Drywall is done!

Drywall is done, heat is on, garage doors are installed, fireplace and wood stove brick has been delivered and the painters are coming next!  Here is the outside.  Siding a roof are done.  Off to the left will be a second story deck that still needs to be added.  The front door will be a semi-dark gray on both the exterior and interior.  It's Sherwin Williams Westchester Gray (shown below).  There is a door for that top deck off to the left which you can't see in this picture, the exterior of the door will be the Westchester Gray and the interior of the door will be white.  Alright, let's head inside!

If you're walking in from the garage, the first room to the right, which is open to the hallway is the Laundry Room!  I can't wait to hang a lonnnnnggggggg row of hooks for coats and bookbags, and a white handled vase filled with lavender, and whatever other random things happen to end up there!  

This is the guest room on the main level, which will also be used as my Mascara Lounge.  

Excuse me while I admire my awesome natural video/picture lighting.....and this new mascara.

And, the dining room and living room are to the left at the front of the house when you walk in the entryway.  It currently, as you can see has a bunch of scaffolding in the way, so there's not a great picture of it this time.  But, I'm super excited.  I've always dreamed of a roomy entryway, almost a room in itself, and it pretty much is.  I can't wait to show it to you all!  Below, the dining room has bay window, and an sliding door out onto the (will be) covered porch.  Lots of family meals and parties will be held here!  And, lots of makeup parties coming soon!!!  

Connected to the dining room is the living room.  It will have a fireplace like the one shown below, except the brick is more of a dark gray with white grout.  I love the size of this room, and the ceiling height, ah!  I can't wait for a snow white Christmas tree to be put up in that back corner.  That will be mama's tree!  The girls tree with color lights will be in the basement!  

This is the fireplace, if you just chop off everything above the mantel.  Ours will not go to the ceiling, but it will be big and bulky like that, and the brick will be gray with white grout.  This will be a gas fireplace.  

And if you step outside the dining room and are standing in the entry (under said scaffolding) and look up, this is your view.  I am so excited about the railings that I have chosen for these steps!  They're going to make a HUGE statement!  But, that's a reveal for another day.  

Let's head uptairs for a better view of the kitchen!  This will all be open.  There will be a large island right smack in the center, and right next to the stairs in the corner will be a wood burning stove with an exposed pipe that runs all the way up through the roof!  Can't wait for a beautiful snowy, winter day!  If you look closely you can see a paint color ;)  

In this pic, to the left is the kitchen and the right is the entryway.  Hard to see.  I'll get better pics when they move that scaffolding, but here you can see a great view of all of the skylights!  There are 5 in total.  2 above the kitchen and 3 above the entryway.  

Upstairs there are three bedrooms. First one pictured here will be my girls room that they will share.  Second picture is a smaller room, which I LOVE the size!  This will tentatively be their playroom ;)

The girls bathroom.  This will get some gray tiled floors - which are a high end Vinyl flooring.  And, it will boast a huge farmhouse style sink!  

And, lastly, the master bedroom.  It's a nice size room.  I've never loved big bedrooms.  I think this house plan has the PERFECT size rooms and all the space was in the correct places for what we need.  

And, the master bathroom.  I can't wait to soak in that tub........

and look at this view.  

Until then we will all keep dreaming of move in day, as we head back to our rental house in the city.  

Can you tell what it's going to look like yet?  I'd love to hear your comments below! 

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalms 107:1

Sweet Rosemary Chicken Thighs

This is one of my favorites quick recipes that I can usually throw together with things from my pantry. I didn't have a lemon on hand, so instead of the lemon zest and juice I dropped in a couple drops of my Lemon Essential Oil. My husband doesn't like "too citrusy" so just a few drops did the trick. 

Here's what you need! 

6 Chicken Thighs - skin on
2 Cloves of garlic (I use two small squeezes from prechopped garlic)
1 tsp of Lemon Zest

1tsp of Lemon Juice
1 Tbsp Chopped Rosemary
1/4 cup of Pure Organic Maple Syrup
1/4 cup of Olive Oil
1tsp yellow mustard
1/4 tsp salt
salt and pepper to taste

My Lodge Cast Iron pot has been getting a workout lately, and tonight was no different. It's just makes everything so much better, but if you don't have one, a large skillet or pot will do just fine. 

Over medium heat, fire up the stove, and in your pot give a couple swirls around the pan of olive oil. Lay your 6 chicken thighs bone side down around the pan in a single layer. Coat with salt and pepper to taste. 

Let that cook up about 5-7 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine all other ingredients, and set to the side.

Flip your chicken. Drizzle a bit of your sauce mixture onto the chicken, I do just a bit on the underside. I let this cook about 5 minutes until almost done. Flip 'em once again and add the sauce to the top of the chicken thighs. I usually turn down the heat to let them finish up slowly while I prep the rest of my meal.

When they're cooked through, remove them from the pan, and enjoy! 

Xoxo, Jennifer 

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

Herb Storage

Check out the video below to see how I store my basil in the fall and winter!  Follow me on Facebook!  @jherring4

Homemade Croutons

I had a bunch of people asking for my recipe, so here it goes!  I don't do much measuring for this, just kind of a throw it all into the pan and hope for the best type deal.  You can't really mess it up really!

Here's what you need:
Day old crusty bread, cubed. (1/4 loaf of sandwich bread)
Olive Oil
Handful of Fresh Herbs like Rosemary, Basil, Thyme, Oregano, Parsley or
Dried Italian Seasoning
Garlic
Salt & Pepper to taste


In a pan I go around about 2-3 times with olive oil.  Turn the burner on med-low heat and let it heat up.  Meanwhile, I cube my bread and chop all of my herbs.  Sometimes I use my homemade bread, and sometimes I use sandwich bread.  I use whatever I have.  I use probably the equivalent to a quarter to a third of a loaf of bread.  Just eyeball it.

Back at the pan, I throw in garlic.  I use prepared garlic that is already chopped.  I don't like a ton of garlic, so I just do maybe the equivalent to one clove.  Mix it around for about a minute.  Then, add in my cubed bread.  Stir it around and let the oil coat it.

Add in my chopped fresh herbs or dried Italian seasoning.  And, top it off with salt and pepper to taste.  Me?  Easy on the salt, load on the pepper.  Stir them around occasionally until they are toasted, and ENJOY!

Misty morning on the farm

This morning Laila and I headed out to the farm to water the garden and then lay out the master bathroom! It's being framed up today!

She's a happy dog out on that wide open land!

I love my drive out to the farm, passing by the hay bales. I roll my windows down and take in the fresh cut smell. 

I didn't go out yesterday, so I was anxious to see what had been done. It 

looks different everyday I go out there! As you pull down the driveway, you drive through a section of the trees so you can't see the back of the farm. 

The house is coming along quickly! Looking like a January move in date. 

The leaves are starting to show signs of fall! 

She's ran and gotten out her energy. Time to head back to town. 

And, I'll leave you with a little sneak peek of the master bathroom inspiration! Thanks for stopping by. 

What's happening around the farm!

Well, a farm it will soon become.  The house is starting to come together.  It actually looks like a house now!

The windows have been delivered!  I can't wait to see what they look like when they're in!

Here are some pictures of the main level.  This is the entry way.  Above, there are 3 skylights which let in a TON of natural light.  This may be my favorite part of the house.  It's large enough for a table, coat rack AND Christmas tree.  When you walk in, you can look up to see the staircase and up to the second floor.

Here is a view of the entryway from upstairs.

Overlooking The kitchen.  Hard to tell because it's still boarded up, but there is a bay window at the front that overlooks the farm, and two skylights above.  There will be a wood burning stove in the corner near the stairs with an exposed pipe all the way up.  The ceilings are super high, giving it an open feel, but rooms are still separated like I love!

Here is the living room, gas fireplace to the left between the windows.

And, here is the dining room.  It's connected to the living room and right off of the entryway.   Another one of my favorite features is that extra large bay window that looks out over the farm.  I can't wait to be sitting at that table and look out over a snow covered field.  (You know, that ONE day in February since we live in the south?)

Let's head upstairs.  This is the master bedroom, it's at the back of the house.  It's a good size room.  Looks large here because bathroom walls aren't in yet. I wanted smaller rooms.  You should see one of the other bedrooms.  It's super small, and it's one of my favorites.  It just feels cozy and so farmhouse-y that way.

And here, the master bathroom.  Another large bay window, and in that bay window will sit my clawfoot bathtub.  I can't wait to soak, and look out over my farm.

There's two other bedrooms upstairs here.  And, a fourth bedroom on the main level which will be a guest room and playroom.

And, were getting closer to that farm status.  I planted a small garden for the fall this year.  You know, because I don't have enough on my plate, I decided to plant a garden that will need tending to that is 20 miles from where our rental home is.  I don't do easy, apparently.  We've got 3 different types of lettuce, spinach, collards, broccoli, onions, some green peppers, jalapenos and tomatoes still going strong, and I've got a blueberry bush in there.  We love blueberries and will add some more of those in the spring!  And, I bought 40 mixed tulip bulbs to plant in the garden for some spring color!

Each night, Laila and I head out to finish up planting and water the garden. She's a pretty happy doggie when she's out there! 

That's what's happening so far on the farm!  I feel like it's all coming together so quickly, but moving in seems so far away still!  Thanks for stopping by!

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18