My 2015 Word of the Year

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Sometimes, my word of the year finds me.  Last year's word, INSPIRE has been a life-long goal of mine and I decided to finally make it my focus in 2014.  How did I do? Well, I'll leave that up to each of you to decide but from the messages, comments, and sweet notes that I received over the last 365 days;  I think that I did okay.  


When it came time to choose my word for 2015, the quote above kept appearing in different places. The word showed up again and again....

                                                  FIERCE.

It's a word that often has negative connotations, especially as it relates to women. It's a word that provokes thought and sparks conversation. To me,  fierce is a good thing. It's strong and passionate; smart, but not too serious. It takes a special kind of grace to be fierce.It takes compassion and a desire to serve others. Being fierce is hard work...and I'm not afraid of that 

Sure, I'm already fierce in some ways: fiercely independent, fiercely protective of, and loyal to, my family and friends. Fiercely honest and passionate...
                                                                                                        about everything.  

I have a fierce desire to learn, to share new things, and to help others. I have a fierce need to create beauty and to make my little piece of the world a better place. 


In 2015, I have a fierce conviction to continue to learn, to share and to (hopefully) Inspire (I'm not forgetting 2014 altogether). I also have a fierce determination to move Phase 2 of the renovation at the farmhouse forward in the coming year. I've got a contractor and subs lined up, the plans are finalized and we're approved for permit...except for an issue with the courtyard.  

could  have had a permit in October if I had simply given up and paved the courtyard. I could be three months closer to having windows that open and a kitchen with a working oven if I would have only acquiesced.

Instead, I've had meetings with the zoning board, community development people, village engineer and water management people in an attempt to explain that what I'm proposing is more ecologically friendly and will prevent potential issues for the neighbors who live down the hill from me when it rains in the spring. I'm determined  to do the right thing.  Fiercely determined.


I think that fierce will be a great word for me in 2015, don't you?  Do you have a word for 2015? If so, what is it?






Happy New Year! A Look Back and Ahead

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2014 was an amazing year and truly, I can't believe that we're only a few hours away from 2015 so let's take a quick look back at some of my favorite moments and projects of the past year here at the French farmhouse.

Merry Christmas

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"The magic of Christmas never ends  and its greatest gifts are 
family and friends."

To each of you from all of us here at the French farmhouse, may your Christmas be filled with love, peace, and just a little magic. 




Frosty Pastel Dining Room {Christmas Home Tour Part 3}

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Welcome to the third and final  part of my 2014 Christmas home tour, the dining room.  This year, I kept the colors in this room frosty and pastel and I really like the wintry look that resulted.  That's a really good thing because it's less than a week until Christmas and I'm just finishing my decorating so it's not like there's really time to change my mind.

Christmas Home Tour Part 2 {Home for the Holidays}

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Today I'm sharing what I've lovingly come to refer to as PART 2 of my holiday decorating: our front porch and my college son's bedroom.  Why do I call it "Part 2" you ask?  Well...let me explain.

Candy Cane Stripe Christmas Kitchen - Welcome Home Tour

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Welcome to Christmas in my farmhouse kitchen! My philosophy this year is inexpensive...and easy.  Ninety percent of this red and white striped candy cane kitchen was created using items that I already had on hand.