A Simple Spring /Summer Entryway...

Hi Friends ~ I hope you're doing well and enjoying the last full month of spring! Today, I wanted to share a very simple, quick, and budget-friendly way to freshen up your entryway...

Three Simple Ideas For Your Farmhouse Dinner Table...

Hi Friends! We're enjoying some beautiful spring weather here in the Pacific Northwest... That, along with a visit from my husband's parents, helped motivate us to get the grill cleaned up for the season. Once we start using the grill again, it just seems like there are so many more options for dinner! 

As I was getting dinner ready, I thought of three little additions for the table that really help make it feel just a bit more "farmhouse" special. None of these are earth-shattering, but I thought I'd mention them in case you, like me, had forgotten about them over the fall and winter months...

Late Summer at the Farmhouse...

(Some affiliate links provided, and some product was received in exchange for promotion. All opinions are my own.)

It's hard to believe this is the last day of August. Sweet summer is winding down and the kids will be going back to school next week. Such a mixture of emotions as we head into this school year... but mostly just grateful for all the memories we've made together as a family this summer, and the closeness that we've shared. 

I'm thinking of all you parents out there who, like us, might be entering a new stage, new school, or new chapter with one or more of your children. Change can be difficult - weighing all the choices, wanting the best for your children, but not knowing with certainty just how things will go. If this is you, I feel you friend. We are praying hard over here, and trusting that this will be a great year for our oldest who is beginning high school (what?!), our middle who is in well, middle school, and our youngest who is heading into third grade. 

That's a little bit of what's in my heart, now onto what's in the house...

Sundays at Home {Link Party}

"If you're not barefoot, then you're overdressed." - Unknown 

Those words definitely describe summer life here at our little farmstead! I've stopped faking shock that our kids don't have shoes on when guests drop by. Half of the time, I don't either.

We hope you're enjoying these warm August days, and we're so happy you've joined us for Sundays at Home! Thank you to everyone who linked up your posts last week. Some of you are clearly hitting your summer stride, while others are getting a jump on back-to-school and fall ideas. We're looking forward to seeing what you share with us this time. But before we jump into the party, here's what Kristy, Jennifer, Sheila, Susan, Kelly and I have been up to this week...

Summer Farmhouse Family Room {The Mora on the Move...}

Happy August! We've had a nice, long stretch of summer sunshine and warmth, with temperatures in the 80s and 90s here in the Seattle area. Now I know those of you who live in places like Arizona and Texas are thinking, "You think that's hot!?" But we don't have air conditioning or a pool... So I spray my kids with the hose as they jump on the trampoline, or take them to the lake, or sit under a tree if there's even a slight breeze because it's hot inside! We've been roughing it over here, I tell ya. ;) But we dare not complain because here in the Pacific Northwest, I'll take all the sunshine we can get! The forecast is calling for cooler temperatures and even a slight chance of some showers, which our garden is hoping for...

Sundays at Home {Link Party}

Wow! Can you believe it's almost August? Where has the summer gone?! With the days flying by, we're making time to purposefully celebrate these last few days of summer, and this week's roundup has lots of ideas to help you make the most of these gloriously golden days!

A Summer Summary (Did you have to read that twice?!)

I hope you are enjoying these August days! 

This little collage of a summer's day, where our family enjoyed time together, sunshine, and the lake, reminds me of the simple joys of summer that fill our memories and our hearts...   

Books to Read or Give... {I think you'll LOVE these books!}

Okay, I am almost giddy just thinking about this post. First, let me say that I don't read as much as I should or would like. But, I have absolutely loved these books, and am happy to recommend them to you! I will give you a quick overview of each book and why I loved it below. And then, I'd love to hear your book recommendations in the comments below!

Sundays at Home #165

The lavender is in bloom indoors and outdoors... it must be summer! So happy you've joined us today for Sundays at home. As usual, we have 3 wonderful features to share!

Sundays at Home #164

Hello Friends and welcome to Sundays at Home!

As usual, we have 3 wonderful features to share: a garden tablescape; a cherry chocolate ice cream treat; and a dining room re-fresh perfect for the summer months.

A Summer Picnic (Indoors?!)

Hi Friends!

It's been quieter than usual in my little corner of blog land. I've been summering with my family and trying to slow down the hands of time.

I hope you are doing well and enjoying this season of longer days, hopefully some leisurely breaks from routine, and sunshine. 

Speaking of sunshine, we had planned a picnic at the park for my sister's birthday. We thought it would be a fun outing, where the kids could spread out and play.

A Weekend Adventure {Leavenworth, WA}

If you have plans to visit the Seattle area, you'll want to make sure to include an overnighter in the mountainside, Bavarian village of Leavenworth.

It's about a three-hour drive from Seattle, but the drive is actually part of the fun! You'd be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful drive, as you take in mountain views, snow melting into waterfalls, winding rivers, trees and bridges.

Trust me, you'll want to yodel (or maybe that's just me). ;)

A Farmhouse Summer Porch...

You know those little projects that are hard to get to? Not because they will take a long time, but because there are a hundred little other things you need to get done first? That was our porch.

It felt so good to finally clean up the porch and get it ready for summer!

August in the Garden...

It has been the sunniest and warmest summer we've had since moving to the Seattle area 15 years ago! It reminded me of summers growing up in Northern California.

Our garden loved all of the sunshine (our grass, not so much)! 

Here is the garden gate, covered in vines and hops...

Once the hops fade to a golden brown, I love bringing them inside to decorate with. The hops vines add texture and a touch of nature to mantels and shelves.

It was a happy morning when our youngest discovered "his" corn was ready! This was our first corn - we had tried last year but it didn't grow. He shucked each ear excitedly and ran it into the house... :)

We are also enjoying watching our first watermelon grow!

Along with our first pumpkins...

Zucchini has grown in abundance.

Grapes grow along our back fence. This type is a little tart, but our boys like snacking on them. Our chickens love them too! ;)

Thank you for stopping by today and taking a peek into our garden. Did you plant a garden this year? Did you try anything new? What did the best? I'd love to hear!

Xo

Sharing with:
French Country Cottage
Cozy Little House
The Scoop

A Delicious and Simple Summer Salad...

 So you signed up to bring a salad? Or, you're hosting a meal and want a salad that doesn't come in a kit? A little something special that won't take all day to make?

This summer salad is the best part of sweet and savory. The bright colors make it a beauty as well. And, not counting salads that come in a bag, it couldn't be easier!

Ingredients:

Mixed greens

Sliced cucumbers

Fresh, sliced strawberries

"Pecan Pie" pecans (or glazed pecans)

Extra sharp white cheddar cheese (cut into bite-sized pieces)

Raspberry dressing 

Salt and pepper to taste

Just toss all of the ingredients together, preferably in a large white bowl - which makes the colors pop even more.

Then drizzle on plenty of the raspberry dressing. I found Panera's Raspberry dressing at our grocery store. It is SO good! 

Enjoy!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Xo

Sharing with:

Cozy Little House
The Scoop
Savvy Southern Style
Share Your Style
French Country Cottage
From My Front Porch To Yours
Thoughts From Alice

Simple Summer Country Joys...

Do you ever crave slowing down the clock and enjoying some simple country living? Maybe with loved ones or just some time alone with your thoughts?

May I suggest blueberry picking? 

Our boys and I headed out to a local farm. (Don't you love this sign? ;)

Tin buckets in-hand...

For one of the few times this summer, the boys got quiet ;) 
and lost themselves in the task of picking. 

There was a peacefulness of being out in that blueberry farm with one activity to focus on. Even our boys noticed with one of them saying, "I love it out here." 

We picked about 4 pounds of blueberries. We could have picked more, but football camp was calling to our oldest. ;) 

We left the farm with our little treasures, along with a sweet summer memory.

The short drive home wasn't too bad either...

Happy summer day!

Xo

The BEST Summer Reads For Children (& a tiny victory!)

You know those little projects around the house that you keep telling yourself you'll get to "one of these days"? (I have about 2,184 of them.) 

But then you start to doubt yourself, because you've been saying it for so long, you wonder if the day will ever come?

Be encouraged. You WILL get to it... eventually. I tackled one of those little projects the other day - our youngest son's cubbies. They were overflowing with stuffed animals, matchbox cars, books and odds n' ends. (When you're a newly-turned six-year-old, and so fresh to the world - - even a scrap of paper with a number written on it can be part of a precious collection.) Bless it all.

 I'm sorry I didn't snap a before picture.

But here's the after...

Although Cubby (ironically, that's his nickname) wasn't thrilled with me going through all his things, he was so happy to see the end result. He felt like he had his own little library! It was like Christmas, discovering books he hadn't seen since, well, Christmas.

I wanted to share a few favorite children's books you might enjoy reading with a special kiddo this summer...

Blueberries for Sal - do you remember this one from when you were young? It practically IS summer. This would be a great one to read before you go berry picking!

Into the Outdoors is a delight! The illustrations make you feel like you actually went on a camping trip, having slept near the sweetest versions of woodland creatures. (And if you happen to be a tired mama - it's a great length for bedtime. Not too much text where you have to take a deep breath and gut it out, but enough so that your angel child won't say, "That's it?! Can we read one more since that was so short?")

A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee is a fun and exciting adventure! After braving the great outdoors, Mr. Magee ends up sleeping in the best place of all...I'll never tell! 

How To Train A Train is ADORABLE. It's one of those books that makes you ask, "Why didn't I think of that?!" It's a smile in every page.

So go ahead and tackle that project... I'm cheering you on! 

(And forget about the other 2,183 on the list - Rome wasn't built in a day.)

Xo

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Cozy Little House

Mini S'more Station {Vintage Toy Stove}

With another summer weekend almost here, 

I thought I'd share a scene from one of our recent campfires...

Our youngest son was given this vintage toy stove a couple years ago, when he was four, from his grandparents. The antique shop where they purchased it, said that a grandpa handmade it (many years ago) for his grandchildren. Can you imagine the time and care he took building and painting this sweet piece?

I wish he knew it was still making people smile today!

I thought it would make a perfect little serving table for our s'mores ingredients...

It's fun to use vintage pieces in unexpected ways. And you know, it is yard sale season time... So keep your eyes out, you never know what you might find!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Xo

Sharing with:
French Country Cottage
Cozy Little House