Spring at Fletcher Estate in Essex, Vermont

I'm half joking when I call our home "Fletcher Estate." Badger has been hanging out with us outside while Mike and I have been working on the landscaping and the gardens :) Kitty stays inside, but usually watches from the window. Here are some photos from this spring!

Day Bed in the Home Office

Mike and I are having a garage sale soon! We are also planning a wedding that is going to be fantastic and wonderful, and I can't wait to photo dump into this blog omg! So many DIY projects. We are doing a DIY Flea Market Style Wedding theme!

Anyways, I'm having a blast with spring cleaning. We have been working a lot outside to get the gardens ready, but this weekend has been rainy, so we've turned our attention to the interior of the home.

So in cleaning and organizing the house, I  rearranged my guest room / office. The room looked like this a few days ago: Guest Room / Home Office.

I wanted space. I felt like the bed was taking up a lot of the room, and it was feeling cluttered, which was not conducive to my work! I cleared out my stuff and light some candles! It is officially spring cleansed. Now here is what it looks like now.

Notice the rainy day lighting. I will have to take a few more photos when the sun comes out :) Have a wonderful day!

Victorian Cottage Guest Room

You know the saying about life giving you lemons. You're supposed to make a cocktail with those lemons, sit back, sip and enjoy! Wait, is that how it goes? Anyways, there are many variations to the saying, all of which essentially say the same thing: "make the best of it."

Well, this is more of a case of, "When the house gives you a room with outdated yellow wallpaper..." So we are making the best of it! My decor theme in this room has evolved to a light and airy Victorian Cottage room, for now. I still have some things on my list of to-do's in here, including curtains, wall art, another lamp and possibly a dresser somewhere, but this is where it is now and I couldn't wait to share it!

I anticipate that this room will be transformed into a nursery within the next few years, but for now, it's a lovely guest room, always prepped with fresh sheets and an extra down blanket for those cold Vermont winter nights.

So enjoy the little photo tour :)

Guest Room / Office

I love that I can remember where and how I acquired or fixed up each piece in the room. I finally hung some things on the wall, but I have a very large empty wall across from the bed that I have to do something with! It's just so bare.

Meanwhile, I love how comfy the room is. Right now I have a little hot tea kettle in here, it is SO cold in Vermont today! It's actually -10! But come summer, I may move a few things around in that corner with the cane chair.

Right after I took the photos I set up my keyboard to practice some tunes on ;) I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Good vibes!

Blank wall needs something!

Art corner :)

Tea table!

Love this wood wind chime Kelley made me.

Mike Proposed, and I Said Yes!

Friendgiving Dinner

A few weeks ago, Mike and I invited our friends over for a wonderful chicken parm dinner! I had so much fun setting the table and prepping the house for guests while Mike cooked in the kitchen! We really are a great team :) Let me share with you now our dining room on the day of our Friendsgiving dinner back in November.

Maple Bacon Chili

It's cold out there! And that means I am in the mood for some tummy warming foods. I made this chili a few years ago actually, and found this recipe in my archives. I would likely use ground turkey and put the chili over brown rice pasta. So good! Here is the recipe! Enjoy and stay warm :)

Maple Bacon Chili

1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)

1 onion, chopped

1 package of bacon, cooked and chopped

1/2 cup of maple syrup

1 can red kidney beans

2 tbsp chili powder 

2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 can crushed tomatoes

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 zucchini, chopped

1 beer

In a large pot, cook the ground beef with the onions until the meat is browned. Remove from heat and drain as much oil as possible from the meat and onions.

Pour the meat and onion mixture into a Crock-Pot set on low. Add chili powder, the chopped bacon, garlic, kidney beans, tomatoes, zucchini and maple syrup. Cook for 4-6 hours on low heat.