Last week I switched out the art print that was above our kitchen sink for this photo I look last May (with my iPhone!) of one of my favorite places in the entire world — the creek in my parent’s backyard in Southern Illinois. I liked the print that was there, but after over 4 years of seeing it daily, I was ready for an update (see the old print and some old pictures of our kitchen, here). I was inspired to change it up after seeing this photo of Jess Lively‘s kitchen on Instagram, here. I just love the simple, but sophisticated feel of her kitchen.

I just started working through the 52 Lists Project journal (which I’m really loving, by the way) and List 3 is “List the happiest moments of your life so far.” I had initially put this list off, because what a big question to answer. But last night as I was thinking about it, the first moments that came to mind were of my childhood in this magical creek. It was my favorite place on earth, one that I retreated to when I was stressed or just needed a bit of peace and calm. I waded through this creek with my little sisters, Kelsey and Jill, my childhood best friend Molly, and our neighbor Michelle. In the winter when it got cold and snowy and the top of the creek froze over, we would push each other down it in our sled. We had a “Tarzan vine” for swinging back and forth from one bank to the other and it was in these woods that we climbed lots of trees and made forts and played “house.” We dressed up in play clothes and played “Little House in the Big Woods” and drank water from the natural spring that fills this creek. Molly and I walked barefoot through it at all times of the year, even when it was cold outside and especially when it started to warm up and we probably should have been more scared of water moccasins. We even dared each other to skinny dip in the deepest part of it (which to my knowledge, she is the only one that ever followed through on. Sorry for outing you publicly, Mol. 😉 Looking back, I wish I’d had more of your bravery.). I fished for crawdads with my brother Blake there too. I’m a fifth generation Wallace to live on that land, so I even imagine my Papaw playing in this creek as a boy, or my great-grandmother out there in her dress and apron picking blackberries (see the bottom of this post).

I love that having this photo hanging in my kitchen reminds me of all those memories every time I see it. It brings me so much joy.

What can you add to your home that brings you such simple and magical joy as this?

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Magical: beautiful or delightful in such a way as to seem removed from everyday life – extraordinary, remarkable, exceptional, outstanding, incredible, phenomenal, unbelievable, amazing, astonishing, astounding, stunning, staggering, marvelous, magnificent, wonderful, sensational, breathtaking, miraculous. 

Joy: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness – delight, great pleasure, joyfulness, jubilation, triumph, exultation, rejoicing, happiness, gladness, glee, exhilaration, exuberance, elation, euphoria, bliss, ecstasy, rapture.

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