Hmmmm, it’s been so long since I published a post, I’m not even sure how to start! 😄 I’m also not even sure anyone is still out there—do people still read blogs? I hope so, because creating this way feels like chicken soup for the soul now that I’ve gotten back into the habit of writing again. (More about that at the end of this post!)
Anywho, if there does happen to be somebody on the other side of this screen, hello! How have you been, reader-friend? Are you enjoying the first signs of Spring? We’re keeping as busy as ever over here on the farm.
Wait.
Did I tell you we moved to a farm? Well, it’s more of a farmette really, but it’s got almost six, sprawling acres and the (nearly) half-century-old house needs just enough TLC to feel absolutely thrilling!
The Lettered Colonial
It’s Colonial in style and the tree-lined gravel drive, which circles around in front of it, had us swooning from the second our tires crunched onto it. And although we had never cared for so many trees and so much land before, the house instantly felt like home, so we decided to give it a go.
It was designed and built for the Stanton family way back when and, rumor has it, Mrs. Stanton taught children from all over the county how to swim in the pool in the backyard. Which brings me to one of our first, big home pool improvement-related project. About a year after we moved in, the liner kicked the bucket and we replaced it with the Grey Mosaic liner by Latham Pools.
Old liner, new liner. It took 3 days to re-fill it!
It came highly recommended by my friend April, and had everything we were hoping for: no border around the top edge (folks think it’s real tile every time!) and tranquil, muted tones above and below the water line.
Moody blues
The McEwen family bought it from the Stantons in 1990 and lived here until they sold it to us in August of 2021. We were tickled to learn that they had (internationally) adopted one of their children too, and it was their multigenerational family that had started transforming the former two-car garage into an in-law suite.
We’re still in the process of personalizing that area for Jim and Katie (anybody else had a HECK of a time getting carpenters & contractors to show up? 🥴) but fingers crossed, Kevin and I can fumble our way through what’s left to finish. Countertops, a range hood, a few custom cabinets, some custom bookshelves, some open shelving, and the crown & base moulding will round out her cottage-style kitchen.
Katie’s (discontinued) Petite Fleur wallpaper and luxury vinyl parquet flooring
We actually tackled the desk countertop in there this week. We just wrapped some MDF in soapstone-patterned vinyl and we are all so happy with how it turned out! According to the shop I bought it from, the vinyl is waterproof, scratch, tear, and heat resistant, environmentally safe, and can be removed with no sticky residue. It also has a grid on the back to make for an easy application and they included a small tool to get all the bubbles out which worked really great.
Peel and stick soapstone– who knew!?
My Uncle Kevin (a cabinet maker in Minnesota) is actually shipping us one of the base cabinets we need to finish up the sink side of the room this weekend, so I’ll be sure to share a post specifically about their kitchen with more before and after photos in May.
Katie, who recently turned 87-years-young, hasn’t let her unfinished kitchen stop her from partaking in one of her favorite pastimes though. When she isn’t out and about, or relaxing in her chair in the room next door, she can usually be found baking or cooking. Last week, she was inspired to make vegetable soup, and I had to chuckle when I found her standing at her stove boiling meat off the ham she’s had in her freezer since Thanksgiving. (More about exactly why that is so funny at the end of this post! 😉)
I asked her about what else she uses in her soup and she said “Oh! It’s just whatever you want to throw together!” Here’s what Katie had on hand:
1 leftover ham bone
2 cans mixed vegetables
1 bag frozen vegetables
1 chopped onion
2 sliced carrots
5 diced potatoes
1 can of corn
2 cans diced tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
She started by boiling the ham bone in enough water to loosen the leftover ham meat. Once she had cut it all off, she reduced the heat and began to add the vegetables. She let it cook until the potatoes, carrots and frozen mixed vegetables were done and she and Jim have been enjoying it ever since. Here’s a photo of the recipe she used to make her yummy cornbread too:
She doesn’t add the two tablespoons of flour (when I asked her why, she said “I wasn’t raised on cornbread with flour in it, so I’ve never made it that way as adult either“), and she made a note that if you don’t have any buttermilk on hand, you can add one tablespoon of vinegar to plain milk and to create your own. You may have also noticed that the recipe in her little cookbook didn’t have the cook time listed, so she found that info in another cornbread recipe on the same page and added it by hand. 🥰
Another area of the house that we started working on right away was the foyer. We swapped the old, gray carpeting for and I’ve been having fun adding to the floral-themed gallery wall ever since.
Before
In-Progress
We also just finished redecorating Kevin’s home studio and, boy, has it been fun to see him come alive in that space! Here’s a photo of the room before we moved in:
Before
After
Here are links to some of the things we used in case you’re curious or on the hunt for something similiar:
I haven’t quite finished the gallery wall above his desk, but here’s a link to the one we went with:
He loves that it has hooks on one end for his cables and headphones and a storage pocket on the other end for paperwork, mail, etc. Such a great find for under a hundred bucks! We’re going to add a piece of this fabric across the back so that the cables don’t show too.
He’s developed a fervent passion for writing and wakes up early every day to continue crafting his weekly newsletter, which he sends out (for free) every Tuesday morning. It’s called Onward and in it, he shares insights, ideas, and illustrations on happiness, creativity, purpose, and the psychology of well-being. Here’s a photo of some he recently published:
Click the link below if you’d like to hear from him every Tuesday. I promise it will always be one of the highlights of your week!
And speaking of writing, after two long years of thinking, researching, typing, planning, photographing, editing, re-editing, and editing LOTS more, I’m beyond happy to announce that my real-deal, bonafide beacon of a book is finally done! It’s called Coming Home and it’ll be released wherever books are sold on November 21, 2023.
Photo by the incomparable Kyle Campbell @SuddenJourneys
And by excited, of course, I also mean terrified. 😅
I keep thinking of something one of my favorite writers said. Apparently, a mysterious illness, complete with 2-week fever, landed him in the hospital ten times before the release of his first book (when, all of a sudden, he instantly felt better) and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thought about how sharing vulnerably, without a delete button, might take a toll on my health this Fall too. 😬
That said, I am super proud of what I’ve tucked inside Coming Home and I really do wish I had had a book like this before my garden-variety anxiety spiraled into disordered panic back in 2018. It’s not only filled with soul-suffusing stories, curative quotes, and restorative family recipes, but also with helpful research, practical advice, hope-full poems, inspiring imagery and hand-drawn artwork. I had a blast creating all the doodles and snapping many of the photos. (Kevin contributed a handful of essays and snapped some of the photos too!) And you wouldn’t believe how much fun I had tracking down certain pictures taken by folks I’ve never met. One adventure took me all the way to a tiny village in England and I can hardly wait to share about how I found the person who captured the photo that inspired one particular chapter. It was quite extraordinary and, it turns out, he is too. We chatted for nearly an hour on Facebook Audio the other day and I kept pinching myself during our call to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. 😊
All that to say, Coming Home is not your average memoir, self-help, personal growth, coffee table book, cook book, or gift book. It’s a combination of ALL of those genres and I will be forever grateful to my imaginative literary agent, enthusiastic acquisitions editor, and uber-patient publisher & designers for allowing me to create such a unique and big-hearted book about feeling lost sometimes, and how to keep coming home.
Anywho, Coming Home is available for pre-order on Amazon NOW, and your pre-order today will ensure that it ships to you at the lowest price between now and release day in November. (They’ll refund you for the difference.) And here’s something interesting: because other booksellers use Amazon’s pre-sale numbers to determine how many copies they want to order, pre-orders also play a huge part in how excited they’ll be to come alongside an author when the book is actually released. In other words, THANK YOU SO MUCH if you join me in pre-ordering a copy. Your early support and enthusiasm will make such a difference in the long run, and because it was such a labor or love, I am so, so grateful! 😀
Oh, and if you do happen to order a copy, you’ll find a story about Katie tucked inside too. The chapter is called “An Invitation” and, in it, I say something like “I bet she could stretch a Thanksgiving ham all the way to Easter”- LOL! She certainly made that sentence spring to life this month! 😂
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So, there ya have it. And by “ya”, I mean, if there really is someone sitting on the other side of this screen. (I hope you’ll leave me a comment below if you are!) Either way, it’s good to be back, sharing in a way that feels like a little more old-fashioned than “insta”. Feels like fresh air. Feels like coming home.
PS- Kindreds spirits: if you’re on the hunt for a beautiful journal or super fun series of books, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying these: Woodland Journal and Ladybug Farm Series.
Started following you in 2011 I think. IG is nice, but I enjoy your blog – wonderful writing and pictures. And I enjoy following along on your remodel adventures and hearing about your family.
Blogs had pretty much disappeared when IG became so popular. I have been following you since you lived in the little cottage. It is a nice change to be able to read one now. Welcome back!
Yay! I’m so happy that you’re posting again! 😊 Congratulations on your new home and your new book! How exciting!!! 😉
Yay! So happy you are back! You were my first blog I started reading way back when. Maybe 2007? Needless to say, you are my fav!
I hope and pray you enjoy your continued journey! I know us readers definitely will!
xoxo
Suezi
I am so proud of all you have and are accomplishing. I have been missing your posts and so excited for your new ventures. I was blessed to call you neighbor and friend in our former neighborhood.
MARY! It was so fun to see your name pop up! How are you doing? Are you still in south Alabama? We’ve been loving life here at the farmette and we all like being so much closer to Montgomery. (That drive back and forth from The Waters was somethin’ else- LOL!) I hope y’all are well and I look forward to connecting with you again here soon!
Hi Layla! Been following you in IG for years and it was so fun to get your email! Keep up the writing and walk in confidence this fall when your book releases!
Oh my gosh- I was so happy to see a blog post from you in my inbox! I’m looking forward to reading more to come! Also, I’ll definitely be ordering your book – big congratulations 🎉❤️👏
I have been off Instagram since the beginning of 2023 so this will be nice. Best wishes, you are a delight!
Hi! I started following you two houses ago, when you were in your little one. So glad to read your posts again. I can hardly wait for your book. Best wishes!
Thank you, Heidi! I’m so happy to reconnect with you here too!
Layla, I started following you quite some time ago too. But then my life got crazy and I hardly even have time to look at Instagram! I’m so glad you are back and I look forward to connecting with you again. The book sounds amazing and I can’t wait to get a copy. Congratulations again!
Thank you, Babette! I’m so glad we’re able to reconnect here and that life is feeling more peaceful these days. ❤️
Layla!!! I’m so proud of you and happy for you as well! I’ve been following you for quite sometime and have always enjoyed your wisdom and wit…(I especially love Lucinda and having the “shiznats” scared out of her…that’s a classic!)🤣🤣🤣 I look forward to following along on your upcoming adventures! Congratulations sweet friend!
Oh, how I love playing Lucinda too!!! 😀 And isn’t shiznats such a fun word?! LOL!
Your message was like a letter from an old friend.. unexpected and oh, so welcomed! Thanks for so openly sharing your challenges and successes.
You are so welcome, Wynona. And I felt hugged by your message too!
I started following you pretty early in the adoption process. I’m an adoptive mom, my daughter is 35 now, but always love to hear how God puts families together. I came for the adoption stories, I stayed for the home improvement. I’ve enjoyed so much of your content and I’m really glad you’re back to blogging. Your courage to share your struggles is inspiring. I have completely different struggles, but the struggle isn’t the point, the courage and humility it takes to share your story, that’s the reason to continue and keeps your accountable to move forward. Excited to read your book! Congrats
Thank you so much, Lynn! It really is neat to hear how God put families (and friends!) together. So glad He criss-crossed our paths too!
I’m here too. Surprised to see you post on your blog. Will you update us about all your family members?
Hi Christine! Absolutely! Jim is still at his drawing desk from sun up to sun down most days, and Katie can hardly sit still- LOL. She’s either cooking, or getting together with friends, or dashing off to church. Our 21-year-old daughter is living her best life with her fiancé in Florida (but she’s planning a visit home soon!) and Steevenson is thriving at his (favorite!) new school. He’s also looking forward to mining for gemstones on our road trip to my home state of Minnesota this summer. Apparently, there are some great places in Arkansas, so we’ll be bringing our buckets and shovels there! 😀
Love, love, love your blog posts. Miss them!! I’m excited for your book. I just know I will love it. ❤️
So glad your are back in this space, it’s a breath of fresh air!
Thank you, Tonya! And I’m with you: sharing photos and having everyone all together here feels so surprisingly FRESH again! 😀
So glad you are writing your blog again. I am not an IG follower and like the written word vs an image with a bunch of hashtags. I have followed you and you have led me to other bloggers, and a personal fulfillment each time I donate to Three Angels Haiti for the care of children in need of the basics we all take for granted. I will pre-order your book and wish you the best in all your endeavors.
Oh, Kelly! I love that you are connected to Three Angels!! We’ll always have a special place in our hearts for their ministry too!
And thank you for coming alongside me to pre-order Coming Home. I hope you love it as much as I loved being able to put it together for you!
Perfection Layla! Nothing beats a good blog post/ update. Truly in love with everything you do. Such an exciting year for you! ♥️
Thank you, Tammy! I truly appreciate your warm comment and I look forward to connecting with you here again soon! 😀
I wondered where you’d gone…looking forward to reading your new book and keeping up on your latest projects. You are so talented.
Aw, thank you Lynda! You are so kind!
I am still here! I have been following blogs for as long as there have been blogs and I found you many, many years ago. I am glad to still be able to connect regularly on Instagram and look forward to reading your book when it comes out!
I’m so glad you’re still here, Kristy! Thank you for leaving me a comment to let me know. And thank you for your enthusiasm about Coming Home. It was definitely a labor of love, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it!
Hi Layla,
This truly warmed my heart! I love love love to read blogs! And you are not rusty what so ever❤️
This is a wonderful warming blog post. I loved the links, all your renovations, and more insight on your first published book. I pre-ordered as soon as you announced it. The cover had me at hello☺️
I don’t know how long I’ve been following, but it’s been a long time! And adored your blog posts way back when!
Excited for your next post .
Lisa
Awwwww, thank you Lisa! I’ve already started working on my next post and can hardly wait to share it with you!
Layla, I follow you on Insta, but only because I fell in love with your blog YEARS ago. I check it every morning and today was a wonderful surprise. Please keep sharing on your blog!! Love you and your family.
Carolyn! What a treat to read your SUPER KIND comment! It felt just like a HUG!!
How wonderful to read this post Layla. I’ve read your blog, followed you on IG for as long as I can remember. I’m looking forward to future blog posts and of course your book!! I’m really enjoying reading and learning from Kevin’s newsletters too!! God bless you and your family. 😊
You are so kind to say that, Gina! Thank you for taking the time to connect. We BOTH appreciate it SO much! 🙂
You’ve been missed! So glad everyone is well! Congrats on your book!
I missed connecting with you here too, Rita! Thanks for the congrats and encouragement!
How Fun to see you!
I just thought of you the other day, and looked to see if you had posted recently, and today you were in my email!
Congratulations on your Book!
Your content is very sweet, and lovely.
Thank you, Marsha! It’s always funny when we think of someone and then, VOILA. There they are! 😀
So glad you’re back! Looking forward to seeing your new home projects!
Thank you, Joan! I appreciate your kind comment so much and I look forward to sharing more in May!
I can not wait for your book. What a delight to snuggle up with my morning cup of coffee and read your blog this morning. How I’ve missed reading. I love following you and your family on Instagram. However, I’m trying to be more present and spend less time on my phone. So thank you for reviving your blog. More reading time is definitely on my agenda.
Ellen! Thank you so much for leaving me a comment here! I, too, am trying to spend less time on my phone and adding to this post whenever I had free time was such a relaxing way to create without being attached to my laptop for long periods of time or all at once. I look forward to sharing another post around the same time next month! 🙂
Hi Layla! The best thing about blogs is: NO ALGORITHMS! I’ll always be able to see your posts when you write something new. By the way, I love Kevin’s ONWARD newsletter. He inspires me every Tuesday. And I can’t wait to get my grabby hands on your beautiful book. I’ve already pre-ordered a copy.
I love following you on Instagram. Thanks for all the inspiration and smiles!
BOOM, kid! No algorithms INDEED! And thanks for what you said about Kevin’s newsletter. I usually get a sneak peek, but I agree, there’s nothing like seeing it pop up on my inbox each week. SUCH a wise guy…er…well, you know what I mean! LOL!
Hooray!!!! So glad to see you back in the blog. I don’t have social media, so it was SO fun to see your email. Congratulations on your new house, and your books sounds simply beautiful. Thanks for sharing your light with us.
Well, thank YOU for being so kind, Eve! I’m so glad to know you’re here again too!
So excited to see you back with a blog. Somehow I lost touch with your story. Looking forward to all you have going on.
Welcome back, Darlene! I look forward to connecting with you again here soon!
So glad you’re back! I always enjoy your blogs.
Thank you, Jerralea! I appreciate your kind comment so much!
Welcome back! It’s so nice to read your blog post and hear from you in this form.
Isn’t it fun? Who knew blogging would feel so FRESH after all these years!? 😀
So happy you’re back! Congrats on your book. I’ve been a fan for quite sometime!
Aw, thank you Kim! I appreciate your kind words so much!
Welcome back. Layla. I’ve missed you!
Thank you so much, Ann! It’s so nice to be back here with you!
Welcome back!
Thank you, Carol! 😀
Yay! I’m glad you’re back. I don’t do Instagram. I prefer reading a blog. I’m sure I’m missing things by not doing IG, but I just can’t get the hang of it. I’ve followed your blog for years. Now you just need to start a YouTube channel. 🙂
Oh, I’ve had a YouTube channel since way back when too! I don’t think I’ve posted anything on it in a while though. Maybe I’ll do that sometime too! 😀 So glad to reconnect with you here today, Ann, and I look forward to e-chatting again real soon!
Glad you are writing here again. I’ve been following since 2009 and have always enjoyed your writing!
Welcome back young lady! If I put my thinking cap on, I started reading your posts around the time you and Kevin adopted your sweet little boy…now I wonder how old he is now? And now you are on another adventure!! Good luck with them!
Layla, I’ve been following you since before I can remember, in your cottage. This post, letter to us is a breath of fresh air. I look forward to the next edition. I’ll end there as I need to go preorder your new book. Hugs, Sue
Layla, I’ve been following you since before I can remember, in your cottage. This post, letter to us is a breath of fresh air. I look forward to the next edition. I’ll end there as I need to go preorder your new book.
SOOO happy to see your blog post! I’ve been following you for so long and discovered you from your blog. Your posts always feel like a hug, so I can’t imagine how wonderful a whole BOOK will feel to read! Already preordered and ready for this fall! Congratulations!
Two Heathers, back to back! What are the odds? I’ve always loved the name Heather and I’m so happy to connect with (both of!) you today! 😀
PS- Thank you so much for pre-ordering Coming Home. I hope you love it as much as I loved creating it! ❤️
Layla,
I’m new to the blog, but because I’m over social media, I’m thrilled to find you here too. I love the details you added here and as always your writing is like a song. I just love reading it.
“Your writing is like a song.” I may have to print that out and add it to my bucket-filler board because that just MADE MY DAY, Heather! Thank you!
I’m so glad you’re back! Yours was one of the first blogs I followed years ago. I’ve pre-ordered your book girl, and can’t wait to see all of the beauty.
Well, thank you Jennifer! 🙂 I’m so touched that you have been following along for so long and I hope you love Coming Home too!
Layla, You are such a treasure! Loved reading this and I look forward to enjoying your beautiful labor of love, Coming Home! I preordered! Thank you for sharing such inspiring, honest, funny, wholesome, authentic and….(I could go on and on) connections (a.k.a. “content” but that sounds generic and you give so much more than that) with us!
With love,
Kim
Thank you for visiting and for preordering Coming Home, Kim! I appreciate you taking the time to leave me a reply here too. It feels so fun to connect with you here in this “old-fashioned” way!
So glad you’re back! I’ve been here waiting FOREVER
; )
Oh my goodness, Julianna! I’m so sorry that I’ve been away for so long and I look forward to visiting on a more regular basis from now on! ❤️
Dear Layla, (because I feel like your post was a lovely letter sent in the post!)
How exciting that things are moving along with your new home! I know how it feels to feel stuck or stumped due in part to zero trades being available. We are about halfway thru our total bathroom remodel in our one and only bathroom at our new farmhouse. It’s taking way longer than I had dreamed haha! In our last home, it took us 10 years to complete Some renovations and that was a very difficult process for me…us dreamers always envision things on how we want them to feel…now! So it can be very trying to patiently wait and wait…and wait to see a vision come to life. I am especially thankful though that I find myself able to celebrate the small wins and find joy in simple things naturally to help me cope with long haul transformations.
Your soapstone suggestion sparked new inspiration for me as a possible solution to our current kitchen. We aren’t ready to do a complete overhaul but to help get me thru until then, I have been thinking about some small changes I could make to help freshen up the look and feel of our kitchen in the mean time.
Getting to pre order your book has me feeling so happy that it will be an extra encouragement to you in getting more book stores to carry it! I am already excited to read it and support you for the amazing challenge you took on in writing it (hello hard work and major vulnerability) , that any additional heart hugs it might give to you by pre ordering, is just great!
Anyways, nice chatting with you and looking forward to your next letter!
Your fellow enneagram 4 dreamer friend in British Columbia,
Kindrel Juliet
KINDREL!! It was SO fun to see your name pop up and I LOVED reading your reply! Feels like we’re pen pals— SO FUN!!!
Do let me know if you decide to give that “soapstone” a whirl, and I’ll keep you posted on our progress too. In the meantime, happy Sunday, faraway friend!
Layla
So happy to see you in this space again. I prefer blog posts. I’ve followed for YEARS.
Well, thank you Gwen! It’s so good to know that you still love this format too!
I’ve been following you since before your adoption journey started. I always loved reading your blog, and while I have kept up with you on IG, I’m so happy you’ve decided to blog again! I love this post. Your home is lovely and you are so lucky to have a partner like Kevin who can do so much of the renovation himself! I also must say that I just adore Katie. Whenever she appears in your IG posts it’s like a breath of fresh air…her laugh just gives me such a lift!
Thank you for being brave enough to share your journey…you are a blessing to us!
Thank you, Linda Ann! I appreciate your kind comment so much and I’ll pass your sweet words along to Kevin and Katie today too!
I’ve been following your blog for years after seeing your beautiful rooms on Rate My Space. I’m so glad you’re back. I remember a blog post about your adoption journey and recognizing a young woman from my neighborhood (from the back) who was part of your journey. Small world! Looking forward to your blog posts about your, sort of, fixer upper!
Delightful read ❤️
I’ve pre-ordered Coming Home ☺️
Been following for many years
Love your fun, unique and inspiring style.
Thank you, Novalee! I appreciate you taking the time to let me know you stopped by and I am so grateful for e-friendship! And thank you for pre-ordering Coming Home. I really hope you love it too!
Oh I’m so glad you are back writing your blog. I would frequently check over the last few years to see if you had posted anything. I finally got back on Instagram after taking a much needed break and found you there. You make me laugh and that’s so good for the soul. Thanks for writing again and I need to preorder your book. ❤️
Great blog ! Love all the updates !!!I can’t wait to receive your book So looking forward to it❤️❤️❤️
Rate My Space, I think that’s where I first stumbled upon you. A slower pace than IG although I’ve been watching along there too. Can’t wait to see your book and see all the projects you’ll be working on at your current home. Slow and steady is good! Enjoy the process and your beautiful life!
I’ve been following in IG since I purchased The Happy Crab (which my granddaughter still thoroughly loves). I love your storytelling and life perspectives and have pre-ordered Coming Home. Glad you’re re-instituting the blog post to you repertoire as your writing style is so refreshing.
Congratulations on the book and house! I’ve been following you for years and enjoy reading your blog and following along on Instagram. I love your trips to the antique stores and all you share with your community of followers. I’m looking forward to reading more on the blog. God Bless!