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Hello, and Welcome! Come on in and stay awhile. My name is Hallie, author/web designer of forevercountryhome.com blog. I’d like to tell you my story of how I got to this point in my life at age 49. I have been working from home for several years now for our company that my boyfriend Michael owns. It is a commercial kitchen installation company. Running a company has been very challenging at times but really rewarding at others. We have been blessed with opportunity and the growing pains associated. Somehow, we always pull through. However, stress can get the best of you if you don’t find ways to release it.
In finding a way to release our stress, we decided to start fixing up my boyfriend’s house and move from my home to his. We have lived in my house, that I owned, for the past seven years. It is located in a medium-sized HOA neighborhood in a medium sized town. It is a very friendly neighborhood where neighbors greet you even if you just go to the mailbox. Michael also had his house where he had raised his kids. It is located on a gravel road beside a fishing lake pretty far out in the country.
Why did we decide to make this move you might ask? Well, the house had accrued some damage over time and it was brought to our attention to do something about it, or not. Quick weekend getaways to relieve stress simply were not satisfying anymore. We chose to fix it! We desperately needed something to take our mind off of our daily company worries. Careful what you wish for, so they say. We took on an enormous amount of physical work to make this house beautiful. This included days and nights of back aching construction. Setbacks for sure but the rewards were greater.
The house is a 1975 rancher and had paneling in every room. It was a 3-bedroom one bath. It had a small kitchen on the back wall of the main room. The goal was to replace panel with sheetrock, fix a bathroom that had water damage, add a new front and back porch, and move the kitchen to another side of the house. Well, once we got started the ideas grew! We decided to knock out the main living room wall. We moved and rebuilt it and turned a side bonus room into a brand new kitchen. We moved the back door that lead to the back porch. There we added a second guest bathroom. We put french doors on the back wall leading into a new screened-in porch. We replaced the back porch decking with composite and connected the porches together to create an outdoor living space. On the front, we closed in the old front porch. Then added a small nook style room we call the viewing room. We made a new front porch which, well, we still need to finish with concrete. The walls were all turned to sheet rock and new ceilings. The subfloor ended up getting replaced. Then the wood on the roof got replaced too before we replaced the shingles.
Once we started breaking into the walls there were things found that could have been done way better. Not everything that was in the “bones” of the house was built well. Things were added to the project that weren’t originally in the budget. The subfloor, roof, and some walls needed to be replaced. All of these things had to be done before we put up sheetrock, shingles, or siding. Then the bathrooms and laundry rooms were water proofed. A window was added to the existing bathroom, new bathroom, and kitchen. A new arched doorway was made for the new kitchen on one side and a pass-thru bar was cut out on the other side behind the farmhouse sink. We decided to put a new plank ceiling in the kitchen. The garage got a new roof and walls. We tiled the bathrooms and laundry room and installed wood floors throughout the rest of the house, including the kitchen. And then painted, painted, painted. Here we are now 2 years later, the project is almost over. DIY at the extreme! I wouldn’t say over, it will be the rest of our lives in the works. However, we are to the point where we can live in it rather than only plan and build it. It is time to start our journey!
Come with us and learn the what not to do and what to do when you DIY house rebuild and remodel. This is my candid, true life experience of our trials and tribulations. It has not been a cake walk, but there are so many life lessons to be applied. See what products I found that I really love! Find out how we installed different things. Learn how we figured it all out. Hear about the headaches, heartaches, and struggles we endured. Engage in the life lessons and personal growth we undertook throughout the process. See if you really want to ever try this yourself! Help us grow our new homestead with amateur skills but huge dreams. Read my stories and relate them to your own personal experiences in life. Join us in dreaming big and never giving up no matter what obstacles life brings you.
Finally, learn how to stay true to yourself and your own dreams no matter what others think. See how physically hard work can bring you major health benefits. Let me help you purge your past and free yourself from your emotional attachments with stuff. This experience has changed me completely. It has added perspective in my life and I challenge you to push yourself in your own life. Find something solid and concrete that brings you peace and happiness. We found ours in building our forever country home! The work never stops and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
I am starting this blog to do a couple things and for a few reasons. I found myself over the past couple years writing personal journals. I wanted to start writing for others and not just for myself. I have entered the world that’s out there in DIY and design am ready to engage with others. I want to be able to advertise some of the products I really believe in to help others make choices of their own. I had a blast picking out lights, cabinets, paint colors, and materials we used in the home! I want to show how we cut costs to afford this house project and also where we refused to cut quality. I hope to educate others on our re-build challenges and how we overcame them. Also, I am hoping my research, mistakes, and accomplishments give value to those who are making daily sacrifices and dedicating themselves to bettering their own lives and building their own futures.
I hope to show how a farmhouse and country lifestyle can be fulfilling. If possible, I would like to help promote small businesses in my new community. I personally want to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers and take them to market. I recently made my first jam from the figs on the property. I am planning to grow my own food and start canning and storing them. I have always had a desire to design and build my own website so I thought I would give it a go. I want to give others a creative space where you can reflect on your own life challenges, struggles, desires and dreams. There are a ton of things I want to do!
Honestly, if I can inspire or assist one person with our Forever Country Home project journey then this site will be well worth it. I have been presented with this opportunity in my life and I feel the need to share it. Throughout my life, personally and professionally, I have been down many roads. Some were ones I would never replace. Others were much less to be desired. This journey has for some reason given me the tools to process past pain and heartache and became a light that shined through. I hope my readers who need encouragement find some from my own personal experiences and newfound positive outlook of my own life. Life is too short to not get yourself on a path that gives back to you. Plus, running Michael’s business is great. But, I can’t let him have all the fun! 😉
Lastly, I want to encourage you to believe in yourself, in your own capabilities and trust your own judgments. Grab a hammer, a paint brush, or a sketch pad and as Christina said, “Lets get dirty!”
Featured Products, Kitchen Essentials, Products for the Home & Garden.
Discover products here that have worked well for the homestead and add value.
One thing we really needed for harvesting fruits and vegetables was a harvesting bag of some sort. Even days when I did not think I would bring anything in, there was always something I needed to carry back. We harvest vegetables out of the garden, flowers from the garden, fruit from the fig tree and soon to be apple tree, olive and berry bushes. Having something durable and waterproof to carry these items every day would be most helpful. This bag is made of a waxed canvas. I really like the bottom part where you can attach and detach the bag. The straps are convertible so you can carry as a backpack, or on the front for gathering. Hands free is the key. See link below to shop canvas bag.
One of the biggest additions to preparing the garden this year is adding Worm Castings. Although our pH level last year was good it still seemed like more nutrients were needed. We went with Early Bird Worm Castings. They always say the early bird gets the worm! Worm castings are basically worm poo. If you have the ability to source other kinds of manure you may not need this product. It is an easy way to have it shipped to you and add to the garden.
These Worm Castings are 100% Pure Worm Castings Rich in Micro Nutrients – Odor Free Organic Plant Fertilizer for Indoor/Outdoor Use – Helps Reduce Soil Compaction, Improve Soil Aeration, Increase Water Retention, and More. Mix into the top layer of your soil before planting. You also can add later to the soil after your plants have matured for a boost. We used 2-30lb bags for our 50X30 ground garden. They have different sizes you can get for your size garden, 5, 15 & 30lb bags. Click button link to shop below pic.
Now is the time to get your garden soil ready for planting! The only way to know if your ph level is correct is to test your soil We tried a few different ways and mostly all will work. For simpler and instant results we like this soil testing product by Kensizer. You will want your ph level to be around 6.5 for optimal growing. Testing it will help you determine if you need to add lime for high acidity, or compost for more nutrients, etc. This is the time to get it right before you plant. Not only will this probe test your ph level, it will also test the moisture level in the soil. Simply insert the probe into the soil to test. These are also on sale today for 30% off! Click button link below pic.
These envelopes for saving seeds! They work well, are simple and easy to use. They are self sealing, which is nice. Click link below image to shop Paper Packets for Collection of Vegetable, Fruit & Flower Seeds. 25 white packets included. Packages are 3.25 inch wide x 4.75 inch tall. Happy Seed Saving!
I recently had a bad fall and it had stopped my planting bulbs progress. Until, while we were at our local Tractor Supply store yesterday I found this Auger Tool! What a life saver it is. It attaches directly to our drill. Now, maybe I can get these daffodils and crocus in the ground before it’s too cold. It is inexpensive and heavy duty. Also, very easy to use. Michael really liked using it around the roots of the trees. See link for Auger tool below.
Our garden is a ground garden with rows, rather than several raised gardens. Even with having row markers for identifying the plants we had a hard time keeping track of what we planted where. This year we are adding label markers. We like this product because they are made of stainless, so you know they won’t rust. The best part is we can reuse these every year. Comes in S/S, Black & White.
Here are the waterproof markers for labeling your plants in the garden. This is a two pack in black. They are UV fade resistant to last throughout the growing season.
The only way to do better is to make mistakes! We are happy with our first large garden, however, there are some things we are doing different this year. One thing is to build a trellis for the climbers. We built trellis for the snow peas and beans last year with extra welded wire and metal posts. This was extra material we had on hand and it worked, until it didn’t. The height was too short. This caused the vines to lay back down and have to be guided back into the trellis. It was 3′ tall, approximately. We are looking at using these bamboo poles and constructing a trellis that will extend the growing space two more feet high. We will use garden twine or hemp we have on hand and run string across for the plants to grab.
Having good quality tools is a must for your garden needs. Trust me, we have been down the cheap products road and the handles can break. We even had the spade snap in half once! Not fun when you are trying to work and your tool gives up on you. For these reasons we choose to get a superior quality tools set that we know will not just last one season but many more. We prefer a tool made of steel like these Fiskars 3 pc. Garden Tool Set from Tractor Supply. It won’t rust or corrode and the black is nice as the sun can hit the silver and blind you! See button link below to shop Fiskars tool set.
When harvesting zucchini we decided there needs to be a better tool for cutting. The stems are fairly thick and although scissors work, surely there’s a better way. Enter this Garden Softgrip Multi-Snip Tool with Sheath by Fiskars. Having one tool to use is nice when you are needing to cut open a bag or cut off a stem, or for any cutting need. You can also use to cut wire when we build the trellis! See link below.
Why not mix it up a little with a variety of colors in the form of Rainbow Beets! I truly enjoyed having all the beets in the garden last year. They were easy to grow andd are easy to can and store. We roasted beets, pickled, marinated and canned some too! This year we are adding some more color to the mix with these Rainbow Beet Seeds from Eden Brothers Seeds. We love the classic heirloom Detroit Dark Red Beets, Golden Detroit Beets, White Albino Beets and Chioggia Beets included in the pack.
Eden Brothers Seeds Company has over 600 Vegetable Seeds and wow do they have a great selection! We are adding several different squash varieties this year. Why grow only one kind of zucchini? I am going with an Italian variety in a pale light green skin. What more do I need to say? If it is farm to table then I don’t see why we can’t dress it up. Check out their tomatoes too! We had a hard time narrowing it down this year. Cant wait to watch them grow…all their seeds are Non-GMO too! Check out the link below to shop Vegetable Seeds.
Don’t forget your flower seeds! Did you know Lavender is a perennial? It is always nice to plant perennials so every year something keeps coming back bigger and better. Lavender just smells so good in the home. I have to add new annuals every year though. It is like a new experience each season! What are your favorite flowers? See link to shop over 650 flower varieties with Eden Brother Seeds.
Storing your fresh herbs can be a challenge. Keeping them fresh as long as possible, after harvested, is the goal. If you want to use them right out of the refrigerator then this herb keeper is on point! Fill with water and store your herbs longer in the refrigerator. This has a tempered glass container and vented lid. The dimensions are 5 in. D X 5 in. L X 5 in. W X 12.5 in. H. We can’t wait to put our basil and oregano in this container this year!
For the ones looking for a heavy, duty, quality fire pit look no further than this Stainless Steel Solo Fire pit with stand. You can put this on your porch and it won’t ruin the porch! Nothing makes me more happy. We spent a lot of money on our composite boards and the thought of ruining them is not an option. I never thought that we could have a fire pit on the porch, but with this product we can. It has a system that the smoke releases out the bottom and smoke doesn’t get all in your face as regular fire pits do. This will last a really long time and even has a lifetime warranty to back that up.
We are so excited to partner with Fast Growing Trees! They are the largest online nursery and offer so many products. The big buzz around here is for these two trees we just ordered from Fast Growing Trees! We are working on adding fruit and berry bushes to our 5 acres. We decided on the HoneyCrisp Apple Tree from Fast Growing Trees. It is 3-4 Foot tall, and we can’t believe how big it is! There is new growth at the top of the branches upon arrival. We are planting next to the olive, plum and fig tree in the side field. Did you know these trees flower with adorable pink buds? Michael wants to be able to grow old and pick apples off the tree. I am pretty sure, this will do the trick!
Exclusive Offer, receive 15% off your first order with Fast Growing Trees just by signing up with this link below!
The second tree we chose is for the front yard. As we are still not finished with the sidewalk and porch we decided to go ahead and plant a decorative tree to begin the growing process. We went with the beautiful Weeping Japanese Maple ‘Viridis” Tree. It grows 6-8′ tall and 6-10’ wide. The leaves are so delicate! They also change color form Spring to Fall in golden yellow, orange, and red. We will be able to watch this grow from the kitchen window. Both trees came with Fast Growing Trees patented Drop ‘n Grow system. You plant the root ball with this burlap bag and put it right into the hole! See link for Weeping Japanese Maple tree and all other trees, bushes and plants.
We can’t believe the variety of trees and bushes they have. Not just decorative but also Fruit Trees and Berry Bushes. We have been on the hunt for some different varieties and here is where we found them. In fact, the one item we cannot wait to get down in our row of berries is this Golden Raspberry! It is a hybrid version of the red raspberry. It will be so fun to make Golden Raspberry Jam! This will be one we plant early Spring, for sure. See link below to check out this beauty. All Fast Growing Trees are shipped directly to you from their Online Nursery.
We chose this tier tray for the kitchen counter. I really like having one place to decorate for the seasons. I used to spread things all around and it often looked cluttered. This tier tray solved that problem. We went with square since we put it on the wall and it isn’t a corner really. Click button link to shop tier tray below picture.
Our favorite thing is this Swing Chair we put on our screened porch! If you don’t have a screened porch to support hanging it there is also a stand available. We love reading a book in it, sitting, relaxing, curling up with a blanket, need I say more? Michael’s son and daughter-in-law loved it so much they got two! They recently covered their outdoor patio and hung two swing chairs. They have bronze accents and went with the two toned Mocha. Now, they have somewhere super comfortable to relax and enjoy their new outdoor space. Click the button below to shop Abate Swing Chairs in grey or brown and beige with Overstock.
Humor never hurt no-one, I always say! Especially not in the rustic farmhouse theme. Bathroom signs are subtle ways to get your message across. Quick reads can go a long way! We recently put this in our multi-use bathroom. Funny, huh?! Click link to shop sign.
Rustic and wood shelving for the bathroom or anywhere in the home! This 2 tiered shelf has the beautiful black pipe hardware. We spray painted ours a glossy black to match the other pipe hardware for our guest bathroom. More storage is always a plus!
We matched the shelf with this Industrial Rustic Towel Ring for the bathroom wall. Finding matching hardware is a challenge. We did not have to paint this product. It is solid and sturdy and does the job. Who else loves the rustic look?
Completing the look with more, can you ever have enough rustic hardware, this set contains the rest of your hardware needs. Including the towel bar, robe hooks, and toilet paper holder all in stainless steel painted black. Creating a rustic feel with new hardware. Click button link below to shop rustic bathroom hardware.
When building our screened porch we made sure we installed a “Doggie Door”. While building is the time to consider all of your options. Knowing our dogs would run outside all day long, it only made sense to install the dog door. We went with an X-Large Size Pet Safe door. It was very easy to install inside the frame of the porch. The dogs learned how to use it in one day! What a saver from them running in and out of the screen door. It is also designed to be safe for them. Now, we wish we had put one on the house too. Here is the link to shop Pet Safe dog doors with Tractor Supply, available online only.
One of our favorite choices for external wood accents are these cedar vents by Elena Millworks. We installed a rectangular one on the outside of the house and an octagonal shape one inside the screened porch. No wasps will set up their home inside now! And it was a popular place for them before. It is made very well and we really like the natural finish. Click button link below image to shop cedar vents.
One thing I find very useful and use for several different reasons is this silicone drying matt. It is called 20-3/8 Inch Silicone Multipurpose Roll-up Dish Rack For Stainless Steel Kitchen / Island / Bar Sinks. I use it to put my cherry tomatoes on to ripen on the counter so they can spread out evenly and not roll away! Then, I also use to rinse vegetables off over the sink. Best of all, it is heat resistant up to 400 degrees. So, you can put hot things on it to cool such as canning jars! You can roll it up and put away when not in use. It is also very durable! Click below to shop it.
We recently purchased a Chopper/Dicer/Slicer to be able to dice our garden zucchini, cucumbers and onion for canning. We like this manual dicer, as it saves so much time! The catch basket is the best part of this dicer. There are many different vegetable cutting options as well. Click button link below to shop the dicer.
While waiting on our tomatoes to ripen we decided to refresh our outdoor porch space. We used teak stain on the porch railings and were looking for something that would coordinate well with it. We wanted a place where we could sit, relax, and cool off after working out in the garden. We also love to look at the stars out here at night! This chair set is perfect with the rocker and recliner options. It is made well and we look forward to spending much time out here in them! Click the button link below to shop this rocker recliner chair and table set with Overstock!
For larger purchases, get $40 off $500 with this coupon link below.
$40 off $500 Free shipping on EVERYTHING big & small!* At Overstock.com. Shop Now!To accompany the Teak Chairs and Table set, we picked this Courtyard Jonell Outdoor Rug by SAFAVIEH. We went with the grey/navy in a 6’7″ Round. I really like round rugs, especially for a very rectangular space. It helps break up the squareness and brings the focus to your seating area. This rug is on sale today! It is also offered in several different colors and shapes for whatever works best in your space! Click the button link below to see Courtyard Jonell Outdoor Rug!
If you are looking to start canning next year, or now I suggest these books to be able to learn how to can, best practices and following healthy guidelines. There is a lot to learn and starting early is key, so when the times comes you know the basic steps. Have fun!
The second book I am enjoying for a variety of recipes is the Amish Canning & Preserving book by Laura Anne Lapp. I am using our garden vegetables to make ready-to-eat meals. This book displays soups with chicken and ground beef and chili recipes. There are also great jelly and jam recipes I will be using as well as the Harvard Beet Recipe. You really can’t go wrong with the Amish, can you?! Click button link below to shop Amish Canning & Preserving.
Game Changer! Last year we killed ourselves hand raking the ground garden into rows & mounds. Not this year. We found these parts and assembled this tractor attachment ourselves. A rower attachment can cost thousands of dollars. We did not have this in the budget for the garden this year. These parts allow us to make rows in our garden with ease. All these parts are under $1000 combined. I am pretty sure it will pay itself off. Our backs are definitely thanking us! Now we can put our energy into other things, like building our trellises, getting seeds and fencing for the garden.
Here are all the parts to use to assemble together. Everything comes with the proper bolts and hardware, too! Click button link of each to shop parts. Each part is sold separately. If you have any questions feel free to shoot us a message on YouTube, IG or Forever Country Home and we will gladly try to help. Happy Rowing!
2. 2′ Disk Hiller Clamp Mount
3. Danish S Tine
4. S Tine Clamp and Bolt
5. 7″ Sweep and Bolt
6. Tilmor Products – Category 1 Toolbar 64″
I think the time has come to get our coup. We are super excited! We were planning on building the coup out of an existing building. Now, we see that we need to keep the building as storage and add the coup. We have a concrete pad on the property that serves no purpose. We will be purchasing a coup from Tractor Supply and installing it on the concrete pad. It will be easy to remove the coup and clean the pad when need be.
We like this style since we can still customize it to match our house! We will be painting it in guess what? Benjamin Moore Super White, of course! Exterior Paint. (As long as it’s safe for chickens. I need to find this out for sure. We will also using be the Teak Stain we are staining our Screened Porch with to match the house. Another exciting Project in the works! It won’t be long before we have our chicks running around. Happy Chicks, no doubt. Who else loves projects?
Where have you been my whole life?! These Muckster Flats! Having the proper shoes for the garden is a must! Often, it’s wet and muddy and being waterproof is necessary. I have the boots for the really muddy days. However, the best find are these Muck Flats. They are easy to throw on at any time. The soles are the seamless Muck made sturdy and durable soles. They have incredible traction. I walk around the property alot and on these southern summer hot days, I need something cooler than a boot. They work well using a pitchfork, too! Click the button link below to shop Muck Flats.
When we were shopping for all of our home products during the remodel, I had thought how it would have been nice to have a place to actually save more money on the money we were already spending.
Enter…Current Deal of the Day
I will be always on the lookout for the best deals out there for home remodel, homesteading, home decor, tools, appliances and ALL HOME STUFF! Finding the savings for you. Every penny counts!
The biggest impact in a home remodel is flooring
One of our largest projects at Forever Country Home was our flooring. Our Coronado Hardwoods are beautiful and we are so happy with them! They have that rustic, farmhouse feel we were looking for. They especially look beautiful in the modern rustic farmhouse kitchen!
Note: See Flooring Page for tips on how to pick out your flooring, why we choose the Bellawood Coronado, and what helped us make our choice.
We had to finally replace the great grandmas mixer I have used for years. It lived a long mixing life. However, we found this KitchenAid Stand Mixer at Overstock and I cannot get enough of the bright white! Happiness is homemade, and I am still picking out my kitchen wood tier decor. Lemons and flowers, perhaps? Click the button link below to redeem your 10% saving coupon added to your cart.
The biggest impact in refreshing your outdoor space is with an Outdoor Rug! Researching rugs, for longer than I’d like to admit, I found certain brands that outshine the rest. I like SAFAVIEH brand rugs because in the past I have had rugs fade in the sun and barely last a season! These rugs are Stain & UV resistant. For rugs, I prefer a transitional style that is timeless where you can change your decor and it still works! Do you like modern, farmhouse, or transitional styles?
Get your savings of up to 25% off select SAFAVIEH brand rugs with Overstock.
One of the best ways to upgrade to a Farmhouse Style home is with Edison Lightbulbs! Switching from the plain bulb to the Clear Edison Style Bulb brings in that Farmhouse feeling. When we got the pulley light and sconce lights for the kitchen, we found these Edison Lights from Amazon. They really look good! They have a gold tint, which gives it even something more! So far, they have held up really well. Don’t you like easy fixes?
Whether you are a farmhouse or any decor style, outdoor lights make such a difference for evenings on the porch. They also look cute strung over gardens and walk ways! These are the lights we choose for our screened porch and we put some up in the inside of the barn as well. Amazon is offering a special price on these now. We used one set around the inside of the porch, they are 96 feet. We turn them on early in the morning as well as in the evenings. We set a dimmable light to be able to adjust the brightness. These are also unbreakable. Light it up! The glow adds a peaceful, homey feeling. If you love the tech stuff, get a bluetooth controller to use your phone to turn it on/off.
Here is the TREATLIFE Smart Dimmer Plug Outdoor Smart Plug Works with Alexa and Google Home, Light Dimmer APP Remote Control, Max Power 400W, IP44 Waterproof for Dimmable Outdoor Lights we connected our String Lights on the Screened Porch to. Click the button link below to shop this smart Dimmer Plug.
Note: We will be adding more Rainy Day Deals and Current Deals of the Day as we go. Also, we are adding more to the Forever Country Home Shop with all the little things we found in the remodel. Good Luck on your Hunt! Whatever it is you are searching for. I will continue to Hunt for Deals for us all!
~This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if purchased
One More Thing…
Save time on your Painting Project! Get Benjamin Moore Samples, 1 Gallon and 5 Gallon Buckets at AceHardware.com – Pick Up in Store or Curbside at Participating Ace Locations. Click below to order them online and have them ready for you to pick up.
Note: See Benjamin Moore Super White Page under Home Remodel to know how to order your Benjamin Moore Paint. There are many choices, but knowing how to order will help you decide what to get.
Shop the Entire Benjamin Moore Color Pallet Here…White isn’t the only color and there are so many beautiful choices! Here is also where you can shop stains like we used for our outdoor porch railing and inside the screened porch. We are gearing up to finish the inside beams in the screened porch now! Staining is the most satisfying project. It is really instant gratification! We love our teak stain by PPG Proluxe. Checkout all ACE Hardware Staining options by clicking the button link below.