Martha but make it Abby

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go see Hamilton with Joe on a Sunday afternoon. We saw the show and had dinner together after which has not happened in a really long time. Don’t get me wrong we go out all the time but it’s typically with Otto and our conversation gets interrupted habitually with the changing episodes of Peppa Pig and needing more water or a diaper change. It was nice to sit together with the phones down and just talk about life and the show and catch up with each other.

We were discussing this blog and what it actually is. What started back in 2009 as a blog about sample sales and online deals has morphed into journeys in motherhood, cooking and backing, fashion, style tips and farming. So many things I read say that in order to be successful in this blogging and social media industry is to pick a lane and stay in it.

You see friends, I just can’t do that.

I have too many passions to pick just one to share with you. I love the conversations that take place here because they help connect me to people who share the same passions as me. This space here is just as much for me as it is for you. I love learning new things from readers and I hope you learn a few new things too.

While we were at dinner Joe asked me what it would look like if I picked just one topic to write about.

I answered what if Martha Stewart only wrote about gardening?

It is one of the highlights of my day to talk antique hunting, cooking, parenting and gardening with you friends.

Speaking of antique hunting… Here are a few of the collections that I’ve changed up from around my house lately.

I finally moved in this antique sheep table  I bought from my friends The Cotton Shed. She thinks it might have come out of the chicago area. There is a bit of a marking on the table but I haven’t done a ton of research yet. Previously there was a little record table here and two antique civil war era chairs that just seemed too cluttered. The table brought it all together and I think holds up well in the room. Now the question is what to paint the walls. In the daylight this room can look very yellow. Some on instagram have suggested a warm pink tone since it is in between the black and gray dining room and the green living room. Thoughts?

Before the snow hit we also moved in Joe’s grandmas piano into the living room. It was the piano she taught lessons on and it needed a new home. Someday I hope to have Otto take lessons and it’s been really fun for Joe and I to brush up on our skills too. Not going to hide it we bought an Elton John for beginner book. If I have to listen to Joe attempt the intro to tiny dancer one more time I might go bizerk. My favorite thing though is otto will pat the bench and demand that Joe and I sit by him while he plays. We are not permitted to play along with him we are simply there to sit and listen. I have been super inspired by the makerista and her collection of composer busts that I started one of my own. I am hoping to find more this summer as flea market season starts.

Above the piano I hung a collection of vintage chicken prints that I found while antiquing. They were originally part of a catalog that I took apart because they are more usable framed. For $20 they are great inexpensive wall art.

My ironstone collection continues to grow but I never met a dainty sugar bowl I didn’t like. My collections have a tendency to pour rather than rain. It’s been fun to collect but I’m starting to run out of room so I’ve had to get a big picky. They’ve even started taking over my table in the dining room…. What’s a girl to do when the treasure keeps finding her?

I am hoping to make some more fun upgrades to the house but we are kind of in limbo until the builder can fit us in. I don’t want to put energy into something (kitchen ahem) that is eventually going to get changed up.

More to come but in the meantime, thank you for being here and reading. You all mean the world to me and I’m glad we can share this space.

XXOO Abby