I believe that when you slow down and savor the small things, you donβt have to wish for a different life; you can discover beauty in the life you already have. {Find out more here...}
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Catie says
I am glad your in your new house and that everyone is healthy. Health after all is the most important of all. Isn’t it.
Do you grown your own lavender for your sachets or do you buy it. If you buy it would you mind sharing where I can buy some?
karen says
this house is a photographer’s dream come true! look at all that fresh abundant LIGHT!! I love that you have a big house now π
Petra says
Skiers ski in T-shirt also in our country (sometimes). I know the different types winter: sometimes it is wet (brrrr!) – and a temperature of 0 C (32 F) seems like a great winter. That’s not my question. I think the answer is: different culture, a different freedom, different paradigms. Neither better nor worse, just different.
martha says
thank you for this post, ginny. we just put in an offer on an 100 year old home and didn’t get it, and its good to quietly be reminded to keep dreaming, and waiting. these things can take time and lots of work. blessings on your family as you enjoy this wonderful home!
Elizabeth says
your new home is lovely! praying for your other home to sell and for all to be well soon! I love the icons of Christ and His Mother that I saw in these pictures! Once my icons are up, it means I am home! God bless you!!!
Milky says
Mabel and cat … very beautiful …. greetings from Czech Republic in the heart of Europe
Sarah Sovitzky says
Oh my goodness! Milky: I live in Prague!!!!! I hope you see this and some how we can connect.
Ginny: after listening to your podcast with Elizabeth Foss for her Restoration Workshop, I’ve been following your family adventures. Love all the photos! We adopted African American twins, and it’s wonderful to see another large, devout, multi ethnic family. Thanks, and Blessed Advent!
Kimberlee says
Congratulations, Ginny, on your new home! Everything looks so lovely and warm and inviting. I’m sure you are all delighted to have more space for all of your creative endeavors and just plain daily living. I like the picture of the five folks clustered at the table; in spite of all the new spaces your wonderful family still enjoys being close together, and the kitchen table remains central to the heart of the home. God grant you many blessed, happy, healthy years in your new place!
Linda says
Your photos are still as warm and light filled as ever! I love the pic of Mabel with the dog. You show a family as it should be, loving, caring and together. I always feel warmth in my heart when I come here. I look forward to it.
Lauren says
I love that there is a book about Diastasis Recti amongst all your pretty things. π
Andrea says
I love your advent wreath in the bowl (or tray). Best idea for an advent wreath in a house full of kids I have ever seen. I will be copying:)
Arenda says
I love the sweet photo of Mabel rolling over! Perfectly captured. And you always photograph low light is such a beautiful way; the candle photos are lovely.
Melissa says
Looks like a wonderful new home especially with the geo-thermal heat. Congrats on finishing Bea’s sweater. Good luck on finishing those thing at the old home so that it may go on the market soon. Happy Holidays. Mae looks so happy.
Louise says
Ginny, you know the old saying…new house, new baby!
Erika says
Looks like you are filling out your new home nicely!
Laura says
What a gorgeous kitchen! Do you ever feel like you’ve woken up in a dream???? Don’t get me wrong I loved looking at pictures of your house before but the space you have now must be such a relief. When our first two children were born we only had a one bedroom house and I would often dream that we had a bigger house…. Only to wake up and find out nope we are still living in this tiny house.
Ginny says
Yes! This is a big relief, even more so than I expected. I feel like I’ve been living in survival mode for so many years. I’m still a little anxious because we have a lot to do to get the other house ready to sell. I know it will be a huge relief once it’s sold and everything is finalized here.
Laura says
I will pray that all goes smoothly for you. It never ceases to amaze me all that you accomplish in a day!
Anna says
The new home is so beautiful. Love the photos. Makes me wish I could pay a visit.
Kathy Snyder says
I love your pics! You have a beautiful family!
Ginny says
Thank you, Kathy!
Claudette says
That baby girl!!!!! She is so adorable….love her fuzzy little hair and chubby cheeks. Wonderful, wonderful pics.
Your new house looks amazing. Can’t wait to see more pics, inside and out! Can’t say it enough…love your blog
Claudette
Ginny says
Thank you!
Melissa N says
That baby girl is just so precious!!
Maria says
Beautiful kitchen! It seems to flow so nicely into the area with the dining table. Do you have wood heat in the new house also? Looks like everyone is busy and happy!
Ginny says
There is a pellet stove, but it’s mainly a supplement. This house has geo-thermal heat!
Emily DeArdo says
Oh man, Ginny. Those were so perfect. π I loved the one of Mae and the kitty!!
Meredith says
I always find pictures from your home so inspiring. It looks like a lovely place full of creativity and busy children. I love it!
Beth J. Beal says
I am loving the pictures in the new home. Your kitchen is fabulous! Would really like to hear the story behind Job’s hair cut?!
Ginny says
Well, the story is that he cut it himself, so close to the scalp that we had to shave it. π
Beth J. Beal says
I just had such a good laugh. I know, probably not funny at all at the time, but I personally can remember trying to cut my own bangs when I was little. And no, my mother didn’t laugh at all!
Elizabeth says
you should see one of the pictures of my Mom when she was young, with almost NO bangs if I remember right… she is the youngest of 8 and had found the scissors I believe… π Some things don’t change! π
Gayle says
Jenny, I think I am in love with your new house with the bits you have shown in your wonderful photos!! Have a wonderful day!!
sarah says
What beautiful photos! You are an inspiration! Seriously!! Thankful for your blog what a neat treat!
Lauren says
This was beautiful Ginny! I love Craftsmen style too and am so excited for you. Johnny must be so thrilled. I know my husband would be. All the best as you settle in
Ginny says
I think we get a little more excited every day!
Anne says
Beautiful photos.
Richard (in Charlotte, NC) says
It appears that your family is settling into the new house just fine. Thank you (as always) for the photographic insight into your family and life.
Petra says
Dear Ginny, I apologize for my stupid question. I am thinking about it for a long time. Why do Americans have their hats on their heads in the interior?
Miss says
Because it’s cheaper to have a hat and jumper on than waste heating a whole house!
Petra says
I understand π We wear sweaters and wool socks. Your argument does not explain why Mabel has no cap on her head and why little Job does not have a sweater or hat or hair π
Ginny says
Ha! Job cut his own hair in a couple of spots with scissors, and we had to just shave it close. I do keep a hat on Mabel when we are outdoors, but this house is pretty warm. Hats being worn inside is just a side effect of lots of time spent outdoors, and people not removing their hats when they come in. Of course, you got my more long-winded reply below. π
Lynn says
I shouldn’t try & answer for her, but I think it’s more of a personal preference or dare I say, fashion statement:)
Petra says
Cultural differences π In the old continental Central Europe, it is a little baby or a sick man or old lady (as Miss Jane Marple), who can wear a hat indoors. Teenagers sometimes tests the tolerance of their parents or their teachers and provoke his cap.
Teresa says
In general, American’s really don’t care what you wear, especially in your own home. If you are comfortable, then wear it. Aside from church, no one cares about the hat issue. However, my mother-in-law, from Slovakia, would have a fit to know that my kids go bare foot most of the time (even in winter), don’t own slippers and often leave the house without a hat on. My 8 year old has been known to run through the snow barefoot!
Ginny says
Hi Petra!
I don’t really have a good answer for you as far as Americans in general and indoor hat wearing. I just looked through these photos to see who was wearing hats, and thought about the times when I took the photos to get an idea of why each particular family member was wearing a hat. My oldest son, Seth (the long-haired one π ) wears a hat all the time, except in Mass. Larkspur came in from a golf tournament on a cold day the evening that the photos of her wearing a hat were taken, and just didn’t take it off when she came inside. The same goes for Jonny, he had been working outside, and left his hat on when he came in. He is mostly bald, and usually keeps a hat on in the winter.
Job is wearing a hat in one of the photos as well, the one where he is on the bed with Mabel. He put it on himself, because Mabel (the baby) “hit him” and he wanted to protect his head from her. So, just silly kid stuff there.
So as you see, no rhyme or reason. We don’t put much thought into it-I certainly don’t, with the exception of trying to get hats onto the younger ones when we go outdoors. And generally speaking, my kids like hats. π I don’t have a problem with them being worn indoors–maybe that’s considered bad manners in your culture? But not in ours. I hope that helps!
Petra says
Oh, Ginny, thanks π
My daughter and her husband and her sons live in central England. There it often rains and the wind blows. The weather is similar a weather in the Czech Republic in the mountains. I put on my sweater, but the Englishman says: This is a beautifully warm. For example, when an Italian arrives in Prague, he says: It’s cold. But we think it’s the heat.
But in America it’s different. I was browsing some American blogs and I often see kids having summer dress and walking in the snow. Explanation: American kids are tough ones than Czech children… No π Because As American children have the same interior cap. Explanation: American homes are colder than the Czech houses… No π Because American children do not have a sweater and socks. I’m looking for a system, but the system does not exist. This disproportion in dress is an interesting thing for me.
olivia demkowicz says
Hi, Petra, I am laughing because I know exactly what you’re talking about! How is it that American children are running around in summer clothes in the snow?
You just don’t do that here in Poland! Absolutely not! Except that you can, of course, do that, but you just wouldn’t. Babcia (maybe not your own, but somebody’s Babcia) would have you in her arms so quickly if she saw you outside in nothing but a dress and tennis shoes! Almost as quickly as she swoops you up to put on kacpcie (slippers) inside the house. If it’s cold (or even if it’s not sometimes) you wear kapcie in the house! If it’s cold outside you wear hat, gloves, scarf/kerchief, coat, etc. No matter what! And so, I think, people just do it automatically now, and it is habit.
But in America, everyone just does their own thing and there are no (cultural) Babcia’s to tell you that you’re doing it wrong. There are no cultural habits in this regard, so sometimes kids are not properly dressed, or dressed oddly, and life moves on.
Sigh. Not better or worse, just different, as always.
Peace be with you! π
Teresa says
You are right, it does seems odd but it also depends on your location. In Colorado, people can be seen skiing in shorts and a T-Shirt. It is because the sun is so hot and the air is dry. In more humid climates, you are likely to see everyone bundled up. The US is just so large and people are all individuals, that it is hard to generalize
Not to mention those poor, “nosy”, grandmas could land in jail for picking up somebody’s child.
I happen to be a very warm person and people are amazed that I can honestly wear no coat for most of the winter. I would be so uncomfortable bundled up. If I do have to wear a coat, it is usually over a short sleeve shirt. If I wear a long sleeve shirt and go into friends’ homes, which are kept warm, I will be so hot. If my kids are happy and not freezing, I don’t make them wear a coat. They are perfectly capable of deciding if they are cold. If we will be gone from home for a longer time, they usually bring a coat just in case. On the other hand, I have friends who start to shiver if the temperature drops below 70 F.
Petra says
Yes, Americans are others as well as their freedom is different (without irony). Perhaps we in Europe have more fear. Or we better remember history. Maybe.