♥ 30 Years Ago ♥

I loved him then…….

But I love him even MORE today.

We’re celebrating our 30th anniversary with a little mountain get-a-way (in the Newlywed Cabin).....just the two of us.  :)


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Be sure and stop back by tomorrow for my Sunporch Chat with Paula of The Fraker Farm.  I promise you won't be disappointed!  You're going to love her and her farm!  :)  

Pinned it, Made it! Monday ~ Week 2 ~

I’m so glad you joined me for Pinned it, Made it! Monday ~ Week 2 ~! And a BIG thank you to all the ladies that linked up and participated last week!


If you’re wondering what Pinned it, Made it! Monday is all about, it’s really simple. It’s motivation and encouragement to share something that we’ve pinned on Pinterest and then actually followed through with! If you’re like me, you probably have way more pins than you’ll actually follow through with and make, use, or try. But hopefully by looking forward to sharing here with on Mondays, it will help me along with my follow-through! I hope it will do the same for you! Besides, I can’t wait to see what YOU’VE been pinning and making! I just love Pinterest!

It can be anything you’ve pinned and actually followed through with, made, or tried………whether that be a recipe, a craft, a sewing project, a photography tip, a home decorating idea, organizational idea, home improvement project, exercise routine, household tips, a purchase, anything!

Now on to what I have to share this week! I love to write. I love to scrapbook (although I really don’t do it that much anymore because I just never seem to have the time). And I love recording (and treasuring) memories.  And I love gentle and sweet reflectings adorned with peaceful pictures of days gone by.   I’ve done journals and diaries, but when I saw memory journaling on Katy’s blog (The Country Blossom), I knew this really fit me and it was something I wanted to try!


Here’s the pin from The Country Blossom and the example of Katy’s work that set me on my way to begin memory journaling.

Actually Joy and I both started it last week. I bought each one of us a sketch diary like this (from Walmart).  They have little pockets in the front to hold pictures and supplies I might want to use.

Although you could choose and cut out pictures from magazines, I decided I would actually use pictures from Pinterest that caught my eye that I've pinned on one of my boards. After all that’s where I pin so many of the things I love anyway. It seemed the perfect place to find pictures for my memory journal. And I have a thing about cutting up my magazines.  Anyway, I decided to use 3-4 pictures from Pinterest per entry. I place them on the page where it’s pleasing to my eye. Then I just begin writing little snippets about my day.

Some things are “just the little things” such as cute things Luke says. It can be about time spent with my family or just what was accomplished during that day. Then I just give it a finishing touch with stickers, doodling, or whatever strikes me at the moment.

So I’ve only been at it a few days this week. It doesn’t take that long to complete a double spread page. I've only spent about 20 minutes each day so far.  Not that I will do one every day, but that will be the goal. It’s really kind of rewarding to look back and reflect over my day and add a little creative touch to my journaling. And the best thing about it to me is that I will be leaving a little piece of me, my thoughts and ramblings, in my handwriting, for my kids to have as a keepsake. I hope it will mean something special to them one day and that it will be something they will treasure one day!

To participate in Pinned it, Made it! Monday, here are the guidelines:

1) Just do a post about what you’ve pinned and made from Pinterest, then come back over here to Country Girl at Home and link that particular post (not your blog in general) on this post below.

2) I don’t mind if you link up more than one post….multiple entries are fine.

3) You must add my Pinned it, Made it! Monday button on your post or sidebar of your blog linking back to Country Girl at Home. You may get this button code on the page at the top of my blog labeled “Buttons”. Just copy and paste the code into your post. Please be kind and be sure and link back!

4) Be supportive and visit blog entries. I do ask that you visit at least one and leave a comment there. And don't forget to leave me one here! :) We all love comments, don’t we? It’s encouraging and uplifting!

5) By linking up and participating, you give me permission to use your entry photo if I decide to feature an entry.


So now it’s your turn! Come on (please) and link up below and show me what you’ve pinned and made! And I invite you to follow me on Pinterest too…..you’ll find the link to follow me right over there to the right on my sidebar.  The memory journaling pin from Katy can be found on my Pinterest board entitled Write it Down.   I'd also like to invite you to follow Country Girl at Home through Google Friends and Linky Followers (also found on the right on my sidebar)!  And thank you!  :)


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I'm excited to tell you that my next Sunporch Chat is going to take place this Wednesday!  Paula of The Fraker Farm is coming over to Country Girl at Home.   Paula is so much fun and you're going to love her!  I promise! Those of you that know her, love her already! You won't want to miss it!

Have a wonderful Monday! Happy Pinning (and Creating)!  :)

  ♥ Tammy ♥

Table Simplicity

The centerpiece on our breakfast table in the kitchen changes with the seasons, and sometimes just because I’m ready for a change, but one thing remains the same. It’s always simple.  :)

I like simple. To me, it makes more of a statement. It’s easier to move around, especially when on top of my table bench. And it doesn’t break the budget to come up with a simple table arrangement either.

And most important of all, it has to make me happy.  :)

I’m joining Elaine of Sunny Simple Life today by linking up with her for Sunny Simple Sunday. 


  ~ Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~ Leonardo da Vinci


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Don’t forget to join me tomorrow for Pinned it, Made it! Monday! I hope to see you here! I’ll have the post on later this evening if you want to come link up early. Thank you for stopping by today!  :)

Have a blessed Sunday!

♥ Tammy ♥

♥ Sunshine Award - (Fun Questions) ♥

Jo Ann of Sweet Pepper Rose gave me an award. It’s the Sunshine Award. That's a sweet name for an award, don't you think?  Thank you, Jo Ann! I thought the questions would be fun to answer, so I popped in here today to share them.

Here are the kind words that go along with the award:

The Sunshine Award is given to “bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere”.

Well I am honored, Jo Ann!  I know I get lots of inspiration and make lots of friends in blogland, and it’s my desire to do the same.

The rules say to nominate 10 people and let them know they’re nominated. I’m just going to say that if you’d like to answer these questions, just grab the button and consider yourself nominated because I love visiting so many blogs. Besides, I know many are “award free” blogs and I want to honor that too. But please, by all means, if you’d like to answer these questions, grab the award button and let me know, because I want to come read your answers! It gives us a little more insight to bloggers.  That's one reason I decided to do the Sunporch Chats. (Which by the way......the next one is coming soon)!

Okay, here we go.

1) Favorite Color - I just did an entire post on that. That’s easy. It’s most definitely RED.

2) Favorite animal? – Guess it’s a dog, but I have a cat (Bambi) and I want chickens.

3) Favorite number? – I don’t really have a favorite number but if I need to choose one, I’ll say 7.

4) Favorite drink? – Hot? Hot chocolate Cold? Diet Mountain Dew (I like it WAY too much)!  I'm trying to do much better drinking water throughout the day.

5) Facebook or Twitter? Neither. Just blogging and Pinterest.

6) Good book or good movie? Well I like both for different reasons. I really like a good book to read aloud to share with my kids and/or entire family. But I like to cuddle up with the family and watch a good movie too. Probably the good book outweighs the good movie though. Good (family) movies are getting harder and harder to find.

7) My passion? My faith, family, and home as in living a life pleasing to God, spending time and being a good wife and mother, and homemaker and decorator.

8) Giving or getting gifts? Giving! There’s nothing like the pleasure of giving. But I have to admit that it is exciting to get a package in the mail.

9) Favorite day? Friday. Hubby is getting off and we’re looking forward to the weekend. But I do like Mondays especially when we’re homeschooling because I look forward to getting into a weekday routine with the kids.

10) Favorite flower? Sunflowers!! They’re so cheery! But I also like daisies. My wedding bouquet was daisies and baby’s breath.

Well that was fun!  Thanks again Jo Ann!


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Also don't forget that Monday is rolling around again soon. Please join me for Pinned it, Made it! Monday. Have you pinned something on Pinterest and made or tried out an idea? 

It can be anything you’ve pinned and actually followed through with, made, or tried………whether that be a recipe, a craft, a sewing project, a photography tip, a home decorating idea, organizational idea, home improvement project, exercise routine, household tips, a purchase, anything!

To participate in Pinned it, Made it! Monday, here are the guidelines:

1) Just do a post about what you’ve pinned and made from Pinterest, then come back over here to Country Girl at Home and link that particular post (not your blog in general) to the linky list at the bottom of the Pinned it, Made it! Monday post.

2) I don’t mind if you link up more than one post….multiple entries are fine.

3) You must add my Pinned it, Made it! Monday button on your post or sidebar of your blog linking back to Country Girl at Home. You may get this button code on the page at the top of my blog labeled “Buttons”. Just copy and paste the code into your post.

4) Be supportive and visit blog entries. I do ask that you visit at least one and leave a comment there. And don't forget to leave me one here! :) We all love comments, don’t we? It’s encouraging and uplifting!

5) By linking up and participating, you give me permission to use your entry photo if I decide to feature an entry. Just grab the button code (found at the top of the blog on the button page) for your blog linking back to Country Girl at Home. Be sure to link up on the linky tools at the bottom of my Monday post leading folks to your blog post!


I'm looking forward to seeing you here Monday!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend!   :)

Faithful Friday - "Fill Your Home With Peace"

For Christmas, we gave Joy a devotional book and it’s just precious and so personal. It’s written as love letters from God. As a matter of fact, the name of it is His Princess (Love Letters from Your King). I just love it. Many days Joy reads it aloud to me. Some days she does it alone. And some days I grab it and just read random letters. There are no set dates for each devotional, just pages of love letters on different subjects. It's very uplifting.

The one I want to share with you today is for all of us homemakers out there. I think you’re probably like me. Being keeper of your home means so much. As homemakers, we sometimes feel the pressure to do as others do in their homes, or to have what others have in their homes. Maybe we’re not always content. But what we must remember is that more than having things, or doing as others do, we need to decorate and adorn our home with love, joy, and memories! So today (for Faithful Friday) I want to share with you what I read (last night). It touched a chord with me and blessed my heart. I hope it does the same for you!

My Princess….Fill Your Home with Peace

I know how hard it is for you to feel content in your home when you’re always wanting one more thing to make it the perfect place. I long to give you beautiful things that turn a house into the haven of a home; but My princess, you must first learn to let Me build in you a place of peace and contentment. Do your best to rest in Me and wait for Me, and then I will give you what I know will benefit you the most. I want you to make your home a place that builds relationships and reflects who you are in Me. Remember that your loved ones need you more than any material thing. So decorate your home with joy, fill it with timeless memories, and create a safe place to grow up in Me.


Love, Your King and your Resting Place

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you; I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled….. John 14:27 (NIV)

Won’t you join us for Faithful Friday? You can link up your post on Joy’s blog, Doodlebug. Grab the button code (so you can link to her blog) either here on the page at the top of my blog labeled buttons or you can get it on Joy’s blog. We want to come visit and read your Faithful Friday post too! And if you just stopped by to read, thank you! Be sure and leave an encouraging comment though! It means so much!


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I'm also linking up my strawberry freezer jelly recipe today with Lois (Walking on Sunshine) for Foodie Friend Friday Linky Party.  There's always great recipes.  Check it out!

Blessings!

♥ Tammy ♥

♥ Red ♥

Red.

It’s my favorite color. That goes for decorating and for just about anything, including wearing. As a matter of fact, I’m wearing a red shirt as I type this. AND I have red-tinted hair (from a bottle yes, but nevertheless red).

According to all the “experts”, this is what it says about a person whose favorite color is red:

Red  Those who love red live life to the fullest and are tenacious and determined in their endeavors.

I guess I am pretty passionate about just everything and when I get determined, it IS hard to change my mind.  Hmm.....

Colt (my oldest) says everything around here is either red or tan. He also says that’s my answer to any question. He’s right. I just think you can’t go wrong with red. To me, it’s a happy color and it’s warm, cozy, and inviting. I just love being surrounded by red. (I need a button for my blog like yours Ms. Betty)!

I have to make myself try other colors because I naturally gravitate towards red especially when it comes to decorating. Let’s just take a look around my home to see how much I do love red……. We’ll start with the living room.

Let's see....we have the red walls, the pump lamp and of course my favorite, the red checked Johnston Benchworks couch that I dreamed of and waited so long to be sitting here.

 

And there’s the Liberty red checked fireside chair and the red shutters flanking the fireplace.

Next we’ll go into the kitchen. In here, we have the back door and the curtains. (Please excuse a few of these slightly blurry pics....I was experimenting with low light and didn't do very well).

The pantry door.

And my favorite piece, period........the stepback cupboard that Jason made.

Next we’ll move into the dining room. In here, I’m kind of proud of myself. I only accented with red. That showed much self-control.

Next on to the hallway bathroom. No self control here. It’s everywhere!

Okay, we’ll walk upstairs and take a look at the upstairs bath. I just went with a deeper shade of red here for the trim to accent. I had to try hard to refrain here on the red. Instead I used mostly blacks with the deep red accents. Can't be too predictable, right? (You can't see the rest of the black here, but it's there....I promise!)

This bathroom is still not quite finished.  But it's closer....Maybe I can share it soon.

Even Luke’s room has accents of a brighter red. But it definitely fits him.

Come to think of it, the only rooms with no red are the master bedroom, master bath and Joy’s room. (Even Colt’s room had touches of red).

And talk about red, The Cedar Loft is full of it!

And outside:

red shutters and planters

Red stars are everywhere....

Yes, I think you could walk in my house and easily guess that this Country Girl at Home’s favorite color is red. :)

So what’s YOUR favorite color?


To read a little snippet about what your favorite color says about your personality, click here.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a great day!  :)


♥ Tammy ♥

Strawberry Freezer Jelly

For years, my Aunt Betty has made strawberry freezer jelly for all the family. She loved to pick strawberries and then make the jelly. She would ask each family how many jars we’d like. We’d save jars all year for her. She must have spent hours and hours doing this for us all. You may remember me posting and asking prayer for the family when we lost Aunt Betty and Uncle Junior in the car wreck the end of May.  I will always think of her with my strawberry freezer jelly.

My kids have grown up on the strawberry freezer jelly. As a matter of fact, for the longest time, Colt (my oldest) didn’t even know there was any other kind of jelly. One day we ran out of the freezer jelly and I purchased grape jelly from the grocery store. He had no idea there were other flavors even. He was shocked.  For him still to this day, the only kind of jelly worth eating is strawberry freezer jelly.

Strawberries were on sale last week for $1.00 at Walmart.  So, Jason and I decided it was time to make our first batch the end of last week. One of the 16 oz cartons of strawberries makes 6 half pint jars for us. And it really makes it go quicker and more smoothly to have two people working on it. We did 12 jars the first night.

Since then, my mom and I have made more. I think we’ve done a total of 48 jars so far. We’ve still got strawberries waiting on us. My dad keeps picking up more!  lol!

Here’s how we do it:

Strawberry Freezer Jelly

To make 6 half pint jars (freezer safe ones), you need:

4 cups sugar
16 oz of strawberries (2 cups of strawberries chopped in blender)
1 box sure jell
¾ cup water

Remove the stems from the strawberries and wash the strawberries. Chop in blender. I put 4-5 in there at a time shaking the blender container around to make sure all are blended and slowly add the same amount to it until all are blended.

Put 4 cups of sugar in a bowl (I ended up using one that has a pouring lip on it to make it easier later). Add your strawberries (16 oz or the 2 cups blended strawberries). Let that sit for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

When there’s about 2 minutes left on my timer for the above, I start the sure jell on the stove. Add 1 box of sure jell to 3/4 cup water in a small stewer. Stir constantly until it begins boiling. When it starts to boil, set your timer for 1 minute. While it’s boiling, stir occasionally.

After that one minute, remove from the stove and add to the strawberry/sugar mixture.

Stir the sure jell/water from the stewer into the strawberries making sure it’s mixed well. Stir occasionally for 3 minutes (again I set my timer).

After 3 minutes, you’re ready to pour it up into your jars.

You can see here that I moved it to the pouring bowl.  We learned it makes it easier to just start with that bowl.

Leave about ½ inch from the top to allow for expansion in the freezer. Cover with lids.

Leave the jars out at room temperature to allow them to set for 24 hours.

After 24 hours, move to the freezer.

They will keep in the freezer for a year and in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. (I know I have kept mine longer than that in the refrigerator though). To thaw them for use, move to the refrigerator.

Isn't that easy?  :)

Colt came out Saturday and was very excited to see that we had strawberry freezer jelly made. He made sure he left the house with a couple of jars to take back to his apartment and the assurance that he could come back for more when that was gone. Lol!

It’s so easy to make. It takes us about 45 minutes to make 12 jars. Not long at all. And it’s SO good! So go on…..get you some strawberries and make some. You’ll be glad you did! And just think, you'll be able to enjoy it all winter long on those biscuits on a cold morning!  :)


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Thank you for the very kind comments on my post yesterday. It’s those about my family that make me smile the most. :)


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And I have to share what came in the mail for me yesterday! JoAnn of Sweet Pepper Rose sent me this cross-stitched bookmark.

I love what it says….it says it all……In the beginning, God…….. Isn’t that great and so sweet of her? This is now my read-aloud bookmark for our homeschooling. Thank you so much, JoAnn!

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On another note, I have another Sunporch Chat in the works……more on that later…….. ;)  And thank you for stopping by today! Have a wonderful Wednesday!  :)


♥ Tammy ♥

♥ All Dressed Up ♥

My little girl is growing up! Joy was invited to a friend’s 16th “Sweet Sixteen” birthday party. She’s been so excited about it because it was a chance to get dressed up. It was a (semi)formal dress-up party followed by a swimming party. Great combination, huh? Perfect for Joy anyway, our girly tomboy.

After she was all dressed up and ready to go, her daddy just about changed his mind. He asked if there were going to be boys at the party and then quickly offered to stay at the party.  :)

I took a few pictures. ;)

With her brothers.....Colt and Luke

Colt’s girlfriend, Amber, came over and styled Joy’s hair. You may have seen Joy’s post yesterday that she linked for Pinned it, Made it! Monday. She pinned a hairstyle (on Pinterest) she liked and Amber (Colt's girlfriend), being the talented hair stylist she is, recreated it with Joy’s hair. It was beautiful!

The dress is hanging in the closet and her hair is pulled back in a ponytail now, but it was fun for a day to get all dressed up and feel (and look) like a princess.  Even when little girls grow up, they still like to play dress up.  Sigh…. I guess I can’t keep her little forever. I’m so thankful she’s a young lady with a good head on her shoulders and high standards.  :)

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Thank you to those who participated in my first Pinned it, Made it! Monday!  I appreciate you so much!  I had hoped for at least four participants for my first one and there were seven!  Thank you SO much ladies!   I enjoyed seeing what you pinned and made or tried!  Please join me again next Monday as we do the same thing all over again!  So get to work pinning and trying it out!  :)  And if you would help me spread the word, I'd be so very thankful for that as well! 

Thanks also for stopping by today and have a wonderful day!  :)