Back Home

 Integrating back into family life after international travel is like jumping back onto a merry-go-round (that you never should have gotten off of in the first place), and trying to steady yourself as it continues its endless loops.

We arrived home in the middle of the night, exhausted from having been up for 24 hours. (There's no way around it - that trans-Atlantic haul is a doozy!) I was in desperate need of a hot shower and my own bed. But after just a few hours of deep sleep, it was morning and time to hit the ground running again.

We are winding down with school for the year. Elsa completed her 5th grade Language Arts course...

She can write a research paper, recite poetry, and diagram sentences like a pro.

A diligent year always pays off!

Another highlight from this month has been Soren's 13th birthday.

(Photo by big brother Roman)

I am now the mother of three teenagers! I made him his favorite breakfast: Scrambled eggs with peppers and mushrooms, alongside homemade cinnamon rolls.

It feels great to be back in the rhythm again. Paris was a beautiful adventure, but there's no place like home.

I was able to bring a little French flair back home with me.

The shops there sell authentic Made in France pillow covers that had me swooning!

In Versailles, the gift shop had a small selection of Marie Antoinette inspired pieces. I chose this embroidered pillow cover for my bed...

(Notice the M for Marie! 🌸)

Her style was famously lavish, and she loved florals. This was her bedroom in her smaller, more private chateau...

I could move right in, couldn't you?! 

😉

I also purchased, in another shop, these whimsical pillow covers for my couch...

I am just tickled over them!

To justify the purchase to Micah I tried pointing out how hard it is to find genuine decor in America. 

The pillows here are printed transfers, I explained. So you understand my urgency in buying these while I have the opportunity, right?

One could not argue with such clear logic.

It still feels like we were just there, navigating the metro... taking in the sights... (with a cafe creme in hand), but I couldn't shake the thought that, as fun as it is to visit, I wouldn't want to live there.

'Tis fine to see the Old World, and travel up and down

Among the famous palaces and cities of renown,

To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of the kings -

But now I think I've had enough of antiquated things.

So it's home again, and home again, America for me!

My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be.

Oh, London is a man's town, there's power in the air,

And Paris is a woman's town, with flowers in her hair;

And it's sweet to dream in Venice, and it's great to study Rome;

But when it comes to living, there is no place like home.

"America for Me," by Henry Van Dyke

It's good to be home.

💐

~ Courtney 

A Productive Saturday

 Micah took the kids to go visit a relative, and I decided to stay back to catch up on a few things at home.

I got all my errands in town done yesterday so I could enjoy an entire Saturday home alone with no where to go.

I put the day to good use!

I began with my typical Saturday chores, ticking them off my to-do list as I went...

Water houseplants  ✔

Dust and mop ✔

Clean bathrooms ✔

etc...

I felt inspired to do a few extra chores like wash all my pillowcases and bleach my kitchen sink.

Hip surgery has sure changed my perspective on things like housework.

I spent so many weeks in pain, unable to walk, bend, and work, that now I figure, hey! if I can do something comfortably, I will happily do it.

I thought about this as I pushed the vacuum over my living room carpet, grateful for a strong body again.

With my house clean and smelling fresh, I decided to tackle an Easter centerpiece next.

My vision was to highlight the birth, sacrifice, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This is what I came up with...

I may switch out the tulips for Easter lilies, if I can find some closer to Easter. But these tulips are lovely here. They are actually the most realistic fakes I've ever seen. We have a very nice home decor shop close by that sells good quality pieces. I splurged on these beautiful, faux tulips.

The Mary, Jospeh, and baby Jesus sculpture is from my Christmas Nativity. I dug it out of its box in the attic with this centerpiece in mind. But I purchased the wooden cross and risen Christ figurine.

As I stood in the decorative crosses aisle at the store, contemplating all my options, I noticed that most of them were artsy and cute. But the cross wasn't pretty! It was an, "Old rugged cross," as the hymn says.

I was happy to have found this one. 

I propped it up in a little base that Roman had made a few years ago for his iPad to sit in while it charged. It holds this tall, heavy cross quite nicely.

An old family hymnal, opened to Easter songs like, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," completes my little project, and I am happy to leave it like this. 

Simple but meaningful.

Another project I was determined to complete this weekend was reorganizing my clothes closet.

In preparation for my recovery last fall, I stocked my closet with sweatpants, joggers, and fleece pullovers.

It was the perfect wardrobe to recover from surgery and go to physical therapy in, but now that I'm doing so much better and getting out and about more, I can't find anything to wear!

I packed away about 80% of the comfy attire, and pulled from storage my blouses, jeans, and a few skirts.

If you ever need ideas and inspiration for your clothes closet, I would recommend the book, The Chic Closet by Fiona Ferris. This easy, fun read always gets me in the mood to up my style game.

I feel good about my productive Saturday.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I love all your "likes" and comments. They motivate me to keep writing!

💐

~ Courtney 

Owl Wallpaper

 I have recently completed a fun project in my bedroom.

I am quite pleased with the result.

It all started when we upgraded to a king size bed. A decorating dilemma presented itself... I found I was not attracted to the king size headboards currently on the market.

Why do we need a headboard?

Ultimately the decision was made that we would just use this architectural salvage mantlepiece we already had.

One thing led to another, as the wall behind the bed still seemed a bit empty, and I found this monochromatic owl wallpaper.

I know it's not to everyone's taste, but it felt charming and whimsical to me.

So I ordered a sample.

First, I walked the sample around my house. I knew the paper would only be in my bedroom, but it's important to me that my whole house flows and makes sense. If a pattern or color works in one area, I want it to work everywhere.

Then the sample lived taped onto my bedroom wall for about a week as I watched how the light hit it throughout the day and how it made me feel.

Wallpaper can be expensive and tricky to install, but there are some plus sides to it. Once you get the hang of it, it's instant gratification. Unlike paint, there's no dry time or second coat needed. Once it's up, it's done! But one should be warned that, because of pattern repeats, there is a lot of waste with wallpaper. There's no way around it. Always order more than you think you need.

(Note: if you receive any gifts from me wrapped in this owl paper, you will know why! 😂)

My room was in a bit of an upheaval while I worked on the project...

And I was a total stress ball hanging the mantlepiece and pictures back on this wall after all my hard work!

But I'm very happy I did it.

To me it feels soothing, and like a layer of richness was added to the room.

I am very lucky Micah lets me do what I want to the house. I personally think men should. If a woman spends most of her life at home, she should have it fixed up how she likes it.

This house has been very patient with me over the years. We have put her through many design triumphs as well as some defeats. But with all our renovations my goal has always been to create a home suitable for this 100-year old farmhouse. 

If walls could talk I would like to think she would tell me she's pleased.

🏡

Thanks for stopping by my blog today, friends.

xo,

~ Courtney 

A Dark Green Bedroom

 Roman's been asking, for probably a year now, to paint his room dark green.

I ignored the request for a while, thinking he would forget about it and move on, but he was persistent!

I didn't want a dark green room in my house! I had worked hard through the years to make our house light and airy. I tried to explain to Roman a dark green room would make him feel closed in, like he was living in a cave.

Eventually he wore me down and I agreed to stop at the paint store for samples.

The tipping point was when he finally said, "Mom, it's just one room." I realized that was reasonable, and maybe I was being too controlling. It is his room after all. Well, his and Soren's. They share the room. 

Soren was all in. So I decided, being a mother who delights in seeing children happy, that I was going all in, too.

Our home belongs to all of us, so... team green!

💚💚

I soon learned that agreeing to a dark green bedroom was the easy part. What followed was about a week of agonizing over paint choices!

20 dollars for samples and four trips to Home Depot later, I still didn't know which green to choose!

I finally grew so tired of my indecision that in defeated reluctance I sighed, "Roman, you choose!"

I was apprehensive but this was his idea and his vision. It's just paint, I told myself. He picked "Vine Leaf" by Behr. A very dark, rich, manly green. 

I made sure there were no yellow undertones because I didn't want pea green. I also made sure there were no brown undertones because I didn't want a muddy green.

Oh, the anxiety!

But the moment I got the first brush stroke on the walls all my anxiety melted away...

I loved it!! It's deep, dramatic, and looks emerald in some light.

It makes the white shelf pop and the original woodwork sing.

The room is fairly large with windows on two sides, receiving morning light. So it isn't stuffy or cave-like at all! 

I didn't want to go dark green because I didn't think I'd like it. But now I'm converted. Dark green is the new white! Haha.

Decorating was the fun part!

We wanted a warm, handsome outcome, using books, live plants, and brass accents.

We are over the moon with the result!

The boys' room, before and during...

The boys' room after...

Roman built this table and painted it using one of the sample paints we bought. It was nice to know at least one of those sample jars didn't go to waste. I think it turned out very nice.

I allowed the boys a lot of personal expression in this room.

They each decorated their bedside tables...

As well as the shelf that wraps around the room with their favorite artwork, toys, and books.

This gave me the opportunity to share with them my number one decorating rule, which is: for greatest impact, show restraint! 

I also allowed them to each select one decor item from Hobby Lobby, which they found quite fun!

Other than that, the room was cobbled together using what we already had.

Their Hobby Lobby selections were this tree and bear silhouette...

And leopard throw pillows.

The purpose for this freedom of expression is that hopefully they will feel a sort of jurisdiction over the room, and keep it well and tidy.

Now I'm glad I was pestered into doing this! I love their newly painted room so much! Even though the process involved giving Roman our beloved antique brass bed.

It's ok. Micah and I upgraded to a king size bed, which we are enjoying very much, but has opened a can of decorating worms. That means the master bedroom will be my next project, keeping me plenty busy this winter.

😊

~ Courtney 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Christmas has arrived at the Downs' Farmhouse!

🌹🌲🌹

It's our tradition to get our trees and decorate the house the weekend after Thanksgiving. 

It's hard work, but also a lot of fun!

I am happy to say, now that the weekend is coming to a close, I am finished.

Since our home has a front room and a family room, I like to put up two trees.

We have a system, and Micah helps a lot, so it's really no trouble. I am always pleased with the result.

This year we loaded up the kids in Micah's truck, and headed just a few minutes down the road to a neighboring, family-owned farm for our trees.

After careful search we discovered the two we wanted, side by side in the forest.

We naturally concluded that since they grew up together, they would probably enjoy being adopted together.

Micah chopped both down and the kids named them Louis and Penny.

Lately I've really been into scraggly, un-groomed trees.

I just think they're so charming, and very authentic farmhouse.

This is Penny in our front room...

I think she has a woodsy elegance about her.

Whereas Louis is a little more casual and kid-friendly for our family room...

We had some beautiful sunlight this afternoon for snapping a few pictures of my Christmas decor.

Everyone loves winter sunlight!

It made the steam from our bowls of soup at lunch really stand out!

This is the kitchen table centerpiece when we're not eating a meal...

Home Depot has the cutest little live Christmas plants at the moment.

I bought this miniature tree as well as this adorable winterberry plant...

I like to take the foil wrapping off and place them in planters I have on hand.

As for the plants I had to move out to make room for the Christmas ones, I'm just keeping them in this discreet corner of the laundry room until the holidays are over.

(Roman made this plant stand for me. 😊)

I didn't have an extra planter for this little poinsettia, though. So I just tied a festive ribbon around him instead. 

This large poinsettia gets the honor of my newly purchased, and very elegant, Japanese planter.

It sits proudly at the foot of the staircase...

(Now, wish me luck that I remember to water all these lovely plants!)

🌿

A few more shots of some of my other decor...

Even the children's play cabin gets dressed up for the season...

This porcelain Nativity was given to me by a family member. 

I'm enjoying it as the centerpiece on the dining room table...

I'll end with a photo from our home last year on Christmas Eve...

I am looking forward to another meaningful and merry Christmas season, and I pray that for you, too.

💚🌹💚

I sure do appreciate those of you who stop by my blog.

I hope you enjoyed my little Christmas tour.

I'll be back to write again soon...

~ Courtney ~