I’m Ashley.

I’m a city gal, married to a country boy, living in a 100-year-old house in the boonies with two red-headed babes and an ever-growing cast of animals.

What do I have to share?

Well, once upon a time I thought I’d been gypped the creative gene and my culinary repertoire consisted of Kraft Mac n Cheese and Hamburger Helper. True story. Then I kicked fear (and perfectionism) to the curb and just started making things. I had to start somewhere. Photography, cooking, graphic design, blogging – I had no clue when I started. Trust me, I look back at some of my first creative projects and food photography…oh my gerd. They were not good. But they were a part of getting to the stage I’m at now. Which gives me hope in thinking about other areas I’d like to master (sewing, carpentry, goat rearing). I may be clueless now, so there’s nowhere to go but up, right? Progress before perfection.

Curious about the name?

We live on 23 acres in Northern California and every spring our place is blanketed in wildflowers. Wildflower in French being la fleur sauvage, we flipped it back and named it The Savage Flower Ranch.

This blog features my handmade life. A collection of recipes, DIY projects, crafty tutorials, vintage finds, and stories of life on the ranch. So whether you’re an avid cook, creator of pretty things, or just a beginner hesitant to get started, I hope you find something here to inspire you. Now go look around. And leave me a comment! I like those. They remind me that I’m not talking to myself. Consider it your good deed for the day.

Randomness:

You’ll find me drinking iced coffee. Always. No matter the weather outside.

If there is a possibility to make something spicy I will. Jalapenos, hot sauce, crushed red pepper. I always want more.

At any one time, I will have at least 10 large bumps and bruises all over my body. A true testament to how clumsy I am and how having young children makes you the ultimate jungle gym.

My internal dialogue toggles between “you don’t know what the eff you’re doing” and “wow, look what you made!”

My brain is scattered and runs a mile a minute, so I am constantly writing lists so that I don’t forget. Then I lose them.

I constantly feel as though I’m living in the wrong era.   I Love Lucy, black and white photos, Billie Holiday records – I’ve loved them since I was a kid.

I have a nose like a blood hound, more of a curse than a blessing. I used to joke with students that I was going to run off to France to sniff out truffles and make my fortune.

After teaching high school French for several years, I’m taking some time to stay home with my girls. And I don’t regret one minute of it.