Welcome to Plum Prairie Ranch!
I wanted to start this blog as a way to connect with others about the joys and challenges of creating a home on (and off) the range. In that whole messy, amazing process, I’m focusing on both the boards and bricks abode and the heartfelt sense of family and belonging that transforms house into home.
Plum Prairie Ranch is what my “Fix-it Farmer” husband and I call our land in Kansas, but the blog is about far more than country acreage. It’s about working toward a dream for years as we transition from life in suburban Dallas-Fort Worth to our version of “Green Acres.”
Before we move to the country in 5 or 6 years, we want to thoroughly update our DFW cookie cutter home of 20-plus years (decorated in best of the ’90s brass and florals). If you’re interested in the “unvarnished truth” about do-it-yourself, or DIY IRL, Plum Prairie Ranch is your place. We plan to do a lot of the work around our house ourselves because an inspired dreamer and a farmer/engineer will attempt just about anything. I’ll give you the 4-1-1 on the process, the cost, the time involved and just how crazy we were to take it on ourselves.
To be honest with you, I could use a little accountability in getting those projects done AND in becoming more organized. As a daydreaming creative sort, I often battle with schedules, piles of clutter and organizing spaces. My husband lovingly calls me “Random Woman” and it may or may not be a superpower. The struggle is real, people. I’ve found some sources of hope and want to share the journey with others about fighting messy tendencies.
Because a house isn’t a home without people, the blog will focus on thriving and surviving family life. I’ve got a daughter with celiac, so I’m always looking for gluten-free recipes. I plan to share some here with you. Sometimes I’ll write about ways to capture the fleeting magic of the moment with tips on simple celebrations, budget-minded travel and parenting older teens and young adults without going bonkers.
Finally, we can’t truly enjoy our homes if we don’t take care of ourselves. I’ll write about various aspects of health (physical, mental and spiritual). For those of us who are in the middle aged years (I grimace as I write that phrase), we realize we need to renew our commitment to being as healthy as possible. On the physical front, I’m a mediocre but upbeat runner who is incorporating other aspects of fitness. I’m particularly aware of the need to maximize mental health as the daughter of a dad who was desperately ill with bipolar disorder. And the spiritual part of the equation brings everything else into its proper perspective. I love Jesus, and some of my posts will share lessons I’m learning about faith.
On Plum Prairie Ranch, we’re not talking about how to make flawless lives here. We’re talking about embracing this season right now with all its mess and magic while looking ahead to the future with hope. Won’t you come along?
