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

Homemade Christmas

Christmas has already begun to creep into the farmhouse and I can’t say that I’m mad about it! 2020 has been a challenging year. I think we can all agree that there’s a need for joy now more than ever before. One way we're spreading Christmas joy around the farm this year is by making ornaments and other handmade gifts to use in our décor and to share with others.

I'd love to share with you three homemade craft ideas that involve the whole family: cinnamon cut-out ornaments, snow globe ornaments, and potpourri jars. Let me know if you give any of these a try!

---

First up, I’m highlighting these adorable cinnamon cut-out ornaments that any age group will love. It’s an easy, inexpensive and super cute craft. One added bonus is that this project only totals up to around five dollars!

Picture by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Second, I love these inexpensive, adorable snow globe ornaments that will add a whimsical twist to your tree or holiday gift wrapping. I found all of these items at the Dollar Tree and each ornament is so cute and budget-friendly.

Picture by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Last but not least are these adorable potpourri jars that you can put at the table for a (small!) family holiday gathering or for a sweet holiday touch to your Christmas table. For this project you can use recycled jars, fresh pine, dried fruit, peppermint sticks and our cinnamon cut-outs.

I love this idea so much because it can involve each member of the family and it smells amazing!

Picture by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Let me know if you try any of these projects, or if you’ve been inspired to make something new! The countdown to Christmas has truly begun and I hope these ideas helped you get a jump start on the holiday cheer.

Blessings,

Ginny, @maplecreekmarket

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