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.