NEW DATES SET for the 5th Annual Backroads & ByWays Junkin Tour

New on the tour
Bochner Farms

I'm working on marketing and promo today for the upcoming 5th Annual Back-roads & By Ways Junkin Tour. The date, which usually runs the first F/S in June had been MOVED TO JULY 17/18TH due to C19. Please click on the link to go to the EVENT PAGE and mark your interest, so you'll get updates as the time gets closer. Many of the venues are outside and all but two are in Warren County, Iowa. The two that are not, are just over the line.

You'll enjoy the great rolling countryside of our area, explore new venues, and feel at home with those that have been on the tour since it started four years ago.  

The MAP will look different! But, you'll not be disappointed, I'm certain. Plan to spend the day...or better yet, the weekend in Warren County Iowa. There are several unique places to stay, too!  #wanderwarrencounty #bbjt #bbjtjuly17182020 #backroadsandbywaysjunkintour #warrencountytourism #bochnerfarms

Miss Daisy today

January 6, 2017

Beth Voltmer

What I’ve learned from remodeling Miss Daisy

As we’ve moved through the tearing out of walls, cabinets, flooring and such, there is always a surprise.  The surprise can be good or bad…or just that, a surprise.  Earlier this week, I called the hubs, he was there and I was elsewhere.  He said, “well, you want the good news or the bad news?”  I always say, “just tell me the ‘news’” He goes on to say, “the good news is the wall under the 70’s

Car siding on one wall of the breezeway...soon to be a
laundry/multi-purpose room.  We'll put this all around the room.

paneling is car siding” This excites me!  Then, “the bad news is, I found two bats.”  I was overjoyed by the ‘car siding’ so, the bats, were no big deal.  He didn’t find them in the main house, they were hibernating, and he found where they had gotten in.  No harm done!

The hardwood floors underneath the carpet are beautiful and we’ll sand them down, renting a floor sander from McCoy True Value.  (I just love how convenient they are).  We’ll go a bit darker on the stain, getting it, also, at McCoy’s, bringing it more in line with today’s décor trends.  We’ll have to patch here and there, but the areas we’re tearing out and changing will offer us plenty of flooring to patch with. 

We’re going today to order the cabinetry.  It’ll take about five weeks for it to come in, so time is of the essence.  We’ve measured twice, three, four times, so there shouldn’t be any problems.  The minute I started working at Miss Daisy, I knew what I would do if ever I owned her. #missdaisy #411lincoln #burlapandroses #flippinghomes 

First-timers to our farm

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It's a super day here in the rolling countryside of Warren County, Iowa.  It's brisk, yet the sunshine is deceiving.  It warms the sunroom, from which I post today.

I had some gal pals over this past Sunday.  They were first timers to our farm, and wanted a tour.  We've been here for eight years.  We've worked on many reno projects, and still have some to do.  I love to show off what we've worked so hard on.  Here's just a few snipets.  Enjoy!

the girly room in the house...for our granddaughter

Fabric~my inspiration piece for the room

a wall in our master bath

lace valances in the master bedroom

vintage wire basket turned light fixture

close up of the fall bounty display. i love the colors in the vintage enamel ware. the gourds were grown in our garden

looking on into the sitting room from the dining room

     small mirrored sconce refreshed with Websters Chalk Paint Powder and black paint i had on hand

more from the girly room

i really love these paintings and colors blend in perfectly with the inspiration chair fabric

close up

close up

the wall art changed out and a new lamp

ceramic birds...i love birds

a plaque in the guest bath...have you discovered your passion?

Homemade Margaretta pizza on the grill.

Wow, with all the great fresh produce coming out of the garden and available at area farmer's markets, this light and delicious pizza is so easy to make...

I've been wanting to make a pizza on the grill, so one evening, I just tried it out.  Couldn't be too difficult, I thought to myself, and I was correct.  It was E-Z.

I purchased ready made thin crusts and then added veggies from our garden.  I really, really like pizza Margaretta and had all the makings for one.  I spread thin layer of pizza sauce all over the crust, out to the edge.  Then, I used pear tomatoes and red grape tomatoes, by cutting them into small pieces.  "Pearl" mozzarella was added and fresh basil.  For the basil, I place the leaves one on top of each other, roll them up, then chiffonade them.  Then I spread them out all over, too. 

I had the grill going for about 15 minutes, so it was hot and ready to go.  Just put the pizza on the rack, close the lid and let it cook.  The top will not get bubbly, but the cheese will melt down and spread a bit.  Turn the crust periodically so the bottom does not burn.  Adjust the fire accordingly.  Approx. 30 minutes cooking time.