Wonder.

 My days are filled with the {presence of wonder}.  Has it always been this way?  Of course it has, but I'm pretty sure that I wasn't always on the{lookout}.  You see I gave negativity power, I focused on what was not right in my life and let it dictate my days....months really.  I've made the choice to change what I will allow in my days.  I've made the choice to change my focus to the little wonders throughout my day...

Some wonders around the farm today...

~ A little girl who is finally trusting in herself

~ The inner glow of all things living

~ His glory

~ Sun flares

~ The simplicity of farm life

~ The sounds of silence

~ How fast they grow

~ How easily they *love*

~ My gift to capture these wonders and their beauty

What wonders will you be on the lookout for this weekend?

Oh and an awesome wonder discovered and explained to me today by a five-year old farm living child....

...Mom dogs make and stir milk in their {bibs} for their little babies puppies to drink..

:0)

Happy weekend dear friends...

xoxo

kristin

{All photos taken and edited on my iphone, you can find a few of my favorite apps here}

Favorite Iphoneography Apps...

I have another confession....

I am a IG addict...completely and totally obsessed! :0)  Instagram, for me, is beyond a place to add filters to a photo.  It has become my {social} outlet, with all the political ranting now filling facebook everywhere I look, I turn to Instagram to catch up with everyone ;0) so much more inspiring!  It gives me a chance to glimpse into their souls; to see what beauty captures their eye, and their truths.  I love the interaction and support that comes from Instagram, it is the first thing I check in the mornings...

So Instagram is more social to me than a {photography app}.  While I like the filters they offer and the tilt-shift blur effect I prefer to edit my photos in other apps.  I thought i would share a couple of my go to apps for editing photos...oh, and if you are an IG'er I would love to see your truths and beauty, you can find me here:

Follow @fadedprairie

Lo-Mob: Love this app for the TTV filters and emulsions, you can actually see your photo applied to the different filters instead of waiting for a preview.  This app definitely doesn't work on all types of photos but for lovely horned herefords it is beautiful!

PhotoToaster: This app is amazing for all it's filters and effects!  I also love the control you have over a texture you are applying.  Oh, and the Airprint feature....{divine}!!

Camera+: This is my go to camera on my phone.  The zoom feature, area of focus, and depth of field effect are essential to me.  When applying an effect you can see your photo in nine different filters, definitely a must for an impatient person such as myself! ;0) Maximus thinks it's pretty nifty too!

ScratchCam: This app is my most recent download.  There are many different textures, colors, and scratches you can apply to a photo...again, this app may not work with certain photos just use your creativity and play!

Vintique: I love the move and scale feature of this app!  It opens right up to the controls, you can crop, rotate and adjust to your hearts content.  There are oodles, and oodles of filters you can apply to your photo, again you can see your photo with all different effects on it...{perfection} The vibrance, temp + tint, and vignette controls are some of my favorites.

Remember there really is no right or wrong way with iphoneography!  The best advice I can give is to jump right in, mix and match apps, and enjoy!

What are some of your favorite apps??  You know I have an addiction and would love to hear!

Let's Be...

I have to tell you right from the start...I'm ready to write off 2012. I am, this year to say the least has been hectic. How awful is it to live this way? To dread another day that you are sure is going to bring stress and heartache, that you feel as if you can't take another minute of it.

I'm fed up and ready for something different. I'm ready to just BE..

It is strange how this whole year my focus was BE, in fact it is {was} my one little word for 2012, and here we are the middle of September and I still haven't found my {BE}ing.

I made the scary, hard, life changing, decision to become a full-time mother, wife, sprinkler changing, gopher trapping, cow herding little fool this year! It has been a month since I didn't go back to work at the school and I'm still trying to find my {place}. I have always worked outside of the home, away from the {man's domain} aka our ranch, ;0) so it is all new to me an my little family. I'm giving it some time though, I really am focusing on what I will accept in our lives and what I will not put up with any longer. I recently came upon a post about a horse clinic with Buck Brannaman, a true horse whisperer. In his clinic he talked about letting the horse just {BE}, that given a chance a horse will return to the quiet of his soul and the true meaning of what they are...

To {be}...what a beautiful and peaceful place...it is what i desire the most in my life. With Buck's whispers in my ears, I decided to take Clancey and our mares, Pippi and Party Twister, on a day of just {be}ing.

{our old cowdog Tick decided he wanted to tag along}

We reconnected with each other, the land, and our horses. We all made promises under the golden hue of fall that we are going to {BE} and that it is enough.

Barn House 2012

Where does a girl even begin? Trying to find words to describe the beauty, serenity, and love surrounding a Pacific Northwest farm...After three years I've come to realize that maybe the magic cannot be captured with mere words. . A soul must experience it for themselves to fully understand, to feel the gentle touch of grace against your cheek as you step upon the lush soil. To smell the life of the pines and wildwood; the small whispers coming in almost inaudible sighs. You must {still} yourself, letting your heart guide you to a {meant to be} treasure.

There is truly nowhere else...there is simply...

Barn House.

You cannot believe the line!! It snaked it's way along the fence line and didn't end...

{Barn House}

{Farm and Frills}

{Barn House}

{Barn House}

{Barn House}

{Barn House} again.. :0)

I'm sorry, I'm not sure who's booth this was but the colors of pure nature where unbelievably stunning!

{Sparrow} love this girl with all my heart!!

{House of Harvest}

So blessed to have finally met this girl and her husband!

{Camas Antiques}??? not sure....

The one item that just stopped me in my tracks...

yep, a calf bottle!! The kids just giggled over this...we still use ours and can't begin to tell you how much of a chore it is to mix these things up morning and night for the little dogie calves. :0)

Flying in for the show and not having the truck put a serious damper on my shopping...sigh. My mom had some serious faith that her vintage veggie bin would fit into her suitcase. I can't begin to tell you the sweat, blood and some not to appropriate words where shed to make it happen! ;0) It made it home safely and looks amazing upon her wall...definitely meant to be.

It was SO good to see my PNW family...I miss you all so much already! Thank you dear Joe and Jermonne for hosting such a beautiful event. I cannot begin to tell you the peace that this little trip brought to my soul, it was also very bittersweet. To be there with you all but to not be. It was definitely different being a shopper and not a vendor! :0)

I just want you two to know...You are truly heaven sent....

xoxo

kristin

Three Winners!

The three lucky winners for Jeanne's Creatively Made Home e-course are:

Sandi~ A Cottage Muse

Nicole~ Farmgirl Chaos

Linda~ Burlap+Blue

Congratulations ladies!! Please email me fadedprairie@gmail.com with your emails!!

Creatively Made Home E-course Giveaway!!

With the changing of the seasons upon us I find myself turning {towards home}. It becomes time for me to leave the harvest fields earlier to prepare for my little family returning home. It is time to settle in and cozy up.

This will be the first season that our house is truly our home. I long for our remodel to be finished so our home reflects who we are; where you leave feeling the essence of our lives. While I am thrilled for opportunity of filling new negative space it is a little overwhelming. Where to begin, how much to add, and to how to create the perfect backdrop to our living.

You can imagine how blessed I felt to find Jeanne offering a new e-course:

Here is a little of the {why} Jeanne created such a unique e-course:

"I wanted to create a course that celebrated what really matters in your home.....you and your family. I also wanted to celebrate making life beautiful in the everyday. I know so many that want to make their home beautiful but feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start...so they do nothing.

It is time to open your doors because of what is inside of you.....not what is inside your home.

It is our desire that this five week online course will change how you see yourself, your home and your family."

Jeanne is bringing together four of the most inspiring woman I know to help us see and live the beauty everyday. Tracey Leber, Sara Duckett, Kimberly Taylor and Jennifer Rizzo will all be sharing how they truly live joyful lives and how their homes are reflections of themselves.

This course will packed full of tips and suggestions for gardening, cooking, decorating and entertaining! I simply cannot wait!!

Jeanne puts SO much heart and soul into her courses, they really are life altering!

She contacted me last week and is generously giving away THREE spots to Creatively Made Home for some lucky Faded Prairie readers! WHOOT, WHOOT!!

Please leave a comment on this post about what you would hope to gain from such an *amazing* course. What area of your home is basically giving you heartburn! {Like my entire home at the moment!}

You can also increase your chances by posting about this giveaway, sharing on facebook, twitter, and pinterest!

* Please leave a separate comment for facebook, posting, and/or twitter

* I have created a pin here so all you have to do is repin, i will automatically be notified when you have done so; so there is no need to come back and leave a separate comment for pinterest

* Giveaway ends next Monday the 13th, 9:00 a.m. {mst} winner will be announced thereafter

Creatively Made Home begins October 22nd, you can find more information here. Good luck dear readers!!

*THANK YOU* dear Jeanne for sharing your gifts, for your inspiration, and allowing me to be a part of something so beautiful!

xoxo

kristin

Destination..

I'm not exactly sure where July has run off to...sigh...I'm not even sure where the whole summer has gone! I'm not ready, I feel myself digging my heels in and grasping for all it's worth.

Since July feels it must end, I don't know a better way to spend it than here....

Although I'm not showing this year due to our hectic life here on the farm and ranch, I will be flying in to spend the weekend with the boys and all the *fabulous* vendors!!

It is so hard for me to put into words my love and joy that the Barn House family brings to me. I posted about my experience last year here, and although it has been an entire year words still fail me when I try to explain the Barn House Experience. I have never before felt such serenity, genuine love, and pure enchantment that surrounds this family and farm.

I truly hope that you can make it this weekend, it is the one vintage show you don't want to miss!! Be sure to check out Barn House on facebook for all the sneak peeks coming in. I am already mourning for things that can't fit in my luggage! ;0)

See you soon dear PNW family and friends!

xoxo

kristin

The beauty of agriculture

I have long tried to capture in words the reason for my deep love of agriculture and those who live the life. To try and help others understand why we do what we do each day, why we have such a strong sense of pride for this humble lifestyle.

I recently came across this quote by Elizabeth Ros and I believe it says it all...

We are family, we are bound together by our tragedies, struggles, and triumphs through sheer will power and love. We have each seen first hand defeating losses; we have all felt the weight of these losses and the tug to just give up. We continue on through it all, knowing our lives have meaning, truth and beauty.

We are agriculture and we are beautiful...

The Remodel

I really didn't ever believe that I would say the word remodel. We first moved in right after we were married and 14 years later we are still here! Not a happy girl I can tell you...it definitely hasn't been easy. I have finally realized that my husband's heart is here and where he dreamed of raising his little family.

The home was originally built in the 1890's with an addition added sometime during the 1940's. There has never been any real upkeep done on the place, just little projects done in order to get by. We are going to have to totally gut this place, right done to the frame.

Our plans should be about finished, I can't wait to show you what I have envisioned for our little prairie home, in the mean time I thought I would share the inspiration behind this whole remodel. All photos are sourced and can be found on my board {Little House} on pinterest...the is much more inspiration there. I didn't want to overwhelm you! :0)

Source: gardenandgun.com via Kristin on Pinterest

I really want to reuse the wood siding from the home on the interior. I was thinking about adding paneling, not necessarily throughout the whole home maybe just accent walls?!? Any thoughts??

Source: style-files.com via Kristin on Pinterest

Source: paleandinteresting.com via Kristin on Pinterest

Source: 79ideas.org via Kristin on Pinterest

I've learned my lesson with white flooring though... ;0) I still love the look but I won't be adding it in.

Source: houseandhome.com via Kristin on Pinterest

I must have a vintage windmill to hang on the wall, Iowa girls you just might see me soon on the hunt! :0) Anyone know of a good source?!? *love* them dearly!

Source: salisburyartisans.com via Kristin on Pinterest

If any of you have been through a remodel do you have any advice?!? We are excited but not sure where to begin, feeling a little overwhelmed right now! :0)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

xo

kristin

Saddled Up and a Winner

June...

As a child I never thought how much I would come to *love* a month so much. I never realized how nostalgic I would become and how I would cherish each moment of this magical month. Blogging has definitely taken a back to seat here, our main seat and mode of transportation this month is this...

I cherish each moment spent in the saddle, behind our herd of cattle. Listening to the bellows of mamas and babies, not so enjoyable when it is my own children bellowing at each other but what do you do?!? :0)

I want to *thank* each of you for taking the time to entire Kim and Xanthe's giveaway. I have read and reread each and every comment, taking in the strength, the passions, the insecurities, and realizing I'm not alone. You are all truly beautiful!

I finally have chosen a winner; I can not begin to tell you how hard it was! I wanted you all to win a spot...sigh...maybe when the husband brings home a calf check I can all splurge and award everyone! ;0) Do you think he would go for it?!?

For now....

was the number picked and Jackie Cate is the winner!! Congrats girl! You have been such an inspiration to me for so long now, {such an amazing artist and photographer!!} I cannot wait to see what direction your passions take!

*Thank You* again to everyone for stopping by and sharing your passions. Within the next week I hope to share some of what they were and talk a little about what has helped me give voice to my passions. For now it is back in the saddle trying to get some stubborn old gals to stay on the right side of the fence! :0)

xo

kristin

E-Course Giveaway!

Blogging....

Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed with it? This year has been so difficult for me, I cannot seem to gather of my thoughts, I feel as if what I have to share doesn't compare to what is out there. I just feel a little {blah}...

I then have to remember why I started blogging in the first place. Blogging for me has always been about sharing my passions. Photography, gathering farm finds, my life on a cattle ranch and farm, the beauty of cattle grazing in the prairie green pasture....blogging has given me the opportunity to really focus on what these mean to me. It gives me the opportunity to break each one apart, to study and sink my roots deeper into the soul of these passions. Then to share with you all what truth I saw in a photo, why the beauty of a certain piece whispered to me, why a cow can bring peace to my heart.

With that said, trying to create a space {worthy} of these passions can really take the joy out of a person...not kidding you, just ask me about the new blogger interface...gggrrr...

It can take so much of your precious time; time you would have spent {sinking your roots into the soul}. We all know how fleeting these moments can be and how intentional we have to be with our time. My dear friend Kim {a true kindred spirit} and Xanthe {whom I have yet to meet but just know for certain we are kindred spirits :0) }, to rescue! Check out the new e-course they are bringing to the e-course frenzy...

{a small glimpse of where they create beauty}

An A to the men people! Isn't that what it is all about! Blogging your passion, and creatively to boot. Here is Kim's and Xanthe's short version of what this new e-course covers and why it would help a girl out...

We will share the details of how and what we shoot, our processing secrets and finally how we share all this on our sites.

We are all unique. The key to great blogging lies in authenticity and sharing your true passion.
The student will leave this course with a clear vision of their blogging mission....concrete ideas to make it happen....and inspiration to spread their unique vision.

This is not a technical blog-building eCourse. We will not be showing you how to create a blog from scratch. However we will offer some great resources for this. Building a blog is really just the beginning..... It's what you pour into it that's key.

In this class, we will take you behind the scenes…sharing our daily creative process. We will share the ins and outs of what we shoot, how we shoot and finally how we share it on our blogs.

Wanna know how we put a post together? Want tips on staying focused and getting your post written quickly and efficiently? We are sharing it all.

How 'bout tutorials on all the extra little touches...such as image layouts, blog headers, buttons, mouseovers, animation, slide shows, and even short films....Want tips for telling a story with your photos? We got it covered.

Having trouble finding focus? finding your voice? It's hard! But we have lots of tips to share.

We're super excited to share all this and much more with you.

For more information on what is covered in the course and the long version of why this is going to be absolutely amazing on all levels,head on over to Reflection of You and check out Behind the Scenes information page...

I couldn't be more excited about this! Finding focus is exactly what I need right now, and since blogging is about sharing...guess what friends...Kim and Xanthe have been SO generous in offering a spot to a lucky Faded Prairie reader!! Whoot, Whoot!

So tell us what passion{s} do you want to give voice to? What direction would you *love* for your little piece of blogland to go in? Just leave a little note here to be entered, of course sharing the news about this giveaway will give you extra chances also {be sure to leave a link please}!

*Giveaway will end Friday night, 5:00p.m. MST*

*Open to all US and international friends*

Good luck to you all!

xo

kristin

a rememberance...

*this is a post i wrote the 5th year after my daddy's passing, it has now been 7 and i miss him more than ever...as i gaze upon this land and my wild prairie children, i am filled with such gratitude for his sacrifices and strength.* 


a cowboy's hat can tell many stories...


this hat for instance belonged to a man that i *love* dearly..
and miss terribly...




the sweat ring comes from years of being a steward to a land...


a land his great-grandfather worked and cared for...


from trying to live for the cattle that had been trusted into his work worn hands...


a dirt patch tells of the day he dusted his daughter off when she tumbled from a frisky colt...


another of the grueling day of trailing 1000 head of cattle over a slick rock trail with a 500 foot drop on your left...


that day a calf fell off that trail, this hat and it's cowboy were lowered over the side of the sheer drop off by lariats tied together.  the cowboy rescued that baby calf that day simply because that is how this cowboy lived...on the edge...


the red sand embedded into the grains came from the year he took his daughter on her first view of the only free roaming buffalo herd in the united states..


we ran with the buffalo that day...


the sounds of their thundering hooves keeping time with our quickening hearts and our horses long strides...


the water stains were left behind on a day where his most trusted horse, and friend moved on to greener pastures...


the round burn marks were left behind by the dying embers of a camp fire...while he sat listening to the coyotes howl at the full moon rising over the snow capped peaks of the henry mountains...


among the dirt is patches of flour....this hat watched over the cowboy while making many of his famous sourdough biscuits...there has yet to be one made that sticks to your ribs better than what this cowboy made...


the crimp in the brim came from a day full of anxiety...the day that his first grandson was born...


....this daughter is blessed....not only can i gaze at the life of this cowboy each day....but i am able to hear him in the breezes that sway the grain fields...i am able to hear him in the lone coyotes howl...i am able to hear him in the crackle of the camp fire...i am able to feel his love in the land that i work with my hands...


we love you dad and miss you so...

the branded truth...

summer temperatures seem to have finally found us here...{for a few days at least}! :0)

warmer temperatures mean one thing...{the branding of calves}

we must wait to work over the calves when there is fair weather for them to recover in...

the less stress the better for our sweet little ones.

the days are filled with hard, hard work by each and everyone involved,

but none harder than the cowboy and/or cowgirl who is given the job of pushing the calves into the chute.

it involves a right of passage for the lack of a better explanation..

you prove yourself in the muck, sweat, and dangerous calf kicking hooves; you move on up to a somewhat less painful job. :0)

it is not only where calves are marked and branded but also the truth of a cowboy...

this year it was my son's turn to show his truth...

picture 300-400 lb. calves having their way with my 75 lb little boy and his cousin..

i can't tell you how proud of them we all where by the end of the day...i also can't tell you how many bruises they ended up with because they are too numerous to count!

my little boy definitely proved himself; he worked his little heart and soul out that day...

but at the end of that hard working day childhood called once more...

and off in the wind his newly branded wings flew..

Artographer...{Jamie Heiden}

if you have been reading my blog awhile you know my passion for {artography}..

it has been something i have wanted to incorporate into my photography, while i have played hours and hours with textures i've always been a little hesitant to take it one step further...

textures can be tricky and often daunting...

i wanted to share with you one of the first {artographers} who has fueled my passion and given me pause...

dear {Jamie Heiden}...

this girl is absolutely amazing in capturing and creating raw emotion with her photographs...

{sound of silence}

the light illuminating from within each photo is stunning...

{tadaa!}

of course living in rural wisconsin she has plenty of beauty surrounding her...

the whimsy, simplicity, and joy with each and every photo touches the soul...

{center of the universe}

the center of a girl's universe is definitely her family's farm and ranch...

you are tied blood and soul to the place...jamie captured the essence of the tie completely...

i do believe the print above needs to come and grace my prairie home soon...

Jamie does offer her prints for sale, you can contact her while loosing yourself in raw beauty via flickr, facebook, and her site jheidenphoto...

*thank you* ever so much jamie for allowing me to share a piece of your soul here with my readers...

you truly inspire us all...

i did purchase one of jamie's photos...it should arriving soon and i will definitely share once it does! :0)

also, please don't mind the mess while i change things up around here..it was way past due for an update...