Keeping It Cozy

Strawberry Pickin' and Preserves

2013-05-18T20:11:00.002-05:00

I hope you had a wonderful Saturday! This past week flew by in a hurry, but a highlight was getting away for a little bit to pick some fresh, local strawberries.

Up until my life here in the south, I had never picked strawberries; several years ago my mom was visiting us and had heard about a local patch. So off we went one morning and we were utterly amazed by the rows and rows of strawberries... so juicy and sweet we gobbled as many as we could while filling our buckets. Since then we try to go every year, but it still feels like a novelty every time.

The first time Jillian went to the strawberry patch, she was a tiny little newborn asleep in the stroller. Now she's old enough to fill almost an entire bucket by herself. We all had so much fun.

By the time we were finished, the girls were tired and full with strawberries. I had to include this picture, because Rosetta was absolutely covered in strawberry juice!

I came home with three gallons of strawberries and then wondered what I had been thinking and when I was going to have enough time to do something with all of them before they went bad! This week we've had strawberries in oatmeal, on pancakes, in salad and straight out of the bucket. And every chance I've had I've canned a small batch of strawberry jam.

I made some regular strawberry jam with pectin, but I've been wanting to try to make some jam without. I had also been wanting to try some jam with honey instead of sugar, but I was nervous that it would taste too much like honey, so I compromised and did both. I made a very small batch and played around a little with ingredients and the result was a preserve-like jam that was delicious and full of flavor... it ended up being my favorite and I canned another batch again last night.

The jam isn't quite as set as one made with pectin, but I was still very happy with its texture. Canning is something I am still learning, but I really enjoy the process. I don't have anything fancy in the way of canning equipment and I like to do it in small batches... I suppose I feel like it's a little more manageable... or that if I mess up, it won't be too many jars (smile)!

But despite the learning curve, it is so worth it... there really isn't anything better than homemade strawberry jam.

Strawberry Preserves

Heaping 4 cups of chopped strawberries

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 lemon, juiced and zested

Makes 3 half-pint jars

Chop strawberries and combine with sugar and vanilla extract. Let the strawberry mixture sit in a bowl while you prepare your jars and lids. Pour strawberry mixture into a large pot and add honey. I actually mashed my strawberries a bit at this point, but I should probably tell you to do it beforehand because the pan gets hot! Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, add lemon juice and zest and continue to boil until the jam is ready (my thermometer broke, so I did a spoon test, but it should be ready at 220 degrees). Remove from heat and ladle into the prepared jars. Wipe the rims of the jars, apply lids and rings and process for 10 minutes.

(Note: If you're new to canning, The Pioneer Woman has a great tutorial here.)

Have any of you tried making jam without sugar and honey instead? I'd love to hear about it!

P.S. The winner of the Shabby Apple giveaway is Judy. Thanks for entering!

Kitchen Update: Building a Refrigerator Cabinet

2013-05-12T21:47:00.001-05:00

Happy Mother's Day! I hope your day has been wonderful!

The last few weeks we've had a lot of rain, which has meant slow progress on outdoor projects, but we have gotten a few things accomplished in the kitchen. Recently Justus built a cabinet to enclose our refrigerator. I was particularly excited about this, since it means we're one step closer to additional countertop space (yay!), but it also helped our kitchen look a little more cohesive over in this corner.

BEFORE:

Our kitchen isn't necessarily small, just awkward. When we bought our house, we moved our refrigerator all over, but because of doorways and walkways, this was really the only place for it. So it sat freestanding like this the past few years.

After Justus completed the framing, he installed these pine tongue-and-groove planks, which (lucky for us) were scrap pieces from my parent's ceiling. They had a lot of planks they couldn't use or were leftover scraps, but they've been perfect for little projects here and there.

We've had our fridge for nine years now and it's still going strong, so I'll doubt we'll replace it anytime soon, but we were sure to build the cabinet with standard dimensions so that another fridge would easily fit in this space.

AFTER:

After the planks were installed, Justus then trimmed out the cabinet. I sanded (and sanded) and filled with putty between the trim pieces before painting so that the trim looked a little more smooth and more like one unit.

Eventually our farmhouse table will move out and Justus will build a lower cabinet for this space so we can extend the countertop to the new refrigerator wall.

I have to admit too that it's really nice not looking over and seeing all that black that was the side of the refrigerator.

I really wanted an open shelf above the refrigerator for extra storage. For a couple weeks I puzzled over what kind of storage baskets to put on the upper shelf. I even looked at some larger baskets online and then this week I remembered that Justus had made a passing comment about using the vintage locker baskets we had. At first I placed two on the shelf, which didn't look right, and then I remembered I actually had another one sitting empty upstairs... and it was a perfect fit. It almost looks like we built the shelf to fit these three baskets!

Justus built a little lip with the trim in front of the shelf so that the baskets easily come out, but won't fall off the edge.

I couldn't resist adding this picture in. While I was taking these pictures this afternoon, Justus was playing outside with the girls. I heard the screen door slam and Rosetta proceeded to come in, climb onto the chair I had been using, stand in front of the camera, and say, "Cheeeese"! There is not a second that goes by that I am not thankful to be a mother to our two precious girls.

Have a great week!

Chicks Are Here!

2013-05-08T20:38:00.001-05:00

Guess what arrived today?

Ten perfect, precious little chicks.

Needless to say, it has been a very exciting day for the girls. Jillian hasn't wanted to leave their sides for one second... these cute little yellow ones are her favorite. Of course we had to take them outside this evening for a little photo shoot!

These will (hopefully) all be laying hens and they are all Heritage Breeds. I was going to place our order online, but several of the breeds we wanted were back-ordered. I then called our local Co-Op, who were so friendly and helpful. They placed a special order so that they would all arrive at the same time.

I ordered two each of Araucana, Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red, Barred Plymouth Rock, and Black Australorp. This sweet little one is an Araucana, who will lay colored eggs.

I love that each is a little unique and I know we'll have a blast watching them grow up. Right now we're working on some names... if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear!

In the span of six months we went from zero pets to an exuberant poodle pup, a stray cat that adopted us, an indeterminable number of kittens (indeterminable as said cat had them in a tree) and now ten chicks. Such fun times!

(And I promise I'll share our chicken house soon... it's almost finished!)

Shabby Apple Giveaway

2013-05-07T20:33:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! I have a fun giveaway for you today.

Shabby Apple is an online store that specializes in vintage clothing. I particularly love their darling dresses... especially since warm weather is almost here!

Since I have summer on my mind, while browsing through all their clothing options, these are just a couple dresses I thought would be so perfect (not to mention comfortable) for the months ahead.

Shabby Apple actually sent me a dress to review... I chose the Kanani dress, which I'm wearing above. I'm not a fan of putting pictures of myself on my blog, but I thought it was only fair to show you the darling dress they sent (fortunately, my girls kept me company)! I love the scalloped tiers on the bodice and the waistline is extremely comfortable (definitely a requirement for this mommy).

Shabby Apple is kindly giving away a $50 gift certificate to a Keeping It Cozy reader. As usual, I'm keeping my giveaways simple, so all you need to do is leave a comment to be entered! (I'd love it if you visited their site here and told me in your comment which vintage item is your favorite.)

(Giveaway only open to U.S. residents; giveaway will close Tuesday, May 14 at 11:59 PM)

**Giveaway has now closed**

The Planning Stages

2013-05-01T13:18:00.000-05:00

We're getting ready to embark on yet another project around our house and I'm particularly excited about it as it means I'll be working on it outdoors in the sunshine! We're going to give our front porch a little attention during the next couple months and hopefully utilize the space in a way that is more comfortable and inviting.

While I've been working on putting together a plan, I thought I'd share with you the steps I take every time we begin working on a new project, particularly one that encompasses an entire room. As always, I feel the need to put in a little disclaimer that I'm by no means an expert... in fact, the majority of the time I feel like I know absolutely nothing... but these are merely a few things that help me.

Gathering Inspiration

source

This is the first step I take when looking at a remodel project. For years I have clipped photos from magazines and catalogs that inspire me and tucked them away in a binder. Now we have Pinterest too, and although it took me a long time to break down and use it, I have to admit that I love this method of gathering inspiration (you can find me on Pinterest here). For me, it's not so much copying, but rather gathering together a variety of ideas to incorporate. I've taken inspiration from all the porches above, even though the color schemes, styles and designs are different. It's taking all those little pieces of inspiration that speak to you in that photo - a color, an architectural detail, a suggestion of comfort, accessories - and using them to help you put your vision together.

Staying True to your Style

Isn't this probably the hardest thing of all when it comes to decorating? I know it is for me. We have so much access to beautiful photos and ideas that sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed and lose focus on what we really love and also what works best for us and our families. I always remind myself that this is our house and it needs to fit our lifestyle and our family... it's okay to be different!

A Color Scheme

Sometimes we might have a color in our mind that we love, but something prevents us from using it. This is often the case for me because I'm trying to work with something we already have. I would love to have a porch that was entirely shades of blue, but we have a green metal roof... a perfectly good metal roof that we don't plan on replacing (smile). That means it's time to compromise. I'm teaming up with Lamps Plus on this project, so I was thrilled when I found a couple beautiful outdoor pillows that incorporate both blue and green from them.

Visualize

As I gather ideas and brainstorm, I like to visualize what the entire room or project will look like once it's finished. True, there are always adjustments along the way, but it helps me to have a vision. Oftentimes I even sketch my idea on paper, such as furniture placement, etc.

Establish a Budget

While it's easy to wish this wasn't a factor to take into consideration, I don't think I'm speaking for just myself when I say it is. It helps to establish a budget in the planning stages, because you'll soon determine what is most important to you. It can sometimes be a wonderful thing though... it gets those creative juices flowing and you may end up with several things in your room that are handmade, unique, and special. It has always helped us in remodeling our home to work with what we can and do the work ourselves.

Think Outside the Box

I added this step after establishing a budget because it goes hand-in-hand with those creative juices. When something is out of your price range, don't give up quite yet - look for alternatives. (What do you think I should plant in this galvanized tub I'll be using as a planter?)

Accessorize

In our case, the bulk of our cost usually goes to structural details, but I also like to factor in some accessories. Accessories can complete your look and they're also fun to daydream about since you'll get to use them when your project is complete (smile). This doesn't mean I know absolutely every accessory I'm going to use in the planning stages, but it does help for me to have an idea of a few things as they help complete that vision.

Do What You Can... And Buy What You Can't

I couldn't think how else to word that! We have cut costs many times by doing the work ourselves, but sometimes you just can't and sometimes it just isn't worth it. I am so, so lucky to have a handy husband that likes to build things... in the case of our porch, adding an outdoor rug and a coffee table were both things I had on my mind. So I went with a rug (which I can't make) and asked my husband if he would build us a coffee table (which will practically be free since we already have the wood). ~~Even though Justus isn't thrilled with having another project on his to-do list~~ I know in the end we'll have a piece of furniture that will reflect the style of our home and will also be special.

Make a List

I know you probably aren't surprised with this last item, as I imagine most of you probably have figured out by now that I'm a list type of person (smile). But it always helps me to stay on target if I have a list of everything that has to be accomplished and there's also so much satisfaction in crossing something off. It's just a helpful little way for me to keep from getting overwhelmed when I can take something in pieces. It also helps this forgetful mommy remember ideas!

I'll keep you posted on our porch progress!

Note: The products pictured here I received from Lamps Plus and you can find them here:
          Outdoor Pillows
          Seagrass Outdoor Rug
      Candle Lantern
      Galvanized Tub

Pfister Giveaway Winner

2013-05-01T13:14:00.001-05:00

The random winner of the Pfister kitchen faucet is Megan. Thank you all for entering... I so enjoyed reaching each and every comment about your kitchens. And a huge thank you to Pfister for the generous giveaway!

Summer Sides

2013-04-27T09:13:00.001-05:00

I love this time of year when we frequently fire up the grill and our meals get a little lighter and a little easier. Yesterday afternoon my parents came over for supper... my mom and I usually split the duties, so she took the hamburgers and I took the sides.

Roasted Sweet Potato "Fries"

I wanted to come up with something that resembled fries, but was healthy. So I cut up some sweet potatoes to look like fries and roasted them. I roast vegetables all year long, but my favorite time to roast them is in the summer when vegetables from the garden are plentiful (can't wait)... usually it consists of simply coating them in olive oil, but last night I added some maple syrup to give the sweet potatoes some sweetness... they were delicious!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cut up 2-3 large sweet potatoes so that they resemble fries.

Whisk together 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil and 1/4 cup maple syrup and pour it over the cut sweet potatoes and mix so they are evenly coated.

Lay a piece of parchment paper (makes for easy-cleanup) in a baking dish (I used a large glass Pyrex dish).

Place the sweet potatoes in the dish and sprinkle with plenty of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Roast for 45 minutes.

Fruit Salad

I don't know about you, but I start craving fruit this time of year... in green salads, by itself, mixed with other fruits, you name it. This is almost too simple to share, but a hint of orange juice and local honey hit just the right note of sweet.

Chop and slice fruit (I used a combination of strawberries, grapes, blackberries, apples and oranges).

Add a splash of orange juice and honey and stir.

Buttermilk Cake with Homemade Whipped Cream

This is a cake recipe that comes from a cookbook I have called Super Natural Every Day, but I found a similar recipe posted on her website here. Just omit the large grain salt at the end and I used blackberries instead (I've even used apples before). What I love about this cake is that it's not very sweet or heavy. I like to make homemade whipped cream to go with it... it's the perfect complement and completely worth the time.

Whipped Cream

With an electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream until it has soft peaks. Add a splash of vanilla extract (about 1 tsp) and some sugar (about 1 tsp - or to taste) and only beat long enough to incorporate. You have to be careful not to beat overly long or the cream will quickly look like butter (don't ask me how I know - smile).

Have a great weekend! I'm sitting here watching the rain come down and hoping for some motivation to work on a project or two today...

P.S. One last reminder that there is still time to enter the giveaway for the Pfister kitchen faucet!

On The Back Porch

2013-04-26T08:02:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post to let you know I'm on Anita's back porch today at Cedar Hill Ranch. (I just wish I really was visiting... doesn't she have the most beautiful porch?) Anita is extremely creative and talented, and she's also such a lovely and thoughtful person... you will love visiting her blog.

Anita asked me some questions that took a lot of thought... and I even dug around for some old photos from my childhood (smile).

You can find the post here.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

P.S. There is still time to enter the Pfister giveaway for the kitchen faucet and I just had to mention that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the comments left about your kitchens!

Image Courtesy of Cedar Hill Ranch

Pfister Faucet Giveaway

2013-04-23T21:13:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned a couple times that we're in the process of working on the second phase of our kitchen renovation, so it was absolutely perfect timing when Pfister contacted me a while back. I hadn't really considered installing a new faucet this year, but when I headed over to their website, I found the most gorgeous faucet. Not only was it a faucet that would complement our vintage sink, but its design reminded me so much of the antique well pump in our back yard... it fit our farmhouse aesthetic perfectly.

I'm excited to show it to you in another post and especially thrilled that there will be a couple opportunities for one of you to win one of their beautiful faucets. I know you will love them just as much as I do!

I'm sure many of you have admired Pfister faucets before... Pfister has been making faucets for over 100 years and when I looked around their website in detail, I realized there really was a faucet for every individual style, whether it's kitchen or bathroom. I also love that they have a warranty that covers finish and function for life.

So last week a package arrived in the mail from Pfister, but it wasn't my faucet... it was a faucet for one of you!

Image Courtesy of Pfister

This pull-down faucet is European-inspired and called the Hanover... it has two handles, a matching soap dispenser, and my favorite, a high arc. I actually took a couple of the parts out of the box and I was so impressed with its quality. You can tell this is a faucet that will last a long time... and having seen many leaky faucets, that it has a never leak guarantee is a huge deal.

The faucet I selected is also a pull-down and I can't wait to install it. You simply press this little button on the side and it easily pulls down. It also has a spray volume control and swivels.

The finish is Tuscan Bronze... isn't it beautiful?

Image Courtesy of Pfister

You can find more details about the Hanover here on Pfister's website.

TO WIN:

Required Entry: Simply leave a comment below and answer this question... What's your favorite thing about your kitchen?

(Reminder: You do not need to have a blog to enter, but be sure to leave your email address so I have a way of contacting you.)

Bonus Entry: Like Pfister Faucets on Facebook and leave an additional comment letting me know you did so. You can find them on Facebook here.

Giveaway will be open until next Tuesday 11:59 PM CDT. A winner will be randomly drawn and will receive one (1) Hanover 2-Handle, Pull Down Kitchen Faucet.

Thanks for entering!

***This giveaway has closed***

Fun, Family and Five

2013-04-21T19:34:00.000-05:00

Our sweet Jillian turned five on Saturday... it hardly seems possible that five years have gone by since I held her for the first time. I'll never forget that moment and the love and joy that instantly filled me. She is so sweet and funny and my little helper... I couldn't be more proud of her.

We had a fun little "Pinkalicious" party for her on Saturday and I couldn't help but share a few pictures from the day.

After lunch and cake, we all went out in the beautiful sunshine and played some games (including the adults)... old-fashioned games like three-legged and wheelbarrow races. We laughed and laughed... so much fun.

The girls with Grampie...

Even Huck joined in the festivities... I'm not responsible for putting the pink bandanna on him, but he was just too cute not to photograph (smile).

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Snowball Blossoms and Living Room

2013-04-18T20:26:00.000-05:00

We've had several warm days in a row... warm enough that we've had all the windows open in the house letting in the fresh spring air. The girls and I have made sure to have time every day to soak in some sunshine... they've ran around and I've planted my garden and too many flowers to count.

The snowball bush is in bloom and its blossoms are one of my favorites. Yesterday evening I put together a couple cut bouquets with its blossoms and some daffodils... every now and then as a breeze has come through today I've caught its sweet, light fragrance.

Not long ago I finally purchased a rug for our living room. I've put off purchasing one as I can always think of a hundred other things I should be buying instead, but I received a gift card to Target, and when I ventured through the rug aisle I found the rug. It's a cotton and wool blend and a nice, soft spot for the girls to play.

It gets plenty of use as you can see (smile).

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I have a little girl turning five on Saturday... as you can imagine, we are on the countdown!

All About Painting Cabinets

2013-04-13T06:52:00.002-05:00

We have several projects in the works right now... usually I wait until we're finished to share pictures, but this time I thought I'd take you along with me (especially since it takes me so long to complete anything these days). I've had repainting our kitchen cabinets on my list for too long to count now... this isn't particularly a fun or exciting post, but if you've ever considered painting cabinets, I thought it might be a little helpful. This is also where I interject a disclaimer that I am not a painting expert, particularly in the cabinet department, but I thought I'd share a few things that I learned along the way.

Tip #1: Never underestimate the power of paint

BEFORE

This was what our kitchen looked like when we purchased our house (this was actually taken on a walk-through, but you get the idea). It was certainly not my ideal kitchen, putting it mildly. We've lived here three years now and we are still working on the kitchen, but the most dramatic change by far was painting the cabinets. It's also one of the most affordable ways to makeover your kitchen. In our case, although the cabinets were ugly, they were rock solid and in great condition... there was just no reason to replace them when all they needed was a little TLC.

AFTER

Was it fun painting the cabinets? Definitely not... but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Justus and I

painted them almost two years ago exactly and we worked on them for hours one weekend.

(You can see a peek of our new flooring here... I LOVE it... but we still have the trim to tackle.)

Tip #2: Invest in good quality paint

Our cabinets, walls, ceiling and trim are all painted Simply White by Benjamin Moore. The cabinets, ceiling and trim were painted with semi-gloss, but I used eggshell on the walls. I used latex paint because I was pregnant when we painted them the first time... I suspicion that oil-based would probably have better results, but I've never tried it, so I can't say for sure.

Yes, Benjamin Moore paint is expensive, but it is so worth it! I usually compromise a bit and purchase the Super Spec, which is a little cheaper.

The first time we painted the cabinets, I removed all the doors, and sanded all surfaces lightly before applying one coat of primer and then three coats of the Simply White.

Tip #3: Buy a cabinet paint roller

Our local paint store advised me to spend the $6 on this little cabinet roller. Oh my goodness, that was the best $6 I may have ever spent... every time I go to the paint store, I just want to hug the man in gratitude. Unless you really want the brush strokes on your cabinets, this is your go-to item... it is quick, easy and accurate when applying the paint. I just about was able to paint everything with this roller... there were only a couple places that I had to use a brush. I personally love the smooth finish it leaves, and I've also used it many times since for painting doors.

Tip #4: Go light on the paint

I don't know about you, but sometimes I tend to want to use a lot of paint because I think that it might mean I don't have to paint so many coats. Usually that is not the case and then I have to deal with drips. Especially painting cabinets, go easy on the paint... it might mean you have to apply one more coat, but my experience with this roller is that if you apply light coats, it dries quickly and leaves a wonderful, even finish.

Tip #5: Repainting

Well, two years passed since we painted our cabinets... two years of cooking, opening and closing cabinet doors too many times to count, spills, you name it. It was time to repaint the cabinets... they were showing their wear. I would have to say that although they were badly in need of repainting, I was surprised they had lasted as long as they did. This time around all I did was remove the pulls... I left the hinges on. I repainted every surface, but my main focus was on the doors. I went with two coats... the above picture shows only one coat, which really was sufficient for most areas, but there were some spots that I felt needed two.

AFTER

I spent three days on this project this week but only about 2 1/2 hours total... I put one coat of paint on every evening after the girls were put to bed and then allowed the paint to cure the following day. I have put off this project for so long, but it really was effortless... I wish I would have done it a long time ago. Now I know that repainting the cabinets is really a simple task.

Tip #6: Save time by not rinsing

This was a tip I learned only last year and I will forever be thankful to Linda with It All Started With Paint for sharing this on her blog... I wish I would have known about it all the years I painted and had to rinse my brush and tray every. single. time I had to take a break. Maybe I'm the only one who doesn't know this... but just in case you were like me, you can put your brush in a ziploc bag and it will prevent the paint from drying... just take it out the next day and you're good to go. In this case, since I was using a tray and roller, I just stuck everything in a garbage bag and closed it up tight. Never once did the paint dry up and then it was a simple task of getting it out the next evening to apply another coat of paint. Obviously, I wouldn't go too long without rinsing, but in this case, I didn't rinse until the third day.

Tip #7: If you use a roller, do not try to touch up with a brush later on

BEFORE

This was a lesson I learned the hard way. Several months ago there were a few spots that were driving me crazy so I just took a brush with a dab of paint and painted the spot. I can't explain what happened, but over the months since, the spots where I used a brush turned dingy, the paint looked crackled and it also looked dirty. Not good! You can see a few of the spots in the above picture next to the hardware (as usual, I forgot to take a "before" picture so I found this one from a couple months ago and zoomed in). Lesson learned - from now on I'll get out my trusty roller.

AFTER

Tip #8: Remember that you can fix any mistakes

Although we had a few spots in this area that were looking really bad, when I put the hardware back on, I let out a huge sigh of relief. It's nice to remember with painting that you can always fix it...

Using a Sealer

This time around, I used a top coat sealer. Rust-Oleum sent this to me after our New York trip... this is part of their cabinet transformations package. I applied a very light coat of it... the next morning I could see a faint shine and it feels slightly different to the touch, like the paint is harder. It feels like it left a good cure and I'm hoping it will be a good barrier of protection against minor chips, stains, etc. I'll let you know in a year or so!

I can't tell you how relieved I am to have this task completed... our cabinets looks clean and crisp again and I'm ready to move on to the next step... in the next few weeks I'll be painting trim once Justus puts it up, refinishing our sink and installing a new faucet.

Oh, what a long post... I hope it might be helpful to at least one of you. If you have any questions or any advice, feel free to leave a comment!

Have a great weekend! I'll be outside planting my garden today... (smile)

Mini-Makeovers at Country Living

2013-04-09T11:04:00.000-05:00

A while back I was asked if I would contribute a photo and idea for a story on Country Living's website. It was all about quick mini-makeovers... I spent a few days thinking it over and kept coming back to the pantry post I had done a couple weeks before. As a busy mom myself, nothing makes me feel better than a makeover that is quick and easy and combines organizing and decor all in one.

Above is the photo I sent them... I had such a great time rearranging our pantry and took the opportunity to give our old cabinet a little makeover at the same time.

BEFORE:

As you know, I love the old cabinet we use as a pantry but the inside did look a little rough. Although the outside is painted white, I had never done anything inside other than give it a thorough cleaning. I actually like the all wood interior in its natural state, but I thought the door could use a little freshening. So I painted a coat of white on and then a light coat of ASCP in Paris Grey, followed with a little clear wax.

AFTER:

I love the way it turned out... it not only looks better, but feels better to the touch. In addition, I put a coat of ASCP Paris Grey on the lower shelf, which is the only part of the cabinet that is not original.

You can find the tips I shared here, along with several other great ideas shared by some fantastic bloggers (I love the sugared berries by Gourmandistan so much that I plan on making some to use for Jillian's birthday cake coming up in a couple weeks). I'm so honored that Country Living asked me to be a part of 7 Mini-Makeovers You Can Finish Fast... I hope you'll head over and check out all the inspiration!

A Tree Swing

2013-04-04T18:37:00.000-05:00

I have this memory of a tree swing at my grandparents' country home. It hangs from a huge weeping willow tree branch in New Mexico and it's where I spent countless hours as a child swinging and daydreaming.

We have a couple huge trees on our property (and when I say huge, I mean huge). When we first moved, my husband hung a swing from one of the trees and we had so much fun swinging from it. But unfortunately, last year the tree had to come down as it was dying and since then we have been meaning to hang another.

So over the weekend, in the midst of working on the chicken house and installing a new kitchen floor, I added another project to ~~our~~ my husband's list and asked him to cut a piece of old barn wood that I could sand for the base of the swing. In my mind, it was just a simple project of tying a rope to a piece of wood and hanging it, but fortunately Justus was a little more realistic and put some more time in it to ensure it would be a swing to last (smile).

The base of the swing is 20" long. It's an extremely old piece of wood that was warped, but that made it just perfect for this project. I sanded it and applied a coat of poly before Justus drilled holes on each end and bought 30' of hemp rope to string through the holes. He had the perfect location for the swing, but it meant climbing way up high on the ladder (and scaring me half to death). He drilled pilot holes in the branch, screwed in eye screws and attached the rope to D-rings.

This is the side of the yard that once was our driveway, but we moved it to the other side of the yard last year and gradually the grass has started to grow back. You can kind of see in the picture above how the rope is secured to the branch.

There is something so magical about climbing on this old-fashioned swing... inevitably, you feel like a kid again as you go flying through the air and there is just no way you can keep a smile off your face.

Of course Jillian goes running for the swing any time we go outside.

"Higher, higher...!"

Rosetta has gotten her turn as well, although she's a bit more cautious (or maybe I should say, I'm a bit more cautious).

I love her sweet little laughter.

Isn't it funny how our childhood memories can influence us later on so much? I didn't really realize until writing this how many little things I enjoy and find beauty in because of memories at my grandparents'. Like the sound of our screen door squeaking as it opens and closes, and how I planted lemon-balm by our front porch because it reminded me of the peppermint my grandma always had growing next to their patio. Every time I sit on our new wooden swing, it just takes me back to those carefree summer days as a child... I can almost smell the peppermint and the roses and hear the screen door slam as I would swing back and forth...

Catching Up

2013-04-01T21:09:00.002-05:00

I hope you had a wonderful Easter!

We've been quite busy during the past couple weeks with projects, more projects and of course our day to day routines. The trees are all budding now and it's just beautiful... I've found myself running outside in between rain (and snow) showers to bring in some of the blossoms to enjoy.

One of the things about blogging that I am most thankful for is that it has taught me to stop and take in the beauty of the smallest things. Just two years ago I know I would have been too preoccupied to spend more than a fleeting moment observing the first blossoms of a new season. Now I find myself not only noticing, but looking...

With a little fresh water, the buds bloom practically overnight and stay beautiful for at least a week.

Our chicken house now is in its final stages and while it rained over the weekend, Justus installed new flooring in our kitchen (so exciting).

My favorite part of the chicken house so far is the huge door Justus built. It has certainly entertained the girls while I spend a little time here and there working on getting it all painted!

Saturday while we were working outside, I commented to Justus how grateful I was to be outside... I didn't hear noise from the cars driving down the road... all I could hear was the melody of the birds singing and my heart felt full with thankfulness as I took in the beauty of all the spring blooms and our two darling girls chasing each other around the yard.

I'm sorry I don't have anything special to share today, but I thought it was about time I got back to my blog after a little unplanned break (smile). I've missed talking to you all! I hope you have a great week.

A Spring Salad

2013-03-24T15:51:00.000-05:00

I hope you've had a great weekend! It is cold and rainy here this afternoon, but despite the weather, this time of year I start craving all the lighter foods that come with warm, sunny days.

Recently I put together this salad and it has quickly become one of my favorites. At the time I had some lettuce and fresh strawberries and thought I would combine them together in a salad with a few other staples I had. What resulted was a light, fresh salad with just the right combination of sweet and tangy. Not to mention it's easy and quick to put together!

Salad Ingredients

Lettuce (I like a spring mix,but you can use anything you prefer)

Strawberries, chopped or sliced

Parmesan cheese, grated

Chickpeas, freshly cooked or canned, drained

Optional: Chicken

Since I'm usually home, I like to cook my beans from scratch. (You can always cook them ahead of time and freeze too.) I personally love chickpeas... they are full of fiber and protein and I love the texture they add. (Justus doesn't like them so much, but he feels compelled to eat them after Jillian lectures him on how healthy they are - ha!)

When I make a salad as the main course for a meal, I always add some chicken. Sometimes I marinade it and other times (when I'm either in a hurry or I was too lazy to marinade earlier) I simply rub in a little extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle it with freshly ground black pepper and sea salt.

Dressing Ingredients

Equal parts of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil with a grind of black pepper and some salt. Mix well. (I usually find that about 2 Tbsp of each is the right quantity for us but you can always refrigerate the leftovers or quickly make some more.)

Whenever I make this salad, Jillian always gets excited. I think there's just something about the strawberries that adds just enough sweetness to make it both refreshing and delicious. You can adjust the quantities to your own preferences, but I usually load ours with the strawberries and chickpeas.

Now I can just hardly wait until we have local strawberries to buy!

Warm, spring days are around the corner, I just know it (smile).

Spring Fun

2013-03-21T10:39:00.000-05:00

Happy Spring!

We began our first day of spring by dyeing some Easter eggs. I've always wondered about using natural dyes... this year I decided to give it a try, but I didn't buy anything special. I just told myself we would use whatever we already had.

It kind of felt like a science experiment... some of it worked (frozen blueberries and tea bags), some of it (red wine vinegar and lettuce) not as much. But I will say this... it was fun. Next year I think I'll try it again, but maybe then I'll actually follow some recipes (smile).

(Here is the tutorial I kind of followed.)

After I set up a little work station and put all the dyes in jars, Jillian did everything else on her own. I sat in the background distracting Rosetta with blueberries and wondering how it was possible I had a little girl old enough to dye Easter eggs without any help.

Once we finished, we couldn't help but put all the eggs in a basket to admire, particularly the egg with the smiley face that Jillian drew with a crayon.

The adorable grain sack bunny garland hanging on the window was a surprise for my girls from Ann of On Sutton Place when she sent my last grain sack pillow. She suggested hanging it in the playroom, but it was way too cute to hide away.

Sometimes I think about hanging a curtain here, but then I always reconsider. Somehow being able to look out the window with an unobstructed view of our yard and being able to watch the sunset in the evening always makes washing dishes more enjoyable.

I hope beautiful, sunny spring days are in your forecast!

Spring in the Air (and Giveaway Winner)

2013-03-18T20:07:00.000-05:00

We returned from a little trip to South Carolina this weekend to some of the first signs of spring. I went with a friend, our four girls and my mom to a homeschool convention and we had a great time! Today we were back to our Monday routine, along with getting the house back to normal and somewhere around six loads of laundry. We had rain and thunderstorm warnings all day, but somewhere around dinner time the sun came out and afterwards we all ran outside for a breath of fresh, (almost) spring air. Forsythia bushes are in full bloom and Bradford Pears are covered in white blossoms... the birds are chirping and the days are getting warmer... I think spring is in the air!

Huck might need a haircut.


The chicken house in progress.

Thank you to all who entered the giveaway for the amazing grain sack package that Ann from On Sutton Place put together. I know we both appreciated each and every lovely comment!

The randomly drawn winner of the giveaway is Cristi Copeland! Congratulations!

Have a great week!

The Living Room

2013-03-13T17:41:00.000-05:00

I thought it was about time to share some photos of our living room! We've been slowly (since last August - yikes!) making some improvements to the room and it's so nice to check another room off our list.

The living room was the first room we entered when we looked at our house. I'll never forget the feeling that came over me. We rarely get snow here, but there was snow on the ground and it was near Christmastime. Yes, we immediately saw improvements that needed to be made, but instantly I felt like I was home. It was warm, comfortable and well, cozy.

BEFORE:

Fortunately, our home really was move-in ready, but there were certain things we knew we would eventually fix. One of those things was the styrafoam tiles that covered the ceilings downstairs. Although we've had wonderful luck in other rooms of our house finding the original beadboard in good condition, when we removed the tiles in this room, we instantly knew there would be no way we could salvage it.

I think this picture about sums up a room renovation in an old house - not fun! The original owners had nailed 1x4 boards onto the ceiling before installing the styrafoam to ensure the room was level. But in doing so, the ceiling height was significantly lowered and every time we walked up the stairs, we had to duck our heads. So it was very important to us to keep the original ceiling height, even though we knew we would be dealing with leveling issues. We installed planking on the ceiling and it was a job. I even learned how to use a nail gun because Justus had to use all his strength to hold the planks together. Even after we finished installing the planks, Justus then had his work cut out for him with the trim. In the end though, we were able to raise the ceiling about 4"!

AFTER:

I know I've mentioned before, but just in case you are new to reading, the walls are oak tongue and groove and are original to the house (about 80 years old). They have never been painted and it was important to us to leave them as they would have originally been.

We replaced the ceiling, most of the trim, drapery, light fixture and other cosmetic details, but we didn't replace any of our furniture. Between working with what we already had, trying to lighten the room but keep the walls in their natural state and dealing with the awkward layout, this room has been a huge challenge for me. But in the end, I'm happy with how it turned out. It still feels warm and cozy, but hopefully a little fresher.

My goal in renovating our house is to make everything flow from room to room, but still let each room have its own personality. The original owners had painted the entire downstairs a cream color that neither Justus or I cared for and gradually we've been replacing it with white. I painted all the trim in this room and the ceiling the same color white (Simply White by Benjamin Moore) to match the rest of the changes we've made downstairs, but I also brought in some touches of gray, as the white can be a little stark against the wood.

See the piece of trim in the corner? The original owners had trim in these corners painted white. One day it occurred to me that a piece of trim stained to match the walls would look so much better. It was just a little thing - but something we felt dramatically helped. I used a stain that Rust-Oleum had told us about (Ultimate Wood Stain - One Coat Color) and I loved it! Only one coat is required and that is literally all it took on the pine trim to match the oak walls.

A lady I used to work with illustrated the two bird prints that hang in this corner and I absolutely love them. Originally I felt like I needed to add more, but I think their simplicity actually looks nice.

We've had this table that sits under the window for several years. I found it at an antique store for about $40... the surface was made with two old cabinet doors.

Finding a room arrangement that worked was one of the hardest things for me. I can't tell you how many times I moved it around! I am a symmetrical person and the front windows do not line up with the fireplace, which drives me a little crazy. In the end, I chose to line the sofa up to be symmetrical with the fireplace.

Another thing I struggled with was a light fixture! I wavered between a schoolhouse light and a barn light for a long time, but in the end, Justus picked out this glass light fixture from Lowe's. It's not something I would have ever thought of, but it was just perfect.

The pillows on the couch (and on the leather chair above) were made by Ann of On Sutton Place out of grain sacks (you can read about them here). They were one of the final touches that just brought the entire room together.

The console table behind the sofa was also something we've had since our early years of marriage, but I painted it a lighter gray to help lighten the room (you can read about it here). We also added drapery panels, which are sewn from linen (you can read about them here), and rods.

The shelves were another new addition (you can read about them here). I like the way they fill this empty space without taking up any precious floor space. I painted them the light gray (Titanium by Benjamin Moore) for a subtly softer look.

BEFORE:

Painting the stairs was a huge undertaking. Once the ceiling was raised, Justus was able to remove the piece of trim on the bottom. The above picture was taken on our first walk-through... the stairs were painted a brown color and were so slippery. After Jillian and I both slipped and fell down them in the same week, I had carpet installed two days later, and I've never once regretted it.

AFTER:

I painted the top of the treads and the handrail the same gray as the shelves and the rest white. I actually painted the stairs a couple months ago, but I found they didn't hold up very well, so just last week I applied a coat of satin poly over the paint to help protect them.

At first I tried painting our door gray too, but in the end, I decided white looked better and I repainted it. The door is original.

Are you getting a feel for how awkward this room is? I needed to keep this walkway as open as possible, as it leads from the front entrance into the dining room, but still try to accommodate our furniture. In the end I put this checked chair up against the wall and the wooden crate beside it holds some toys.

Just last week I was still struggling with what to hang in this corner. My mom had painted this wooden quilt square for their home, but wasn't happy with it, and asked if I wanted it. It fit just perfect in this spot! We replaced an outdated lamp shade here with a burlap drum from Lowe's.

The fireplace doesn't look all that different. I repainted it the same light gray I've used around the room, as the white was just too much against the wood. I put up the same artwork (made from wool) and for now the mantle is simply decorated. The basket of blocks in front of the fireplace was a gift from a previous boss for our girls. As you can imagine, most of the time blocks are scattered around the living room floor (smile).

Thanks for letting me show you around! I hope you'll forgive me for talking so much!

One last thing... there is still time to enter the grain sack giveaway from Ann's shop (you can find that post here). Have a wonderful rest of the week!

On Sutton Place & Grain Sack Giveaway

2013-03-11T10:22:00.000-05:00

I am so happy to introduce you to my friend, Ann, today. I consider Ann my friend, but I've never actually met her in person - we met through our blogs! One day I clicked over to her blog and instantly felt at home. She so warmly writes about her beautifully decorated home, shares delicious recipes and other snapshots into her life. As I began to follow her blog, I also discovered her lovely Etsy shop, Sutton Place Designs, where she sells handmade textile items, like pillow covers and table runners. I particularly loved her antique grain sack items and one day I decided to treat myself and bought some of her grain sack lavender sachets (which to this day are still one of my favorite things). So along the way, a friendship was made... and her thoughtfulness has meant so much to me, from sharing blogging advice to sending me a surprise gift (grain sack stockings) in the mail.

A while back, as we were finishing up in the living room and I was on the hunt for the right fabric to use for pillow covers, I could not stop thinking about how perfect red striped grain sack covers would look on my red couch. One day I simply couldn't resist any longer and I sent Ann an email (smile).

So today I want to tell you a little about my grain sack pillows.

Getting a package in the mail from Ann is pretty exciting... first of all, the contents always smell like lavender (even when they don't contain any) and each item is beautifully wrapped in tissue paper and always perfectly folded and ironed.

My first question to Ann when inquiring about the pillow covers was, "How family friendly are grain sacks?" She responded that they were very family friendly and also machine washable... "Don't forget where they have been", she reminded me. And although I hate to admit this (particularly since it brings back memories of near-panic), I have already had one incident involving a little girl named Rosetta and a pillow cover. So I can completely assure you that some gentle scrubbing with a mild detergent and a gentle cycle in the washing machine will remove stains and your grain sack will look good as new. I can also assure you that although the lavender sachets are not hacky sacks, they will survive being thrown through the air on an occasion... or two.

At first I started with two 20x20 pillow covers that Ann made specifically for my red couch. When I received this particular package and ran into the living room to see how they would look, I could hardly believe how well Ann had matched them. They were perfect.

I love that each pillow cover has a zipper closure. So easy and it gives such a crisp look. (By the way, Ann said Ikea has down inserts for $6.99; unfortunately, I don't live near an Ikea, but I found two down pillow inserts on Amazon here for $19.99.)

So for a few weeks I enjoyed my 20x20 covers on our couch, while struggling again to find a fabric for a small pillow on one of our chairs. And then Ann posted a picture on her Facebook page of her latest grain sack pillow, which was pieced together. Oh, I loved it..I must have looked at it in her shop at least 10 times. The size she had for sale was larger than I needed, so finally I couldn't take it any longer, and I asked if she would make me another pillow cover sized 12x16.

This cover has a button closure on the side and a coordinating fabric inside. I love that it's a little different from the larger covers, yet still coordinates beautifully.

And just to show you how thoughtful Ann is... her last two packages to me have included a little surprise for my girls. With the large covers (before Valentine's Day) she included two little grain sack hearts filled with lavender, one for Jillian and one for Rosetta. As you can imagine, Jillian squealed when she saw she had her own little heart. "And it smells soooo good, Mommy!"

Ann has so graciously put together a wonderful giveaway package for one Keeping It Cozy reader and I am so excited that one of you will be the recipient of Ann's beautiful work! I know you will love everything just as much as I do.

The randomly drawn winner will receive (1) 12x16 reversible grain sack pillow cover, (1) 34" grain sack heart garland and (1) grain sack lavender sachet set, all as pictured.

To Enter:

I really like to keep my giveaways easy, so all that is required is leaving a comment, but I would love it if you would visit Ann's Etsy shop (click here) and let me know what your favorite item is when you leave a comment!

(You don't need to have a blog to enter - just be sure to leave your contact information in the comment field.)

If you have a chance, I know you'll love visiting Ann's blog, On Sutton Place, too - it's one of my favorites! (You can also keep in touch with Ann on Facebook here.)

Have a wonderful Monday! The giveaway is open until next Monday, March 18.

***This giveaway has closed***

Reclaimed Wood Kitchen Shelves

2013-03-04T18:25:00.000-06:00

Snow flurries fell all day Saturday but it gave me the perfect opportunity to finish the last bit of painting in our living room. After checking that room redo off my mental list that evening (yahoo), of course I didn't waste any time moving on to another project. When I suggested the idea that has been on my mind for... oh, the last six months... to Justus, he actually grabbed a pen and paper to start drawing up some ideas. So yesterday afternoon we braved the cold (although it really wasn't too bad) and dug into the pile of old barn wood we've had sitting on our deck to make a little shelving unit for one wall in our kitchen.

I promised Justus all he would have to do was cut the wood, hang it and I would do the rest. You know, he would do everything but sand! Sound fair?

He just loves when I take pictures of him for my blog!

We moved the wood around for a while before deciding on a design and what wood we would use where. I'm not exactly sure how old this wood is, but I imagine around 100 years... as you can see, ~~some~~ most of it was extremely weathered.

After this, I sanded...and sanded...and sanded. The piece on the left is what this 2x4 originally looked like and the piece on the right is what it looked like after sanding. Basically I sanded until it was as smooth to the touch as I could get it.

After sanding each piece from every angle, I applied a coat of butcher block oil (I love this food-safe oil from Watco). Once it dried (pretend I waited the amount of time it says on the back), I gave it another light sanding and brought all the pieces inside. I made sure they were clean before Justus hung them. Once he finished, I applied another light coat of oil. I allowed it to dry overnight and applied one more light coat this morning.

I knew the piece would look rustic, but my hope was that I could preserve its character while giving it a nice, finished look. I wanted it to match our reclaimed wood butcher block countertops, both in color and design. When Justus first hung the shelves, it took me a little time to get used to its rugged look. I know this look isn't for everyone, but I have to say that I really love how they turned out. I think they might just be the perfect fit for our not-perfect farmhouse (smile).

I knew the minute I saw these old planks they would be perfect for shelves, because they are so wide and thick. We used the very weathered 2x4s as brackets for the shelves. There were two of them, bolted together, so you can actually see some of the holes.

The dark streaks visible in the wood are a result of the type of saw used back then when it was cut into lumber.

Justus had the idea of using the more narrow planks for the back of the unit. He cut the bottom planks at an angle to give the shelving unit a more finished look.

One thing I love about old, hard wood is that it's not necessary to stain... allow the wood to soak in a little oil and it really shows its beautiful, natural color.

I could hardly wait to put all my pretty dishes on the shelves. I filled the shelves with my white Mikasa dishes and some vintage pieces and they looked beautiful... but then my practical side kicked in and I kept looking to the side of our kitchen where my most-used cookbooks sit on precious countertop space.

In the end practicality won... some of the white dishes went back in the dining room, but there was plenty of room for a little pretty and functional! (And, actually, I do find cookbooks pretty too.)

Sometime this spring my farm table will be moved (and oh, how I will miss it), and we'll have another countertop here and cabinet underneath. It will be wonderful to have some additional countertop space... needless to say, I'm anxious to start the second phase of our kitchen renovation!

Speaking of... this weekend I also discovered original hardwood floors in our kitchen, but Justus is definitely pretending like he doesn't hear me when I suggest tearing out our current floor! Do you feel sorry for Justus being married to me? Yes, me too!

Have a great week!

Sharing at
Savvy Southern Style

My Random Thoughts on Blogging

2013-02-27T17:07:00.001-06:00

1. The friendships you will make... Sometimes what you least expect turns out to be the best part. I've developed so many friendships as a result of blogging and they feel very real. Often I feel that we have so much in common we would never run out of things to talk about. Not only have I formed friendships with fellow bloggers, but I also think of many readers as friends. I look forward to your visits and sweet comments more than anything else. They are often what encourage me to keep blogging!

2. Don't let anything stop you... I can't tell you how many times I have hesitated before publishing a blog post. (Oh yes, it will definitely happen with this post.) I can't tell you how many times I have felt like my blog posts are uninspiring and probably not worth sharing. But despite that, I am so thankful I kept posting away... blogging has made me grateful for many things in my life. I even started noticing little things I hadn't noticed before... like the new blossoms on a shrub and the way the start of a new season brings different scents and sounds. So if you ever feel the urge to start a blog, I say go for it!

3. Why do you blog... I really love blogging. Why? It's fun, it's rewarding, it's motivating, the list goes on and on. I started my blog on impulse but I did read a book prior to starting entitled "Blogging for Bliss". I think the title of the book sums up my feelings about blogging to this day.

4. But it takes time and effort... When I first started blogging, my husband would frequently ask me if I enjoyed it. When I answered yes, he would jokingly respond, "Good, because it sure takes a lot of time!" And I really feel like this is true... blogging does take a lot of time and effort, so I think it's important to enjoy it. My husband hasn't asked me this question in a long time... I guess he knows what my answer will be now!

5. Capturing moments on camera... Developing a love of photography is something that has only happened since my blog. I didn't even know how to turn a DSLR camera on! Gradually during the past year I learned a little more as I went along, simply by trial and error. It was a long time before I turned my camera to manual mode (yes, I had to google YouTube videos to figure out which button did what!) and I'm still learning. But taking photos has turned out to be my favorite part of a blog post. I love trying to capture a moment and I love trying to tell a story from a photo. My camera is always nearby and I reach for it often to capture little things I enjoy. Some of the photos get shared, but many are just random snapshots.

6. Why did you start a blog anyway... Every now and then I get asked this question and I have to take a deep breath. The easy answer is since that first day I discovered that there was such a thing as a blog, I have loved reading and discovering new blogs. It was (and still is) like getting my favorite magazine on a frequent basis! But, the hard and personal answer is... last year around this time my husband had made the decision to dissolve his (our) business of 8 years that he had put everything into and we were left picking up all the broken pieces. It could have been so much worse, and I think we recognized that we had the important things to be thankful for, but it was still a difficult experience. My husband took the first job he found, which meant he worked many weekends and evenings. It was then, at the end of the day, when the girls were tucked into bed, I started my blog and began writing. I guess you could say it was a little therapeutic for me. Now I can happily say that my husband found a wonderful job about 6 months ago that he enjoys (not to mention the fact that he is home for supper each night and weekends) and we recognize now that dissolving the business was the right thing.

7. Let's get personal... I think there are probably quite a few people that I know that consider me to be a private person. Then why do I have such a personal blog? Hm, good question. I think the answer to that is writing sometimes comes easier for me than talking. (Unless I really know you, and then I'll talk your ear off!) I remember even as a little girl I had a journal and I kept one all the way until I married. Now that I think about it, I suppose that I still do keep a journal - just a very public one - ha!

8. I think I'm getting used to it now... For a long time, only a handful of people I actually know knew about my blog. Then I was a finalist for the Country Living award, and well, I think everybody knows now! Recently I received a birthday card in the mail from our friend who is in her 80's and when I opened it up it said, "Make Justus cook the biscuits." (Yes, she was referring to my biscuit post.) I laughed out loud out at the mailbox! I think it was then I realized I'm getting used to the people I love and know so well reading my blog!

9. There's always reality... My huge to-do list this week isn't filled with fun, interesting projects; it's simply filled with reality. My husband is a great sport, but he still rolls his eyes every time I take a picture of him; my oldest daughter loves to call me "mommy blogger" while giggling because she knows everyone will laugh and her mommy will get embarrassed; there's still loads of laundry to do, and dishes to put away. Maybe that's why it's so appealing to take photos of pretty things! (smile)

While we're getting personal, this is more along the lines of what our house looks like on a daily basis!

These random thoughts have been on my mind for a while now, probably since it's been over a year now since I started my blog. I thought it was probably about time I shared a little more about myself (smile).

More than anything, I want you to know how much I appreciate your visits, sweet comments, and emails. They are like little rays of sunshine in my day!

Planning for a Garden

2013-02-22T17:11:00.000-06:00

I was oh so excited to receive the packets of seeds I had ordered in the mail last weekend. I sat outside to do my preliminary planning last Saturday and all week I've been looking forward to getting my seeds started.

This year I'm planting an all heirloom garden. And I'm holding my breath while writing this post for two reasons... one, I've never planted with heirloom seeds and two, I've never started seeds. Basically that means I had (have) no idea what I was doing and could only follow some written instructions and hope for the best. But planting with heirloom seeds this year was important to me and something I really wanted to try. Heirloom seeds are pure, natural, have good flavor and are not genetically modified (GMO-free).

I ordered all my seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com). They have the largest selection of heirloom seeds in the US and are a great source of information. I could spend hours just reading their seed catalog alone.

And although totally unrelated, aren't their seed packets so pretty?

I used a numbered system last year for keeping track of what was planted where and it worked so well I'm doing it again this year. I spent some time writing a few planting tips down as well on my master list and drew up a garden plan too. This year I'm planting a vegetable garden twice the size as last year, which means I'm in for a busy summer!

I purchased organic seed-starting soil and organic biodegradable fiber pots and trays for starting my seeds (tomatoes, onions, and peppers). I used my numbered system on the pots as well so I remember what I planted (smile).

These days I am so forgetful!

I used the planting guide provided at rareseeds.com (here) and also followed the instructions for sowing on the back of each seed packet. The first step was moistening the soil mix so that a firm bed is created for the seeds. Yes, I poured my soil mixture into a mixing bowl and put it my kitchen sink. What better to stir with than a kitchen spoon? I found that the faucet sprayer worked well so that I wasn't over-watering.

It looks like I'm cooking something up with my spoon in the soil... a kitchen garden, anyone?

The supplies I ended up using were simple household items: a mixing bowl, spoon, and tweezers. And they worked great!

The soil is packed into pots and I used my thumb to press down as I went. This prevents the seeds from falling down to the bottom of the pot.

The tweezers worked so well for picking up the tiny little seeds and placing them in the pots.

After I was finished, I misted the pots and covered the trays with plastic wrap until they (hopefully, hopefully, hopefully) germinate.

Really, since I've never done this before, I probably should have waited to publish this post until I had seedlings. But as usual, my blog posts tend to come unplanned.

Even though I have no idea if I'll have success, it really did feel wonderful to do a little gardening today. Isn't it amazing to think of a tiny little seed and what it can produce?

P.S. This mama planted seeds while the girls were napping but forgot to move the mixing bowl with the soil somewhere high. The girls woke up and before I knew it, I heard Jillian, "Mommmmy! Rosetta's climbing on the table!" Then I ran because I had a bad feeling somebody was about to sample whatever was being mixed in the bowl. I snapped this picture then and look who was being silly for the camera!

Have a great weekend!

Just Dreaming

2013-02-17T19:04:00.001-06:00

Somehow it seems so fitting that one of the first colors to greet us with the promise of springtime is one as cheerful and bright as yellow.

I've been dreaming of spring all weekend... my gardening seeds arrived in a package Friday and I spent a relaxing hour sitting on the picnic table working on the garden plan while Justus was hammering away on our soon to be chicken house.

A few cheerful yellow buds placed on the dining room mantel bring in warmth and sunshine and almost make me forget that it's still cold outside and only February.

Do you remember the dough bowl my father-in-law made me? Well, he actually made us two and just recently gave this one to us. (I know, could I be any luckier?) This one is a bit wider than the other and was made from a piece of cherry.

The contrast of colors in the wood is beautiful and I knew immediately it would be perfect used as a centerpiece on our dining room table. As I'm sure you do, I treasure handmade items like this, even more so when it's made by someone special to us.

My husband snapped this picture of Rosetta and I this afternoon while we were all enjoying the last couple hours of sunshine and I was busy picking yellow flowers. My little Rosie is growing up...

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Thank You Romantic Homes

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I hope you had a nice Valentine's Day! Ours was nice, but low key... although the girls and I did do some impromptu cooking baking (chocolate hearts, of course) and I've been enjoying my beautiful Valentine's bouquet of tissue paper flowers that Jillian made for me all week.

I wanted to say a huge thank you to Romantic Homes Magazine for including my blog in the Site Seeing section of this month's issue. The entire magazine is beautiful and not only features some gorgeous homes, but inspiring bloggers as well.

I was so touched when I read what was written about my blog. It's an honor to be featured in such a lovely magazine.

Thank you, Romantic Homes!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. It is cold here, but we are making some progress on our outdoor projects and I'm busy dreaming of springtime and gardening!