One of the highlights of our recent trip to Wisconsin was getting to see Ruth and Debbie, my two younger sisters. (May I just say living 1100 miles from one’s sisters really stinks? Yep. It really, really does.)
To say that Ruth, Debbie, and I are all fans of yard sales and thrift stores is an understatement. Ruth is especially gifted at taking minimal resources, stirring in her amazing creativity and causing beauty to crop up everywhere.
(By the way, the family’s farmhouse was destroyed by fire several years ago; Ruth’s husband, Arnold, did most of the work on their current home which was built in the same place as the farmhouse.)
In honor of our visit, Ruth fixed a lovely lunch, festooned with charming, unmatched sets of china and glorious wildflowers. It was utterly gorgeous, especially with the view of verdant, rolling hills outside the window.
Ruth’s hen house is even picturesque . . .
. . . because she understands that we females (both hen and human), love to have a cozy, airy place to call our own.
Even an old round building in the backyard did not escape her touch; I especially love the lacy curtains at the window.
When I asked her why there were numbers all over the building, she said that she saw them at a yard sale and thought they were cute. And she was right!
Ruth’s gift in decorating (beyond just the sheer beauty of it) is creating an environment that extends an invitation to all guests to breathe in the scent of solitude and serenity and to realize all over again that rest is good for the heart and nature is good for the soul.
In this frantic, crazy, sometimes ugly world, I’m grateful for green hills, for charming, simple beauty, and especially for the calming balm of country quietude.
What a beautiful place! We are headed to Wisconsin in late July to see my husband’s side of the family. They live in Middleton, WI (right outside of Madison). We will head really north to their cabin in the Northwoods of WI. It is just a beautiful place to visit….especially for this Mississippi girl! Thanks for sharing such beautiful photos!
Love me some country quietude. Also, a country cemetery Beautiful.
Margie,
Sounds like we love the same kinds of things!
Love the pictures of your sister’s place. It is so cute and you nailed it with the Country Quietude, that henhouse is adorable 🙂
Krueth,
Yeah, that is definitely one darling hen house!
I have been enjoying your photos and stories of family in Wisconsin. My sister and I love to travel to Minnesota, and always ‘pop over’ to Wisconsin while there to visit a dairy if possible. We love the beauty of the two states and the people that live there. I believe that would be a place I would move, if given the opportunity. Thanks for the great memories.
Suzanne,
Yes, Wisconsin is a wonderful place to live; I lived there for most of fifteen years and love getting to go back. Keep “poppin'” on over there and keep enjoying!
Beautiful pictures. That’s great that you and your family were able to go to Wisconsin and spend time with one another. I absolutely love country living.
Michelle,
There’s just something amazing about being out in the country, isn’t there? Love it.