Busy, Busy, and Busy

11 Monday May 2015

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

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Isn’t May a crazy time of year? Not quite as packed as Christmas…but it plays a close second. We are definitely busy, busy, and busy right now.

In just a bit I am going to go fire up the oven and bake a cherry pie, to share with our church folks. I just thought that I would pop in and get your thoughts on busyness. How do you handle it? Do you have a secret weapon?

I used to let busyness totally throw me for a loop. Ask the Mr. It was bad. It’s funny…I was so much harder on myself when I had three babies under six. I guess wisdom comes with age. Now I try to take things in stride and prioritize. I have also realized that I don’t have to volunteer for every single thing. There are plenty of others that will pitch in. Maybe it all comes back to that grace that we talked about the other day. I have realized that it starts with me. I have to give myself some grace. We are learning this together as a family. We have all heard that “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Well…we have lots of work to do…but a healthy balance makes it all good.

Now…when things are crazy-busy, I do fear forgetting things. I have to write things down and put things in my phone. (Do you have the Cozi app? It’s awesome!) (No laughing Mr.) Today, is a crazy-busy day from start to finish…so we shall see how all of this goes. 😉

Above, I asked if you had a secret weapon. I do. Well…actually it’s no secret. It’s something that I would like for the whole world to know. It’s my quiet time with the Lord. It grounds me and strengthens me…like no other. I long for that time with Him. In a busy, crazy, and sometimes scary world, sitting down in the presence of Jesus makes all of the difference. That may be offensive to some and they may even click “unfollow” but it is the very essence of who I am. I hope that you are not offended by Him. He loves you, sweet Dirt Roader. He loves you dearly.

I hope that Monday treats you kind. (Do I hear Dolly Parton?) Oh wait…that was “life” not “Monday.” Go ahead…roll your eyes. 😉 Seriously…I hope that your week is amazing. I hope that if you are busy up to your earlobes….that you remember to pause and take care of yourself…body, soul, and spirit.

Love from the Farmhouse,

Entryway Spiff

10 Friday Apr 2015

Posted by Kelli in Farmhouse Style, fluffin' the nest

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farmhouse style, Friday

Hi guys! This week I have been taking down our Easter things that I had put out. It was just a few bunnies and some daffodils, but I got started and then changed up the entryway a bit. I just spiffed it a bit and gave it more of a clean look. I am really enjoying that. I do have to say that I cheated a bit and looked up Fixer Upper on Pinterest. Beautiful ideas for those of us that are crazy about Farmhouse Style.

I am still working on the other side. I piddle with things until they have the perfect feel and then I leave them for a long while. That is just the way that I roll. I am also thinking…very seriously about painting the dining room and entryway. I am wanting to brighten it up a bit. If you are reading this Honey…don’t freak out. lol! Painting is not his favorite.

I hope that you guys have a wonderful weekend. I hope that you get to relax and count all of those blessing that God gives. He loves us, Dirt Roaders! Enjoy that!

Heads Up…New Header

08 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, Farmhouse Style, sCoRiN' some JuNkItY JuNk

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ball jars, farmhouse style, home decor

As you guys know, I tend to change up the blog a bit now and then. I did a mini photo shoot and came up with a new shot for the header. I just didn’t want you to think that you were at the wrong place. Just kidding. You guys are smart. So…let’s talk about the junk that is featured in the header.

First of all, I adore the badge for Along the Dirt Road. Our cousin created that when I first started blogging and it is exactly me. I love a simple and clean cut design. He pegged it…totally. Okay…so as far as the junk goes…I just added a few of my favorite things. I love the old locker baskets. I have had a thing for baskets for many years. (Can anyone say Longaberger? 😉 I love the metal ones…a lot. Then we have a turquoise Ball jar. Those have had my heart for many years too. Then we have the vintage print. I just love those. There is something very dreamy about the prints from this era. This one sort of reminds me of an old western….like The Big Valley…or something. The last vintage piece in the header, is the little dog that I ordered on Ebay. When he came in the mail, his little leg was broken. The Mr. fixed him up right away. I just think that he is adorable. (The dog and The Mr.)

I have a couple of things up there that are not vintage, but I love them as well. The first is the faux succulent that The Mr. gifted me for Valentine’s day. The second is the baker’s twine from Pick Your Plum. Their baker’s twine is the absolute best of any that I have seen. (No…this is not a paid post.) It is very durable, plus the rolls are huge. If you don’t know much about Pick Your Plum…look them up. They have daily deals that are sent to your email. They have a HUGE selection of all different kinds of things. Sometimes you have to be quick though. I tried to order a maxi skirt one day and it was already sold out in like 14 minutes! What!!!!????

Love from the Farmhouse,

The Elusive Fiddle Leaf Fig

01 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, Farmhouse Style, fluffin' the nest

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farmhouse style, fiddle leaf fig, home decor, houseplant

I have searched high and low for The Elusive Fiddle Leaf Fig. I have looked in several different towns, in several different home improvement stores. My family would wait patiently in the vehicle, while I would pop in…go straight to the garden center and then walk out…empty handed. No Fiddle Leaf Fig to be found.

Let me back up a minute. I do not always follow trend. There are some things out there that everyone is crazy about that I am not. I am not going to name them…lest you second guess your own opinion. We humans tend to do that. (At least this one does.) There are just some trendy trains that I do not jump on. Yes, I do own a trendy purse or two or three…but I also own a leather bag that I picked on my own accord…because it was just me. I know what I like and sometimes…certain trends and colors are just not something that excites me. Now when it comes to the Fiddle Leaf Fig…I must confess a bit of mob mentality. Forgive me. I just think that they look very classy for a houseplant. Can a houseplant look classy? I believe so.

So back to my search. There I was…houseplant poor (In the Ozarks that means that you have a bunch of houseplants already.) and in search of yet another, but it was always just out of reach.

Enter my green thumb friend Brenda:

My friend Brenda, caught wind that I wanted a Fiddle Leaf Fig. She has major connections with Home Depot. (Okay…she gets email from them.) Anyway…she got an email that said that they were back in stock, they weren’t very expensive, and that they would ship!!! (We got no Home Depot here…ya see.) Have I mentioned that Brenda is a bit trendy too? 😉 Annnnnnyyyyyway…..I jumped right on their website and ordered one. Brenda did too. It was so fun! They came on the same day and she has been coaching me along….helping my Fiddle Leaf Fig adjust to it’s life in the Ozarks…instead of the rain forest. Yeah…big difference.

So that is the story of the Elusive Fiddle Leaf Fig.

Probably more than you wanted to know.

You people are kind to read this stuff.

Love from the Farmhouse,

Faithful Readers

24 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, Simply...living

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farmhouse style

Hey friends. I am back! You all are the best. I have actually had half way decent stats while I have been gone. Either you all have checked in, just to see, or people were actually stopping by and reading. How sweet. You, faithful readers, are amazing.

Sooooo….it’s crazy. Our family has been puny for weeks. One little bug after the other and then it hits the momma. We are hopefully on the upswing. Upswing is always good.

In the middle of that we had snow days! A whole week off. We loved it. I am one of those crazy moms that enjoy every little drop of school breaks. It was wonderful and cozy and a good time to be under the weather…because we could just relax. Now it’s time to get in full swing. Deep breaths. lol!

I hope that you guys have a wonderful Tuesday!

Winter Weather News

29 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by Kelli in Country Life, everyday stuff, Farmhouse Style

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farmhouse, farmhouse style, winter

Hey guys! How is the weather out there? We, here in Missouri, are never sure about that one. There may be some snow in our winter forecast…but no one is really sure. I need to go to the grocery store…but it will be crazy. If you tell folks in our area that we are going to get one snow flurry…they rush out to buy bottled water. We tend to be a bit dramatic in this neck of the woods.

I have two weather forecasters in my life. One is the Mr. the other one is his mother. They funny thing is…their forecasts never match. She told me that we would get a wintery-mix, he said only rain. I guess that it remains to be seen. That still doesn’t change the fact that I need to rush out, with the masses, and buy fresh fruit and veggies. (Maybe some bottled water too.)

Lest you think that we are all totally crazy, as most small town folk tend to be, let me explain. Where we live…it is hilly. I’m not talking one or two. I’m talking…basically hills everywhere. When it gets icy…it’s pretty much a go…that your are not going anywhere. We live with this…happily. The older I get, the less that being snowed in is a problem. Plus…we have been off in the ditch on the dirt road before and the tow truck was at the top of the….hill…on the black top…and would not come and pull us out, for fear of getting stuck. Um….okay. (Thanks Dad…for trying…by calling us in a favor.) Thankfully…the sweet Lord above…helped us out of that one. So…that explains a little of our small town crazy winter behavior.

I love cozy days at home. It’s pretty blustery out today. I have two good books to read, a rag quilt to get started on, and of course my SAHM jobs. There is actually a load of towels waiting to be lifted to their warm and cozy dryer right now. I had better hop to it.

This Winter Weather News has been brought to you…

by the Farmhouse,

It’s Monday

26 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, Farmhouse Style

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farmhouse style, Monday

Hey Guys! How are you? We are doing pretty good. We have had a bit of some sort of stomach bug over the weekend…but I am pretty hopeful that we are on the upswing. Fingers crossed and prayers said. How is your Monday going so far? I have had my coffee…so it’s getting better.

Are you one of those folks that love Monday? My husband does. I love that about him. It inspires those of us, in our home, that are less enthusiastic about the beginning of the week. You want to know a secret though? After 19 years, I am becoming more like him. I know! It’s crazy. Self-professed Thursday lover…enjoying Monday? You want to hear another secret? He likes the end of the week too! I know that this sounds crazy…but it’s the marriage of an overachiever and a creative type. I love it that we tend to balance each other out and see things from the other person’s point of view. It creates a nice balance. He inspires my work ethic, I inspire him to slow down and enjoy.

Are you banging your head against the computer? Are you thinking…”Why am I reading this?” It will be okay, sweet Dirt Roader. Pour yourself another cup of coffee and jump in. After all…Thursday is right around the corner. 😉

Love from the Farmhouse,

Winter Warmth Farmhouse Style

20 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, fluffin' the nest, heart and soul

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candles, farmhouse style, tray, warmth, wood

Are you looking for warmth lately? Our weather has actually been very nice for January. I have heard that will end soon. We shall see. We don’t get to control the weather do we? Anyway…I just wanted to share a little warmth with you today, farmhouse style.

I happened upon a beautiful wooden tray at Kirkland’s last weekend. It just said “farmhousey” to me. It was over on the clearance side…which was a huge plus to me. The Mr. gave his okay…and that always makes me feel good about a purchase. The Mr. and I are a team, in every way, so I like for us to be on the same page, especially with purchases. Lands sakes….how did I get off on a Dave Ramseyish rabbit trail? Any….way……..I loved the wooden tray.

Yesterday was a hard day. Several things came up and I decided while I was in the grocery store…to buy myself some flowers. I thought that a bit of cheer at the Farmhouse was definitely in order. I love yellow all year, but especially in the middle of winter. Sometimes you just have to make your own sunshine and create your own warmth.

I also picked up a couple of new candles at TJ Maxx last weekend. If you don’t already know this….that is an amazing place to find candles. I wound up with two of these Paddywax candles for the price that you would normally just pay for one. They are soy….which I adore…and they smell amazing. As you already know, candles are a great way to add warmth to your home. I love the ambiance that they bring.

The light was so good in the dining room this morning. ( I am such a newbie in the photography department…but it’s on my list for this year.) I tried to not doctor these up too much…so that you could feel what I felt. The warmth was incredible.

I hope that wherever you are today, sweet Dirt Roaders, that you feel warmth. Warmth…especially in the times of winter, is a very good thing.

Love from the dirt road,

Three Cheers for Friday!

16 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff, heart and soul

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encouragement, farmhouse style, Friday, grief

It has been established on this blog…that Thursday is my favorite day of the week. It’s true. I’m not sure why. I’m just a little quirky that way. That being said, Friday is a good one too. Today is a day off for the kids and I’m on my second cup of coffee. Actually I have moved on from hot coffee to iced coffee. I’m fixing to clean this farmhouse. 😉

So….three cheers for Friday? I think so. We have some gift cards that we have been saving back…so we may just have take-out tonight. Isn’t that fun!? Thought so. The sun is shining on this Friday…so that is definitely another plus. As you can tell…I’m pretty focused on the simple basics in life. Shelter, food, sunshine.

Lest you think that I’m being a bit too Pollyanna today…this week has had some rough spots. Actually there are several things that we are enduring and do endure on a daily basis. In all of that though…God is there. He is our strength. That was something that I shared on fb this week. Life can be really hard, but God is still there. I learned through the loss of my dad, that focusing on what remains is very important in this life. Being thankful for the simple stuff is crucial. Enjoying the sun on your face or an egg, freshly gathered from the coop…bliss. The hugs of children. Their voices in the other room as I type…they boost my heart. It doesn’t even have to be your own children. Hold someone’s baby. Celebrate the joy of life with others. This kind of outlook doesn’t come without pain and sorrow. It comes after you have endured. I described grief to someone like this recently: “When you start to come out of it, it’s sort of like when a pasture has been burned off. You almost have to squint because of the newness and the brightness of life.” I don’t tell you this to scare you or to bring you down. I just want to encourage someone out there to quiet themselves for just a bit and look into His eyes. You will be overwhelmed with the love that you see.

I will not leave us with furrowed brows and pensive thoughts. It’s Friday and we are stoked! God is good and the sun is out! I have kind of been in crafty mode of late. Yesterday with some hand lettering, and I have also been thinkin’ on a new rag quilt. Maybe one sewn in strips, with sort of a shabby chic farmhousey feel. (Spell check hates all of my made up words.) Who knows? Maybe after I get this house pulled together….I will start a new project. All I know is…that God loves us. He wants us to enjoy the gifts that He gives in this life. I am excited about that.

Three Cheers for Friday!!!

Morning at the Farmhouse

14 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by Kelli in Country Life, everyday stuff, heart and soul

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farmhouse, farmhouse style, home decor, mercy and grace, mornings

Aren’t we glad that His mercies are new every morning.

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

A fresh start each day. Maybe yesterday wasn’t so hot for you. Maybe you went to bed last night thinking…”Tomorrow I will start afresh.” Guess what? You were right. With the dawn of the morning, there are new mercies available. Maybe yesterday was great for you and you just want to continue with that. Whatever the case, I am always thankful for morning at the Farmhouse. I love fresh starts…and giant cups of coffee.

When I was editing the pictures for this post…I decided to not edit out the morning color. We are guilty in Blogland of trying to get the perfect shot. No shadows and a perfect white balance. I love pictures like that myself…but they are not always telling the whole story. Our kitchen this morning was a mixture of shadow and light. It was full of golden pink. I don’t ever want to edit out the creativity of the Master. It was beautiful. I wanted my Dirt Roaders to be able to feel that.

My very favorite thing in this post is the little tongue depressor snow man. Our little guy brought that home from school. I propped it up in the window sill. I heard him telling his dad and showing him where I set it. He was so proud. Oh my heart. There is a bit of irony with the snow man. I have an old apothecary jar for tongue depressors. One day I felt the Lord nudge my heart on that very subject. You know…keeping the ol’ tongue under control and keeping my mouth shut. Maybe the little snowman has more significance than I realized. I love it when God teaches us…with the simple things of this life.

Country life in the morning is a beautiful thing. Everyone wants their breakfast. Our over-enthusiastic rooster, Nacho, is crowing his lungs out. Our steer, Chuck, is very vocal about his need for grain or hay. If you barely open the back door, the goats are greeting you with their song. Children are scurrying around, grabbing backpacks and breakfast. It’s pretty typical. Yesterday, my Mr. was running a little late…so I did the chores. When I came back in, my ears were about frozen. I should have dug out my dad’s old hat with the fuzzy ear flaps. 😉 I did “borrow” my husband’s Muck boots. They were big…but so warm! If you do chores and don’t have any….save your extra dollars. They are worth it! I may have to start saving up for a pair of my own!

I hope that you have a lovely day. If it started out on the wrong foot or wrong side of the bed…just remember: This day is full of mercy and grace. There are mornings everywhere, everyday.

Love from our dirt road to yours,

p.s. A huge thank you to my Mr. and B. You guys are amazing tech support. The new computer is up and running with all of the proper things installed. I appreciate it very much!