Thursday, December 19, 2019

Mixing Burlap, Vintage, and Metal for A White Christmas in the Keeping Room

"Twas a week before Christmas. . .and all through the house". . .as my story was going. . .for all was turning out really well. . .and ahead of schedule. . .
The decorations were up and sparkling like snowflakes. . .The baking was done with lingering whiffs of gingerbread and fruit cake. . .

Mr. BJ LaShay was dressed up in his new red bow tie and collar. . .


 All I had left to do was light the fireplace and snap a few photos. . .

I was loving the metal Christmas trees. . .and the big log cabin stable. . .with the dove above. . .The greenery and candles. . .the tiny lights. . .Yes. . .All I needed to do was light a fire and snap a few photos. . .because the entire scene was envisioned with a big blazing fire in the background. . .

I was excited. . .I was ready. . .The batteries in my camera were fully charged. . .Let's do it. . .

I walked over to the exhaust fan. . .and turned it on. . .Our fireplace smokes without it. . .There was a whirring sound. . .but no fan blades turning. . ."Must be frozen" I thought. . .since we had had rain and the temperature was well below freezing. . .I waited an hour. . .Then another hour. . .Then another. . .Only a whirring sound. . .

My visions of a beautiful Christmas setting with a crackling fire in the background were dashed. . .

But not to worry. . .There will be other Christmases for crackling fires. . .
We are still warm and cozy and together. . .
Plenty of Food. . .Family. . .Friends. . .

All is well here at The Country Farm Home. . .
I have no complaints. . .
Only thankful for the many Blessings.

 

"I will honor Christmas in my Heart, 
And try to keep it
All the Year."

Christmas Blessings To You And Yours
This Holiday Season


Thursday, December 12, 2019

Farmhouse Folk Angel Ornies Are For The Living Room, Too

Yes. . .Here they are again. . .as promised. . .The FARMHOUSE FOLK ANGELS are flying around in the living room. . .and landing on a tabletop tree. . .

Notice that they fit into any decor. . .

This time they are teamed with GINGERBREAD COOKIES in a VINTAGE CHEESE BOX. . .and in a BOWL with BALLS OF STRING. . .There are STONEWARE CROCKS. . .one filled with more cookies. . .a CORN SHUCK WREATH. . .a few COTTON BOLLS. . .



BABY'S BREATH sits among the bottle brush limbs. . .while TINY LIGHTS twinkle like fireflies. . .
I think SANTA BABY (my John) will be pleased. . .He does love gingerbread. . .and I think I'll name an angel for him, too. . .Won't he be surprised?

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Antique Dough Box of Greens


When I say a "Dough Box" I mean one big one. . .I have wanted a large bread dough box for years. . .On an impromptu day out recently, there it was. . .Right before my eyes. . .


The only place I've seen one so large has been in living history museums. . .The next question was, "Could I afford it?" . .I held my breathe and grabbed the price tag. . .YES!!! . . .Now. . .I don't know who it belonged to but it was obvious they didn't put as much value in it as I did. . .What an opportunity for me. . .


I brought it home, filled it with cypress limbs, cut here on the farm. . .added Wooden Bowls and Gingerbread people. . .Berries. . .and Twigs. . .a couple of Wax Lambs. . .and that famous Pitcher I use each Christmas in one way or the other. . .


It's Fun. . .Natural. . .Make-do. . .Farmhouse Christmas Style. . .
and. . .There's more to come. . .


Monday, December 2, 2019

There's A Log Cabin Christmas Above The Cupboards!

Old Honest Abe brings a touch of whimsey. . .
Christmas decor at The Country Farm Home often means pulling out items collected over the years and teaming them up with some natural greenery and everyday household finds. . .
Collectable Putz Sheep are scattered among the cabins. . .
I already had the folk angels scattered around the house when I decided this was the Christmas to bring out all those log cabin miniatures I've had packed up. . .I honestly didn't remember how many I had. . .In fact, I'm still finding them. . .plus John's working on a large log cabin doll house. . .and I recently bought a two and a half foot primitive cabin to set at the fireplace. . .
A Miniature Tenant House. . .


I guess by now you've figured out that the theme this year is folksy but in a farmhouse style? . . .I have some modern elements to add to it all, too. . .Here's a hint. . .Our Christmas TREES are metal. . .I know you're thinking "Huh?'
Trust me. . .It will all come together soon. . .
Don't you just love Christmas?



Tuesday, November 26, 2019

DIY Farmhouse Folk Angels for the Christmas Table


You've seen my Folk Angels before. . .I know. . .but. . .did you know that you could make your own?. .Yep. . .There are two pages of DIY instructions in the Winter Issue of COUNTRY RUSTIC MAGAZINE

Space is limited in the magazine for inspirational photos. . .so I'm sharing a few more with you in these next two posts. . .and a few more ideas. . .


With the basic instructions from COUNTRY RUSTIC, you can make Angels to suit your style. . .Dress them in different fabric. . .It's not necessary that they wear wool like mine. . .The embellishments can be changed, too. . .


I made lots of them. . .and named them according to those Angels I have known. . .They are all around the house. . .obviously not all hanging from the branches of a Christmas Tree. . .(although I'll be showing you some that are). . .


Speaking of embellishments. . .just now as I looked at these photos, I had a different idea for the angel wings. . .Snowflakes would do the trick!  And for Halos. . .try a ring of those Stars. . .or maybe a Santa Angel. . .There are so many options. . .if you'll let your imagination soar. . .


For this Christmas table, I kept it simple. . .Angels. . .Snowflakes. . .Candles. . .Packages. . .Greenery. . .and a few Little Stars. . .It IS eclectic with its folk and tinsel style. . .but I think it suits a Farmhouse setting. . .


Somehow it all works. . .
And. . .yours will, too. . .I just know it. . .


Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Family "Snoopy" Tree: A DIY Project

"Once upon a time, there was a little Norfolk pine tree that came to live at the farm. It was tall and spindly. Some branches were long and some were short. The Farmer's Daughter fondly called it her "Snoopy Tree" but somehow, the little pine didn't feel that was a compliment. He longed for something that would make him unique among   all the Norfolk pine trees--something that made him feel special. 
The Farmer's Daughter realized one day that the little pine tree's branches were drooping more than usual, and he didn't seem as bright in color as normal. She felt a little droopy, too. It was close to Christmas--a time that always meant family and loved ones to the Farmer's Daughter. Unfortunately, most of her family was away. Then she had an idea. Why not turn her "Snoopy Tree" into a Christmas tree, with tiny photos of all those she had loved over the years? Wouldn't that be fun? And, an amazing way to remember others.
So she disappeared into her office for hours. Christmas carols played in the background, while much activity could be heard behind closed doors. She snipped. She glued. She smiled a lot. She dreamed. She remembered. She shed a tear or two. By mid-day, her project was done. She headed straight for the Snoopy Tree and began to transform him into a lovely family Christmas tree. There were tiny framed photos of  Mom and Dad, Granny and Pop, Grandmother and Granddaddy, Aunt Mamie and Aunt Naoma, and many, many others.
Oh! That little pine tree felt so important! He was so honored to hug her family in his branches. He straightened up and began to glow again. When she added bright red ornaments and fluffy cotton bolls, he felt like he was the most important tree on the entire farm. He wasn't a Snoopy Tree anymore. He was a "Family Tree" in the truest sense. He was special! He belonged!

And, the Farmer's Daughter smiled, too. Her family was Home For Christmas once again."


Hello Everyone! I was looking back through my Christmas blog posts recently, looking for a specific one, when I ran across a story I wrote the very first year I blogged. I hadn't read it in so many years. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line, the photos were lost from the post and it needed some updating as well.  
My first reaction was to delete it. . .Then I read the story. . .and remembered that Christmas. . .and thought how even though it was written eight years ago, the possibilities for a DIY Family Tree were still there. I dug up the old photos, updated the story, and re-published it, hoping it would inspire you to make your own family tree of photos.
It was quite simple. Choose the photos. Reduce and scan them. Or, if digital, resize. Make a frame from card stock. Place scanned photo inside. And, back with more card stock after sandwiching in a string loop for hanging. 
There were a few photos I printed directly on the card stock, cut them out, punched a hole, and added a string loop. 
That's all there is to it. Now you can surround yourself with family this Christmas. . .and make a Norfolk pine very happy. . .

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Beginning The Holidays At The Fireside

It's Christmastime again. . .or it will be soon. . .and even though I love the Holiday Season at hand, I also often visit old memories, too. . .So why should this one be any different, huh?
I've been thinking today about an honor that is very connected to my camera-toting Dad. . .totally to his credit. . .and not my own. . .and I'll tell you why. . .
It all began when I opened the box of 2019 WINTER ISSUE OF COUNTRY RUSTIC MAGAZINE! . .I was speechless. . .One of my photographs had made the front cover!!! . .And there were more inside. . .
Wow!!!
But honestly, I take no credit for it. . . It is to my Dad's credit. . . All my life, Daddy was an historian with his camera. . .He documented his WWII experience with a camera. . .The first thing he did when I was born was grab his camera. . .We have the usual family photos of our outings and vacations. . .and it wasn't Thanksgiving or Christmas unless he was sneaking shots of the merriment that filled our house. . .He documented local and state activities as they happened. . . and took thousands of photos that are irreplaceable. . .
Daddy's many cameras were always with him. . .He taught courses in photography through a local college. . .He was Vice-President several times of the National PSA. . .as well as starting a Camera Club in our county. . .For several years, he went professional for weddings, parties and the school annual. . . He had his own dark room. . .He won gold medals nationally. . .The legacy he left just goes on and on. . .
The funny part is. . .I was his one failure. . .I just did not 'get' all those stops and buttons on a 35mm camera. . .Finally, Daddy gave up. . .One Christmas, he presented me with a Minolta 35mm automatic. . .My photos began to improve. . .but I still pretty much left the photo-taking to him. . .I still loved following him around to art shows and PSA meetings. . .We spent hours together in his dark room. . .I drove down many old country roads with him while looking for the perfect shot. . .But, I was content just to be with him. . .and leave the photography to the expert.

Then three things happened at almost the same time. . .First, I lost my Dad to cancer. . .Second, the digital camera came along and was affordable. . .Third, I realized that my head was full of photo shoot possibilities and it was time I put to use some of the skills my Dad had taught me. . .I almost felt him looking over my shoulders and encouraging me. . .Showing me what to look for. . .Guiding me as I looked for the right angles. . .I never snap the button that I don't think about Daddy and what he would have seen through the camera's eye. . .He is still with me. . .and I'm so glad a little bit of his talent rubbed off on me. . .but. . .

I claim no credit for the Country Rustic cover. . .because. . .
"This one's for you, Dad. . ."


Sunday, November 10, 2019

Thankful and Blessed

What? Didn't I say I'd begin Holiday posts next? . .Well, yes, I did. . .but I decided I had one more I wanted to share first. . .once I realized that tomorrow is Veteran's Day. . .for we should all be thankful and blessed to have a country such as this. . .and to those who defend it to keep it free. . .
My Dad was a World War II Veteran. . .He returned from the War with a deeper understanding of what freedoms we so often take for granted. . .And, he instilled in us that same pride in our Nation and never let us forget how blessed we were. . .in so many ways. . .
Yeoman First Class Curtis C. Duncan, 1945

He flew the flag proudly. . .365 days a year. . .
He loved God and Country. . .and felt it his duty to defend both. . .
and he wasn't alone. . .he isn't alone. . .


So. . .to all our Veterans. . .I'd like to say. . .
This is still the Greatest Nation in the World. . . 
Thank you for keeping it safe. . .



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