farm photography.

I love taking pictures and one of my favorite places to play and sharpen my photo skills is on my grandparent's farm. I love the wholesome, bright colored slices of Midwest living I can catch in my grandma's flower beds, the open sky meeting the treeline, growing crops and barefoot kids, tractors and animals. Here are a few recent favorite captured farmlife moments.

kitchen sneak peek.

As some of you already know I have been working on a kitchen re-do in our new home. After a few weeks of painting, a gallon of primer, a gallon of paint, hours of work, countless shirts with white paint stains on all 4 of us in the house, and many rolls of paper towel, I am ready to provide you with a sneak peek! These pictures are of the shelf that runs around my entire kitchen. The painting of the cupboards, walls and trim are done. I still have to paint two doors and finish around my large window. I also have to sew and install a valance and my husband and I are planning on changing the backsplash. Until then...check out these great vintage plates lined up around my new color palette in my white kitchen! I am already so in love!

hydrangeas are for lovers.

I think hydrangeas are The most romantic flowers on the planet. I have always loved these fat bundles of sweet, delicate flowers...so much so that I cannot commit to a favorite color. All of the bouquets of flowers on my wedding day included hydrangea and they make me think of that wonderful day still. I knew I wanted a pink cherry blossom tree, a lilac bush, peonies and hydrangeas in my yard. Now that we have a yard, I am checking these must haves off the list. Hydrangeas are not cheap and I am a thrifty woman so I really lucked out with this beauty when a family connection won me this charmer out of the yard of a foreclosed home in town. That is right-the crown jewel of my landscaping is a beautiful, bushy hydrangea that cost me nothing except a phone call and a real labor of love on my husband's part...I am a lucky woman!

living room.

We love having a big living room for the kids to run around in and lots of family to drop in and have a seat (our campus apartment was lacking that). In our new house we have a fireplace, built-in storage and many places to sit and put your feet up. I love the crown molding and the huge bay window off the front of our home. My bookshelves are full of pictures that are dear to our family and a large variety of books and magazines. I love spending time in this room and look forward to decorating it for Christmas in a few months!

dining room.

Our new dining room is my favorite room in the house. The wallpaper, crown molding, 1900 era thick metal grate, 16 window paneled doors with crystal doorknobs and of course our beautiful chandelier all came with the home. This room is elegant and understated, shabby chic and homey. It is my style and I love that I did not come in and create this look in this room...it has been the heart of this home for decades before we arrived. It is a beautiful room to display some of my colored glass my husband rescued from my grandparent's farm and my antique dish and linen collection. This room is "me" and I just moved in...a match made in antique, shabby chic decor, realty heaven....aaaaaaahhhh...welcome home, Katelyn Brooke.

antique dishes.

I have been collecting old dishes for awhile and they have found a fitting home in our historic dining room. This old dry sink was a hand-me-down from my in-laws and it looks beautiful displaying my antique linens, dishes and tea cups in our dining room. The pedestal and flower pot on the right side of the dry sink was an heirloom from a family friend and it holds my hodgepodge of antique silverware and serving pieces.

My pieces are a collection of family pieces, Goodwill finds, antique store and flea market treasures. I love the collected look of this area in my home. My personal taste require a balance of the old and new. In my dining room I have a 110 year old metal vented grate sitting right next to my modern hightop dark wood table set. The juxtaposition of the old and new keeps me feeling like my homestyle is unique and memorable. Many more dining room pictures to come...this is a teaser.

the breakfast nook.

Our new home has a breakfast nook. This is such a charming little spot in our house and we have already spent quite a bit of time here. This area in the house has also become the "organizational heart of the house." It sits between the kitchen and dining room and has lots of storage nearby. The calender, house phone, computer and "junk drawer" are all nearby. The kids and I find ourselves here most days for breakfast and lunch. I fix the kids a meal and sit to organize coupons, pay bills, or jump online.

The world map under the glass of the table was left by the previous owner and has sparked a lot of conversation-so we are leaving it. The paint colors and wallpaper are also from the previous owner. We have added our own personal touches but enjoy the banquette as we bought it.

Except-as I look at these picture I realize that the base of the nook table needs to be painted white...don't you think?