March’s Must-Haves: Farmhouse Transformations, Pet Favorites, & Curated Entertainment

A monthly list of good things to do, buy, read, watch, and more, helping you find inspiration for your home, lifestyle, and leisure.

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Welcome to March, a month that brings with it the promise of spring and warmer days! Here in Oregon, we’ve already been blessed with a few glorious sunny days in the 60s, which has ignited a powerful urge in me to dive headfirst into the garden. The thought of tidying up winter’s remnants and planting new life is incredibly appealing.

However, the garden’s immediate gratification must unfortunately wait. Our farmhouse renovation is currently taking center stage, demanding our full DIY attention. We’re on an ambitious mission to move into our beautifully restored farmhouse by the end of this month – a truly exciting prospect and definitely a “GOOD THING” worth celebrating!

For those of you who are lucky enough to be able to get out into your gardens, don’t forget to grab this free spring garden checklist. It’s an invaluable tool designed to help you prioritize your tasks and efficiently get things done. I’ll certainly be using it, though with the farmhouse deadline looming, I probably won’t get to everything on the list. That’s precisely why it’s so helpful for prioritizing – knowing what absolutely needs to be done first can make all the difference!

Now, let’s dive into this month’s collection of good things!

Good Things Happening This Month

Farmhouse Main Floor Finishing Touches: A Dream Unfolding

If you’re a loyal newsletter subscriber or a regular follower on Instagram, you’ve likely already caught a glimpse of the stunning transformation in our farmhouse living room: our brand new double windows. This particular update was undeniably the number one “good thing” to emerge last month, and it absolutely deserves a prominent spot here on this list.

The addition of these double windows truly evokes all the heart-eye emojis! Previously, this wall featured only one large single-hung window, mirroring the other three windows in the living-dining area of the house. We initially planned to keep it for a while, perhaps enlarging it down the road, as we knew we wanted to open up the view more to fully appreciate the beautiful surroundings.

The decision-making process for enlarging that window was quite an internal debate. I spent countless hours pondering the ideal window configuration. It’s positioned next to other existing windows and directly below a pair of single-hung windows on the second story, requiring careful consideration of architectural harmony. Moreover, it was crucial that any new additions didn’t look overly modern or out of place with the authentic, aged charm of our old farmhouse. Big, overly ornate windows simply wouldn’t complement the aesthetic we were striving for.

Then, in the quiet solitude of the middle of the night (it seems my best creative ideas often surface when I should be sound asleep, sigh), the perfect solution appeared in my mind’s eye: simply add another window of the same style and size as the original. This straightforward approach would maintain the house’s character while significantly enhancing the natural light and view.

We did encounter one minor hiccup along the way, involving an unexpected gust of wind and a large new window precariously leaning against the porch rail. (If you receive the newsletter, you would have heard the full story – and the fortunate silver lining that emerged from it!). Despite this small scare, we successfully got the windows installed.

Now, cue the gushing movie music, because the outcome is nothing short of spectacular! These double windows are absolutely perfect. They flood the living room with an enormous amount of light and beautifully frame the outdoor view, all while seamlessly coordinating with both the interior and exterior aesthetics of our beloved farmhouse.

I genuinely cannot wait for the day when I can finally cuddle up on the couch, a warm cup of tea in hand, engrossed in a good book, and simply soak in this breathtaking view. It’s the little moments like these that make all the hard work worthwhile.

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, with us working tirelessly to complete all the finishing trim, plumbing, lighting installations, and painting in preparation for our ambitious end-of-March move-in date. It’s hard to believe how much progress we’ve made, making the farmhouse truly feel like a real home.

I wanted to share a few photos with you to help illustrate just how far we’ve come in this incredible journey of bringing our farmhouse fixer-upper back to life:

Above Photo, First Row: Kitchen Details

• This shot highlights the range/stove wall in our kitchen, now complete with beautifully trimmed windows and charming sconce arm lights. For some reason, the photo makes the lights appear slightly crooked, but I assure you, they are perfectly centered on the windows! The beadboard walls you see here are reproduction panels, carefully chosen to match the original walls found in the main kitchen area. This section is actually part of what was once an enclosed porch, which we creatively incorporated into our kitchen design to maximize space and functionality.

Second Row: Laundry/Mud Room Innovations

• Here we have the laundry/mud room’s dedicated “freezer wall.” My husband, Brian, ingeniously built a custom wall and shelf system around the freezer area, optimizing every inch of usable space. Above the freezer, I plan to add either rustic baskets or vintage crates to store various items, while the area above the water heater will cleverly house a clothes rod for air drying laundry, along with hooks for mops and other cleaning supplies. The water heater itself will be discreetly hidden by a curtain I intend to make, likely from a classic black and cream ticking fabric, adding a touch of farmhouse charm.
• I am absolutely thrilled with how this former window opening has been transformed! What was once just a hole in the wall, where an old window used to be, has now been meticulously trimmed and lined with beadboard, patiently awaiting its custom pull-out air drying rack. This will be such an incredibly useful feature, born purely out of the necessity to fill an opening in the original shiplap!

Third Row: Doors and Closets with Character

• Our treasured vintage 3/4-light door, which we painstakingly salvaged, has been lovingly cleaned, painted, and trimmed out. It now looks as though it has always been a part of this house – save for the charming fact that it currently leads to nothing but open air, anticipating the future addition of a deck, lol.
• The sweet little window nestled in our cedar-lined master closet has also received its trim, and I absolutely adore it! I’m so incredibly glad we made the last-minute decision to add a window to the closet; it brings in natural light and adds an unexpected touch of elegance to a functional space.

Whew! It’s truly remarkable to think that it’s been a little over three years since we first acquired this farmhouse fixer and embarked on the ambitious process of breathing new life back into her. With all this incredible progress, do you think we’ll actually be living in it before the next “Good Things List” comes out?

The Unconditional Joy a Dog Brings to Our Lives

I simply had to capture this heartwarming moment the other day when our sweet dog, Jynx, was playfully peeking at me from under the bed. Her antics are just too cute, and honestly, every single day she brings so much laughter and delight into our home with her silly expressions and charming personality.

It made me pause and reflect on a time not so long ago when I was convinced I didn’t want another dog. The pain of losing our beloved Samson had been profound, and I couldn’t imagine enduring that heartbreak again. Moreover, we desired more freedom to travel spontaneously, and having a pet seemed like it might complicate those plans.

However, nearly every day, I find myself profoundly thankful that Jynx unexpectedly entered our lives through our son. She is an undeniable blessing, enriching our days in ways we never anticipated. The laughter, the unconditional love, the simple companionship – these are gifts that truly outweigh any inconveniences. Even knowing that someday, years down the line, we might experience that pain of loss again, is it not still incredibly worth it?

I believe it absolutely is. The joy and love she brings into our family’s daily existence are immeasurable and make every moment, even the challenging ones, worthwhile. Dogs truly have a way of burrowing into your heart and becoming an indispensable part of your life’s tapestry.

The Dog Toy Mistake + A Paw-some Online Find

Speaking of our adorable Jynx, I recently had an amusing online dog toy ordering mishap that I simply must share. But stick with me, because what started as a comical error actually led to a fantastic discovery and a truly “good thing” for pet owners!

When Jynx lived with our son, he bought her a Kong bear dog toy that she absolutely adored and brought with her to our house. Over more than a year of daily play and endless cuddles, the beloved bear was looking significantly worse for wear, as you can see in the photo above. Its nose had lost all its stuffing, and the entire toy was looking quite grubby.

Wanting to replace her cherished companion, I hopped onto Amazon and searched for “Kong bear dog toy.” A listing appeared with almost 5 stars, priced around $10. Sounds good, right? I quickly placed the order. The listing mentioned it was for small dogs, but I admit, I didn’t bother checking for specific measurements or delving into the reviews.

This is precisely why I burst out laughing when the package arrived, and the “bear” inside was about three inches long! It was comically tiny, especially when placed next to her original, much larger bear. The entire family got a good laugh out of my oversight, so in a way, it was a good thing even on its own, just for the amusement it provided, lol.

While Jynx might have enjoyed it, $10 suddenly seemed like an exorbitant price for such a minuscule toy, so I decided to return it. I then decided to venture off Amazon and that’s what led me to Chewy.com – and here’s where the story truly becomes a good thing!

To my astonishment, on Chewy, the exact same tiny bear I had mistakenly ordered from Amazon was priced at only $1.89 – that’s an $8 difference! And even better, the 10-inch Kong bear that would truly replace her original, well-loved toy was available for under $10 (while it was nearly $20 on Amazon). The savings were significant!

During my exploration of Chewy’s site, I also discovered a cute Kong moose toy for Jynx, priced under $5. I decided to grab it for a future surprise, especially since shipping is a flat rate of $4.95 for orders under $49 (they also offer free shipping for orders over $49). Even with the shipping fee, the overall cost of the toys was considerably cheaper than what I would have paid elsewhere.

This experience has been a real game-changer; now I know exactly where to look for great deals on pet toys in the future! It’s always great to find a reliable and affordable source for our furry friends’ essentials.

I do have to mention that I’ve browsed the Chewy site before, but I was primarily looking at higher-ticket items like dog beds, coats, and collars, where I didn’t find the prices particularly amazing at the time. However, it seems they absolutely excel in the toy section, offering fantastic value. It just goes to show that it pays to explore different categories on various sites!

Has anyone else had similar success stories finding great pet toys or supplies on Chewy.com? I’d love to hear about your best finds in the comments below!

Selecting Authentic Farmhouse Vintage Style Cabinet Hardware

While our main kitchen cabinets are still a few weeks away from being ready for installation, we’ve made significant progress on the custom cabinets my stepfather skillfully built for us. They’ve all been painted and are now patiently awaiting their hardware – and their final installation, which is contingent on the butcher block counter being finished. This milestone feels like a huge step towards completing our dream farmhouse kitchen!

I’m excited to share the hardware choices I’ve meticulously selected for the cupboards and drawers in this central hub of our home. Finding the perfect hardware is crucial for achieving that authentic vintage farmhouse aesthetic, and I put a lot of thought into each piece.

In the photo above, you’ll see one of the old doorknobs that came with the vintage doors we purchased and had painstakingly stripped. This particular doorknob has served as my primary inspiration for the finish of all the new cabinet hardware – I was aiming for a beautiful, worn, vintage-looking brass that would feel like it had been there for decades.

While it would be ideal to see and feel these finishes in person, most local stores simply don’t offer an extensive selection in aged brass. The market is typically saturated with silver tones, black/bronze, or shiny, modern brass options. This meant my search had to take place almost entirely online, relying heavily on product descriptions and customer reviews.

Thankfully, almost all of my online selections turned out to be perfect and beautifully complement each other. I’ve decided to use a carefully curated combination of three distinct hardware styles to add character and functionality:

• First, a more squared-off style bin pull, which will be featured on our drawers. These classic cup pulls evoke a timeless utility and add a subtle industrial farmhouse touch, perfect for frequent use.
• Next, for a truly authentic touch, I’ve chosen vintage-style cabinet latches in an antique brass finish. These latches aren’t just decorative; they offer a charming, old-world mechanism for securing cabinet doors, enhancing the historical feel of the kitchen.
• Finally, simple utilitarian style handle pulls will be used on various cabinet doors. Their straightforward design ensures they don’t detract from the overall vintage aesthetic while providing practical and comfortable gripping.

Each piece was chosen not only for its aesthetic appeal and the desired antique brass finish but also for its quality and how it would contribute to the cohesive, lived-in feel we’re trying to achieve. Stay tuned for future updates and photos revealing how these beautiful hardware selections look on our new cabinets – I can’t wait to share the final result!

February Reads: A Literary Roundup

Despite February being a shorter month, I managed to dive into and complete six diverse books. Among them were a couple of longer reads, namely Hidden Valley Road and Scythe, and one that has already earned a special place as a strong contender for my “Best of 2021” list. Here’s a closer look at my recent literary adventures:

Hidden Valley Road, by Robert Kolker. This non-fiction book is utterly fascinating and profoundly moving. It tells the incredible true story of the Galvin family, who had 12 children, six of whom were diagnosed with schizophrenia starting in the late 1950s and 60s. Kolker delves deep into the family’s history, tracing back to when the parents first met, which lends a deeply personal and human scale to the narrative. As a reader, you truly feel for every member of the family as the affected boys begin to display symptoms in their teenage and early adult years, irrevocably changing their lives.

Beyond the family’s poignant struggle, the book offers an insightful look into the evolving field of mental health and the definition of schizophrenia itself – how understanding and treatments have changed (or, at times, tragically failed) patients and their families over the decades. What stands out is the Galvin family’s extraordinary cooperation with researchers, which ultimately led to significant advancements in understanding the genetic components of schizophrenia. Their contributions have had a lasting impact not only on the research community but also on countless individuals and families affected by this complex illness. It’s a powerful story of resilience, scientific pursuit, and the human spirit.

Anxious People, by Fredrik Backman. My daughter gifted me this new work by Backman, knowing how much I loved his previous novel, A Man Called Ove. It’s important to note that while Backman’s signature wit is present, this book is quite different from Ove, though it does feature a few similarly cantankerous characters that readers of his work will recognize.

The premise revolves around a bank robbery gone wrong. The robber, in a desperate move, takes a group of people hostage who were viewing an apartment for sale. However, as the story unfolds, nothing is quite as it initially seems – not the robbery, not the police investigating it, and certainly not the diverse group of hostages themselves. It took me a little while to truly get into the book. The initial overly snarky interviews with the hostages and police, presented as flash-forwards, felt a bit jarring and not entirely believable at first. However, as I continued reading and the intricate lines connecting all the involved individuals began to intertwine, culminating in a clever twist at the end, the earlier snarkiness started to make sense within the context of the story’s overall message. The police don’t exactly come off as paragons of competence in this narrative, but even though it wasn’t my absolute favorite Backman novel, it proved to be an ultimately meaningful and thought-provoking read, exploring themes of human connection, understanding, and the surprising depths beneath seemingly ordinary lives.

Scythe, by Neal Shusterman. Brian and I listened to this young adult novel over the last month or so during our drives (pandemic life means less driving, so audiobooks take us longer!). It’s the first book in a trilogy, and its premise was incredibly intriguing to us: In a future world, a benevolent, cloud-based artificial intelligence system has taken over global governance. All forms of death and disease have been eliminated, and even severe injuries can be revived over a 2-3 day period, allowing people to resume their lives. While people still age, they have the option to undergo a “reset” and choose any age to return to.

The central problem, however, is overpopulation. This leads to the establishment of the Scythes, a highly trained group of individuals tasked with humanely “gleaning” (killing) people. Their selections are based on historical percentages of how many people would have died in the “before time” (e.g., if 30% of kids died in a year, they aim to glean 30% a year). You can immediately imagine the intense ethical and emotional tension this setup creates. The story follows two teenagers who are recruited and begin their rigorous training to become Scythes. These Scythes operate above the law, and inevitably, some go rogue, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown between our young heroes and the darker, corrupt elements within the Scythe organization. We genuinely enjoyed the story and looked forward to discovering what would happen next. The world-building was believable and well-constructed, and observing how people reacted to this unique “new normal” was quite thought-provoking. While we liked it, we weren’t quite interested enough to commit to reading the rest of the trilogy. Instead, I just read reviews of the other two books to find out how the overarching story concluded, lol.

These Broken Stars, by Amie Kaufman. This was another young adult trilogy that had garnered good buzz, and I waited several months to borrow it from the library. The story plunges us into the future, following two teenagers who are passengers aboard a colossal spaceship reminiscent of the Titanic. When disaster strikes, they find themselves the sole survivors, stranded on an unknown planet. What begins as a compelling survival story gradually evolves into a budding love story, which then takes a distinct supernatural twist. Adding another layer of complexity, the narrative also involves a shadowy, powerful corporation with secrets to hide – a company that happens to be run by the heroine’s estranged father.

For me, this book was just okay. It leaned heavily on many clichés prevalent in this genre, and I found myself not as invested in the characters or their plight as I had hoped to be. Similar to Scythe, after finishing the first book, I wasn’t compelled to continue with the rest of the trilogy. From what I gathered from reviews, the main characters of this book aren’t even present in the second installment, which further diminished my motivation to continue. It’s a decent read for fans of sci-fi romance and survival stories, but it didn’t quite capture my imagination in the way some other YA series have.

The Flatshare, by Beth O’Leary. Oh, gosh, I absolutely adored this delightful and incredibly fun book! Everything about it resonated with me, from its unique concept to its charming characters, and especially the superb narration of the audiobook. The setting is vibrant London, where astronomical rents often force creative living solutions. The story centers around two individuals who, for various personal reasons, decide to share a flat – and even the one bed – but with a twist: they never actually meet, at least not in the beginning. The male protagonist works nights and spends his weekends at his girlfriend’s house, while the female protagonist works days. This arrangement ensures their paths don’t cross on a day-to-day basis, as the girlfriend is literally the one renting the place.

However, when you share everything from a living space to a bed, communication is essential. So, they begin leaving an abundance of notes for each other, covering everything from sharing homemade food to deciding whose belongings go where. It was incredibly enjoyable to witness their friendship organically blossom through this charming, old-fashioned method of communication! I found myself completely hooked, eagerly anticipating the moments when they would eventually meet “in real life,” and I listened whenever I had a spare moment. The novel also features well-developed secondary characters and engaging storylines, including one that sensitively explores a verbally abusive ex-boyfriend, which skillfully introduces a touch of real-world pathos and emotional depth. The audiobook narration deserves special praise; the story is told from the differing viewpoints of the two main characters, and the narration is expertly performed by a man and a woman, complete with their wonderful English and Irish accents, which truly brings the characters and setting to life. This is the book I’ve emphatically starred for my year-end review – we’ll see if it makes it onto my final “Best of 2021” list, but I have a strong feeling it will!

Stay Salt: The World Has Changed, Our Message Must Not, by Rebecca Manley Pippert. This book took me back to the 1980s, a time when Becky Pippert’s seminal work, Out of The Salt Shaker, was practically required reading among my Christian friends and me. Stay Salt is her much-anticipated follow-up, released decades later, and it continues to offer profound encouragement and inspiration for engaging with others. In this book, Pippert powerfully reminds us to persist in pursuing and loving people with the same boundless grace and steadfast love that God extends to all. She shares a wealth of inspiring personal conversations and practical examples, demonstrating how truly focusing on the individual person and genuinely listening to their stories and perspectives is the most crucial aspect of sharing one’s faith. It’s a timely and relevant message that underscores the enduring importance of authentic relationships and compassionate engagement in a rapidly changing world.

What We’ve Been Watching: Our Latest Entertainment Picks

This month, we’ve enjoyed a great mix of TV shows and movies, discovering new favorites and revisiting some classics. Here’s what has been on our screens:

TV Series:

WandaVision, Disney+. Our daughter generously bought a month of Disney+ so we could all watch this show, which she had heard so much about. To our absolute surprise, we’ve ALL enjoyed it immensely! It’s incredibly clever, genuinely funny, and exceptionally well-produced. While having some familiarity with the Marvel characters certainly helps deepen the experience, it’s absolutely not a prerequisite to enjoy the series. Just be aware that during the first three episodes – each brilliantly styled as a sitcom from a different decade, spanning from the 1950s up to the 2000s – you won’t fully grasp what’s happening. That’s perfectly fine; just sit back, relax, and savor these (they were my personal favorites). More will be explained and clarified from episode 4 onwards as the mystery unravels. It’s a unique and engaging watching experience.

Agent Carter, Disney+. Brian and I originally watched this fantastic show when it first aired on network television several years ago. However, our daughter hadn’t seen it, and a recent article voted it among the best of the Marvel universe TV shows, prompting us to rewatch the first episode with her. It’s every bit as good as we remembered! The series follows Peggy Carter, a brilliant female agent in the 1940s, navigating a post-WWII world where she is frequently underestimated and overlooked by the men in her division. The show beautifully portrays her resilience, wit, and determination as she deals with sexism in the workplace while also becoming deeply involved in solving intriguing mysteries and bringing down formidable villains. It’s a wonderfully empowering and entertaining period piece.

The Mandalorian, Disney+. Now, I confess, I’m not typically a huge Star Wars fan (I lean more towards being a “Trekkie”), but I had heard numerous glowing reviews about this show, even from people who hadn’t watched all the Star Wars movies. It’s currently in its second season on Disney+, and we’ve only watched the first episode so far, but it is truly excellent. While there are some familiar characters from the broader Star Wars franchise, the story stands on its own, and I never felt lost or left behind. It starts off in quite an interesting and engaging way, and I’m genuinely looking forward to watching more episodes and delving deeper into this captivating universe.

A notable observation: I’m really appreciating the fact that there are no MA-rated shows on Disney+ – it’s wonderfully refreshing to have a platform with consistently family-friendly content!

Movies:

The Dig, Netflix. I absolutely loved this sweet, poignant movie. Set in rural England after WWII, it tells the true story of a determined widow who enlists an archaeologist to investigate the mysterious mounds on her property. This beautifully crafted film is based on the actual excavation that uncovered a pre-Viking, Anglo-Saxon ship burial under one of these mounds – a discovery that fundamentally changed the way historians understood Anglo-Saxon civilization. It’s a quiet, character-driven drama that celebrates history, perseverance, and the human connection to the past.

Space Sweepers, Netflix. This was a rather silly movie that we initially thought was going to be more of a comedy, based on its trailer. It turned out to be less comedic and more of an action-packed, somewhat chaotic ride. It features a lot of space violence, relies heavily on cliched characters and dialogue, and presents a rather wild and at times confusing storyline. It’s a Korean film, presented with English subtitles, for those who don’t mind reading along.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Amazon. Both Brian and our daughter recently read the classic book, so we decided to watch the iconic 1975 movie adaptation for them to compare the two. Brian and I had seen it before, and it still retains all its powerful blend of dark comedy and profound pathos from the first viewing. The movie, of course, won a ton of awards and stands as a cinematic masterpiece on its own. However, we were quite surprised to discover that it didn’t adhere very closely to the book’s narrative, beyond its main plot points. In fact, in the novel, the primary narrator and central character isn’t the rebellious Randle McMurphy (played by Jack Nicholson), but rather the quiet, stoic Native American character, Chief Bromden, whose perspective offers a much different lens on the events within the institution.

An interesting piece of trivia we learned is that the author, Ken Kesey (who actually hails from the same area here in Oregon where I grew up – I even went to school with one of his sons!), famously quit the production after just a couple of weeks when he realized how significantly they were altering his story. According to his family, he never actually watched the completed film – isn’t that truly amazing, given its legendary status?

And that wraps up another inspiring edition of the Good Things List!

If you’re eager to discover more of what I’m currently enjoying and recommending, you can explore all the previous Good Things Lists right here. I’d absolutely love to hear your thoughts – whether you’ve tried any of these recommendations yourself, or if you have some wonderful “good things” you’d like to share. Please leave a comment below with your insights and suggestions!

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