F A R M

09 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by Kelli in Farmhouse Style, fluffin' the nest

Tags

bunting, farmhouse style, home decor, mantle, simple, simplify

I know. The title is so eloquent. That’s how I roll. (You guys know that I am kidding. I write these posts…like a conversation. I don’t want you to become bored. I don’t do bored very well myself.) Okaaaaay….back from the rabbit trail. Soooo….yesterday…I picked up some new metal letters. I thought that they would be for one certain spot. They wound up in another. I am very okay with that.

For those of you that loved the burlap/french grain sack stripe bunting…don’t be alarmed. I still have it. Actually, I still have a roll of that burlap. I can make another. Right now though…I love the very simple, plain, yet a bit wonky, letter bunting of sorts. My family liked it too. That is the huge plus with me. I will give you a mental picture…. The family sitting around in the…family room, visiting, doing homework and such. The Mr. is in his Papa Bear’s Chair, I am up piddling around with these letters and twine on the mantle, and the kids and us are talking. It just kinda happened. I kept moving the letters, inserting burlap, taking burlap away, and listening to their comments. My husband liked it plain. I did too. He gets me.

Would you like to know the main thing that bothered me? There are only four letters in the word farm. I know. It comes from years of hearing the odd numbers of decor, shouted from the mountain tops. You know what? Now days…I don’t care. Much. ha! I am even known, now, to just put….two….of something together. I know. Horror. I’m keeding…I’m keeding. You know what? I am older and I pray for wisdom. I don’t buy into the rules of decor as much. If you love it…do it! I will proudly display my four letters. FARMHOUSE might have been a bit of overkill and the simplicity of FARM is really what we have. A few goats, a few chickens, a few cows and calves, and a few acres. It is a farm. Pure and simple.

I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend…full of blessing counting. We really don’t have to look very far for those, do we?

Love from the FARM,

Throwing Stuff in the Yard

07 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, fluffin' the nest

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

home decor, organizing

Do you want to throw stuff in the yard in January? I do. Actually…all year, at different times, I get the urge to open the front door and throw things out into the yard. What’s up with that? lol!

Actually, I do know what causes it. It’s the part of me that craves peace and smooth surfaces. It’s almost like…in my mind…there is this sensor that goes off…when I have too much surrounding me in the decor department. I don’t do well in that. It drives me crazy. I know. I need therapy. 😉

When we built this farmhouse, several moons ago…there wasn’t a whole lot in here. I loved that. I wouldn’t even buy stuff at the junk store or go to yard sales for the longest. I was content to have just enough. Packing and moving will do that to a person. I still tend to clean out and give things away…regularly. Very rarely do people leave the Farmhouse…without some sort of little trinket or handmade goodie. I love that. It’s a win/win.

Do you have the “Throwing Stuff in the Yard” bug? I love fresh starts and open spaces. It seems like it frees up my time and energy. I find beauty there.

Happy Wednesday, Dirt Roaders!

Fresh and New

05 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, heart and soul, Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Hey Guys! Happy Monday of a new year! Is that excting? Fresh and new? I think so too. I really do. I am excited about what God is going to do for us here at Along the Dirt Road this year. I have been giving it serious thought and prayer. He and I have been looking it over together, and I think that moving forward with this blog is the thing to do. You all are so gracious to drop by for a bit. I love that. I love to share the love of God and family with you.

So today…to get us started…I am going to share a little tid bit with you. Here it is:

If you struggle with the gloom of winter…houseplants help. I know. Rocket Science.

You may say, “Kel…I do not have a green thumb.” Don’t worry, sweet Dirt Roader. There are plants out there…made for those with the most black thumbs of all. They are called succulents. They are everywhere. Wal-Mart would love to sell you one. They require little care and they put a tad of green in your world…when everything else is brown and gray.

It is my secret for combating the after Christmas blues. I organize our home and tend my houseplants until spring. I know. I am a real wild woman. lol! It does help though. A bit of green in the house perks my spirit. That…and my faux lemons. I need to get those out. (If you are a lover of the long, cold, winter…you already think that I am crazy.) It’s not really that I despise winter. I love the coziness that comes with it. It’s just that I am a child of the summer. I love the growing things.

That brings us back to this blog. May it grow and stretch and cause us to do the very same. The main reason that I am in this…is just in case someone who needs a tad of hope..happens by. I want to be here…holding the love of Christ out to them. It may be wrapped in a post about soup. It may be wrapped in a post about farm chores or new baby calves. It may be in a post about crafting or cleaning. Whatever we do here this year, I want the love of Christ to be at the very center. Along the Dirt Road is a place of fresh and new. A place about growth and birth. I am so glad that you are here.

Love from the Farmhouse,

Farmhouse Style

30 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, Farmhouse Style

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Hey Guys! I hope that you had a Merry Christmas! We did. I enjoyed so many sweet, quiet, moments…pondering the Lord’s birth. That had been the prayer of my heart. I am thankful for answered prayer.

Soooo….do you guys have your tree yanked down yet. We do not. I put lots of other things away, but the tree is still up. I was excited to get back into the Farmhouse Style groove. The Mr. gave me a Dazey churn for Christmas. It was the only thing on my list. I have wanted one for a long time. I am excited to help the kids make homemade butter with it.

Another fun item came in the mail over Christmas. I have had my eye on this cattle breed poster for a while. We finally bid on it on eBay. Farmhouse style is so fun.

I hope that you are enjoying your Christmas vacay! I am taking a deep breath, giving thanks, and thinking about goals.

Love from the Farmhouse,

Kelli

p.s.
We had a new baby, yesterday.

Whew!

18 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, Farmhouse Style

≈ 2 Comments

Every year…my plan is to not be stressed. Do you ever give yourself pep talks? “Okay Kel…take a deep breath, make a list, and….go!” Whew! Whew! Whew! Does it work? Sometimes. Last night though, the Mr. stated that he was looking forward to an evening in his recliner…soon. The thing is…any celebration…is a tad hectic. We will be pleasantly exhausted. I am okay with that.

I have learned in life to take little times of quiet in the busy. I pause and ponder. I go do laundry. Lol! Sometimes the mundane tasks are exactly what I need. Then I rush off to the store and buy treats for umpteen third graders, (which is an honor and a blessing) but that is beside the point. Lol!

I have been praying for guidance on where to go with the blog in the coming year. My posts have been a tad lean…but you guys continue to read and I feel honored by that. Life has changed for me in the last year and I have learned much in the secret place with God. I sense that I am not finished there…and may never be. I am good with that. He is the Teacher…I am the student. Maybe in the coming year…He will bless this little spot, along the dirt road, by leaps and bounds. He loves us, sweet Dirt Roaders. I feel blessed to be able to remind us of that…here.

May your Thursday be merry and bright!

Kelli

Nineteen Years and New Life

15 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff

≈ 2 Comments

The Mr. and I are celebrating nineteen years of wedded bliss today. Isn’t that exciting? I know! Wedded bliss is a deceitful term…because in the realm of marriage…bliss has a whole different meaning. Marriage is rough and real. It is wonderful and magical. It is spiritual and earthly. It is a union that takes both hanging on and letting go. Yes…bliss. You read it right. May we have 75 more to add to our 19! 😉

(Babies, I tell you!)

In other news…we have had new life on the farm. This was our first calf born to the mamas that we bought in the fall. His name is Bud. We are thrilled. He is quite a handsome fellow.

I hope that you are enjoying the Christmas season…from your nose to your toes!

Love from the farmhouse,

Kelli

Enjoying on Purpose

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, Farmhouse Style

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Does Christmas stress you out? For years it really threw me for a loop. I don’t think that I grumbled much about it…because that always made me feel guilty on the inside. You know…the Lord’s birthday celebration and all. Then at some point, it dawned “uponst” me…that I didn’t have to stress about it. It was my choice to actually enjoy the birthday celebration. I realized that the quiet moments of love given to Him, in my heart, meant more than the tinsel and being at all the parties on time. I realized that I could focus on the most important things, let go of the secondary things, and breathe. Today’s post is a bit of enjoying on purpose.

Our stockings are important to us. My dad used to fill my stocking and give me one little present, every day, until Christmas. Those Christmases in that little old house…are precious memories. Mom would always guess what he got her. It drove him crazy. Lol! In our own home…my husband loves to fill the stockings. He and I have one too. Why shouldn’t we get in on the fun!? The fact that the Mr. makes time to purchase these little gifts is not lost on me. Another thing to…enjoy on purpose.

This tiny wreath that hangs on the jelly cupboard…gives me pause. Such a simple little thing…yet I enjoy it immensely. In the hustle and bustle…my soul craves quiet. This tiny object symbolizes that. Crazy…I know.

We have been enjoying time in our family room, this holiday season. For the first time, in a long time, we only have one Christmas tree up. It’s so cozy in there at night, with the twinkly lights on. The kids usually have their homework going and just to be real with you…our faces are aglow with….our iPhones. Ha! I admitted it.

I hope that you have a wonderful day, Dirt Roaders. May you enjoy this season on purpose.

Love from the farmhouse,

Kelli

Are We Still Trimming?

05 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by Kelli in Farmhouse Style, fluffin' the nest

≈ 2 Comments

Hey friends! It’s Friday! Woo hoo! I am planning to throw a roast in the ol’ Crock Pot here in a few, and that will make things even happier. 😉 I do want to ask you though…are we still trimming? Are you guys like me and keep tweaking thinks all month long? I’m trying to stop that. Kinda.

Yesterday, while the Mr. and I were out and about, I found this adorable, vintage, peanut butter jar. Bonus? It was full of old, aluminum, cookie cutters! Won’t that be fun!?

I am excited to have most of the “trimming” complete, so that I can do more gift buying and wrapping. I love simple and meaningful gifts. They feel like giving a little part of home.

I’m also excited to make Christmas candy. It’s a bit of a tradition on both sides of our family. Just a bite or two though. (Right!)

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend, Dirt Roaders. If you are still trimming then I say….more power to ya! Enjoy the season at your own pace.

Love from the Farmhouse,

Kelli

Sprinkling

02 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by Kelli in Farmhouse Style, fluffin' the nest

≈ 2 Comments

I think that my decor this year can be summed up in one word. Sprinkling. I have a bit of it…here and there.

Sprinkles are good. After all…they really spice up a plain glazed donut!

I am so excited to celebrate this season in the right way. I have grand dreams of creating little gifts with my new sewing machine. I can’t wait to make Christmas candy with my sweet ones. Most of all, I cannot wait until Christmas morning…when we sing Happy Birthday…to our sweet Jesus.