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.