Farmhouse Blog

A night of serious storms and torrential downpours left us all feeling extra tired this morning. I don’t know that I have ever seen as much rain as what we have had in the past few days. We are grateful to be safe from the path of the tornadoes, but our prayers go out to those of you in surrounding areas. Muddy footprints on the floors will be here to stay for a few more days as we wait for our yard to dry out.

Stopped at the thrift store yesterday and found the perfect jar for my laundry soap. I loved the old white knob and wooden lid. I love to make spaces pretty. Glass jars, baskets and even pretty neutral colored cleaning supplies can make cleaning more enjoyable? I know, it probably sounds odd, but I absolutely love seeing a tidy, clean, organized space that makes me enjoy cleaning a bit more than I used to. You can achieve the same look. Here are some simple things that I have done in this photo to remove the store bought look. Store Peroxide (natural stain remover) in a brown glass jar, put laundry soap in a glass jar, and I buy Castile soap in bulk that I put in a jar. I use a little wooden brush to scrub out stains and I store my clothes pins in the hanging basket. The big glass jars are the two vases that I keep in the home for fresh flowers. What are some tips you use for keeping a pretty, organized space! And someday, this space will get remodeled! We are also in desperate need of a new washer and dryer but there are so many choices on the market! Do you have a set you love? I would love to hear about that as well!

I am calling it a day in the garden, and you can find a brand new blog post plus YouTube video today! I don’t know that I will ever get used to being in front of the camera, but you can get a glimpse of our busy day. Happy Monday, friends!!

From one late afternoon to the next morning, my Peonies bloomed. It seems to happen so quickly, and yet I am always taken by surprise when it happens. I love the delicate white heads that bobble in the wind and the sweet aroma that drifts through air. Peonies generally need some kind of support to help keep them off the ground. Old metal headboard frames work very well, and it’s a bonus when they are already a chippy white, beautiful piece! Have a blessed Sunday!

Never be afraid to do what you and your family love when it comes to decorating your home. We are huge outdoor enthusiasts, and so it’s only fitting that I started collecting old no trespassing signs. We love the land, hiking, and exploring. Give us country roads over interstates, and mountains over the beach. Adventure fuels our soul. What is a passion that your family enjoys?

It was such a busy week outside that I am taking advantage of the cloudy day to be inside getting the house cleaned back up. Tomorrow is our rest day, and I am looking forward to that! Happy Weekend!

My 17 year old daughter loves reading about the Enneagram types, and talked me into taking the test yesterday. I ended up being a #1w2 and it was extremely accurate. Anyone else know what they are? I also wanted to take a moment and say thank you for being here. I have been so busy outside getting things done for the garden, and for the chickens that I have had little time to respond to emails, comments and questions. I never want to neglect my readers and followers so just know that it may take a bit longer to get back to you. Today is another packed day with all sorts of things happening outside, including unloading a truck bed full of garden dirt. Happy Friday, friends!

I am thankful that Missouri has a long growing season because I am behind in all things related to the garden. If I get ahead in one area, I fall behind in another. Pretty typical, right? Maybe not, but we have A LOT going on right now! And, this space will see some exciting changes next week. So in the mean time head on over to YouTube where there is a new video and there is also a new blog post all about this garden space. I will link it up in my story for you all!

So many of you sent the kindest messages regarding our devastating loss with our chicks and ducks. Yesterday, @orschelnfarmhome reached out to us and graciously replaced our flock. We are so grateful for our local store and their willingness to do this. We drove in to town today, and picked up the cutest Khaki Campbell ducks and six Black Marans. I also spent the day working on a chicken tractor for our two remaining Easter Eggers. And, our new coop should be here next week! I can’t wait to show you all that setup!

Where do you love to find pieces for your home? I get a lot of messages about where I find different things, but the answer is almost always the same. Yard sales, antique shops, thrift shops, auctions, and places like online marketplace are all my go to sources. I often find that the older things are much better quality, it helps keep my home looking unique to my style, and I can create a place that our family loves on a budget. What is your favorite way to decorate your home? This morning I am enjoying a hot cup of coffee in my chair, listening to the birds sing, and the hum of the washer. It won’t be long before the children wake up, the laundry will need hung on the line, and then we will head over to our farm. We have garden work to do, and a chicken tractor to build.