The Porch Project

I was reviewing old blog posts and realized that I had neglected to finish one I had started from 2010.  It was a stroll down memory lane for me and I thought you might enjoy it as well.

It was a sad looking little farm house when we first bought the farm. Tired paint colors, strange porch railing, no front steps, broken lattice. Just sad. Sniff.

The Porch - Before

Then Pop devised a plan. He and I bought wood. We bought ballusters, 4x4s, 2x6s, stair treads and risers. We asked for help - lots of it - even more help than wood. We followed Pop's direction and leadership and put the wood together to create a new porch to make the house look happier. Oh, yeah - we also repaired and painted the house. It took us much of the spring and summer. We think it was worth it.

Our renovated porch already holds many memories...late night visits...iced drinks while sitting in rocking chairs...Fourth of July celebrations, etc.  Good stuff.

The Porch - After

I Love Susan Winget's Art Work!

I first discovered Susan Winget's art work in the form of a 2009 Lang calendar at Cracker Barrel and have admired her work ever since.  One of her calendar pages (September 2010) became the inspiration for much of the decor in our recently renovated kitchen.  I had previously framed select calendar pages for our mud room which helped its dated appearance tremendously...we will soon be tackling that space to update it and Susan's art will show up again when that project is completed!

I kept the colors in mind as I chose cabinetry, counter top, flooring, and paint colors.  I pinned it on one of my many Pinterest boards and showed it to my friends and family as things developed.

I thought I would like the more primitive rooster at the bottom of this picture more than the whimsical ones...but whimsy won out in the end. I love them so much that I meticulously cut them out and decoupaged them onto a box that holds my tea bags and sits near my Keurig!

I also purchased an inexpensive canvas and tried out some latex and acrylic paints, stick on letters, and Modge Podge.  I LOVE it!

Here it is in my kitchen!

And here is a closeup...it deserves it...just look at those roosters!!

Susan lives and works from her studio on a farm in North Carolina.  She blogs, uses facebook, and even has a Pinterest account...which is where she saw my inspiration board containing her awesome roosters!!  I hope you will visit her website and check out her work...the roosters are just the tip of the iceberg!  Enjoy!

Buyer's Remorse

Over the holiday, I went to the local variety store of my hometown with my mom, sister, and sis-in-law.  Our mission was to pick out fabric for a quilt for Mom to make my sis-in-law; but of course, we had to look at other things as well and we stumbled onto this wall hanging and thought it was cute and clever and would work perfectly in the future Four Sisters Farm kitchen...I was a bit smitten and I purchased it (along with a "God Bless Cowboys" plaque that will someday hang in the bunk room).

I decided to place it in Pop's Christmas stocking hanging at the mantle of my folk's house as sort of a silly joke.  Well...the way things worked out, Pop and I didn't get to stay long enough for the festivities of the evening as we had to make the several hour drive back home that night.  So I loaded up the contents of our stockings into a bag and we headed on home.  As we drove and I pondered the time we had just spent with family, I also pondered the sign and realized that I just couldn't do it...Pop DOES rule the roost but not in a bad way and I definitely do NOT rule the rooster at Four Sisters Farm.  It would be like advertising a lie if I hung up this cutesy little sign in our home.

Some folks would think it is just a joke...no big deal...but I believe otherwise.  Scripture says, "Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbor and says, 'I was only joking!'" (Proverbs 26:18-19).  One of the things I told the four sisters as they were growing up is that joking always has roots in what a person really believes.  I have found this to be true over and over.  Sarcasm (sometimes we call it joking) is rampant in our lives these days.  We hear it all around us...we see it on television in sitcoms and we refer to someone as "witty" when they have mastered the art of hurting someone in a way that makes others laugh.

I looked up the definition of sarcasm and it means "a sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remark" so I also looked up irony which means "the use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite of its literal meaning".  Hmmm...so if we say things that mean the opposite, isn't that the same as lying?  I think so.

I will pass on cute and clever and tell you what I really believe about Pop...he is THE man here at Four Sisters Farm.  He takes his responsibilities to care for me and our family very seriously.  I very happily accept my place under his leadership knowing that he has my best interest at heart.  He understands that his role as a leader brings responsibility and accountability with God and his desire is please God.  I know he isn't perfect and I know he will make mistakes (me too); even so, I choose to follow him.

Maybe I can find a cute, clever sign with a rooster that says something like, "He rules the roost, and I love the rooster!"  That would be closer to the truth.  There is plenty to laugh about at Four Sisters Farm without making fun of anyone.  It is a safe place to be.  It's one of the things I love about Four Sisters Farm.

Purposeful Repurposing

"Waste not, want not." I've heard the quote since I was small; though it isn't from scripture, it makes good sense.

I've witnessed my folks, my grandparents, and other smart folks repurposing things all my life - whether it is restoring something, making it into something else, or passing it along to someone else who can use it, the example has never been wasteful.

Pop and I recently graduated from our big, old, big, heavy, big, cumbersome (did I say big?) television to a flat panel TV mounted on the wall. Ahh...the floorspace we gained!!

But what to do with the old tv armoire?

Well...my old computer space was needing some help. The space was a bit junky and disorganized and always out in the open.

So we repurposed both pieces and took the keyboard drawer glides and added them to one of the armoire shelves. Now I can have my keyboard AND my mouse at the same level! Go, Pop!! Strong work!

We took off the back of the top piece that had been cut out to allow for the BIG tv, cut one of the shelves in half, added a light, sorted the stuff and put it in drawers all neat and organized and the old computer desk is in Pop's "red shed" awaiting it's new assignment there.

Wala...tada!

Done! The Interior Staircase

We finally pulled down the curtain hiding the mess that we call the interior staircase. I put away all the things I had stored (okay, hidden) on the steps and drug the rolls of carpet down and out of the way so we could get going on it.

What we thought was about a four day project turned into a bit more than that but it always does...and we just keep doing more.

The purple wall you see is actually a special type of sheet rock that helps deaden noise. Good thing since our bedroom is on the other side. It's worth the extra cost.

My hero, Pop, took the lead and figured out what all we needed and how to put it all together. He always asks my opinion and listens to my outrageous ideas, then we get to work. I've beome a pretty good construction assistant. Most of the time I know when to be quiet, when is a good time to ask questions, which tool will be needed next, how to work certain equipment (like the air compressor powered nail gun), etc; so Pop and I make a pretty good team.


My latest outrageous idea was to put drawers into the last step/landing to house family games in. Pop's idea for the last step/landing was to have a place for the grandkids to use as a stage. I think both ideas were good ones and Pop figured out how to make it happen.

The cowboys thought we should just take out the stairs and put in a slide. That would be fun!

Pop graciously acted like Vanna to show off the newly completed project in the following pic. I think he's pretty proud of his work - and he should be!


I think I'll keep him around another 35 years or so. The better he gets at doing these projects and the more tools he accumulates makes me think I'd better add some items to my honey do list!

You'll see another post about our next project soon. Stay tuned.

Handy Grammy - Bubba's Perspective

I've been working on some projects at Four Sisters Farm lately. Mostly painting. So when Bubba wanted to help me get my things together to work on some front porch painting, he grabbed a paper and crayon to make a list and this image is what he came up with.

I think that maybe Pretty Princess is right...my wardrobe (and possibly my hair) could use a bit of sprucing up. Hmmmm. At least there is a smile on my face. :-) I love you, Bubba and I'm glad you love your Grammy.

The Perfect Birthday Gift

I'm not into the material stuff but as we've made progress at the farm and I've dreamed about what it will someday look like I've thought about gatherings at Four Sisters Farm - these gatherings include food (of course) and family and friends and I started thinking about the perfect farm dishes...I sent a link to the website to my girls to get their opinion so long ago that I had forgotten about it for now and they, along with Pop, surprised me for my birthday...it will be a long time before the upstairs is renovated and we have the kind of country kitchen I'm dreaming of...but for now, we have started on the collection of dishes. I'm a happy camper, er, farmer's wife and Grammy. I'm happy.

The making of a nursery

Little Q's arrival happened so quickly that I had no time to whip his nursery into shape.  I kept reminding myself to relax, that it would get done in time.  But I just couldn't stop thinking about it.  I know he still bunks with us but I wanted to complete a space just for him.  I think I am nesting after the fact. 

This is a shot of the guest bedroom.  I still had Christmas decorations stored in there as well as tons of baby items given to us by fantastic family and friends.

Daddy and Wubba put the crib together.  It is an important job for a big brother.  Bubba got to help Daddy put the crib together before Wubba was born.  Now it's Wubba's turn!

Aunt DW gave us Southern Gentleman's crib bedding, lamp shade and valances long before we had any clue we would have another baby boy.  When I opened up the storage box, I was just amazed at how perfect it is!  Thanks DW!

One of my girlfriends gave us the "Q" sign.  I love it!

What do you think of the place?

Working at it...

King Size Bed...

I love you.

Why didn't we do this earlier? This would have been really handy when we had tiny babies who needed to be fed at all hours of the night. This would have been grand when I was pregnant and took up 3/4 of our queen size bed. All you king size bed owners have been holding out on me. It is heavenly. Oh my stars.
We finally made the switch because Pop and Grammy had this bed in their guest bedroom in SC. They moved it here and I stole it....and I'm not giving it back.

I love this new bed so much that I went out and bought her a whole new outfit...doesn't she look pretty!

Come to think of it...it's bed time now...I'm outta here. Another fantastic nights sleep in my big comfy king size bed. Goodnight.

Pop's and Grammy's Living Space Update

Here's our new welcome mat...come see us soon!

Here is our entrance - it isn't finished yet but will be soon. Pop picked out a great door and I love it! He had good taste!
This is what you see beyond the door...we've picked out some cabinets but haven't ordered them just yet. Farm Chick is such a good cook and she and EJ such good hosts and the cowboys so much fun that we are not hurrying. :-)

This is a view of the living space from the kitchen area. We're really pleased...and when our furniture finally arrives we will like it better so we can sit somewhere!

This is our bathroom...the vanity is my favorite thing so far and the inspiration piece for our kitchen cabinetry...I can't wait until it is all done!!

We still have several phases of construction before we are "done" with the basement but we'll get there...watch for updates as we go.

More Floor

Whew! It's done! Here are a few pics the first one looking toward the fireplace and the second one at the bottom of the stairway from the mudroom. The colors look different in the pictures but they are actually very similar in real life.

If you want info about staining your own concrete I highly recommend this low cost way to do a really stellar floor! There are tons of info on the web - Don't pay big prices for the stain - explore homemade recipes (I used water and Copperas which is brand name for Iron Sulfate which is a plant food so to speak...the only warning on the label is "may stain concrete!"). Basically you clean the floor, stain the floor (multiple layers as desired), clean the floor, seal the floor. It's hard, time-consuming work but it pays off in HUGE dividends in what you save.

Making Progress

Whew...we are getting some things done in the basement of the farmhouse! It's been a slow go and we are clearing the hurdles as they come. We have encountered a few problems like plumbing leaks and logistical issues (you know, the domino effect - like electrical needing to be done before sheetrocking, etc.). Our electrician (who is also a family friend) was delayed due to his mom (also our friend) was in the hospital twice. We are praising God with them that she is recovering from a near death bout of infection in her bloodstream due to an abdominal abcess. Yikes!

Here are some pictures so you can see the progress...

The Kitchen! There is one of our plumbing leaks...soon to be fixed!

Master Bedroom

Bathroom

A beautiful phone jack...to be hooked up today!

Our test spot for concrete staining...also occuring today.

The entrance light.

Temporary bedroom in the basement.

We'll post more when more progress is made...We're getting excited!!

We may have jumped the gun...

When we moved here we went ahead and purchased a bunk bed. We only use the lower bunk for Bubba and Wubba still sleeps on a crib mattress. (not a crib...he was jumping out of his and hurting his legs) Obviously, neither of our boys are old enough to be on the top bunk yet. Anyway, we turned the bunk bed so that the ladder is pinned against the wall. This way we can keep them from getting on the top bunk and getting hurt. That worked for about 9 months. Now they are regularly climbing onto the top bunk. They know they aren't supposed to be up there but it is just too tempting. After their Aunt's accident, I just can't take it. EJ will be helping me to take the top bunk down and store it. We are going to slide the second mattress under the bed and use it as a trundle. Problem solved.

My Garden Must Be Cute...

I can't wait to get my little signs in the ground. Oh, that's right, there is supposed to be a blizzard tomorrow. Guess I better wait for a while.