Still Woods Farmhouse

Good morning everyone! I wanted to share with you a major renovation which Mr. Still Woods and I accomplished during the quarantine. I have been feeling a huge push to simplify not only my life, but our home as well.  I started with reorganizing room by room and donating items we no longer use. After that was accomplished, I began thinking. My husband says that my thinking is always dangerous and usually means a lot of work for him! So let me tell you how this all started.  I have a large pantry in the kitchen with pull out drawers and deep shelves. While it holds tons of pantry items, I was always complaining because items tend to meander to the back of the shelves. When you need a flashlight to see what's in your pantry, you know its too large.  So I decided that I wanted to relocate our pantry into a free standing, shallow unit.  We sat down and drew up a plan we were both happy with.  As with most plans, our plan got altered along the way.  What was to ...

Are you looking for a delicious, autumn inspired muffin to serve your family?  This is one of my family's all time favorites and you don't have to be from Mississippi to try them! I love to make a batch of these spice infused muffins when the weather is cool and the leaves begin to turn. We had a cool morning the other day and I began dreaming of these muffins. They are super moist and scrumptious!  Let's get baking! The Starting Line-Up: 1 cup soft butter                                                          1 teaspoon ground cloves 2 cups sugar                                                                1 teaspoon salt 2 eggs             ...

I hope this finds you and your family healthy and safe.  During these unusual times, I've spent some extra time completing a long to-do list.  One project included my library card catalog.  My husband gave me this card catalog many years ago.  It has served many purposes over the time it has lived at Still Woods. Many!!  How have I used thee? Let me count the ways!   It has served as a jewelry storage, a kitchen island (one of my favorites), undergarment storage, scarf storage, Santa's Candy Shoppe (drawers full of candy), and now it is serving as an organizational tool for our  Reading Room . I think it has finally found its purpose. Woo-hoo!! I love having one, central location for many of the items that often end up here and there. I hate searching for items all over the house.  Let me show you what I've done. To start with, I like the beautiful, original maple wood of the card catalog. I don't think chalk paint will ever touc...

Hi Friends! If you are looking for a craft for you or your family, I wanted to share my decoupage eggs.  I know we are sheltering in place and a run to the craft store is not a good idea, but did you know that many of the craft stores are doing curb side pickup? I know that my local Michael's Craft Store is doing curb side. Just order online and they will give you a pick up time.  No need to go in the stores! Before we start, let me show you a vintage Easter egg from Germany.  Believe it or not, the vintage ones are relatively inexpensive. I love the two little chicks in their boat... notice their little snail friend! Decoupage art goes way back.  A noted " decoupeur" or "cutter" was Mary Delaney (1700-1788). She was a favorite of George III and Queen Charlotte. She began her art late in life or at least was noticed by the King and Queen when she was 71.  She used tissue paper as her decoupage medium, which is an excellent source as it molds easily to objects....

The LIGHT shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 A candle in the window originated in the 1600’s. Irish Catholics were not allowed to say mass and priests were persecuted. A light left in a window of a home signified to traveling priests that it was a Catholic home and they were safe and welcome there. A candle in the window has been a beacon of hope from that  time on. Did you know that the word LIGHT is mentioned 272 times in the King James Bible? There are so many beautiful verses about light. I bet you are thinking of one now. Last night I decided to place candles in our windows as a visible reminder that our hope is in the Lord. That even though these are scary times, we do not need to fear. Let His word wash over your worried soul and give you peace. The Lord is my LIGHT and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 We live in the middle of the woods, so only...

I began writing this post several weeks ago.  Before the world seemed to go topsy-turvy.  Before social distancing.  Before we had to search for basics such as bread and milk. Before all the other changes that have occurred to keep us safe and healthy. I know many of you are like me.  We draw comfort from our Heavenly Father, our friends, loved ones and things from the past. I watched The Quiet Man the other night and one of my favorite lines in the movie occurs when Mary Kate Danaher explains to Sean Thornton the importance of things. "Ever since I was a little girl, I've dreamed of having my own things about me", said Mary Kate Danaher.  I can relate to Mary Kate. There is something so comforting about having our things about us, especially during uncertain times. I find there is a calmness to mixing up pie crust in one of my mother's cast off bowls or sitting at my grandmother's dining room table working on my Bible study. Her table serves as a writing de...

Rest easy friends. Draw comfort and hope knowing that our God sits on the throne and He knows your fears. Dwell in Him and sleep well.