Chicken Report {no. 5}

I hope you all had a restful holiday weekend. It's been a while since I gave a chicken report, so I thought I'd take this time to tell you all about the giant eggs we've been getting. You can see from the top picture that these eggs look like dinosaur eggs in comparison to what our chickens typically lay. I was a little freaked the first time I found one. My first reaction..."yikes! That must hurt." I was amused to learn it contained two yolks, a.k.a double-yolkers. My husband, the ever vigilant and concerned chicken farmer, promptly researched this mystery. Turns out, it's not that uncommon. At the website poultryhelp, under "odd eggs," he found this: "Double yolkers appear when ovulation occurs too rapidly, or when one yolk somehow gets 'lost' and is joined by the next yolk. Double yolkers may be by a pullet whose productive cycle is not yet well synchronized." Translation: one of our chickens is still learning how to work her magic.

Of course, my daughter was excited that we could possibly have twins, but it's very unlikely that a double-yolker would produce twin chicks. Apparently, there isn't enough room so they would likely fight each other, with one or both dying in the process. Ah, nature...you always have something new for me to learn.

Double-yolkers are said to bring good luck, so I consider myself one lucky girl. I hope you find a double-yolker some day too.

Wishing you a ....

I am thankful for so many things, especially for all of you. Thank you for bringing continued warmth and joy to my world. May you and your family have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Peace.

We're on the List of Likes

We were thrilled when the Herb Companion selected our Herb Plant Stakes for their List of Likes. After all, these plant stakes make the perfect gift for gardeners. I like to give them as hostess gifts too.

The set includes nine wood stakes packed away in an elegant glass-topped wooden box keeper.

Each stake measures 1" x 7.5" x .25", box measures 8.5" x 4" x 2". Includes nine stakes, which are painted black with white lettering for Sage, Basil, Oregano, Lavender, Thyme, Parsley, Mint, Dill and Rosemary.

Check out the Herb Companion at your local newsstand today for other great gift ideas.

The Vintage Style Wooden Clothes Drying Rack is Back

Many of you have asked, so I thought I'd let you know, our Vintage Style Wooden Clothes Drying Rack is back in stock. Now you can still save dryer time, and air dry your clothes even though the winter months are upon us.

Once manufactured by the American Wringers Co., this reproduction Horse-shoe Brand Empire Clothes Dryer offers 10 racks for drying, and it can be closed, to save space, when not in use (shown bottom right). The system is easy, you simply push the vintage-style hardware up from the bottom until the racks fall into place and pull down to tuck the racks away.

A Banner Day!

This adorable burlap Thanksgiving banner is available at frenchie and flea.

Monday Blues

Title: No. 61 (Rust and Blue), 1953

Today has been a stereotypical Monday. It all started when I discovered we were out of coffee. I've been sick for a few days, so I wasn't paying attention. Then it was a day full of zipping around--even though I'm still not feeling 100%. Zip here. Zip there. I'm tired of zipping everywhere. I officially have the Monday blues, so I thought I'd express my emotion through one of my favorite artists: Mark Rothko. It fits my mood perfectly. Hoping tomorrow is a different color.

A Centerpiece They'll Remember

Create memorable tabletop displays this holiday season with our new Metal Centerpiece Vase and Candle Holder. The aged patina fits perfectly with the qualities of classic farmhouse decorating. Perfect for enhancing your dining experience whether you're indoors or outdoors.

Get Galvanized for the Holidays

If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm crazy about galvanized tin. I love its rustic simplicity. I love that it coordinates easily with just about any decorative style. Whether vintage, country, modern, or industrial, galvanized tin has no problem fitting in. I love that it's easy to care for and suitable both indoors and outdoors. There's a lot to love, so stop by Farmhouse Wares for some new galvanized goods. These tiny tin lanterns will bring a sparkle to your holiday table, and our oval planter makes a gorgeous centerpiece.

What's all that whooshing?

The other morning, I was in the house cleaning when I suddenly heard a very loud whooshing sound in my backyard. It went whoosh. It paused. It whooshed again.

My heart raced and my brain worked quickly to make sense of the noise. What was my neighbor up to now? Has my husband inadvertently blown up something? Where is my daughter?

I ran to the window and saw a blast of color before my eyes. A hot air balloon, big and beautiful, had just about landed in my backyard. Of course, by the time I found my camera the balloon had quickly moved up, up and away from danger.

Our area is very popular for hot air balloons, but I've never had one in my backyard. What a colorful way to start the day.

Another reason to love vintage Ball Jars

I'm obsessed with vintage Ball jars. Whether they're used to hold wild flowers, vintage buttons, or sugar and spice, they always look nice. I just love this look. With just a few strands of wheat you can turn your Ball jar into a gorgeous, inexpensive eco-friendly fall centerpiece.

The Farmhouse Holiday Greenery Collection Is Here

Bring the fresh scent of cedar, pine, holly and lush mosses into your home with the Farmhouse Holiday Greenery collection. Made by Sweet Grass Farm with gentle and effective plant-based ingredients, the Holiday Greenery Collection is a natural choice to help celebrate the warmth of the season.

The Holiday Greenery Collection includes:

Liquid Dish Soap: trust me, you'll want to do the dishes!

Liquid Hand Soap and Shea Butter Lotion: leave them in the guest bath and you'll have your guests swooning.

Linen and Room Spray,, Soy Candle, Fragrance Sticks: each will make your home feel like holiday a cabin in the woods. Cozy.

First Day of November

Yesterday was a beautiful first day of November. My little girl was feeling better. (Thank you all for your well-wishes.) We did garden clean-up chores, raked leaves, made soup and counted Halloween candy. It was just the kind of day we needed.