Thursday, November 29, 2012

Reindeer on the Roof?


The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. . .







Wherever the reindeer landed, they are now on our farm table!




I haven't officially started decorating for Christmas. . . .





These beauties were unboxed in our garage over a month ago. . . .
I knew I wanted to use them for the holidays, so I set them aside.
After stumping my toe and turning the rascals over for the hundredth time,
I brought them inside. . . .

I absolutely love beeswax candles lit at night--
another thing I like about the "old days". . . .





I quickly grabbed a woven shawl for the table. . . .
 then nestled a pottery bowl inside two twig wreaths.





A few more additions and I was done. . . .
 Plain and Simple. . . .




Not sure how long the reindeer will be staying. . . .After all, they have a big Christmas Eve job to do. . . .But, just like Santa, they are AWAYS welcome at the Farm!!!!!

from my farmhouse to yours. . . .

Copper and Brass Reindeer--$20--Flea Market
Beeswax Candles--Colonial Williamsburg
Pottery Bowl--$4--Thrifted
Wooden Utensils--$1 each--Thrifted
Woven Shawl--50 cents--Thrifted

Sharing with: * Feathered Nest Friday * Inspiration Friday * Home Sweet HomeVintage Inspiration

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Jewels For The Tree



I know this tree is anything but Plain & Simple Farmhouse style. . . .I got carried away. . . ."Really?" you say. . . .Well, here's what happened. . . .




I spent the entire morning rearranging the furniture in the bedroom, putting down rugs for the winter, setting up the little white tree--when I was distracted. . . .I began thinking about the Christmas jewelry collection I had--somewhere. . . .Of course, I started looking for it. . . .







As I rummaged through drawers and closets, I not only located the jewelry, I found old trims salvaged from 1950s formals. . . .strings of pearls. . . .some cotton fringe. . . .








The tree was right there. . . .I didn't have any other place to put things until I cleared off the dresser. . . .so, I began laying my finds on the tree. . . . then Boo knocked the tree and they all fell off. . . .To keep him from swallowing a few (everything goes in his mouth), I clipped and pinned them all over the tree. . . .Before I knew it. . . .Well, you can see what happened!!





The angel was sitting on the floor, the jewelry boxes beside her. . . .John brought in my newest vintage sewing machine he had cleaned and shined. . . It was green. . . .That would work. . . .A few more pearls here and there. . . .




Before I knew it, I had trimmed a tree!!!!





What could be simpler? Oh!!! There's that word again. . . .SIMPLE. . . .


from my farmhouse to yours. . . .


Monday, November 26, 2012

Farm Fresh Feature. . . .


You can find me at Old Time Farmhouse this morning! Cindy starts her monthly Farm Fresh Feature today--and I'm so excited!!!!
Want to know why?
Because The Country Farm Home is the first featured!


You'll see some of the historic district where The Country Farm Home is located. . . .some farm style. . . and a few things inside that you haven't seen before. . . .

Grab a cup of coffee--or tea--and come on over! What could be more fun than sharing with friends. . . .


Be sure and say "Hi" to Cindy while you're there. . . .

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Farmhouse Touches


What gives the kitchen a plain and simple farmhouse feel?
For me, it's going back to basics. . . .
What is clutter and what do I actually use?

Once I got that concept into my head, it was fairly easy to turn the kitchen into one that had the right feel to it. . . .


Cookbooks were a must. . . .so were the sifter, bread board, and small pitcher . . .


Not knowing what to do with all the balls of twine and crochet thread used in and around my kitchen, I tossed them in a bowl in plain sight. . . .


Serving platters aren't just for display, they are in daily use. . . .
 

A symbol of remembrance, rosemary dries in the ironstone pitcher. . . .
It's also a great Christmas touch to tuck sprigs here and there.


Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are another must. . . .keeping the heavy mugs close at hand. . . .


More herbs drying, cookbooks, and wooden utensils. . . .an iron pot scrubber. . . .salt for seasoning. . . .a crock filled with homemade cookies for the sweet tooth. . . .


Dish detergent in a canning jar, baking soda in ironstone, liquid soap in a Mrs. Butterworth bottle are found at the sink. . . .All functional. . . .all close at hand. . . .all "make-do". . . .


The farmhouse kitchen speaks of things that suggest they've been inherited rather than store bought. . . . Things that have stood the effects of time and use.

What I've decided is. . . .
Plain and Simple Farmhouse style, for me,  is not so much about style as it is a way of living. . . .


Be sure and watch for an announcement coming the end of this week. . . .
It's getting very hard to keep a secret!!!!
And, watch tomorrow for a special post. . . .
Lots going on. . . .but, then, it's that time of year, isn't it?

from my farmhouse kitchen to yours. . . .

Friday, November 23, 2012

Folk Magazine--Black Friday Deal!


Are we all stuffed with turkey and other goodies? Hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. . . .And, now, it's shop til you drop! Right?
I'm not storming the malls today like so many of my friends. Way too stressful for me. . . .but, I can feel the excitement of it just sitting here at home with Boo. . . .

I do have a bargain to pass on to you, though. . . .It's a Black Friday special at Folk magazine. . . .A one year's subscription for $11!


I received my first copy a week or so ago. . . .
Wasn't sure what to expect. . . .but, I love it!
Lots of articles about living the "modern, authentic American lifestyle". . . .wonderful recipes. . . .great craft ideas. . . .


I'm not receiving anything from them for promoting their offer. . . .I'm just passing on a good buy. . . .Interested? You can preview more pages from the magazine at their website. . . .




Also, they have a fantastic, informative, packed full of ideas blog. . . .at:

But, don't take my word for it, hop over there and check it out yourself!

from my farmhouse to yours. . . .

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Over the River and Through the Woods. . .


Remember that song from long ago?
"Over the river and through the woods,
To Grandmother's house we go. . . ."

I think it was more of a Christmas song than Thanksgiving. . . .but, it's been running round and round in my head today--as I prepare to leave for my cousin's home in the Ozarks. . . .
The words are changed to,
"Over the river and through the woods,
To my cousin's house we go. . . ."


A silly little song, I guess. . .especially the way I'm singing it. . . .
Yet, it brings back memories of Thanksgivings past. . . .Of Grandmother, my Aunts, and Mom in the kitchen, laughing and gossiping. . . .Of the wonderful smells of spices and turkey and cakes and pies. . . .Of my mischievous cousins--all boys--getting into anything they weren't suppose to--and of me, trying to stay away from them and the trouble they would eventually be in. . . .Of the men folk, sitting in the family room, talking about how the crops turned out and who won the Turkey Shoot. . . .

Most of all, it brings back memories of family. . . .and the love that embraced us all. . . .


The last time the entire Magers clan was together was Christmas 2001--Aunts, Cousins, Brother, Nephews, Mom and Dad, Spouses. What fun we had! As always. . . .

Seems a long time ago. . . .Seems like yesterday. . . .


But, life goes on--and we cousins continue to gather together every Thanksgiving at the oldest of the clan's home. . . .
There's still the same laughter in the kitchen. . . .the grandchildren playing pranks on each other. . . .the men talking harvests in the family room. . . .
Different time. . . .different place. . . .different faces. . . .different voices. . . .and, yet. . . .the same. . . .

"Over the river and through the woods. . . "
Is it any wonder I've been singing all day?
Each Thanksgiving we can be together with family is a blessing in itself. . . .

. . . .Wishing You and Your Family Special Blessings
on Thanksgiving Day. . . .

from my farmhouse to yours. . . .

Monday, November 19, 2012

Putting Thanks into Thanksgiving



Turkey dinners, cranberries, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie and family gatherings. . . .Are we all ready?


We're actually going out of town for Thanksgiving, but when I found the two beautiful ceramic pumpkins on sale at 80% off last week, I couldn't just pack them away for next year. . . .So, I grabbed some burlap, twig wreaths, glass candlesticks, a metal chick and started arranging a vignette for us to enjoy.

Something was missing, though. . . .

I thought about the old songbooks I have. . . .Thumbing through them, my eyes focused on one song in particular. . . .


"We Thank Thee, Lord"

I paused for a moment and thought how Thanksgiving should be a day to reflect and to offer Thanks. . . .just as the Pilgrims did back in the fall of 1621. . .As I read the words, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. . . .



"For all the blessings of the year, For all the friends we hold so dear, 
For peace on earth, both far and near, We thank Thee, Lord.

For life and health, those common things, Which every day and hour brings,
For home, where our affection clings, We thank Thee, Lord

For love of Thine, which never tires, Which all our better thought inspires,
And warms our lives with heavenly fires, We thank Thee, Lord."


What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? 
Take a few moments to reflect on the blessings You hold so dear. . . .
And, celebrate in the spirit of Thanks Giving. . . .

from my Thankful farmhouse to yours. . . .



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