ROUND EM UP: The Farmhouse Goes Western for a Day

ROUND EM UP. . .MOVE EM OUT. . .

That's just what I did. . .Rounded up the 'CATTLE'. . .John's (huge #13) COWBOY BOOTS. . .and our COTTON. . .for a really FUN challenge. . .

A few weeks ago, I heard about the 'westerm decor challenge' by  KING RANCH SADDLE SHOP. . .They sell COWBOY and COWGIRL BOOTS of every kind and style. . .It intrigued me. . .thinking that this would be an OPPORTUNITY to show how versatile The Country Farm Home is for changing themes. . .I had never considered Western but it had it's possibilities. . .and I did live in TEXAS years ago. . .

I put on my thinking cap. . .and started 'rounding up'. . .deciding that since my 'SMALL BUCKLE COWBOY' cousin was coming to visit. . .I could try my hand at OLD WESTERN STYLE for our luncheon. 

What's a 'SMALL BUCKLE COWBOY' you ask?. . .It touches the little bit of  COWBOY in you--with boots, western belt and blue jeans for instance. . .but nothing overly done. . .just like the cousin's small Ozark farm. . .not too many cattle. . .only one barn. . .a small ranch style house. . .  His definition of a 'BIG BUCKLE COWBOY' is one who is a lot more serious about it than he is. . .For one thing, I bet no Big Buckle Cowboy names each of his COWS. . .My cousin did for years. . .

Thinking about that, I decided on a 'SMALL BUCKLE WESTERN STYLE' to decorate the keeping room. . .with a little FARMHOUSE thrown in for good measure. . .

He'll be so surprised when he walks in . . A table fit for any SMALL BUCKLE COWBOY. . .including juicy, grilled HAMBURGER STEAKS with. . .of course. . .COWBOY BEANS. . .

Looking forward to hitching up to the CHUCK WAGON in the next few days. . .

Two SMALL BUCKLE COWBOYS and one TEENY BUCKLE COWGIRL.

Good friends. . .Good food. . .Good Old Western Style. . .

How much better could it get?

The Black Tie and Blue Jeans Challenge

"Exactly WHAT do you mean by BLACK TIE AND BLUE JEANS? How would it look?"

John asked with a totally confused look on his face.

I tried to explain it, but the more we talked, the more confused I could see he was. . .

I took on the CHALLENGE. . .

and borrowed John's BOW TIE from his TUX. . .

and grabbed my BOW TIE PIN. . .

and a 1950s FORMAL. . 

and a SILK SCARF. . .

and other ACCESSORIES.

Meet EMMA. . .my newest addition to The Country Farm Home. . .

I had no idea how I would dress her when I started. . .

but it didn't take long to come up with a STYLE for her.

It's totally FUN. . .isn't it?

And. . .now. . .John understands. . .

but. . .he's not getting his BOW TIE  back any time soon.

I'm working on a post for next week in which you will probably see Emma again. . .

  King Ranch Saddle Shop in Kingsville, Texas has challenged me to a post
on how I would decorate WESTERN RANCH STYLE. . .

So. . .be watching. . .

And, something else to watch for. . .

I've been selected as BLOGGER OF THE WEEK

by Woman's World magazine!!!!

Not sure which week we'll be published. . .but it will be soon. . .

Wheee. . .a BUSY week we're having!!

By-the-way. . .John wanted to know if this meant he could wear
BLUE JEANS with his TUX next time? 
I'll have to think about that. . .(GRIN)

NEW ITEM!!! Adjustable Rag Rug Loom

John has done it again. . .He is always busy trying to improve his RAG RUG LOOMS. . .but I have to take a little credit for this one. . .for you see. . .I CHALLENGED him to make me a LARGER LOOM that could be adjusted to whatever size I needed. . .That was a few weeks ago. . .but I can't complain. . .We've been busy. . .

Then this morning, the kitchen door opened and here he came. . .with the NEW LOOM in his hand. . .

I simply LOVE it. . .I can make RAG RUGS as big as 31" X 47" and smaller ones at whatever size I need. . .I have no idea how many combinations are possible. . .but I can tell you. . .'It's a BUNCH'. . .John gave up counting at 40. . .

If I want a size other than the sizes using the drilled sidebar holes and eyelet screws. . .all I have to do is drill another hole and/or move the eyelet. . .So CLEVER. . .

The individual sized looms (Large, 2n1, Mini) still give you the option to make several rugs at one time, but this is an option that certainly lets you make many more sizes than the sets. It all depends on your needs. The PLUS is. . .you have a CHOICE!!!

Want MORE INFORMATION? . . .Wish to ORDER?. . .Go to: 

OUR OLD COUNTRY STORE 
and read all about it. . .

I'm working on this Rag Rug with colors of purple, lavender, light blue, pink, and pale yellow in a NEW PATTERN that I'm making up as I go. . .Once I get it worked out, I'll be sure to share it with you. . .

This will be a really FUN one to weave. . .while. . .

I'm totally LOVING this LOOM. . .

HAPPY MONDAY!!!!

A Welcoming Denim Blue Farmhouse Entry

When John's away. . .that's when I play. . .and I certainly did!

I awoke this morning with the full intention of removing everything not wanted out of the breezeway and giving it a thorough cleaning. . .John would be working with the roofers at the shotgun houses. . .I had a whole day without interruptions to clear out and clean up. . .

I was making a little headway when I took a couple of minutes in the kitchen to stir my soup that was simmering on the stove. . .then headed out the back door. . .And that's when it hit me. . .'That primitive cabinet that's been sitting in the backdoor entry for YEARS is DENIM BLUE!!!! 

Does that ever happen to you? You see something so often that you don't actually see it anymore?

Since I'm planning a BLACK TIE AND DENIM JEANS style for the house. . .I thought the entry needed a new look. . . You guessed it. . .Clear out, clean up was put on hold. . .Maybe tomorrow. . .

John will be so surprised when he walks in. . .or. . .will he notice at all? . .He may be so tired from his long day's work that he won't. . .Hmmmm. . .Let's see how long it takes. . .

 

Farmhouse Breezeway Porch

SOURCE: Southern Living Magazine on Pinterest

Our new BLACK TIE AND BLUE JEANS porch?

I WISH. . .

But. . .the wish for a non-cluttered, useful breezeway porch 

WILL come true in the next couple of months. . .

Isn't this a mess? . .Our back enclosed porch (breezeway) seems to be where we put the cast-offs. . .the projects we're working on. . .the household extras. . .Not very welcoming, is it?

Most visitors come through the breezeway to the back door. . .At times it's plum embarrassing. . .and I'm in the mood to change all that. . .

The incentive is a new stainless steel grill that was given to us by a friend. . .We plan to build a deck out the side door of the breezeway and put the grill there. . .which means. . .we need to be able to get to that door!!! 

We Southerners love our porches. . .There's no denying that. . .so I'm making my plans that will give us the opportunity to enjoy our breezeway as something other than a storage room. . .I found lots of inspiration at Pinterest. . .but can't decide on the plan. . .Obviously, I'll have to work with the furniture that must remain. . .and to make it workable for our needs. . .I'd like to continue with the palette I've chosen for the house. . .at BLACK TIE AND BLUE JEANS: THE PLAN. . .so I've picked a few ideas that I thought might work from my PINTEREST BREEZEWAY PORCH BOARD . . .See what you think. . .If you want to 'vote' for one. . .please do. . .

These are my top two. . .but things could change, you know. . .

Yet. . .I love the 'coolness' of a Blue Jeans palette, too. . .

SOURCE: Southern Living Magazine on Pinterest

SOURCE: Southern Living Magazine on Pinterest

Maybe just touches of 'Blue Jeans' with the Black Tie?

SOURCE: Southern Living Magazine on Pinterest

SOURCE: Southern Living Magazine on Pinterest

And then there are the accessories. . .and which details to choose. . .

Yes. . .we're adding more work on ourselves when we have the entire house indoors to freshen up and remodel. . .but I was thinking that with Summer coming along and  the promise of more outdoor grilling, the breezeway porch should be the first to get a face lift. . .so that we have some kind of haven. . .a place to relax and enjoy as the work indoors (and outdoors) continues. . .It will be worth the extra effort. . .because. . .like I said. . .

We SOUTHERNERS do love our PORCHES. . .