Category Archives: Simply…living

Four Leaf Clovers

17 Friday Mar 2023

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Believe it or not…I’m pretty sure that I have never found a four leaf clover. Bizarre after these 45 years, huh? That being said, I have found a lot of other things in my life that bring me the same kind of simplistic joy. Let’s call those our four leaf clovers today, how about that?

Just this week and last I have enjoyed the beauty of the daffodil so much. They pop up everywhere in the Ozarks. A close family friend and I were talking about the abundance of them surrounding old home places. A tiny bit of days gone by, bloomed out in a cheery shade of yellow. I think those qualify as a four leaf clover in life.

Sunsets are another. Beautiful Ozarkian sunsets give me pause in the evenings when I walk by the window. They remind me to take a deep breath and appreciate the depth of the Creator. The fact that He would paint the sky for the enjoyment of mankind is a type of love that I can’t quite comprehend. Then I think of our own children and know the joy it brings me to see them delighted by something. I think sunsets are definitely on the four leaf clover scale.

Dogs. They have to be on this list. There is no other animal on the planet that delights in a human’s existence quite like a dog. No one is as excited to see you. No one will acclimate to your mood the same way. No one is your ride or die quite like a dog. I think that dogs are maybe right up there with sunsets. I think that God knew that we needed them. I read recently that households with dogs are 30% happier. (I’m not forgetting the other pets out there. I think any kind of pet helps with mental and emotional health.) Let’s just say that maybe we should have named our dog Clover.

All in all there are so many four leaf clover type delights in life. I try to look for them and enjoy them as I go about my day. They are generally free. Not things to be purchased but things to be admired.

I hope that your St. Patrick’s Day is full of clover and not so much blarney. lol!

Love from the Farmhouse,

Kelli

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It’s Been a Long Time, Friends

22 Wednesday Dec 2021

Posted by in Christmas, Country Life, crochet, Farmhouse Style, heart and soul, Simply...living

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Hello there. It’s been a minute. I think l asked last year if people still read blogs. I do occasionally. Maybe I need to blow the dust off of this one. Reconnect with you sweet people.

Yesterday was the first day of winter and it was gorgeous.

Those of you that follow in Instaland…probably already know about the heartache in our family. If not, my little brother has been missing since the 17th of December, 2020. So with all of that we have been trying to learn to live in the midst of it. That’s really what we have to do, isn’t it. As unbelievably hard as that is…it’s vital. I have actually done a little therapy and plan to do more. It was just time. I needed someone to help me physically process. You know what…that is absolutely okay. I don’t care about stigma anymore. Quite frankly, none of us should. Our healthy bodies and minds lead to healthy relationships. That is just wisdom.

Sweet baby brother of mine.

So…I know. That is heavy, but I have always tried to be real with my readers. Knowing that God is sovereign is the only thing that makes it doable. Which is basically all of life. We tend to forget that on occasion.

Rockbridge. Missouri is gorgeous at Christmas!

So the Mr. and I had our 26th wedding anniversary this month. It was so fun! He took me to Rockbridge and then we did some shopping. We laughed a lot and just enjoyed being together so much. I love his perspective. There is something about a man’s perspective that is so refreshing to me. I have been blessed with good men in my life and I don’t take that for granted. Anyway…it’s so fun to have a day to just listen and visit and share. He is one of this life’s biggest blessings to me and I am so grateful.

My sweet man watching the trout fisherman.

Okay so elephant in the room…are you ready for Christmas? I think we mostly are. Maybe a few little things. I’m excited for everyone to open their gifts! I will share a few little Christmas decor shots with you. I kept it simple this year. A country Christmas theme.

That little Tonka is fun!
Our daughter made the sweetest gingerbread fellas!
A sweet spot in the kitchen.
And of course some crocks.

On a slightly different note…the ADR Farmhouse Dishrag business has done so well this year. We give God all of the glory. He’s the one that makes it all possible. I am so grateful to be able to work from home like that. In the new year things may look a tad different. We are tossing around new ideas and I’m so exited. Maybe a new design or two. Here’s a little sneak peek:

Mustard is always my favorite.
This new border is so fun!!’

So…from our home to yours, I hope that you have the absolute merriest of Christmases! I hope that you feel the peace of God in all that you do. May the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, bring hope to your heart this season.

Merry Christmas, Sweet Dirt Roaders.

So This is Christmas

24 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by in Country Life, Farmhouse Style, heart and soul, holidays, sCoRiN' some JuNkItY JuNk, Simply...living

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Hey Friends!!! I come to you with lots of well wishes for a wonderful holiday! Ours will be a bit different this year…like everything else…but we will still celebrate the Savior of the world.

So this is Christmas…

You know…this year we hung a few wreaths on the fence posts and gate…and decorated a little cedar at the bottom of the hill. It was as much for all the neighbors as for us. It was so fun!

If you look closely you can see the farmhouse through there.

This year has been full of simple things. Basic things. Things of necessity. I’m okay with that. I think that it makes us take a look at what is really important.

The Mister and I celebrated twenty five years this year! We had a Christmas wedding so we always get to take a minute apart this time of year. It was a beautiful night at a trout ranch. The food was so good and the company was even better. Silver Anniversary during a pandemic? Party of two, please.

I hope that all of your celebrations whether big or small turn out peaceful and happy this year. We have had joy and sadness…but we are going to try our best come Christmas morning to celebrate Jesus.

So this is Christmas.

Love from the Farmhouse,

Kelli

p.s Our daughter and I snuck away for a junking break yesterday. Here’s a sneak peek of what we found:

So fun!!!

p.p.s. Okay…carry on then. Lol!

Aww…thanks

29 Wednesday Aug 2018

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You guys! I have been blogging for six years now! Some of you have been there from the very beginning and some are new to Along the Dirt Road. Whatever the case…thank you! Thanks for joining in and enjoying the ride with us!!!

Although this blog is filled with home decor, and actually all things home, my hope has always been that it would feel like a little stopping off place for any who chose to do so. Like driving down a country road and seeing an old country store. You know that you just have to stop.

One time, years ago, we were heading home from Fox, Arkansas, and did that very thing. Now Fox is out in the middle of what some folks would call God’s country. The folks talk a little slower there…drawing out their words a bit more. Families are very tight knit and it makes you proud to belong, in some form, to a place like that. We went “home” to Fox when it was time to lay our Granny Corrie (Cora) to rest…after all…she was the one that connected us all to each other. Anyway…back to the country store.

I don’t even remember where this place was. What I do remember is how I felt when I stepped inside. The high ceilings were something from years gone by. The creaking wood floor, the displays, just the whole thing felt like I had stepped back in time. My dad was delighted because this trip, going to Fox, was a part of his boyhood. He loved his family deeply…and he was proud to share that with us. It warms my heart to think back on this little stop off. It also makes me miss my dad…more than I can explain to you. But…back to my point…

My dear, sweet, Dirt Roaders…when you stop by here…I want you to feel that. I want the peace of Jesus Christ to radiate through these posts. I want you to be able to take a deep breath with me and maybe even a step back into yesteryear a bit. I want you to feel like you have stepped into a cool, shady, place on a hot summer day. Or…a warm and toasty place…when the world outside is chilly.

My love of antiques stems from that longing. Just to be in touch with a more simple time. An admiration and deep respect for generations before. I am glad that you all are on this journey with me. After all…the more the merrier.

So today…I say…”Aww thanks.” You all are the absolute best and I thank the Lord for you, my readers. May He bless you from your nose to your toes!!!

Love from the Farmhouse,

Late Summer Bittersweetness

13 Monday Aug 2018

Posted by in Country Life, Farmhouse Style, heart and soul, Simply...living

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Well late summer is here, or so we think. When August rolls around it feels that way doesn’t it? Letting go of the carefree days of summer and looking toward the more scheduled way of life.

I enjoy both. I love having the kids home but they thrive on a schedule. It’s always bittersweet. We can relax more in the evenings during summer break but then the weekends become more special through the school year.

I enjoy late summer. It makes me feel nostalgic for some reason. I’m not really sure why. Maybe it’s because it starts a new season. When I was little it was because of my birthday. Yes…I tend to get a little older during late summer.

On a different note…ol’ Fibro just wont quit lately. I have an appointment tomorrow to try to get some relief. Any of you Dirt Roaders deal with this? I am an avid reader so I try to find all of the tools that I can to cope. Can you believe that you can be tired of resting? Well…you can. Scouts honor!

Tonight is a very busy one. Calves going to the sale barn, an open house, and I have laundry galore. (Don’t get down in your get along…or your laundry breeds!) Plus our garden is still going strong…which is wonderful, but busy. Our area is also having camp meeting this week and some of us are going to that. Whew!!!

Whatever you all have going on during these late summer days…I hope that it’s enjoyable. I hope that the love of Jesus breaks through it all and fills your hearts with joy. His love is all sweet, nothing bitter.

Love from the Farmhouse,

Just a Quick Line

30 Wednesday May 2018

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Guys! There you are and here I am. Just popping in with a quick line because….May is crazy! It almost rates right up there with December on the busy scale. Our kiddos have been a bit busier than usual so that means mom is too. So…before I pop back off of here and clean this house a bit…a few pictures from the Farmhouse.

If you follow on IG you know that a few beeish things have been abuzz here. There is something very earthy and summer-esque about honey. Anyway…it’s been fun. I have some friends that have inspired this new little love. Thanks Maranda and Kristy!!!

Do you guys have your Americana decor up and running? I have been adding touches here and there. So much fun!!!

Whatever you guys are up to I hope that your summer (almost) is off to a great start!!! Okay…now off to clean a little before I have to make my next kid drop off.

Love from the Farmhouse,

Farmhouse Hygge

03 Thursday May 2018

Posted by in Farmhouse Style, fluffin' the nest, heart and soul, Simply...living

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It’s Thursday, Dirt Roaders!  It’s almost the weekend! You have made it! Fist bumps all around!  Today I thought that we would visit a little bit about Farmhouse Hygge.  Have you been hearing the word hygge tossed around?  If not, I will elaborate a bit.

Hygge (Pronounced HOO-GA) is a Norwegian and Danish word for a mood of coziness and comfortable friendliness with feelings of wellness and contentment. It has become a very popular vibe for home decor, especially the more casual and relaxed farmhouse, cottage, and log home styles. I love the whole concept. Surround yourself with things that feel like home to you.  I tend to use that hashtag when I post something that feels very hygge to me.

If you have followed here very long I’m sure that you can sense the love for things that mean home to us.  Most of the things that I keep have some sort of meaning behind them.  I tend to shop second hand for older things.  I enjoy things that are gently loved and look like they have a story to tell.  Lots of the things that we have are passed on from family members or friends.  My mom, my mother-in-law, and I, tend to pass things back and forth between our homes.  “Here…I’m tired of this for a while.  You wanna use it?  Just don’t get rid of it when you are bored with it.” lol!  My mother-in-law is using a Victrola cabinet that my mom let me use in our first home over 20 years ago. I’m telling ya…we are no stranger to the junk swap. My mom has a wooden cabinet above their toilet that was my mother-in-law’s. My mom also has a barn wood corner cabinet that my father-in-law made for us. The longer I work on this post…the more things I can come up with.  I’ll not keep listing stuff. You’re welcome. 😉

Whatever your idea of hygge is, I hope that you have it.  I hope that you surround yourself with things, colors, textures, scents, and photos that you love.  If Farmhouse Hygge is your thing…I hope that you go for it.  If simplicity floats your boat…may you enjoy that to the highest power.  This ol’ world can be kinda (a lot) crazy.  I hope that whatever your idea of home is…you step into that at the end of the day.  Whether it’s in a New York City apartment or at the end of a dirt road, may your heart breathe a little sigh of contentment when you get there.

Love from the Farmhouse,

Sigturquoise

Here We Are

30 Monday Apr 2018

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Good morning, Dirt Roaders. Here we are. Made it through the weekend and stumbled to the coffee maker.  Does that sum up your morning? Whether you are a jump out of bed kind of person or a stumbler…here we are.

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My weekend was rough.  Actually all of last week wasn’t too easy.  I think that I am in a flare…which seems to happen in the spring.  Most of the time I can push through the Fibro stuff and live a semi normal life…but I had to take a big time out this weekend.  My family is so supportive though and that means so much to me.  Yesterday, I was reading in my Jesus Calling devotional and it was talking about people finding time with the Lord and that sometimes it’s from the sick bed. Not a place that any of us want to be….but most of the time…we learn Continue reading →

Happy Thanksgiving

22 Wednesday Nov 2017

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This is always a tough week for me. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, as far as the gatherings go. I love the meaning of Christmas…but the commercial side…flips my wig a little. Overwhelms me. Anyway…this is also the week that my sweet daddy went to be with Jesus, four years ago. But…even in that…there is a place for…happy Thanksgiving.

Today when I opened my verse of the day…this was it:

This is the verse that we chose to put on Dad’s stone. Coincidence? I think not. I think that God is so personal in our everyday lives that He parents us. All of us. We just have to listen with an open heart. “With all your heart.”

My parents were so young and crazy. We grew up together. That being said…I feel like I got the best of both of them. That makes me feel loved in a way that I cannot explain. Lord…I am so thankful for the intricate things that you do.

Last night we had Thanksgiving with our babies. We paused to give thanks, taking turns. I sat there and relished their words…but also their sweet faces. It’s always a bit vulnerable when your turn rolls around. I gave thanks for underserved grace, my husband, and then our children. Our kids will always be my greatest accomplishment on this earth. I do not take that lightly and I know that it was a gift given between the Almighty, my husband, and myself.

I hope that your Thanksgiving is full to the brim. I hope that you enjoy it “with all your heart.” I hope that you look at your kids, like my daddy was looking at me, in the photo above. Most of all though…I hope that you feel the presence of Jesus in every corner of your life. He is good to gently flood into a life like that.

Happy Thanksgiving, sweet Dirt Roaders,

Tucking In

12 Thursday Oct 2017

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When the days grow shorter, do you find yourself tucking in? Gettting chores done earlier is a must around here. Then evening comes earlier and sometimes bedtime.


The Mr. loves this time of year. The time to tuck in the garden, on the years that we have one. The time to make sure the livestock are prepared for the colder months. Also…time to tuck in the swimming pool until spring.


I love fall and winter evenings with a good cup of tea. Maybe a cozy throw too. Just soaking up family life. 


May you and yours be tucked in, all nice and cozy, on this Thursday evening. I would love to hear some of your cozy season favorites!

Love from the Farmhouse,