Simple Updates

I've been doing some simple updates around the house.  (I've been watching A LOT of HGTV!!)  A wise person once told me, "A house flows better and seems more country chic when there are not a lot of different paint colors."  Well, considering that I was the type of person who liked to paint every room a different color - I had a lot of updating to do!!  We recently doubled our square footage by adding on to our 1500 sq. ft. ranch style home and painted (pretty much) the entire addition Merino Wool by the Home Decorators Collection at Home Depot.  LOVE this color!!

I feel like it's very warm and neutral.  I could change the decor in any room!  Score!!  So, I painted the family room, kitchen/dining, living room and hallway one weekend this color.  It looks so much better and flows too.  Imagine that ;)

While doing some simple updates I also decided to put new curtains up in the living room.  I have some awesome pillows with great color in there. 

Santa Maria, Desert Flower 

Panama Wave, Desert Flower

Cross Section, Green

So, with the help of this very wise person I know, I chose to do curtains in the Waverly Cross Section, Green.  I moved the curtain rod up to meet the crown moulding and made new curtains for the living room!!  

Not the best picture, but I'm digging them!!  Also, pardon the toys - my kids are making memories.  Note: Notice the toy box in the corner is also Santa Maria, Desert Flower from Land of Nod.  :-)

We also decided to add some color to my family room by adding some new pillows and a shade.  I am absolutely in love with this fabric!!  We added pillows to the couch and I'm in the process of making a fabric shade for the window.  Yay!!

Robert Allen, Ornate Frame Slub Pool

I also ordered this large Family Rules sign from The Magnolia Market (Thank You Chip and Joanna); it will look great above the couch!!

It feels so good to get a fresh coat of paint on the walls and some new decor.  It makes the house feel fresh and loved!  Bring on Fall!!  Happy decorating!!

Fall

Its beginning to look a lot like fall on the farm!! 

Believe it or not, all of those pumpkins came from our garden!!  The best part, we didn't even plant those; they were volunteer from last year.  :-)

There's a lot of new life on the farm too.  Our mama cat had 3 babies a few weeks ago and they are so sweet!!  

Then our orange mama cat had her first litter of 5 babies!  They both had their babies in the garage so Nick rolled his eyes and said, "Well, I guess we're running a nursery out of our garage!".  He proceeded to go get the mamas food and water, don't let him fool you - he loves it!!

  

We ran to town yesterday and picked-up some more chickens.  Rhode Island Red and Austorlorps - 4 of each.  They're already a couple weeks old but we're still keeping them separated from our other chickens.  I can't keep up egg production with all the people wanting eggs!  So we're increasing our flock and these chicken types are really good layers.  So, in about 4-6 months we'll have even more eggs.

This is our rooster.  Look at him.  He's the weirdest looking rooster I've ever seen.  I never have any intentions of buying a rooster when I buy my chicks but somehow I always end up with one.  Boo.  He's a Silkie and you should hear his call, it sounds a little foreign-ish.  Whatever.   I think I'll call him Randy, or Walter.  I don't know.  

So, no, you do not need a rooster to have eggs.  Chickens lay eggs regardless with the right feed.  You need a rooster if you want to have chicks.  I'm not quite brave enough for that yet.  I'd like to try it someday though.  The chicken would have to be isolated with her own food and water so that she'll continuously lay on her eggs.  Takes thought and makes me nervous.  

The boys picked more peppers out of the garden last night.  Nick wants me to can his jalepenos.  Great.  We have jalepenos and tomatoes coming out of our ears!!  Goodness.  

They love their daddy.  All hands on deck in the garden!!  Even little hands.  

LOVE THEM!!

Happy Fall Y'all.  

Baby It's Cold Outside

It was down right cold out today!! So what better way to warm your tootsies?



That's right, snuggled up by the fire!!

New accomplishments around the York household this week...Nick built brackets for the bunk beds and painted them.




He also built the stairs!!




Now those are some sturdy, boy-proof stairs!! Trust me, we need more stuff like that. Ruly broke 2 of his toy combines this week which resulted in Nick having to use screws and super glue to keep them together!!

In other events, I've been plugging away at making shirts and such.




This one is for my dear, sweet grandma. She's so cute!! I also got up enough nerve to open my own Etsy shop, the CraftySewingBarn. Http.//www.etsy.com/shop/CraftySewingBarn. Check it out :)

Stay warm!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

'Tis the Season

I've totally neglected my blog lately. Sorry. There's been major developments in the York household!!! Let's start with the most important...



We're going from 2 to 3 (THREE) boys!!! Baby York #3 is due March 21, 2013!!! (As I sit here in the hospital waiting for my glucose test). YUCK. And you know what that means...Ruly and Ruger must now share a room. Nick is so handy that he's building the bunk beds himself!!!




Next, I've taught myself how to appliqué. I LOVE it!!! I've been busy making Christmas shirts for all the little girls and boys.






We had a special delivery this weekend from the Polar Express!!! It included the boys' advent calendars, a new Christmas book, Christmas pj's and Timmy our Elf!! Priceless was the expression on their faces ;)




Finally, the house is fully decorated for Christmas and I'm in love with it!!! It makes my heart smile this time of year.



'Tis the Season to be merry!!!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

**My Thoughts Lately**

I've had a lot on my mind lately.  Kids, harvest, schedules, new and up coming events, etc.  However, tonight my thoughts are on my chickens and their house.  I need to make it cuter for them - and me!!  I'm pondering landscaping around the outside pen but there are a lot of plants that are toxic to chickens.  This puts a damper on things.  It seems like butterfly bushes and roses are safe but I'm bored with that.  

These people used boxwoods - I thought they were toxic??

!!!Chicken coop envy!!!

I do have this one brooding chicken that refuses to leave the nesting boxes.  She's so stubborn, I have to use a stick to get her out just so she'll eat and drink.  Then she chases one of the rabbits like it's her fault!! Crazy animals.  I need to come up with a name for her stubborn ways.  Thoughts??  Irene, Patricia, Mauve, Pauline, Margaret, Hazel, Agatha, Berta???  

Stay tuned for an exciting announcement (I need to update my chalkboard first)!!!  I've also been working on some projects to occupy my time, I'll post pics soon.  Like I've said, there's been A LOT on my mind lately.

**The Farm**

If you remember, last year we attempted to raise chickens, a rabbit and cats.  Well it didn't pan out so well because some varmit got into my chicken coop leaving nothing but feathers from 10 chickens and a rabbit.  Originally, I rescued 2 litters of kittens from the pound ~ of those 11 cats, I ended up with 2.  Now to turn a sad story into a happy one...

I bought 12 chickens this spring at our local farm store, and they are all doing quite well!!

I'm not sure but I think I have a rooster in the bunch!!  It's still kind of early to tell but I'm pretty sure this is him :0

I adopted another rabbit ~ she's fed VERY well!!

The two cats that remained had 3 kittens!!

AND ~ My flowers are so pretty this year!!  That's just for my own pleasure that I had to stick this in!!