I'm Back!

    Hello, readers!  I am happy to be back here writing again.  We had a lovely time during Colton's vacation.  We didn't accomplish everything we set out to, as we had quite a bit of rain that hindered our outdoor projects, but that was a blessing too.  We live in a drought-prone area, so rain is always welcome!  And it meant more time inside to slow down and simply be together.

    As for what we did get done, I am very happy about it!  First, we painted our living room, dining room, and loft, which are all open to each other.  We started out with wood paneling- the kind that was ever so popular in the 70s when our home was built- and now we have white walls!  With our high ceilings, this was no small feat.  It took four coats of paint on top of the primer coat, but we got it done, and the transformation is immense.  I will admit that the paneling had a cozy element to it, but day after day for years, it can start to feel like a cave that closes in, at least for me.  Now it feels so much bigger and brighter; I don't think a day goes by in which we don't comment on how much more we like it.  (I still need to get my curtains and pictures hung back up!)

    Outside, Colton was able to get a little more work done on the raised beds.  I will save the progress photos for a Part 2 of this project.  As with all projects, we hit a few snags, but we are closer to getting them finished.

    During his time off, we also took a fun day trip.  The kids stayed with my parents while Colton and I drove to Round Top!  Now if you don't know, Round Top, Texas is home to one of the biggest antique fairs in America.  Twice a year for about two weeks each, vendors come from all over the world to set up their wares along 11 miles (according to the website) of Texas highway.  The spring show happened to be during Colton's vacation slot, so we decided to go!

    It was a lot of fun- and a lot of walking, which is why we didn't take the kids.  The forecast had predicted rain, but we took a chance and it ended up only being cloudy.  It was miles of tents like this:

    Inside one of the tents:

    The vendors sell everything from antiques and collector items to handmade items, yard and garden art, and outright junk. Some people sold things like rolls of rusty barbed wire and old cable spools, and there was even a huge tent set up with nothing but tables and tables of deer antlers (deer shed their antlers yearly- they don't have to be killed for them).  Colton and I joked several times that we could make a fortune off of ranch "junk" if we set up a tent.

    One lady had a tent full of her homemade potpourri, along with various containers to hold it.  It was beautiful and smelled wonderful. 

    There were several vendors that sold things out of old houses, like hardware and architectural elements:

    We skipped the big show barns, as those charge admission.  That is where all of the high dollar pieces are, like the European antiques.  The famous designers frequent those barns.  We didn't bother- there was plenty to look at for much less.  Prices varied from the garage sale/thrift store range to the typical antique dealer range.  I also found several pieces that were priced significantly less than they typically would be at an antique store, and I took advantage!

    We saw tons of vintage chandeliers.  They were beautiful, and some were huge like this one:

    It is hard to tell the size of it from my photo, but it was massive.  It was hanging, but I'd venture to say it was nearly as tall as me.  The prices, though!  I kept telling Colton how my Craigslist find was a steal.  What I paid for my chandelier didn't even come close to what these vendors were charging, not even by a long shot.  So I was very pleased about that.

    I wish I had taken more photos, but I was trying to be discreet about it.  When we went 10 years ago, there were several vendors with signs up that said "No Photos".  However, that was before social media was a big deal- I imagine they might welcome the advertising nowadays.  Still, I didn't want to cause any issues, so I kept the pics to a minimum.  A Google search will give you tons of photos if you want to see more.

    Here is what I ended up buying:

    The first thing is a long, antique chicken feeder, which I plan to use as a centerpiece on my dining table.  I can decorate seasonally with it by adding candles, pumpkins, pinecones, moss, etc. to it.  It will also fit nicely on top of the piano or mantle, so I have many options.

    Second is an antique sewing machine drawer, which I plan to mount on the wall as a shelf.  

    Next is a booklet of sheet music.  I have a project in mind for this that I have wanted to do for years.  If it works out, I will share.  Otherwise, I can always use it for papercrafting!

    Lastly, underneath my finds, is a European grain sack.  It is folded in half for the photo, so it is very long.  My plan for this is to make two throw pillow covers out of it.

    As you can see, I have a plan (and backup plans) for everything I bought.  As we shopped, I kept my budget and my home in mind.  About an hour into shopping is when I found my first purchase, and I had to laugh when Colton expressed his surprise that I hadn't found more to buy in that time.  But places like Round Top are not just for shopping, they are for getting ideas.  And I was very aware of the way ordinary things were being marketed and displayed to make them attractive.  I will talk a little about that in my next Thrifty Thursday post.  Until then, I'd love to hear from you!  What have you been up to during my time away?

During My Absence ~ Some Life Updates

    Last year was a difficult year for many reasons.  I was glad I had taken a blogging break before so many trials had transpired, as there was no way I could have written about them or through them with a clear mind.  It would have been so gloomy, I don't think you'd want to read about them anyway!  I have shared a bit since then, but I thought I would take a little time to update you further on our current situation.  I suppose it is every blogger's dilemma when it comes to deciding how much of our personal lives we share online, but I think this update will be helpful in understanding some of my future writings. 

    As some of you may remember, we had been living with and taking care of Colton's grandfather in his house for about 6 years.  Sadly in the last couple of years, his health declined to the point that we can no longer provide the level of care that he needs at home.  After a bad fall last March, he went into the nursing home.  There are still a lot of fresh emotions around this for all of us.

    When Colton and I moved in- almost seven years ago now- we had sold nearly all of our things, including our house.  We brought only what furniture we could fit into our bedroom, plus a special piece or two.  Some of my décor and house things are still up in the attic, but I have since whittled that down, too, in order to make room for baby gear and hand-me-down clothes for the boys.  (When we moved in, we thought we couldn't have children.  After six years of infertility, I was pregnant within three months of our move.  Talk about a surprise!)  For the years that Colton's grandpa was with us, we happily focused on outside projects and, except for some necessary rearranging to accommodate the merging of two households, we largely left the inside of the house alone out of respect.  Now it feels like we are starting over from scratch in terms of setting up house.  We have gone from basically two bedrooms and a loft to an entire house that is much bigger than our last.

    The future of my blog is going to reflect this in several ways.  In addition to the outdoor projects that have always been on our list, we are adding some home projects, as well.  You may also see me doing more shopping than is usual for me.  I'm sharing these things because I don't want you to think I am contradicting my own frugal advice!  Twelve years of saving and living a frugal lifestyle, as well as recently becoming debt-free (whoo hoo!), are what make these projects possible.   So now that I have that disclaimer out of the way, I'd love it if you would continue with me on my journey as we endeavor to be good stewards of what we have been given.  I appreciate you being here- this blog has been a blessing to me and I hope it is to you, too.

If I Could Excel at One Thing

    The other evening, after the boys were tucked into bed and I was alone with my thoughts, I pondered the talents of various people who are extremely gifted in their particular fields.  Each of these people seemed to excel at what they did, and I admired how they used their gifts in a way that brought glory to God.  As I was marveling at their abilities, I turned my thoughts towards myself and considered my own talents. 

    While I have many interests, I couldn't help but feel like my own efforts in each of them fell short.  Before I knew it, I had fallen into the comparison trap and envy started to build up within me.  What great thing could I do?  Was I just a Jack-of-all-trades, master of none?  Mediocre?  Average?  

    The Enemy whispered, "Why even bother?"

    I prayed, "Lord, what can I excel at?" as if I had some hidden gift or talent that I just hadn't discovered yet.  Was there simply something within me that just needed to be unlocked?

    My eyes swelled with tears at his humbling response:

    "No one can love your husband and children like you."

    And suddenly that was enough.  If I could excel at one thing, that would be it.  

    The devil hates that.  He hates godly homes and families serving God together, wives and mothers creating a Christian atmosphere in which the souls of their loved ones are nurtured in the ways of the Lord.  He will try all sorts of things, present all sorts of distractions, and tell us all sorts of lies to try to keep us from looking well to the ways of our households because he knows our influence is so important.  I think we sometimes forget.

    Ladies, will you endeavor with me to excel at loving our husbands and children like no one else?  What a powerful difference it would make in our lives and in the world, all for the glory of God. 

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."

~ Proverbs 31:28-29

Thrifty Thursday #1 ~ Frugal Resources and Encouragement

"If you want to know how to save a dollar, just ask Kelsey."  

-My father-in-law 

    I still laugh at his statement.  I guess I have sort of built myself a reputation!  But I take it as a compliment, really.  For me, saving money and stretching what Colton works hard to bring home is my financial contribution to our household.  Ladies, it is an honor to be trusted with stewarding those hard-earned dollars!  I love the verse: 

"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil."

- Proverbs 31:11  

    We should aspire to the same.

    Over the years, I have had a few people in my personal life come to me for money saving ideas.  The problem is that there are so many ways to save, it is hard to limit that to just one answer or conversation!  I thought I would start a series in which I compile some of my tips so that I can have a sort of resource to point people to when they ask.  I will also share the ways that I save during each week to offer up some additional ideas.  I call it "Thrifty Thursday"!

    I know there are hundreds and hundreds of resources already out there, and I am not the first one to do this type of post.  For many of you seasoned savers, these tips probably won't be anything new.  But I figure that even if two artists paint a picture of the same thing, the unique beauty and differences of each one will still leave the viewer inspired.  That is my hope.

    And that leads me to my very first Thrifty Thursday tip:

    Regularly read, listen to, and watch money saving blogs, books, and videos; visit with friends (online or in person) who are like-minded and share the same money-saving goals.

    Perhaps it is just my thrifty heart, but I have always enjoyed reading of the different ways people save.  There is always a chance to glean something new, and even when I don't, I feel encouraged to keep going in my frugal endeavors.  Being constantly inundated with advertisements and lured into comparison traps, we see much of our society spending carelessly without necessarily seeing the negative consequences, and it can be easy to sometimes feel like we are missing out.  Or we might know better but simply get lazy from time to time.  Consuming sound money-saving resources will help you stay the course, focus on your goals, and leave you feeling less alone (and crazy).

    One of my favorite frugal living books is The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn.  Not only is it full of tips, it really challenges you to change your mindset around saving and gets you to see everything through a frugal lens.  That is what really sets this book apart for me.  (Funny story: when I went to check it out from the library, I had to request for the librarian to transfer it.  I guess she wanted to make sure she heard me correctly because when I told her the title, she suddenly looked up and repeated back to me very loudly, "Did you say, 'THE TIGHTWAD GAZETTE?'" And so there I was solidifying my "tightwad" reputation in front of everyone in the public library.  Fun times.)  

    As for blogs, my favorites are The Bluebirds are Nesting on the Farm by Annabel (you can click through her current blog to find her old one as well, which is just as good- be sure to read the comments from her readers, too!); Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth by JES; and A Working Pantry by Patsi.  Each of these contain a wealth of information and encouragement for looking well to the ways of your household.

    One of my favorite YouTube channels is Frugal Fit Mom.  I have only just recently found her, but I'm pretty sure Christine and I could be real-life friends.  I love her personality and humor.  She posts videos on grocery budgeting, pantry stocking, money saving hacks, and more.

    As I find more favorites, I will come back to this post to add them in.  Do you have any resources you recommend?  Please post them in the comments so we can check them out!

    And now for the ways I saved this week:

    I used up tidbits from the pantry (no waste) as we transition towards healthier eating habits.

    I made some banana nut bread for snacks during the week using bananas that were turning brown.  That is not "healthy" per se, but it is homemade and I know and control all of the ingredients, so it passes.  The rest of the brown bananas were frozen for smoothies.

    We were away from home for a couple days visiting my mother-in-law.  Before we left, I made sure to use up or meal prep any of the produce in our refrigerator that might otherwise go bad while we were away.  I packed snacks for the road and I turned our heater off before we left the house.  The forecast didn't predict any freezing weather, so no need to heat an empty house.

    We stopped at thrift stores along the way and I found lots of goodies, mostly books!  I have a weakness for books and have always dreamed of having a home library.  I think I am well on my way.  Most only cost around $1 or $2, some even less.  

    I found several that I will use for homeschooling.  A lot of them will be for when the boys are a little older, but I try to look for educational books when I can.  My favorites are about American and Texas history, heroes of the faith, nature, and things that promote masculinity and boyhood adventure.  Some of these are coloring and activity books that John can use now:

A couple special ones:

And a few for me:

    I was very excited to find the cookbooks, as there are several recipes in each that I can make work for me.  They look good enough that I think my family will enjoy them, too.  The Road to Avonlea set is based off of the Anne of Green Gables film (I know it is a book, but it says these are based off the film).  The entire set was $3 and I couldn't pass it up, as it should be a wholesome, light read for me.  

    I almost passed this next one up, thinking it was a gardening book.  I do love gardening books, but I have enough.  I am glad I pulled it off the shelf and looked at it because it turned out to be a decorating book.  It has beautiful images:

    I found some board games that look fun for when the boys get older:

    Some clothes and board books for James:

    And a few pretty things for the home:

    There are a few books not pictured, some clothes for myself, and glass jars that I bought, as well.  The tea cups pictured above are actually part of a set that came with a tea pot, a creamer, and a sugar dish (only $6 total!).  So you can see I had good success.  I hadn't been thrifting in a long time, so it was fun to go "treasure hunting" along our travel route.  This is one way I have frugally built up and furnished my home over the years, and it is a fun tradition any time we go on a road trip.

    Since we were away from home, that is about all I have to report for this Thrifty Thursday.  I hope you will join me again next Thursday for another tip!

A New Season

    Hello, friends!  Well, I certainly didn't intend to go this long without blogging, but I surely enjoyed the break from the online world.  Life has its seasons, and this season has been a full one!  It has been so good to simply enjoy life without any "extras" competing for my time and attention.  Now that James is older and taking good naps (hooray!), I find I have little moments in my day that will allow me to get back to some things that were pushed aside.  

    And on that note, I really wanted to announce James's birth when he came!  But we had a bit of a health scare that required lots of doctor appointments, a hospital stay, and me just wanting to spend every precious moment I had with my baby.  Not to mention, I caught the dreaded 'rona just a few days after giving birth!  It was just a lot, friends.  Thanks be to God, we are all healthy and doing well.

    It is strange to look back on my previous blog posts and think of how things were just over a year ago.  When I started this blog, I had a plan for the things I would write about.  Then the world turned itself upside down, life changed, and my focus shifted.  But lately I have felt a reawakened desire to return to this little spot.  I want it to be a place of beauty and inspiration and encouragement.  I also want it to be practical, something you can use, something that might be helpful.  I've been mulling over a few ideas, and while I can't promise regularity, I will do my best to share whatever is put on my heart.  If you are still here, I thank you for following along.

An Unexpected Blessing

  This week, just as Colton and I had mapped out what we were going to do on his days off, he called me from work and said, "Change of plans!"  That phrase always makes me uneasy, but this time it was a happy surprise.  Someone had donated a piano to our church and we needed to go out of town to pick it up!  And, since Colton and I have started taking a turn hosting church services at our house (we attend a home church), our pastor agreed to let us bring the piano home so that I could learn to play.  This has been a dream of mine for a long time!

  It is absolutely beautiful.  From what I have found, it was built sometime in the 1940's.

  I couldn't believe it came with a gorgeous piano bench, as well!  It could not be any more perfect.  Just look at the needlework...

  Colton's grandfather said the piano player at his church used to give lessons, and he is going to inquire Sunday as to whether she still does.  I certainly hope so!  If not, I'll be searching YouTube.  If anyone knows of any good resources, please let me know in the comments!