One of our outdoor projects has been our fire pit. In the summer, we have a lot of fires, and it's one of my favorite thing of all times. I always talk about the three R's, and this is definitely under the 'Reuse' category. The main part is made from an old tire rim. Our friend welded up an old grill to it as well, so we are set for cooking over the fire, should the power ever go out, or if we just feel like it. Then we set out collecting rocks for our pit. We got lucky and found some sweet ones. We also found a bunch of flat rocks, which Adam dug holes in the ground for the rocks so they would be flush with the ground. Tripping hazards around fires are just not cool. Because the outside ring of rocks are quite square, we decided to go with smooth river rocks for contrast. The river rocks also allow for better air flow around the fire, thus a better fire. How do you like our entirely free project? It's amazing what you can do with something nature has given us, plus a few unwanted scraps! Happy Salvaging! Jena xo Avani Slim Burner by BrasaFire - $500.00 from: Burke Decor LLC
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With all the technology we have these days, you think we'd be able to be more energy efficient than ever, but sadly, it seems the opposite. Have you ever thought about what you could do to reduce your energy consumption? Would you go so far as to live without something or make some drastic lifestyle changes to reduce the impact on our environment? We are planning on getting a wood fireplace to reduce our energy bill. It's not like we will be living entirely off grin, but will be a huge energy savings. It will also be a lot more work every year chopping wood, stoking the fire and general maintenance of having a fireplace, but it's a sacrifice we are excited to make. Not to mention, we get to enjoy the ambiance of a real fire, and not the fireplace channel on TV. It's a start towards living greener and healthier. What would you do?
Jena xo Fall is upon us. With that comes the harvest of our crops and the crops of others. We got given a 10 pound box of apples, and what better thing to make than apple sauce. I could have made some apple pies, but I decided to go with a liquid version of the dessert. Adam and I pealed until our hands hurt. It's a different generation we are in now. I know old ladies who peeled potatoes, carrots, apples, etc. until their hands bled, and it wasn't from cutting themselves! At least that's what their stories claimed. I'm thinking that I need to toughen up and suck it up... Then, we threw the apples into a big pot and boiled them down. I added 1/4 cup of water just to cover the bottom of the pot at the beginning. The juices from the apples are more than enough to keep them from burning. Then came the good stuff. Cinnamon and nutmeg permeated the house. The thought crossed my mind to start decorating the house for Christmas at that point. Maybe, just maybe, that's a little premature to get started on that task... To top it all off, I added some good old Canadian maple syrup. I don't think you could have a better combination of flavours, as that. Just as I thought it would be, I had liquid apple pie. I don't think those jars of apple sauce are going to be around for long. Next year, we will have to go for 50 pounds of apples. As long as we have an electric apple peeler. It is the 10's after all. That just doesn't have the same ring as the 1900's, where they had to peel everything by hand. On the note of apple pie flavour, Canadian Thanksgiving is this weekend. I love Thanksgiving. I am a very thankful person, and I have A LOT to be thankful for. Maybe it's cliche to say family and friends, but seriously. I have an amazing family, and some wonderful friends. I moved around a lot in my younger years, so to have a solid set of friends is really special to me. My family is the best family one could have. I also am thankful for food. We are so lucky to have a plethora of it, and I am really excited to share a weekend of feasting with both friends and family. Wine, pie and turkey. Can't ask for much more! Items above can be found at
I also added a rock garden in the front, which left me with two smashed fingers, but a nicer curb appeal, even though we don't have any mulch yet. It's a work in progress. It always is... We built a new fire pit, just in time for fall, which I'm super excited about. More pictures on this one later! So, as much as I haven't written lately and feel like I haven't really accomplished much, in terms of our house, it's really feeling like home. Maybe it's that I appreciate it more, now that I'm not spending 24 hours a day in here.
I do love our little home, and more importantly, I love the people in our home! Progression on the house doesn't always happen at the rate I would necessarily like, but I know where my heart is. It's the people in my life that really make a house a home. Happy Days! Jena xo |
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