Happy January 6th

06 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, Farmhouse Style

Well hello there! There you are and here I am. It’s been a while for us hasn’t it? I hope that you had a wonderful holiday season with your family. We tried our very best even though it was very hard. God is always faithful though and He is constantly opening the path before us. I am so thankful for that.

Sometimes winter is long for me. (Most of the time.) I love summer. So…I have learned that little splashes of yellow help my mood…when skies are gray. I think that going down to the storage area and finding these lemons…is on the agenda.

Usually by this time in the new year I am already organizing and arranging things differently. I have done a bit of that…but not a whole lot. I did move the foyer around and that was fun. I will share that with you soon.

The big news on the January 6th…is the fact that I am taking the plunge with the kitchen. My Russet Rose is going to be gone. I know. Some of you love it. I’m just tired of it. I’m ready for something new and my family isn’t crying too hard. I really tried with the beadboard. I just need something fresh. So…hopefully tonight…I will start to get my white kitchen. I’m so excited. Besides…even Rachael Ray has a white studio kitchen now. (I used this in my plea to my husband.) It was fun while it lasted…but I’m ready. I will keep you updated.

What kind of plans do you have for 2014? Are you going to do something wild and crazy? Maybe a subtle change is on your list. I plan on doing a few things at the Farmhouse. I plan on cleaning things out this month and giving us more space to breathe. Whatever we decide to do this year, Dirt Roaders…let’s do it for God. He is on our side…rooting us on.

Love from our dirt road to yours…

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

23 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by Kelli in heart and soul

≈ 2 Comments

My wish for you, this Christmas, is simple.

I hope that the joy of the Christ child burrows so deep in your heart, that you are never the same.

I want that for our family also.

I want us to carry the warmth of that joy, to everyone that we come in contact with.

All year. Every year.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, sweet Dirt Roaders!

p.s. I’m going to be spending time with my family, and you will be spending time with yours. Let’s meet up again at the first of the new year. See you then!

A Little Junk Break

19 Thursday Dec 2013

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, Farmhouse Style

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Sometimes…when life is crazy, you have to stop and take a little break. For a gal like me, who is trying to cope with loss and the holiday season all in one, that means a little junk break. Yesterday, it was the MIL and I. We stopped in at our favorite little place.

Junkin’ is a hobby that I have never tired of. I have been junkin’ since I was a little girl. My momma has always loved yard sales. It seemed like a mini vacation…right in your home town. I’m sure that I was a little brat and acted like that I didn’t enjoy it…but I did.

We have this amazing little store in our town. It just opened not long ago. The couple that run it are so kind. He puts up with my wheeling and dealing…and I keep going back. This is the place where I found the Tonka truck that is in some of the Christmas shots this month. It’s also the place where these scales were purchased. Another big plus…she reads this blog. How sweet is that?

Are you a junker? Do you have places like this that you consider a “honey hole?” You know…a favorite place to take a little junk break in the middle of all of the crazy. A place that you generally score something really fun to take home. I would love to hear all about it. After all, junkin’ is an affectionate term for this hobby. If we really thought of it as junk, we wouldn’t bring it home. 😉

Have a blessed day, Dirt Roaders!

So Much Better to Give

18 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by Kelli in heart and soul

≈ 2 Comments

This morning, as everyone was rushing around, our little son and I were digging in the pantry. You see, his class isn’t doing a gift exchange this year. They are donating food to a shelter in our town that helps people that don’t have anything to eat.

It was a very humbling thing to me, to take food that we have and place it in the bag, knowing that someone, somewhere, would get a meal…made with our groceries.

I could tell that it was touching our son’s heart too. I love that. I love it that his sweet teacher decided upon this…in a world that always wants more. She is teaching these children a huge lesson, about taking care of others.

He looked so cute with his little grocery bag full of canned food and a brownie mix. I think that it puffed out his little chest a bit. I think that he felt like he was doing his part to help take care of someone. To me, it looked like he was carrying a part of the ministry that Jesus came to teach us about.

In my quiet time, after everyone was out the door, I came across this verse: Matthew 10:42 “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” It really is so much better to give, isn’t it?

I hope that you have a wonderful day, sweet Dirt Roaders. May we all recognize the blessing of giving. After all…there are those that do not have that privilege…because they have nothing to give.

Lord, please help us all,

A Gift of Ticking

16 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by Kelli in Farmhouse Style

≈ 4 Comments

I know. It’s Monday. We usually have mmmMonday! on Monday. I’m just not feeling it today. I promise…I will get back on track…eventually. Today we are going to talk ticking. I was blessed a while back with a gift of yards and yards of it. How exciting is that for a gal that loves farmhouse style? Right! Very exciting.

I have plans for this lovely material, after Christmas. Right now…it is being used for tree skirts. They look so lovely and farmhousey. But…brighter days are ahead. This ticking is going to shine on after the holiday season.

Did you happen to get the holiday catalog from Pottery Barn? Did you see the hand towels made from ticking…with the little ruffles? So. Very. Lovely. I love the word lovely…can you tell?

I’m going to leave the ticking as a hanger for this boxwood (faux) wreath after Christmas. You all know that I have a “thang” for blue. Stripes rate pretty close up to the top of my list too…so it’s a win/win.

This is pretty simple, Dirt Roaders. I know that you are all crazy-busy, so a little “light and fluffy” won’t hurt us. It just might help.

Hanging out in the country, with my lovely ticking,

A Little Room to Breathe

13 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by Kelli in heart and soul

≈ 5 Comments

Hey Dirt Roaders! How is life along your stretch of the way today? It’s sleeting here. I’m getting ready to put on some Chicken Rice Soup for supper and we are going to have a cozy night. I just thought that I would give you a few things to look at that might help you with a little room to breath this holiday season. A few minutes to pause and regroup.

I try really hard to not get into a frenzy at Christmas. It has never worked…until this year. Due to the events in our family…I haven’t even started Christmas shopping. I feel no stress in that, oddly enough. My step-mom and I have been saying this lately: It is…what it is.

I always look forward to January. I love the meaning of Christmas…and I love the lights. I love to give and receive gifts…but once the last bit of wrapping is thrown away…I feel like I can breathe again. Crazy? Maybe.

Really, all in all, pausing to give honor to the Christ child is such a simple, yet profound thing. God with us. What a wonderful gift of love. I feel it especially strong this year. God has made Himself so very real, that other things have faded into the background. I am in wonder of this peace.

I hope that you all are enjoying your homes and your families. I hope that you are decorating Christmas cookies and wrapping presents. I hope that you are bell ringing and preparing for Christmas plays and programs and all of that good stuff. Most of all though, I hope that you are warmed in your heart over the humble and extraordinary gift that God gave us. I hope that you find moments to breathe and to let His peace fill your soul.

Staying close to home,

Farmhouse Christmas Mantle

11 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by Kelli in Farmhouse Style

≈ 2 Comments

I’m a tad late to the party. I hope that you don’t mind. I know that Christmas is very close…and we will all be into our January organizing. (I love that.) I did want to share an up close and personal look at the Farmhouse Christmas mantle though. I love the way that it turned out this year. Pretty basic and simple, not a lot of fuss. Just my style.

All of Instagram went batty over the JOY marquee lights at Target. I was right in the middle of them. There are several that have mentioned leaving them up all year. I think that everyone could use a wonderful dose of JOY all year long.

Are you a little crazy about bottle brush trees? I am. They just seem like Christmas from years ago. I love them in these little peat pots. So cheery and sweet.

My Christmas shopping has been a little delayed this year. Hopefully I will get that taken care of soon. I am starting to get really excited about the prospect of giving. Gifts are big on my love language scale. I love to give them. I’m having a hard time though with the Mr. I have given him ideas…but he has supplied me with none. (Yes…I’m talking to you.) 😉

I hope that the days are sunny in your neck of the woods. At this very moment, I can hear our kids out sledding and screaming. They have been out of school for several days and I feel like it has been a huge blessing. There is something very comforting about having your family wrapped around your heart.

May your day…be merry and bright!

A Simple Farmhouse Christmas

09 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by Kelli in Farmhouse Style, heart and soul

≈ 7 Comments

This year at the Farmhouse, we are especially thankful for tidings of comfort and joy.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to push on through with Christmas decor, but I wanted to do it for my family. I think that was the thing that helped me the most…knowing that it meant so much to our children.

The little wooden sled that I have on my porch was used by my dad when he was a boy. This year, it is extra special. That’s the way those things work, isn’t it?

I have told people that the passing of my dad has changed me in an odd, yet good, way. I have now fully realized what is important in this life. It is really very basic: Loving God with your whole heart.

This year I left tons of Christmas decor in the storage room. I pulled out the things that meant the most to our little family. There is a wonderful simplicity in that. I may hang on to that for years to come. It’s really my style anyway.

Sometimes at Christmas I feel the pressure to decorate everything in sight. That really just isn’t me. I start wanting to throw things out on the lawn when it gets too fussy in here. I clearly have a problem. 😉

We cut down a cedar from our field last week. Some years we buy one, but this year it just seemed like the thing to do. Staying close to home helps your weary heart, I do believe. When my dad was a boy, they would go cut one down on their own property. Yes, this year, it was just the thing to do.

I promise to not always be sad, dear Dirt Roaders. I am trying to ease back into blogging with a bruised and battered heart. Your prayers actually mean more to me than your views or comments. (Even though I dearly love those.) Bear with me, I know that with God…healing comes in time.

Now…what am I gonna cook for supper?

Live…Ready to Fly

02 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by Kelli in heart and soul

≈ 8 Comments

Deep breath. I come to you today Dirt Roaders, broken-hearted, yet full of hope.

My sweet step-mom, our daughter and my precious daddy.

My sweet daddy passed from this life over the Thanksgiving break.

I do want you to know this though: God is real. God loves us. God is merciful. God sees us. God is in control and we can trust God.

I also want you to know this: My daddy was living a wonderful “nose to the grind for God” kind of life. I know that he just slipped away and right into the arms of Jesus. That is exactly what he did…just slipped away in his sleep. How merciful is that? My dad got the best route out of this ol’ world.

The last thing that I want to say is this: Live…Ready to fly. My daddy was fifty six. That is young. Think about it. Living ready to fly…is the only option. I don’t say that to sound morbid…because living a life…ready to fly…is a joyful life. Try it…you will love it.

Jesus Christ loves you, Dirt Roaders. He wants you to love Him back. I promise you…that when you do…He will make all of the difference in your life.

I’m going to take another week off…because I have to try to pull myself up by the bootstraps and make a little Christmas happen in our house for our kids. Please pray for me, Dirt Roaders. I desire your prayers so much.

A daddy’s girl, applying what she learned,

Happy Thanksgiving from the Farmhouse

25 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by Kelli in heart and soul

≈ 4 Comments

I just wanted to pop in for a minute to tell you Happy Thanksgiving! We are on break at the Farmhouse and I will not be blogging this week. I think that it’s very important to take a break from the things that keep us busy, to be thankful for the very real things in life. This week I will be snuggling my babies and being thankful beside the love of my life…while we give thanks to the God that we serve. I will be back in full swing next week though. We shall see what kind of Christmas madness we can get into. Until then!

May your Thanksgiving be filled to the brim with the love of Christ and the blessings of the Father…who gives amazing gifts to His Children!

From the Farmhouse,