Summertime Treats - FIGS!

One of things I look forward to each summer are the FIGS! They are such a special summertime treat. They are only in season a short time and they are very perishable, so they don't last long. You have to get them while they're ready and then you have to wait another year for it to happen again.

When I was girl, my parents had a fig tree and my mom would make fig preserves. They were luscious! Now I grow my own figs and I like them best picked right off the tree at the perfect moment of ripeness. Total yummy-ness! Perfect!

They also make a beautiful small tree for the yard or garden and live a very long time. Remember the tree I told you about at my parents, well it was there when they bought the home 35 years ago and it's still producing figs!

Of course, the fig was in the original garden that God made for man, how cool is that?! And, in biblical times a land was considered good if it contained fig trees...very interesting.

If you don't have your own fig tree, find a local farmer's market while they're in season. You'll be glad you did! Enjoy!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey... Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (Sounds like heaven to me!)

Wishing you God's Best,
Elaine 

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Restoring Our Old Farm House - No. 5 The Sun Room

You know, when it comes to remodeling, great ideas often evolve into something unexpected. Example, the sleeping porch I had always dreamed of adding to our home evolved into additional living space and now holds an extra dining table and seating area, which we call the sun room. We added this room about 5 years after completing our renovations and moving in. This gave us more square footage for family gatherings. When we are all together (parents, siblings, children and grandchildren), we have close to 20 people, give or take a few, depending on how many tag-a-longs show up. Twenty people in an 1100 square foot house, can get crowded really fast. Not that it can't be done, because we did it often, but an additional 200 square feet really helps out. Here is how things progressed through the addition.

This is how the west side of our house looked before we began the renovations in 2004.

 We used the same rafters and braces so that it would blend with the rest of the house and added windows on all three sides.

 We wanted it to look like it had always been there.

From the inside, we added the entrance through what was the dining room windows.

Mark completely built the exterior of the room before we opened the entry from the inside.

We continued the same wooden floors into the space and finished out the windows consistent with the rest of the house. The one thing we did differently was that we DID NOT USE sheet rock. My sheet rock days are over! I love the way they look but it is a nightmare to do. Sheet rock is best left to the professionals. This room had very little wall space and we used wooden slats and painted them. It has ended up being one of our favorite places to have meals and spend time. 

It was a lot of hard work, but most things worth having usually are.

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 
Hebrews 12:1-2

Wishing you God's Best,
Elaine

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Simple Vintage Centerpiece

Simple always works! All you need are flowers, either homegrown or purchased, and a few vintage bottles and jars.

I've used basic sunflowers (a gift from one of my sweet sisters - I have three) and an old glass coffee jar...

 which has great detail and lots of character.

When I bought it, it came with this zinc jar lid. I'm not sure if it is original, but they've been together for 20 years or longer. I'm not about to separate them now!

I've placed the arrangement on an aged, chippy, beveled glass square (a gift from one of my other sweet sisters). I use this all the time and it works with everything! I love the way it reflects whatever is being displayed.

I've added a few vintage bottles just for fun!

Here is the final product. Vintage... simple... easy... and perfect! 

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2

Wishing you God's best,

Elaine

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Restoring Our Old Farm House No. 4 - Dining Room

This weekend we are taking a look at the before and after of the dining area which is opposite of the kitchen, but in the same room. 

When we first started this project, the kitchen and dining were two separate rooms. The picture below was taken while standing inside the kitchen looking into what is now the dining room. It was nothing short of a total mess!

 

 The first order of business was to clear everything out so I enlisted the help of my family.

This shot shows the small door leading to the living area on the left, which we later enlarged (you saw that last week) and the door leading to our guest room on the right. The guest room door was right in the center of the wall so we relocated it to the far left.

 This construction shot shows the one door enlarged and the other relocated.

The low ceilings were removed and vaulted. 

The sheet rock is up and the ceiling installed. We adapted big galvanized barn lights into drop down lighting by replacing the crooked neck with conduit. 

We spent our first nights in the house sleeping in the dining room while our bedroom was being finished. After 18 months, I was so happy to be sleeping in my own house again.

This is how it looks today. We've added a sun room off the dining area where the windows were located. We'll look at the sun room next time.

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Wishing you God's best,

Elaine 

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A Little Something Lovely... No. 5

Here's a little something lovely to brighten your day...

 ...and a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
Let all creation rejoice before the Lord... Psalm 96:13

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine


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