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a slice of life
Fall

simple fall simmer pot

This week, the temps started to drop and we only recently had our first frost here in Minnesota.  It’s actually come pretty late this year and we haven’t even seen a flake of snow, yet!  But, I am ready for fires, slippers, hot chocolate, and for the house to smell like fall.  So, yesterday, I made up a simple fall simmer pot with what I had on hand. I started by filling a 4 qt. dutch oven with water and then dropped anything in the simmer pot with a yummy, homey, fall scent.  Sliced apples, dried cinnamon sticks (these were out of a Christmas decor bin from last year), fresh rosemary, and a few drops of clove essential oil.  I thought I had some whole clove and all-spice, but I only had ground, so I just used what I had.  It really is hard to go wrong with a simmer

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November 4, 2021 10 Comments
a slice of life

a day in stillwater, mn

For a few weeks now, Jeff has been trying to get me to go on a day trip.  As someone who is a natural homebody, the pandemic, lockdowns, and busyness have all made it easier to become even more of a homebody.  And I recognize that isn’t necessarily a good thing.  So, when some of our friends shared about the oldest town in Minnesota, Stillwater, Jeff decided we needed to do a day trip there before winter set in.  He has Mondays off, so he picked yesterday to whisk me away.  I packed a small bag with some sketching supplies in case we just sat by the St. Croix river for a while, but our plan was to hit some of the local shops, grab lunch, and walk along the river. It was the perfect day weather-wise.  Clear and sunny, warm, but with a crisp fall chill in the air. 

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October 19, 2021 49 Comments
a slice of life

August & September 2021 Favorites

I don’t know about you, but August and September were a blur!  Well, not quite a blur, but I realized I hadn’t done a favorites post for August about halfway through September and then I could hardly remember my favorites from August.  So, I decided to put them together in one post of late summer favorites and there are some really good ones… (This post contains affiliate links.) little boy Jeff told me a long time ago that I would love the movie and should watch it and, for some reason, I just dragged my feet on it.  I have no idea why.  We finally watched it in September and he was absolutely right.  I loved this movie.  It was more than enjoyable…it was touching, beautiful, funny, powerful, and moving.  It covers themes like innocent faith, unwavering love, and learning to know and love people as individuals instead of judging

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October 17, 2021 18 Comments
a slice of life

the feels like home giveaway

I am so excited to share that my new book, , launches in just four days!  And this is the final giveaway to celebrate the book launch.  This giveaway is appropriately named “The Feels Like Home Giveaway.”  In this package of goodies are all things you can use to make your house feel a little more like home.  They are all things that are comfortable, beautiful, and work together to create a homey ambiance.  You’ll see what I mean as you look through this amazing collection of items… Of course, for the Feels Like Home giveaway, I have to include a signed copy of … I’m also tucking in a couple of things I crocheted – a dishcloth and a little scrubby… I haven’t made patterns for these specific pieces, but you can find other crochet patterns HERE. A beautiful handmade quilt made from fabric I designed by Marilla Melcher

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October 8, 2021 782 Comments
a slice of life

creamy chicken & wild rice soup recipe

Soups are definitely my specialty!  I love that I can make a whole bunch at one time that will last for quick & tasty lunches and dinners throughout the week.  I love they are healthy & hearty, even when you add a little bit of cream.  Soups are just a win all-around for me.  One of my favorite soups is creamy chicken & wild rice and this is the recipe I’ve used and tweaked over the years… I don’t even know how many pots of this creamy chicken & wild rice soup I’ve made!  I just know that we’ve eaten it a lot over the past decade and it’s always a crowd-pleaser.  The creamy broth makes it heartier and more flavorful than a chicken noodle soup, but the flavors are definitely nostalgic and perfect for snowy and sick days. ( I use.) When cooking this creamy chicken & wild rice

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October 7, 2021 38 Comments
Decorating

making a beautiful, comfortable bed with brooklinen

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Brooklinen.  As always, all words and opinions are honest and my own. Use promo code MUSTARDSEED to get $20 off your Brooklinen order of over $100. I was having a conversation with one of my good friends a couple of weeks ago and she shared that she just bought all new bedding.  It was a splurge, a deliberate investment in herself and her sleep after a particularly trying couple of years.  When I got off the phone with her, I thought, good for you.  We often overlook pampering ourselves by making sure our bed is comfortable and inviting. I’ve learned the value of good bedding over the past few years and it’s become a non-negotiable to me.  It goes beyond decorating and aesthetics because sleep is so vital to our physical and mental health, our mood, productivity, and creativity.  We spend 1/3 of our

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September 28, 2021 22 Comments
Favorite Things

“random miscellaneous company”

“Second-hand books are wild books, homeless books; they have come together in vast flocks of variegated feather, and have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack.  Besides, in this random miscellaneous company we may rub against some complete stranger who will, with luck, turn into the best friend we have in the world.” ― Virginia Woolf Just as I love antiques and vintage things, I love used books, too.  I love new books and will buy those when they are new releases, but if the book has been around for a while, I always look into purchasing it used first.  Not only does it save a lot of money, but I’m getting a book that has a little story to it.  Sometimes, that story remains a secret, but other times, I can see who the book belonged to, what library it came from, who checked it out, or

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September 22, 2021 35 Comments
Antiques

favorite things | marmalade crocks

I remember in my very early days of antiquing, I saw a little marmalade crock sitting on a window sill in an antique mall.  I was immediately drawn to it and, at $8.00, it was something I could afford to buy.  I used that jar for years to hold pens and pencils on my desk.  Now, I own at least a dozen antique marmalade crocks, much older and larger than the $8.00 purchase that started my collection. A few years ago, I bought several large lots of advertising pots, including marmalade crocks at a wholesale price.  While I sold most of them at the Lucketts Spring Market, I kept a few favorites for myself. I use them all over my house.  Marmalade crocks hold antique flatware in the kitchen… …knitting needles and crochet hooks in the studio… …scissors, rulers, pens, and pencils as well. And brushes.  Of course, brushes. I

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September 20, 2021 17 Comments

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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