28 Tuesday Jan 2014
Posted in Farmhouse Style
Guess what Dirt Roaders!? Today our home was featured by my new friend Chas…on her blog, A Woman’s Haven. I am so excited. Pop on over there and check it out. She will be glad to have you!
I hope that you have a wonderful Tuesday. Eat a taco for me!
27 Monday Jan 2014
Posted in Culinary Style, Farmhouse Style
Sometimes…I have a plan. Sometimes I do not. Tonight I have a plan. We are having turkey breast, I do know that much. It is patiently waiting to be thrown into the Crock Pot. I hope that my aim is steady today. What’s cookin’ around your neck of the woods today?
To my utter shame…I am not one that plans out meals in advance. Well, in a way I’m not. I actually grocery shop with specific meals in mind but I don’t plan them out the week before. That has stemmed from years of trying to grocery shop on a budget. It works for me, but I do always admire those that have a pretty list of their meals for the week. It looks so organized. I do make sure that I have staples and meat. You can make a meal in a pinch if you have that. I try to promote thankfulness around here when it comes to food. Yes…I am “that mom.” “There are people that don’t have anything to eat…we should be thankful.” Actually…I’m not too ashamed of that. 😉
Whatever is cooking at your home, I hope that when you get there tonight…that you get to sit down and enjoy it. Life is meant to be enjoyed one moment at a time. Father…please let us remember that.
Fixing to chuck a turkey…
24 Friday Jan 2014
Posted in Farmhouse Style
Hey Friends! You made it. It’s Friday! Aren’t you glad. Youbetcha! Today…we are going to have a little cow talk. You know…”Here a cow, there a cow”….yeah, you get it. We are talking cows because they are everywhere!
When I was a teenager, my dad and I had a kitchen with a cow motif. You know…back then it was the whole Holstein thing. Cows were the rage. We only got into it because he chose black and white flooring for the kitchen. What else were we supposed to put with it? Dalmatians? Come to think of it, those were trendy then too. Hmmmm…. Well, anyway, we aren’t talking that kind of cutesy pootsey cow decor today. We are talking the kind that Miss Mustard Seed has made all the rage. Yes…I too have succumbed to the cow trend once again.
Can I throw in a disclaimer? I grew up around my granddad’s farm. Matter of fact, that was my first home. My parent’s and I lived in a mobile home there, when I was born. When we moved, I still spent summers there and lots of time in between. One of my most fond memories of him, was when I was trying to catch a calf “to ride.” He was laughing because he knew that it wouldn’t happen. Something about eating off of that salt block in the barn…seeped into my bloodstream. Either that…or it’s just DNA. Anyway…hopefully someday in the near future we can add bovine to our menagerie around here. I think that they would be at home. We are already surrounded by the neighbor’s cattle and they could hang out with our chickens and goats. In the dream of cattle…I see nostalgia…the Mr. is seeing T-Bone. lol!
I hope that your weekend is a good one. I hope that you get to do something that makes you happy. Hold your dreams close, Dirt Roaders. Cherish them. They are a huge part of who you are. Share them with God and let Him bless them…in His time.
Love from our dirt road, to yours!
23 Thursday Jan 2014
Posted in Farmhouse Style
Farmhousey. Such a made up word.
It truly describes what I love.
Farmhouse style is cozy. See? Farmhousey.
(I am on meds for the crud. Ignore me.)
It’s funny. Even though I have tried different styles at different times, farmhouse style has always been the one that I truly loved. It just seems timeless and I love that, in this ever-changing world. I love it’s sturdiness and stability. I love it’s faded vintage sheets and hand stitched quilts and I love the smell of good things cooking in the Farmhouse kitchen.
Do you love “farmhousey” too? What is your favorite style? My inquiring mind wants to know.
Dreaming of line-dried clothes…
22 Wednesday Jan 2014
Posted in Farmhouse Style, sCoRiN' some JuNkItY JuNk
Did I show you the turtle that I picked up at a junk store? Hang on just a minute…while I go check. I will be right back. Okay…I’m back! I had to look through my last few posts, because I couldn’t remember if I had shared the happy little turtle with your or not. He’s so cute. I named him Speedy.
He is probably someone’s creation from the 1980’s. I cleaned him up and stuck a piece of Aloe Vera in him. There is something about the little smile on his face that really perks me up. God knew that I needed a little something on the day that I found Speedy. Isn’t it amazing, the way that He works in our everyday lives…when there is so much more out there besides little old us? I’m so thankful for a relationship with Him.
(I have just realized that I used the word “little” way to much. I am past caring though…because we have a cold/flu bug going out here and I feel like falling over.)
We will survive!
21 Tuesday Jan 2014
Posted in Farmhouse Style, fluffin' the nest
Do you remember last summer when I asked for a beadboard backsplash for our kitchen? I was going to be totally satisfied with that bit of white and leave the Russet Rose paint. Yeah…um…that didn’t last long. You see…the thing was, I was seeing all of these beautiful white kitchens and they were calling to me. “Kelli…Kelli…paint your kitchen.” Okay, maybe not so much, but close. We have always had white cabinets in this home. I love those. When we built this house, Rachael Ray was selling tons of orange and everything was bright. Well guys, now even Rach has a white studio kitchen.
Lest you think that I am totally shallow with no mind of my own, let me throw this in. I have always loved white. Matter of fact, there has always been lots of white in our farmhouse. My main reason for painting our kitchen was the fact that I felt like white just went with the style of the home. We live in a house that, I believe, the plan was Early American Farmhouse or something like that. The Russet Rose just felt too Brady Bunch to me with the “farmhousey” thing going on. I wanted more of a Walton’s vibe. You catch my drift? Or as my husband and his cousin would say…”Do you smell what I’m stepping in?” Yes. I know.
When my husband put up the beadboard I was in love. (Yes…I was already in love with the Mr.) Then when we painted, I was over the moon. (It doesn’t take much.) It’s not for everyone and some of you will cry because I covered up that beautiful, rich, color. It’s just that the beautiful English farmhouses…well…blame them. It’s their simplicity that speaks to my soul.
Hoping that your day is sweet and kind,
19 Sunday Jan 2014
Posted in Uncategorized
I needed to hear this again. Maybe you did too. xoxo ~k.
Sometimes in life, after a long, cold winter a tiny bit of hope is born. It looks so fragile. It looks so tender and tiny. It’s really not. Hope has an amazing will to live. The Creator of all has placed something very determined….in hope.
If you are barely hanging on…I want to encourage you. The tiniest flicker of hope can kindle a huge flame. If you can scratch up… just a bit…down inside your heart, it will grow and grow.
Hope is a gift. Do you feel it….when you hold a newborn or when you see your flowers poking their sweet little heads up out of the cold earth? Or how about when you get an amazing DIY idea to snazz up your home a tad? Do you feel it then also? I thought so.
Sometimes in Blogland…it seems like everyone is doing just fine. Hopefully…(There’s that word again.) it’s…
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13 Monday Jan 2014
Posted in everyday stuff, heart and soul
It’s Monday again…by the grace of God. I hope that your weekend was good. I’m just dropping in today. I think that I may spend some time with my mom today. You know…actually live this life that I blog about. So today…I’m gonna share a few shots from Instagram and then later this week….the big kitchen reveal! Stay tuned!
Okay so…that pillow above? Dollar General. Yes. Go. Now. 😉
Tried the new gray and brown trend for church on Sunday. Loved it!
Made homemade ranch fries. Pretty delish. Figure friendly…they are not.
Needed a little blogging nook. I just used what I had on hand. I think that I’m going to like it.
Last but certainly not least, my husband brought the most adorable prizey home last week. Now…how fun is that? I know.
I hope that your weekend was amazing. Let’s believe together that God is going to fill us with exactly what we need this week.
I’m praying for you…and you…and you…..
Kelli
10 Friday Jan 2014
Posted in Farmhouse Style, Simply...living
Hello sweet friends! Are we excited that it’s Friday? Of course we are. We are smart enough to put in a good week and then relax and enjoy the fruits of our labor…right?! Right! I love it when you agree with me. Today we are going to talk a little bit about the agenda for Along the Dirt Road in 2014. I don’t have a huge plan but I do want to do a thing or two differently. I think that you will be okay with that.
For starters…I think that I am going to lay off of mmmMonday! for a bit. I may throw one in there every once in a while but I want to have the freedom to share junk on Monday if the mood hits me. Or maybe we want to talk about home decor or DIY on Monday. Okay then, we will. Don’t fret, my foodie friends. I will still share recipes because I’m am a born foodie. I just want to be a little more random with it. Let’s get crazy. 😉
I also plan to work on my photography skills a bit more this year, for my benefit and yours. I have so much to learn but I really enjoy it and I know what I want to see in a shot. I think that is what spurs me on. Whether folks realize it or not, photography is work. I am such an amateur but by the grace of God, I plan to improve. Pray saints, pray.
I would love to hear all about what you would like to see on this blog this year. I am open to your ideas and thoughts. Matter of fact…I am totally thrilled with your comments. Please don’t be shy. It spurs me on when I actually hear from my readers.
I hope that you have a wonderful weekend, Dirt Roaders. I hope that you get to pause and reflect on the grace that gets us though our days. It’s such a gift. God is rooting for us in 2014. Don’t forget it.
Heading to the kitchen to make soup,
08 Wednesday Jan 2014
Posted in Farmhouse Style
Hey Friends! I’m blogging from my phone today because I have several things going and I need to hurry. I wanted to make sure that I got a quick “hello” in though.
I made a new slipcover for a throw pillow today, out of my ticking supply. I’m very pleased with it. Sewing is theraputic for me. Theraputic is good. It was super easy…plus a good way to change up things without any cost. Super cute and thrifty. Win/win!
This is our weather along the dirt road. Will our kids EVER go back to school? I am missing our regular routine a bit and I am a little concerned about their education…but we do learning at home. They read and cook and do chores. Plus when using the microwave this morning, our son and I were adding up the seconds that went into the minutes that would heat his taquitos. Ha! Next…we need a nutrition class. 😉 I did set the flax seed out where it’s handy to add to things…if that counts.
When we put the Christmas away I couldn’t resist leaving out a jar of lights. A little twinkle goes a long way. A little Tonka camper helps bring cheer too.
Another peek at my pretty slip cover. You are welcome. Aren’t I thoughtful?!
I’m enjoying our country life today. I have several little irons in the fire. That is a good thing for me. Guess what else? We painted the kitchen yesterday! I will show you soon…I promise. I couldn’t wait any longer.
On another note…I moved our globe to the family room. Globes are so trendy right now. Isn’t that fun!? I agree.
Keep warm!
Kelli
By Rana Renee Dimmick
Along the Dirt Road 