Marji Stevens

Welcome to my 200 year old farmhouse, nestled in the rolling hills of the beautiful Finger Lakes area in Upstate New York. The Stevens family has lived on this land for five generations.

My husband and I acquired the old homestead after it had been vacant for years.  It was barely live-able.  These are the original red oak floors.  We sanded them thirty years ago.  This room has nine window and door frames, the longest blank wall space is only three feet.

When we moved in, the molding in this room was dark brown stain.  I decided to paint them (don’t cringe – they were awful).  Lightening them made the room feel twice the size.

We put in this gas stove to replace the wood burner that stood almost in the center of the room.  We heated with only wood for many, many years.  In the warmer weather it makes a great plant stand.

The corner oak secretary was a huge garage sale find.  As is, I paid $75.  It has the original wavy glass and all the pulls are original.  It’s on wheels, too, so I can rearrange as often as I want to. (often)

Quilts continue to be a major source of decoration.  Here I have a nine foot antique ladder partially concealing one of the many doors.

There used to be a “birthing/sick /storage room” that was later turned into a bathroom.  The healthy acorn tree in the backyard was the location of the outhouse years ago.  Fortunately, we didn’t have to go there.  The bathroom was installed by Grandma Stevens.

We had this room remodeled 35 yrs ago.  They said it was the worst one they’d ever redone! The floor was so slanted you could sit in three inches of water and one cheek would be wet and the other dry!!!   No exaggeration.

Before the redo, Bill kept his Army poncho hanging against the wall to protect the bare studs.  We kept the bar of soap in the hood.  We were definitely roughin’ it for a while.

I use an old quilt piece as an accent instead of a shower curtain.  Grapevine wreath is used to gather it.  The antique coat rack came out of a barn…$3.00.  The mirror came from the Goodwill – it was black and I brushed on some white paint.  The wash basin is perfect for a foot bath.

Regular towels are too bulky for this antique tobacco stick coat rack, so I bought kitchen towels.  They’re perfect for a quick blot after washing your hand.

 

The bathroom window is hidden in the corner and most curtains are too bulky-poofy for me.  The bottom of the window is privacy but the top has to be covered.  So, I pinned an antique pillow case and doily over a tension rod.  Perfect.  No light is sacrificed and it’s not puffy.  Plus, when the urge hits me, I can easily change them and they cost me pennies.

 

Quilts continue into the bedroom suite (?)  The room is huge and perfect for when the grandkids spend the night.  I keep a mattress under the bed and the rest sleep here and there all over the floor and couches.  That’s why I have all these quilts….to cover kids.  Since this house has NO closets worth anything – I either have to store creatively – or unload.  

The bottom cabinet came from a barn.  I refinished it.  It had been in a fire so one corner is charred.  The top cabinet was another garage sale find.

It’s so much fun to decorate.  I have to be careful not to get carried away…but for peaceful puttering…it’s perfect.

 

 

 

So, Why a website? It’s as easy as A..B..C..

People are like letters in the alphabet. Each one of us has a particular sound that we’ve been created to make. Your sound will be uniquely different than mine. Every sound is needed to speak the English language.  Vowels may be more frequently used, but that doesn’t mean they’re more important.  An ‘o’ without a  ’z', would eliminate the chances of having a “zoo.”  So, I am simply making the sound I was created to make…and, in the process…

• S hare my faith

• M ake available my creations

• I nspire you to make the sound you were created to make

• L eave you with a little more joy, and

• E ncourage you on your journey

  Many of my blogs will be on growing in God, grief, loss, humor, the elderly, caregiving, crafts, kids, home decorating, art and much much more. Hope you stay connected…and be sure to leave a comment so I know you visited.  Blessings, Marji