scenes from the ranch

We spent a great weekend at my in-laws ranch in Ruidoso, New Mexico.  Our time primarily consisted of the kids operating various forms of heavy machinery.  The weather was cool and clear and the horses behaved - a perfect weekend.

family reunion

My mother was going for a nostalgia feel.  It was a family reunion, after all.  So daily vintage tablecloths were arriving at the door, all courtesy of ebay.  For food, she went with fried chicken and spiral cut ham.  There was baked macaroni & cheese,  bacon & cheddar deviled eggs, dipped strawberries, carmel apple pie & strawberry short cake.  Oh, and root beer floats.  

We had a watermelon-seed spitting contest and there was some races and baseball on the back lawn.  

More than anything else, there were hours spent with the people that we love and haven't had good time with in years.  These kids that I grew up with, now have children of their own.  And we had the ridiculous joy of getting to see them run about just as we did so many years before.

It was nostalgic, yes.  Tablecloths or none.  

And it was the perfect way to end our month in Chicago - (though my heart is breaking a little bit today.)

{all photos by me}

Simple Farmhouses by Russell Versaci

I am one of those people that really loves old houses but can't help but long for the comfort & ease of new construction.   Architect Russell Versaci designs for people such as myself.  In his own words - 

“For twenty years we have been in the practice of recreating tradition. We rummage through the attic of architecture to find treasures that will inspire us.  By measuring old buildings we discover the secrets to their composure and craftsmanship.  Then we create original designs by making something new out of something very old.”

With eleven farmhouses and two carriage houses, Russell's designs offer faithful replicas of timeless classics. You can check out the rest of his portfolio here.

Mary Jane's Farm B & B

Sean and I have always shared a dream of opening a small hotel.  We have spent endless hours imagining the where and what and how. This dream feel like it is a looong way off, if it is ever to be at all.   After I came across Mary Jane Butter's Bed & Breakfast, I thought- now this, maybe we could do.  

Her bed & breakfast is merely a series of wall tents with wood floors that have been done up 'farmstyle'.   Read: fabulous sheets, no electricity.  The tent comes with an outdoor firepit & kitchen, and a shared outhouse, & shower house.   

Of course Mary Jane also owns the adjoining organic farm which really makes the whole thing worthwhile.   That part would have to be a long way off, too. 

At least I can go visit hers' in the meantime.  

HGTV Dream Home - swoon

I have never been one to turn up my nose at any of the HGTV dream homes.   So it may not be exactly my architectural style or my ideal location.  That's okay.  I'm flexible.  I can make it work.  Ya know?  But I just now took a look at the 2009 Dream Home, and, well,  it's just feels right.  like, maybe meant to be.  First off, it's in Sonoma, California.  Ummm?  Yes, please.  And it's a farmhouse.  Ummm?  Yes, please.  And then there were lots of others details that maybe made my toes tingle.  If I needed to be I could be packed and ready to go tonight.

You can enter here, if you must. 

a chicken coop on the 9th day of Christmas

We have talked for some time now about introducing some chickens into the family. It has become not so much of an 'if', but rather a 'when'. We sometimes like to design chicken coops in our spare time. I mean, who doesn't, really? The 'when' seems much farther off when I think of some of our elaborate designs. Chickens could join us far sooner, and still live large, if Santa brought us one of these.

Cute, no?

I found it here.

Mary Jane's Farm

A couple of years ago I became familiar with a farm girl named Mary Jane through the various outlets of her empire. Mary Jane Butters is the face and founder of Mary Jane's Farm and it's subsequent magazine, website, products, forum and even this super cool "tent and breakfast". There are a lot of things that I love about this woman but the two things that are sticking out right now are:

1. She preaches that you don't have to live on a farm to be a farm girl at heart. Cultivate the life you crave wherever you are right now.

and

2. Doing laundry is a near religion to her. She finds deep satisfaction in the small moments that make up an average day.

I bought the back issues of her magazine/catalog and found something in nearly each one that really moved me.

You can check her out here.