Autumn Joy

In honor of the Autumnal Equinox I thought I'd share some Autumn Joy with you. This sedum plant is aptly named and a must-have for any fall garden. Spread the joy.

Egghead

This is pretty much what breakfast looks like everyday now that we have three hens laying. We have 10 hens in all, so I imagine we'll be getting creative with the egg dishes real soon. It's so much fun going out to the coop and finding these little edible presents. Not to mention we have a bunch of goofy chickens that make us laugh every day. What a satisfying hobby.

Well, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. We'll be painting our house. After such a rainy summer, we're finally able to take advantage of the dry weather and get some work done. It's a mad dash to beat the cold weather. We have old clapboards that need a lot of prepping. My husband knows that I'm not a big fan of the "most important" prep process. I tried to be lazy about it last fall when I did the porch. I'm paying for it now. I can be such an egghead.

Cape Cod Cranberries

One of the oldest farming organizations in this country is The Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association, established in 1888. This is the time of year when the cranberry farmers get busy with the harvest of this healthful fruit. If you're looking for a fun family fall trip then join the 6th Annual Cranberry Harvest Celebration, Saturday and Sunday, October 10 - 11, 2009. You'll get to see the beauty of the bogs and dream up new cranberry recipes for your Thanksgiving feast.

White Wednesday {no. 5}

It's a wee bit chilly here this morning, so I am hopeful that this White Wednesday brings a little warmth to the day.

It includes a basket of fresh white towels, my dad's wooly white sheep (ok, so he's a little dirty), a starfish (I'm clinging to summer), and a bowl of fluffy flour.

I hope you all have a warm Wednesday. As always, I recommend you stop by Faded Charm for more White Wednesday goodies.

Keeping it Simple

Rather than just swoon over the gorgeous kitchen featured in the October issue of House Beautiful, I decided to assemble a few things from the shop that would get me as close as possible to the same look and feel created by the designer, stylist Aaron Hom. His entire home looks so comfortable and inviting. With a perfect blend of modern and vintage styles, along with every shade of white, Hom has transformed his classic bungalow into a true gem.

{get the look}

Top left: Vintage Style Wood Cutting Board

Top right: Glass Retro Cannisters

Bottom left: White Enamel Cake Stands

Bottom right: Vintage Style Red Striped Runner

Save 15% on Your Next Order

SAVE 15% ON YOUR NEXT ORDER!

JUST ENTER CODE "save15" AT CHECKOUT.

OFFER ENDS MIDNIGHT SEPTEMBER 16, 2009.

(valid while supplies last. not valid on previous purchases.

cannot be combined with other offers.)

click here to shop

Chicken Report {no. 3}

Yahoo! Hooray! Today was the day! We have our first egg! I can't tell you how giddy this makes me. Our daughter came running in the house before school to tell us the news. My husband and I just smiled at each other with that look that says, "it doesn't get any better than this." It's these little moments in time that will leave the biggest impressions--on us and our daughter. Life is good. Happy Friday!

The Warmth of Wood

There's something so warm and inviting about wood bowls. Our Diego Wood Bowls, shown here in the oval shape, are really pieces of art that will become cherished family heirlooms. Felled by axe, drawn by oxen, and hewn by hand, each is finished with coffee grounds and a coating of beeswax. This toxin-free process offers rich, vibrant color that really highlights the hand-hewn details. Round Diego Wood Bowls are also available at Farmhouse Wares.

Also pictured lower left are our Wood Salad Servers and our Brick French Dishtowels in blue.

Cheap Candles

I just spotted these little gems over at Mediterranean Life. They are from Spain, and they're called Mariposas. Tim called them "light for the poor". "They're handmade from a thin slice of wine cork, coloured paper and a wick dipped in wax. They're used by floating them on old oil or pork fat, and lighting the wick." Tim tried them with modern lamp oil and said they worked great. I think they'd be great for a party. I'm on the hunt for them.

A Periwinkle's Pace

Hope you all get a chance to slow down this weekend and savor every last bit of summer. I feel like I'm always moving so fast and time flies right by me. Not this weekend! I intend to move at a periwinkle's pace.

Vintage Finds

This time of year is my favorite for tag sales. I love heading out early in the crisp morning air, with a hot cup of coffee, and the only real plan is to stop at every yummy tag sale. Check out this vintage minnow bucket and thermos. I don't know whether to pack the bucket with flowers or to actually put it to use on our next fishing trip. The thermos will definately come in handy on my next early morning tag sale jaunt.

White Wednesday {no 3}

It's a good thing it's White Wednesday, because I was feeling a little blue with my girl back in school. White Wednesday always cheers me up. Don't forget to visit all the other friends of White Wednesday by stopping by Faded Charm

Top images from Beach Vintage's home tour seen on Apartment Therapy

Bottom images: Powder Puff and Lily of the Valley by moi

Celebrate September with a Sale

I'm back from a wonderful little break. I sure needed it. But now I'm looking forward to September, and I think we should kick it off with a Sale!

CELEBRATE SEPTEMBER
WITH 10% OFF ANY PURCHASE AT FARMHOUSE WARES!

JUST ENTER CODE "9109" AT CHECKOUT. OFFER ENDS MIDNIGHT SEPTEMBER 5, 2009.

(valid while supplies last. not valid on previous purchases. cannot be combined with other offers.)


click here to shop

Gone Fishin'

It's time to take a little break and enjoy some down-time with the family before school starts up again. Hope y'all have a great last week of August. I'll be back soon.

chicken report {no. 2}

For months I've been watching our birds grow from precious little chicks, to gangly teenagers, to lovely ladies. All the while I've been suspicious of this one. It was different from the start. The bright red comb and wattle developed much quicker than all the other birds. Could it be a rooster? No. No biggie, I thought. It must be older than the others. Then I started hearing funny noises, but it was not even close to a full on crow, so I assumed they were being playful and chatting. In terms of the pecking order, this one was surely more aggressive and very bossy with the others. How amusing and charming, right? A few days ago, I noticed the tail feathers were much more pronounced and magnificent than any of the hens. I'm no chicken expert, and I find denial can be comforting, so I blew it off and attributed it to the age thing. Then, last night, I'm swimming in the pool, and I hear an awkward little cock-a-doodle-doo. I looked at my daughter. Then it came again--not a strong, boisterous crow, but clearly the beginnings of what is soon to be our new alarm clock. Hmmm... Now what? Stay tuned and have a wonderful weekend.

perfect picnic attire

I spotted this today over at LuLu's Vintage . Isn't it adorable? This Red and white cutie is actually a beach cover-up from the late 1940's by designer Tina Leser, but I think it would be great with a pair of jeans. It's so perfect for a picnic.

A Sale at Farmhouse Wares

Hi everyone! We're having a sale.

Enjoy 15% off any purchase of $50 or more.
Offer expires midnight August 22, 2009.
JUST ENTER THE CODE “sunflower” UPON CHECKOUT.

(not valid on previous purchases. while supplies last.)


click here to begin shopping

Flying Mermaid Farm

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of touring one of my customer's gardens. Deborah lives in an old farmhouse that's purposefully situated near the Connecticut River. The lushness of the river banks, along with her immense parterre garden, made me feel like I was in another country. Deborah has aptly named her place the Flying Mermaid Garden, because Deborah is a mermaid. Well, at least, she loves to swim and prefers to be in the water rather than out, and it is the very reason why she lives in this rambling farmhouse by the river. The river brings her solace.

Deborah showed me how her new bee skep, from Farmhouse Wares, was looking quite handsome among her hollyhocks and dill. Her massive gardens include a fruit tree orchard, a raspberry grove, and a very organized composting system. I was so relaxed while I visited her little piece of paradise, but I couldn't help but wonder, as I took in all the sights of her massive and immaculate gardens, how she ever found time to swim. Thank you Deborah for taking your time to show me around the farm. It was a lovely experience.

I heart weekends!

Happy weekend everyone! I hope you all have tons of fun and relaxation. I'm also happy to report that we have a winner of the giveaway. Tracey of French Larkspur is the lucky winner. I want to thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for playing and always stopping by. It really makes my day to get your comments. Ciao for now.

Antique Red Bucket

Well, today's post is a bit of a color contrast from yesterday's post. I've added this Antique Red Wooden Bucket with Iron Handle to the shop recently. It's so bright and cheerful, but what I love most is that no two are alike. Salvaged in Columbia, this antique bucket has an authentic rustic feel. I think a splash of red adds a lot of character to any farmhouse. I'll be putting mine to good use to collect all the veggies from the garden.

A Giveaway

Hey everyone, I feel like giving today, so please join me for Farmhouse Wares' first giveaway. This Cucumber and Aloe Soothing Body Lotion, by McBride Beauty, is perfect for soothing parched summer skin. Cucumber hydrosol leaves skin feeling clean and fresh--not to mention it smells soooo good. Cucumber also helps relieve itchy, irritated skin. Organic aloe juice is super soothing, especially after you've been kissed by the sun.

Enter to win by Thursday, August 13. The winner will be announced on Friday.

Each of the following acts as an entry:

• Leave a comment here
• Blog about it with a link back here, but leave a comment here to let us know
• twitter about it, and comment on this post to let us know

Good Luck!

Explore

Ah...the weekend is here. This endless dirt road looks like the perfect place to explore. Maybe we'll find a moose or a stream to dip our feet into. Ahhhhh...

Herbal Remedy

I picked this herbal bouquet the other day. It's brimming with sage, dill, mint and more. The strong scent of the little bunch transformed my entire kitchen, so that the whole idea of cooking seemed adventurous again. Oh fresh herbs, thank you for brightening my culinary attitude. I needed a boost. If you'd like an herbal boost too, try the new Farmhouse Herb Blossom Linen and Room Spray. It's soooo good.

Get Ready for Harvest Time

As you begin to enjoy the benefits of fresh local produce from the farmers in your area, be sure to stop by Farmhouse Wares for all the essentials that will turn your harvest meals into memorable country feasts. Enjoy!

Top left: Glass Pickle Canister- perfect for pickles or salsa

Top right: Vegetable Cutting Board
- made with rewable mango wood

Bottom left: Wrought Iron Dish Warmer-with three votive holders to keep dishes cozy warm

Bottom right: Marmiton Tian-a big, rustic mixing bowl and Wood Salad Servers

Wire Swim Baskets

We just got these Wire Swim Baskets in. Reminiscent of old pool locker room bins, they're perfect for storing just about anything. Keep them in the mudroom to store seasonal items (hello mittens and scarfs), or if you're like my daughter, you can pile in the stuffed animals (hello way too many webkinz). No matter what you're trying to organize, these Wire Swim Baskets will always look good.

Canvas Bordeaux Buckets

Hope you all had a great weekend! Just wanted to let you know our popular Canvas Bordeaux Buckets are back in stock. These sturdy canvas storage bins, with leather handles, are perfect for pool-side sundries. I love the vintage style type and the fact they fold up easily, so I can store them when they're not in use.

Pitter Patter

It's raining. It's pouring. The nice thing about a summer rain is that it reminds me of a moment in time that I cherish. I was about eight, and I was on summer vacation with my family in Cape Cod. It was raining hard, so we were all trapped inside. I was laying on the bed in our musty cabin, watching a sunfish I had caught swim in the confinement of a tiny beach pail. Both of us were trapped. My dad came in, sat on the edge of the bed and asked what was wrong. "Bored," I told him. "Mad that it's raining." He grinned, "Instead of being mad at the rain, listen to it. Hear how it pitter patters on the roof. Just be peaceful and enjoy the sound."

The man is brilliant. To this day, I find the rain very soothing. Instead of being bummed that it may halt some outdoor activity, I look at it as a moment to rest and be soothed by the pitter patter on the roof.

To-do Lists Never Looked So Good

Our new Zinc Memo Board will help keep your to-do lists fresh and your family organized. Post pictures with magnets or write your messages in chalk and then simply wipe clean. The funky, rustic look of zinc blends well in any decor.

Movie Night

I'm really not thrilled with the way my day has been going. Not really at all. I think I will curl up in bed, very soon, with some popcorn and a movie. I just got Coco Chanel with Shirley MacLaine in from Netflix. Maybe it will inspire me.

Cross My Heart

I pretty much like anything that has the Red Cross motif on it. This pillow, from enhabiten and found via Scoutie Girl, is just what the Dr. ordered. Very nice.