Duke Manor Farm notables vol 10

This week’s Duke Manor Farm notables vol 10 includes latest projects around the house, a recent trip to the lake, and how to stay encouraged and motivated during tough times.

I find the best way for me to get through this crazy and unsettling world these days is to disconnect from watching the news. Sadly, I am seeing more judgment and negativity then I care to witness. As optimistic as I strive to be, I think it may continue to get worse…for a while. So we are over here creating our own positive distractions.  My kids are slated to start school ( in person) on July 31st so we are making the most of our summer. I hope you are too!

How true…and funny is this?

Recent Field Trip

Since a family vacation where we get in the car and the kids fight, isn’t in our plans this summer, I was able to head up to East Tennessee with the twins to my sister’s lake house last week and just chill. There is marginal internet and no phone coverage so you really have no choice, but with views like this who wouldn’t want to disconnect from technology. The best thing is we were the only ones on the lake most days! Luckily for us, this spot is just 3 hours away and provided just what we all needed to recharge. I would highly recommend finding a change of scenery even if it’s in your own backyard ……with tv and cell phone being optional.

Isn’t this a beautiful spot? I have shared my sisters lake house in the past here . Last year her exterior went through several changes including new decking and paint. It all looks so amazing. I took some new pics and will share those with you soon. You can read how I helped with some of those decisions here.

Finished project

You would have thought with all the time in the world at home the last few months I would be busting out completed projects left and right. That didn’t quite happen. I did however finish painting the back patio a few weeks ago and feel so accomplished. The patio gets so much sun and heat and really takes a beating in the summertime.  The sight of peeling paint was an indicator that I needed to sand down some boards and give the entire deck a refresh. I used a color called Sedate Gray from SW in an exterior finish. Sedate Gray is the same color that is on the exterior of my house. I would really love to replace it with Trek decking one day so there is no maintenance involved.

Although we don’t use this patio much in the summertime, it’s nice to have it looking pretty again. I’ll be sharing my best tips/techniques on painting a wood deck in a later post.

Finished Flooring Project

The deck wasn’t the only project that got done around here…although I didn’t have much work to do with this one. If you missed my floor reveal….Amazing! I can’t believe how new flooring totally transformed my downstairs spaces. You can catch up here on the reveal and the entire project. I am still working on Lily’s bedroom makeover and painting some baseboards but whoa, I just love it. Feels like a brand new space…and not the 18 years it is.

I’ll leave you with this image of the front of the house where the afternoon sun was casting a perfect glow on the porch. I find that sometimes it’s the smaller, less obvious moments that really help to change perspective and fill our souls with gratitude.

I encourage you to head outside this afternoon to see what you can find. Thanks for stopping by for Duke Manor Farm notables vol 10. To see the previous notables click here.

Big hugs,

Grateful

For time with my sister