My Love Language

Poor Scott! My love language is 'acts of service'. Not sometimes. Not that and something else. Just that. 'Acts of service.' 

Yup!

I pretty much love house projects. And although this is a a terrible picture of this project {I will take more when I get a chance} you can see he did a LOT to this tiny room. 

Wallpaper {swoon} 

Sconces {swoon}

All brass {swoon} 

 

Theology of Home

"Home, by its nature, is meant to be a foreshadowing of heaven. It is to be both satisfying in the earthly life while also offering a glimpse of things to come when we see the fulfillment of Christ's promise of heaven." ~ Gress, Mering 

My home is now decades in the making. Scott and I, over our twenty eight years, have crafted the place that it is now. I know that it won't always stay this way. We will forever be figuring out new seasons that will need new intentions and shifts as we reach the heart of our family and create a home that is a place to belong. We will always be planning, envisioning, building, and creating what our daughters need. 

My favorite places to be inspired are these. And I know that I need to be in them often, not once in a while. For those that I love draw from what I have filled into my own cup, my own soul. 

1. The Bible - yes, reading the Bible might seem daunting. Here are a few things that direct my time in the Word: 

• Read one Psalm a day - circle, write down any truth it teaches you about God. Underline every promise God gives
• Hebrews - write down what pleases God, the attributes of Jesus, His will for us to hold fast
• Proverbs - keep a list of what this book teaches you about folly vs. wisdom
• Read one chapter of John or Matthew a day - write down any lesson you learned
• Read through Philippians - notes all the ways Paul tells us to follow Jesus

2. Devotions - these are my favorites: 

• Padre Pio's Spiritual Direction For Everyday 
• Mom Heart Moments
• Word Among Us 
• Magnificat 
• Day by Day with Saint Faustina  

3. These books: The Theology of Home (there are four in the series) 

4. Sally Clarkson: You can find her on instagram and she has a weekly podcast. I belong to her membership for so much content that has taught me oh so much. 

I've always loved the cover of this first book. The mantle has a lot on it but I'm sure all rich in meaning within their catholic faith. After thinking it over I decided to collect some pieces that have meaning to our family and create something like it. 

Here is how it turned out: 

All of the things I chose are very meaningful to us. For example: 

This is Anna church on her college campus. It is a sacred place for our family as it was Anna's first church away from home; the first one that belonged to just her. 

We've also been there so many times for beautiful occasions that have wonderful memories for our entire family. 

I found these at a beautiful bookstore. There are drawings/art work of Anna and Abigail's saints, chosen at their Confirmation. I actually found Saint Kateri in the store and then commissioned the artist to create one for Saint Cecilia. They are very special to me. 

When I started this project I contacted our parish, the oldest catholic church in Connecticut. She found me this drawing of our church that was the original church drawing before the fire. 

A photo of my daughters in front of our church a few years ago on Easter Sunday. 

I added an oil painting of roses to symbolize our devotion of the Blessed Mother Mary. 

I do so love the way it turned out. It is a visual reminder of all that important in our lives. When I walk in the room I feel grounded and blessed. For our home to have that feeling is priceless to me. 

"Our homes are becoming sanctuaries - a place where we feel safe, protected, cared for... Making our homes a kind of sanctuary means more than simply having nourishing comfort food on the table. There must be nourishment for the soul. Without this, the soul will be left hungry and searching for the One who truly satisfies every desire of our hearts." Cress, Mering 

August Summer Kitchen

I read somewhere "let July be July, let August be August" 

and so

even though my heart is pulling me to all things cozy and fall, I plan on living out my fruity strawberry kitchen throughout August. 

I just redid a few things, deep cleaned, and loved the way it all turned out. 

Here and here is how it looked before (a lot of it is the same)  

I found that little cast iron skillet on this trip along with the strawberry tea towel... 

This was a 'must come home with me' from here too! 

I love these cookbooks so much. You can find them here. I first found one at a thrift store for $1 and had to hunt for the others in the collection. They are all handwritten and have the cutest little drawings. 

After we come home from our last little getaway in August (we are going back to Vermont) then I will begin to pack things up that are all summery and start to decorate for the fall. Can't wait! But still, let August be August. ❤

Not Afraid of Hard Work

I think for Abigail, physical hard work might actually be relaxing for her. 

This old home (that we love dearly) needs a lot of work to keep it up. We are the caretakers of this beauty and are honored to do it. But it does take work. 

Just before the 4th this year Abigail and Scott worked hard on the patio. 

There was a lot of moss that had grown up and around the bricks: 

And it all had to be pulled out. At first Scott thought the power washer would just zap it out but it was in there deep so I it all had to be pulled out by hand. Now that was time consuming, hard work: 

The whole patio and that walkway that leads there. She worked for hours while Scott power washed the bricks: 

We have quite a list of this summer to get to and probably won't get to all of it but we're 'chipping away' and that feels so good! 

Quilting

I wish it was me that could quilt. I certainly can not. But I love to find quilts and add them to our home. I've been enjoying this one recently for it's summertime loveliness. 

 

Strawberries in the Kitchen

Well, I packed up all of the red, white, and blue! Most of the kitchen as already summery but I changed around the table and shelves area where I keep tea, mugs and such. Here's a peek: 

I decided to take out our Strawberry china (Wedgwood) to enjoy for a while and I love it so much I had to stop and pick up some flowers! 

I adore Victoria Magazine and I'm often marking pages that inspire me so this photo shoot with my strawberry china feels like a page out of the magazine. 

I had to have this Emma Bridgewater mug -- it's perfect! 

Scott had a work meeting last week and it was near the Harney and Sons store... oh this Berry Cobbler tea! 

 

Summer Kitchen Tour

Gingham blue and pops of red strawberries make it a vintage, fourth of July, festive, summer kitchen. 

I love these old vintage tea towels that I cut and sewed for the little curtains. 

The baskets have been up all year and give it a homey, country look... and of course the sink skirt I still just love a sink skirt. 

That blue plate I found for a steal at a thrift store along with the Burleigh Asia Pheasants that were first made in England in 1862!  (link here) I dreaming of the matching teapot... 

Basket on the wall with a Susan Branch coookbook: Summer! 

I always adore a small lamp in the kitchen for a bit of cozy (even in the summer). I found this one at a tiny church thrift store. I was at first thinking of the autumn with it's navy but decided to give it a try for the summer and love it so much! 

The strawberry creamer and dish were a Laura Ashely find and lot's of milk glass tiny creamers. 

You'll have to click (here) to see the General Store up close! 

 These strawberry dishes make me so happy in the summer. Sometimes I'd see them on a shelf in the winter and keep thinking, it's coming! Summer is coming! 

Blue and white gingham and vintage strawberry dishes... such a joy to me! 

You can click (here) to see a few reels and some posts that are fun to look at with our summer kitchen.