Dirt Road Adventures: Thrifting, DIY, and The Healing Power of a Beach Trip

Happy Sunday, and welcome to Dirt Road Adventures! This is where we review all the exciting events behind the scenes, on the website, and the sources of inspiration I discovered online during the past week. This weekly recap ensures you donโ€™t miss any of our adventures here at the end of our Dirt Road.

Hey Friends,

Last week’s blog was filled with thrifting adventures, easy DIY projects, and more. In addition, we managed to get away for a much-needed beach trip. We were actually supposed to be on a two-week trip to Italy; however, my cancer diagnosis resulted in a cancellation.

Last Monday, it was 8 weeks since my surgery, and after being at home without many outings, I was so ready to get away. It’s amazing what a change in scenery can do to boost your spirits. We had not been to our beach cottage in over 10 weeks, and I immediately felt more like myself after we arrived.

I felt well enough for some thrift store shopping and some meals at our favorite restaurants. My health has improved, and you can read more about my progress in My Healing Journal.

Vintage Brass Leaf Dish on Coffee Table Books

(Posts on The Ponds Farmhouse may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See the full disclosure details here.)

Adventures at the End of the Dirt Road

This is a look back at all my adventures this past week.

I was excited to share two new blog posts with you this past week. One is from our Thrifting With The Gals series, and the other is a nature-inspired DIY that I think you will love because there’s something for every taste. In addition, you will see some of my favorites from years past. So in case you missed it, take a look at the links below.

In Case You Missed It

Greenhouse table with cheesecloth table runner in Greenhouse for fall

Vintage Farmhouse Table Decor For A Rustic Friendsgiving Brunch

Hey friends! Looking for a fun, effortless way to entertain this fall? Why not plan a rustic Friendsgiving brunch? Iโ€™m going to show you how easy it is to create a charming vintage farmhouse table setting using items you already own. 

READ MORE- Friendsgiving Table Decor

Napkin Decoupage Decorative box with blue and white napkins

20 Easy Thrifty Makeovers: Before And After Thrift Store Finds

If you are a thrift store junky, you will love seeing these 20 easy before-and-after thrifty makeovers. You can transform ordinary thrift store finds into stunning, budget home decor. 

READ MORE- 20 Easy Thrifty Maskeovers

Pumpkins made from wool dryer balls decorated for fall.

Adorable DIY Pumpkin Craft With Wool Dryer Balls

Itโ€™s that time of year for everything pumpkin. Wait until you see this adorable DIY pumpkin craft using wool dryer balls. This inexpensive idea is so easy that you can whip up several pumpkins in minutes.

RERAD MORE- Wool Pumpkin Dryer Balls

silver tray with brass candlestick holders and silver tea pot.

The Ultimate Guide To Thrifted Brass & Silver For Shining Holiday Decor

Hey friends, are you tired of spending a fortune on generic holiday decorations? If you are a thrift store junky like me, a high-end vintage holiday style is more affordable than you think. Learn how to shop for vintage brass and silver pieces like a pro.

READ MORE- Thrifted Silver & Brass

hickory nut and acorn DIY candle ring on mantel

5 Natural DIY Candle Rings In Under 10 Minutes

Hey friends, are you adding warm, cozy candlelight to your home as the days get shorter? Would you like to elevate those simple candles with creative, natural candle rings

READ MORE- Natural Candle Rings

decorative tray with napkin decoupage and fall vignette

Upcycle A Thrifted Decorative Tray In Minutes With Napkin Decoupage

Do you ever find great decorative trays that could use a little updating? You will be amazed at how easy it is to upcycle a thrifted decorative tray with a no-wrinkle napkin decoupage technique.

READ MORE- Decoupage Tray

Adventures Off The Dirt Road

Why Didn’t I Think of That?

There are so many wonderful blog posts each week, and Iโ€™m sharing some of my favorites with you today.

There are so many creative ideas, and I’m always asking myself, “Why didn’t I think of that”? LOL

What’s In My Cart

These green and beige block print pillow covers are so gorgeous. I have three patterns and love each one. They give the sofa all the fall vibes.

block print pillow covers

I wore this coral button-down blouse while at the beach. I love the fit and comfort of the material. It comes in several color options.

Did you see these Pinecone Flicker Candles last week? They are perfect for fall and Christmas decorating.

This silver cleaner came in handy last week for my post on thrifted silver. It’s so easy to use.

Thrift Store Adventures

I mentioned that I did a little thrift store shopping for the first time since my surgery. I love all the shops in the Wilmington area. Here are my treasures from this past week. I’ll be removing the floral arrangement in the hand-painted planter with the cover lid because I have other plans for this piece. I found this great piece at P.A.W.S., located in Wilmington, close to Monkey Junction. The large brass vase will get a little buffing and shining before I use it during this holiday season. It’s a great heavy piece that I found at Primrose Cottage at Monkey Junction, Wilmington. The heavy brass leaf dish was my first find at Spruce in Wilmington. Not pictured are two cylinder glass vases from the Habitat ReStore, Wilmington. They were less expensive than the Dollar Tree versions. I’ll be sharing a DIY project using them soon.

Thrift Store Haul From Wilmington NC

Coming Soon

Are you getting ready for Christmas ideas? Well, they are coming soon! I also have a few more fall decorating ideas for those of you not ready for Christmas. Plus, I’ll be sharing an easy Thanksgiving table and stunning centerpiece idea before long. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy last week’s inspiration.

You'll Also Love

10 Comments

  1. Rachel I am so grateful you are feeling more like yourself. Time is on your side and prayers are powerful. I love the idea of the wool dryer ball pumpkins. I’m going to see if it would work for a pin cushion. LOL Stay rested and sending hugs.

  2. Rachel, I am so thrilled to hear you are feeling better! Praise God! Thank you so much for sharing my cozy fall home tour. I really appreciate it! Praying for your chemo treatment this Friday! xo

  3. Hello Rachel!!!! Yay you!!! Progress is happening and Iโ€™m so happy for you and Brad both. Prayers continue of course. Some great things on the blog and especially loved the brass info and the Christmas content. I so regret getting rid of brass candlesticks years ago! And the nudge to begin the holiday thinking and doing was motivational for sure. Thanks for the inspiration and ideas as always. You are so faithful girl!!! Cheering you on Rachel!!

    1. Katy,
      Thank you so much! I’m getting there slowly and I appreciate your message. I’m so excited about Christmas and hope to be cancer free to really celebrate the season. I hope you and your family are doing good and look forward to sharing more of my ideas soon. Have a blessed day.

  4. It’s amazing what some time away can do, Rachel. I’m so excited you had a chance to get to the beach and soak up time with your friends and family and visit some of your favorite spots. It’s hard to believe it’s been 9/10 weeks since your surgery. I continue to pray for you and lift you up. I know your birthday and Thanksgiving will be extra special this year. Sending you so much love and thank yous for sharing my last minute Halloween ideas, CoCo

  5. It is so good to hear that you were able to spend time at the beach. There’s nothing quite like the sea air, am I right? Thank you so much for sharing my garden post this week. I appreciate you so much, my friend. Sending hugs and continued prayers, Rachel.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *