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.