Going "All In"

The idea I'm pondering today is about being "all in" about who I am.  Today I got up and dressed in a  farmgirl chic sort of outfit.  Occasionally I've got the guts to go for it, despite where I am going or who I'm gonna see.  I put on a darling cream sundress with vintage rose print, grey leggings & boots and a cream sweater with a brown hat.  (I would love to show you a photo of me but.... having some technial issues.)

What starts going thru my mind is "Am I meeting up with one of my super stylish always dressed to the hilt friends?  Should I temper my down home girl comfy wrinkled usual style?"  Am I confident enough to show who I really am to everyone all the time?  What I realized today is this...  Some people may not get that there are different kinds of beautiful and may not understand my style.  (or maybe they do and I'm not giving them the chance)  BUT, isn't it SO MUCH more interesting to be with someone who is "ALL IN" showing you who they really are?  Yes absolutely!

However, this goes deeper than the way I chose to dress today.  Beyond that it goes to being real, opening the door to welcome guests....all the time (this includes showing off the wrinkles again), to working hard to bring more depth into each experience.  To fighting for the creme de la creme in life every moment of every day, (or at least every day).  And looking for ways to add value to everything and everyone I can touch by being real and being honest and offering comfort, joy & warmth!

I think that about sums it up!

A Full Heart Kind of Day

Today the sun was shining. 
I managed to stay home almost the entire day organizing and tackling little projects around the house.  I love ending the day with the dishwasher going with every dish in the house and the last load of laundry started in the washer!  The house is clean, this time it would more than pass the "dim the lights" test!  Yesterday the grass had it's first mow so the view down to the shop was springy and nice! 
After painting the trim white in the fall and not seeing the sun since (almost joking) I didn't realize just how cheerful our house looks when you pull up! 
Anyway, for tonight all is well.  My family are almost all tucked in our beds!  It was a quiet, peaceful and accomplishment full kind of day!  Thank the Lord!

My Dream Potager, Practical & Pretty

One lovely day I was reading a favorite magazine (several years ago so I can't even remember which one) and I found a good story about a kitchen garden right out the back door!  What a romantic idea to walk right out in the midst of cooking dinner to grab a handful of chives, some sage, a fresh tomato or two...and thus my dream garden was alive in my imagination. 

Currently we have two 16 x 16 ft gardens way down by the pasture on our property, one for roses & herbs (this one will stay) the other for veggies & berries (this one is going for more parking).  We also have a funny little plateau that you walk out onto off our back deck.  We are waiting for a friend to level the plateau so it is nice and even.  The 5 raised beds are already built (5x8 feet each) according to my garden plan (above).  Many of the seeds have arrived from Seed Savers Heirloom seeds.  I am just dying to get started.

(picutre above from The Violet Fern)

I'm dreaming of something like this.  It will have some formal lines, even some boxwood at the inside edge to bring a little english flair.  We will set our patio table and chairs in the nook next to the deck.  I have also included a border of white hydrangeas (I love them but also because of shade in that area) to add some flowers and fragrence.  I love the idea of the garden being beautiful and useful even in the winter months.  And so, the potager! Wish me luck at getting the men motivated on the structural work so I can get to planting and preparing!
Blessings,
Olivia