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Hello sweet Sugar Pie! I’m so happy you’re here! Thank you so much honey for stopping by! I love when you come to visit me! You know why? Because if you enjoy all things farmy, vintage, cozy, homey, and wholesome, filled with goodness and some delicious homemade pie thrown in, like I do, then we are sister-friends! We have a special bond, a knowing and understanding of the good things in life…the things that matter most…God, family, home and country! These are treasures that we need to join forces to preserve!
When you come to visit me here at Sugar Pie Farmhouse I want you to feel so welcome, so comforted, and so loved! I want you to feel my heartfelt, kindred-friendship with you…like we’re dear neighbors that love to share things and chat across our backyard fence about our family, our home, and all things dear to our hearts. I’d be happy to share a cup of sugar with sweet, wonderful you!
Can I just tell you sister I’m so happy spring is here!! I could shout it from the rooftop!! We had an especially cold and gray winter here in the Ozarks of Southern Missouri! I sometimes can feel a little blues-y when the sun stays hidden for too long… so, when it finally poked its warm, golden rays through the clouds I wanted to dance a jig! Yee Haw! In fact it got me so excited that I actually wanted to start my spring cleaning. My first stop was my pantry which had become so cluttered it was embarrassing, especially because it’s open for all the world to see, at least to everyone that comes over. I go inside my pantry every day and each time I would let out a stressful sigh and say to myself Ugg! I really need to clean out this pantry!!! Can you relate?? Please tell me “YES”!! Lol!
So I finally did it! I cleared the clutter, wiped down the shelves, and removed any expired goods. It took two days and I feel like a new person! Lol! It’s like a weight has been removed from my shoulders. So now I’m going to share my clean pantry with you in hopes it will motivate you to start your spring cleaning because you will feel so wonderful!
Before I point the way to my pantry, and just for fun, click on this link for my Farmhouse Radio to add some vintage tunes for your reading enjoyment! The link will open a new tab and take you to Youtube and you’ll hear the music by Johnny Mercer… then click the Sugar Pie Farmhouse tab and come on back here! Johnny Mercer is one of my most favorite 1940’s musicians! It’s like ear-candy! Lol!
If you’ve seen my pantry before then you know my baking center is attached to it. There’s a pass through window that comes in handy when I’m gathering ingredients to cook a meal. I took everything off of the shelves and countertop and gave it a good scrubbing. I’m a big fan of Sandra Felton and her books on housekeeping and organization. She uses what she calls the Mount Vernon Method when it comes to cleaning. This is the method used to clean George Washington’s Estate. Basically you clean one room at a time completely before you begin cleaning another area. When cleaning your whole house Sandra recommends starting at the front door and then working clockwise around the room. It took me two days, on and off, to finish cleaning and decluttering my pantry/baking center.
Once everything was clean and clutter free I dolled up the shelves of my baking center for spring and summer. My dear friend Cat from The Vintage Housewife, (who also used to be my next door neighbor. How lucky was I!), she gave me the idea of putting cute little baskets on the shelves. I found them at Michaels on sale for $3.50 each. Then I lined the baskets with a variety of vintage tablecloths that I’ve collected through the years. The colorful fruit and floral designs of the fabric poking out of the baskets reminds me of summertime picnics…and that makes my heart happy!
I also gave my vintage general store scale a fresh little makeover by adoring it with some faux veggies. This scale used to hang in my mother-in-law’s country kitchen up in the mountains where my hubby grew up and is a special keepsake to me.
I didn’t realize how much stress my messie pantry was causing me. A cluttered home, or areas of our home truly can cause us stress. It’s a thing! Researchers have concluded that a cluttered home can be a stressful home. “Clutter is an overabundance of possessions that collectively create chaotic and disorderly living spaces,” said Joseph Ferrari, a professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago who studies the causes of clutter and its impact on emotional well-being.
I truly believe that clutter affects women especially with overwhelming stress because we were born with a Nesting Instinct. When mama’s nest is a mess then we feel out of control, we can’t find things, we feel agitated, we feel like a failure, we feel anxious and a variety of other negative emotions which cause our peace and joy to fade. And we know that stress can cause all sorts of physical ailments.
The strain of a messy home is compounded when we add other difficult issues like financial burdens, illness, and relationship problems. It’s so important to maintain a tidy home as best as we can so it can be a place of peace and comfort through all the seasons of life.
This book, Home Comforts by Cheryl Mendelson is one that I own and love… “Home Comforts is based on Cheryl’s domestic education, which she acquired while growing up on a farm in the hills of Greene County, in southwestern Pennsylvania, from her grandmother’s, aunts, and mother. Learning from the distinct domestic styles of her native Appalachian relatives and her Italian immigrant relatives…” Cheryl truly helps us understand that homekeeping can be an art, and a well kept home is a home well loved. A tidy home filled with touches of beauty brings comfort and joy to our families and ourselves.
So let’s take good care of our homes and in doing so we will be taking care of ourselves and our family. Just do a little at a time and in due season we will reap a reward, as the Bible says!
It’s such a happy feeling to look around at a clean and tidy home. Once it’s clean and clutter free we can add some cozy touches of beauty. I love adding a warm glow especially in my kitchen under the upper cupboards. I got this milk bottle nightlight from Cracker Barrel a few years ago but…
I also found this darling oil lamp nightlight here and Mason Jar Nightlight here! It gives your kitchen a comforting glow at night when all the other lights are turned off. And if you need to go to the kitchen in the middle of the night it adds just enough light so you won’t bump into something when you go to get that drink of water.
To add an element of fun to my spring cleaning project I put on my cute granny apron…the sun-faded green one hanging near my pantry door…then I put on some happy 1940 tunes and lit my most favorite springtime candle in all the land…
Vintage Lilac from 1803 Candles! Oh my goodness! That aroma! Talk about dreamy southern charm! Close your eyes and you’ll imagine yourself on a sprawling, wooden wrap-around porch in the summertime, you’re sitting in a rocking chair with a icy glass of sweet tea in your hand…the sun is setting and the heat of the day has warmed the lilac blossoms on the vines that are draping heavy above the old wooden porch posts and ahhhhh… it smells like heaven! 
I love to adorn little nooks and crannies of my home with things that I love. Things that make my heart happy. A while back I found this vintage Farm Journal’s Complete Pie Cookbook at a flea market and brought it home where it belongs! Lol!
I’ve had this old farmhouse screen door for years. My favorite thing is that it squeaks! Lol! I had it in two other houses before this one. I keep debating whether or not I should paint over the words on the door that I painted so long ago. What do you think? Should I put a fresh coat of white paint on it? Or keep it like it is? Leave me a comment below!
To be honest, cleaning my pantry was a whole-lotta work! I went through every single canned good and packaged food item to make sure they were not past their expiration date. I wiped down each shelf with hot soapy water and then put everything back. But it wasn’t as hard as I made it out to be in my head! I was procrastinating because I thought it was going to take a week and I didn’t think I had that kind of time. The key to getting something done is to just START!! JUST START! And before you know it you’ll be amazed at how good it feels to have conquered it!
Now that it’s clean I sometimes go into my pantry for nothing more than to admire how tidy it is! Lol! Is that dorky? Haha!
When I designed my pantry I wanted it to remind me of an old general store! I found the metal Eggs, Milk, Coffee, Flour, Sugar and Bread signs at Gordmans several years ago and they were the perfect addition. Sometime you’ll have to check out my online General Store here!
Isn’t this print of an old fashioned General Store by artist Doris Lee adorable?! Ahhh! The good old days!
My rolling pin is now easily found and ready to go when I get a hankerin’ to make pie!
Sun-faded cotton aprons = comfort food, love and hugs!
On my upper shelves I have some of my favorite vintage kitchen goodies (notice the wood thread spool that replaced the knob on the coffee pot lid! That’s what I call making do with what you have! I love it!!). I had a lot more cute kitchen stuff that I’ve gathered over the years on my shelves but it started to look too cluttered. I decided I don’t have to have everything I love on my shelves. Instead I can keep things simple and rotate them from time to time.
Well there you have it! My spring-cleaned pantry! Now on to my bedroom closet! Lol! I’m going to remind myself to…JUST START! Lol!
Be sure to say hello in the comments below! Also follow me here on instagram! I do little video stories there from time to time!
For some delightful inspiration come browse some of my favorite things at my online Farmhouse Country Store HERE!
More HAPPY HOME posts you may enjoy!
OLD FASHIONED GOODNESS MAYBERRY STYLE!!
God bless your darlin’ heart sister!
Do take good care of yourself now!
Bless your family…make home sweet!
Aunt Ruthie
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I’m so happy to see a sweet post from you! Each time you post, it inspires me to make my house a comfy, loving haven for my family! Thank you so much for sharing your heart!
Your posts are so homey & inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for taking the time to post another blog. What an encouragement! I would love to see a post about meeting the challenges of adapting to the empty nest and growing older! And…I love your pantry screen door just as it is.
Your pantry is beautiful! Old fashioned and homey…it’s so comforting! I’ve been visiting your blog since 2010 and I love every post you put up. They all warm my heart! Oh Aunt Ruthie, I love your pantry door the way it is…it’s so adorable and so special! Thank you so much for sharing! God bless you!
Your pantry and baking center were my inspiration years ago! I have lost track of how many times I have pulled your blog up on my phone to pass along this inspiration to the women and young ladies in my life that are farm-fresh-loving girls at heart! I will have to show you a picture of my ‘mini’ version of your pantry:). Happy Spring, Dear Lady!
Your pantry is perfect I am now encouraged to tackle mine. Thank you for sharing your wonderfully sweet blogs, I look forward to finding you in my inbox. You are a blessing, Auntie Ruthie!
Hello Aunt Ruthie,
I have been following you for 10 years now. Wow how the time flies! I love every sweet post. I recently found myself transplanted from Southern California to Southern Missouri, so yes I felt a little bluesy too with all grey skies too. I can’t wait to experience Spring in the Ozarks though! Blessings on you!
Happy Spring. As always, so enjoyed the visit.
What a delightful glimpse into your lovely kitchen and pantry! You certainly can celebrate after your hard work. How fresh and clean everything looks! Happy Spring!
I just cleaned out and reorganized our utility room closet this past Saturday! What a chore but so worth the cleaning! I would love a space for a big pantry like yours! Love your aprons and your pantry door!
We are building a new house and you have given me so many good ideas. Happy Spring & God Bless
You’re pantry is adorable!! How I long to have one. Maybe in my next house. I LOVE the pantry door just the way it is. Have a wonderful spring. Have a Happy and Blessed Easter. Anne
Happy Spring! I so enjoy hearing from you, God has blessed you with a sweet gift of sharing encouraging words straight from the heart & what an inspiration you are. Your pantry looks lovely & homey, makes me want get started with my spring cleaning! God bless you, take care until next time.
I totally love the music on this site!!!
Happy Spring!!! I was so excited to see you had a new post! You and your beautiful home make my heart happy! I love to watch your home tours over and over :) Thank you for continuing to inspire beauty and showing your love of the Lord.
Please don’t change your pantry door!!! I absolutely love it like it is!!!
Your home is always so full of inspiration! I love the idea of the picnic baskets that you have on display. Your kitchen/pantry/ baking center is just dreamy ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤. I personally LOVE the screen door as is . Looking forward to seeing many more inspiring Youtube videos from you! ❤. Have a wonderful and blessed week!
I adore your pantry! I feel inspired to give mine a proper spring cleaning.
It makes me feel so warm and fuzzy to read your articles. It a wonderful service you are providing for all the women who love to prepare good meals and a beautiful looking warm environment for their families. No…you are not dorky to keep looking at your lovely creation. I am the same way. I love to decorate and cook and each time I get or create something new, I admire it because it feeds my soul. I live in Florida now so I don’t decorate like you because I am creating a modern coastal but warm home here with lots of blues and whites and touches of soft greens but I love What you do and could just as easily live with your style…so nostalgic and welcoming. I love your pantry door with the writing on it because it makes you feel like you are entering a general store with the pretty old fashioned apron and seeing the jarred foods in the background and love all the white paint and that lifts the spirits. Thank you for what you do. We need escapes from the real world at times, not that all of it is bad, but things can become humdrum and questionable at times. So much of God is trying to be removed that we can get disheartened and so dear Aunt Ruthie, we so need your faith filled and warm and fuzzy blogs. Thank you, thank you!
I completely understand your pleasure in tidying. I am excited to say that I enjoyed spending my time getting some much needed deep cleaning done in many of the rooms in my home during spring break. It brings joy to me and those around me when the windows are open, floors are mopped, all bedding is freshly washed, pantry was emptied and cleaned, and all cookie cutters were organized and put back where they belong(I have a custom cookie biz)! Thank you for sharing your new Spring decorating with us, gave me some new ideas with my old treasures!!!
Love the screen door like it is! I must say every time I read your post I feel so relaxed, as if I have no worries! It always puts a smile on my face & makes me want grab a glass of sweet tea & head to the porch swing! Im hoping you have a spring tour soon, always such a delight like a kid in a candy store!
I think you should keep your door like it is.
I swoon over your wonderful pantry, I would not paint over the door it fits perfectly with your decor and looks charming!!
So glad to see you in my inbox today!!! I’ve also been doing some spring cleaning, and I agree, just start it! Everything looks great, as always, and leave the pantry door just like it is!
I Love Love Love your home, Your pantry looks so homey & the door looks great the way it is, I also have the sign Fresh Baked Pies & I copied a couple of pages from an OLD cook book & added two favorite pie recipe’s & put it in the frame. So they show through. So until the next post, God Bless You & Your Family
Love Ann H.
Well now I shall have to clean and tidy up my pantry! I love your pantry door just the way it is now, please don’t change it. I really enjoy visiting with you because your home has such a comfortable feel to it. Thank you so much for inviting us!
I do love your pantry. If it were mine, I’d plop a little rocking chair inside and just sit a bit every day! Thanks for sharing.
Where did you find the apron pictured in your pantry post? Love it!
I love your little toy stove. The milk bottle nightlight is the finishing touch.
I bet the little stove has seen a lot of loving if you have always had it.
Thankyou for the encouraging posts.
So, how do you keep the music playing when you come back to your page♀️?
Oh Please leave the screen door just like it is! I love it!
Your pantry is wonderful!!
I just love the fresh new look of your pantry and baking center. Such a delight!
Thank you for posting again! I’m always encouraged by your words and look forward to your post! Happy Spring
Hi Ruthie great to see you back , your pantry is amazing and I adore your aprons, as you head into spring I am going into fall and it has gotten cold here but I am looking forward to some rainy weather we have severe drought in so many areas of Australia it is very worrying.I love your old pie book, what is your favourite pie? I think I like strawberry and rhubarb the best. Hugs and good wishes.
I would leave that wonderful door just as it is!
I’m so glad you posted. Have been checking often, and wondered where you were… I love your posts and sunny outlook! (I vote to paint the door all-white-such a fresh look…) Thanks for ‘being YOU’…
God bless…
One word describes everything you do…..PERFECTION!
Thank you for making homemaking so special.
God bless,
Mary Ulery
I love your pantry! I’ve often thought about putting screen doors on my pantry, but we have so much dust on the farm that I can’t keep my house dusted as it is. Don’t want to add pantry dusting to my to-do list. But yours is beautiful.
Love, love, love!! Looks amazing and so fresh and bright!! Love your screen door as is!! If you are ready for a change though paint it !! Everything you do is fabulous!! Happy spring!
Hi Ruth,
I love your screen door just like it is!!!! It is Perfect!!!!
Happy Spring, Darling. I get so happy when I see you’ve posted. Your creativity and old fashioned ways gets me going to vintage up my home. Off to the thrift store I go. Love you Ruthie. God Bless you and your precious family.
Spring has sprung…Oh the goodness of the Lord…His blessings are new every morning….so excited just to start my spring cleaning…thank you kindly for that little nudge….I have been following you for ten delightful inspiring years and your pantry door has been a Howdy Do to all of us, a great big welcome come on in and sit a spell…we all love it but if you heart is bursting to do a little sprucing up…as you say Well what are you waiting For….exciting to see what you do….May the Lord bless your hands in all you do….Kristen….. Zephaniah 3:17
Okay, I guess I need to start spring cleaning after the motivation you just shared, lol. I think the pantry door is perfect as is. :)
Hi, so enjoyed this! Love the screen door as it is!! And…ur beautiful pantry. The aprons remind me of some my Grandma wore every day! I am a crafter and enjoy making aprons to sell. Thnx for a walk down memory lane. Hagd…Loretta
I just love your posts! They always inspire me and your pantry is the sweetest ever!! I’m gonna just start like you said and spring is in the air…..yippeeee
Ohhhhhh how sweet as pie is this! Your pantry looks amazing!!!!!! I think my favorite part are those darn cabbage plants in that ok vintage weigh!!!! Slap my happy that’s so stinking cute! Hugs sweet friend
Thanks for the inspiration! We are ready for some spring sunshine in NC too. Didn’t get snow all winter and we got snow today! It’s a fun treat here though. I love love love the scale. I think it would be such a cute spot to keep fruit or flowers.
Oh sweet Aunt Ruthie.. you bless us so with your sugar-pie sweetness!! You must keep your door as is.. it is soooo you!! I just had my sister-in-law come over and help me “purge” my cabinets. I filled her truck with stuff for our small town resale shop. Jus knowing someone else will be Blessed makes me do my happy dance!! Why was I keeping all this anyway?? You so encourage me!!! So after Bible study with the girls tomorrow I am going to clean up my cookbook library. Pray for me ❤️
Hi Aunt Ruthie – I so enjoy your visits to my emails. You are such a motivator. The screen door is perfection. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. It contributes so warmly to the overall ambiance. Looking forward to the next visit. Have a HAPPY EASTER.
I feel like I’ve had a lovely visit with a dear friend over a cup of fresh brewed coffee. Love your pantry and love listening to the music during our visit. You are such an inspiration and a breath of fresh air when you talk about the old fashioned values that I still try to live by. Thank tou so much for sharing.
Aw, I love your sweet home! I like your pantry door as is, but you could repaint the black with chalk paint so you can change it up and write on it seasonally or for fun anytime! Or write a phrase on the 3 sections.
Your home makes my heart smile!
I’ve always adored your pantry.
When I read your posts or Instagram stories I find myself grinning like silly!!
WHERE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND STAYING ANS SEEING IN MISSOURI ,FOR AN ANNIVERSARY GETTAWAY?
Hi, I really think that your the best decorating and I want to ask you if you sell those vintage magazine that you make if is yes please tell me how to get them . Your house is beautiful God bless you and your family
Your posts are always sooo inspiring. I love your wit and wisdom. Your pantry is awesome…beautiful….and I love the screen door just the way it is. I would not change it!! In fact, I would love love love to have one just like it for my pantry. You are truly a “breath of fresh air” in this old world. Keep sharing with us please!!!
Hello Ruthie,
Your pantry looks great. You did a marvelous job!
I haven’t seen your Blog for a while.
I miss the updates, and fun things that you share.
Happy first day of Summer!
Blessings Stella
I have recently found you through you tube. To say I’m hooked on your style, your accent and your home is an understatement. I love your lifestyle and old fashioned values.
Thank you for sharing so people around the world can visit with you.
I live in Adelaide, South Australia, so we don’t have the season’s at the same time, but you inspire me to plan.
With much admiration, Deb
Your pantry is just beautiful! So homey and delightful! Will you ever share the other rooms in your beautiful home Ruthie? I’d love to see how you decorated your master Bedroom or other bedrooms. Your home is truly a dream come true. Thanks for sharing with us!