A few fun new things

I was on one of my many browses through the Crow's Nest in town (I LOVE that store) and saw this cabinet, then saw the price and thought to myself "this will be mine". I then texted a picture to my husband to show it to him and explained what I would use it for if we had it. Told him the price, he told me to come down $10 from the price and if they would we could buy it. We brought it home a few days later. I love it and it fit in this corner perfect. It now holds, on top, all the canned goods I've been canning which is much more than whats in this picture now and the bottom holds all my canning tools/supplies. I have also done the decorations on top a bit different. I love this piece! I have also sat at the counter of it and peeled my apples. It is just so functional

 During a different Crow's Nest trip, I found this super cute reproductive vintage looking marshmallow tin and for only $2. I knew right off it would hold my sugar perfect.

Laundry room make over

When Rodney was out of town at the end of July, I needed something to keep me busy (like 4 kids home with me all day wasn't enough), so I decided it was time for another room make over. After this room and aside from the 2 kids rooms upstairs, I only have the living room left to make over. I had bought this color "Honey" when we first bought the house to use in the family room but decided on something else at the last minute so it's just been sitting in the garage the past year and a half begging to be use. I only had a gallon so it was perfect for this hallway/laundry room space. I wish I would have taken before pictures but I always forget to do that.

 This is when I just wasn't sure of the color and really not sure if I wanted to continue it down the hallway.

 I ended up really liking the color when I woke up the next morning and went down to look at it with fresh eyes. After I fell in love, I finished up the hallway and then the day after that began the decorating.

 My friend Christine gave me a piece of her wallpaper boarder that she had left over after putting it up in her laundry room so I "fussy cutted" it and made myself to pieces of art work.

 The cornice board above the window was there before and is actually a hunter green, but when we first moved in I took it down and stapled on my laundry room fabric I had so that went back up along with the bonnets one of which I made and the other is a family heirloom.

 Got up my family heirloom wash board, my art work my aunt bought me when she came to visit me and a few other fun things. I found my round basket at Joann's on clearance for $1.97. I saw it and knew it needed to go in my laundry room but didn't quite know what for. It now holds my stain remover and liquid fabric softener.

In this laundry room everything has it's place and I made the absolute best of the space I have. This room is so small but one that I use just as much as the kitchen with the size of family I have so I have to have it organized and space used wisely. I have accomplished that and I'm excited about it.

Strawberries!

We planted strawberries this year but not enough to accomplish what I want to which is a nice supply of jam. I took my kids with me on Monday to a local farm to pick berries. I had never done this so I had no idea what to expect. We arrived an hour after they opened and it was already very busy. The farmers daughter handed us our flats and guided us out to our 2 rows for picking. After she left my kids and I went to town on picking every red berry that we could find and when all was said and done we left with 21lbs. of berries. They smelled so sweet and yummy!

 Colby was so diligent in his picking that he managed to find himself a heart shaped berry.

 We didn't manage to make it through our entire 2 rows but about 3/4 the way. Our boxes ran out of room! :)

 When we got home with our bounty, we started in on one flat, cutting, washing and slicing. It was a lot of berries and would have taken me forever to accomplish so I was quite happy that I could trust Colby now with a knife and he helped me cut them all up, both flats.

 Our second flat was cut, washed and then put in freezer bags for more jamming at a later date.

 Colby continued to help me as did the other children, but Colby stayed with me through the entire process. He helped mash after Madi was done with it, he helped me ladle it all into jars and he helped get the lids and rings out of the water.

 I love the color when it all starts to boil, such a deep red!

 The fruits of our labor, 9 pints of strawberry jam and one very happy husband which leaves me very happy and content. :) I also enjoyed how my son worked right along side me through the whole thing and how he felt some accomplishment as well. Such a good boy and a sweet time!