the country

Don't you love the country? I was raised in a small Texas town. I currently live in a different small Texas town, and I plan to grow old with my hubby and watch my grandchildren play in the back yard of the country home that will become our "forever home" in a small Texas town...or anywhere in North Carolina (tee hee).

In the country, your kids can "drive" down the dirt back roads...

...on their Daddy's lap, of course.

I love cows. They are simple. They just look at you and swat the flies on their backs. They give us cheese...God bless the cows. I love me some cheese...

(obligatory snaggletooth 8-year-old shot...bless that awkward age)

(obligatory gapped-tooth 3-year-old shot...bless that age too)

What is more country than a tire swing?

Have a great day y'all.

finally

No more pillows falling behind the bed. Seems like a small thing, but it's not. We got our new bed, oh, maybe 9 months ago and didn't have a headboard. We went from a queen to a king (I highly recommend it for people like me who get boiling hot, like to sleep on a diagonal, and don't want anyone to touch them because their skin feels like an incinerator...said individual shall remain nameless) and our old sleigh bed didn't work anymore. We just bought a bed frame to go with our glorious new, and extremely comfortable bed, but just couldn't make a headboard happen. You know, doctor bills, roof leaks, etc. etc. etc. Our headboard didn't seem to be a priority. Doctor visits over a headboard? Who made that rule, I say? Anyway, (cue the harps and angels singing), it is here...and it is glorious.
I bought the Camden untufted headboard in Burlap from Ballard Designs. I went back and forth between burlap and the white twill. I decided on the burlap because I was worried that the white would (1) show dirt easier and (2) would be a little over the top considering all of the other white that is going to appear in the room. I will post a mood board of the room on my next post. It is reeeeeal purdy :)
I was a little disheartened when I opened the box and it smelled like, well, a burlap sack. Then, the directions really didn't work. It didn't take too much brain power to figure it out, but it is a major pet peeve of mine when directions aren't right. I mean, they ARE directions, right? Can I get an amen? Thank you. However, the headboard went into place, and about a gallon of Fabreeze later (that stuff is heaven sent I tell ya'), all is well in the world. It hardly smells like a potato sack and it is GORGEOUS! Even if it did smell like potato sack, I might not really care considering I have a place to prop up my pillows AND they don't get lost into an abyss at night when they go careening behind the bed.
Take that rogue pillow!!!
Nighty night.

my kitchen

My kitchen is the most fun place in my home. There are quirky little touches here and there that make me smile. Like my pig that flies...and my curtains that almost didn't happen because they were too bright and colorful (I adore them now)...and my favorite little initial from my favorite little shop...and my favorite place to post little notes to my family (that use to be a giant, ugly, gold mirror)...and my little windowsill above my sink that always has fresh flowers (and a sign that reminds me of one of my sweet friends)...and where I keep my grocery list (this is acutally going to change soon. Can't wait to show you)...with letter that remind my picky-eating kids what they are supposed to be doing at the kitchen table...all while wearing my favorite funky little apron from another favorite store...and this sweet little helper is my favorite little accesory of all...Blessings,

Jenn

summer in texas

Crepe Myrtles... This is my favorite time of year in Texas. I know, it is hotter than Hades, but these babies are what really float my boat. Crepe myrtles. They are everywhere in Texas. Gorgeous shades of white, pink, purple and red. I have thought, many times, about leaving Texas and going somewhere where you don't start sweating the minute you get out of the shower, or where you actually have seasons. Our seasons include very hot and humid summers from about April to November, fall for about 2 weeks, the winters that include lots of rain, a little ice here and there, and then about 2 weeks of spring before the sauna begins all over again. Oh yes, I daydream about snow and sledding and ice skating and leaves turning every shade of green, yellow, orange, red and brown, but these beautiful little fluffs of purple just make this Texas girl's heart sing every summer.
When we moved into this house, I fell in love with the abundance of crepe myrtles surrounding it. In our other homes, if there wasn't a crepe myrtle or two, the first thing that we did was to plant some. Crepe myrtles are what make my house feel like a real Texas home. This little bloom above is just the beginning around here.

Blessings...
Jenn

Readin' & Writin' and 'Rithmatic

Okay, so yes, we are homeschooling next year, and we all know that the most important thing is decorating the homeschooling area, um, I mean curriculum. Tee hee...
Anyway, so curriculum is a go, but I have been trying to figure out how to turn our home into a classroom without it looking like a classroom since schooling is going to take place smack dab in the middle of the dining/living room...and yes, I said smack dab. I am from the south...y'all...
So, I have been doing a few projects. I made a sketch that I won't reveal because I have the artistic talent of a 3 year old. So I will just show you my projects as I go.
I scored 3 of these little desks for $4 a piece. I am going to line them up along the left side of my fireplace (this will become our classroom). I sanded down the edges of the desktops and stained them a darker (less school-ish) color and plan to decoupage 2 of them ((E's with a map and C's with some pretty pink paisley (say that 3 times) wrapping paper)) and paint W's with chalkboard paint. Actually, I have 2 of them done, but in the interest of posting more than once a month, I'm going to make you wait...all 2 of you who read my blog ;)
Also in the mix are 3 book shelves, 3 whiteboards, 3 vintage alphabet flashcards (framed and matted), some cute little lights so my little chirrens can see their work, and a partridge in a pear tree. Just kidding, they don't need light. ;)

Jenn

lots of changes

Let me start this post by saying that my crapola camera is half dead, and I can't afford a new one, which will definitely cost more than a couple of hundred dollars since I am now completely spoiled to the pictures that everyone else posts on their blogs that are totally in focus, crisp as a freshly ironed cotton shirt, and have incredible color...whew, breathe. Yes, I have my eyes on a few different ones, all of which are around a grand, give or take a couple hundred. Yeah, we'll see how long it takes. Soo, in the meantime, I will have posts with either no pictures, pictures straight from the world wide web (Ha! I'm 85...) or pictures from my phone (which aren't all that bad).
So, lots has happened in our world. The short version is that I have lost about 30 pounds, and have decided to homeschool. No, they are not related. The weight loss is something that I have needed to do for a long time, I just decided that enough was enough. That is for another day though. The homeschooling is something that I have wanted to do since I homeschooled my 8-year-old way back in kindergarten. I only did it for a few months back then and decided to put him back in public school for two reasons...kid #2 and kid #3. They were 2 and 1-year-old at the time. Do I even need to 'splain Lucy? I felt as though I was ignoring the babies to help my eldest, or I wasn't giving him the attention that he needed for his schoolwork because I was tending to the younger two. I was so torn and felt totally defeated as I hung my head and walked him into kinder. Don't worry, I've stopped beating myself up about it.
So, upon a very clear leading from the Lord, and a real work in my husband's heart (which could only have been accomplished through God Himself), we have decided to take the gigantic leap again. I am so excited! So, aside from researching curriculums and trying to figure out how to manage a school in our home (along with my husband's business), I have been a busy mama.
Now, on a design note, I do have a rockin' idea for our homeschool "area". I'll give you a little sneaky peek on Monday!

Black bean brownies...yes, you read that right

Sorry Rocco... I was so flippin' excited about my new cookbook that I whipped out the brownies from page 235. I was pretty skeptical about the ingredients which included black beans (pureed), Splenda, sour cream and Walden Farms chocolate sauce (although I use this frequently on fresh strawberries...yummy!), among some other normal ingredients.
Well, I have to say, my chocolate loving family threw them in the trash...sorry Rocco...onto the next page. I am determined to shock and awe my family with healthy comfort food!!!