The Pioneer Woman

I'm obsessed with The Pioneer Woman blog. The Author, Ree, is one talented pioneer. She appears to do it all, but with a Lucille Ball sense of humor. She cooks. She takes amazing photos. She gives great Photoshop tips. She’s raising a family. She's funny. She's authentic.

In “Black Heels to Tractor Wheels”, Ree gives you the low down on how she fell for her “Marlboro Man”.

You can read hysterical bits about her kids; join one her fun photo naming contest or download some of her striking photos for free.

There’s so much to like about her blog, but what’s most likable is Ree’s honest, down-to-earth quality. Every post reads like a conversation with a good, trusted friend.

Anyway, enough gushing. Go check it out.

Small Town USA Memorial Day Parade

Our town's Memorial Day parade was a grand event. I love this town.

McEvoy Ranch Organic Olive Oil is Liquid Gold

Olive Oil offers a range of health benefits. Used in folk remedies for centuries for dry skin, wrinkles and hang-overs, this little fruit is becoming well-known for its heart healthy qualities too. It’s packed with antioxidants, which help fight free radicals that cause cell damage. Translation: it’s good for you. Free radicals can speed up the aging process and increase your risk of disease.

EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil, from the first pressing of the olives, contains higher levels of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and phenols, because it is less processed.

Our McEvoy Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil goes one step further to protect your health—it’s certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers.

McEvoy Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil produces a boldly Californian olive oil with a distinctly Italian heritage. Nested in the rolling Marin County hills west of Petaluma, McEvoy Ranch enjoys a long, cool growing season, ensuring the slow ripening of their fruit. Their certified organic growing methods, early harvest, and skillful blending of Tuscan varietals, together create the rich complexity of this extra virgin olive oil.

Here’s one easy, heart healthy recipe that I could eat every day at every meal:
Get yourself some good crusty hearth bread. Chop up a garlic glove and add to a few tablespoons of McEvoy Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Warm it up on a stove top for just a minute (this is just to warm it—you don’t want the garlic to burn). Put it in a small severing bowl; break off a piece of bread and dip in, soaking up the goodness.

Going Coastal

Our Coastal Bayberry Candle, by Sweet Grass Farm, is one of our best-selling scents for a good reason--it smells heavenly. It takes me right to the sandy shores where the bayberry bush thrives. Spicy with clove and woodsy notes, this candle creates a warm feeling. The best way to describe it is like being inside a rustic beach cabin with exposed wood beams, sandy floors that need to be swept and fresh saltwater air streaming in through the windows. When I can't get to the beach, I bring the beach to me with the Coastal Bayberry Candle. Available at Farmhouse Wares.

Deet Free All Natural Insect Control

Insect Veil Spray is an all natural method of insect control. Utilizing age-old herbal wisdom, this effective repellent combines lemongrass, wintergreen and catnip oils with good old Soy Oil. Recent research suggests that Soy Oil contains insect repelling compounds that are very effective. No Deet, chemicals or synthetics are used, so this is great for kids and those with sensitive skin.

Creating a Buzz

Thought I'd share this piece of art my daughter created. I love everything about it!

Fresh Farmhouse Decor for Spring

I don’t know what it is about lilacs, but just seeing a vase full or breathing in their fresh, clean scent makes me slow down and appreciate life’s simple pleasures. There’s something so enchanting and old-fashioned about lilacs. Maybe it’s because I have fond memories of my Grandmother’s backyard being choc-full of lilacs every spring. She had a grand row of bushes that acted as a fence between her and her neighbors. We would spend hours making lilac necklaces by stringing together the tiny flowers using a thread and needle.

I now have several of my own lilac bushes. Just about every room gets filled with a vase. I even decorate the patio with a vase or two. In this picture, I’ve packed a bunch into our rustic yellowware Marmiton Pitcher to help show off their old-fashioned charm.

If you can’t find any lilacs you can still enjoy that fresh, clean scent. Try Farmhouse Fragrance Sticks or Farmhouse Linen and Room Spray in Lilac. You can freshen your laundry with lilac Farmhouse Laundry Powder and Fabric Softener.

If you're having a guest, leave a vase by the bedside and a bar of Farmhouse Milled Soap in lilac as a special treat.

The great thing about these products is that even though the season for lilacs is fleeting, these products can remind you to enjoy life’s simple pleasures every day.

Recycled Wood Gardener's Organizer

This recycled wood folding desk caddy is a great gift for gardeners with a passion for planning. I use mine to keep seed packs neat and organized and to keep track of plant tags (which I constantly refer back to). It holds my garden journal, as well as all the pictures I tear from magazines for inspiration. The best part is, it folds up nicely to keep everything neat when the season ends. Available at Farmhouse Wares.

Do the Twist

Twist is a contemporary spin on craft -- a new event showcasing original handmade goods and art. If you're an Etsy fan, a maker, crafter or artist looking for a fresh kind of fair, be a part of Twist!

And if you're a shopper, save the dates!

Dates September 5th - 6th, 2008
Friday: Market Party 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Saturday: Market 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

Location Northampton Center for the Arts Ballroom, Northampton, MA

Northampton, MA (a.k.a NOHO) is a funky little town infused with the energy of the thousands of students, artists and musicians who live here. It's famous for being the "best small arts town" and one of the "top places to live and work" in America. It's less than 2 hours from Boston and 3 hours from NYC! View on map

Notable (current and former) residents of the area include authors Augusten Burroughs, Tracy Kidder and Kurt Vonnegut, musicians Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr, and actress Uma Thurman. It's also the birthplace of the Graham Cracker and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The town's vibrant downtown is chock full of great shops, restaurants, bars, and coffee houses. There are a slew of performance venues here, such as the Iron Horse, the Calvin Theatre and Pearl Street Nightclub, that feature indie bands as well as bigtime headliners. Other highlights include the New Century Theatre and the Northampton Independent Film Festival.

Come for Twist, stick around for the town!

Enter Our Quilt Raffle Today

You Can Win This Quilt!

Enter our Raffle and Win This 100% Handmade Cotton Queen Quilt
ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN TODAY! EVERY ENTRY SUPPORTS A GOOD CAUSE.

Our little rural town of Whately, Massachusetts is offering you a chance to win this beautiful 100% cotton queen quilt. The Blue and White Sampler was created by Mimi Patten, a local mom, along with several women of this community. They all donated their time and talent to this special project, which supports the Whately PTO. All proceeds will go to the Whately Elementary School to build a fence for the playground to keep our children safe and sound.

The quilt is made with 100% cotton fabric and batting. The border fabric is 19th Century Civil War Reproduction. Martha May, a professional machine quilter, did the finishing touches, including a one-of-a-kind floral quilting pattern, designed especially for this project.

Size: Queen 89" x 89"

Enter the quilt raffle today at Farmhouse Wares for your chance to win.The Drawing will be held JUNE 2008 (exact date pending). The winner will be notified and the Quilt will be shipped free of charge.

You can catch more flies with molasses than vinegar

We love outdoor dining, but flies can really take the magic out of any picnic. This Glass Fly Catcher , from Farmhouse Wares, takes care of these pests the old-fashioned way--without harmful toxins. This charming and natural fly catcher will have guests buzzing as your garden becomes a fly free zone. It has a hole in the bottom. Fill it with something tantalizing. Flies get in but they can’t get out. A good all-natural fly catching recipe, based on the old adage, “you can catch more flies with molasses than vinegar”, is a simple mixture of equal parts molasses and water.

"You can never beat prejudice by a frontal attack, because there is mere emotion at the root of it. Always flank it. You can catch more flies with molasses than you can with vinegar."

-- James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey (1875 - 1927)

Lead Lips

The eco-friendly watch-dog Alternative Consumer reports that there are more articles surfacing about lead in our lipstick and lip gloss. Here's an easy recommendation for avoiding lead lipstick-- stay clear from synthetic-based color altogether. Don't bother risking your health. Besides, your lips already have such a pretty rose hue. Just enhance the shine and protect them with a natural SPF. Try our all-natural SPF 15 Lip Balm from Jenness Farm, a small caring company based in New Hampshire. Not only is it free and clear of lead so can lick your lips without fear, it tastes yummy.