Top Picks for Summer Porch

Shop my top picks for your end-of-summer porch below!

Happy August, friends!

I hope y'all are having safe, happy, design-filled summers! I’m just over here falling in love all over again with the Texas heat and sunflowers. BUT, since as you all know I love to stay busy, I’ve also been brainstorming for the new farmhouse. It has a wraparound porch that I can’t wait to decorate.

With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to share some new ideas for lighting and porch décor. It’s never too late to refresh your porch in time for some beautiful August nights as summer winds to a close. Below, see (and shop) my top picks!

1. It all starts with the front door.

The front door is the most welcoming part of the porch. It greets visitors with a warm hello and invites them into the home. I hope that the following front doors will inspire you as much as they inspire me!

1. Rustica Hardware—Boat House Double Front Door

See them in action . . .

@calling.crestmoor.home

1. Simpson Door Company—Exterior French & Sash Doors

See them in action . . .

@plankandpillow

1. Ruscan Doors—Custom Fiberglass Entry Door

See them in action . . .

@ruscandoors

2. Illuminate the porch with new lights.

Bright lights present a welcoming glow to visitors who step up to your porch on a summer night. One of my favorite things to do on a summer night is sit on the porch under the lights with my family and watch the sunset. There’s nothing more beautiful!

1. Steel Lighting Co.—Gardena Upward Sloping Light Fixture

See them in action . . .

@steellightingco

1. 1Stop Lighting—Progress Lighting Gibbes Street Outdoor Light

See them in action . . .

@bluebarnandcottage

3. Enjoy the lazy days on a porch swing.

There’s nothing like sitting on a comfy porch swing during a lazy August afternoon, sharing a seat with a good book, a pet, or your favorite person! These swings look durable, comfortable, and stylish—a 10/10 to me.

1. The Porch Swing Company—Breezy Acres Malvern Porch Swing Bed

See it in action . . .

@theporchswingco

1. Better Homes & Gardens—Delahey Outdoor Porch Swing

See it in action . . .

@betterhomesandgardens

Hopefully these fun end-of-summer picks brought you a little bit of joy or inspiration . . .

Which product was your favorite? What's the first thing you change on your porch—furniture, lighting, paint, or something completely different? What are you looking forward to updating on your FALL porch?

Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading, and as always, be a light & shine bright!

Blessings,

Ginny

A New Chapter

Hey Ya’ll!

I guess it’s official . . . I can finally start saying “Ya’ll” again, because we’re moving to Texas!

I announced our move on Instagram a few weeks ago, and I’m so grateful for your kindness, support, and encouragement as our family tackles this new chapter.

I want you all to know that Maple Creek Market is not going anywhere! Our brand is still Maple Creek Market. This Instagram, blog, and community has been my labor of love for the past five years. While we may be leaving the New York farmhouse, Maple Creek Market is more than a physical location—it’s about our family, our animals, and the community we’ve built through this brand. Those fundamentals are never going to change, so likewise our name is not changing!

(P.S.: Also, I looked it up—there ARE maple trees in Texas. Hooray! We plan on planting a few at our new farm.)

I thought this blog would be a great opportunity to explain:

1. Why we’re moving?

2. What the heck happened to the animals?

3. What’s next for Maple Creek?

Some of this is also explained on my stories, but for those of you who missed it, here’s the 4-11:

1. WHY ARE WE MOVING?

When Mr. Maple and I purchased the farm fourteen years ago, we dreamed of raising our children there, making a strong work ethic the heart of our family, and using the farm to minster to others.

As the kids headed off to Baylor over the past few years, it became apparent that at least half of our family would remain rooted in Texas. Mr. Maple and I have always wanted to keep our children—and our family—together as much as possible.

One of our dreams is to all live within a short distance of each other! Making several plane flights or a long twenty-six-hour drive to spend quality time together as a family just wasn't sustainable or viable for us long-term.

Enter: a new opportunity for Mr. Maple in Texas . . . right near our kiddos!

I’m not going to lie—the job process was LONG and emotionally draining. We felt like the Lord was leading us back to Texas, and, as a family, we committed it to daily prayer. It was and still is extremely painful to leave the New York farm behind, but we are confident in God’s calling over our family. We are so, so grateful for His mercies and great faithfulness to us!

2. WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO THE . . .

• Sheep? Our little flock found a new home with a nice farmer in the area!

• Kitties? Mr. Cloudy came with us to Texas, and Ms. Angel stayed at the farm to live with the new owners.

• Dogs? Ronnie and Rex came with us to Texas.

• Chickens? Sadly, before the move our flock was on the decline because of a fox. We have no chickens left! We look forward to getting a new flock of chicks in the upcoming year (and maybe some swans, too).

3. WILL WE STILL SELL CANDLES?

You know it! The wonderful people behind Granny Bees are actually located here in Central Texas, so stay tuned for news about Maple Creek Market candles.

PSST: You can purchase this season’s Maple Creek Market candles here.

4. WHAT’S NEXT?

Well, you know that Mr. Maple and I are not exactly Chip and Jo . . . but we plan on

keeping things interesting. We’ve got plenty of DIY projects and new adventures in the works.

The DIY projects might be a little late to launch while Mr. Maple gets acclimated to his new job, but the projects are coming! Plus, my “blog elf” (i.e., my daughter) will finally be at arms-length to help me. There’s no escaping now!

We’re looking forward to:

a. Expanding Maple Creek Market

b. Making a greenhouse!

c. Lots of Texas sunsets

d. Meeting more Waco bloggers/Instagrammers

e. Meeting more of YOU GUYS!

Finally, I want to say a huge THANK YOU for every message, comment, DM, and prayer sent our way. I’m so grateful for the community I’ve found through Maple Creek Market, and I can’t wait to share this exciting new chapter of our story with you.

Be a light and shine bright!

Blessings,

Ginny

Photo credit: Adam Thomas on Unsplash

Board & Batten Hits the Farmhouse

Do you ever want to change things up around your home? Well, that’s me...pretty much all the time! The only problem is that change often comes with a price tag. When I'm on a tight budget, staying up-to-date can be difficult.

The farmhouse entryway has always been one of my favorite spots in our home. Most of the original character is still intact. It seems to say to me, "welcome home!" when I walk in. I really wanted to brighten up this special space and give it a little extra something.

Mr. Maple and I were brainstorming, and he thought he could create a board & batten look with two-by-fours from the barn. He used his table saw to cut the boards into 1 & 1/2 inch strips in the hallway and entryway to give it a fresh look.

He repeated the process in the dining room. For these panels, he went with 2 & 1/2 inch strips, and even popped in a shelf! The entire process took about a day.

If you haven't tried to replicate the board & batten look...try it! It's the perfect timeless, cheap solution to update your space for the new season.

Remember: decorating doesn’t have to break the bank.

Here are some tips to help cut additional costs:

1) "Shop your home" and see what you have on hand that you could update or repurpose before you go to the store.

2) Rearrange what you do have to give things a fresh perspective.

I save decor arrangements that I like on IG & Pinterest, and I pull out those pictures when I need some inspiration. Sometimes just changing the furniture will give the room a new look!

3) Never forget the power of paint.

Often you can bring a brand-new look to a space by painting a wall or a piece of furniture.

4) Be creative! Think outside the box! Decorate with confidence...and let it be a joyful process!

I think sometimes we (me especially!) tend to be too hard on ourselves when we decorate, write, draw, paint—whatever you love to do. We try to make our living room or kitchen look *just* like someone else's, and it can be frustrating when the budget or resources don't come together perfectly. But always remember to focus on YOUR outlook and YOUR gifts.

You were made for such a time as this! Esther 4:14.

Thanks for reading friends! Have you tried the board & batten look? If you do, be sure to share your thoughts & pictures with me on IG or in the comments! Are you excited for fall? What are you most looking forward to in this season?

Be a light & shine bright,

Ginny, @maplecreekmarket