Thursday, July 10, 2014

Catching Up


 It feels like it's been forever since I last posted!  Sometimes a blogging break (even an unplanned one) can be kind of nice, but after a while I start to miss writing here.  Not so much because I feel like I have to, but I feel like I'm getting out of touch with friends!

A couple weeks ago Justus and I celebrated ten years of marriage!  My parents watched our girls and we headed out to dinner together (at The Melting Pot - yum!), had a leisurely morning and coffee (okay, chocolate pie too) at the coffee shop in town.  We're thankful that after ten years of marriage, our love for one another is still so strong.  And one day I have to tell you the story of our wedding day! 


 Did you have a nice 4th of July?  We did!  We were away for the weekend, staying at my in-laws' farm.  There was a lot of family there and a lot of food.  The kids all played in the water and we played many games of volleyball!  I also got to pick a lot of fresh blueberries to bring home.  Delicious. 


 The days have been full here, enjoying summer and our last month before school starts.  The garden has been doing wonderful and also keeping the girls and I very busy.  Picking every day, weeding (who am I kidding - the weeds grow faster than I can pull!), freezing green beans, making pickles, and eating more squash than I dare count. 


My mom and I have also been busy with a little endeavor of ours.  We planted rows and rows of heirloom flowers to sell (purely for enjoyment) at my parents farm.  

 We have a little flower stand at the road.  Justus built this stand entirely out of reclaimed material - isn't it the cutest thing you've ever seen?  (You can read more about our adventures and the stand here if you're interested.)  :-) 


 We've had so much fun going out to the flower garden and making bouquets. 


I caught this image of Jillian this week.  We had brought home all the old flowers and Jillian immediately sat down on the floor with all the flowers and proceeded to cut and arrange a new bouquet for her room.  Sweet moments of summer!

Hope you are doing well.  I've missed chatting and promise to be back quicker this time! 

45 comments:

  1. I adore your farm fresh flowers! This is just so beautiful- in every way possible. . . I would love to try something like this in my own urban neighborhood!

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  2. Missed you too. Congrats on your anniversary. You are a beautiful couple.

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  3. That little flower stand is too cute! I hope your husband isn't insulted with the term "cute".

    Happy Anniversary

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  4. 10 years - congratulations!! I love the flower stand and immediately Pinned it :)

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  5. Happy 10th Anniversary! Your husband is very talented when it comes to woodworking. What a team you both are. That's a good marriage. Many, many years to come! Also, having parents and in-laws that support your endeavors is the best! Kathleen in Az

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  6. I just love this flower stand! So original! and I was so happy to be able to read a post from you!
    Kathy in Colorado

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  7. Happy Anniversary... sounds like you enjoyed each other on your special day... and I have to say, you and Justus make a beautiful couple... loved the pic...
    And what a beautiful way to sell flowers... Simply Country Adorable...
    Love reading your blog... Connie in Ky

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  8. I love your blog...it evokes a feeling of family, warmth, and welcome that is rare and beautiful indeed! The little roadside flower stand is too darling!

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  9. Happy anniversary to you and Justus! What a sweet photo of the two of you. I absolutely adore the flower stand your very talented husband built. It is the cutest thing ever! Your photos are just beautiful as always. Enjoy the rest of the summer with your girls!
    Claudia

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  10. Owwww this is so nice selling your own flowers love it !!...))...x !

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  11. Your flower stand is just adorable! What fun for you and the girls. Wonderful family you have to do all this together. Enjoy your blog SO much. Happy Anniversary too!
    Patty

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  12. Happy Anniversary to you and Justus! I adore your Farm Fresh flower stand, and wish that I lived near by to buy some :) Such a splendid idea for a business. I've come across a couple of blogs lately that their flower business has blossomed. I recently purchased a book called "The Flower Recipe Book" that I highly recommend, that shows natural arrangements with old fashioned and new flower varieties.
    It's so good to see you back! Deni

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    1. Thanks for the book recommendation, Deni - I ordered it this morning. :-)

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  13. Happy Anniversary! That is a beautiful photo of both of you . The flower stand melted my heart! The picture of Jillian is so sweet,it reminds me of my granddaughter ,she too loves to flower arrange !Have a beautiful rest of the summer :)

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  14. Congratulations on your anniversary, Andrea! Chocolate pie sounds really yummy too. It looks like you're having a wonderful summer and that flower stand is about the cutest thing I've ever seen!

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  15. Your farm stand is PERFECT! You just inspired me to update my blog...sometimes days and blogging just get away from you. Happy Anniversary!

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  16. Your flower stand is amazing! You have the sweetest life but the best part is that you appreciate it so much. Happy July!

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  17. That farm stand is the cutest ever! Your homegrown produce is beautiful. Happy anniversary.It is easy to see why your girls are so cute; their mom and dad are pretty good looking too:)

    Our son and DIL will celebrate their 10 year anniversary in September, and they have two precious little girls too.

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  18. Happy Anniversary!! I love the farm stand your husband built for the beautiful flowers you and your Mom are growing!! Glad the girls are enjoying it also.

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  19. Happy anniversary!The flowers stand is so very cute! What a brilliant idea to sell your flowers!! Have an enjoyable rest of summer!

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  20. Happy anniversary!The flowers stand is so very cute! What a brilliant idea to sell your flowers!! Have an enjoyable rest of summer! okarathanou@gmail.com

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  21. I LOOOOVE that farm stand! I also love zinnias and planted them last year and they got nice and tall and beautiful. This year they are staying very short:( Love that your little one made a bouquet for her room. Congrats on 10 years, you are a beautiful couple.

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  22. The flower stand really is the CUTEST thing EVER!!!! What a wonderful adventure for all of you!!! Also, you have my curiosity peeked now. I want to know about your wedding day. Sounds like a great idea for the next blog post. :)

    Jody in Bismarck, ND

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  23. I absolutely love your flower stand! Good for you and your mom!

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  24. Following your blog for awhile and want to say that you are truly blessed! Such a sweet life, beautiful daughters, and a gorgeous husband. I have learned alot from you; from recipes, canning, decorating, gardening. I love, love, love your home. Wondered the other day why you haven't done a post on your master bedroom. Seems to be the only room we haven't seen. Hope you do one soon. And yes, please share wedding day stories- I am intrigued!

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  25. Your flower stand is so charming. I've always been a lover of all things "home" and your blog is so inspiring. Congratulations on your 10th anniversary, you have a lovely family. I would love to see a post on your wedding day!

    Esther

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    1. I'll try to dig through some old photos so I can do the story justice. ;-)

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  26. I so enjoy your blog. It is the only one I read! The flower cart is fantastic. We bought a home by the mountains and are remodeling literally everything. I started a blog because it was easier to tell my story about a home falling apart faster than we can fix it with 4 children. Anyway,yours brings happiness to me and ideas! Thank you!
    Jennifer

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  27. Oh Andrea, what a beautiful share. Congrats to you and Justus. You are both so devoted to creating a truly beautiful life for your little family. I know I say it to many times here, but through your posts, you always bring back memories of when my husband and I were young, Doing so many remodeling projects with our first home, then building our existing home, a cape cod, My husband was the general contractor while still working a full time job. So much of it we did ourselves. Oh the gardening and just everyday life events with raising our family of four children. Time goes by so quickly....... Well, Justus, that stand is Adorable, with a capital A!! I see the chain to secure it. Good thought. Didn't you two have a jeep you were restoring? How is that going? You both are living such an authentic life that is rich beyond measure. Savor these moments with your adorable little family, as it goes by too quickly. Such beautiful pictures as always Andrea. Girl, so Country Living Magazine worthy! Best wishes again on your 10 years, you two!

    Debra

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    1. Debra, thank you for your sweet comment! Yes, we could hardly imagine somebody actually stealing a flower stand, but we thought we'd be on the safe side. ;-) Yes, the Jeep is maybe not restored, but it is running now. Justus takes it to and from the farm often. It has been in my family for a long time... my brother and I learned how to drive in it! :-)

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  28. Awww, what a beautiful pic of you and Justus. Happy Anniversary to you! And that flower stand is gorgeous! I love this beautiful, hard working little family :)

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  29. Love, love your flower stand . . . arranging and tweaking, I could spend all day, each day!

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  30. Love your blog to pieces! What a darling life and very cute family. Adore the picture of you and your husband. Your dress is fabulous- may I ask where you got it?

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  31. Thanks so much for all your lovely blogs. I adore reading about your sweet life. Love the photo of you and your husband- what a gorgeous couple. Love your dress- can you share where you got it?

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words! I bought the dress while we were in Florida this summer at a Gap outlet. It is very comfy! :-)

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  32. Reading your posts are like a mini vacation. Would love to hear your wedding story someday! :) Such a precious flower stand. I see where you get your creativity from. Thanks again for the cool breeze in my day.

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  33. Where do I go about getting the seeds to plant the heirloom flowers? Are they already mixed or did you know which ones you wanted to use...I would be clueless, but think this is a cool idea!

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    1. Hi Abby - we order our seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Last year we both planted some flowers in our home gardens and loved them... we went with those again and chose some new flowers when we placed our initial order... already we've learned a few things about what we want to add next time around. In fact, we just placed our order for our fall planting. I think it's going to be a learn as we go type of thing! ;-)

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  34. Happy anniversary! Could you two be any more gorgeous?! Seriously, you both look like models. Love your flowers and the flower stand, and how clever is that to be built out of reclaimed materials? Have a fantastic day. xoxo

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  35. I just found your blog! I was looking for inspiration and there you are. Thank you for sharing with us.
    I hope you don't mind if I share your blog post on my FB page "Mammabellarte" , the link will go directly to your blog post.
    wishing you a wonderful weekend. Ciao Rita

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  36. Happy Anniversary that is such a precious idea to use a old truck bed for your beautiful family flowers! Made me smile your so inspiring!

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  37. Happy Anniversary! Friend who antiques shared your blog made me smile what a unique and precious idea to use and to have reuse a old truck bed to show your family's beautiful flowers, I love it!

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  38. Happy Anniversary that is such a precious idea to use a old truck bed for your beautiful family flowers! Made me smile your so inspiring!

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