Summer. The Living is Easy

04 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by Kelli in Country Life, everyday stuff

It happened. I finally got into the groove of summer vacation, I think. I spent a couple of weeks in no man’s land. It was weird. I think, that what happened, was this: Every year May is so crazy-busy that by the time school lets out, we are in fast mode. It takes a bit to ease into the slower pace.

This week is the Mr.’s birthday! So…due to that…I will be taking a few days off from blogging. We are going to spend quality time with our little family. After all…quality time is my love language. (Just found that out.) So the days that I am off…I am going to live intentional and on purpose.

Summer is fun. It’s actually my favorite, in case you missed that. Ours will be full of farming and outside projects, Lord willing. That kind of summer is full of hard work…but it’s very rewarding. Our garden is also in full swing. We are very thankful for that, since we got it out late, due to our weather in this neck of the woods.

I hope that you have a wonderful “rest of the week.” I also hope that you are easing into summer too. After all…it’s (almost) summer and the livin’ is easy.

Love from the Farmhouse,

p.s. Next week we will see how much more “grandma’s house in the summer” we can find. Fun, fun!

Friday Musings

30 Friday May 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff

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You have made it. The beginning of the weekend is here. That means work for us, as the fence building continues…but that is good work. It’s progress on our little farm. It also means worship…and that is a very good thing. 🙂

I need to go to the grocery store. When we are out of snacks…the kids think that we are out of groceries. My granny said that older folks think that too. lol! The grocery store is nuts on Friday, so I may have to “keep a good thought.”

My Mister got our pool up and running last night! We are so excited. We, like others, have faced a year where the pump and filter were shot. Right when the kiddos thought that swimming was on the agenda, we had to wait. That is a little tough. Our weather hasn’t been super summery though…so it hasn’t been just too awful bad.

I have a little decorating surprise to share with you next week. Be sure and stay tuned. We were actually blessed with something amazing…and I can’t wait to share…but I don’t have pictures yet. It is supposed to arrive tomorrow. Good Lord willing, I will fill you in next week.

(Just keeping it real…as they say. 😉 And…showing you my Wal-Mart clearance rug.)

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend. I hope that it’s full of intentional moments. I hope that you pause and count your blessings. He has good things for all of us, we just have to look and see.

Little Things

22 Thursday May 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, Farmhouse Style

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I am sure that you know this already. I am all about the little things. When I was a little girl, I loved the teeniest of the tiny when it came to toys. I also loved pens and paper, but that is kind of beside the point. Well, maybe not…those are small things…that I delighted in. Okay…that figures in to this too. Sorry. I had to figure that out. Anyway, now that I am an adult, (Yes…my age qualifies me for that.) I have discovered that the little things are still, very much, what I delight in.

You can discover this throughout our home. The things that I keep and treasure…mostly have meaning. They are things that probably wouldn’t mean as much to others. I laugh and say that I am a grandmother at heart. The things that I have kept of my dad’s wouldn’t mean much to others, but they mean the world to me. Yes…I am very sentimental. I do not apologize. God created me this way. It’s high time that I embrace that.

These little things in our home…bring me happiness. Notice that I didn’t say “joy.” I am learning though a study on the Fruits of the Spirit that happiness comes from happenings. Joy comes from the confidence of having Jesus Christ within. So…these little “treasures” make me happy when I glance at them, in passing. They are a part of what is happening around me. I love that. That is an amazing little nugget to learn. Don’t apologize for wanting to fill your home with happiness, Dirt Roaders. That doesn’t mean that you should overspend. Just put thought into what is surrounding you. Does it make you feel happy? If not….change things. It’s your nest to fluff. Enjoy it.

I am crazy about the basket that I picked up at a yard sale. It does not have sentimental value…but it was a bargain and that is a biggie for me. Old baskets seem to whisper a story of a time when things were actually used…not just a part of the decor. So…it brings me aesthetic happiness. It gives a feeling of another time. I love that. The little yellow doily, under my fun Target lamp, was sent to me, by one of my sweet Instagram friends. It was just the pop of mustard that I needed…at a really hard time. I don’t know what my deal with yellow is…but it has been color therapy over the last few months. Lastly, the feed sack pillow is such a sweet little testament of the things that have been going on, this spring, at the Farmhouse. Fencing and cattle and more goats and all of the things that are proof of a little dream…coming true.

Don’t forget to pause and look around, Dirt Roaders. You don’t want to miss the little things.

Reflectively yours,

Summer Laundry

21 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff

≈ 2 Comments

It hasn’t started yet, but it will.

Loads and loads of wet, soppy, towels and clothes from the swimming pool.

I cannot wait.

I love summer and I love swimming. Doing summer laundry…is my favorite laundry.

In other news…I am about to show you one of my favorite places, right now, in our farmhouse.

Do you see why? There is something about the addition of those cafe curtains that makes it feel all “Waltonesque” kinda like Mr. Godsey’s store. Do you see it and feel it? Maybe it’s the huge jar of beans and the enamelware table. Whatever it is…it’s simple and lovely and quiet and it soothes my weary heart. I am being so drawn to the farmhouse style of late…that I have been wondering how I could do this all throughout the house. We live in a newer farmhouse…but I love the old farmhouse feel. If the Mister is reading this post…he is probably thinking “Oh great.” lol! Well…he might not be. He is such a laid back kind of guy…I think that secretly he loves riding this decorating roller coaster with me. It definitely keeps things interesting.

Back to the laundry room,

Embracing Home

20 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, fluffin' the nest

≈ 7 Comments

It’s my very favorite, this summer season. Okay…so technically it’s still spring…but the kids are home. It’s my happy time. This momma hen is CRAZY about having her chicks in the nest. I am not one of those mothers that dread having her children home. (That doesn’t mean that there is never any yelling…apologizing…hiding from my children, and things like that.) Maybe it’s genetic. I come from a long line of men and women that embrace home and enjoy being there. Okay…so maybe not all of them had hermit tendencies like me…but they made and make home a happy place. I want to have a home like that. One that always draws your heart back. (See what I’m doing? Investing in my adult children….coming to see us…someday.)

Did you know that home doesn’t have to be boring? Of course you did. We have too many chores to do around here, to ever be bored. Plus…as an only child for almost 18 years…I can always find something to do, for myself and the kids. Actually our children learned at a very young age to never use the word “bored” around Momma. She will find something to remedy that. 😉

Yesterday we worked hard. We embraced our home in that way. The kids helped and we knocked out some much needed cleaning that needed to be done. Today…I have a bit more of that to do and then maybe time to piddle. That is my favorite way to embrace home. You know, baking or tweaking (decor… 🙂 ) rearranging. Fluffing the nest is what we call it here at Along the Dirt Road. Mom and I have always called it “piddling.”

Exciting news for tonight’s supper. The Mister is grilling us a burger! I love it when he embraces our home by manning the grill. I know…I know…it doesn’t take much to excite me. You guys know how I roll. Simple pleasures and embracing home is one of my all time favorites.

Love from the dirt road,

Taking Care of Busyness

12 Monday May 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff

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Yes. You read it right. Busyness. This is one of the busiest weeks of our year. School gets out and you know how that goes. Our annual fellowship meeting is at our church this week too. It’s all good though. We try to breathe deep and take one step at a time. Both aspects of this week are exciting and have amazing benefits.

This morning I have been to the grocery store, the church, back home to do laundry and baked a dessert. Not too bad for 1:16. Now I am sitting for a minute…catching up with you all. Busy is good…but you have to have a good balance, I believe.

I hope that you have a wonderful week. We are going to spend time worshiping God and finishing up school. We will get that spiritual refreshing that we need and then in a few days, when the pool is up and going…we will relax.

Staying sane…one prayer at a time. 😉

Friday Fun

02 Friday May 2014

Posted by Kelli in Country Life, everyday stuff

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Hey Guys! How are ya doing this fine Friday? Do you have anything fun planned? Maybe you fun begins after your work day. I have been itchin’ to go junkin’ but have been bitten by the allergy bug. No fun at all. It’s that time of year though. Hopefully…things will feel like summer soon.

I do apologize for the partial picture of the fried pie yesterday. I tried and tried to load that. I didn’t take it off though…because I wanted you to at least get a glimpse of how pretty they are. Pretty and delicious. That is a win/win.

I need to go to the grocery store in a major way too. Sometimes that is fun. Sometimes…not so much. Friday is not the best day to go either. Everyone and their brother and brother’s dog are there. Okay…not the dog…but you get it. We are out of snacks…and to my family, that means that we are out of food.

Whatever your plans today, I hope that you have at least a little fun. Friday always felt like a party day when I was a little girl. Party days are good…even if you just treat yourself to something little. Live inside of each moment, sweet Dirt Roaders. Celebrate life all the time. Really…it’s okay.

Hanging out in the country,

Cafe Curtains For Me and You

25 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, everyday stuff, Farmhouse Style

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I am so sorry for the poor quality of the pictures yesterday. I am making it up to you today. I pulled out Bertha (my big camera) and shot some genuine photos for ya. Ain’t I sweet. Why…thank you. 😉

So…last night after I had gazed at my “cafe curtain” all day…I went to Wally World (Wal-Mart) and picked up some tiers. I love them. They give the effect that I wanted. So dreamy. I love dreamy, do you?

I also wanted to share with you our rug. I moved it from the laundry room to the front door for spring and summer. It grows on me a tad every day. I’m really loving it there. Sometimes I wish that it was gray…but I love the teal too. Who knows? It may go back in the laundry someday…if I find another bargain rug in blue and white. 😉

Don’t look too close at the cafe curtains. They need to be ironed. It won’t take long…but I just popped them up there last night so I could see what they looked like. They are so pretty from the outside of the house too. Yes…I went outside in the dark and looked at them. I also had a couple of children popping up in the window…looking at me. It probably seemed weird that Mom was outside in the dark looking through the window. lol! I learned long ago that the creative mind…is not normal.

I just wanted to share some shots with you. I think that cafe curtains for me and you…is a very good idea. One of my Instagram followers shared with me, that cafe curtains are all the rage in Germany right now. How fitting…since I am totally in love with the European farmhouse style.

Have a wonderful weekend, sweet Dirt Roaders!

Hellooooooo!

23 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff

≈ 2 Comments

Hey guys! How are you? We are nuts. Life is crazy-busy and God is good. I just wanted to stop in….say hello and show you a few things from around the Farmhouse.

This is Chuck.

He is our new little Jersey bull. Hopefully he will be the first of many, through the years. We are super excited about him.

I made my first batch of homemade bath salts this week! A cup of Epsom Salt and about 10 drops of Young Living Essential Oil and you are set! I will try to blog in more detail about this soon.

Allergy season is ablaze at the Farmhouse. I am very thankful for this trio.

Have a great day! (Btw: I hope that you had a blessed Easter!)

Kelli Belli

New Beginnings

11 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, heart and soul

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Life is amazing. This morning during my quiet time…I was counting my blessings. I decided that when you really live inside the moment..life is incredible. Sometimes life is full of new beginnings. At times we don’t choose them, and sometimes we do.

There is fence building going on at the Farmhouse. We are looking towards adding cattle to our little farm. Right now we consist of a flock of chickens, two spoiled goats, dogs and cats. We also need to add a barn at some point. Our garage is filling up with feed and all of the things that go with farm life.

This has been a dream of ours for quite awhile. We needed to wait on God’s timing. Waiting on Him is a huge part of our life. We enjoy the harmony that comes with taking our cues from Him. That isn’t to say that we aren’t real and have never jumped the gun. We all make mistakes. We just love the peace of being in tune with Him. Good Lord willing, and the creeks don’t rise… we will have fence done before too long. Then we can add new “family members.” I believe that He will help is find the ones that we need. After all…He is the God of new beginnings. I love that about Him.

I hope that your weekend is amazing. I hope that your dreams are coming true. God loves His children. He really does. He has our good…at the center of His heart.

Overwhelmed by grace,

Kelli