08-20-15 Storm clean-up and Arizona sunsets!

We had a Monsoon storm that took out an old dead tree in the side yard a few weeks back and I finally had a chance to take care of it.

I am becoming near expert level at "tree removal" and not much makes me feel more powerful and capable than welding a chainsaw! I am woman, hear me roar!!!!

In my excitement with removing said small dead tree in the first photo I decided to take out this bigger one that, as you can see, always hindered my view to the west from the porch. And it was just all dead and ugly. So although I didn't get it ALL removed and there is still about 2-3 feet of stump, I was exhausted by the time I finished all this. Plus I can't stop a tree project until I get all the limbs hauled off (to the side yard) and the ground raked so it all looks nice again, lol! But just the above before and after photo was totally enough for me to know this was absolutely the best decision!

Description on the photo says it all! Yay for mountain views! One of the biggest pros to living in the country!

Even though it is just August I LOVE fall! So even when it is still hot outside, the kids going back to school always gets me in "Fall" mode and indoor Fall home decor is possibly my all time favorite! So I made this center piece for our dining room table! And I am totally in love with it!

One day coming home from work and I was still on the porch and just walked across to look off to the west and see this gorgeous sunset! I love so many things about living out here and the glorious sunsets definitely make the top of the list!

XoXo,

Elizabeth

07-11-15 Summer fun & shop organizing!

I started the morning out working in the shop! Through all of the unpacking in the house and moving stuff to the shop for storage for about a month I finally had to get out there and do some organizing. It was a lot of clean up too because the shop isn't enclosed (yet!) and so with each wind or storm there is dirt inside, dust over everything and spider webs everywhere!

Just stuff...everywhere, ugh!

Got a lot of sorting done, trash to burn pile,camping and sports stuff all up on shelving, etc.

A bit better!

Then we had some fun!

The night was capped off by a gorgeous sunset from our backyard!

Inside I was able to get these cute curtains up over the kitchen window, which allows in a ton of sun so this was a thankful addition to the kitchen!

Living in the country, you do a few things! One: when you have a septic tank you don't put grease down your drains or else you can ruin your plumbing and/or cause issues with your septic tank. I want to help my septic tank have a long, happy life and so I don't put grease down the drain and also found a monthly treatment to do! FYI, you drop 1 active yeast tab down the toilet at the end of the night once a month and flush. Then once a month on a different day from the yeast you put a half a gallon of white vinegar and half a gallon of hot water down the toilet which will help you keep your plumbing lines clean and cleared out!

The other thing you do in the country (I discovered) is save your egg shells for your neighbor! My  neighbor (who is AWESOME! Yay!) has a bunch of chickens and goats! So she asked me if I'd save my egg shells for her because she will crush them and use them in her chicken food as an additional/natural source of calcium for the chickens! So now these two jars stay on my kitchen counter! #newcountrylife #countryways #reuse

XoXo,

Elizabeth