living rooms, the 'new' dining room had been sorely forgotten with creating a space to reflect the season/farm/us
friends of ours were having a garage sale... a nearby farm... and this little $35 table was just what this room needed
she even gave the kids and me free pumpkins... thanks Mary! {{ a bit of country
{{ nests and gathered feathers from years on the farm
(here's a funny tidbit of a story involving the non-coincidence of our "campers": our friends John and Mary came by about a week ago to drop off the flyer of their garage sale they were having because Jason forgot to tell me the details — and that very day, the male "camper" that is here found out that he needed to get a new crankshaft... their engine is literally out of their truck... the whole thing... and John is a mechanist... he has a barn dedicated to this purpose... he fixes up vintage cars for a living... a shop to make any car lover drool... so their engine is now residing on another farm while they live in our barn in their camper — where it is warm and he can clean his tools and parts of the engine... basically... if John and Mary hadn't come over to give me that flyer, we might have totally forgot that he would be able to re-work the engine for the campers and order the necessary parts... isn't that just so amazing??)
truth be told... it's been a rough few weeks... (nothing to do with our new camper friends here)
gone are the warm sunny mornings with busy hands in the garden... I am running on this lonely habit of preparing... preparing meals and more food in the potager... putting up swags and hay couches
having the 'campers' here from Colorado for the past few weeks, with her being a spry 26 year old, I understand even more these miles and years that have separated me from my youth... oh good gravy... like I'm old or something? no, i know that i am not old... but i can't help but feel my bones more... the shape of my hands — the wrinkles on my face — the heart hurting from a recent blow of betrayal... all of these things have shaped the last two weeks since the sale and by gosh did i need to decorate and make things fresh
here's two of my pumpkins now...
changing up my surroundings makes me forget second guessing myself + my strength + my loves
family... friends... feathers... finds from the farm (that's a lot of 'f''s)
here's to a fabulous fall weekend... and enjoying that hot cup of coffee in the chilly mornings and another big thank you to all of you who have given me your sentiments about the farms through emails, letters in the mail and sharing your photographs... we had such a great time with you all here!!
It's a bit after 6:00 am Sunday morning and here I am
instead of making coffee I heated some up from yesterday's second brew
for my mind was awake and my eyes were still shut
My younger sister came for a few days... we don't see eachother much... we don't see eachother enough!!
All this time I am devoting to making "prairie swags" and prairie this and that — all that wasn't going to be for sale... it got me thinking how much I am just making for fun... made for you...
when you enter onto our humble farm... don't expect grandeur... there's no 'fancy' here
there aren't playsets for children or a bin full of corn for the kiddies...
it's a place of peace...
resting your eyes upon the horizon of soon to be harvested golden soybeans... fiery red grasses and golden rod reaching towards the sky... geese flying overhead to usher in winter's call...
A small little farm
A humble little place
What you'll find here is your choice... you may not find peace walking in the prairie... you may walk for the heck of it and see only weeds, and look at the horses and chickens in disgust of their "smells"
You may just come to shop and find nothing while shopping and think it was a big waste of time
or maybe you choose... choose to really see with your heart...
In anticipation of spending time with your girlfriends, husband, or even alone, you wear your favorite worn in jeans and comfy jersey top (and a few accessories that express "you") and you make plans for a country drive... finding parking 1/4 mile down the road you grab your shopping bag, sling it over your shoulder and enjoy the walk up to the farm's gates... upon entering the farm, you walk past the kitchen garden coming to an end and glance at one of the perennial beds that surround the house... you look out and see the horizon... up is the very clean and clear blue sky... and if it rains, your umbrella pops up to keep you dry, or your unabashed childhood rings in and you enjoy the fresh rain upon you... the crispness of the day invigorates you... you don't know or care what is for sale... no expectations...
Browsing the wares under the tents... you find those perfect unique gifts for your niece and mother... you know you won't be able to purchase these things again, so you seize the chance. Talking with new people, or keeping quiet to yourself, being on the farm is energetic yet calming. You see the white pillar/posts swagged with autumn prairie... it leads you to the barn while your tummy starts to grumble with scents of pie and coffee, soup and whole wheat rolls... and music... the guitar playing is stunning... you order a cup of coffee and vow to eat a cupcake before the night's end... taking it all in, you listen while your eyes browse the shop... being inspired... no regrets coming
The cupcake was delicious, and with your hands cupping your homemade soup bowl, you venture under the trees in the prairie to sip your soup and feel the warmth of the peace within your soul... a deeper connection with nature... within yourself... thanking God for giving you this opportunity to be outdoors with a warm bowl of soup. Your heart warms even more as your sweet friend and you laugh and talk as you walk the prairie... hearing the hum of the bees and picking a tuft of grass as it twirls in your fingers... memories
Your life is utterly unique to anyone else's... your experience here on earth can be that of thanksgiving and connection
Congratulations Amy!!! you won the ART on the Farm Giveaway!!
here's Amy's comment: {Amy} said... This sounds like the coolest thing ever, what a generous give-away. And I am in Illinois... I could actually do this. This is just what my creative soul is looking for right about now! blogged:: http://amyluckynumber13.blogspot.com/2011/09/hello-there-fall.html
-visit Amy's totally cute blog by clicking on the above picture-
(I love meeting new people!)
Here's what you'll be getting... ~ 2 seats (so bring a friend!) to all the art classes here on the farm + a ~ FREE night's stay in the 4star Holiday Inn Express just minutes from the farm!! (and you'll get some little goodies from me too) ~Greg Wheaton (palying here Friday night at 5-8pm) wanted to participate in this giveaway as well, and he is giving you one of his CD's Amy!!! This man is playing at the Hard Rock Cafe this next week in Chicago... he's no ordinary guitar player — he's extraordinary -
This was so much fun hosting this giveaway — and it was all from the generosity of Jeanne, Jill, and Jennifer there are a few seats available still in all classes (at least, last time I checked!) so please make sure you sign up today if you are thinking of coming... and OH! good news!! The hotel is allowing the special pricing of $97.75 still apply up until next Friday!
What's so amazing about these art classes, is that you are amongst nature when you are here it's so peaceful, and it allows your creative side to flourish under the direction of your teacher All three of those women teaching are amazing artists! and are so willing to open up this opportunity for you to come and create/shop/listen/eat:) If you are 'on the fence' for coming to take a class, just remember how important it is to allow God's gifts to you come through... and sometimes that might just mean learning a new technique... it might just be exactly what you need to get you going in a new artistic direction, or You could be like me, and pick up a paintbrush and draw giant feathers on the wall, to which I don't paint, don't draw, just sketch garden plans and hog houses or a simple skirt or dress on paper... but it was the most unexplainable time being in "that mode" Jill is making that weekend even MORE special! take a look:
click on image to sign up for one of Jill's classes we all have a busy life, let's take some time out of that life to enjoy it
peace + blessings,
I so wish I could give you all a giveaway like this... thanks to everyone who entered...
the amount of gasoline that was purchased for me to ride my beloved ol' mountain bike down (that i've had since i was 20... 18 years to be exact) into the hills of South Dakota could most likely keep a small continent running on oil for years
the 'woman power' that it took for my little labas (Hungarian for legs) to reach the top after easily gliding down to the lake was like i was pulling a load of fallen timber up from pasture to the cabin
it's no surprise then why we chose tent camping miles after miles of sucking down the gas just by pulling a trailer full of bikes, tents, produce from the garden, cast iron skillets and pj's, (why wear anything else while camping? why not stay in those sweat pants and t-shirt for the entire trip? — i would like to add it took two washings using my homemade laundry soap to get the smell out of my 11 year old son's camouflage t-shirt he insisted was his camping uniform) we would watch these houses with 6 wheels go traveling down the highway teetering in the wind while driving through the Badlands while the driver sat in a lazy boy driver's seat steering his traveling home most likely as his wife was making him supper in the oven while watching something pleasurable on the television
that is a much different scene than was happening along side this man's pleasure machine/house/bus/vacation home
a teething one year old at any given moment would hurdle crying obscenities that resonated like the caverns we went spelunking in Montana as we were all sandwiched between our now fit and trim bodies we worked into shape while mountain biking, kayaking and holding each other tightly during the coldest morning of our lives thus far i started resenting the seat belt
wondering how it is humane
why is my baby having to be strapped into this man made torture contraption? why cannot i not hold him in the back seat like my mom used to hold me in our station wagon wearing the coolest denim bell bottoms while listening to soft rock
again... doors... being within the confines of doors i am coming to think is definitely not natural
gasoline
$$guzzle$$ guzzle
it could almost be a swear word: gas = $!*
even to the hills of South Dakota
but we need it to get to church, the restaurant to meet friends, through 17 hours in a 12' x 5' four wheel drive vehicle towing a trailer through South Dakota and Minnesota, and to the emergency room to stitch up daring daughter's forearm after mountain biking down said mountain...
thoughts of using Jordan as my horsepower pulling a wagon while fighting off hostile Indians sounded more appealing that having to stay in the car for 17 hours... but we all got through it... and we are stronger and more resilient from it
at 7,815 feet above sea level... the Black Hills, South Dakota spending time like that was worth any amount of sore labas or scar on a girl's forearm
I would guess that 89% of you have never met me in person... you don't know if my life is the way it is... or if I love walking in the prairie for real... or bake my own bread... or sew my own skirts...
yes, I do all of those things
but now, after being a "blogger" for awhile, sometimes it is coming back into my face with not smiles but disbelief
even those women that truly know me have said things like "you can say all you want Anne Marie... life isn't like that"
no apologizes from me... life IS like that... for me... and it most certainly can be for YOU I'm not about to say 'sorry, but... '
I'm not about to tell you 'oh... I didn't mean to make you feel _________'
never apologize for the way you are living to anyone... if you are going through some hard times, that is for you to get through... for you to become closer to your creator... not away...
step single every
every single step
up and down we choose... what is more important to you vs. what can take the back seat
this could be all you have ever known: the ups and downs, but it still is your choice... and you may just like climbing up or descending down... and that's okay... no apologizes
no matter what you might be experiencing, there is a way to get pass that wall... you put the wall there... the one you just can't seem to not only see through, but get through, get around
God doesn't make you put that wall up... you built it with all your negativity... excess energy... wasted energy
every day
every single day I go down into my soul to lift it back up again... offering all that I am in communion with Him to enjoy the day, to enjoy my life, to grow in union with my husband and our family
I choose the misery presented to me... I choose the way a song makes me feel... I choose the color of denim skirt I lift up to my hips that bore all six of my children... I choose
like my dad says "it's all in your head"...
it's my life... no apologizes indeed... = how my boys cooked breakfast for us or how the sunrises out here lately with the cool morning makes the most unbelievable sunrises in the prairie = how the chickens we have aren't laying eggs and would rather eat the tomatoes instead of the crickets and worms = how I absolutely love embracing my domesticity — plain and simple — through my faith... through the Church
One thing is constant with me, and that is my constant enhancement for those around me... I like to consider me dying to self in order to give it to others...
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Not too long ago, the woman who chose to be home with her children could cook, bake, sew, tend the garden, can, teach her children, entertain, and still have time to pray
there is still that same amount of ticks and tocks on the clock
women... men... it is time you made yourself worthy of your time here...
little children they run by the dozen around my skirt's hem
i carry on all day long
little children they run by the dozen it seems around my skirt's hem
it's true so true
have you heard the sound of six children playing in the prairie have they danced within the garden in your sight have they shown you their pockets filled with rocks and treasures have you smelled the flowers she picks for you daily have you seen the fridge filled with drawings and fingerprints on the handle
oh yes you can you can see
little children they run by the dozen around my skirt's hem
i carry on all day long
wiping chins and kissing hurts talking of world affairs with the oldest while nursing my youngest
it's all that i am made of
there are times when I see the men in my life and how strong the connection isfrom my skirt's hem to my wedding ring
definitely one of my favorite meals during this hot summer sliced avocado, Havarti cheese, a sprinkle of sea salt and freshly chopped basil on whole wheat bread served with fresh cucumber slices if you have multi-grain bread or a sourdough, this dish is even better this meal I will sorely miss in just a very short time
all this time shuffling around the house preparing for school and the activities that follow the ending of the summer such as filling up the cellar with the preserved goodness from the garden, makes these quick and satisfying meals essential but truth be told... I cannot wait to simmer a pot of soup and slow roast a chicken (besides, I am losing my touch around the kitchen without all the daily cooking! it's been raw foods or grilled meals... I think my family is ready for it too) many of the women I know are purging the unused and unloved items within their homes' cracks and crevices... dusting off things that they don't use and donating them to charities such as I am there are so many things I do not use, or really like, that we have taken in from friends or purchased ourselves, and I think this time of year is so exciting because there are so many wonderful sales out there my advice: buy what you really like see what's out there help support those local businesses original art at the art shows... that antique dresser from a local shop... whatever your tastes are, here are my picks for this weekend: ************************************************************* Room 363 (one of the most talented display artists I know owns this shop)
if you live around Chicago, then you are familiar with Naperville a new shop, called Room363 is opening the doors this weekend for the very first time *************** and if traveling (or living) West, A Ruffled Nest in Sycamore is open this weekend too (I would definitely recommend trying to get here at 5pm Friday... she sells out quickly) I will be there before 5:) I have my eye on a neat old dresser
******************************** In DeKalb: a ribbon cutting ceremony at Carter's Cottage (Christie carries Annie Sloan Chalk Paint... and even has a new classroom for this very purpose... I have used that paint and love it!!!) looks like this avocado/Havarti meal will be my 'go to' sustenance for a quick meal before heading off to shop ************************************************** peace + blessings,
as the family grows and day flows, I can't help but wonder what is to come
upon the horizon beyond the clouds what's the plan for dinner
looking down at these big brown eyes...
summer is so easy going care free with a quick meal from the garden the kind that makes you feel good am I going to run tomorrow morning? how about those weeds along the path? I have to order the meat birds... moments are strung together like those beans I cannot seem to reach on the trellis
life is so hot sometimes it's like I'm stamping my feet crazily upon this burning fire of opportunity... smoldering it out... I don't want to see it's blaze, feel it's heat
there isn't a day that passes that I don't notice how interconnected we are to this landscape
sheltering
shading
feeding
sharing beauty
providing song
that's why I feel it's so providential that creating the October Event around the ebb and flow of the prairie life... living with the prairie, living with the seasons
enjoying the diverse landscape that is ever moving, changing
~in a world full of confusion, remember that you are worthy, connected, and lovely~
not puffed up or theatrical na.da.farm... our home... our place on this earth...
(if you would like to take a drive out to our farm, October 7th & 8th we would love to see you and share some time here with you for a Prairie Holiday barn sale/event)
i am sure most of you can relate to striving for that 'hold on' moment... that moment when you can sink into a pillow with a good book, or take that cup of iced tea and stir the honey slowly and watch it blend and think of nothing but where to sit and enjoy the shade on a sunny day
it's a wonder
this time... this last bit of time before summer's heat is all but gone, and that sun tea is no longer... those lazy days outdoors watching the children play... this time is so short...
it's a wonder
it is as though i am feeling just now settled into summer, when it's being taken away by the cooler nights and less hot days...
there are so many times when i can correlate myself to my surroundings... the lightness in my step when spring comes... the sauntering flip flops during summer... the shuffle of leaves in autumn and the crunch during winter... but i do have to admit, that lately, i am being drawn into a connection i cannot explain with our oldest son...
it's a wonder
his piano compilations make me stop in my tracks and almost drink the sound into my soul... the heartache of childhood leaving while the maturity of his heart growing
it's a wonder at all that anything gets done during the summer...
so much to organize and plan for school, the upcoming sale as well
the importance of being with my family supersedes anything right now... our bond is growing daily the more time we spend together, and I thank the Lord for allowing me to teach them at home... so very blessed to not have to shuffle them off every morning after packing their lunches... a lot of our peace comes from a schedule and routine of sorts... even if the routine for the day is them sleepy eyed coming down the stairs to greet me for the first time of the day with a hug and groggy "good morning"... I love those times and savor every hug... it never gets old
it's a wonder... these kids... this place... this life...
like my cup of coffee losing it's steaming hotness, the summer is fading, and though I cannot go fill my cup back up with more summer time, I can take what I have learned this summer and and a bit more just to keep me going
the heat makes us pick super early in the morning and late at night as soon as they come in, they get washed and kept in the cellar, while we wash and prepare the jars and lids
the next morning, it's time to dice/slice and start the brine
we went a bit "overboard" with planting cucumbers we enjoyed them so much while gazing out at the frozen tundra during the harsh winter
since we went overboard, we are able to share so much with friends and family... and I'm so glad the garden is doing quite well considering the heat and due to planting so close together in most places, I am able to not weed so much (imagine that) so I did some more sewing using a striped sheet and appliqued a sailboat on it for our daughter
I didn't perfectly line the stripes up... without a care I made this skirt... she doesn't mind and neither do I we had lost power from a terribly windy storm... the weather up here is quite peculiar lately and I almost caved and got an air conditioner almost but once again, we chose not to it's almost a game now... letting it cool off inside the house and run around and closing the windows at just the right time... funny really... but with heavy drapes and quick feet, we are able to keep this old farmhouse cool enough... but we aren't using the oven, instead the grill and the side burner outdoors which I am hysterically calling my 'outdoor kitchen'... someday... someday! I am however, taking a break from pickles, and am blending and juicing them galore quite versatile anyone know of uses for cucumbers? I would love to hear how you use them in and out of the kitchen
= the garden beckons my hair grows longer and I put it in braids the cucumbers wind around the beans sun bursts through the fence and my boots squeak daughter rides bareback amongst the prairie grasses with little sister holding on tight baby coos on the sun dappled blanket beneath the giant pine
a morning kiss to a little one and my coffee mug is filled a basket full of scones to take out to Jason sways over the crook of my arm the garden beckons my hat that was hung on the hook inside this old farmhouse now rests on my head more fabric and cupcakes thoughts and prayers
I will be taking a short break here, but will be checking e-mails. Enjoy your life amongst the heat of the summer and hold onto yourself from the depth of your souls by journeying your life by sacrificing for others and constantly giving to them while thanking Him...
When baby Daniel sees our dog Bella, she doesn't know that Bella won't talk back to him this struck me (as does every single thing I encounter in my life) and it really made me think He was sitting on my lap, tummy down on my chubby thighs (yes, I did say MY chubby thighs) and was talking to the dog... cooing away... inflections here and there trying to get her attention! she was looking at him, which he giggles at, and their communication was complete he doesn't know the dog doesn't talk it doesn't matter to him Baby Daniel accepts the dog the way she is... non talking and all
random picture of what I did Saturday morning... came up with 2 new yummy cupcakes!! = lemon cupcake with fresh blueberry butter cream frosting = chocolate and lavender cupcake with blueberry butter cream frosting both will be available at the farm this October with the blueberries the family picked so graciously for me and for you... as well as the lavender from my garden... organically grown The Homesteading Series here at NA.DA.FARM will be up and running soon! Jason and I can't wait to share some more NA.DA.FARM with you
