Tuesday, November 26, 2013

A Single Lantern, A Single Candle


Have you ever noticed how one single candle can light up the darkest of spaces?
With these very short days of Winter upon us. . . .and the gray skies outside the window. . . .
the chance of sunshine has been fairly unlikely these last few days.
 
To cheer my soul yesterday as I watched it sleet and rain,
I turned to the candle box, grabbed the 19th century lantern,
and lit a candle in the darkness of the day. . . .
 
 
When I stood back and watched its glow, my spirits soared again. . . .
It no longer seemed dull and dreary.
 
I thought about the coming holiday season. . . .
Thanksgiving this week. . . . Christmas only a few weeks off. . . .
Candles will play a huge part in all the festivities. . . .
They'll be a part of the long Winter ahead.
They'll light dark corners and glow on festive tables.
They will light up little faces as Christmas carols are sung,
and as family and friends gather.
 
The Season of Lights. . . .many lights. . . .many candles.  . . .
and, yet, one lone candle made all the difference in my cold and dreary day.
 
 
Years ago, there was a program on Sunday morning TV. . . .
I can't tell you it's name. . . .or what it was about. . . .
What I do remember was the closing song, each and every Sunday.
 
"If everyone lit. . . .just one little candle. . . .
WHAT A BRIGHT WORLD THIS WOULD BE. . . ."
 
 
The song kept going over and over in my head. . . .
til I grabbed another candle and lit it. . . .
and another. . . . and another. . .

 
the fireplace was next. . . .
 
 
Before I knew it, the room was full of light. . . .
I forgot the dreariness beyond the windows,
and snuggled close to the fire. . . .
The room was now glowing with warmth and light.
I was wrapped in a blanket of 'cozy'. . . .
comforted in good thoughts.
 
One single lantern. . . .one single candle. . . .
That's all it took. . . .

 
Wishing you
A THANKSGIVING FILLED
WITH LOVE AND LIGHT
 
. . . from my farmhouse to yours. . . .

 

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At OUR OLD COUNTRY STORE:

Tie One On Day, Chicken Scratch Aprons, and a Free Pattern

A Make-Do Sew Prim



 


Thursday, November 21, 2013

Giving Thanks in Shaker Style

 
One of the pluses of choosing a neutral pallett for the Kitchen and Keeping Room is the ability to make changes with the seasons. . . .Spring and Summer décor lends a feeling of  'light and bright'--bringing inside a few garden touches of  wicker pieces, potted plants, and lots of off-whites. . . . For Fall and Winter, I prefer more primitive pieces and accessories to accent our open hearth fireplace. . . .something I sometimes call my 'Farmhouse Shaker' style. . . . I'm not a strict stick-to-the-rules type of gal. . . .I like to add my own farmhouse touch to any setting. . . .You've probably guessed that by now, haven't you?
 
This is the time of the year that I seek warm and cozy.

The thing I do love about Shaker decor is the unbroken simplicity which is not difficult to reconstruct. . . .It's reflected in simple eloquence and simple furnishings. . .


The Shaker style approach to decorating is beauty in simplicity, with the use of natural materials and a clean, uncluttered look. . . .It's baskets, wood containers and bowls, crocks, hand-woven items, brooms and simple furniture--including ladder back chairs, of course. . . .Gather these items together and you have the makings of Shaker style. . . .

Let's start in the Keeping Room. . . .the center of activity for us, whether it's Summer or Winter. . . .


Over the years,  I was lucky to have found three woven treasures (coverlets) at reasonable prices. . . .and enjoy displaying them when the temperatures outside begin to drop. . . .Two came from Tennessee and one from Kentucky. . . .

 
Shaker style boxes are always a good choice. . . .They were the Tupperware of the 18th and 19th centuries but ever bit as functional today.

Natural fiber additions add a softness to the setting. . . .I finally finished the appliqued wool piece that I call 'My Shaker Tree' last week--started it in 2011 when John and I visited the Shaker Village in Kentucky. . . .just a little behind. . . .(2 years?!!)



While dark tones such as the coverlets and appliqued piece are traditional, the uncomplicated style of Shaker also draws on lighter natural color schemes. . .

I brought in honeysuckle vines from the nearby woods--as well as our 'huge' crop of five butternut squash--to display on top of the storage cabinets. . . .all neutrals. . . .fits right in with Farmhouse Style, too. . . .




Dried field corn and gourds are additional 'free' materials. . . .I like the natural texture of the gourds and have yet to sand them down. . . .Every time I start to do so, I back out. . . .There's such a charm to them as they are. . . .


From the herb garden, bundles of  basil, rosemary, and oregano. . . .

Have any idea what I hung them on?. . .A corn dryer!




Tools for the open hearth lend an air of simplicity and beauty, don't they? . . . .Sometimes the most utilitarian objects are decorating finds. . . .
 
 
 

The same beauty and balance is as appropriate today as in the past, particularly in the kitchen where each item is useful. . . .and at the same time, attractive to the eye. . . .


Wooden bowls, more herb bundles, woven cotton sacks, wooden cutting boards. . . .plain and simple but functional. . . .I left the crocks from the Summer Kitchen on the counter but added one more--to hold paper napkins for our snacks and meals. . . .The 'Farmgirl at Heart' pillow adds a touch of that Farmhouse Style to the mix. . . .and softens the hardness of the crocks. . . .
 








 
Shaker decorating style lies in seeing the art of simplicity and beauty in every object. . . .That's what makes it so charming. . . .It's what draws a person in--to think of hearth and home. . . .of warmth and family. . . .At least, it does for me. . . .The basic design principles will work just as well in modern homes, country styles homes or for an uncluttered look and style in a small apartment. . . .Obviously, it's one of my favorite ways to decorate. . . .especially during the Thanksgiving holidays. . . .when 'Farmhouse Shaker' cozy seems to wrap itself around a person like a blanket.
 


 
Now that I have the room ready for next week, I can start thinking about Christmas. . . .This year, I plan to go natural and very, very simple. . . .It's the look we most enjoy. . . .We're still busy at work each day, leaving little time for our usual show of holiday collections. . . .To be honest, there's another reason for my choice this year . . . For me, natural Christmas décor feels more like 'Home". . . . 
 
Plain and Simple. . . .
 
 
 
. . . from my farmhouse to yours. . .
 
 
 
If you'd like to compare the Summer and Fall Kitchen/Keeping Room:
 
 
 ******************************
 
The last day to order this year will be December 16.
We'll be closed for two weeks, so that we can enjoy
the holidays with family and friends.
 
 
 

Monday, November 18, 2013

Four Little Dirty Words


Did I make you SMILE?
 
Guess what I'm doing today?
Hope your day is going much better. . . .
 
Be on the look out!
I have a Fall reveal coming up this week. . . .
with lots of photos. . . .
Wanted to finish it today but it's just not gonna happen!
 
Til then. . .
I am. . . .the washn'. . ..cookn'. . . .ironn'. . . .dustn'. . .
 
 
 


Friday, November 15, 2013

I'm In Stitches!

 



Yes, I'm in stitches. . . .literally. . . .

I was in the mood this week to embroider 'something'. . . .but had little time to start a big project. . . . .I've been up to my elbows in canning--16 pints of relish, 7 pints of mincemeat, and 10 pints of pumpkin butter!

To unwind, I grabbed scraps of  muslin, a pencil and some embroidery thread. . . .These two little pillows were the result. . . .and I'm making more!

Aren't they 'Farmhouse Perfect'?

Feel free to copy them for your farmhouse, if you'd like. . . .The finished size is 6" x 7.5". . . .backed  with pieces of wool to give a prim look. . . .Below you'll find a couple of close-up photos with more details. . . .I had no pattern for the printing. . . .Simply penciled in the words. . .and embroidered with a running stitch. . . .added a few embellishment. . . .

Humm. . . .This technique would be good for little Christmas pillows, too, wouldn't it?


Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
I plan to bake eight loaves of Pumpkin Bread. . . .
Thanksgiving treats for my family. . . .
but please don't tell them!
I want it to be a surprise. . . .
 
. . .from my farmhouse to yours. . .
 
 
************************************
 
At Our Old Country Store this week:
 
 


Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Two Windows and a Lamb: A Couple of Weekend Finds








Been on the road again. . . .Just junkin' around home. . . .
Found the heart window (love it). . . .and the precious little lamb. . . .
Couldn't wait to display them!

It's turning cold today. . . .after 70 degrees yesterday!
Ouch. . . .that hurts. . . .But, we have our first fire in the open hearth fireplace
and are all warm and toasty. . . .Hope you're staying warm, too.


. . .from my farmhouse to yours. . . .
 
 
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Thursday, November 7, 2013

Kitchen Cover-up: Hiding the Coffee Pot


Coffee Pot?
Do you see a Coffee Pot?
I don't see one. . . .Thank Goodness!
 
There's a constant 'discussion' in this house about where to hide John's coffee pot. (Yes, he prefers a percolator). . . .During the summer, I hid it for a time in a large crock. . . .That didn't last long. . . .Before the summer was over, the coffee pot and all the fixin's found their way to the countertop. . . .Not by my choice. . . .John took over the decorating on this one. . . .
 
His favorite word in décor is 'convenient'. . . .Mine is 'simplicity'. . . .and 'hide it' if at all possible. . . .Do any of you ever have the same argument discussion?
 
 I let it ride for the summer. . . .After all, coffee's the one thing John will make on his own. . . .At the same time, I was ever searching for an answer to our problem that both of us would be happy with. . . .


 Ta. . .Dah!
Just your average old, much abused potato bin! . . .Dirty, worn, oily, beat up. . . .Back missing. . . .Nails sticking out. . . .Absolutely BEAUTIFUL prim. . . .
 
To be honest, I didn't buy the potato bin to hide the coffee pot. . . .but then, I didn't buy it for potatoes either. . . .Let's face it. . . .I bought it because it had character. . . .personality. . . .It needed a home. . . .
 
It's been sitting in the garage for the last couple of months--while I came up with an idea of how to use it. . . .Every time John would pass by, he'd ask if I wanted a back on 'that' bin? . . .'No'. . . .'Well, what are going to do with it? You can't put potatoes in it'. . . .Remember me telling you that John doesn't think outside the box?
 
 
To make a very long story short, I had the house to myself the last two days, while John helped a friend. . . .I took the opportunity to strip down the kitchen and begin to add fall and winter touches. . . .I looked at that clutter of a mess and just could not take it anymore. . . .Not one more minute. . . .Almost immediately. . . .You guessed it. . . .I thought 'The Potato Bin!'
 
I cleaned it up. . . .Whitewashed it with my 'special' and quick technique ( 1-2-3 White Wash ) . . . .And thanked myself for not letting John put a back on it! . . .Glued felt on the feet so the bin would slide around quick and easy. . . .Hung newspaper behind the screen. . . .Loaded the shelves with all John's coffee drinking necessities. . . .
 
 
Believe it or not, he Loved it! . . .So do I. . . .No more clutter. . . .No more 'modern' appliance hanging out on our vintage countertop. . . .Best of both worlds.
 
 
John did have a question for me:
 "Where are we going to put the potatoes now?"
Sigh. . . .Grin. . . ."I'll figure out something."
 
 
 
. . .from my farmhouse to yours. . . 
 
 
 

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