Category Archives: Country Life

Falling Back

26 Monday Oct 2015

Posted by in Country Life, Farmhouse Style, Yum for the Tum

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Do you guys live in a time zone that will set their clocks back?  We do.  Here in Southern Missouri we live in an area that is very rural.  I am told that the time change helps the farmers.  I’m all for that.  I also enjoy falling back a bit more than I used to.  You know, the coziness and all.

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Some people hate it.  I understand.  It is a bit sad to lose that hour of daylight in the evening.  At one point in the year, it’s dark by about five o’clock.  For me…it’s a fun time to burn candles and make soup.  (My poor family. So much soup. lol!  Actually tonight, I might make tacos.)

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Whatever you enjoy…I hope that if your clocks do get set back…you adjust easily.  We do struggle with that a bit around here.  As with most things though…we adjust.  God is good to give us grace for that.

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Have a wonderful Monday, sweet Dirt Roaders!

Sigturquoise

How Are You Perkin’?

24 Thursday Sep 2015

Posted by in Country Life, Farmhouse Style, fluffin' the nest, heart and soul, livin' a little healthy

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How are you perkin’ today friends?  Is it slow going?  Or are you blazing a trail…full speed ahead to Friday? I seem to be plodding a bit lately…but that is better than being totally still, I am told.  I have been drooling (not literally) over this beautiful collection of coffees this morning.  Due to some bladder issues over the past several months, I have had to give up my morning cup.  Never fear though, my friend Brenda and I have found a solution to our acidic problem and it is on it’s way to us in the mail.  Acid neutralized coffee.  Who knew?  Now we do.
Well…enough of that…are you guys perkin’ in the fall décor department?  I have had a few thing out for a while.  I may get a second wind and find a few more in a day or two.  I’m waiting about getting anything fresh for the porch.  It’s still pretty warm here…so real pumpkins would have to sit in the sun, on our porch, for quite a while.  Isn’t it so fun though?  I noticed that my husband’s aunt had her “shocks of fodder” out at their house.  That is cornstalks…for those that weren’t raised in the country…or around their grandparents. lol!  It looks so pretty and so “harvesty.”  Spell check loves that one.


I found that little “hello fall” sign at the Dollar Spot at Target.  Isn’t that fun?  I totally agree.  Oh…and in other news (random) I am getting excited about the new iPhone that is coming out tomorrow.  Lots of times now I shoot blog photos with my iPhone because I love the camera and it’s so easy.  The new one has an even better camera…and that makes the creative eye ball in me…twitch with happiness.  Hopefully it will be bug free…as the word on the street is always…”If you get the latest phone it will have bugs.”  Sheesh…spoil our fun whydon’tcha! Anyway…if you have a Target (back on track) go check out all of their fun stuff.  Or…if you are like us…drive and hour and a half…and eat lunch at a really good place while you are out of town. #countrylifeperks


Sometimes when I decorate for fall…I just throw a bunch of faux “punkims” in a basket and call it good. It makes me feel happy every time I walk by and see them.

The last little tidbit that I wanted to leave with you comes from the quote above.  If you aren’t perkin’ too steady, or too strong, or to fast, hang in there.  Sometimes our boats rock and pitch and make us feel sea sick.  The thing about that is…the Master is right there with us…and I read this morning that no weapon formed against us…shall prosper.  The Master is with us on these little side paths…but this is not our destination friends!  Hang in there…sunshine and a bubbling percolator…are just up ahead!

From my heart to yours,

Sigturquoise

Coziness is Addicting

27 Thursday Aug 2015

Posted by in Country Life, Farmhouse Style, fluffin' the nest

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What is your favorite thing about home?  A few of mine are peace, relaxation, rest, and at the top of all of that…coziness. 

  
Maybe we embrace it with age.  I don’t know though…because our kids love coziness too.  When I was a kid..I would snuggle down into my…waterbed. Yes…it was the eighties and that was cool.  I actually slept in that bed until 1995.  

  
Anyway…we are big on piles of blankets, quilts, and afghans around here.  You know…coziness.

  
I’m thinking that coziness is addicting…how about you?

Love from the Dirt Road,

Kelli

Whole Lot of Stuff Going On

30 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Country Life, everyday stuff, Simply...living

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Right now at the Farmhouse…there is a whole lot of stuff going on.  It’s the lazy days of summer…but it’s also almost the Fourth of July. (You already knew that.)  That means that we do things around here that need doing.  Yesterday it was Give the House a Bath Day.  Today Bushhog and Mow Day.  Those things have mostly been taken care of by the Mr.  I am the moral support and the maker of breakfast burritos.

Our church family comes out to our little farm to celebrate with us.  Now you are like…”Ahh ha!”  Now we know why all of this stuff needs doing.”  You are right.  I actually planned on staining the front porch too…but after the Mr. powerwashed it and I saw it in all of it’s chippy glory….we left it.  It had a very “Walton’s-esque” feel to it.  We are good for now, thanks.

I actually got my big camera out today and snapped a bunch of shots for new posts.  Then my computer decided to be sassy…so that will have to wait for another day.  That is okay though.  Sometimes…when there is a whole lot of stuff going on…you just have to give yourself a little grace.  I’m good with that.

Love from the Farmhouse,

Sigturquoise

Welcome to the Farmhouse

07 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by in Country Life, Farmhouse Style

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Hey guys!  How are you?  I just wanted to do a little post to welcome the new kids to the Farmhouse.  Today Jennifer at Town and Country Living shared our home and there are lots of new folks joining us.  Thank you so much Jennifer.  It has been so fun.

As she mentioned in her post, that you can read here, we do have a little farm with cows, goats, chickens, rabbits, dogs and cats.  Before we had the farm though…we had the farmhouse, and that has been the epitome of this little blog.  Simple home décor…that you can actually work into your life…without breaking budget.  I love good junking trips and well-loved treasures.  I don’t want to bring things home that can’t be used or loved by our family. On my Instagram account…it says Faith, Family and Farmhouse Style.  That is the order that we go in around here.  Without the first two…farmhouse style is nothing.  I believe in a balanced, well rounded life.  I’m sure that you have heard the saying, “I need a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus.”  Just go ahead and sign me up for that.

We had a little weekend get-away for my husband’s birthday.  It was a time to celebrate him and give him a breather. We actually honored the Sabbath in our hotel room this morning. We try to teach our kids the importance of that…even when you aren’t with your fellow believers.  It was such a sweet time…studying about the importance of God’s word. That brings me to the picture above…in case you were wondering. 😉

We live in the Ozarks…which is close to Silver Dollar City.  I love to visit their pottery shop.  It is such a sweet little place.  Sometimes the potter will be there working and sometimes the shop is quiet with the ladies working the register.  Last year, the Mr. bought a pie plate for me.  I thought that it would be fun to buy a piece of pottery each year.  Yesterday, I found the salt crock.  I loved it at first sight.  I am an artsy kind of gal…so pottery just warms my heart.  (One day I shall have a wheel…good Lord willin’.)  I am a huge fan of blue, my favorite color for always, so…that was a plus.  Then of course…the fact that we keep salt in a crock on the counter…worked.  I think that the main thing though is the lettering.  I can always use a reminder that I need to be salt and light.  Matter of fact…I prayed that very thing before we went on this trip.  You never know who you will meet up with that just needs a kind smile.  Sometimes, just holding the door for someone, it speaks volumes.  A steady reminder that we are the salt of the Earth? Yes please.

I hope that you feel welcome dropping by this little blog.  It’s just a little place of real life and home.  It’s a place of celebrating God’s blessings.  A little spot of light and warmth…to come in out of the cold.  I’m glad that you are here.

Love from the Farmhouse,

Sigturquoise

 

Summer Favorites

04 Thursday Jun 2015

Posted by in Country Life, everyday stuff, heart and soul

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Good morning friends!  Hope this little post finds you well.  Today is a bit better so far, thank the Lord!  A little sore but not as much pain. That is a wonderful blessing!  Anyway…enough about that…let’s talk summer favorites.

Summer has always been my season of choice.  I love them all…but summer has lots of things that I love.  I was born in the hottest part of the summer.  That could have something to do with it. 😉 Think about it…watermelon, crickets, croaking bull frogs, swimming, ripe tomatoes, green grass…I could go on and on.  I won’t, but you understand.  Feel free to add to my list in the comments.

  
I love summer food.  I love the casual take on meal prep in the summer.  A bit lighter, and a bit brighter.  I love it when our church family gathers on our front lawn to celebrate independence. It’s so sweet to serve them…even if it’s just dogs from the grill.

  
I also love the laid back pace of summer.  I used to spend lots of time with my mom in the summer.  Just she and I, hanging out and having fun.  Those are some of my most treasured summer memories.  I try to make those with our kids.  I know that summers are fleeting and childhood is too. 

       
I hope that your summer is off to a great start…even if it is actually still spring.  I hope that this inspires you to enjoy summer…even if it’s not your favorite.  After all…the blessings of the Lord are all around us…in every season. ❤️

Love from the Farmhouse,

Kelli

Let the Good Times Roll

26 Tuesday May 2015

Posted by in Country Life, everyday stuff, Simply...living

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Hey guys!  Is your summer off with a bang?  Ours has been.  It feels good to slow down a bit and just enjoy. Sometimes we have to make a conscious effort to let the good times roll.

 

By the way…it’s .50 corn dog night at Sonic…if you are interested.  You are welcome. 😉

 

I love easy, breezy, summer decor…that feels like it frees us up to do things outside.  I love a casual space in the summer.

   

I hope that your summer is packed full of relaxation and fun!

Let the good times roll,

Kelli

 

 

Grace Upon Grace

05 Tuesday May 2015

Posted by in Country Life, heart and soul

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Do you ever have days where everything falls apart?  Or at least it feels as though it does?  Social media would like for you to believe that each day is a dream.  Pinterest looks so perfect.  Your Instagram friends and your Facebook peeps all have it going on.  Everyone has a clean house.  Bologna.  It’s not true.  We all have days where stuff goes wrong and falls apart.  We all have to clean up messes…stuff or relationships.  I am careful who I connect with.  It has to be real for me…or I just can’t do it.  Life is too wonderful to waste time on things that are not real.  Life is hard…and we don’t always get it right…but we get grace upon grace in our covenant with Jesus.  My heart just filled with warmth after that last sentence…and a very needed smile turned up the corners of my mouth.

Yesterday was tough out here on the dirt road.  Farming, no matter what kind you do, is not easy.  It looks very idyllic and it can be at times…but it’s not really just a hobby.  Sometimes things are heartbreaking, and sometimes things are hallelujah.  There isn’t a whole lot of room for middle ground.  Today is a new day…full of grace.  I am glad for that.  I am also thankful that the Lord gave me a bit of His wisdom, yesterday, when the people at the store…sent me on my way without a bag of my groceries.  I wanted to let that lady know, when I called back,  exactly how I felt about the grocery guy that was goofing off while bagging my stuff. Then Grace steps up.

Grace reminds us how we were young once.

Grace wonders if maybe we left the stuff in the cart?

Grace smiles and nods when we act civilized and careful.

Grace stands beside us when we are helping our husbands with hard tasks.

Grace is up there beside him on the tractor…as he drives by and gives us a smile.

Grace nudges us and we smile back.

Grace stands there between the both of us…while we talk over the day.

I am thankful for Grace.  I need it…so very much.

Today on Instagram I read the most delightful thing.  A lady that I follow named Haverlee posted this:  “It’s so hard to be so very human. But He’s always known our struggle.  And He’s not mad about it.”  You are not a failure, sweet ones.  The Bible says that He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust.  He knows when we are really trying. ” He’s…not even mad about it.” I needed that so much.  I am harder on myself than anyone else ever could be.  I just needed to know that the grace of the Almighty…is endless.  You know…I already knew it…I just needed to be reminded.  I am talking about the real life, day to day struggle, of being a Christian.  Grace is wound into His word from the beginning to the very last verse. “The grace  of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”  Revelation 22:21

I hope that your day is filled with grace upon grace.  Sometimes…we just have rough days.  It’s to be expected.  Sometimes we have really great days and those are to be enjoyed.  Today…I am going to look through this cookbook and find something fun to feed my family.  Grace does that.  Grace says…”Yesterday was a bit hard…but today…we are going to help each other up and dust each other off.”  If you don’t know Jesus, sweet Dirt Roaders…a life of grace…is like no other.  I promise you that.

Love and grace to you all,

Sigturquoise

p.s. To my sweet Mr.

I love you. You do good work.  By your side, is my favorite.

Farmhouse Life

22 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by in Country Life, everyday stuff, Farmhouse Style

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Did you get up with the chickens?  I did.  I was actually awake before the rooster this morning.  Sometimes that is the way that it goes.  He was standing in the mud with his wives…waiting to be fed.  That is Farmhouse Life.  It’s all about caring for others…people, animals, and vegetables.  Just ask Adam and Eve. 😉

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Farm life isn’t new to me.  I grew up very close to my grandparent’s little farm.  By the time that I came along they mostly had cows, a dog, and a barn cat.  When my dad was little they had hogs too.  He also had an old mare that he would ride.  My step-dad’s parents have always farmed too. (It seems like most people did in that generation.) They even kept an old horse for me to ride.  Ol’ Beauty.  What a gal.  She was so barn-soured that when you turned her back toward the house and let her go…we could have won the Kentucky Derby.  Goodness gracious.  I wound up in trouble over that a few times.  Beauty was kind of old and poorly shod for me to let her act so young.

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It’s so fun to watch our kids on our little farm.  Their dad decided early on that he would buy the feed but they could have the money out of the eggs.  Their job is to wash them before refrigeration.  Want to know a fun fact?  In Europe…they don’t refrigerate.  That is because when a chicken lays an egg…there is a protective coating on them.  It protects the egg from bacteria unless you wash it off.  So…if you do wash them…get them into the fridge soon.  Our kids get to split the money…because each day it/s a different person’s turn to wash eggs.  You better believe that after scrubbing all that stuff off…they want their cut.  I think that it’s pretty awesome…the lesson that their dad is teaching them with the eggs.  It’s not that they are making a killing…but they are learning very valuable tools for their own lives.

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Our farm is small and young.  It is also just one aspect of our lives, but we enjoy the richness that it provides.  I understand that not everyone wants to add farming to their list of things to do…but we love the little bit of it in our neck of the woods.  I feel close to God…when I am in the middle of His creation.  I feel like a helpmate when I am canning veggies that my husband planted or helping him with the care of an animal.  I feel like I am teaching our children, when we are hot and sweaty, bent over green bean plants…split up into two teams, seeing who can finish their rows first.  It’s hard work…but it nourishes my soul.

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Love from the Farmhouse,

Sigturquoise