Happy Holidays

Peek-a-boo Santa

I see you!
Hope you all are ready for Santa's arrival. I'm sure he'll get out of this snowdrift in time. I've been so busy with holiday stuff (A teacher once told me never to use the word "stuff", but I'm bucking his words of wisdom today.) that I feel neglectful of my blog and all my blogging friends. Please accept my apologies if I haven't stopped by for a visit in a while. I hope you all are past the busy times and can now enjoy time with family and friends. I know I am very much looking forward to feeling a little less in over my head--like our Santa here. Peace.

Photo by my brother-in-law, Garrett Sheehan

snowy valley

Did you get some snow this weekend? When our little valley gets coated in snow everything seems so calm and bright. Hot chocolate, sledding and sitting by the fire are the only things we should concern ourselves with on a snowy day. But there are paths to be shoveled, chickens to water and Christmas shopping that needs to get done. Still, being surrounded by this white wonderland, one can't help but slow down and breathe in it's calm beauty.

Thank you Remodelista

I'm so thrilled that our Brick French Dish Towels were recently featured on Remodelista. Remodelista is my go-to source for all of my decorating needs, so it's quite an honor. I love that Julie recommends these pretty little vintage style towels for use in the guest bathroom. Brilliant!

Save on Gifts for Gardeners

Do you have a garden lover in your life?

Save 15% on anything in our farmyard section
from now through December 18, 2009.
Enter coupon code "gardenlove" during checkout.

offer valid while supplies last.
only valid for items in our farmyard section.

click here to shop

Holiday Flea Market Sale

THE FLEA MARKET IS BRIMMING WITH HOLIDAY SALES. SOME ITEMS ARE ON SALE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY,
SO STOP BY TODAY.

(while supplies last)

click here to visit the shop

Folding Desk Caddy is Back

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.

Making Clothespin People

My daughter wanted to make some clothespin people to hang on the tree, so I pulled out the giant tub of craft goodies and let her go to it. I gave her some tips and ideas and went off to tackle my chores. Two minutes later she requested glue gun assistance, and I was happy to help because...well it's a glue gun and it gets blooming hot. As soon as I touched the clothespin and fuzzy piece of felt I was hooked. Next thing I know, I'm controlling the entire show, making squads of soldiers, Native American tribes, pilgrim villages and angels. My daughter had long- abandoned the project while I obsessed over new ways to make hair and dresses. Already accustom to these craft endeavors turning into marathon sessions, my daughter rolled her eyes as I continued to imagine new clothespin people. Needless to say, we have way too many to hang on the tree, so these little wooden friends will adorn the tops of Christmas presents for friends and family. I do believe it will be a while before my daughter wants to craft with me again.

White Wednesday {no. 15}

Well, it sure is a white Wednesday around here today. A beautiful blanket of snow fell quietly this morning. So for today we have...

A perfect white mug for hot chocolate seems cozy on this cold day.
A pretty little white angel, made by my daughter, dances on the Christmas tree.
Snow covered Christmas trees look beautiful, but they need to drip dry before entering the house. (Same goes for my daughter, after hours of sledding.)

Enjoy this White Wednesday!

P.S. Don't forget to visit Faded Charm for more white Wednesday goodies.

We're Having a Sale

STOP BY FARMHOUSE WARES AND SAVE 10% ON YOUR NEXT ORDER!

JUST ENTER CODE "cheers09" AT CHECKOUT. OFFER ENDS MIDNIGHT DECEMBER 10, 2009.

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

Pretty Perle Cake Stand

Christmas morning is always a special time around here. Even though we're busy, we somehow manage to remain calm and joyful. To keep things simple, I'll be serving up quiche, made with fresh chicken eggs straight from our coop. We just got this Perle Glass Cake Stand in the shop. It's such a little charmer and perfect for my Christmas brunch. I just love everything about it, especially its hobnail style edging, which gives it a vintage feel. I can't wait to show it off. Available now at Farmhouse Wares.

Great Gift for Teachers or for Stockings

My friends are always asking me for great gift ideas to show their appreciation to the teachers that watch over their little ones all year. My favorite is this All the Better to Kiss you with Organic Lip Balm set. It includes three lip balms in adorable vintage style tins: Pepperminty, Lavender Vanilla and Chai Mandarin. They taste clean and yummy, and they bring instant relief to chapped lips no matter the season. USDA Certified Organic, they're a healthier choice, which teachers appreciate. The set also makes a very cute stocking stuffer for kids or perhaps a favorite friend. It's just $17.99 for the set of three and we're offering free shipping, so stock up!

Thanksgiving in Plimoth

I took my daughter to Plimoth Plantation this past weekend, so she could experience what the first Thanksgiving was like. It was an amazing day by the crisp ocean. We had so much fun visiting the homes of these brave pilgrims and getting cozy by their hearths. What a time it must have been. I leave you with some images from both the English village and the Native American village. I highly recommend a visit. You can learn more here.

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.

Happy Halloween

My Little Girl

My little bean is sick today. She has a fever and aches all over. Of course, the swine flu has me on hyper alert. So I'm spending my day hovering over her. She has a Halloween party tomorrow that she has been talking about since school started. It will break my heart if she can't go. Poor peanut.

Sale-Celebrate Country Style Living

We're having a sale and we wanted to let you know about it first. Celebrate country style living with 15% off your next purchase of $50 or more at Farmhouse Wares. Just enter code "country" upon checkout.

So set your Thanksgiving table with a few of our fall favorites and enjoy the savings:

These new Decorative Wheat Stalks make an elegant presentation.

Our Red Striped Table Runner has French Country style and tons of charm.

The Diego Round Wood Bowl is hewn by hand and finished with coffee grounds and beeswax for a natural, healthy patina.

Offer valid through November 1, 2009. While supplies last.

Tupelo Honey

We think Savannah Bee's Tupelo Honey is like a thick, slow-moving river of liquid sunshine. When you pour it from the elegant flute bottle into strong black tea, or onto a piece of crisp buttery toast, or over a piece of aged cheddar, you know you're in for something special.

Shown here with our collapsable wire magazine holder.

White Wednesday {no. 9}

Welcome to another White Wednesday. All of my whites today come straight from Farmhouse Wares. Hope you enjoy the day.

White Enamel Cake Stands-they're finally back in stock. Yeah!
French Country Coat Rack
Farmhouse Milled Soap
Ivory Wheat Pitcher

Don't forget to visit Faded Charm for more white Wednesday goodies.

ladybug, ladybug...

It's that time of year again! The outside of my house is covered with ladybugs. On these warm, fall days they seem to come around looking for a cozy place to hide for the next few months. It's funny to watch the cats react to them. There are literally hundreds of them. I'm sure they're finding plenty of nooks and crannies to hide in this old farmhouse. The frugal mom has the complete low-down on these critters, along with some helpful tips for getting rid of the buggers once they make it inside--and they will.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

This looks like a fine place to view the foliage.

Photo from Yankee Magazine's Photo of the Week.

bittersweet

My little bittersweet wreath was made in approximately three minutes. That includes the removal of leaves and connecting the vines. That was the easy part. It took me about 30 minutes to go out and tackle my way through the brush and another 20 to tug and pull at the vines while trying to maintain the precious berries.

Bittersweet is aptly named, because even though its bright yellow and orange fruits look so pretty, its vines are invasive and can kill trees and shrubs. I know, because I've been watching it kill my lilacs over the years. I've tried everything, save for chemicals, to eradicate it. I've pulled the vines from their roots until my back was too sore to move anymore. But they come back with a vengeance. So every fall, I give up my battle, and embrace their beauty. It's bittersweet.

Happy weekend!

Going Home to Roost

I recently had the pleasure of getting to know Bonnie of Going Home to Roost. Bonnie is a fellow chicken lover and someone who appreciates the cozy comforts of home. Like our chickens, she likes to roost at home--all snuggled up in her mountain nest, creating beautiful things.

Her etsy shop is filled with the most adorable aprons, tea towels, and pillows. I'm especially in love with the woodland creatures, like the fawn and the owl, that show up in colorful patterns on many of her pieces.

You must also stop by her blog for a daily dose of inspiration. Her blog has a comforting and friendly vibe to it. You'll feel right at home.

chicken report {no. 4}

Yesterday was a sad day on the farm. We had to say goodbye to one of our hens. The day before, a few of them had escaped from the run via a hole they had made in the fencing. We didn't know they escaped until my neighbor's dog starting going nuts. Pure mayhem ensued. Before anyone knew what was really happening, the dog took hold of one of the bards. My neighbor was able to scare the dog and get the hen free, but there were feathers everywhere. It looked like an old-fashioned pillow fight had just gone down. When everything settled down, we realized four more hens were missing. We searched for a while and finally found them hidden deep in some brush. The injured hen was in rough shape, but she managed her way to the roost. My husband and I hoped she would be fine, while my more experienced neighbors said we should make dinner out of her. We both knew we weren't quite ready for that, so we decided to wait and hope for the best. In the morning she was gone, lying still on the floor in the corner. Our hearts broke. We buried her as the other chickens looked on. My daughter put flowers and a pumpkin by her grave. Rest in peace my little chicken.

an apple a day

These apple votives are fun and easy to make. Not to mention, they make the house so cozy. All you have to do is scoop out the middle, insert your candle and you've got instant ambiance. Hope you all have a cozy, fall weekend.

A Royal Treat

GIVE YOUR SKIN A ROYAL TREAT!

WE'RE OFFERING FREE SHIPPING ON OUR POPULAR ROYAL JELLY BODY BUTTER FOR A LIMITED TIME.

Just in time for winter, it's perfect for soothing dry, chapped hands. As we try to ward off flu germs by constantly washing our hands, it is especially important to keep them moisturized as well, so germs don't slip through the cracks

Click here to shop

White Wednesday {no. 7}

Cozy up with today's white Wednesday finds.

Knit Throw from Pottery Barn

Squirrel Lamp from Farmhouse Wares

Ceramic Tureen from Farmhouse Wares

Hand spun yarn from Locally Grown

Don't forget to visit Faded Charm for more white Wednesday goodies.

A Fall Picnic

Fall is a great time to picnic. I'm thinking a cozy blanket, some hot cider and warm comfort foods will make the perfect picnic for this Columbus Day Weekend. This tuffin tin, found via the giver's log is a picnic must-have.

The world around me

Last week, much of my time seemed to be spent hunched over my computer, working. I didn't get out much. When I did, I was lost in thought, so I didn't see the world around me. Well, I emerged today into the fresh air, starting with an early morning bike ride. I was amazed how much had changed--the trees looked brilliant against the blue sky and there were so many gorgeous fall decorations adorning each house that I went by. There were mums, pumpkins and Halloween displays everywhere. It's amazing how much has changed in just one week. I made a promise to myself to break away from the computer more often and keep my eyes open to the world around me.

Image found via Good Housekeeping

The Rhythm of Raking

I love to rake. It's much like vacuuming. I find the rhythm of raking very soothing and the instant results gratifying. It's a good family chore where we can all get out; get some fresh air and exercise. My daughter likes to hide in the piles, and of course throw them in colorful burst into the air. I have to admit: I get a little panicky when she does though. Don't mess with my clean piles! I have to restrain myself and remember to have some fun. It can be a burden to always want to be neat and tidy. I'm going to try to let loose with the leaves this year. How about you?

Falling for Acorns

Acorns can hurt. Have you ever had one fall on your head while hiking in the woods? I have and my reaction is always a little embarrassing. The thing is, it startles me, and my first thought is that someone just threw a rock at me. Call me paranoid. I giggle nervously when I realize it's just a harmless acorn, and then I look around to make sure nobody was watching. The squirrels must think I'm nuts. Anyhoo, I happen to think acorns are quite beautiful. I found this gorgeous image via Bliss.

Our Cupcake Stands Are Back

We're so pleased to report that our Cupcake Stands are back in stock! They're here just in time to help you display your Halloween cupcake masterpieces. If you need some ideas, then stop by All Things Cupcake for the largest collection of Halloween cupcakes you'll ever see.

Have a happy weekend!

New Arrival at Farmhouse Wares

Get ready to spruce up your kitchen for the coming holidays. Our new Rustic Glass Dryer Rack is reminiscent of vintage french bottle drying racks. It's ideal for showing off a collection. Hand forged iron makes up this sturdy and funtional kitchen helper. Use it to dry all those party glasses or to display your favorite mugs.

White Wednesday {no. 6}

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for your well-wishes and great ideas to get me out of my funk yesterday. Welcome to another fun-filled White Wednesday. Today we have: a beauty in a bubble bath, happy clouds, a bejeweled carousel horse and our loveable glass milk bottle.

As always, I recommend you stop by Faded Charm for more White Wednesday goodies.

Sack of Potatoes

I feel like a sack of potatoes today. Wish I could shake it. Do you have any tricks up your sleeve for snapping out of a funk? I think french fries might help. Ya know... why fight it.