FARMERS MARKET FRESH PRODUCE LETTERPRESS GREETING CARDS

I'm so in love with this Fresh Produce stationery by YeeHaw Industries, which I just found via Etsy's guest curator, Katie Woolsey of Country Living.

I Will Follow You--Won't You Follow Me Too?

Hi Everyone! Well I've finally joined Twitter. Come follow me. Can't wait to see you there.

Food Inc.

How much do you really know about where your food comes from? It's easy when you buy local and shop the farmers markets, but if you're heading to the supermarket you might want to watch this trailer from Food Inc. This new documentary takes a close peak at an industry that isn't necessarily looking out for the consumer, the farmer or our environment. It's another reason to learn more about supporting local farmers and how CSA can help you put healthy food on your table.

Crescent Park Carousel

We went to the Crescent Park Carousel yesterday as part of our Mother's Day celebration. The Crescent Park Carousel is a place filled with smiles, laughter and old-fashioned fun. The carousel, a nationally recognized masterpiece, has been around since 1895. We had three generations of riders there yesterday. It was magical to see my daughter enjoying this gorgeous piece of history, just as I did. In fact, everything about it was magical--from the ocean breeze coming in through the carousel doors, and the sun sparkling on the stained glass windows, to the sounds of the organ playing its cheerful carnival tune.

Listed as one of the top ten Carousels in the US, Crescent Park is one of only 15 to still have a brass ring game in operation. My daughter actually got the brass ring and won a free ride. I've ridden it so many times, and I have never caught the brass ring. She talked about it all the way home.

Faithfully restored in the 1970's, the carousel really is an amazing work of art and history. I hope you get to take a ride on it someday.

Mom's Gone Fishin'

Dear Mom (pictured on the right),

I hope you get to go fishing this Mother's Day, or dancing, or swimming, or whatever it is that brings you joy. You so deserve to bask in the sunlight and realize all you have accomplished. You've done good. Thank you for being you.

I Heart The Lettered Cottage

I'm sure you've already heard of The Lettered Cottage. Layla has an impeccable eye for design and a lovely, warm spirit that shines through everything she touches. If you haven't stopped by I highly recommend you go NOW, because she's got a great giveaway of this personalized burlap runner by Coastline. The contest ends at midnight tonight, so skedaddle on over.

Cynthia's Cottage Design

It was a lovely gift to learn Farmhouse Wares had been posted about over at Cynthia's Cottage Design. Cynthia wrote about our Glass Milk Bottles, which are definately a favorite of ours too. Cynthia's blog is beautiful. She has an AMAZING way with all things vintage, decorating her home with total charm. Take her little shelf (pictured above). She's made the Damier Red Cherry Bowl, which you can also find at Farmhouse Wares, look like a page out of Country Living. I love it! Speaking of magazines, I'm still mourning the loss of Country Home Magazine, but now I have Cynthia's Cottage Design to turn too. Thank you Cynthia.

Richard Avedon is on my brain

I woke up this morning with Richard Avedon on my mind. I have no idea why. I actually met him in Boston while he was touring with his In the American West collection, which is an incredible and powerful collection that you can check out at the Richard Avedon Foundation. He was kind enough to autograph one of his prints, which I gave to my friend, Ana, because she turned me onto him.

So I thought I'd pass Richard to your brain too. I chose this photo to share, being that I also have Mother's Day on the brain. It's noisy up there today.

Source: Richard Avedon Foundation

The Farmhouse Wares Chicks

The baby chickens have arrived! They are too cute and very friendly (so far). We got Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Rocks, and we're very much looking forward to our first eggs. They're all cozy in their new coop. I just checked on them, and they were all sleeping under the warmth of the heat lamp. Life is good.

Join me for a cup of gratitude

Thank you to Daryl of Vermont Cottage and Joy from On Finding Balance for nominating Farmhouse Musings for the Lemonade Stand Award for great attitude and gratitude.

I love the world of blogging. I'm completely fascinated at how strangely intimate blogs can be and how a network of friends--some that you may never meet in person--can form. I love reading about my fellow bloggers days, their struggles, their dreams and their inspirations. I am comforted by this sense of connection.

So without further ado, let me share some other great blogs that I nominate for the Lemonade Award:

The Lisa Porter Collection: Her sunny, cheerful way always brightens my day.

Simply Heddy Shea: Heddy keeps me inspired on so many levels, but she really is the master of taking flea market finds and turning them into amazing pieces.

Lime in the Coconut: Linda just makes life look so beachy. Every post makes me feel like I'm on vacation.

A Country Farmhouse: Trina brings you right into her country life and you never want to leave.

The Un-Organized Mom: This Mom keeps it real, and with every post I feel like I'm sitting at her kitchen table, surrounded by her good friendship (and many appliances).

Flax and Spindle: There's just something warm and friendly about her style.

The Lil Bee: She makes me laugh out loud.


Here are the Rules for Paying it Forward:

1)Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post
2) Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude
3) Link to your nominees within your post
4) Let the nominees know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog
5) Share the love and link to the person from who you received your award

What is she up to?

Sometimes my daughter makes certain facial expressions that just remind me of a Yoshitomo Nara painting.

Image source.

Take Precautions

The Swine Flu is just scary. When it comes to proactively protecting ourselves the experts repeat--over and over--wash your hands. But there are times when we simply don't have access to soap and water. Most every mom I know carries some type of hand sanitizer in her purse. They come in handy at the playground, the office or school, and when traveling. Trouble is, most conventional hand purifiers aren't that healthy. Most are packed with alcohol, which can damage the skin, actually leaving you more susceptible to germs. There's also concern that synthetic antibacterials cause germ resistance or "super germs".

Clean George is a healthy alternative. Clean George is the only hand purifier of its kind on the market that is alcohol free and moisturizes the skin. Clean George is an all-natural hand purifier, packed with an array of purifying & moisturizing ingredients supplied by responsible companies who practice sustainable agriculture. Clean George does not promote germ resistance or "SUPER GERMS" - Tea Tree and Manuka Oils have been working in harmony with nature for centuries. All ingredients have been painstakingly selected with safety, efficacy and the environment in mind.

Clean George has ECOCERT*, Certified Organic, FSC* Certified ingredients and is a member of the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC).

Farmhouse Fresh White Lilac

If you're like me and you can't wait for the lilacs to bloom so you can fill your house with their fresh, clean scent, then I have just thing. You will love the Farmhouse Fresh White Lilac line of home goods. This environmentally friendly line, by Sweet Grass Farm, includes laundry care products, dish soap, linen spray, furniture wax and more. Your mood will improve when you tackle spring cleaning with the Farmhouse products, and your home will smell heavenly.

Weekend Life

Happy Weekend!

Photo from Life .

Hubby, Meet Mr. Tophat

My husband has this way of always asking me where things are. Most of the time these things are right under his nose. It's like a strange inability comes over him. I especially grew tired of him asking me for the bottle opener, because we keep it in the misc (a.k.a junk) drawer, and though it is usually right under one's nose, it's admittedly a pain to find. So I hung this Mr. Tophat Cast Iron Bottle Opener right by the fridge. Now when my husband asks for the bottle opener all I have to do is point and say, "It's right under Mr. Tophat's nose." Mr. Tophat is available and ready to serve. Get yours at Farmhouse Wares.

Have A Blissful Earth Day

I think every day is Earth Day. Don't you?

This gorgeous image is from Mrs. French of Blissful Images.

Fairy Catching

We went on a fairy catching expedition this past weekend, and we caught this little cutie. Don't worry--it was strictly a catch and release opperation. We let her go, and she quickly ran into a patch of daffodils. If you're interested, we used Professor Dalrymple's Deluxe Patented Fairy Catching System. I highly recommend it.

Come see what's new and save

Come see what's lighting up Farmhouse Wares this summer and enjoy 15% off any purchase. Offer expires midnight April 25, 2009. JUST ENTER THE CODE "save" UPON CHECKOUT.
(not valid on previous purchases. while supplies last.)

Top: Medina Hurricanes with Glass Inserts
Bottom Left: Woodacre Lanterns
Bottom Right: Squirrel Lamp by Roost

Come visit Farmhouse Wares today.

Have Some Fun

Make time for some good, old-fashioned, carefree fun this weekend.

Image and inspiration from The Lisa Porter Collection.

Be Still My Heart

I am a huge fan of the Butterfly bush. The buddleia may just be the perfect plant. They have gorgeous blooms that smell incredible and the butterflies and hummingbirds love them. So when I saw that Proven Winners now has this miniature buddleia, called Lo & Behold "Blue Chip", my heart started beating. This physiological reaction is a sure sign that I will be opening my wallet at the nearest garden center even though I have told myself there would be NO NEW plants this year. Ha! Lo and behold! The Blue Chip shall soon grace my patio.

yummy art

I came across this Japanese watermelon art today here. Amazing! Bring that to your next family picnic and you're sure to be a big hit.

Sew What! Bags

Take one look in my closets and you'll quickly learn that I have a bit of a thing for bags. Doesn't every girl? Imagine being able to create your own bags with fabrics you love. Think you don't have the time or expertise? Designer Lexie Barnes makes it easy in her new book,"Sew What! Bags."

Lexie shows you how to create bags with pockets where you need them, straps that feel good on your shoulder, and dimensions that work for whatever you want to carry. Lexie's simple instructions make it painless and fun to sew totes, messenger bags, drawstring sacks, handbags, and much more--exactly what you want, exactly the way you want it.

Trust me, if there is anyone who can appreciate the need for great, functional design it's Lexie. She's a busy mom with four young boys, an entrepreneur and self-taught designer with her own successful line of handbags and accessories, and she is also the founder and director of Twist, a contemporary craft and arts event in Northampton, MA.

Don't you think "Sew What! Bags" makes a great Mother's Day gift? Better yet, make them a bag from one of the book's 18 pattern free projects. Get sewing.

Get "Sew What! Bags" at Farmhouse Wares.

Outdoor Entertaining

Happy Monday! Did you have a good weekend? The Easter Bunny stopped by our place. It was a little brisk for egg hunting, but we bundled up to look for eggs at 7 am--ouch.

Though it was cool and windy, the sun was inviting and the grass is getting greener. These are sure signs that outdoor entertaining will be in full swing soon. We spend tons of time dining outdoors, which is why I love this Rustic Rattan Food Cover and Tray with coordinating Utensil Caddy by Roost and now available at Farmhouse Wares. Featuring hand-woven rattan with an unpeeled, natural finish, this set has relaxed, elegant style. The food cover is perfect for keeping your treats sheltered from pesky flies, while the tray makes serving easy. Perfect for picnics and country garden parties. Are you ready to dine out tonight?

Happy Weekend

Hope you all have a great holiday weekend.

Got Milk? I Sure Could Have Used Some

This piece of pound cake make look sweet and innocent. Don't let that fool you. A piece of pound cake nearly killed me yesterday. I made the big mistake of skipping lunch. By late afternoon I was starving. The pound cake was there. I didn't have to cook, chop or prepare anything. So I began inhaling quite a large piece. Suddenly it became lodged in my throat, and I realized there wasn't any milk. It all reminded me of the scene in the movie Trust the Man, where Julianne Moore is on a no carb diet and, in a weak moment, starts wolfing down birthday cake. Yup--that was me. I practically stuck my head under the faucet to get relief. Pretty elegant stuff, huh. The moral of the story: EAT YOUR LUNCH.

Carly Simon Gave Me a Ride

One summer, when my husband and I were newly in love, Carly Simon gave us a ride. We had a summer place in Menemsha on Martha's Vineyard. Menemsha is quite a ways up-island from the ferry, and we didn't have a ride that day, so we stuck our thumbs out. Seconds later a car pulled over, and as I climbed in the back seat I instantly saw her big stunning smile. I said, "Hey Carly", as though I had known her my whole life. Then, upon realizing what was actually happening, I went into shy mode and barely said two words. Luckily, my husband doesn't have a shy bone in his body. He and Carly chatted. Her son Ben was also in the car, and he and Carly bickered, just like any mom and teenage boy. He was teasing her, but she seemed amused by it all. She took us as far as she could. As we said our goodbyes and thanks, she cheerfully added that we were a cute couple and she would pray for us. Her prayers must have worked because that was 18-years ago and he's still my great love. So, if you ever go to the Vineyard, you must stop by Carly's incredible shop in Vineyard Haven. She and her friend Tamara Weiss have a funky selection of goods from all over the world at their shop Midnight Farm. Like her cheerful smile and beautiful music, the shop is a memorable experience. I promise, you will enjoy the ride.

That's a Load of Crap

Yes, that's crap, as in manure--composted manure, which is like gold in my garden world. I hauled load after load of it this past weekend. My neighbor was kind enough to give me a humongous pile of this manure last fall. I felt like a lucky girl that day. While I was spreading the crap--not so much. It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it. My cat, Katrina, thought it was the best day of her life. She expressed her happiness by rolling in each new drop zone and crushing my flowers. I am sure that one warm summer evening I'll be sitting in the garden--cocktail in hand, and I will look back on this chore with fondness. Ah, who am I kidding--it stunk.

First Dibs on Free Shipping

Hello everyone! Hope you all had a dreamy weekend. I did a lot of garden clean up with my husband while our daughter enjoyed her rich social life (believe me--it's richer than mine).

Farmhouse Wares is having a free shipping event, and I wanted to give you first dibs on the offer. There are so many great items to choose from. You can enjoy this free shipping offer now through April 12, 2009. I hope you find something you like!

(while supplies last.)
click here to begin shopping

Our Chicken Coop

Last spring my daughter's class had several chicks they hatched and raised for a short while. She was hooked, so my husband began building a chicken coop for her. They were thinking of something small,
but I was thinking Martha Stewart.

You know, something simple like Martha's Turkey Hill coop shown above.
And with some style. Like Eleanor Mondale's coop from Country Living. Love the chandelier. A coop needs good lighting.

This is what we have so far. It's a work in progress, but considering the chicks are supposed to be here for Easter, we better make some more progress ASAP. Now, Martha called her coop Palais de Poulet and Eleanor calls hers Cluckingham Palace. I think we need a good name. Any ideas?

The Hatfield Sycamore Tree

This Majestic Sycamore Tree

lived in Hatfiled, Massachusetts

for nearly 300 years.

He was a big boy
with a base circumference of 28.5' in 2006
But one day last summer a huge limb

came crashing down.

This brocken limb, nicknamed "the widow maker",

was not a good sign of things to come for this beloved tree.

The dreaded pink slip was handed down.
And though the town's people were sad
to learn about the sick old sycamore's fate, they knew it was for the best.

And so the process of deconstructing
nearly 300 years of living began.

The extent of its rot was alarming.

To see how time can wear down something so solid,
turning it into a hollow shell, was not so much poetic, but more of a reminder.

It seemed like everyone in town came
to take a piece of this history away with them.
Piece by piece it was carted off.
The stump was ground back into the earth,
but its roots still remain.