The lilac bush, (Syringa vulgaris,) was designated the official state bush of New York state in 2006, and it is no secret we love our lilacs in Rochester. The lilac is an shrub with showy, aromatic blooms in early spring. Lilacs have a heavenly scent, that is stronger than roses, one lilac bush can fill…
Farmhouse
Easy Ways To Refresh Your Home For Spring
Spring has finally sprung! Hopefully you’re enjoying the first warm days of the season and sight of flowers and trees bursting into bloom. Many of us are deep into spring cleaning mode, but as you open the windows and clean out all the dusty corners, take a minute and see how you can incorporate some…
My 5 Favorite Old Fashioned Annuals for a Cutting Garden
I have a confession to make… I love flowers but have no patience for fussy or high maintenance gardens. I need plants that will thrive under neglect, adapt to hot dry locations, and most importantly provide me with pretty blossoms that I can fill vases with and scatter around the house. These 5 old fashioned…
How to Grow Peonies for Fragrant Bouquets
Peonies are an old fashioned flower with an unforgettable fragrance. They require a little patience to establish, but your patience will be rewarded with fragrant blooms for years! You know I love my fragrant spring flowers, especially lilcas, but I never fully appreciated the Peonies until my husband and I bought our house and there…
Squeezing in Home Updates When You Are Busy
Most of us probably wish we had more hours in the day. Between the kids sporting events, and my own commitments, I am just busy. Having a busy lifestyle means sometimes other parts of your life may sometimes have to take a backseat and sadly that can include your home. Because I am hosting a…
I Bought Houseplants Online in the Middle of Winter, Here’s How it Went
If the long dark days of winter have you craving a little green and you are not finding the houseplants you want locally, is it a good idea to order houseplants online?
My 5 Favorite House Plants
The picture-perfect blanket of pristine white fluffy snow has been replaced with a slushy sloppy mess that is a dirty mix of snow, salt, and sand, and there is almost an instinctual need to see something green and alive.
Give Your Bathroom a Spa Treatment
I don’t know what it is about winter, but every year I find myself craving a cozy relaxing area to retreat to at the end of the day. Last year I created a cozy reading area, but this year I am all about recreating that sensation of the day spa in my own bath, but…
Bringing Hygge Into Your Home And Life: Made Simple
Hygge is often a term you will now hear bounced around. It is either on social media, accompanied by a picture of a cozy fire and someone looking warm and comfortable. It is in blog posts, perhaps such as this, and it is in the media. It is a Danish way of living that has…
A Step By Step Guide To Creating An Outdoor Dining Area
When you’ve got a big outdoor area, there are so many things that you could do with it. You can turn it into a play area for kids, a nice area for relaxing in the sun or you could consider turning it into a great outdoor dining area. This is a great way to use…
10 Timeless Home Decor Items You Can Always Buy at Thrift Stores
These timeless decor items bring a sense of history and character to your living spaces and are almost always available at thrift shops.
Casual Farmhouse Christmas Tablescape
Blue-banded bistro plates, red poinsettias, French Strip table linens come together for an inexpensive Casual Farmhouse Christmas Tablescape.
Feeling Festive
It is that time of the year, again! The odd time right before Thanksgiving where I not sure if I should decorate for Christmas, or if it is still too early. It seems there are two camps: The ones who believe anything after November 1st is fair game for Christmas decorations, and the other, and…
DIY Bacteria Busting Bathroom Cleaner Spray
Get your commode and bathroom clean and smelling fresh with DIY Bacteria Busting Bathroom Cleaner Spray, made with Castile soap, tea tree, and eucalyptus oils.
Getting Started with Homemade Natural Cleaning Products
If you want to switch from store-bought products to safer homemade cleaners this guide will help you get the right start!
6 Pantry Staples You Should Know How To Make From Scratch
6 Pantry Staples You Should Know How To Make From Scratch Do you know what I absolutely hate? Buying something at the store, and when I come home and put it away, realizing I already had that item. It happens to all of us, and it is usually something really noticeable, like a jar…
Lovely Lilacs
Spring in Rochester It is no secret we love our lilacs here in Rochester! The city’s collection of lilacs in Highland Park is world famous, even Martha Stewart has come to check out the blossoms during their peak in May. For myself, getting to the lilac festival is incredibly hard, it happens to take…
Real Life Laundry Hacks for Busy Families
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #Wisk60 #CollectiveBias I never aspired to be a laundry pro, but I am truly a self- proclaimed expert on this subject. I handle laundry on a daily basis that would send most running to the hills. Farm clothes…
Oops we did it again…Twins on the Farm
It is a good thing they are cute, because they sure are a lot of work! Yup, we had another set of twins on the farm! And they have been keeping me busy! If you have been following for a while, you might remember we had our last set of twins about 3 years ago,…
Secrets to Surviving the Winter With Chickens From The Chicken Coop
If you’ve kept chickens during the cold winter months before you know just how challenging this can be. Here in the Finger Lakes it can get down to a chilly -12°F, which can make chickens very unhappy! In these conditions, if you’ve managed to stop their water freezing and can keep their coop warm, you’re…
