Y’all, it has been a beautiful day outside! Sunny, windy of course (it is Illinois after all), but spring has most definitely sprung around here. Cooler temps are coming for a few days, but I am expectant!

Today was a ‘home day’ for us, my favorite kind. Cooking and baking, some outside stuff thrown in, and some rest and relaxation too. This morning was our church’s monthly ladies Bible study. We have the option of going or joining online. Since we live a good distance from our church, I always join in via my phone. That is pretty good for a low-tech girl like myself! We are studying the book The Envy of Eve by Melissa Kruger. What a good choice! We are only two chapters in, but already it is much enjoyed: encouraging, uplifting, convicting…

Our morning included laundry on the line (so windy, it came off later!), giving our blueberry bushes some whey (I’ve read it can help with the acidity of the soil), sweeping up the farm office (my six year old was in charge of that job! Mama just helped finish up.), some less exciting inside chores for the kiddos, and putting a delicious hyacinth into a vase in the kitchen. The kids decided to play ‘train’ and so the reality of a messy house was also realized- ha! (note my Sweet Husband’s IKEA lamp, ha)

I was able to bake two loaves of quick bread this morning, and made quite a lot of dirty dishes to go with them! One loaf was a Black Forest cherry bread with some of our homegrown sour cherries puréed. The second was a green Rhubarb bread for March 17th tomorrow! I am not usually one who goes all out for small holidays, but I already had the rhubarb (also homegrown by my mother-in-law) thawed, so I made it fun! Secret ingredient: spinach!

For lunch, I was tickled to whip up some chicken salad. To go with it, I made a package of tricolor tortellini and added a homemade alfredo sauce. We enjoyed the chicken salad on wraps or over lettuce, topping with raw sauerkraut. I tend to make my chicken salad the same each time (never measuring eek!), but sometimes I tweak it to what I have on hand. A friend gave me her recipe and I have sort of made it my own over the years.

After lunch and during my daughter’s quiet time, the boys and my Sweet Husband went outside to do some nice sunny work, and I did some inside cleaning and decorating! When it comes to decor, I generally stick to simplistic. I like to add hints here and there to what is already around- including my favorite collections. I shop my house as well as a few bins in the basement, using mainly faux greenery and flowers.

What are some of your favorite spring decor pieces? Or, do you tend to leave things the same for longer? I’d love to hear and glean any fun new tips from you!