Goings on at the Farmhouse

30 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, fluffin' the nest, Simply...living

First of all….the internet has been down again. Thank heavens for Smarty Pants phones. 😉 (I’m still not sure that I can justify it. Put it under the recreation heading.) 😉

I have some exciting news for you though! Our Araucana laid her first egg this week! You can be sure that I’m crazy about the color!

Didn’t she do good? Easter eggs in August.

We also had a little kitchen project this week. I will give you a little sneak peek and then next week…do some blogging about it and give credit to our inspiration. I am in love.

Do you see it? 🙂

I hope that your weekend is second to none. Celebrate by doing no labor. You’ve earned it.

Eating green eggs and ham, (not really)

The Dog Days

29 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, RaMbLiNgs

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You know what? It was rainy and cool and gray…in the Ozarks…for weeks. It is not like that now. It is smokin’ hot!!! So today…just because I’m sweet this way…I’m gonna post a few dreaming pictures for you. Do you know what that is? Of course you do! My Dirt Roaders are smart. Here we go…..

Is it helping?

I hope so.

Aren’t sugar molds just lots of fun?

Uh oh! That’s too cold! NOT ready for that yet!

In these dog days of summer, I hope that you stay as cool as a cucumber, my friends.

I know…but I couldn’t resist.

Sitting in front of the open refrigerator, (Just kidding Babe!)

A Little Organization

27 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, heart and soul

≈ 4 Comments

Today…..I went through my baking cabinet. You know, the one that holds all of the sprinkles and flavorings and seasonings. It made me excited. It made me dream about days of baking Christmas goodies and party food.

Days that I clean out the cabinets and the pantry…and even the fridge….I feel very blessed. I feel like I’m doing a good thing…just organizing what we already have. I’m not at the store piling more and more in my cart…I’m just looking through what has already be given by the Provider.

This is such a simple post today. No big project…which is not surprising. Our life, while we have some of those now and then, is really about being inspired by what you have already been blessed with.

I am thankful to be the type of person that gets joy out of these things. Now that’s not to say that I don’t love to shop now and then. I also love to go junking…which you already knew. I just find contentment at times in telling myself “Nah…I don’t need more of that…I already have enough at home.” I have to have a healthy balance or I start feeling overwhelmed.

On a little organizational note: Have you tried storing your cornstarch, baking soda and baking powder in wide mouth canning jars? It’s amazing. Perfect for scooping. Just be sure and label the tops. 😉

What are your thoughts on ~~hoarding~~ collecting, Dirt Roaders? Does too much overwhelm you? Do you love having just enough? I want to know. I also want to do better myself. Please pass the yard sale sign. 😉

Sorting through the piles,

mmmMonday! Thrifty Soup

26 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, Yum for the Tum

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Hey there…Dirt Roaders! Are you ready for another mmmMonday!? I have learned that there are two types of people: Those that love Monday and those that do not love Monday. Whatever the case may be for you, I’m here today with a little recipe that is bound to make your mmmMonday! a little easier…if you choose to make it next week. (Or the week after…or the week after that.) 😉

Last mmmMonday! our kitchen was in the process of being “beadboarded.” I needed something quick and easy as far as serving and clean up. I had saved some taco meat in the freezer the previous week and decided to use that for a base in a soup. I also asked my family first about making soup that day…because I tend to burn them out on it and it is still pretty (very) warm here…again. (My name is Kelli…and I am addicted to soup.) My Mr. is not a fan of big ol’ pots of bubbling soup and chili when it’s hot outside. I respect that. 😉

That being said…we haven’t had soup ALL summer. I was really itching for a bowl. Sooooo…..I used what I had at home and came up with this. I may have even said a prayer or two…hoping that the good Lord would bless my concoction so that it would be a keeper. Guess what? It was! I am sooo thankful! It won a coveted spot in my recipe journal. That is where the keepers go. I will be making this again. Our teen even said “This is seriously….like the best soup that I have ever had.” Um….WOW!

So…without further ado….and you guys know how I roll, a dash of this and a sprinkle of that….here is the recipe for………(drum roll please)……….

Thrifty Soup

leftover taco meat (that has been seasoned with taco seasoning)

1/2 head of cabbage, chopped

1/2 onion, chopped

2 medium zucchini, chopped

2 cans of tomatoes

2 tsp. minced garlic

1 potato, diced

2 tsp. beef base

1 can of cream of mushroom

salt and pepper to taste

1 can of tomato paste

Put all ingredients in Crock Pot and let it simmer….deliciously all day long.

I cannot stress to you…just how yummy this was. We ate it with saltines…to save time and clean up….but cornbread would be amazing too. You can add as many or few cans of tomatoes as you want. You could add different veggies or beans also. We also grated some fresh Parmesan on ours. DEE-LIGHTFUL! So, the next time that you have a dab of taco meat leftover…don’t pitch it. Put it in a freezer bag….until you are ready for a soup day. You won’t be sorry, Dirt Roaders. Thrifty Soup….is the soup of your dreams. 😉

Happy mmmMonday!

Betsey is Her Name

25 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by Kelli in Gettin' all Crafty, sCoRiN' some JuNkItY JuNk

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Have you noticed that people are hanging deer antlers on their walls and fake cow heads? It’s true. It’s the thing to do.

The other day I was out junking with my momma and ran across this little beauty. I believe that she was a towel or necklace holder in her former life. She had a price sticker on the back from a store that was in business here…yeaaaaars ago. It was called West Gibsons and then later West’s.

When I saw Betsey…..I knew that she needed to come home with me. I had spray paint in mind. I could see my own little version of the ever popular cow head.

I am so pleased that I found her. Betsey is right at home in the Farmhouse kitchen. She watches me cook. That is fine by me.

Happy Sunday evening, Dirt Roaders!

Kelli

p.s. I had a picture of Betsey’s “before”…..but I think someone me accidently deleted it. Anyway…she was white…with crazy gold eyes. Much better now!

Here a goat…there a goat…

23 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by Kelli in fluffin' the nest, RaMbLiNgs

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It’s true. I was gifted two goats for my birthday.

Aren’t they sweet?

Their names are Peanut (baby) and Myrtle (momma).

They live out by the chickens. They add a certain amount of “farmishness” around here.

This…is some serious business. Goats, chickens and a farmhouse to clean. I believe that I can handle it. 😉

My computer is acting wonky today. I’m gonna have to figure this one out…but I didn’t want to leave you without saying Happy Weekend, Dirt Roaders! May your weekend be filled with all things fun and the time to stop and look around…in awe…of the blessings that God has put into your life.

The Computer Fix it Gal, (not really)

Kelli

Kitchen Backsplash: The After

22 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style

≈ 4 Comments

Hey all! Hope that Thursday is being kind. It’s my favorite…you know. 😉 So…today I am going to share the end result with you. Or is it just the beginning? The beginning of a kitchen that I am in love with and the beginning of more home cooked goodness. I like it that way. Let’s call it a new beginning.

I love having a handy-dandy Mr. I love it that even though he might not always see my vision, until I show him pictures, that he trusts my instincts…and jumps right into the boat with me. Especially when I say….“This is what I would like for my birthday.” I have learned that if I will be patient…my birthday will roll around again and again. (Thankfully.) It’s also so fun that he has his dad to work by his side. After all…two mathmaticians are better than one. (He gets that handy-dandy gene from his dad. I am so thankful that Papaw passed it on.)

(Ya gotta get your game face on. )

I cannot stress enough, just how pleased that I am with our new backsplash. It added the amazing bit of “farmhousey” that I was longing for. It was actually a very frugal way to add a backsplash and it was exactly what I wanted. You cannot beat that.

The crazy thing is, I wasn’t even aware that it was the thing to do. I know. I’m late to yet another party. One night when I couldn’t sleep, I thought to look on Pinterest for beadboard backsplash. I then blew up my followers feed with picture after picture of that very thing. I was smitten. Plus I had the pictures to show my Mr. Then the big moment came. I realized that my favorite blogger kitchen of all time had a similar thing going on. Have you ever read For the Love of a House blog? She has amazing taste. She also has the multiple jars that you see in our kitchen. I have seen it pinned multiple times. So you know that others are crazy about it. I love it. Their home is beautiful inside and out. Is that called a blog crush? I’m thinkin’ so. 🙂

I hope that you have been inspired today Dirt Roaders. You know…once you find the style that fits you…there are endless possibilities. Usually there is a thrifty way to do what you would love. Don’t be afraid to try. You will like it…and you just might love it. (Especially when it comes in sheets that are already white.)

In the kitchen,

p.s. Amanda and Misty…I hope this gives you your fix for the day. 😉 I will try to do better in the future. lol! Thank you for being faithful readers. That means the world to me…and keeps me blogging. Have a wonderful day!

p.p.s. One of these days I will pull out the tripod and do full kitchen shots for you. Today…was not the day. 😉

mmmMonday! Happy Blogiversary!

19 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, heart and soul

≈ 4 Comments

Can you believe it? It’s been a year already. My first post was on my birthday, last year! I thought that I was posting on the eve of my birthday…but it must have rolled on over to midnight. My first post was short and sweet and you can find it here. It’s very short and sweet.

I am so excited that you guys come with me on this journey. I love sharing my faith…our food and our farmhouse with you. It’s been amazing for me meeting up with different ones in our community…that ride along on this dirt road journey. It humbles me…in a way that I can’t really explain. Is it possible for God to do a work in you…when you are reaching out to others? Of course it is. That is the way that He works. He is wonderful…and I love Him.

My first header for the blog.

So…I have a little update for you. Yesterday…was my big day. On Saturday…the Mr. and our little guy spent several hours at the goat auction. They had never been before…and they were so grateful to meet up with the Mr.’s brother and his wife. They showed them the ropes and now I am a proud goat mama. 😉 I’m kinda thinking that the highlight of the auction…was getting to hang out with his brother…but the Mr. dutifully brought this crazy country girl…a little Pygmy and her baby. I will post pictures as soon as I can. Myrtle and Peanut…have now joined us at the Farmhouse. They are precious. Our kids are in love. (That was kinda the plan. Ask for goats for your birthday…for the kids to play with.) 😉 Annnnnd……..My Mr. and my FIL started on my beadboard backsplash…to be finished tonight! Woot woot! I’m so excited. It definitely adds a huge touch of “farmhousey” around here. I can’t wait to show you!

I also can’t wait to start this next year of blogging with you all. I have some amazingly faithful blog followers that wait for my next post. That is so fun. Our last week was full of open houses and early morning hours of school starting and buying school supplies that we didn’t know that we needed…but maybe things will be more normal….for a bit. Maybe I can get back on schedule.

I hope that you have a wonderful day, Dirt Roaders. It’s looking bright and crisp in the sky here. Hmmm…..do I see fall around the bend? 😉

I blog…to share His love, and to encourage you to look around…at His blessings,

p.s. Mister Dirt Road….you are a blessing that I don’t deserve. It humbles me to think that you were meant for me. I will spend my life….cooking bacon for you…because I know…how much it means to you. 😉

Kitchen Backsplash: The Before

15 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, fluffin' the nest

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You have been in my kitchen, many times. Well…not really. Some of you have…really…but you know what I mean. You have seen it. You have heard me wee-wah about not knowing if I should go with all white or stick with the Russet Rose. You have heard me tell recently…that I have compromised for now and settled for a beadboard backsplash and leaving the Russet Rose everywhere else. I’m good with that. I’m a colorful person. I’m just not ready to totally give up my color. So today…I’m gonna share a few shots of what the Farmhouse kitchen looks like…now…before we start our new project.

I love my kitchen. They (whomever that is) say that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It must be…because whenever we have company, that is the first room that the gravitate to. I love that. Our kitchen just feels like us. We were blessed to build this home from the cow pasture up…so we drew our floor plan on paper and went from there.

Do you love your kitchen? If you don’t…there are all kinds of things that you can do to change it…that are very inexpensive. In the house that we lived in before this one (that we bought from the Mr.’s parents) we had red cabinets and black and white checked flooring. I’m talking…the big black and white squares. I loved it. That linoleum was beautiful…all.the.time. It had a glossy finish that was amazing. My MIL is quite snazzy that way. Paint is a wonderfully (thrifty) way to change the whole look of your kitchen.

Of all of the magazine pictures and Pinterest photos that I drool the most over….it’s the kitchen shots. What is it with that? Maybe it’s because I love to cook. It just feels cozy in the kitchen. I told the Mr., just last night…that I couldn’t wait to set our old kitchen scale on the counter, after the beadboard was up. He smiled. He knows me. He also knows that the scale has been in our marriage…since the mobile home days. Now there was a kitchen! 😉

Would you like to hear a confession? We have Formica. Are you shocked? I know…I know…it’s a bad word in Blogland. I’m just being honest with you. I see beautiful counter tops of butcher block and soapstone and granite and marble and they are beautiful. Someday…who knows? Right now…ours remind me of two “kids” trying to build a home with two little girls and a little boy in their future. They remind me of going to the cabinet place and picking out a color and then calling back and picking the lighter color…because I couldn’t live with chocolate brown leaf pattern. They are staying…for now. I’m a little bit in love with them…and their light leafyness. 😉

I am sentimental. I have passed it onto our son. We can’t change much in his room. I’m okay with that. I think that it’s a good thing to treasure what you already have…instead of wanting more. After all…these are just borrowed things. Blessings for…this time… to enjoy…and not nearly as important as the treasures that are being laid up for our future.

May your kitchen be cozy, Dirt Road Friends,

Diggin’ out for fall is almost like Christmas.

14 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by Kelli in fluffin' the nest, Simply...living

≈ 6 Comments

Last night…I was sitting here looking around. Do you do that? Just gaze around and dream? I do. Then out of the blue…something popped into my head. I have a little twiggy pumpkin that I bought at the end of fall…on clearance. Just like that…I was super excited. (No…it doesn’t take much for a sanguine.)

I know that technically, it is still summer. We have just had crazy fall weather for weeks. It’s kinda messing with me. You know what? I think that I am fixing to cave. The only time that I have put my fall stuff out, super duper early, was when I was getting ready to have our son. That year, I put my stuff out at the end of August. It’s just that I love the pop of orange pumpkins so much…that I am having a hard time waiting. Don’t get me wrong…I grumble right along with everyone else when they put the next season’s things out too soon at the store.

Maybe I will just go down to the storage room and look though my stuff and dream. The good Lord knows that I don’t want time to pass any faster than it already does. Besides, I think that we are getting ready to start the beadboard birthday project. We may need all the room that we can get for a few days. 😉

Dreaming of fall…

Along the Dirt Road

Monthly Archives: August 2013

Goings on at the Farmhouse

The Dog Days

A Little Organization

mmmMonday! Thrifty Soup

Betsey is Her Name

Here a goat…there a goat…

Kitchen Backsplash: The After

mmmMonday! Happy Blogiversary!

Kitchen Backsplash: The Before

Diggin’ out for fall is almost like Christmas.