Hey Friends!!! I come to you with lots of well wishes for a wonderful holiday! Ours will be a bit different this year…like everything else…but we will still celebrate the Savior of the world.
So this is Christmas…
You know…this year we hung a few wreaths on the fence posts and gate…and decorated a little cedar at the bottom of the hill. It was as much for all the neighbors as for us. It was so fun!
If you look closely you can see the farmhouse through there.
This year has been full of simple things. Basic things. Things of necessity. I’m okay with that. I think that it makes us take a look at what is really important.
The Mister and I celebrated twenty five years this year! We had a Christmas wedding so we always get to take a minute apart this time of year. It was a beautiful night at a trout ranch. The food was so good and the company was even better. Silver Anniversary during a pandemic? Party of two, please.
I hope that all of your celebrations whether big or small turn out peaceful and happy this year. We have had joy and sadness…but we are going to try our best come Christmas morning to celebrate Jesus.
So this is Christmas.
Love from the Farmhouse,
Kelli
p.s Our daughter and I snuck away for a junking break yesterday. Here’s a sneak peek of what we found:
How are you guys!? We are trying to roll with things…you know. (Insert emoji with eyes bugged out.) It’s been a minute since I have been here so I thought that I would stop by. We aren’t talking Soaps today…lol…just showing you a little of what is going on at the Farmhouse…as the world turns.
So quite awhile back I got the urge to paint our hutch. We have had this piece since around 2001ish maybe. I have always loved the white…and still do, but I have been loving all of the black farmhouse things for awhile now. Plus we have lots of white in our home so I went for it. I love Tricorn by Sherwin Williams, so that is what I used . It’s a true black with a finish that seems very early American to me.
She’s not done. Needs another coat…but so far I am pleased. I left the inside white, since that helps with it not absorbing decor. I’m excited to finish it today.
I’ve also been doing a tiny bit of junking lately. I ran across that rustic shelf at the thrift and I knew that as much as I love the cozy things…it needed to come on home with me. (It probably sounds like I’m avoiding the elephant in the room…also known as Corona. I am. Not because we aren’t aware, our son is quarantined due to being exposed, now, but I figure you guys hear enough about that part of the world turning. We need a break from it now and then.) Junking is a beautiful distraction.
So another fun thing happened this week! A friend of mine found this beautiful Philodendron for me! I loooove it. This particular species is…get this…Hope. Everyone needs a little hope in their lives. She found this one at Home Depot. She’s a pretty good old gal…that Brenda G.
One more sweet thing from our little farm and I will sign off for today. You. Guys. Tomato jam! Whyyyyy didn’t someone tell me? I have been canning for years and never knew. It’s so, so, good. You lay down your cracker…add a smidge of cream cheese, and then a little dollop of tomato jam. Soooooo good! Let me know if you need the link…or I can do a blog post and tell you how I made ours.
(This is a side note. Those of you that order dishrags for the holidays…shop is open. Those popcorn rectangles from the ADR Farmhouse Dishrags collection are my favorite!)
Okay…so I hope that as your world turns on this Friday and holiday weekend…things are good. I’m going to leave you with a little something that I found today:
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee;” Jeremiah 1:5
It’s not everywhere in this life that we find comfort and assurance like that. God is in control even if people don’t want to admit it. But to know that there was a time when it was only God and us…and no one else knew about us…that is heartwarming and fills me with awe. It’s a beautiful and loving thing to be alone with God.
Hello there, Dirt Roaders! It’s been a minute. I’m just stopping in to see how everyone is faring during this time. I hope and pray that you are hanging in there.
I feel like that we have been using this time to be more intentional. We have had a schedule for most days. All of the kids have homework so we have tried to stay focused with that. More than the homework though I feel like we have grown as a family. We have utilized our home and farming skills more.
Each day at three we have what we call Driver’s Ed. We go for dirt road rides and explore. Most of the roads are well known to us after years of teaching our kids to drive. After the spring rains though we have discovered so many beautiful creeks. It’s balm to weary souls during quarantine. We also have lots of Ag class here. There are always farm chores to do and now mowing. We have Home Economics which consists of house cleaning and cooking. The kids tell me that having a set schedule helps the days to pass better. I’m thankful to be able to help them through this. I feel like God has given us tools to cope and peace through it all.
Are you guys eating take out much? We have tried to limit that. I get an ALDI delivery about every two weeks. We leave them on the porch and wipe them all down with Thieves cleaner before bringing them in. It’s a whole process…but we just want to keep everyone healthy. We have had drive thru things a time or two. Mexican take out once and Domino’s once. I cannot lie. It tasted amazing. lol!
It’s my sincere prayer that this post will encourage you. I hope that in your time of quarantine that you have grown as a person or a family. We haven’t taken this lightly. There are so many people hurting and grieving and we are not strangers to that. At the first of the year we lost my uncle in a tragic accident and were still reeling from that when this hit. I know that part doesn’t sound very encouraging…but hang on a sec. The Lord gave us enormous peace and so many miracles through all of that. That is just the way that He works.
I hope that your are thriving, my friends. I hope that you are finding a new appreciation for all of the things that you were too rushed to enjoy, before. I hope that each new day inspires you to learn something new or to just pause and breathe in deep. Maybe you found a new love for your lawn chair or porch swing. Maybe you have a new ritual of evening tea and a cozy book. (Dr. Pepper and a cozy book for me. lol!) Whatever you are learning through this…I feel that it will make us better people whenever it’s time to be with people again. I don’t feel that we will take a smile or a handshake for granted.
Let me leave you with this today,
In the book of Jeremiah, chapter 32 verse 27, God says this:
“Behold, I am the Lord God of all flesh: is there anything to hard for me?”
I feel like that I might do a blog post with this title once a year. Maybe not. Maybe I just use that phrase often. But here we go. Back in the saddle again. Another school year. The cozy months are upon us.
I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t a tad bit excited. I have already dreamed a little about big, bubbling, pots of chili. I know…totally crazy in light of the temps. I won’t cook that yet. Mister Dirt Road wouldn’t love that. He thinks that chili is strictly for fall and winter unless you’re having a Sonic Coney Dog. lol!
I’m always excited to get outside a little more on the farm, once the August and September heat passes. Then when that first little nip is in the air? Do you love it too? For all of my self proclaimed summer lovin’ ways….fall pulls one over on me every year.
Are you guys meal planners for this time of year? I need to post my mom’s deer stir fry recipe. I promised that on IG, so I may just do a whole blog post the next time that I make it. Then…when the men or the ladies or the kiddos bring in that big deer…you will have a great recipe. It is sooooo good and I hadn’t made it for ages until the other night. It was great! Mom won’t care to share her secret. Maybe she needs to be featured on here. That would be fun.
We will chat soon. Praying that your babies and ours have an amazing year. May the Lord shine down on the path of all of us.
Hey guys! Is it finally turning spring where you live? Our weather has been a bit temperamental…but it’s beautiful outside. The grass is green and so is the pollen.
I need to put my little bit of Easter decor away today. I didn’t have a lot. A few eggs and bunnies.
That is Whisky, Papaw Jerry’s dog. He got in on the festivities. 😉
Side note: I have still be crocheting right along. I’m sending out an order today. It’s so fun to send little pieces of our home out across the country.
Anyway…I hope that you all had a blessed Easter with your families . I hope that you felt the gift that Jesus gave, all day long. I also hope that all of us enjoy that same gift all throughout the year.
So it’s been a little while. I hope that all is well on the home front. We have been crazy busy and I have kept this little blog up on the shelf for a bit. Just a few dirt road happenings…but first a question:
Do people still read blogs?
Seriously. In the world of Instagram, where you get a little shot in the arm, which is like a speedy blog post, do people still read blogs? Just curious. I would love your input!!!
Okay…on to other things.
While I haven’t been blogging, I have been keeping up (trying to) with the Mr. and the kids. AND crocheting up a storm. I have a little Farmhouse Dishrag business that the Lord has just blown the doors off of…so I have been busy…and thankful!!! I love creating…so this is perfect.
It’s so fun to send little bits of our home to the homes of others.
Anyway…I hope that you all are well and joyful. I hope that life is treating you good and that you feel the love of Jesus from your crown to your pinky toes.
Hey Dirt Roaders! I sure hope that you had a Merry Christmas and I hope that your New Year is off to a great beginning. Fresh starts are nice aren’t they? Motivating and exhilarating. Yes…sometimes we abandon them early in the year…but sometimes not. I give us kudos for our zest for life anyway.
Maybe your goal is to lose a pound or two. Or maybe it’s to be more consistent with your quiet time of prayer and Bible study. Maybe it’s to be a better listener or to stay on budget more. Whatever our goals are…I think we will stick with them if we pace ourselves and give grace when needed. A fresh start…with a steady and doable gait.
Have you ever ran a race and started off too fast? You were at the front of the pack…for a while. Then you got winded and had to sloooooow way down. That happened to me in grade school. I learned very quickly that I needed to pace myself from the start, to finish well. The same goes for our goals. Realistic is sometimes a bit slow…but it’s steady. You know…the ol’ tortoise and hare scenario.
Whatever your goals and ambitions, I am praying now that whoever reads this little piece…may they bloom and flourish in this new year. May it be a year of growth and blessing for us all.
I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me. He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.
He speaks and the sound of His voice, is so sweet that the birds hush their singing. And the melody that He brings to me…within my heart keeps ringing.
May His love bless you today…from your nose to your toes. May you feel Him tell you that you are His own.
You guys! Thanksgiving ’18 is about to begin. What are we gonna do with it? Eat too much? Maybe. Wear stretchy clothes? Maybe. Be spiritually aware of those around us…listening more…and waiting for God’s nudge? Definitely.
My Maw Maw is celebrating in Heaven today. This will be the first Thanksgiving that my momma and her family will have to go through without her. Knowing about grief myself, I understand. Today…amidst being thankful…by God’s grace…I plan to just be available. A shoulder, a hug, a smile, or laughter. I want to be sensitive to their needs. I understand the depth of this. Five years ago during Thanksgiving, we were waiting to bury my sweet daddy. So with that in mind…I want to be very sensitive today. Thankful…and aware. I’m not sure why I feel this so heavy on my heart. Maybe you all need it too.
So…let’s move on a bit. Do you all bake tons of pie? We are actually switching it up and having fajitas with my parents. I made a huge batch of fresh salsa last night. Our girls made custard pie and our famous Granny Ruby’s chocolate chip cookies to take. My sweet husband loves pie. I need to make a New Year’s resolution to make him one a week. That would be fun!
Whatever your traditions…may the be blessed. May you feel Jesus at your holiday table. May you remember to listen today…and step in…wherever the Lord wants you to serve. That is my prayer for our own day.
