DIY Farmhouse Kitchen on a Budget

After seven years of working on our kitchen a little at a time, we have finally finished our farmhouse kitchen. This is truly a DIY kitchen on a budget. With the exception of the appliances, sink, and faucet, everything in our kitchen has been thrifted and DIYed. 

DIY Reclaimed Wood Kitchen Countertops

Hey!  Do you remember me?  

I've been hanging out over on Instagram and had pretty much given up blogging, but blogging was my first social media love, and I really wanted to get back to it.

Pops of Fall Color

Today I am showing you all our family/tv room.  In this room I added those "pops of color" everyone talks about.  I am not a big fan of pops of color as I find it distracting most of the time, but I really, really love it in fall. I only add color to our home for fall and Christmas.  Aside from that, I keep things pretty neutral around here. 

Mid-Summer

Mid-summer, the height of summer in New England.  The flower gardens are at their peak now.  Our gardens are mostly reds and yellows with pops of purple and orange - the "hot" colors.  It is the complete opposite of the inside of our home which is white, neutrals and wood, with almost no color most of the time.  I especially like the inside to be all neutrals in the summer.  It just seems to make it feel cooler, plus it is an escape from the color overload outside.  

My Neck of the Woods - Southern New Hampshire

Today was a gorgeous, snowy day in New Hampshire.  We had a 90 minute delay for school this morning and it continued to snow lightly all throughout the day.  The snow was heavy and sticky and clung to the trees making everything look magical.  After school, I grabbed the dogs and my camera hoping to catch some photos before I lost the light.  I drove around taking photos of some of my favorite homes, farms, and barns.  The dogs love to sit in the back seat with the windows open.  I crank up the heat and they stick their heads out as far as they can, one out each window.  You should see the looks we get!  

Sneak Peek at Our Rustic Christmas Home 2015

Welcome to a little sneak peek into our 

~Christmas Home 2015~

It's a little bit country
And it's a little rustic rock n' roll
It's a little bit of cottage and farmhouse
With a little bit of Sweden in its soul
I don't know if it's good or bad
But I know I love it so...

Brimfield Fair - The Saga of the Perfect Crate

On Saturday, I spent the day at Brimfield Fair in Massachusetts. I went alone, and was probably one of the only loners there. I was on a budget, brought cash, and I was hoping to find a good deal on one of the few items I was in search of. One thing I soon realized, there are not too many bargains at Brimfield Fair. The prices seemed to be consistent with most of the antique shops in my area. I do a lot of browsing at antique shops, but do most of my shopping at yard  sales and such, and love to find something similar to an expensive antique store find for a few dollars. 

White Chippy Rusty Stool

My search for a chair-side table is finally  over. If you know me at all, you know that I can look for the perfect piece forever. Once I have an idea in my mind, I won't settle for something else, and I can be very patient. I have gone well over a year in search of a hutch for a space in my kitchen. My biggest obstacle - price. I won't pay a lot for almost anything. So I search Craigslist, go to yard sales, Goodwill, and keep my eye out on the side of the road. 

And the Wall Came Down...

The wall comes down! 

 Hallelujah!

One of the big projects we wanted to do in our home which we've been in for about 3 years is to take down the wall between the dining room and family room.  

THOUGHTS ON A SUMMER DAY

It is quiet at my house right now.  My husband has left for work.  He works the night shift and leaves after lunch.  My daughter is visiting a friend for a few days in New Hampshire's White Mountains, and my son is at the movies seeing the Dark Knight again.

My house is clean.   It tends to stay that way these days.  No more little ones running around, making messes.  No more toys.   I baked a cake this morning and ran to the market.  Tomorrow I am making a meal for a friend who has cancer.  I have time to do these things now.

Blessings, Back Pain & Broken Air Conditioners

Yesterday I woke up and my lower back was really bothering me.  Between moving, cleaning, painting, weeding, and edging, not to mention my summer job as a server at Cracker Barrel, my back has really taken a hit.  This morning it is not any better.  It feels as though it is having back spasms.  I'm a little worried, I need the income from this job, and this house needs a lot of work too. 

The Long Awaited Home!

Our new home - Farmhouse circa 1830

The Lord is good.  We are in our new home and only He could have orchestrated the details so perfectly.  I love this house!  It is 182 years old, and was once a schoolhouse.  There are perennial beds everywhere - and they all need tending to.  We have weeded and edged two of them so far.  I love getting my hands dirty and have missed it for the last 3 years.