On the Banks of Squaw Creek

Red Barn or BoothBay Blue? Exterior Inspiration

2013-05-12T19:37:00.001-05:00

Finally, after living here for 5 years, the exterior of our house will be done! New siding and windows were installed last fall, and the painter is coming Tuesday! We had a big discussion about house colors on Facebook last week, and hubby and I have made our decision. But just for fun, I want to show you some inspiration pictures for our top two color choices.

But first, here are two “in progress” pictures of our house…

And now, color inspiration number 1: Red Barn by Sherwin Williams

(Click on the picture to be taken to the source, and please pin responsibly. Click on the picture and pin from the original source.)

Traditional Exterior

Traditional Exterior by Santa Cruz Media And Blogs Shannon Malone

Traditional Exterior by Little Rock General Contractor Bret Franks Construction, Inc.

And Option #2: Boothbay Blue

This is a James Hardie Siding color that Sherwin Williams has in their system.

Traditional Exterior by Houston Architect 2Scale Architects

Traditional Exterior by Grand Rapids Architect Image Design LLC

Traditional Exterior by Sandy General Contractor Markay Johnson Construction

Traditional Exterior by Brooklyn Architect Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture

Traditional Exterior by Stillwater Architect Ron Brenner Architects

The painter comes Tuesday and maybe later this week I’ll reveal what color we chose!So which would you choose?

Mother’s Day–Free Printables and a Fun Event!

2013-05-06T11:52:00.000-05:00

We always give flowers on Mother’s Day – usually annuals. Some Grandmas get flats, and some get potted annuals. It just depends on their gardening style.

With that in mind, Red Granite Farm and The HomeShed (that’s me!) are teaming up again to help you create beautiful, unique container gardens just in time for Mother's Day.

Bring your own containers (or buy them from The HomeShed) for our Potting Party.

For a $5 fee, Nicole (B.S. Horticulture with 15+ years of experience) will help you design and plant a container garden that will add curb appeal all summer long. The annuals you purchase to fill your container will be 10% off during the Potting Party. The HomeShed will also be open for your shopping pleasure.

In other Mother’s Day news, I made a few FREE Mother’s Day cards for you to print. I only ask that you pin the card you print or share it on facebook before printing.

Click on the picture to open a PDF version to print. (PDF version does NOT have the watermark on the bottom right.)

And the card versions – just print and fold! (The printable versions do not have the watermark on the bottom right, but they do have my website on the back.)

Happy Mother’s Day!

Grain Sack Striped Table

2013-05-04T08:37:00.001-05:00

This is one of my favorite recent furniture projects. If I had room for it, it would definitely be living at my house.
The table was a cast-off from hubby’s grandparents, and we used it in our basement for a long time to hold junk. Then, when I decided to start The HomeShed last fall, I decided it was an excellent candidate for the sale.

Not surprisingly, it did not sell in its “before” state. The week before our spring barn sale. I decided to give it a makeover.
I started by clamping, gluing and screwing the top down. It was a bit warped, but a few days in the clamps with screws holding it together and it was much better.
Then, I painted.
No sanding or prep work, since the wood was pretty weathered and I was going for a distressed look.
I put a quick coat of cream on and let that dry overnight.
Next, I taped off the design and painted navy grain sack stripes.
After that dried, I distressed a bit with my sanding sponge and went over the whole thing with some wood stain to darken it up a bit more.
The chairs were from my dining room. I recovered them in a navy ticking stripe.

The table was free to me and the chairs cost $2 each at a garage sale 6 or 7 years ago (and I’d been using them in the dining room since then!) Because of that, I’m able to charge only for my labor and supplies, and this set – table & 4 chairs – is priced at $150.

The set is still for sale, so email or call if you’re interested (contact info on my HomeShed facebook page) or come see it in person at our next sale June 28-30th at Red Granite Farm.

Shared at Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Night Special
Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday

Ground Turkey: Fear vs. Facts

2013-05-01T21:41:00.001-05:00

Ground turkey is in the news again, and it’s not pretty. Consumer Reports did some independent research and then sensationalized the results, as some media outlets tend to do. But I believe we should make food choices based on facts, not fear, and ground turkey is no exception.

The fear: Ground turkey is contaminated with bacteria that can cause foodborne illness.

The facts: In the Consumer Reports testing, NONE of the turkey sampled contained Campylobacter, and only 5% of the samples contained Salmonella. Government testing has found very similar results.

The fear: E. Coli and Enterococcus on ground turkey will make us sick.

The facts: While E. Coli can cause illness, it is found in many places in our environment, including computer keyboards! And Enterococcus, which CR focused on in their article, does NOT cause foodborne illness.

The fear: There is not enough testing for bacteria on turkey. CR called for the USDA to declare four serotypes of Salmonella adulterants in ground turkey.

The facts: Tens of thousands of turkey samples are tested annually by the FDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Services. Nearly 90 percent of the ground turkey samples, and 97 percent of the whole turkey samples are Salmonella-free. In addition, there is no reliable, rapid tests for Salmonella serotypes. Most reliable tests still take more than a week. That kind of delay would make ground turkey a more expensive product to produce, denying many Americans— especially budget conscious consumers— a nutritious, safe protein. The turkey industry will continue to invest in new testing methodologies, but it will likely be years before one reliable enough for regulatory purposes is developed.

The fear: Bacteria on turkey are resistant to antibiotics, which can cause a risk to human health.

The facts: All bacteria are resistant to certain antibiotics. Scott Hurd, PhD, DVM, Associate Professor of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University, said, “The fact that some of those bacteria are resistant to certain antibiotics is also neither alarming nor surprising. Many bacteria are naturally resistant to certain antibiotics regardless of how they’ve been used previously. This is the reason that sick people need to be seen by a doctor so they get an antibiotic to which the bacteria are known to be susceptible.”

The fear: Overuse of antibiotics on farms can lead to antibiotic resistance in humans. CR said the report found resistance to “ampicillin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and others “often used to treat illnesses” associated with foodborne illness.

The facts:

o Penicillin-class drugs (including ampicillin) comprise only 7% of all antibiotic use in food-producing animals. (Iowa State University study/FDA records)

o Cephalosporin-class drugs (including ceftriaxone) comprise less than 1% of all antibiotic use in food-producing animals. (Iowa State study/FDA records)

o Ciprofloxacin (specifically its animal version, enrofloxacin) has been banned for use in poultry for almost eight years, so on-farm use cannot be the source of resistance in poultry – FDA records.

o Tetracycline, which is widely used in food-animal production, no longer is a significant drug in human medicine, comprising only four percent of the antibiotics prescribed by physicians. (Iowa State study/FDA records)

The fear: Farmers misuse antibiotics.

The facts: According to the FDA, antibiotics have been use safely in animal agriculture for half a century to treat and control disease, and improve overall health. Turkey farmers use antibiotics judiciously and in full compliance with federal law.

Antibiotic use on livestock farms is not an imminent public health threat, according to the FDA, National Research Council and World Health Organizations. There is no scientific consensus that antibiotic use in animals is connected to antibiotic resistance in human medicine.

The fear: Eating ground turkey will make me sick.

The facts: ALL meat, including ground turkey, should be thoroughly cooked to avoid foodborne illness. Ground turkey should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees, using a meat thermometer. Wash your hands, avoid cross contamination, cook thoroughly and refrigerate promptly to avoid illness.

Now that you’ve read both sides of the story, which will you choose?

Fear?

Or Facts?

For more facts about your food, visit www.findourcommonground.com, www.bestfoodfacts.org, www.fooddialogues.com and www.safefruitsandveggies.com

My Boys on the Farm

2013-04-30T16:18:00.001-05:00

One of the reasons we decided to farm was because of our kids. We wanted to raise them in the country where they could roam and explore. We wanted them to experience the hard work and dedication that raising livestock requires. And we wanted them to spend lots of time side-by-side with their daddy.

However, they’re still a little young for all of those things. At 4 1/2 and 2, they can’t roam too far without an adult. And they’re no match for 40+ pound turkeys. And it turns out, running a farm like this doesn’t leave Bart a lot of free time (although he has found a bit of time to work on this tractor with the boys…it’s John Deere 110, the first lawn tractor that John Deere made, from the mid 1960s. It’s currently engine-less, but has new tires that make it just adorable!)

So for now, we take field trips out to the barns, find errands they can run with daddy, and squeeze in a tractor ride whenever possible. We know that someday, they’ll be hard at work on the farm, but for now, they get to enjoy the privilege of being {little} farm boys!

The HomeShed’s Spring Sale

2013-04-24T21:16:00.001-05:00

Sorry, dear readers, for my absence.

I’ve been spending all my time working on my occasional barn sale – The HomeShed.

Our spring sale is this weekend and I’ve been painting, repurposing, cleaning, organizing, pricing, and all that jazz…

Here are just a few (cell phone picture) sneak peeks for you…

Be sure to follow along on facebook at The HomeShed to see more pictures and updates!

And if you’re local, I hope to see you at the sale! Here are the details:

Located at Red Granite Farm (Not my farm)

2013 130th St

Boone, IA

north of Ames on Hwy E-18 between Hwy 17 & Hwy 69

Friday & Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 10-4

How a Messy Mom Cleans: The Fifteen Minute Method

2013-04-10T08:18:00.001-05:00

Wow – I had such great feedback on the first “Messy Mom” post! Turns out, my readers are messy, just like me!

Now, I’ve kept you waiting long enough. It’s time for the first of my messy-proof methods to jump start your cleaning.

The Fifteen Minute Method

Method: The Fifteen Minute Method

How it works: Spend 15 minutes cleaning in each room.

Purpose: To make large areas of the house functional and presentable in a short period of time.

Doesn’t it seem like we can clean more in the 15 minutes before someone comes over than we do all week? We have a sense of urgency and a sense of purpose that pushes us to get a lot of cleaning done really quickly.

When I need to clean large amounts of house in a short period of time, I try to mimic that situation. I set my kitchen timer for 15 minutes, and get to work. I spend 15 minutes in each room, starting with the kitchen, and I challenge myself. Can I get the dishes done, counters cleared and floor swept in 15 minutes? Amazingly, I usually can!

Then, I reset the timer and move to the dining room. As fast as I can, I clear the table, sweep and vacuum.

Next, 15 minutes in the living room and finally, 15 minutes in the bathroom and entryway.

In 1 hour, I can get the first floor of my house functionally clean.

Before:	15 minutes later:

Sticking to 15 minutes will force you to prioritize and clean the most important things. This is NOT the time to reorganize a cupboard or sort your craft supplies. Those things also need to be done, but not in this 15 minute time frame.

I used this method a lot when I was pregnant with Isaac and exhausted. I would do 1 or 2 15 minute sessions and then rest. I also liked this when I was working full-time. I could spend one hour on Saturday morning spiffing up, and then enjoy my weekend. I still use this method a lot when I get overwhelmed with the day-to-day messes that two little boys (and their mom and dad) can create.

Have you tried the 15 Minute Method? Leave some feedback here or on my facebook page.

Insanity

2013-04-04T07:50:00.001-05:00

I have a confession. I haven’t written the 2nd Messy Mom post because I’m scared to let you all down. I had such great feedback from the first post – seems like you all are messy like me, and you were crying out for help. What if my help doesn’t help? What if you’re all like, “I thought she was going to write something REALLY helpful – a magical cure. And all we got was this mumbo jumbo.” So I haven’t written any mumbo jumbo. And I haven’t cleaned my house either. But I will someday, I promise.

In the meantime, I’m working on some Mother’s Day cards to have for sale at The HomeShed sale at the end of the month. What do you think of this one?

A Box of Sunshine

2013-03-27T20:54:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I received a surprise in the mail.

A Box of Sunshine.

The box was filled with luxurious little goodies that I’ve been using everyday since.

There was also a super sweet note,

And an adorable card. (A quick google search showed me that this printable is from HappyMoneySaver.com.)

The best part? The box was sent anonymously and I can’t figure out who sent it! The postmark is from a nearby town where I have a few different friends, and no one has fessed up. Trying to figure it out is ALMOST as much fun as decoding the “secret admirer” note I found in my locker in 9th grade was. (Except it only took me 3 periods to figure that one out.)

Regardless of the fact that I don’t know who sent it, isn’t this a neat idea? It sure brightened my day, week and month!

How a Messy Mom Cleans: The Goal

2013-03-22T16:13:00.001-05:00

My friends and family are laughing right now. “Katie can’t write about cleaning! That’s ridiculous!”

It’s true, my house is generally a mess. And under that mess there are crumbs. And dirt. And dust bunnies. Let’s put it this way…I will never win an award for having a clean house.

Sometimes, my house gets messy (I prefer “messy” to “dirty.” “Messy” sounds so much better.) enough that I get totally overwhelmed and don’t even know where to start cleaning it.

Through the last five years, however, I’ve developed a system that helps me get going when the going (cleaning) gets rough.

But before I divulge my secrets, I have to ask one question. Do you strive to have a perfectly clean house all of the time? If so, just stop reading. This is NOT the blog post for you.

Now, for the rest of you, let’s discuss our goal when cleaning.

Our goal is NOT to have every room in the house sparkling at the same time. Our goal is NOT to have every fingerprint wiped off of every surface. Our goal is NOT that all of the laundry is clean, folded and ironed every night before we go to bed.

Our goal is not perfection.

Our goal is FUNCTION! Function, people!

Our goal is that our houses are clean and tidy enough that the family can function. Our goal is that everyone can find clean clothes to wear in the morning, that we have a place to prepare food and to eat it, that the kids have a place to play and that we can find the bills before they’re due.

Function – not perfection!

Are you with me? (or against me?)

If you’re with me, follow along on Facebook so you can see the next post in this series, where I tell ya’ll how to get started when cleaning is overwhelming.

Spring Colors

2013-03-11T14:35:00.000-05:00

The HomeShed is going to have a lot of these fun, springy colors at our spring sale (April 26-28th) and these pictures show how to use them in your home. The key? Pair your bright colors with lots of simple neutrals. (We’ll have some of those for you, too.)

(Ballard Designs)

(Holly Mathis Interiors)

(Southern Living)

Happy Roost

Eclectic Bedroom design by San Francisco Interior Designer Story & Space - Interior Design and Color Guidance

(Houzz)

(Craftynest.com)

Five Favorite Parenting Books

2013-03-04T08:18:00.000-06:00

5. Baby 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice For Your Baby's First Year (KINDLE edition) (Baby:411)

A friend gave this to me before I had my first son, and I read the whole thing while nursing him. I continued to use it as a reference as time went on because it had great information and a very easy-to-use format.

4. The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer and The Happiest Toddler on the Block: How to Eliminate Tantrums and Raise a Patient, Respectful and Cooperative One- to Four-Year-Old: Revised Edition

I love Dr. Karp. I read Happiest Baby in the wee hours of the night on my Kindle, when Isaac was a newborn. I followed the ideas for sleep and soothing that Dr. Karp suggested, and Isaac was a sweet, content baby. I read Happiest Toddler when Adam was 2 or 3 to help deal with the temper tantrums. The book gave several practical suggestions for dealing with the troublesome toddler years. Both books helped me understand my child’s needs and how to meet those needs in a way that worked for all of us.

3. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child

Neither of my boys were great sleepers. I tried some other sleeping books that were not helpful, but this one was. Dr. Weissbluth outlines what the sleep needs are for each age and the best way to achieve them. This book is not short, and the information can be kind of hard to find, but if you are desperate enough for sleep, you WILL read it and it WILL work!

2. Love and Logic Magic For Early Childhood

I just read this book recently after posting on Facebook that I was having trouble with my 4 year old. After reading only a few pages, I was able to try some of the strategies with success! It is fairly short and has been a big help for us.

1.NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman

This is my all-time favorite for parents and teachers, no matter what age your child is. It changed my teaching and guides my parenting daily. Each chapter focuses on a common parenting practice, and then uses scientific research to show a DIFFERENT and BETTER way to do things. My favorite chapter is first: The Inverse Power of Praise, but there are also chapters on racism, teaching your baby to talk, teen rebellion, and other important topics.

What are your favorite parenting books? Please share them here or on Facebook.

(The Amazon links here are affiliate links.)

Bargain Storage Ottoman

2013-02-28T14:23:00.001-06:00

***Updated to edit this post! This ottoman has NOT stood up to daily use over the past two months! Half of the buttons are gone and one of the hinges is broken. I emailed Coaster - no response. I called Coaster and they told me to contact Amazon. Argh! I guess there's a reason it was so cheap! I'm headed to Amazon to write a negative review, now. Don't know what else to do, as I couldn't find a way to contact Amazon about my dissatisfaction.***

My friends know that I get on a kick where I’m just absolutely positive that such-and-such piece of furniture or change to my house will just make it perfect and end all my troubles forever.
Usually, the way this plays out is that I do some online shopping, decide it’s all too expensive to buy sight-unseen, and forget about it until the next “this-will-solve-all-my-problems” obsession comes along.
But this time was different. This time, I actually bought it. And this time, I really DO think it will solve all my problems.
Well, almost all of them.
I ordered the Coaster Storage Ottoman with Tufted Accents from Amazon, and it is such a multi-purpose, smart furniture choice. I’m stoked.
1. It gives us a place to put up our feet when we stay up watching Netflix after our boys are in bed.
2. It has a TON of room to store all those tiny toys we’re constantly stepping on.
3. It is the right height (and length) to use at the dining table when we have a big family dinner.
4. It’s beautiful and adds some visual weight to that side of the living room.

And now, the best part! The price! I mean, seriously? Amazing, right?

Here’s an affiliate link in case you want to go order one yourself, right now. :)

With my Amazon Prime membership, the ottoman shipped for free. I ordered it on Friday and it came on Monday! I was also VERY impressed with how well it was packaged.

There was some assembly required, but the directions and process were so easy. Even Isaac could have figured out how to screw the beautiful feet on.

The ottoman is sturdy and spacious enough for two of us to sit on (if we decide to pull it up to the table for dinner) and the lid has those fancy hinges that keep it from slamming shut on my sweet ~~monsters~~ boys.

Great price + great function + incredibly beautiful = no online buyer’s remorse for me!

Shared at Furniture Feature Friday

Getting Ready for the Big Storm

2013-02-26T15:56:00.001-06:00

I started this post last week, when we were forecasted to have a big blizzard. The meteorologists talked about it for days, and then we got a dusting of snow. Today, we’re in another blizzard. This one was supposed to stay far south of us. It didn’t.

When “they” predict a big storm, we do what everyone else does…we make sure the fridge is stocked, take care of any other errands, and prepare to hunker down.

But the fact that we have 40,000 (and sometimes 60,000) turkeys in our care adds a whole ‘nother dimension to storm preparation.

How does Bartastic make sure his turkeys will be okay during a storm like this?

1. Check the generators. Our turkey barns have generators in case of a power outage, and they are tested automatically every week, because we just never know when disaster might strike. But those generators are significantly more important when a storm is coming! (By the way, our HOUSE does not have a generator…just the turkey barns. I could pause here and list all the ways that the turkeys live more comfortably than I do, but that is a blog post all by itself.)

2. Check LP levels. LP is short for liquified petroleum, which powers our generators. In a winter storm, LP trucks would have a hard time getting to us if we were to run out.

3. Prepare the machinery. The skid loader is in charge of clearing snow. Bart fueled it up so that he would be ready to clear our driveway, the driveways to the barns, and even our gravel road if need be. When we get a lot of snow, he uses the skid loader as his main method of transportation, and has even dug out the neighbors a time or two.

4. Check feed levels. Some farms mix their own feed on site, but ours comes from a feed mill that specializes in turkey feed and is located 20 miles away. Bart makes sure that our feed bins are as full as possible, in case the feed trucks are unable to make it to our place.

5. Make sure he has all supplies on hand. Bart always has extra parts for water lines and feed lines, and he also checks his supply of sanitation products.

If all goes well, the turkeys will never know that a blizzard raged around them while they were warm and toasty in the barns. They’ll go on with their comfy lives as if nothing has changed. Our goal is always to minimize stress on our birds so they will grow big and healthy, and that goal doesn’t change during a blizzard (whether we’re forewarned about the impending snow or not!)

A quick tip…

2013-02-15T15:44:00.001-06:00

If you follow along on Facebook, you might already know that we are currently battling our first ear infection. Neither of my boys had ever had one until Isaac (almost 2) ended up with a double ear infection earlier this week.
I have to say…Thank God for antibiotics. I’ve written about antibiotics and turkeys before, but I can’t remember another time my kids have needed the wonder drugs. But seriously, they are amazing because I could not stand another night without sleep. It. was. terrible.(Oh, and I guess maybe the little guy was in some pain, too, although he couldn’t tell me because he doesn’t talk yet, but that’s another post for another day.)
I’m not a pro at administering antibiotics to my children. But I remembered a tip I saw somewhere (pinterest?) and decided to give it a try. Of course, my version isn’t nearly as pretty as the version I saw originally, but it gets the job done...

Since I’m still recovering from the sleep deprivation caused by those darn ears of Isaac’s, I was having trouble remembering whether he’d had the proper dose. So I made a quick grid on the bottle with a sharpie – 10 days, 2x a day – and I’ll know exactly when to stop, too (which is much harder than it sounds.) And don’t forget to attach your marker with a rubber band, so that the little stinker doesn’t get ahold of it and try to make a grid on the walls.

Now, if only I could figure out how to get the medicine into him without an Olympic level wrestling match…

New Use for an Old Door

2013-02-11T14:45:00.001-06:00

I picked up this door a couple of months ago when I was out picking for The HomeShed, and I fully intended to sell it.

But…then, I moved the cabinet that had been in this corner to another part of the house. And all of the sudden, the corner was so empty and the room felt off balance.
And so, the door has found a new home, nestled in next to my beloved turquoise chairs.

Indulge me for a minute – let me tell you why I love this door so much…
- The dark wood and straight lines add some masculinity to the room. I love a good, frilly, shabby chic room, but let’s face it. I live with three boys. Our home will never truly reflect “us” if it’s too feminine. My knock-off pouf has the same effect – add a little masculinity to the feminine wing-backs.
- The hinges are so beautiful and detailed. Have you ever seen anything more lovely?
- The style reminds me of the door on my classroom my first year teaching (before all the antique doors had to be replaced with new, bullet-proof doors. And yes, this was pre-Newtown. School safety is not a new thing.)

What do you think? Do you love the “new” door as much as I do?
Shared at Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Feature Friday
Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Night Special
Thrifty Decor Chick's April Before and After Party

Behind the (Blogging) Scenes

2013-02-02T21:51:00.001-06:00

Alright, ladies and gents…I think it’s time that I let you know the ins and outs of my blogging behavior.

I have been blogging regularly for 3 years now, and have learned a lot about what works for me and my blog along the way. These “secrets” are not the keys to having the most popular blog on the block and they probably will not help you become a professional blogger. But neither of those things are really my goal.
My goals are:
-to share positive information about agriculture – specifically about my farm and other farms like mine.
-to connect with those who share a passion for home décor.
-to share what I have learned about children (and teaching and parenting) through my experience and research, in order to make other moms’ lives easier.
And now, without further ado, the methods to my madness…

The Writing Process:
With those three broad topics in mind (kids, farming and home) I am constantly thinking of blog post ideas. I do a lot of “mental prewriting” where I rehearse the post in my head while showering, snuggling my munchkins, driving, etc. When I finally get a chance to sit down at the computer AND I’m in the mood to write, I usually start a few rough drafts and save them. At any time, I have 5-15 rough drafts sitting and waiting for me, and a few more ideas floating around that I haven’t even drafted.
Later, I sit down with the intent to finish a draft and get it posted. This involves editing and revising my writing, as well as editing and inserting photographs.
I think my blog took a turn for the better when I realized last spring that I am a writer. I started using the good old fashioned writing process more and taking myself more seriously. Not only has my writing improved, but my confidence has as well.

The Technical Process:
I use three main software programs to get my ideas out of my head and onto the blog.
1. Windows Live Writer: I downloaded this a couple of years ago and use it to write my blog posts. I use blogger and am happy with it, but writing posts online just about made me crazy. I could never get them formatted correctly and get my photos where I wanted them. Windows Live Writer came to my rescue. It’s a free download, and you connect it to your blog. It makes inserting photos and formatting blog posts 10,000x easier and even offers you a preview so you can see exactly what your post will look like on the page.

2. Memory Manager: This is a photo editing and organization program from Creative Memories that I absolutely love. There is absolutely no way that I could keep track of my photos or have them looking so good without it. I have done a few posts on editing and organizing photos using Memory Manager, but I need to update them. A new version came out and it is even better than before!

3. Storybook Creator Plus: SBC+ is another Creative Memories program that is meant for digital scrapbooking, but it is super flexible, so I use it to created all of my graphics (including my header, facebook profile photos, photos with titles for pinterest, etc.) I also use for my printables and word art, like the Laura Ingalls Wilder art found here.

I have learned many technical things about blogging as I went along. I learn the most by looking at other blogs and then googling. :) For example, when I started noticing all those pretty facebook, pinterest, etc. buttons, I googled to figure out how to put them on my blog. It’s a lot of work to make a blog pretty and user friendly, and I know my blog could use more work, but not right now. :)

The Creative Process:
My blog is about things that I am deeply passionate about and I truly believe that is what has kept me going for 3 years. I have had slumps where I don’t post often, and times where I have so many posts that I have them scheduled for two weeks out. Creativity ebbs and flows, and I have learned to just go with it. My blog had the most traffic and pageviews when I was posting three times a week and really promoting it a lot through twitter and linky parties. But at this season in life, I don’t have the time or motivation to keep that up, and that’s okay for me. If my goal were to be a professional blogger, I would have to be much more disciplined about it, but that just doesn’t work for me and I’m okay with that.
Three main categories is probably too many by most popular blog standards. Most narrow in on only one or two. But again, that just doesn’t work for me. My interest and attention to those three topics ebbs and flows, too, and I have learned to work with it. Whichever topic seems to be dominating my life at the time is the inspiration for my writing, and I’ll often draft several posts about parenting all at once, or several posts about the house, or several posts about the farm.
I have learned,through my blog and reading others, that I need to have a creative outlet to stay sane. Sometimes, writing on my blog IS my creative outlet, and then you may see more posts that are quite wordy, like this one. Other times, décor and the home is my creative outlet, and you’ll see more posts about the house (or not, because I’m too busy working on it to take a break and edit photos!)

I love blogging…the whole process. But without such a deep passion for farming, kids and houses, my blog would feel like work and I try to avoid that at all costs. The best part of blogging, though, is something that I have little control over – my audience. I love the people that I have “met” and the interactions we have over common interests and shared knowledge. I know that without that interaction, I never would have continued blogging through my “slumps” and my blog and I would not be what we are today. So thank YOU for your role in my blogging behavior – you have no idea how much it means to me!

Jesus and Germs (and turkeys and prevention)

2013-01-29T13:27:00.001-06:00

Wash your hands, cover your cough…Anyone who spends time around children repeats it endlessly this time of year. Some of us even get to exclaim phrases like, “Don’t lick the cart!” We don’t want our kids to get sick, and we don’t want to get sick.

We don’t want our turkeys to get sick, either. So we take precautionary measures to keep our birds healthy. Although we know that antibiotics are necessary at times, we try to avoid using them whenever possible. So, what is the turkey version of wash your hands and cover your cough?

1. Our turkeys are given a probiotic as soon as they hatch. The probiotics help regulate their finicky digestive system.
2. Turkeys are also vaccinated for various common ailments. Just as we vaccinate our children, turkey vaccines help prevent disease outbreaks.
3. We keep germs out of the barns. We limit visitors, wear clean clothing and boots in the barns, and shower before entering the brooder house.
4. We try to minimize any stress on the birds. I tend to get sick following a particularly stressful period and turkeys are no different. A very stable environment, with little temperature fluctuations and 24-hour access to food and water keeps the birds comfortable and less susceptible to illness.
If those measures fail, we are thankful that we have antibiotics to use, but our main focus is always on preventing disease in the first place.

Now, back to the pretty sign I made…you can download a PDF to print by clicking on one of the images below. Enjoy!

Shared at:
One Project at a Time

Help for Picky Eaters

2013-01-25T09:31:00.001-06:00

My boys are picky eaters. Especially Adam (4 1/2), who has become more and more particular about foods as he’s gotten older. Isaac (22 months) was off to a good start, but he also became pickier as time went on.
This has been a problem for me for some time, and feeding my kids was stressing me out a LOT. So when I came across Your Kid’s Table, I was thrilled. I read through all the Basic Strategies and I knew that I had to make some changes.

The biggest changes I needed to make were eating at the table and spacing meals/snacks properly. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but up until just a few weeks ago, our family ate almost all of our meals in the living room. That was a problem. The second big problem was that I was letting my kids “graze” all day long, so when I did convince them it was time for a meal, they weren’t even all that hungry.
I started to work on those two things, and I noticed a difference. But shortly before Christmas, I decided to ask for individualized help. Feeding my children had become so challenging, and something HAD to change. Alisha (Your Kid’s Table) offers personalized consultations via email, skype or phone. (By the way, this is NOT a sponsored post – I will sing Alisha’s praises for free forever.)
I chose to do a hybrid email/phone consultation. After answering a lot of questions about what the boys eat, how they eat, and where they eat, Alisha called and we talked through some things more in depth.

After we chatted, Alisha wrote up THREE pages of personalized suggestions to help my kids improve their eating. And it has been so helpful! Even through this last crazy month, my boys’ eating habits have improved!
One of the most helpful things Alisha taught me is to recognize the small steps as victories. Isaac put his finger in ketchup one night. He didn’t eat it, but because he hates messy things, this was a major victory. Adam ate at the table 4 nights in a row without complaining. He didn’t try any new foods and he didn’t have a perfectly well-balanced meal, but it was still another major victory. Identifying those small successes has helped me stay motivated to continue on the right track.
I am forever grateful to Alisha for the professional advice, as well as the “mom-to-mom, I’m not judging you” attitude she had with me. The small price I paid to do the consult was definitely worth it – Alisha has changed our lives. My boys have healthier eating habits and my stress level has decreased significantly. As I said earlier, this is not a sponsored post. I am just eternally thankful that I decided to ask Alisha for help, and I want other moms out there to know that she can help you, too!

Baby, it’s cold outside!

2013-01-20T15:06:00.001-06:00

I first shared that photo on my facebook page, when we had our first big blizzard of the season. The boys lasted exactly 8 minutes outside in the blowing snow, which is probably 7 minutes longer than these boys would last:

But even when the temperature swings from almost 50 degrees yesterday to 10 degrees and snowing today, we don’t have to worry about how our turkeys will handle the weather.

Inside the barn, thermometers measure the temperature, and the 16 heaters keep the temperature constant.

When Bart’s grandpa began raising turkeys over 50 years ago, he raised one flock per year, outdoors. I remember him telling me how they prayed that the snow would hold off until after the turkeys had gone to market for Thanksgiving. But some years, the snow would come, drift around the fences, and create a nice little ramp for the turkeys to use to climb over the fence and escape. I have heard stories about shoveling drifts in blizzards to prevent that from happening.

But today, on this cold snowy day, we don’t have to worry about that. We are confident that our turkeys are warm and dry in the cozy barns.

The Wise Words of Ms. Laura Ingalls Wilder

2013-01-14T07:02:00.000-06:00

I have always loved the Little House series, and dressed as Laura several times for Halloween as a kid. I even named my blog based on one of her books (On the Banks of Plum Creek.)
But it has been years since I have read the novels. Now, I’m rediscovering them with Adam, and it’s quite possible that I love them even more now that I’m an adult. As a child, I enjoyed reading about life on the prairie. As an adult, I am in awe of what the pioneers endured, and inspired by Laura’s wise words and attitude.
With that in mind, I created a series of word art with some sage advice from the author.

Which is your favorite?

Tree Planning

2013-01-10T08:51:00.000-06:00

Last week, we braved the cold and stood outside planning some tree plantings around our turkey barns. We’ve talked about doing this for awhile, especially since two of our barns on along a well-traveled state highway. But we weren’t sure exactly what to plant or where.

There are a lot of reasons to plant trees around barns like ours – aesthetics, windbreak, snow fence, reduce odor - but there are also a lot of questions to ask. Will the trees affect the ventilation in the barns? Will they block air flow? How do you plant trees to create an effective windbreak? What’s the most effective way to plant a snow fence? Will my new trees cause snow to drift where I don’t want it to? Will it cause snow to drift onto the highway? What kind of upkeep do the trees need? What about watering? What species are best? How far apart should they be? And on, and on, and on.

So for this big project, we decided to ask for help. The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers works with Trees Forever and the Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association to assist farmers like us, who want to plant trees but don’t know where to start. We met with them this morning and are excited to get plans in motion for some beautiful trees.
Most barn sites are long and narrow, leaving just enough room for straight rows of trees, kind of like this:

But we’ve got a little bit more room, and it really is On the Banks of Squaw Creek, so we’re hoping for a bit more naturalized look. The trees will be along the left side of this photo.
To learn more about these services, check out the Green Farmstead Partner Program.

Our Farmhouse Mudroom: Before (and a sneak peek)

2013-01-06T20:05:00.001-06:00

It’s been a long time coming – almost 5 years – but our entryway/mudroom is almost done!
We use this area as our main entrance to the house, for us and guests. It is also where hubby changes in/out of his chore clothes for working on the farm. My goal is simple. I wanted the entryway to be a beautiful place where I could set down everything in my arms where it belongs, when I walk in the door. That means there had to be room for all coats, bags, shoes, and maybe even another infant carseat someday.
But it just wasn’t working for us. These before pictures tell the story…low ceilings (like, Bart-hit-his-head-several-times-low), dark and gloomy, no heat, and the lack of useable storage.

Although we’ve done most of the work on our house ourselves, we decided to hire a contractor for this job. We had to gut the space to insulate and rewire it. Demolition revealed problems with the roof joists, and so, a new roof was put on. But not before we raised the ceiling two feet. Nine foot ceiling, yahoo!

There was a closet on the opposite side, but we took it out because it really wasn’t very functional, and really closed in the space. We made the knee wall 4 1/2 feet tall so that if we put a chair in the little nook, there would still be a tall enough wall to keep my kids from plummeting to the concrete stairs on the other side. I am going to line this area with coat hooks after I get it painted.

A heat run was added, which has made it much easier to put shoes, coats and bags in the entryway during the winter. Not to mention, Bart doesn’t have to put cold clothes on before he goes out to work (although he’s since started changing the basement, anyway.)

The paneling and trim are from Lowes, and our contractor installed them. And now, I sooo wish I was ready for a big reveal, but I said I’d paint it myself, but I’m regretting that. Nine-foot ceiling + stairwell = really, really high. Not to mention all the trim work means LOTS of cutting in. And I’m a pretty rotten cutter-inner anyway. So, I’m taking a break, and then will tackle it again when I’ve recovered a bit. :)
So, all you get for now is a little sneak peek. I have a babysitter coming tomorrow and I might get some more painting done, but no promises. For now, we’ve made it semi-functional and we’re loving it! What do you think?

Shared at Thrifty Decor Chick's January Before and After Party
Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Night Special
Between Naps on the Porch

Getting Ready for Christmas: Tips and Tricks from Squaw Creek

2012-11-30T18:14:00.001-06:00

Every year, I look forward to Christmas. Beautiful decorations, yummy goodies, candlelit church services, holiday music, time with family and gifts to show them how much I love them. What’s not to love?
What’s not to love? Turns out there’s plenty. The holidays are great, but it’s no secret that they can also be stressful. My holiday motto is “Keep it Simple, Make it Meaningful” but simple and Christmas seem to be very contradictory.
So here is the Squaw Creek Survival Guide for Christmas with Kids

Tip #1: Shrink your big tree
My fake tree is huge. But I care more about floor space in my dining room than whether or not the tree looks perfect, so I only put up HALF the tree. That’s right – I put the branches on the front, and then smash it against the windows. Not as pretty, but much more functional.

(Someday I’ll get the trim back up around the new windows!)

Tip #2: Keep wrapping supplies close at hand
I use this decorative snowman bucket (can?) to hold my wrapping supplies. That way, they’re easy to find when we’re wrapping last minute gifts as we head out the door to one of our 17 family gatherings.

Tip #3: Feed your kids.
I have no doubt that my kids will eat a lot of Christmas goodies, then get worn out and crabby because they are lacking in nutrition. I have a plan for this…I will bring foods my kids like to every family gathering. Last year, that meant peanut butter sandwiches. This year, it’s still up in the air, but rest assured, they WILL eat something besides sugar cookies!
And when we’re not at those family gatherings, they will eat scrambled eggs. Both Adam and Isaac LOVE scrambled eggs, and the protein seems to keep them off the “sugar high – sugar low” roller coaster.

Tip #4: Keep Your Yum-Yums Simple
Last year I blogged about my favorite microwave recipes for Christmas, and also how I made roll-out sugar cookies without losing my mind. Read these posts. You’ll thank me later.

Tip #5: Skip the Elf and Read Books Instead
You can throw something at me if you want, but we’re not doing the Elf on a Shelf thing. Seems like too much work for me. Instead, to get the kids ready for Christmas, we wrapped our Christmas books and then unwrap one every night. The last one will be unwrapped on Christmas Eve.

Tip #6: Enlist Help
I try to involve my kids in all of my Christmas “tasks” (except shopping.) The presents might not be as pretty if a 4 year old wraps them, and it may take 4 times as long, but think about how this time benefits him.. When we wrap together, Adam gets quality time with his mommy, tons of fine motor skill practice, and gets to experience the joy in giving.
Both boys helped decorate the tree. Again, it’s not the most beautiful tree in the world, but it’s very special.

Tip #7: Purge Toys
We make it a point to purge toys before Christmas every year. This gets the house ready for all the new toys that will be coming in. If you’re having trouble deciding what to keep and what to toss, visit The Little Stories blog and check out all of Kim’s posts on toys.

(photo via Overcoming Busy, who does a “Pre-Christmas Toy Purge.”)
Tip #8: is actually FIVE tips in ONE beautiful blog post!
I wrote this blog post after Christmas last year with tips for surviving family gatherings. Re-reading it, I’m amazed at the good info I provided and how darn cute my kids were last year!
Party Animals: 5 Tips for Surviving a Party with Youngsters

Those are my survival guidelines…which one was your favorite? Pin it, share it or email it, and save some other mommies some grief!

And how about you? How are you planning to survive and ENJOY this Christmas season?