Curb Appeal

My husband loves working on the details. Now that the house is sided, all we have to contend with is the details. He's painting shutters, and adding new trim colors. 

He made these window boxes from the old gutters. The plants are loving the full sun out there. 

The entire look with a candle in each window at night is so beautiful. People pulled over a couple weeks ago to take photos. Curb appeal is arriving to this old house. 

I'll Follow the Sun

I did a mini rehab on my sun room, which really is a nook more than a room. It's a curious left over piece of porch that we think was part of a larger porch once upon a time. 

This chair started the make over. It was screaming 1970s. So one thing lead to another and 3 cans of spray paint later, and some leftover fabric, it was gorgous! 

Added these stars I purchased at Christmas for some fun, painted the walls and trim to match the new house colors, too. 

This color is called Heritage Cream. It's so warm and inviting. Sunny almost!🌞

The windows I left because Brian is replacing them soon, plus adding some stained glass. I can't wait! After that I'll add some bamboo roll down shades and a foot stool I'm working on and it will be a cozy reading hide away.

Pinterest gave me the candle idea. Love it! Total cost of mini make over 33.00 for rug, spray paint, jars and candles. Just a quick weekend project. 

Summer Lovin'

One thing I really love is my porch. Added just a pop of color this year. Turquoise! 😍

 

A bench that was a roadside rescue that I stenciled combined with  just a couple accents. Can't wait to rip this floor up and add stained wood flooring to match my porch ceiling.

A view of my grandmothers wicker planter filled with geraniums. 

The milk can from my farm. It's pretty rusty but nothing spray paint won't fix!

And nothing says summer more than a cat in the open window. Hello babyman!

I've thought about taking this down but it's so cute! 

Window boxes are new this year. We had to do something with the old gutters! Seamless gutters coming soon. 

And a view of my latest project. Oblisk and climbing roses. Still needs mulch and a fountain, but it's on its way!

Merry and Bright

   I gotta confess, having new spaces to decorate for the holidays was worth every moment of dust, dumpsters, and destruction. Our house is starting to look like I saw it in my head when we bought it, a blend of old and new. I may have gone overboard on decorations, but you only live once! 

The  front porch is almost done. My husband added our new color scheme to the rails and I slapped some quick paint on the door. It's called red wine! We still need to replace the door, it had air leak issues, but for now, it's pretty.

  I'm finally used to seeing the new color! Heritage cream. Be still my country loving heart. I've been stopped in the street by people admiring the new look. Couldn't be happier! We need to replace the blue criss cross stuff this summer with red and finish the shutters, but we will get there. You gotta be patient with an old house! Brian is restoring the porch rails. I think they are original. They sure look it! 

   I love this porch! Look at the stained pine board ceiling we put in  2 summers ago. Gutted out rotten falling down boards and re did the leaking porch roof. You can catch a glimpse of my star light. It's from a shop in Cooperstown from years ago, still love it!!!!

  Some shots of my sweet decorations. Gotta love a roll of vintage wrapping paper a free tree and Anna's old tricycle!

  Moved some old decorations out here to finish my look! What a beautiful holiday.

Glorious Thanksgiving

    How nice it was to have this old house filled with family for Thanksgiving. All my hard work last year makes the holidays even more special.  Decorating my new spaces and having room for all of us was amazing.

   Here's a shot of the table, looking better than ever:

    I love that the family room is no longer off the dining room, it makes it seem more formal. The kitchen was rocking too, with wine slushies and appetizers: 

    I know it's a lot of work, but the smells and sounds are what I've always dreamed of. A big happy house.

    My rolling dessert cart made it's debut, loaded down with goodness and the party was so good Hiawatha himself came.

From daughters helping me, to grandmother's first selfies, and did I mention wine slushies? It was a holiday to remember. 

     Anna helped me every step of the way and if I ever go down, she can recreate the meal. You just need 2 lbs of butter!

  Even the teenager visited, laughed, she may have even eaten, and entertained her grandmother with her music.🎶❤️

It was a magic holiday with a lot to be grateful for. That's why I love old houses. They remember what came before and the stories of all the families that lived here will forever be part of it's history and future. We've much to be grateful for in the old village farmhouse!

Don't Rush the Season

 

 

    I love fall. Everything about it; the colors, smells, decorations, excuses to dress like a witch, and the celebrations. I get sad that people rush right into Christmas and lose focus on Thanksgiving.   My blessings are abundant and I like to reflect and savor a holiday centered around that. My house is decorated proudly in harvest decor and I've been prepping the menu for a month. It's a day of fussing for my family. The special rolls, cranberry wine, the biggest turkey I can haul home. It's a 2 day event here with all the prep. I wouldn't change it, despite all the work. It's the stuff my girls are going to remember! 

I made this table runner this year and paired it with my grandmothers salt and pepper shakers. 

My mom gave me the brown pitcher and I paired it with this adorable owl from Dollar General. I love dressing up my porch. It's cozy and inviting.

Soon I will be changing it all out for my Christmas decor, but for now, Happy Thanksgiving. May your blessings be many.

Changing Seasons

   One of the best things about an old farm house is changing seasons. No house looks better decorated than a house with character. My decorations have evolved over the years, and thank god I have a barn to store all my decorations in. 

There is most definitely a witch theme going on here! Love my old lanterns and milk can. They evolve into other holidays.

Happy holiday decorating!