An Organized Kitchen

One of the things that I truly love about my kitchen in our log home is how organized I can be. There is enough cabinet and pantry space for all of my cooking tools and ingredients. Up till now, however, there was one very disorganized cabinet. I bet you can guess which one it is! Yep, you guessed it....the spice cabinet! Most of us probably have the same problem keeping our spices organized...too many little jars and not enough little spaces to keep them in any semblance of order. Well, my problem has been solved.

A friend made this handy spice cabinet for me and I installed it this afternoon. It has spring loaded hinges that are attached to the front of the cabinet. It swings out to reveal two sides full of spices.

The space that remains behind it in the cabinet has plenty of shelf space, now, to finish organizing everything.....and each container remains visible and completely accessible. I removed the two shelves, moved the shelf brackets back and cut each of the shelves in half. Then I installed all four halves which increased my shelf space by two additional shelves....spaced just far enough apart for those tiny spice jars.

My kitchen is now complete....my world is in order (ok, well at least my kitchen is in order!) Thanks JOE!!!!!! I just love it....my life is complete!

Christmas Bedding

This year I have decided to really do Christmas decorating on the farm in a big way. I have decided to finally do what I have always longed to do....make up each of the beds in a Christmas theme. My lavender guest room presents quite a challenge. After searching high and low for a quilt that would blend well with the lavender and also with Christmas, I gave up the search. There just is not a lot of Christmas quilts to be found, and none in the right colors. Since I don't have enough time left to make my own quilt, I settled on a loden green coverlet and I will accessorize the bed with pillows of the right colors. I started digging through my fabric stash and found some Santa squares and some fabric and set to work making pillows. This pile of bedding and pillows will transform my shabby chic lavender bedroom into a shabby Christmas room in a couple of weeks.

Glittered Putz houses and mercury glass will complete the transformation.

This pillow will find a home on the chair in that room.

Christmas Banner

You probably have noticed that I am in love with vintage images...

especially those old antique greeting cards

(although I also have a special place in my heart for old photos).

I have been looking for ideas to use these images.

I thought I would do a fabric variation of those adorable Christmas banners that folks are making from images printed on card stock.

I printed my images on printing fabric.

Then I appliqued them onto Christmas fabric and made my banner.

It is sewed together with vintage crocheted lace, vintage doily parts and vintage buttons to make a truly old fashioned looking Santa banner.

Fun With Vintage Images

I have such an affection for vintage images....especially those old fashioned post cards that were used as greeting cards. There are some terrific sites on the internet that have free images to download, as well as several sites that have downloads to purchase.

I printed out some of the free downloads, adhered them to 1/4 inch birch, cut them out with a scroll saw, drilled holes in the top corners, and gussied them up with glitter. Then I used wire and beads to make a hanger for each.

These will be used on one of my Christmas trees in the house this year.

Another project I just finished is these adorable paint cans...decorated with vintage pictures and gussied up with glitter and bow.

I have to thank Maryjane of The Beehive Cottage for this idea. She uses these as gift containers for her homemade popcorn treats. I may use them for Christmas cookies or just as a fancy wrapping for Christmas gifts....and the great thing is, it's re-usable year after year! My friend Sheryl-lyn and I made these together this past weekend. She thought she might use hers as a display container for a small Christmas tree. Great idea, Sheryl!!

Thanks, Maryjane for the wonderful festive idea!

These unused paint cans are available at Lowes in quart and gallon sizes. How cute would they be for a baby shower gift...decorated with a vintage baby picture and filled with all sorts of nursery essentials!!

Zoe and Her Quilt

Ok, I promise this is the last time I will talk about the Raggedy Ann quilt! I just had to show you a picture that Julie sent to me of Zoe and her quilt.....

Looks to me like a very happy little girl!

Thanks Julie!!

On to Thanksgiving

Well, Halloween is over. It's time to put away some of the decorations. The pumpkins and gourds will stay, but the Jack-O-Lanterns will be stowed away for next year. I thought I would make a couple kitchen towels to replace the Halloween ones that I made a few weeks ago.

Again, using those vintage images that I love so much, I made a couple of Thanksgiving themed towels to hang in the kitchen. I made some seam binding from fabric scraps to trim the picture and the end of the towel.....such a quick and easy craft. If you have not tried to print images on computer fabric/paper, you don't know what you are missing. This opens up a whole new world of crafting. This type of fabric/paper is available through The Vintage Workshop. This is also a great website for downloadable images (however there are lots of sites out there with free images).

Oh, I can hardly wait to decorate for Christmas this year!!! I plan to decorate each room specially.

Happy Halloween

Here's hoping your day is full of special treats....and no scarey tricks!

Feel free to grab this vintage card for your crafting projects!

Cast Iron Favorites

The latest edition of MaryJane's Farm Magazine arrived in today's mail.

At the very end of the magazine was a page that spoke to me.

Those of you who know me know that I have a passion for all things old....especially old and useful. On the top of that list is old cast iron kitchen tools. I have been collecting these gems for years now and proudly display them all over my kitchen and pantry. I thought I would share a few with you.

My all time favorite peeler....isn't she lovely?

This little sprite thumbing his nose is a cigar cutter.

I just cannot resist old coffee grinders....and I don't even drink coffee!

This one is a Husqvarna...just like the chainsaw and those wonderful sewing machines!

My favorite of all....wow is this one heavy!

This one is mounted on the wall. That little iron cup that hangs beneath it detaches. Who'd believe there could be so many variations of one particular tool!

Is there anything better for cooking than cast iron cookware?

My favorite everyday aprons hang from this cast iron pig.

My pantry serves as home for the rest of the pieces...

The round green tool on the bottom shelf is a green been slicer....to make French cut green beans!

More Wooly Mittens

Grey, rainy days are good for spending a little time in the craft room. Today's project was.... more mittens! I sat with my felted wool, a pile of lace and ribbons, paper, buttons and just started to imagine. My favorite is the lighter one on top. For this I used a vintage crocheted piece, old button, old tatting and old sheet music (for the paper tag). I sewed the paper tag onto the mitten, added some glitter and finished it with a wire hanger. I think I will need to take a trip to the thrift store for more wool sweaters!

Wooly Mittens

Winter is approaching. We have sorted through our warmest clothes, brought our hats and gloves out of storage and placed our boots in the garage...all of the gear that is necessary to survive the harsh winter winds that soon will blow. Perhaps one of my favorite winter accessories is a warm pair of woolen mittens.

This year I think I will decorate one of our Christmas trees

with homemade mitten ornaments.

I saw this idea in the latest issue of Somerset Life and made some of my own.

I took two colors of felted wool (from old wool sweaters...washed in hot water and dried in the dryer), cut out mittens and cuffs and embellished. Crocheted lace, tiny buttons, glitter, ribbon and a guinea feather(of which I have plenty and can supply you with if you desire) decorate this little ornament.

I think I will try a few different colors.....

Oh, and let me know if you want some guinea feathers!

(who knows, I may send them still attached to the bird!)

Dressing Henrietta

Henrietta Butterfield is my vintage dress form. At the present moment she is sporting one of my vintage fabric aprons and a darling hat that I found at a local antique mall. This is the front of the hat....something I could see Audrey Hepburn wearing.

And this is the back of the hat....darling! Around Henrietta's neck is this bit of fluff that was perhaps part of a victorian mourning outfit. Dressing Henrietta is a work in progress. I found these vintage crinolines on Ebay and am currently bidding on them....I think they would make a great addition to Henrietta's eclectic style of dress!

Raggedy Me

For the past couple of weeks I have devoted every spare moment to finishing that Raggedy Ann quilt that I started much earlier this year. It was a special order for a friend. Her daughter's bedroom is decorated with Raggedy Ann. She had furnished me with a piece of wallpaper border and asked if I could make a quilt to match. Timing was not the best however, and we got very involved with building our log home. So the quilt was on the back burner for several months.

Now, after keeping my nose to the grindstone, I could finally call Julie and tell her that her quilt is finished! Complete! Done! Finit! YAY!!!!!!! I am happy with the end result.

AND.....I am so excited to start some other projects. Hopefully I will be back to blogging regularly with little projects and ideas to share with you.

Here is the final pics of Raggedy Ann.

A red button sewn in the middle of each red section (this is a space where four corners converge).

And now, Good Night Raggedy Ann......I am dragging Raggedy me to bed.....my fingers and my eyes are tired. Tomorrow is another day....and a whole world of crafting ideas awaits me! After all, Christmas is coming.....so much to do!!

Autumn Baking

Every Autumn I experience a renewed enthusiasm for nesting. There is something about the chilly winds and the falling leaves that pushes me inward....back into the house with a desire to fill it with homey decor, delectable fragrances and comfort foods. There's nothing better than hot spiced cider and Pumpkin nut muffins to do just that!

Unable to find just the right recipe for the muffins, I decided to try my hand at concocting a recipe. I have to say, these are pretty darn good....and they filled the house with a wonderful Fall aroma.

Pumpkin Nut Muffins

1 cup flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 T. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ginger

1/2 cup low fat buttermilk

1/4 cup light olive oil

1 egg

1 cup pumpkin (or more)

(I used a whole 15 oz can of pumpkin and they were a bit moist)

1 cup chopped walnuts

Crumb Topping

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup flour

1/2 stick butter, refrigerated

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Beat pumpkin, egg, buttermilk, oil. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Add nuts. Spoon into greased muffin pan and top with crumb topping. (To make crumb topping...use a pastry blender to mix butter with flour and sugar until it forms coarse crumbs. Add walnuts) Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

Tastes like pumpkin pie.....yummy!

Vintage Dressform

I spent a little time browsing one of my favorite antique shops, yesterday,

and came upon a treasure.

Isn't she beautiful??

The iron stand that she sits on says

Hallborchert Dressform Co.

New York / Chicago

Look at her beautiful "bustle" behind.

She is a lovely full-figured gal with a relatively small waistline.

(The dealer that I bought it from says it is from about 1880.)

I think she is a fabulous addition to my sewing room.

What a wonderful display piece for vintage-inspired creations.

I do hope she likes tea...her companionship is much needed here on the farm!

She needs a name, of course.

How about Henrietta Butterfield?

or

Winifred Crestwood?

Any suggestions??

Bag Lady???

Oh no, I promise you that I have not turned into a bag lady. It's just that right now when I have so little time to spend in my sewing room....a quick 15 minute craft is all I am up for. These gift bags take about that much time. I promise you (and I promise myself) that as soon as cold weather arrives, I will be much craftier. Also until that time I must finish a quilt for a friend (no, Julie, I have not forgotten). So I guess for now......bag lady.

And The Winner Is........

This morning, all names went into the hat and Mr. Pumpkinhead (actually, my daughter Jenn) picked the winner.

Karen, KKJD1 you are the lucky winner! Please email me with your address and I will get this Hall0ween surprise to you ASAP.

(Click here to send me an email)

Green Gifting

I have been thinking for some time now about an alternative to paper wrappings for gifts. With Christmas around the corner, I have been experimenting with some ideas for alternatives.

I have scads of fabric samples and remnants that need a purpose, so I picked one off the pile and went to work.

Here is what I came up with. I think I will make more of these. They only cost me pennies to make...as all of the supplies are things that I already have on hand. I searched for fabric gift bags on the internet and only found plain fabric bags....nothing fancy, nothing gussied-up!

This bag is made from a sample of designer silk. I printed a vintage postcard onto fabric, appliqued it, and added embellishments. A ribbon drawstring keeps it peek-proof. This bag is large enough for a large piece of clothing (or two).

Change of Address

For months now, I have been thinking about change of address cards. Now that we live at the farm, we will have to send out address change notices to friends and colleagues. Today I played around with some vintage pictures and this is what I came up with. I think it is perfect for us!

Altered Art

Here is a quick craft idea....altered art Halloween cards. I started with two vintage photos, added some collage elements, rubber stamps....and presto.....Halloween greetings. Bwahahahah! Bewitchingly easy!!

(If only they had known!)

Note to self: destroy all pictures of self before you die....so that no one can do this to you in the future!!

Sneak Peak....October Blog Giveaway

A rainy day gave me the opportunity to sew this little fabric Halloween goodie bag. It is trimmed with vintage ball fringe and a vintage Halloween postcard applique. Today it is empty, but it is not going to stay empty for long. It will be filled with a special Halloween treat for one of my blog visitors. If you are interested in being included in this drawing, please leave me a comment to this post. Anyone who posts a comment will be placed in this bag and Mr. Pumpkin Head will pick a name on the last day of September....that is Wednesday the 30th. I am having this drawing early so that the winner has time to enjoy this special treat.

You do not have to be a blogger to enter....just follow the directions for leaving a comment by name. (Of course you can always email me!)

Anticipating Autumn

The last few nights have been chilly. The days are getting shorter. And, the leaves have begun to change. Another autumn is right around the corner. I look forward to this time of year with much anticipation. It is the season for warm, hearty soups with fresh baked bread, apple desserts from our own orchard, mulled cider, bonfires, long walks thru crunchy leaves, and wrapping myself in warm, cozy sweaters. Before long, a roaring fire in our wood stove and fireplace will warm the house and the smell of freshly baked apple and pumpkin pies will hang in the air.

The anticipation of autumn inspired me to begin decorating the house inside and out for the coming season. Pumpkins and mums grace the decks and doorways around the house, and I have begun to set out the fall garlands and gourds.

After decorating the mantle of our fireplace and our dining room table, I decided to make a couple of dish towels for Halloween.

I printed vintage Halloween greeting cards on fabric and appliqued them on striped dishtowels. A fancy machine stitch holds the applique in place.

Fast and easy....this would make a great treat for your favorite Halloween friend.

More Decorating

This past Saturday, Hubbs and I took a few hours, left the farm, and headed to the quaint town of Lewisburg, PA (home of Bucknell University). Our destination: Rollermills Antique center...a wonderful and huge antique mall with over 400 dealers. Our mission: to find a few pieces that would help complete the decorating of our loft library and guest room. This place is spectacular! You can find just about anything vintage that your heart desires here. I could have spent a week and not have seen everything! Our trip was a success. We found this adorable twig planter to use in the loft library. I am striving for a sort of "Lewis and Clark" feel to the rooms in the loft.

For the guest bedroom, I found these old Woolrich hunter's pants and cap (straight off of Elmer Fudd) and a wonderful wool covered canteen. These items quickly found a home...completing the rugged outdoorsy feel of this room.

This old dresser was another item that I had found last year at a local auction....and bought it for a song. It has a piece of veneer missing on the bottom drawer...but that adds to the rustic feel.
My grandfather's oak desk that I have had since childhood (did all of my homework at this desk) sits on one wall with an antique inkwell and quill pen. The log cabin looks so much like our 200+ year old cabin on our property. This one is a night light and was a gift from my sweet sister-in-law.


The perfect book for the nightstand....
This room serves as a masculine alternative to the Victorian guest room on the first floor.

Shhhh, It's a Secret!!

When it came time to wrap up a package for a blogland friend, I realized that I had nothing but a small Christmas gift box. So, I got out the scrapbooking papers and stickers and proceeded to redecorate the box. A vintage picture became a gift card. I wonder what is inside the box! Sorry, but it is a secret. I sure hope the recipient likes the contents as well as the box.

Devil's Food Recipe

I had a request for the recipe for Devil's Food Cake from scratch. This is the recipe I used to make the oreo cookie cake (which by the way, was quite yummy!) The pans were a splurge from Williams Sonoma. They come in a set of two....and look exactly like an oreo cookie!

1 1/2 C. flour

1 1/4 C. sugar

1/2 C. cocoa

1 1/4 tsp. soda

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. salt

2/3 C. butter (of course!!)

1 C. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

Mix dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Add butter and 3/4 C milk. Beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Add 1/4 C. milk, vanilla and eggs. Beat 2 more minutes. Pour into 2 greased cake pans and bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes.

I made a butter cream/cream cheese frosting...just like grandma...without a recipe....so it is hard to write one down (I don't measure). I use 1 stick butter, 1/2 of an 8 oz. cream cheese (softned) vanilla, a dash of salt, a splash of milk and confectioner's sugar....adding until it is the right consistency.

Bon Apetit!!

Weekend Baking

After a fun day of antiquing with Hubbs, I busied myself by doing a little baking for weekend guests. I could not wait to try out my new "Cookie" cake pans. This is a scratch Devil's food cake with cream cheese frosting between the layers. It looks just like a giant Oreo cookie.

A pan of scones for tomorrow's breakfast....

And a coconut pie.....
That should be enough to last the weekend!!!

Farm Breakfast

I ordered these pancake molds several months ago. How perfect to use at Bee Haven Acres! I thought they would make a special breakfast when we have guests. However, this morning Hubbs got to stay home a little later than usual....so I made him a special breakfast. Omelets and beehive pancakes. Aren't these just the cutest pancakes??

Today's Project

A special guest room needs special finishing touches. Instead of buying new towels for our guest room, I thought I would gussy up a couple of towels that I already had. I took a pair of lavender towels and added antique crochet lace.My first chance to sew beneath my twinkle lights....
Placed the newly embellished towels in the nightside stand.....With a cute fairy tin of lavender soap on top.Now, I am ready for your visit! We are going to have such a wonderful time!!

What's On Your Kitchen Windowsill?

I always try to keep something very cheerful on the windowsill above my kitchen sink. In the summertime, it is my collection of antique aqua glass bottles. I started this collection when my children were very small. My first bottles came from my daughter's friend's father, who had the hobby of excavating backyard trash pits. Many years ago, long before Waste Management came into existence, people would dig a pit in their back yard and bury their old household items, such as used bottles, old dishes, etc. Excavating these pits, especially here in the East, can be a lucrative hobby. From that point on, I found them on occasion in antique markets.

The object in the farm right corner is an antique bottle capper.

Keeping blossoms in these bottles reminds me of how I would pick violets or dandelions when I was a child and bring bouquets home for my Mother. She would always find some little vase to place them in and up on the kitchen windowsill they would go. This same scenario was played out again when I had my own children...memories of a truly sweet time.

Come Fall, I will put these bottles away and bring out something for Halloween. For Winter....some of my snowman collection. For Spring.....who knows!

What is on your kitchen windowsill?

More Craft Room Views

Stand in the doorway of my craft room and this is what you see. Above the window hangs an old barn ladder woven with branches, ivy, paper wasp nest, birds nests and the word IMAGINE. I will add small twinkle lights to this for a touch of magic.To the right of the window is an antique pie safe that is home to some of my fabric collection. On top of the pie safe is a picture painted by a friend many years ago and a cloche covering a bird's nest with eggs.

Fabric is neatly arranged and held in antique gym locker baskets. Remember them? Buttons and other small notions have found a home in old glass jars decorated with vintage pictures.
To the left of the window is one of my treadle machines (yes, it works). Blue pottery vases hold scissors, markers and paintbrushes. Another wire school locker hangs above the treadle and holds more fabric and trims.

An old glove form hold a horsehair nest that I found on the ground in our barn and an egg that I found on the ground outside. Behind that hand is another wire rack that is home to vintage salt shakers filled with glitter.

Yes, here I am taking a little break on the day bed...a bit bedraggled from life on the farm!

Out of the Heat and Into the .......Oven??

Yesterday was just too hot and humid to do much of anything outside. After the necessary farm chores were complete, I took the opportunity to run to our little local town to visit the bank, post office, glass repair shop, feed store and farm market. It was at our adorable little farm market that I found the yummiest, freshest local peaches.

All the way home, I thought about what I could make with those juicy, ripe peaches.

How about Peach Praline Crisp? Yummmmmm....with ice cream on the top, too!

So, here is what I came up with.....

First I peeled the skin off five peaches (those peels will make a yummy treat for my chickens) and sliced them into a 9 X 9 baking dish. I topped the peaches with 1/2 cup chopped pecans.

Then, to the pantry to look for something to use for the "crisp"...

I mixed 3/4 cup organic, white, whole wheat flour, 3/4 cup rolled oats, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp cinnamon. With a pastry cutter I mixed 1 stick of butter into the flour mixture until it became crumbly.

Poured the crumbs on top of the peaches.....And, into the oven at 375 for 30 - 40 minutes....removing it when the peaches are bubbly and the topping is golden brown.Mmmmm, Mmmmmmm, my mouth is watering just thinking about it! Don't you just love the fresh fruit of summer?

Finished Painting

Due to a couple of nasty storms, I actually had time to finish painting my sewing room wall. Here is the final result:I just love wisteria. More to come....stay tuned!

Today's Project

I have been working on the one painted wall in my sewing room....adding a wisteria vine and a few birds. Here is a sneak peak at what I am doing......I will share more when I am finished painting.
Remember, the theme of my sewing room is "Feathering Your Nest".

Sneak Peak

Finally a bit of time for creativity. My current project is my sewing room. I thought I would give you a sneak peak.....I have a bit more work to do unpacking and a bit of faux painting....

When I am finished feathering my nest, I will share lots more pictures with you. For now, though, here is a sneak peak.....

Decorating Fun

A couple of weeks ago, on my farm blog, I published a few pictures from my favorite room. This is the first floor guest room in our log home. I have spent years collecting antiques and now they have the perfect home. I thought I would share this room with you...as it seems that I have different readers on this blog than on my farm blog. If you had seen my previous post on this room...there are a few additions. The room is finally finished.

I would love to have you come to visit our farm. And when you get here, this room is for you...Your bed is dressed with vintage linens. Fresh lavender on your nightstand.

Take your hat and gloves off and make yourself comfortable. Feel free to put a record on the old victrola. Tea is served at 3 o'clock.Each morning, when you awaken, you will be greeted by a chorus of birds and the sun rising over our surrounding woodlands.Our Edison victrola still plays....just crank her up. Her cabinet is home to a good collection of music from the turn of the century.Would you like a little tea? A cupcake? Just let us know what you like, we will be sure to have a treat ready for you.One of my most treasured possessions is this Victorian house that was carved by my Mother's uncle for her as a child. It is hand made entirely of old cigar boxes. Beautiful lace curtains hang at the windows. The house is inhabited by a family of antique porcelain children.Take a closer look.....Your room has its very own commode....complete with reading material.

Or, if you would prefer something a bit more modern, a bathroom is located right next door...

We love to have guests come and share the peace and tranquility of life in the country. Our door is always open............Do stop by!

Pink Saturday

It seems that I have the best intentions, but invariably something knocks me a bit off schedule. I am so happy to participate in Pink Satuday once again, but am a bit tardy in getting this post up and running.

I thought I would share my pink zinnias with you this Saturday...as it is now the only pink thing blooming in my garden. Because we have spent the entire last year building out farm house, my landscaping is not yet done, and the only place I have flowers is in my vegetable garden. Each year I plant a cutting bed of zinnias....they are so cheery to cut and bring in the house! So here they are in all their pinkness, from pale to brilliant....

Aren't they cheery and welcoming in my kitchen??

Here is one of the reasons I was late in posting this post.....He's not pink, but he sure is a cutie!!

For a complete list of Pink Saturday participants....visit Bev at How Sweet the Sound.

House Tour

Our log home is finally finished. I have had lots of requests for pictures, so I have decided to post a house tour on my farm blog. You can check HERE for daily postings......

I will post on this blog when my sewing room is finished.

More Farm Fair Pics

Sunday's event....luncheon with Maryjane. This gal has a Master's Degree in Viola from Julliard..needless to say she was amazing!A perfect setting for a perfect afternoon....

Rene Groom gave a heartfelt speech that left most of us with a lump in our throat.Checking out the organic foods vendors.....

Inspiring words from Maryjane...

Michelle, Huckelberrywine....
Shopping vendors with Maryjane....

Grace "katmom", Rene, and me...

Karen "Kpaints" and Rene......

Two of the Klamath Falls gals.....Gail and Cheryl......

As Promised....

I have been back from Washington state since Monday night. Unfortunately, farm chores and moving have kept me from sharing pictures of my adventure.

I spent Wednesday through Monday visiting with Gracie, "Katmom". Together we attended the Maryjane's Farm Fair 2009. Some of the activities included dinners, a reception, a visit to Maryjane's Farm store in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, wine tasting with our friend, Michele, aka "Huckleberry Wine", an "earth" luncheon, fair, and lots of antique shopping. It was a whirlwind tour of Eastern Washington and an area known as the Palouse. This part of the state is comprised of small towns and vast wheat and grass farms. The countryside is green fields as far as you can see, dotted by an occasional grove of pine trees, and an occasional barn. It is lush, yet austere.

Here are a few pictures of the countryside....

Thursday's dinner out with "the girls"....me, Gracie, Michelle, Karen, and on the other side of the table from left to right: Amanda, Carol, Cheryl, Pat, Gail and Marcie.

Friday night's trip to Maryjane's store for a reception and a chance to meet Maryjane....

Saturday's Farm Fair and trip down the Palouse offered us the chance to tour an old Mill owned by Maryjane....

To be continued......

A Little Time Away

Life has gotten so busy these past few months....with a flurry of activity around the farm.... construction and farm work have made sewing a thing of the past but definitely something to look forward to. Hopefully once we have moved and settle in, gotten the harvest preserved and all the other necessities done, I will once again return to my sewing room for a little creative time.

Hubbs and I did manage to get away last weekend. Our two sons will be living together in Charlotte, NC. R will be moving in with A. So, last week, we packed R's belongings into our truck and drove 7 1/2 hours to A's house for a weekend visit. We left early in the morning so that we would have a little time to explore. Our plan was to stop in Virginia at the Natural Bridge, as that was something I had never seen. Along the way, we passed the most interesting sign....we had to stop and investigate.

Here is what we saw as we climbed the hill to the left of this sign....Pretty cool, huh? A life-sized replica of Stonehenge....made entirely from styrofoam.This gives you an idea just how big this place is.

We were awed by the grandeur and enormity of the Natural Bridge...carved out of the earth over eons by a tiny creek.

We had a wonderful visit with A and his girlfriend L. We played a little golf, toured a winery, and shared lots of laughs. A treated us to his famous hickory smoked ribs...what a cook he has become!! All in all, it was a great weekend...lots of driving, but well worth it!

Tomorrow we are heading to the beach just for the weekend. Then next Wednesday I leave for Washington State to visit my friend Grace and attend Farm Fair at MaryJane's Farm. WoooooHooooo...should be a blast!

A Day Trip

This past Friday, Hubbs had a meeting (educational) to attend in Baltimore. I accompanied him in the car...to provide some company. With several hours to myself, I decided to visit the Baltimore Aquarium. I thought I would share a few pictures from that visit. I had a great time....just me and my camera!

This fellow kept posing for pictures!

What an incredible world we live in.....Another illustration of how much we have to lose if we are not more environmentally responsible.

Just An Ordinary Day

Actually, today was anything but ordinary. I would say it was extraordinary! Brilliant blue skies and warm summer sun made for a great day of outside work. I thought I would share a few pictures of the day....

Have you ever seen a peony quite so brilliant?

Why, in all these years, have I never before noticed this rosebud type of blossom on the blackberry vines?

It was a perfect day to finish up a few farm chores...like hang this sign that I painted a few months ago by the barn driveway.

Pink Saturday

Well, it has been months since I have been able to participate with Pink Saturday. For those of you who follow my blogs, you will remember that my sewing room is packed and ready to move and most creative projects have been replaced with farm work and preparations to move to our almost completed log home. You can follow the process of that on my farm blog.

I did have hubbs take this picture, though, as I was running out to tend to chores....pink work gloves and pink water bottle in hand.... Even a farmgal can be in the pink!!

Thanks for stopping by for a quick chat...hope your Saturday is full of lots of wonderful pinkness. If you are in need of more pink....check out Bev's blog at http://www.howsweetthesound.typepad.com/ for a complete list of participants. And remember Think Pink!!

Missing You

Hi there! I just thought I would stop by my sewing room to say hello and let you know that I am alive and well. I have been spending my days in the garden and amongst the beehives. Spring is an incredibly busy time on the farm and most of my days are spent out of doors. Even rainy days provide a time to get caught up with work in the barn. I suspect that until we move into and occupy the log home, I will be spending most of my time out of doors.



I miss my sewing room so much, but have great plans for my new sewing room. In the next week or two the painter will be painting my two sewing room walls that are not log, and after that point I will begin to do some of the faux painting (wisteria) that will decorate my space. My sewing room theme will be "Feathering Your Nest"...with a nature theme for inspiration. At that point, I will share my progress with you on this blog.



From that point on, this blog will be dedicated to home-decorating as we set up permanent residence in our log house, here on the farm. I suspect I will return to sewing and crafting projects again by late this fall and wintertime. So for now...........we will soon embark on a journey into making a house into a home. Stay tuned for the fun...

Spring Projects

It has been so long since I have had a chance to post what I am doing. As of late, the creativity has been on hold. I have been spending most of my days at the construction site, and the rest of them catching up on household and farm chores. The light at the end of the tunnel is there, though, and I can see the future when chores are manageable, the moving is over, and my sewing room is decorated and open for business once again. For now, though I am concentrating on gardening and farm projects. Of particular interest is the new henhouse that I have just gotten ready. I have ordered 25 hens...an ornamental layer grouping. These should be wonderful showy chickens with colorful plumage and some with top hats and leg feathers. Their eggs will be varied. Here are a few of the girls...


I have ordered a Golden Campine rooster . He will look like this on arrival....

(picture courtesy of McMurray Hatchery)

And will grow up to look like this..... Getting beehives ready for occupancy has also been a major project this spring. I am painting 5 new garden hives and also enough hive boxes and supers to move my old "gals" into five more freshly painted hives. I have 4 more bee seminars to attend throughout the Spring also.

What time I have leftover I spend deep within my imagination...decorating the log home that is soon to be completed. At that point I will resume daily posting on this blog inviting you to a big open house reveal. What fun I will have with that! Until then....have a wonderful Spring and please visit my farm blog as that is where the action will be for now.

Wishing All a Blessed Easter Holiday!

Sustainability Fair

Friday I had the privilege of presenting my "girls" (the honeybees) at a Sustainability Fair at Messiah College. In the middle of a completely gray, rainy day, the sun came out for 3 hours and we were able to be out of doors for the fair. There were displays about water conservation, solar energy and sustainable farming. A small market was set up selling herbs, flowers, and pies baked with local fruit. Honeybees are always a curiosity for young and old alike!

I Am Still Alive and Breathing....

....and spending most of my days at the construction site. Our house is coming along nicely....but it keeps me busy. Unfortunately, I have had no time for creativity. It seems most days I am just keeping my head above water with housework and farm chores. I can hardly wait for the day when we live in only one place. My sewing room will be a magical space....that for now lives only in my imagination. Until then, you will find me.....oror

"Bee"ing Busy!

Well, I am home from North Carolina. What a whirlwind trip. Route 81 south through Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia (oh my that state takes forever) and into North Carolina. On the way through North Carolina, I exited to find Brushy Mountain Bee Farm. Up and up a mountain road I drove and at the very top......I turned onto Bee Keeper StreetAnd headed back to the Store. There they had my order ready to go...So I loaded up my car and took off for Charlotte.By the time I was ready for the drive home, I had added an 8 X 10 rug on top of this pile of hive materials. I just happened to find the perfect rug for our loft at Home Goods. I had a great weekend with Andy and headed home to build my hives.
I added finials to the roof for decoration....And here is one of the five finished hives. Now I have to paint them white and then I am ready for my new bees.

Road Trip

I am heading South this morning. After a 7 1/2 hour drive I will arrive in North Carolina, at the Brushy Mountain Bee Farm. Here I will pick up my 5 adorable garden hives that we are adding to the Bee Haven Acres Apiary. I have been so excited for this trip. I am also going to pay a visit to my son in Charlotte. My camera is packed.....so pictures will follow.

Have a great weekend, friends!

Inter-species Friendships

One of the most amazing things to me is how animals form relationships outside of their own species. I love to watch Maddie, our Newfie, with the various animals around the farm. Her favorite is Lucy our farmhouse cat. Lucy lives in the crawlspace beneath our guest cottage. She used to be an indoor cat until she proved that she could not be trusted to faithfully use a litter box. So we moved her outside. Don't feel sorry for her, because her home has all of the creature comforts including automatic feeder and waterer, heated bed, and a second heater for cold nights. She has the run of the farm and endless adventures. What amazes me is the bond that cat and dog have formed. They are quite affectionate with each other.

You may wonder what I have been up to....since my posting has become sporadic. Lately, construction and preparation to move has used up most of my time. I am still working on finishing the Raggedy Ann quilt and spending a bit of time planning my new sewing room. Once we have finally moved, I will decorate my sewing room and have an "open house" on this blog. Then I will once again turn on the creative flow and see where it takes me.

For the rest of the summer, though, I will be spending most of my time gardening and working around the farm. I will keep you posted as to what I am up to.