A Day of Rest

18 Sunday May 2014

I don’t usually post on Sunday. It is my day to worship, relax, and then worship in the evening. That is our church tradition. It is a very good thing.

That being said…tomorrow will not be a day of rest. Our farmhouse needs a major scrubbing. We were in fellowship meeting last week and everything got pushed to the side. Yesterday, I didn’t make much headway either. Groceries don’t buy themselves. 😉

The thing is, I love a clean house. I mean…that is at the top of the list for me. But…the older I get, the less I stress about spic and span. I have learned, by the grace of the Almighty…to give myself some…grace. I have learned to enjoy our home and the people in it, even when I can’t keep it all together.

Now..lest you think I am nuts…I do have a limit. Clutter drives me batty after a while and I turn into a crazy woman until I can breathe again. Things are kinda piled here and there at the moment and tomorrow we are going to tackle that.

But for today…I’m going to rest and worship.

Kelli

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. 😉

Motherhood

09 Friday May 2014

Posted by Kelli in heart and soul

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I want to wish all of you a happy Mother’s Day! Notice that I didn’t specify…just to people that have children. All of us women, are mothers in one way or another. We have huge influence in the lives of others. I believe that every woman that is born…has the nurturing instincts of a mother.

Sometimes, things happen in life and there are dads that step into the shoes of nurturer, plus carry the responsibility of protector and provider. My hat is off to you, if that is your situation. It’s a hard one. Some moms have to fill both roles as well. I am saying a little prayer for you right now. Little prayers make a difference, because the go to the heart of a great big God.

If you could ask my husband…what makes my eyes light…like nothing else, I believe that he would say…”Our children.” He might say Rocky Road ice cream, or prizeys or junkin’ or baby farm animals…but in his heart of hearts he would know that it’s our children. You see, our first little tiny baby…got to go back and live with Jesus. It was a heart-wrenching time for us. We weren’t very far into the pregnancy…but we believe that life starts at conception and we felt a huge loss. People that don’t give others enough credit during miscarriage…should really rethink their approach. It’s very tough. Be gentle, friends.

I would like to tell you that I am a sweet, gentle, kind and loving mother. I’m sure that I have been a little of that…at least once or twice. 🙂 Actually…I am a “Come on! You can do it! Get back in there and whip it!” kind of mother. I lived with my dad for several years growing up. Can you tell? I am a “Learn to bait that hook!” kind of mom. I am also a “Hey…get in there and do your chores!” kind of mom. In all of that though…at the end of the day I am this mom:

“Come here and let me hug the hurt away.”

“She said what? Well..we will see about that.”

“Let’s ask Jesus to take care of this.”

“Jesus loves you more than anyone on the planet.”

Guess what? God thinks that you are awesome.”

“See that beauty out through there? God created that!”

“I love theses babies, right here.”

“Thank you Jesus…for these babies, Amen.”

I have an amazing mother. She has a heart of gold. I have learned so much from her. She has an amazing attitude of service towards her family. I am truly blessed…to be a mother…to have a mother and to enjoy the company of every woman that I know. We are all mothers. Don’t ever forget that.

I am Momma Bear, hear me roar!

The Itch to Decorate

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by Kelli in Country Life, Farmhouse Style

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Do you get the decorating bug at your house? I do. I get the itch to decorate and move things and even clean. I know…strange.

I don’t really have projects in mind for the summer that are inside the house. We have several going on outside and that has most of our attention. Even in that though…I love coming back in to a clean and snazzy looking house. I did mention painting the other day. The Mr. didn’t jump for joy. 😉

As you all know, I can a lot in the summer. I love having a clean kitchen with freshly scrubbed counter tops. Yes…ask my close friends and family. I have a thing for wiping the counters. I’m surprised that ours aren’t wearing thin. lol! One of my favorite things to decorate is the kitchen…but I try to keep it fairly simple. Do you ever take everything off of your counters and wipe it down and then start over? Fun…fun. I read of people on IG that do this with whole rooms. I might have to give that a try one of these days. Come to think of it…I did once. They had to re-stretch our carpet when it was new. Everything was moved onto the laminate. I am making myself excited to decorate and move things…just writing this post. Itchy…itchy…scratchy…scratchy.

I hope that you are inspired to move and shake a little. Change can be refreshing and fun. Plus…it’s free!

Love from the dirt road,

A Life of Fruit

05 Monday May 2014

Posted by Kelli in Farmhouse Style, heart and soul

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I am in awe today. I just started a little online workshop on the Fruits of the Spirit. I started it on Saturday and it is totally amazing…what God has already been doing in my life and the life of our little family. Even in the week before I started it…He was already prepping. Isn’t that just like Him? I love it that He goes before us.

I heard someone say recently, that in following Him…they felt like they left Him behind. Does that make sense to you? It makes perfect sense to me and I have actually lived my life that way too. We get so busy…taking care of everything that we think that we are doing for Him…that we don’t realize that we ran ahead…working and being busy…and He wanted us to pause, way back there on the path and enjoy some moments…with Him. I am so excited to serve the God that wants to spend time with us. He wants us to pause and ponder. Yes…there is much to do, while it is day…but God works in our hearts when we pause and listen to Him.

Last night, after we got home from church, I walked out back to check on the goats and the calf. It was almost dark and the moon was high in the sky, with one star right there beside it. I was very aware at that moment…of God’s divine hand in our lives. It was quiet…and it was just for a moment…but I felt like my heart was soaring up to His. It was a moment for me to pause on the path…with Him. I had already been to church and I had been setting aside time for Him that day…but in the secret place…with just the two of us…my soul was fed. My point is this: Living a fruitful life…is so well rounded. We serve the God of balance. He wants us to set aside a time of worship and fellowship with believers. Our pastor preached an AMAZING message…right from the heart of God, last night. It was so very real and right where we all live. It was a banquet of food for our souls…if we apply what was served. God also wants us to work and to love on folks and show them His way. Some of us are so very good at that. All of that has a beginning though. It is in the secret place with Him. It starts in your heart…and in your moments…alone…with Him. Fruit is born out of this time. Love for the God that sees us and hears us…is born out of the quiet moments. I have so much to learn…and we all fail from time to time…but He has my attention.

Loving God…and picking ticks,

(Yes…I had one…when I got back in. There is always opposition, but God is way bigger than the ticks.) 😉

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,

Cruddy Blog Posts and Fried Pies

30 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, Farmhouse Style

≈ 2 Comments

Okay…so with a title like that…let’s cut to the chase. I’m not sure why my pictures are having trouble uploading when I blog from my phone. I didn’t even realize that it had happened until I looked at the blog today. Rats! Well…I’m gonna try…one more time. Plus…I am gonna give you an amazing FRIED PIE recipe! I know. I love you too!

This crust is amazing. It doesn’t soak up the grease! My MIL is a genius. She not only grew the most amazing man on the planet in her womb…she found this recipe. Okay…okay…she can’t take ALL the credit for my husband, God did that part…but she DID find this amazing recipe. Good job…Moany! (Her first name is Ramona and I like to call her Moany. Um…actually I like to give everyone nicknames.)

(Isn’t the Rhonna Designs app fun? Moving right along…)

Back to the fried pies. I hope that you make them and love them. I also hope that my pictures upload. That would be a huge plus. If not…it’s back to hackin’ it out on the old Dell. 😉

Cray cray in the country,

Kelli

New Babies at the Farmhouse

29 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by Kelli in heart and soul, Simply...living

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Yesterday evening was full of five excited folks. We went and picked up three baby goats to add to our little farm. You should have heard the name suggestions flying in my husband’s truck. It was so fun. Such an adventure. We love stuff like that. We loaded up and headed way out in the country to buy our new babies.

Our kids used their own money and bought a goat together. This is their first farm purchase. They were so crazy-excited. They have been in the egg business for awhile…but Dad and I foot the bill for that.

Myrtle and Peanut…our first goats, were not impressed and were actually quite mean to the babies. It’s going to be a huge surprise to them…when the babies outgrow them…by about three times.

We now have babies at the Farmhouse…with the names of LulaBelle, Peaches and Apache. I thanked the Lord for the fun bonding experience that this was with our children. Farming is very hard work…but the lessons learned and the joy in it all…is priceless.

Farm living…is the life for me,

Kelli

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!

Rainy Day News

24 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by Kelli in Farmhouse Style

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Hey Dirt Roaders! It’s rainy in our neck of the woods today. A tad on the dreary side….but rain is good. I have been piddling. You know…moving things around a bit. 😉

This is such a busy time of year. Just a little bit of school to finish up. That is exciting. I love summer vacation. I always have.

I have been thinking on trying some new recipes lately. I feel like I have been in a kitchen rut. Does that ever happen to you? I think that it happens to us all. Of course once our garden comes on…there will be fresh veggies. That, my friends, is exciting. .

I hope that Thursday is making you happy. Everyone deserves a little happy.

Chuck’s momma,

Kelli
p.s. Join us on Instagram at Along the Dirt Road! It’s loads of fun!