Joy. It has a different definition for each of us. For some of us it may be spending time with friends out on the town, for others, we may prefer a quiet night at home. Some of are energized by being around a lot of people and others of us are quite the opposite. If you’re having trouble finding your joy. What makes you happy, what makes you smile, what gives you peace (or if you know someone who is) read on…
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Our Town Plans does it again with a gorgeous house plan that could easily be built alongside older homes and fit right in. So nice with a front entry porch as well as a side porch. You can enter the garage from the back and then enter into the back of the house. I think it’s nice that you don’t see the garage. Read on to see the rest of this plan…
Continue reading “Glenn Court House Plan by Our Town Plans for Southern Living!”
This isn’t my best photo (haha, laughing as I type this… literally), yet it’s one of my very favorites – I was trying to take a selfie with my family several visits ago, and we all started laughing. The photo didn’t “turn out” but I love it, because it shows my family how we really are. I have no idea what we were laughing at – probably just trying to get us all to look into the camera, ha ha.
Continue reading “Sneak a little happy into your day – Every. Day.”
I picked up Southern Living magazine and was reading through it when I came upon this recipe for bean soup. Thank goodness! This recipe came at a perfect time! “Senate Soup” was a delight to make and made the house smell amazing. Not too many ingredients, and the few that are in this recipe come together beautifully. With just two of us here, we should have dinner for several days! #winwin
Continue reading “Capital Hill Bean Soup Recipe (AKA “Senate Soup”)”
Melanie Morris. Her zinnia’s are out of this world! I love a happy painting, full of wonderful color and a subject matter that I adore. Zinnia’s fit the bill on both counts. I like the trees in the distance, it gives you a feel for how large this zinnia field is! I like the zinnia’s that are poking up reaching towards the sun like the overachievers they are. Wonderful detail up front blending into the more subdued in the back gives that feeling of depth. What a beautiful field this must be…
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A guest house or a home? Well, I think the decision is yours. The Red Fox house plan will fit seamlessly with any of the Sailer Design house plans for use as a guest cottage. How nice to give your friends and family their own space. A well-appointed interior with the bonus of a covered porch is a #winwin in my book. Stylish design for sure.
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South Carolina. We sure have some beautiful scenery. I took this photo years ago at Botany Bay (Edisto, SC). This beautiful marsh scene makes me feel calm, serene, and peaceful. Botany Bay is a sanctuary (literally). From driving through the winding roads looking at nature all around you to getting out and taking a walk on the beach, you will certainly be mesmerized at such untouched beauty.
Continue reading “Life! Take a breath.”
I was so excited to make this recipe that I forgot to take a photo of it plated (and it was so pretty!) – That’s OK, the gist of it is in this photo – the salmon. Which couldn’t have been easier. Since I’m just growing up and trying to find my way to loving salmon, I made a mustard dill sauce, which was outstanding! Mix together the mustard dill sauce first so its flavors can be mingling while you prep and bake the salmon…
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Brett Eberhardt. Someone shared this painting on social media and it caught my attention. I see so many paintings – a select handful will jump out at me and make me say, WOW. I love Brett’s description of this painting – he nailed this painting beyond belief! I mean, just look at the sheen on the floor, the oh so slight reflections. The years of paint – some of it chipping away. The tiles… can’t you just see them? This painting tells a story! But this time, you get to know what the story is!
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Winter light. Winter skies. (Not to mention cooler winter temps!) Ahhh, I love them. The sky seems bluer and the golden light is amazing as it highlights the trees. Something stark and leaf barren can be stunning. Note the small moon… Late fall/winter are my favorites. Maybe winter (in Charleston) is my favorite because it’s more like fall in the midwest.
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Let sleeping dogs lie, quite literally in this case. The sun was streaming in, Charlie had his walk checked off the list and a full belly. He happily hopped into his bed, tucked himself tightly and fell asleep. How nice to be Charlie! Now, let’s talk organization… I have a simple strategy for tackling a big (or small) job. Closets, drawers, you name it. #letsgetitdone
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Beans. They should be far more popular than they are. Some people think beans are cheap and not worth all the time to make. But, the truth is, they don’t take all that long, and the taste can be out of this world delicious, with the added benefit that they’re easy on the wallet. Growing up, long ago, we used to eat beans every once in a while – my favorite part of that meal was the (Jiffy) cornbread, ha ha. But I was a kid with a limited palette. Thank goodness I’ve grown up and oh boy, are these beans ever fabulous. The taste is out of this world. The secret is in the…
Continue reading “Great Northern Beans, Collards & Homemade Cornbread!”
Kevin Mizner. His paintings bring back wonderful memories and are so true – not just in the way a scene looks, but how it FEELS. The wharf on Monhegan is the place to be, it’s where the magic happens. Arrivals, departures – hellos, goodbyes, the waiting, the excitement of arriving, the bittersweetness of departing, the trucks lined up to pick up baggage from those who arrive. Ahhh, great memories! Memories that Kevin has captured perfectly.
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Bridges. There are several bridges in Charleston, SC that allow boat traffic through, these are bascule bridges that draw up (with 12 hour advance notice). This is the Ashley River Memorial Bridge that takes you from downtown Charleston to the West Ashley side of Charleston (West of the Ashley river). There are two bridges 1/10th of a mile apart. They’re quite dramatic.
Continue reading “Sunset at the Ashley River Memorial Bridge – Charleston, SC”
Can you imagine? A stunning setting and a beautiful home – it’s what dreams are made of, right? (Not to mention there are two options for configuration of the upstairs on this plan giving you added flexibility). This is a beautiful plan that takes advantage of the stunning views that surround it. I think I would paint this house black. Seriously, it would fade into the setting. Can you imagine how beautiful it would be in the evening with the warm glow of light coming through the windows. I may even upsize the windows a bit, depending where I lived at the time. I love that Yankee can modify a plan to make it yours!
Continue reading “The Cabot Barn Home by Yankee Barn Homes!”
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