The Good Envelope Party

Have you heard of the Good Envelope Party? Thanks to my daily dose of Daily Candy, I'm now loop. Clever and caring, The Good Envelope Party is a bi-monthly women's collective in Silver Lake, California. They make handmade recycled stationery from salvaged books and magazines, with love, for the good of others and the earth. These unique envelopes and recycled card inserts are voluntarily made for the purpose of donating their profits. Proceeds are directly donated to non-profit organizations, underfunded schools, and local families struggling to fulfill their basic needs. You go girls!

A Tomato Tip

The following entry is from my adorable hubby. He's really the cook in the family. Enjoy!

The last tomatoes of the season sit on my kitchen windowsill. The sun has ripened them to near perfection. They’ll be just right by Saturday, when I’ll put them up for the winter.

I tried for years to store fresh tomatoes by following the standard recipe for freezing tomatoes: clean them, peel them (optional), quarter them, (add garlic and other seasoning, if desired) and simmer them with a little water until reduced by about half. Then freeze them in Tupperware or plastic bags.

I followed the simple directions, and was happy with initial outcome. The simple reduction was fresh and tasty when it came out of the pot. But come winter, when I pulled out a container to add a splash of summer to a meal, I found the tomatoes covered in frost and freezer-burned.

Then a friend gave me a simple tip that lets me keep fresh tomatoes year round. All you to do, I learned, is make sure to fill the container ALL the way to the top, almost to overflowing. The key to freezing is to make sure to get ALL the air out of the container. That’s it. So simple, but it makes ALL the difference.Another great thing about freezing—and a reason to consider freezing throughout the summer months—is that you can use vegetables that you might hesitate to use in a salad or side dish because they’re bruised or checked. It’s a way to get great value from your garden or by purchasing the vegetables that grocers and farm stands often set aside on a discount shelf.

Blissful Images

I can't stop drooling over the gorgeous images available at blissful images new etsy shop. There's something so gentle and soothing about them. You must check them out or visit her blissful blog.

Hazel the Owl

My husband's grandma was all about owls. She had a bathroom filled with owl pictures that we used to call "the room with a thousand eyes". I love this owl photo from blissful images, found via design*sponge.

Fall Celebration Sale at Farmhouse Wares

CELEBRATE FALL WITH A SALE FROM FARMHOUSE WARES.
SAVE 15% OFF ANY ORDER NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30th.

ENTER CODE "fall08" UPON CHECKOUT.

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

Blue Corn Pancake Mix

Try something new for breakfast. Blue corn, a staple of Southwest native foods, has a hearty texture and nutlike flavor and is appreciated for its nutrional value. Our Kenyon's Blue Corn Pancake Mix makes a healthy way to start your day.

Try this ideal bite

Read Theresa's ideal bite blog entry today, then come back and try our McEvoy Ranch Organic Olive Oil.

Pumpkin Carving

My daughter woke up early on Saturday and declared it pumpkin carving day. We had fun going to the farm stands and seeing the loads of pumpkins just in--fresh from the fields. When we got home she was ready to start carving. While she was all about the traditional Jack-O'-Lantern, I thought I'd carve our house numbers because we're in the process of painting the front door and we had to take the numbers down. Here's how I did it:

Using Word, I created a template by selecting a type style and making the text size 650. I printed and trimmed them into rectangles. I taped them into place and used a sharp tool, such as a toothpick, to poke small holes, creating an outline around the numbers. Then I just carved away.

Keep on the Sunny Side

Have a cozy weekend everyone. Keep on the sunny side.

Watch the video. It will make you happy.

Poison Ivy Relief

Poison Ivy is so sneaky and vicious this time of year. Everything is so overgrown that it makes it harder to spot. I was working in the garden like a mad woman, pulling weeds and cleaning out. I was on a roll, when suddenly I realized I had just pulled a clump of the wicked weed. I also noticed a batch of it had sprouted up in a walkway that the kids go barefoot on. My husband fell in poison ivy while mountain biking. You’d think he was Meryl Streep in Silkwood the way he scrubbed his body down.

Listening to him complain about itching is not one of my strong points, so I handed over our bottle of Poison Ivy Relief, as I knew it would bring relief on many levels.

This cream is amazing. Traditional herbs are combined to stop the gnawing itch brought on by poison ivy. St. John’swort and burdock root calm the irritation while soothing the skin. Relief at last! Its peppermint scent is great too--uplifting and clean.

Stop by Farmhouse Wares for your Poison Ivy Relief today. It’s a must-have for your first-aid kit.

Housekeeping Olympics and the Dishwasher Inspector

Dishwasher Inspector

Believe it or not, I just learned that there is an event called the Housekeeping Olympics. Apparently these go on all over the country. The participants are dedicated to fluffing and primping and being the ultimate clean machine. The competitions include bed making (move over Martha), three-legged vacuum races, and the Johnny mop toss (or something like that). But they don't have a dishwasher loading competition. Gasp! That's like not having gymnastics at the summer Olympics. I must tell you, I am the dishwasher loading diva. I can load faster and more efficient than anyone in the land. My friend Tony thinks he's the best, but we've yet to compete. All I can say to Tony is, "Bring it"! We'll let the Dishwasher Inspector decide who is best.

Photo from flickr

Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival

Farmhouse Wares is proud to play a small role in the first ever Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival presented by Food and Wine magazine. The event benefits two important charities, the Food Bank For New York City, fighting hunger in New York, and Share Our Strength, one of the nation's leading hunger relief organizations working to end childhood hunger in America.

The event, which runs October 9-12 in New York’s fashionable Meatpacking District, features Rachael Ray, Paula Deen, Giada De Laurentiis, Tyler Florence, Alton Brown, Masaharu Morimoto, Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay, Ferran Adria, Alain Ducasse, Gordon Ramsey and Nigella Lawson to name a few. Click here to learn more.

To help raise funds, the The Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival is hosting an on-line auction from September 15- Oct 15, 2008, featuring unique selections of rare wine, gourmet dinners, extravagant getaways and other luxury items at http://www.nycwffauction.cmarket.com/. To support this effort, Farmhouse Wares has donated a set of four Recycled Glass Willow Goblets. These Recycled Glass Willow Goblets are made from recycled Napa Valley wine bottles, which we think are pretty perfect for this wine-loving crowd. They are offered as part of a set called Accessorize Your Wine. The auction opens today, so scamper off, and start your bidding.

An Apple a Day

We all know an apple a day helps keep the doctor away. This is the time of year to put that old adage to work. Our apple trees are brimming with fruit. There are only so many pies one can eat, so I find myself looking for other ways to put my apples to good use.

Of course, every kitchen needs a bowl (click here for the yellowware bowl shown above) full of apples. Having them right out on the table makes it easier for my daughter to choose a healthy snack. Another quick and easy idea is to make apple votive holders. Simply carve out the center and add your candle. Put several together on our eco-friendly wood compote for a friendly fall centerpiece.

You can also bring the scent of fresh baked apples into your home without all the work of actually baking—just try our best-selling Baked Apples and Cream soy candle by Sweet Grass Farm.

A Cup of Jo and a Bowl and Spoon

Be sure to visit Joanna Goddard's blog, A Cup of Jo, today for a chance to win our Bowl and Spoon Set. Her blog is packed with great finds, so you'll be glad you stopped by.

Honey symbolizes the sweet life

This September, Celebrate The Sweet Tradition of Rosh Hashanah With Farm Fresh Honey!

Honey is integral to the Rosh Hashanah traditions of wishing for the New Year to be a sweet one.

There's nothing sweeter than supporting two small businesses that strive to help our planet. Farmhouse Wares' Black Cat Raw Honey from New England Wildflowers is a best-seller. It's packaged in old-fashioned "muth" jars and is packed with healthy enzymes, minerals and antioxidants. If you like variety, try our Artisanal Honey Sampler by the Savannah Bee Company.

Give the gift of honey with all its sweetness and health benefits. The sweetest thing of all is that with each purchase you're supporting the bee farmers.

Set Your Harvest Table With Our New Wheat Pitcher

There's something graceful and inviting about wheat, and our new Wheat Pitcher captures those qualities perfectly. I think this handsome creamy white ceramic pitcher is a must have for any harvest table. Available now at Farmhouse Wares.

Top Photo from Free Picture Click

See what's new at the Farmhouse Wares Flea Market

THE FARMHOUSE WARES FLEA MARKET IS BRIMMING WITH NEW ITEMS

UP TO 50% OFF.
Quantities are limited, so stop by today.

Support NieNie

On Saturday, August 16, 2008, Stephanie Nielson, a popular blogger at The NieNie Dialogues, was in a plane crash with her husband, Christian Nielson. Christian & Stephanie were badly burned and remain in critical condition at Maricopa Burn Center. To support the family the blogging community is spreading the word: to lend your support please click the "donate" button below. To learn more click the Nie recovery button above.

Labor Day

Happy Labor Day Everyone. It's a great weekend to take a ride in the country and visit farm stands for some apples, mums and your first pumpkin of the season. Visit Local Harvest to find family farms and farm events near you.

Kitchen Helper

I like to hang bundles of rosemary right from the knobs of my kitchen cabinets. This makes for quick and easy access while cooking. Rosemary adds such great flavor to meats, especially when grilling. Try our Rosemary Garlic and Maple Sauce, which imparts the hearty flavor of rosemary, blended with balsamic vinegar, basil and oven-roasted garlic.

I also hang sprigs of rosemary in the shower. The intense aroma wakes me up. Click here for more information on storing and cooking with rosemary.

All Creatures Great and Small are in this Fall

Deer Head Mount $48
With wall decor like this all you'll need is a cozy throw,

and you'll be transported to some woodsy cabin far away.

Linen Cow Tea Towel Set $28
This set of French Style Linen features one vintage style cow design on oatmeal linen and one towel with black stripes for a classic farmhouse feel.
Champion Pair $39.95
This set of two prize cows is based on 1932 champion livestock trophies. These vintage style reproductions will look handsome grazing your shelf too.
Linen Cow Pillow $48
Let this friendly cow bring plenty of down-to-earth warmth to your home.

18 years of bliss

Today is our wedding anniversary. 18 years ago my husband and I eloped after a wee courtship of eight weeks. We’ll never forget the day. We were all decked out in our vintage prom attire as we snuck off to Walden Pond, temporary home of Henry David Thoreau. My niece made this picture of us at the time. I still crack up at my hair in the picture—very 80’s. I especially love all the hearts floating up from us. Those hearts are still floating all around us.

Cedar Reach Horse Farm

Well, today is my daughter's last day at Horse Riding Camp. Tomorrow she'll put on a little show for us, and the whole family will be coming in this weekend to watch her. Wish her luck! I leave you for the weekend with some shots of this idyllic summer camp. Have a great weekend!

Like Mother Like Child

My daughter has been attending horse riding camp over the last few weeks. Of course, I can’t really afford this camp, but I figure we’ll just eat more PB&J for a while so she can have, what I imagined to be, an idyllic summer experience.

You see, I never had a real “camp” experience. It’s not that mom and dad didn’t offer. I just rejected the idea of leaving my house and neighborhood friends. I was quite content to play “house” on my porch with Donny Osmond as my hubby and a plastic doll that needed my love. We’d play kick-the-can until the street lights came on. Who needed camp when you had the coolest fort right down the street?

There was one time when I was all set to go to overnight camp in some woods somewhere in Rhode Island. I was all packed up with my shiny new sleeping bag and a bottle a bug spray. My mom dropped me at the bus stop and sped off, waving goodbye (she may have actually peeled out). While waiting, this little girl starting describing camp and all the “fun” things she had done there. Everything she described filled me with sheer terror. Making pancakes in the morning as a group activity. Nightmare! I didn’t know how to make pancakes. I was like seven. I never made a pancake in my life. I ended up knocking on some stranger’s door to use their phone. My poor mother had to come and pick me up. She had probably just walked back in the house, thinking she was free at last, when the phone rang and she heard my unrelenting sobbing on the other end. She came to my rescue and was sweet as could be—never letting on how frustrated she may have been at my inability to leave her side that summer.

My daughter is, for the most part, much more adventurous than I was. She doesn’t want to hang out with me all day. She’s learning so much more than I did playing on my porch. However, almost daily I get a call at lunch. Her little kid voice says, “Hi. Whatcha doin’?” I say, “Are you having fun?” She always replies “yes” with enthusiasm. Then after a few moments she lowers her voice to a whisper and says, “Please don’t make me come back here.” She tells me how all the kids are so mean, but when I pick her up at the end of each day, she rattles off the names of all her new best friends, which consists of just about everyone at the camp.

Tomorrow, I will drop her off. I’ll watch as she lovingly greets all her friends. I’ll enjoy the smell of the dusty barns and the view of the big blue sky beyond the mountains, and I’ll think to myself “this is idyllic”. I’ll enjoy the peaceful car ride back and wait for the phone to ring. She can leave my side, but she wants to know I’m available for rescue—if needed.

Get the Look with our Ebony Compote

I'm in love with the kitchen on the cover of the

September issue of House Beautiful

so I recreated a small piece of it

Here is our small Ebony Compote, by Potluck Studios, with some yummy Bosc pears.
Our new French Style Linen Tea Towel with Black Stripes is also pictured. I have a feeling this will look even more spectacular with the large Ebony Compote.

Ruffles are In-Season

My zinnias are such little flirts. They’re always poking their heads up out of the garden, trying to get my attention and showing off their frilly petals. Any zinnia will tell you ruffles never go out of style. The more the merrier. It’s no surprise that our Flirt Compotes by Potluck Studios came to mind when I shot this zinnia. They both like to flirt and they both make ruffles look so good.

I've got that Fall Feelin'

I can smell a hint of fall in the air today. It's cool and cozy. I usually cling to summer like a needy child. I get sad thinking of my gardens turning brown and losing my outdoor dining room. But today, I welcome a bit of fall. The grayish-blue sky signals that it’s okay to take it easy today. It’s time to wind down and enjoy the weekend. Maybe we’ll go looking for mums.

If you’re in the mood for some fall décor checkout these cuties at Farmhouse Wares. This set of hanging tin cans, with their vintage style pumpkin labels, will look great on your garden gate.

Sherbet Blossom Giveaway

Enter your chance to win a Farmhouse Dish Soap, made by Sweet Grass Farm, over at Hannah's great blog, Sherbet Blossom today. Hurry, contest ends this Saturday.

Message in a Bottle

The message in this Recycled Bottle Coat Rack is quite clear. Basically, it's a great way to show off your eco-savvy style while helping the environment. Each coat rack is handmade in Wisconsin using recycled wine bottles that would have ended up in the landfill.

Taking the "message in bottle" theme to the extreme, try leaving rolled up love notes inside each one. When your partner grabs his/her coat in the morning, your little massage will make them smile.

Available now at Farmhouse Wares.

Gone Fishin'

Have a great weekend everyone!