Blog

DIY shed to playhouse conversion before photo of old sheep farm shed

DIY Plans To Convert A Shed To A Kids Playhouse

Includes the floor plans for updating a shed into a playhouse along with a step-by-step outline for the project, from updating floors, to roof, and more.

Two terracotta saucers sitting on a black surface, the top one filled with seed starting mix and the bottom one filled with potting soil; a small flat of cucumber seedlings and a garden trowel sit beside the saucers

Seed Starting Mix Vs. Potting Soil: Which To Use?

When I started gardening I didn’t know the difference in seed starting mix vs. potting soil. Explaining the difference and why gardeners use both.

Dark green built-in bookcases filled with fiction books in both paperback and hardcover; a small black table sits in front of the shelves and holds a stack of books, potted houseplant, jar, and small brush

Tips For Decluttering Books To Downsize Your Collection

Need ideas for decluttering your book collection? This post has tips for decluttering books including fiction, children’s books, references, and more.

Testing all of the dark Minwax stains on samples of douglas fir wood; colors include Dark Walnut, Early American, Ebony, English Chestnut, Espresso, Honey, Jacobean, Mocha, Provincial, Red Mahogany, Red Oak, Special Walnut, and True Black

Comparing Dark Stain Colors On Douglas Fir Wood

Ever wonder what different dark stain colors look like on douglas fir? With and without wood conditioner? We show you ALL the colors in this post.

Organizing seeds in a plastic photo storage box turned into a DIY seed organizer, seed packets fill the photo boxes which are labeled by seed type and placed in the larger storage box; packets of seeds are spread out on the floor next to the photo boxes

How To Organize Seeds Easily In A Photo Organizer

Ideas and tips for how to organize seeds in a photo organizer. Create a DIY seed organizational system that works for you and the way your garden.

A dirt road during mud season in Vermont around early March, dirt road filled with ruts and water, snow banks on the side of the road, blue sky with not leaves or buds on the trees surrounding the road

A Country Girl’s Guide To Mud Season In Vermont

Just what is mud season in Vermont like and how to survive it? From sneaky tips to make it easier and ways to escape (spoiler…it involves maple).

The kitchen pantry zone before picture of our kitchen including a vintage cream jelly cabinet, low green bookcase filled with pantry items and jars, vintage cabinet hanging above the bookcase with storage baskets on top, and a stone blue tall cabinet for a microwave

Meet The Pantry Zone In Our Kitchen We Have Yet To Get Right

Meet our dysfunctional kitchen pantry zone, what’s not working, and the plans we’ve come up with to create a more beautiful and functional pantry.

A collection of seed packets spread across the black table top, small glass jar filled with beet seeds, a wooden dibbler on the table, and a pair of hands holding beet seeds in one hand while selecting a seed with the other hand

2025 Kitchen Garden Grow List

Sharing all the vegetables and varieties we are growing in our kitchen garden this season, focusing on production and fresh eating for our family.

With a goal of decluttering 10,000 items from our home, starting with items collected in this light blue cabinet including journals, notebooks, a bowl of tape, essential oil accessories, art, markers, and more

Would Life Improve If I Declutter 10,000 Items?

Yes, I believe life would be better after decluttering 10,000 items from our home. That’s the goal, declutter 10K by the end of the year. Follow along.

Rough cut wood boards stacked with spacers in between the boards, acclimating inside a home

Is Acclimating Wood For Furniture Building Necessary?

As a home owner, amateur furniture builder, and DIYer, is acclimating wood for furniture building necessary? And how do you do it successfully?

Four packets of new seeds for the 2025 garden season displayed (including green arrow pea, rich sweetness melon, green globe artichoke, and onions) in front of a galvanized tote filled with seed packets

Do Plant Seeds Expire Or Go Bad?

Exploring the age old question, do plant seeds expire or go bad? The short answer, no seeds don’t expire but sometimes it’s time to replace them.

Tutorial for how to make paper heart chains like this trio of three chains in various shades of pink hanging from the ceiling in front of a family photo gallery wall

How To Make A Paper Heart Chain For Valentine’s Day

Tutorial and materials list for how to make a paper heart chain, one of my all-time favorite Valentine’s Day paper crafts. Bonus, it costs under $10.

A home office design plan and mood board featuring a patterned rug, wood desk and drafting table, drafting stool, denim blue fabric office chair, light blue velevet curtains, mustard yellow cabinet, wall mounted fan, and large scale art of poppies against dark, army green walls

Keeping Room Design Plan And Color Scheme

Sharing the design plan for the keeping room, a multi-purpose home office and guest room, including the color scheme and major design decisions.

A photo of the biggest reason why I garden, teaching my children how to grow food with a toddler using a green watering can to water cucumbers in terracotta pots

Three Goals For The 2025 Vegetable Garden Season

Before planting that first seed, it’s important to set some goals and intentions for your vegetable garden. Sharing my 2025 vegetable garden goals.

A standard black photo box modified to fit square photo prints is sitting open on a desktop with a collection of square photos, both front and back, scattered beside the box

Modify A Photo Storage Box For Square Photo Prints

How to modify a standard, inexpensive photo storage box to efficiently fit square photo prints, including DIY dividers and photo labeling tips.

Keeping room painted dark green with a corner fireplace, IKEA pullout couch, drafting table, desk, and chambray blue rolling desk chair

Introducing The Keeping Room Office Project

Our next project, decorating and organizing a multi-purpose home office in our home, otherwise known as the keeping room. Read the project plans.