Do you have a lot of Summer projects that you are trying to finish?
I do!
We have family coming to stay for a week and I am scrambling to finish up a few of my lovely ideas.
I found two adirondack chairs for $5 at a yard sale this past weekend. They will be wonderful to have when people visit. My son is out pressure washing them now in preparation to sand and paint them a glossy white.
Isn't he the sweetest?!
Isn't he the sweetest?!
I am also staining our large outdoor farm table. I keep looking for mismatched wood chairs, but have not been able to find any. I might just settle for benches.
I would love it to look like this...
I would love it to look like this...

Country Living
Here are some other wonderful spaces.

Country Living

Country Living
The picture above was my inspiration to build our big outdoor table:).

SuzieBeezie
I am somewhat of a daydreamer.
But isn't it fun?
But isn't it fun?
Contentedness does not mean we have to stop collecting ideas on our wish list.
You can be perfectly happy with what you have and still dream a little.
The trick is to not let your dreaming make you think that what you have is not right, or practical, or worthy.
For instance...this is my dream house...
You can be perfectly happy with what you have and still dream a little.
The trick is to not let your dreaming make you think that what you have is not right, or practical, or worthy.
For instance...this is my dream house...
Gast Architects
Or even this one... I'm not picky:).
Houzz
Inside is my dream bath...
Nicole Hollis
Five wonderful bedrooms, PLUS an extra....for all of our treasured guests.
On warm Summer nights, our kids would sleep on the porch.
apartmenttherapy.com
I'd cook them pancakes and eggs in the morning in my big beautiful kitchen, complete with wainscot on the ceiling.

Country Living
Open beams are nice, too:).
Houzz
I just adore white.
Nicole Hollis
It's fun to imagine what it would be like.
But do you want to know a secret?
It's not so much that if I had these things everything would be rosy and peachy keen.
The images above evoke a feeling.
And I know that by implementing some of the ideas into my own home, I can create the same presence.
That's why I love to dream.
The Lord blessed us all with talent to create warm and inviting spaces...and that doesn't mean we have to spend a million dollars:). Being happy with our current homes, inviting those who need rest, using our spaces to bless those who enter through our doors...this is what the Lord wants from us.
For me, it is one of the ways I feel God uses our family.
So, we are getting ready for our guests.
We will be doing a lot of outdoor dining and some of us will be sleeping in tents for fun!
We will spend hours talking and laughing...catching up together.
Even though having a bigger house would be wonderful, I know that giving our guests a lasting memory depends upon our caring and loving them for who they are while they are in our cozy home.
Good luck with all of your projects this Summer!
I will leave you with a really yummy recipe from the Penzeys catalog.
It is great for a Farmer Hubby who needs high calorie meals right now:).
Jen's Pesto Chicken
1 lb. new red potatoes
1/4 c. olive oil
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
16 oz. Penne pasta
1 lb. cooked chicken breasts/ 4c. shredded
8 oz. pesto sauce *
1/2 c-1c. pine nuts
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut potatoes into cubes and season with olive oil and garlic powder. Mix well and bake on a roasting pan for 35 minutes, turning at 25 minutes. Cook pasta. Add shredded chicken, pesto, potatoes, pine nuts, and olive oil to taste. Garnish with Parmesan and enjoy!
Easy Pesto
Blend together...
2/3 c. olive oil
1 c. fresh basil leaves
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
3 minced garlic cloves
{Makes 8 oz.}
* I am going to make this recipe, freeze in ice cube trays and seal in bags for the Winter.
Yum!
9 comments:
i am starting to dream you dream now...those inspiration pictures are so amazing. that recipe sounds delicious. i am going to have to make that for dinner sometime.
Leslie, My Mom tried it last night and said it was great! I am excited to use basil from the garden....so delish:).
~Julia
Love those pictures! Especially the outdoor dining pictures. And the idea of kids sleeping on the porch in the summer - so so appealing. I think you're right - it's the feeling, not necessarily the things. I know your guests will appreciate the way you make them feel invited. And that high calorie meal sounds divine - maybe my husband and I will have to go pull some weeds after dinner!!
Love all the pictures especially the first. I recognized it immediately as one of my favorite CL pictures. Good luck getting everything accomplished!
Beautiful inspriation pictures! We wouldn't be having fun without projects to do right?
I love to dream too! But I love what you said about those pictures evoking a feeling. And, that it's something we can create in our homes now. SO well said. What a wonderful reminder. I have bookmarked your blog so I can come back and read that again and again.
I ADORE your blog and am sooo happy to have found it again so I can follow along! :) I love your outlook on life and living simply yet to the fullest. What a blessing...
I must ask, though, as I can't hold back my excitement (and maybe it's somewhere I haven't seen), what state or general area do you live in?? My hubby and I are planning where we want to settle down with our brood in a few years, and THIS is exactly what it looks like in my mind!! Prairies, mountains, lakes, and plenty of wide open spaces for our family to grow and enjoy the simple life... What a beautiful, heavenly place! You can email if you'd like... ;)
Blessings to you and yours!!
Kate
blissandthat@yahoo.com
I think we may be long lost sisters...those are exactly the kinds of things I dream about as well. Old farmhouses with lots of porches (especially a sleeping porch), white everywhere, beautiful gardens and outdoor eating areas. Ahh, isn't it divine? Thanks for sharing the pics!
Oh, Julia! All these photo's! I loved the one with the girl on the table (because she was not on "my" table! - cute dress though, don't you agree?
Gots to make me some of those lanterns. When bored I collected all kinds of empty jars and peeled labels.
I asked for my future home to have open beams with the ceiling looking much higher. Like on your one photo. Hubby said NO! I should bat my eyes a bit more.
Well, it is okay to dream I totally agree.
(by the way... my prayers have been answered Julia. My Dear will have work for the next 3 months (at least) I finally see building permits coming soon.) Thank you for praying for my family! Love in Him...
SB
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