The Dog Days

03 Sunday Aug 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, heart and soul

Actually, this year we haven’t had many dog days of summer. Our weather has been so mild. It has been really nice. The hay has been plentiful for the farmers and you can actually get out and about without passing out. Of course in southern Missouri…sometimes swimming through the humidity is the thing to do.

My sweeties are excited about school starting. Can you believe it? I am glad. After a while, they crave their school routine instead of what we do around our little farm. It’s a good thing…to love different seasons in life. A healthy balance.

I hope that if you are truly in the dog days of summer…that you find time to sit in the shade. I hope that you drink plenty of fluids and soak up that D vitamin. I also hope that you find precious quiet moments to ponder the love of God. Those moments are water…in a dry, dusty, land.

Love from our neck of the woods,

Kelli

Roll With It

29 Tuesday Jul 2014

Posted by Kelli in heart and soul

≈ 2 Comments

Hey Dirt Roaders! How are you? We are doing good. Trying to “roll with it” as they say. Some days that is easier than others, isn’t it? I have been pretty busy with summer things and farm things. It will be that way for a few more weeks. Bear with me.

I have spent lots of quiet time in our swing this summer. A few moments here and there to heal and to contemplate. I enjoy going out to check on our animals. There is peace in that. There is so much to be learned in the quiet.

Life isn’t easy, is it? I don’t want to make you sad or bring you down, but someone out there might need to know that they are not alone. We all have to try to roll with it. God has a plan. Part of (if not all) rolling with this life…is trusting Him. A big task, but the rewards are out of this world.

I miss my dad so much that I ache in my chest. I am able to smile though…when I think of his daily life…now. God has been so good and so very REAL through this. God knew that He wasn’t just taking my daddy home…but also my buddy. He knew that my parents and I have always had a friendship. It comforts me to know that God knows all of this. Even though I miss him and it’s a heavy load to carry…I don’t begrudge my dad…one moment there.

That is the way with the Father. He loves me…like no other. He wraps me in His love. Do you need to feel that love? He is waiting, sweet Dirt Roader, with arms open wide. He will take you in…and love on you…like no other.

I am praying for you. Each life that this post touches. I am asking God to break every chain that may have you bound. I am asking Him to bind up every broken heart. I am asking Him to give you the strength to roll with life. The power to trust.

Love from the Farmhouse,

Kelli

Farmhouse Baked Mashed Potatoes

23 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, Yum for the Tum

≈ 4 Comments

It’s been awhile since we talked recipes. Today I want to share with you, something that I just kinda decided to try. I have always loved twice baked potatoes…but honestly…who wants to do all of that work? I mean…okay…some people will…but it really is very involved. Thus, the birth of the Farmhouse Baked Mashed Potatoes. I’m sure that others make this and it’s probably all over Pinterest…but this is what I came up with in our kitchen. I hope that you enjoy!

Farmhouse Baked Mashed Potatoes

10 to 12 Potatoes

Butter

Milk

Minced Garlic

Salt and Pepper

Shredded Cheese

Dried Dill Weed

Chives

Directions:

Cook diced potatoes in a pot of water until tender. When they are done, drain and put them in your mixer bowl or a large bowl if you are using a hand mixer. Add a stick of butter, minced garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Mix until potatoes are mashed and everything is incorporated. Then add a splash of milk and give it another whirl. Spread potatoes in an oven proof pan and sprinkle with shredded cheese of your choice. Sprinkle with dill weed and bake at 350 degrees until golden and bubbly. Sprinkle with chives…and dig in! I’m telling you….AMAZING!

Love from the Farmhouse!

I’m Back

21 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by Kelli in Country Life, everyday stuff

≈ 4 Comments

Have you been wondering where I went? lol! Me too. I actually didn’t plan to take time off from blogging…but I got busy. You can do that when you are just blogging and not making money at it. We have had Youth Camp to pack for, go to, come home from and do mounds of laundry…because of. It’s all totally worth it though. Our kids love it, and the blessings of God…are second to none. I am back though, trying to get back on track.

Are you doing lots of fun and summery things? People are starting to mention pumpkins and fall around here. Our weather has been so mild this summer, you constantly think of fall. It’s supposed to warm up this week though. That is good for the swimming pool crowd.

We are just about to get our fencing done, here on our little farm. We are so excited to start our little herd. Farming teaches patience….that is for sure.

Back in business,

Busy Days of Summer

09 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff

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It’s here. The phase of summer where the garden is in full swing. It excites me though. I feel like I am preserving blessing from Heaven. It is busy…but in a good way, as I often say.

I did a little junkin’ yesterday. It scratched the itch. It was very thrifty too. A whole box of goodies for 1 American dollah! I had to share it with my Dirt Roaders!

I hope that you have a lovely Wednesday. We are heading out to pick more beans! I may just put some on for supper. I am such a grandma. 😉

Busy…in a good way,

Kelli

Vacation Days

07 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff

≈ 2 Comments

Happy Monday! That sounds so much more chipper than I feel. We are totally wiped out. Did you have a crazy weekend? We did. A good kind of crazy…but crazy nonetheless. Now…it’s time to relax and enjoy the rest of the summer, Good Lord willin’ and the creeks don’t rise. This is summer vacation, after all.

Yesterday evening after our church service, our church family came to our home. We celebrated and laughed and ate. Then we did it all again…backwards. lol! We also sat in the rain off and on. They are troopers though. They just sat there…holding their umbrellas and kept right on soaking up the peace. I was thrilled to hear different ones say those very words. They loved how peaceful that it is here. God answered our family’s prayer. We asked Him for that. Sometimes…people have been through so much…that if you can just offer them a little peace, it’ goes a long way. We know that it comes from God. He just uses us, sometimes, as a tool to help Him. I want to be sensitive to that.

On another note, I am feeling the urge to do a little junkin’. Maybe a little yard sale action or a little antique mall excursion. We may see if the end of the week holds any of that. Maybe I will just lay down and take a nap instead.

I hope that your Monday is fantab and that you get an extra olive on your sub at lunch today. 🙂 I hope that whatever your day holds that you take a minute to count your blessings…and that God fills you with peace.

Vacation on!

p.s. Mister Dirt Road…you are some kind of wonderful. xo

July the Fourth

03 Thursday Jul 2014

Posted by Kelli in heart and soul

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It’s almost here. The time to celebrate the freedom of our nation. I told the Mr. that we should find fireworks somewhere and take our babies to watch. My exact words were this: “Even if we just sit in the truck and eat a bologna sandwich and watch fireworks.” lol! I know. There is nothing too good for me. 😉

Our church family gathers at our house around the fourth. We eat hot dogs and make homemade ice cream and they are invited to bring fireworks. I love it. It’s so fun to open our home (yard) to everyone. When I was a little girl, we used to do this at another family’s home. The memories were so great for me that I wanted to do this for our kids.

I feel very blessed to live in a nation that is free. I am thankful to be able to choose. I think of this often when we attend church. I am thankful to be able to worship God out in the open. Not everyone in this ol’ world has that freedom. It breaks my heart.

I know that America has her faults. She is not perfect, by a long shot. I pray for our country and our leaders. I also pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as God instructs us to do. I am thankful though…for the men and women in this country that have a heart for others. Their main concern is seeing that others make it. People that give their lives for their neighbor. I don’t ever want to take that lightly. Sometimes it’s the soldier, sometimes it’s the preacher. Let that sink in a minute.

I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday with your friends and family. I am heading out to mow the yard. It’s cool and breezy here today. What a blessing in July! May you celebrate your independence and think about those that give all to make sure that we are free. On that note…most of all, I am thankful for Jesus Christ. God’s words says that when He makes us free…we are free indeed. Now that, my friends, is something to celebrate!

Boom Crackle Pop!

A Peaceful Monday

30 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, heart and soul

≈ 2 Comments

In our Fruit of the Spirit workshop…we are studying Peace. Sometimes…in stretching and growing…you are faced with the exact opposite of what you are trying to achieve. Last week was not peaceful for me. We had several little issues…that combined, felt like one big issue. God is faithful though. Last night in our church service, a dear sister sang these words:

“Peace, peace, wonderful peace, coming down from the Father above

Sweep over my spirit, forever, I pray…in fathomless billows of love.”

I needed that. Others needed it too.

At one point…a minister in our church stood and testified about fighting back. Sometimes, we have been through so much in life that we feel too weak to fight. In truth, we are. With Gods help though, we can do hard things. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood…” Once we realize that truth…we can throw ourselves under the shadow of His wings and He will help us. I think that sometimes we are afraid to fight back. We are terrified that things will only get worse. God is in control. He will not test us beyond our limits. Trusting Him…is a must. It’s also one of the hardest things that we will ever do in this life. Being a human is hard work, isn’t it? God is always faithful though. Even when we aren’t. Talk about love.

I hope that your Monday is filled with peace, sweet Dirt Roaders. I hope that if you are fighting a battle of some sort…that you are encouraged to not give up. God is always way ahead of us. When we totally hand our hearts to Him…He blazes the trail for us.

Love from the Farmhouse,

The Canisters

26 Thursday Jun 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, everyday stuff, heart and soul

≈ 2 Comments

I have yet another confession to make. This has nothing to do with the canisters that my friend Jodi gave me. It has everything to do with the fact that I ordered the THM (Trim Healthy Mama) book and yet…I had two cookies for breakfast. I mean seriously, how could I not? They are those grocery store kind. The soft sugar cookies with the soft frosting. Yeah…you know what I’m talking about. I have always heard…that if you are going to eat something icky…do it at the beginning of the day, so you can burn it off. Done and done. It’s called grace, my friends. I will do better…but I had two cookies…and they were delish. lol!

Okay…enough about my caloric intake. The Canisters. They are so lovely. They make my little junkin’ heart go pitter patter. I decided that you needed so much more than just an Instagram shot of them. You needed the whole shebang. You needed a whole post…dedicated to these beauties. I mean…come on. Not everyday…a friend walks into your home, with a brown paper bag, full of the canisters that you ~~were coveting~~ were admiring on her counter. I had actually forgotten about them. It had been quite a while. Isn’t that fun!? It’s so fun in life to be blessed. It’s also amazing…to bless someone.

That whole day was amazing. It was one of those days that you realize the Master orchestrated. You have a heightened awareness that things are going on that you really cannot see. You can only feel them. I love that. I haven’t done much rearranging at the Farmhouse lately. We have been busy with the garden and other things. I am getting the bug though. The one where I take everything off of my counters and stand back and analyze the sitch. lol! (Spell check loved that little word.)

I hope that you enjoy gazing at the turquoise goodness today. I cannot get enough of them. When I find the perfect spot…I will let you know. I love our kitchen. It truly is the heart of our home. That being said…if I don’t love things…they don’t stay in there anymore. I like the new me. It must be the Patchouli. lol! No…I’m kidding. It’s the grace of the Almighty…being revealed in my life. It’s looking to Him, like a little child, with big eyes full of wonder. It’s a heart full of love…while sitting in a yard swing, surrounded by a handsome husband, wonderful children, chickens, goats and a bull calf. It’s the mess that I was yesterday…in the muddy garden, picking beans like a wild woman. It’s all about Him. He is with us, Dirt Roaders. Every. Step. Of. The. Way. He gives beauty for ashes. I am so undeserving of the blessings that He gives, but He gives them anyway. It’s true…the power is His, to give and take away. Lately though, my healing heart longs to focus on what He gives. My life is really not my own. I know…so many things that I’m throwing at you at once…but I am learning so much in this season. Do me a favor? Ask God to help me…as a student of His.

Love from the farmyard,

I’m In the Garden

25 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, Farmhouse Style

≈ 2 Comments

I am sitting down for a second. My poor back. At 6:30 a.m., I was in the garden, picking enough green beans to feed a small tribe. Rain makes green beans. That is my thought for the day.

I am not complaining. You guys know that this is a part of our summer life. God is good to bless us with real food. Lots of times…people don’t understand that with blessings, hard work is part of it. Please pass the PanAway. (An eo for sore muscles.) (eo stands for essential oil.) (You are welcome.) 😉

So today…I am not decorating or moving furniture. I am cooking beans, washing beans and putting beans away. If you need me…I could possibly be in the garden. More than likely though…I will be in the kitchen.

Love from the Farmhouse,

Kelli
p.s. A huge thank you to God…for helping our garden grow. Please forgive my grumbles, Lord. I love you! Also a huge thank you to my Mr. and my children. They work very hard. All of them. We are in this “farmin’ thang” together. I love you…my people!