I have been wondering lately what to do with that front room...sunroom....new baby room....

I'm thinking "studio"......

{via}

keeping a hold of the dreams I had when younger........and achieving the goals that I have now as an adult and the result of the constant determination to achieve those goals....and the many many surprises that have entered my life.....especially within the past 10 years of living here on the farm.....

I embrace the everyday with the before the kids wake up with the enthusiasm of a warm cup of coffee and a walk outdoors....and even the thought of a new day excites me!  What can I do today that will make me a better person........what can I do today that will help someone else........what can I do today to glorify Him.........

it's all so amazingly exciting living a life free from all constraints of the world........being free to live the life He wants me to live

sure I would love a red flashing light surrounded by gigantic arrows to point me in the direction without doubt...but that isn't reality.....I'm trying to do my best the only way I know how......and that is different from you, or my sisters, or my kids, or my husband, or my very close friends....

Basically, I am looking forward to having a place to sew and draw.......write and create with my oldest daughter.........and son, and other son, and other daughter, and another son, and another little boy....wherever 'mama' is - they are

and I don't mean that in a bad way...I can't imagine me sitting in a craft room all my by myself without Daniel's little pitter patter crawl over to me to pick him up...or the sounds of my middle son playing his harmonica in the family room........and even though there are times (and believe me there are) when one does something to the other and I need to step in and give them some guidance.....

I.    would.    not.   want it.   any other way.

I have one life to live

peace + blessings,

MISS YOU...

from scratch...

how often we run to the store to get pre-packaged items

back just 70 years ago, you didn't do that

you didn't even have that option, except eating at a restaurant

things were from scratch.........fresh.........and that was 'the every day', not just because your girlfriends are coming over and you want to serve them some homemade muffins with coffee....

how very lazy we have become as a society

yes

I said lazy

there is nothing wrong with using a food processor, or Bosch mixer, but there is something wrong with pre-packaged food from the store.......

think of this:

when you are walking through the grocery store, stay to the perimeter of the store - that is where all the fresh vegetables, meats, dairy, bakery, etc, is...

if you need to, head into the dry goods area for flour/beans/rice.....but try not to get that oozy goozy stuff that they are selling from tubes that you squeeze into your mouth because you are too lazy to put it into a glass jar and use a utensil

does this sound harsh?  saying that we are lazy??

I'm right along side you with the big fat "L" on my head

I don't grow my wheat, then grind it to make flour, then bake bread with it every day...

I do know of woman who actually do this......and my apron strings are off to you.....and someday, I would love to do that....in between raising my sheep in pasture to spin my wool, to knit my sweaters while I wait for my goat's milk to simmer to the right temperature for my goats milk soap, as I pull out my bread from the oven, after I just finished graduating my son from homeschooled high school, and taught my daughter how to Irish dance stronger and steeped my tea from the chamomile plants I grow in the garden....

"L"

we aren't all able to do those things.....quite frankly.....I don't know anyone who does all of that in one day

we pick and choose what we want.....like a great oatmeal muffin recipe.......

whip up the egg whites, add them gently into the mixture already in the bowl

then you sit back and watch it puff in the oven and give the whole house a breathe of homemade goodness

and if that's all this woman can accomplish in one day, then go ahead, slap that "L" on my forehead, I deserve it, but before you look at me and judge me and think that everything smells delicious like these muffins, know this: a lot of hard work goes into my kids first, not my appearance...not my house...not my farm...

my kids

there is way too much "look what I did" out here in cyberland, and quite frankly, it's making me nauseated

I have so much I'd like to share with you, that I am working on, or that I have worked on, but truthfully, it is all a bunch of vanity.....telling you what I've done or doing or going to do

(I will, in time, share when and what I want)

reading the written word, especially on the computer screen, you can read someone's words and take it the wrong way - I do hope you all understand that I do not ever want you to feel like I'm rubbing it in

I can't stand that

I share what I do here, because it is my space - my journal

and I love all of you who come to visit, and I enjoy getting to know some of you even more through emails - and your comments - 

There was a friend of mine very recently who told me that all she can get done is a load of laundry, and here I am doing this and that and the other - I know she is not bitter about it, but if she only knew how special she is by doing what she does.....

I am a very organized person - and can get a lot accomplished in the day because of two very important reasons: 1) I do not watch TV, we don't have one and 2) I plan meals

with six children and a husband to feed, these meals and baked goods I do are planned at least a week in advance - minus the sporadic baked goods my daughter or son like to do (or me :)

negativity, doubt, and vanity all lead to one thing:  depression

stop thinking of yourself and do something for someone else - break the cycle of "me"

create something good today by not talking bad about anyone

look at everyone you come in contact with today (everyone) and know that God loves them just as much as you...you aren't the cat's meow.....you are one of very very many in this world

what can you do today? for someone else??

go bake something from scratch for your kids, neighbor, friend, priest, aunt, mom, husband...

they'll love it

peace + blessings,

missing...

what is it in your life that is missing?

love?

laughter?

peace?

how is it that you will be able to find those things?

You cannot give...what you do not have.

If you do not have love in your life, love yourself first.

If you do not have laughter in your life, laugh at yourself first.

If you do not have peace in your life, pray and meditate within yourself first.

This all sounds a bit self-centered.......don't let it be centered on you...this is to better those around you...so you can change the world

how do you love yourself?  Take care of your body as well as your mind.....exercise....read a book.

how do you find laughter?  Stop (for the love of God) talking about other people in gossip - humble yourself

how do you find peace?  Take time each day - seriously - and pray...be with the Lord...it doesn't matter if it's 50 Hail Mary's or one 'thank you Lord'.....find at least 15 minutes to do this...you do have 15 minutes for God

no pictures today......no distractions......focus on what is missing and fill it

peace + blessings,

my dream...

When you stop worrying about other people's thoughts of how you are living, a deeper appreciation for the gifts you are given starts to emerge......

Take for example the degree I studied in college: Environmental Science

At that time, there were only two universities that offered a degree in that area of study...that was just over 10 years ago even...University of Montana, and a minor only at Southern Illinois University.

Being that I was absolutely in love with my best friend, I still pursued that degree....
Contrary to what SIU even wanted, I pursued that dream...
I actually had to talk the Administration Office at SIU into letting me study for Environmental Science as a major...with projection charts and an essay!  My focus was not on engineering, but the social science behind the human relationship and their perceptions of the environment and how I could change the world!!!
Currently, almost every University provides a degree in Environmental Science...it's one of the fastest growing areas of education.

My "plan" was to become a guide for Sierra Club in the mountains - sharing my passion for nature while inspiring others to embrace their passions...their dreams...no matter what other people are telling you.

Dreams are essential to a happy life........

I'm not telling you to go and forget your obligations...believe me when I tell you that my first priority is my vocation as wife...then mother.

but that doesn't make me stop dreaming

who doesn't like that exhilarating feeling of a new idea!! or reading something and saying almost out loud "yes!! I want to do that!!!" 

being a dreamer doesn't mean you have your head in the clouds with  your rose colored glasses on...

No one can escape the hardships of life........no one

but why do you see some people succeed? and you don't??
why is it that you work so hard and then your efforts don't get noticed??? 

First of all know this......
every single thing you do effects others

If you have to lock yourself in your room with that bar of sea-salted chocolate and warm cup of milk at night so you can read your new Joel Salatin book to escape the stress of the day...you are effecting others

When you pick your elderly neighbors apples and share your making of homemade jelly and delicious pie...you are effecting others

As you sit here are read this and wonder what you can do to help others while pursuing your dreams...you are effecting others

Here's a start:

1. Get a piece of paper (or print out what I have below)
2. Write down one dream you have always wanted to do
3. Look at what you wrote
4. Study what you wrote
5. Say what you wrote out loud
6. Start telling other people your dream
7. Stop any negativity that comes into your thoughts in doubt pursuing that dream

Every action you perform is working toward that dream.

The people who achieve their dreams do not talk negatively or sarcastic, and ruin everyone else's lives in the process...think of what your priorities are, make sure you are fulfilling those...but do not forget your dream.

I may not be an Environmental Scientist like I thought or am a Sierra Club guide in the mountains, but my dream of changing the world is happening....with every word....every thought....every action I do.

here's something for you to print out and use in your pursuit of your dream:

Instead of guiding others in the mountains, I guide at least six others daily to acheive their dreams too

and as far as my husband?? ..he still has dreams...big dreams actually

but together, we are helping persue one another's dreams

peace + blessings,

Black and White Sunday...

our lives (as adults) are much too preoccupied with ourselves to stop and enjoy a cup of imagination

dreams...

like awakening from a hibernation, let's arise from this loathsome slumber!!

it is not too late to dream...no matter what age...what circumstance...what dream it is

as long as you are trying to achieve a better you when you reach your dream

when you are on your path to a dream that will better who you are, NOTHING can stop you

nothing

unexpected like...

do you remember this table?  fond memories with the globes on it before in the living room...but it has temporarily found a home in the kitchen...

so fun moving stuff around!

an unexpected "like"

peace + blessings,

a start...

I'm not here to say "this room is fabulous" or "look at this!" or anything like that........actually, it is more like:

our home

thrift store finds.......beloved pictures of my grandparents by their working horses when they were young....birds an old friend gave me......peacock feathers.......and canvas tarps on my couches  

I could write a whole series of posts on how to stop copying other people's decorating and embrace what you have......

the round table currently has a number of library books strewn on it's round top...

pillows are missing on the couches......ideas of black and white feather pictures and more Native American art is in the works.....our office is filled with that sort of thing......

truthfully...Jason has quite the eye for style (he wouldn't admit this of course) but I like his rugged influence on our home...I like to call it "rugged classic style"...or how about "na-da farm style"

:)



horse drawing by our oldest daughter...pictures of my grandparents when in their youth...bird from my old friend Cathy...camera collection of Jason's and a bowl full of found arrowheads and old pottery we find



 it's a simplistic version of the museum room...



a photograph I took while visiting here a few years ago
- i love black and white -



but there it is...our living room.......also known currently as "soooo cozy" via our kids who take turns on the new 'daybed' (really just the twin bed that was in the sunroom that got moved out without the frame)

what's that you say?  an empty front room now??  oh yes.....empty except for the sounds of the piano and an old hutch.......needless to say, plans for in there are sure to come.....but first, I think I'll bake some pie :)

expanding...

I'm so thrilled to tell you that I am expanding on this conceptual journey of 'beauty'

putting together a room, with all it's rearranging of furniture and the play of light on a certain chair, or the way the bookcase it now highlighted by your side lamp all invokes a story of how you visual your space

yes, I am rearranging again

 this room is awesome with the archway....and I keep trying to incorporate that space into the living room space (as you see, it's the living room again :) however, the coziness keeps telling me to embrace that beauty of coziness!! 

it's high time that the blue floral couch from 1940 gets moved out...it just doesn't fit my decor anymore

and the hutch......it has housed crafts, silver, everyday dishes, bowls, and now is in the living room waiting....

poor thing 

baby Daniel is thoroughly confused and delighted to have a plethora of crawling space

(notice the 'moving men' under the couch)

 my current (material) desires are to achieve an earthy easy elegance into this farmhouse with softness

here's some of my inspiration:

I've always been a great 'lover' of things black and white, and would love to add some more of that into the house...

designtoinspire.net



this photo has it (almost) all of what I'm thinking:

natural wood, black, white, texture, a bit of industrial, clean + simple

(what it is lacking is more color)



skema



this entry has the red I really like, the antique piece, the natural wood around doorway, the pops of color...

and though paisley might be "out" I still think this looks great  



Canadian house to home




as soon as I saw this, I instantly wanted to put up some more of my oil paintings....good thing I didn't put them out to sell them at the barn sale!

country living

the open shelving idea is really striking a chord with me,

there's talk of using remaining wood from the sunroom remodel (douglas fir) for the shelves



countryliving



beautifullife



~have a great rest of the day~

peace + blessings,

beauty

to take something you created and call it a thing of beauty...

is it an object you created?

or a thing of beauty?

does it have the essence of your soul?

or is it disposable?

we surround ourselves with objects which can be thrown away or discarded...I often create things of beauty and then either eat them up or discard them

this year of 2012 is the year for all of us to embrace beauty in the true essence

always remembering the traditions of art and the connection with our human person to the divine

**beauty**

something I will be contemplating on more this year than ever before