Sunday Breeze — Your Weekly White Lilac Farmhouse Recap
Grab your favorite ceramic mug and fill it with something warm and comforting — welcome to Sunday Breeze, your weekly White Lilac Farmhouse recap of all the happenings here at White Lilac Farmhouse. I’m so glad you’re here, and there is so much to catch up on. It’s been a busy month, and I can hardly believe May is just around the corner.
It’s time to get those hummingbird feeders out. Our feeders went out this past week – already, I have had the most delightful little visitors. Saturday, while standing on the back porch, a ruby-throat hummingbird flew right up to me, hovering within reaching distance of my face. It has happened a few times over the years, and it never gets old. My husband was looking out of the window and saw the event unfold. If you’d like tips on timing your feeders for your area, I’ve put everything I know into my Ultimate Guide to Attract Hummingbirds. It is packed with great information and a recipe for hummingbird nectar.
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Matthew 6:26 (NIV)
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What’s New at White Lilac Farmhouse?
The Gilleland Clan took a trip to Ireland. It had been in the works for a while to celebrate my husband’s retirement from the federal government after 40 years of service, and our twin sons’ 30th birthday. It was my gift to my husband and sons. Ireland had been a dream of ours for years. I chose EF Go Ahead Tours again, having fallen in love with their experience during my trip to Greece with my daughter Amanda — and they did not disappoint.
It was wonderful for us to reconnect with our heritage. We met some remarkable people on the tour and saw stunning scenery. The country itself stopped us in our tracks at every turn — breathtaking landscapes, remarkably clean cities, and some of the kindest people we have ever met. Our adventures took us to Dublin, Cork, the little village of Cong, and Galway. I can’t wait to share a few glimpses with you.
Blarney Castle – Ireland (Yes, we all kissed the Blarney stone!)
The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland
Look at these adorable shops at the Cliffs of Moher built into the hill.
We got to visit two stunning abbeys. Cong Abbey — also known as the Royal Abbey of Cong. It is where John Wayne filmed the movie “The Quiet Man”. The second is the famous Kylemore Abbey.
What Blew In This Week — On the Blog
Bringing Spring Inside Your Home
Spring is already here — why not let it inside? From clipping branches right out of your own garden to swapping out a few textiles you already own, I’m sharing my favorite easy, budget-friendly ways to shift the energy of your home and welcome the season in. No shopping haul required!
Repurpose a Broken Water Fountain Into a Succulent Garden
When our old three-tier water fountain stopped working, I just couldn’t bring myself to haul it away. So I turned it into something even better — a stunning succulent garden that has become one of my favorite things in our entire yard. I’ll show you exactly how I did it, and it cost less than $40!
What the Tide Brought In
Every week, I come across something that makes my everyday life a little more beautiful, a little easier, or just a little more fun. I can’t help but want to share it with you. These are things I have personally purchased, am using, and am genuinely loving right now. Consider this my little gift shop just for you!
- After losing weight, many of my shoes no longer fit. I needed comfortable sandals to wear with shorts, jeans, and crop pants. I found these genuine suede comfortable slides with an adjustable buckle. The second pair is this leather-braided, signature comfort-molded footbed sandal. Both of these sandals had good reviews and come in a variety of colors.
- A great cleaning kit for my makeup brushes is this EcoTools Makeup Brush Cleansing Pad and Deep Clean Shampoo Bundle. Now I do not have to worry about bacteria on my makeup brushes.
- This mini trash can is perfect for my vanity. It comes with the trash can and bags (180 pc set). It is perfect for throwing your Q-Tips or face-cleaning pads in.
- My skin has been looking so great. I have incorporated this deep-collagen, hydrating, and smoothing face serum into my daily routine and absolutely love it. It also does not come with a big price tag and is very affordable.
- Love this 5×7 white leather picture frame with gold metal. It is classy, beautiful in person, and would make a lovely gift. It comes in several sizes. It is of great quality! I was so impressed after receiving it that I ordered another one.
Carried In on the Breeze
Every week, a few gems drift in on the breeze from some of my favorite corners of the internet. Here are this week’s finds — the posts, projects, and recipes that caught my eye and made me think of you.
My friend Jennifer of Cottage On Bunker Hill has a great post for the first-time gardener. If you are interested in starting a vegetable, herb, or cut-flower garden, she offers practical tips to help you get started.
Look at this delicious cranberry pecan spread for bagels. Missy of Sonata Home Designs always brings us mouth-watering recipes. I will be making it this week.
Love this fun and easy project from Kim, Perfecting Places. She has a beautiful DIY project to bring the vibrant colors of spring indoors: creating tissue-paper flowering branches. It’s beautiful and would look beautiful in any vase.
If you have leftover wallpaper tucked away somewhere, Wendy from WM Design House has the most clever idea for it — and I couldn’t believe how much of a difference it made! She walked us through dressing up a lampshade with scrap wallpaper as part of the Handcrafted Society’s monthly series, and the result is absolutely stunning. Be sure to peek at the other creative wallpaper projects in the series, too — they are all so good!
There is so much more coming your way next week at White Lilac Farmhouse, and I don’t want you to miss a single post. If you’re new here, welcome — subscribe below and Sunday Breeze will land right in your inbox every Sunday. Until then, I hope your week is filled with simple pleasures, sweet moments, and maybe a warm mug or two. See you next Sunday, sweet friend.
XOXO,
Looks and sounds like you had a wonderful trip!