French Lavender is one of my favorite scents and I’ve been wanting to make lavender sachets for the longest time. I finally found a source for inexpensive lavender buds and placed an order immediately. It’s so easy to make these fragrant little sachets! Simply follow these 5 easy steps and you’ll have pretty little sachets…
It’s funny how one day life is going along as it normally would, and then the next day the scenery of your world changes! I’m sure we’ve all experienced this in our life’s journey … giving birth to a child for example. One day life is peaceful and you go through your daily routine and…
White made its grand entrance onto the home decor scene with the introduction of Rachel Ashwell’s shabby chic style. The color white is used profusely in shabby chic decor, using the color to unite worn objects from different eras. While some may think decorating with white is falling out of favor, numerous home decor sites…
A recent trip to Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve gave me plenty of eye candy to photograph and today’s post highlights the shabby white Pioneer Sholes School found on the property. A one-room school that was moved to its current location several years ago, the architecture is simple and lovely and the grounds are idyllic. This…
For the longest time I’ve been a huge fan of fresh-picked roadside wildflowers. I love their crazy, natural beauty. I’m just in awe of nature and believe that all its intricacy and variations are proof that God exists. When I gaze upon roadside flowers I appreciate the color combinations and the casual way they dot…
Leroy Oakes is a beautiful forest preserve in Kane County with big red barns and historical buildings. In the early morning it’s peaceful and serene. A bike and running trail winds its way through the idyllic property and this is the location where we start our long marathon training run every Saturday. As you drive…
Spaghetti is a staple food item in most households but in our home, Spaghetti with Tomato and Basil has become a true gourmet meal. My daughter introduced me to this famed Spaghetti with Tomato and Basil recipe from Scarpetta’s restaurant in New York City where you’ll pay $24 for a plate of this heavenly yumminess….
When you have a house full of kids and pets, you need home decor that’s both economical and provides easy living for a busy life. In our 16 years of living in this old house we’ve seen a variety of pets and people come and go, along with the wear and tear that accompanies an…
The day I’ve been patiently waiting for has finally arrived! The lilac bushes are blooming and that means I can bring these delicate beauties indoors to fill our living space with their sweet fragrance. Decorating with lilacs is so easy to do because they are perhaps the easiest of flowers to arrange. Lilacs naturally spill…
Last month I shared my finds from the Kane County Flea Market, which is held the first weekend of every month. I decided I would continue to share my treasures each month from the flea market revealing what I paid for each item. I always try to find a bargain but I’m sure there will…
One of my favorite decorating tricks is to bring fresh flowers into our farmhouse kitchen, dining room, and every other room under our metal roof! Last week the daffodils were in bloom and I brought a big bouquet of their sunshine inside. This week the flowerbeds are filled with bunches of blue … Virginia Bluebells,…
Some people think Illinois is flat and boring but I find special beauty in the country roads, prairies, corn fields, and big blue sky. Lucky for me, I live where the suburban roads of Chicago meet the country roads of Kane County so I get the best of both the town and country … thus…
Finally we’re getting the rest of the open shelving added to the kitchen! I’ve been talking about it since before Christmas and here it is April, almost 5 months later. Better late than never and no harm was done except that my nerves were getting frazzled because I was running out of space to store…
Pets provide such joy and companionship, and when they leave us it’s never easy. I’ve had pets throughout my life. Some get sick and pass on before their time. Others stay with you for many years. Recently Donna at Funky Junk Interiors lost her beautiful black cat, Teddy. In honor of Teddy, she’s hosting a…
In my attempt to give our old farmhouse a legitimate farmhouse look both inside and out, I wanted to build up a collection of white ironstone. I seem to be drawn mostly to pitchers in all shapes and sizes. Large ironstone pitchers in pristine shape are quite pricey so I decided to collect a range…
My love affair with old houses began when I was in high school. It was quite unexpected, really. I was working on a very important goal at the time … when I turned 16 I vowed to have a date every Saturday night until I graduated. That meant hair, make-up, and clothes were high on…
