Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Yes. . .The title is a little bit corn-y. . .but here's another. . ."You could have knocked me over with a feather" when I saw a full page photo in the FALL ISSUE OF COUNTRY RURUSTIC MAGAZINE of my wreath making at the Felix Valle House historic State Park in Ste. Genevieve, MO. . .

In the article, I not only shared DIY instructions for making your own herbal wreath, I also share a little history about the French "jardin potager" or kitchen garden. . .which is a mix of vegetables and flowers often planted in geometric shapes. . .I can remember seeing these types of gardens when, as a child, my family visited Canada one summer. . .Coming from the Delta with Scot-Irish and English background, their gardens were fascinating. . .But. . .more about that later. . .I hope to elaborated on that subject on my STE. GENEVIEVE JOURNAL blog soon. . .and maybe share the planting of my own Jardin Potager. . . 

Another subject I touched upon was the language of herbs. . .and chose the cuttings for the wreath according to the messages I wanted to fill my kitchen with for the fall and winter. . .We didn't have room to publish the chart I made. . .All the better for you. . .because. . .now I can share it with you here!

You'll find there are various charts with different meanings for each herb, but I tried to pick the most common ones.

I had loads of fun that memorable day spent dressed in 18th century and making wreaths, just as others have done for thousands of years. . .Hope you enjoy it, too, with your copy of COUNTRY RUSTIC. . .(Links below)

Also see:

MAKING KITCHEN HERBAL WREATHS AT THE FELIX VALLE STATE PARK

PLANT NOW FOR FALL HERBAL KITCHEN WREATHS 

COUNTRY RUSTIC MAGAZINE 

STE. GENEVIEVE JOURNAL

Christmas Ornaments in July?

I know it is sweltering heat outside. . .I also know few people think "Christmas" and snow in July. . .But I had to share with you the LOG CABIN ORNAMENTS I've been making. . .Some of them will appear in the Winter Issue of COUNTRY RUSTIC MAGAZINE. . .which is why I can't show you too much of the end result. . .but you'll be able to see them and get the instructions when the magazine comes out. . .

The ones above are still in the embellishing stage. . .

I promise you they are the simplest ornaments I have ever made

although they look so impressive that everyone who sees them

thinks I've worked for days on them. . .

I like projects like that. . .

I was inspired to design these pioneer style pieces of folk architecture by my miniature log cabin collection that I pull out each year and which will appear in that same Winter Issue. . .and also by a real log house that is being reassembled in Ste. Genevieve, MO. . .

Your can read about this miracle story at: 

THERE'S A 19TH CENTURY LOG HOUSE GOING UP IN TOWN

As for the ornaments. . .I must admit, I am pretty surprised at how cute they are turning out to be. . .

If the temperature continues with a heat index of 110 degrees each day. . .

I just might end up with a whole Christmas village. . .

as long as the cinnamon sticks last. . .because. . .

Have you ever tried finding quantities of cinnamon sticks in July?

 

Black And White Tuxedo Colors for Summer

Our living room has changed into so many different looks throughout the years. . .From shabby chic ten years ago. . .to dressing it in tuxedo colors for the summer. . .rustic and a little elegant and farmhouse all the way is how I see it. . .

You've seen a few pf these photos of the living room, but I couldn't share more until the summer issue of COUNTRY RUSTIC magazine hit the stands. . .Well, it didn't actually hit the stands. . .It was published online, where you can get a free download of the entire magazine. . .Just follow the link on the side bar. . .

My goal was to coordinate each room of OUR COUNTRY FARM HOME for the magazine (and for us) so that there is a flow from room to room. . .Our house is small. . .large rooms but not many of them. . .Of course the living room and kitchen are the two rooms that are most often seen. . .

Note how the wooden crates and boxes bring in a little rustic touch to relax the more formal black and white. . .Stacking the wooden boxes is what most people do but it's not limited that. . .John made this little table above that I just love. . .You can't see it here, but along one side, the box is open for placing books, magazines, etc. .almost a hide y-hole. .  .He simply made a black base and voila. . .

Of course the Vess box wagon was not as simple. . .I did in fact buy this one. . .but if you scour antique malls and Goodwill, you'll often see small wheels for sale. . .You've seen me use it several times over the years, but always with a different theme. . .

The kitchen-keeping room follows right along with the theme. . .The ironstone pitcher collection takes center stage. . .The rooster sports a bow tie. . .

I also brought in white farm chairs for the summer. . .no two are alike, but it doesn't matter. . .Painting them all the same color ties them together. . .

The bedroom is also dressed in tuxedo colors. . .
In January, I posted this bedroom, so hop over there to see more. . .

THE COUNTRY FARM HOME SUMMER GUEST ROOM 

And, the bathroom completed last fall for a photo shoot. . .

THE COUNTRY FARM HOME BATH

 

Scrolling through these photos, I hope you get a sense of the consistent flow throughout the house. . .You may not like the black and white. . .nor like pops of red and denim. . .but sticking to a basic set of colors for all the rooms. . .and then adding their own personality. . .makes a huge difference in how others see you home. . . 

Corn Crib "Gazebo" For The Fourth

I couldn't wait any longer. . .I just had to share our 4th of July corn crib with you that was featured in the Summer issue of COUNTRY RUSTIC magazine. . .Unfortunately, this issue hasn't been printed for the news stand but it is online (and it's free to download). . .There wasn't room enough in the magazine to show all the photos. . .

So. . .I thought I'd share them with here. . .

For years, I've tried to get the "right" summer style for our little sitting area that looks out over the historic district and farm. . .I think I finally "got it". . .From the patriotic bunting, the American flags, the mega-birdhouse to the Texaco gas pump, Pepsi and Coke bottles and a little boy carrying a flag. . .it's a haven in which to relax on a hot summer's day.

And. . .I used items I already had around the house. . .

To view more photos and see the tranformation of our Corn Crib Gazebo, follow these links: 

THE CORN CRIB GAZEBO: BEFORE AND AFTER

COUNTRY SUNDAYS IN THE CORN CRIB 

FALL INSPIRATION INSIDE THE GAZEBO 

For a free download of COUNTRY RUSTIC SUMMER ISSUE,

CLICK THE LINK ON THE SIDEBAR AND ENJOY!

Peonies, Roses, and Old Fences

 With the virus and the unrest in this country, sometimes we forget to stop and smell the roses. . .But in this quaint little town of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, it's hard not to notice the beautiful gardens. . . 

 I try to walk a couple of miles each morning, which takes me pretty much around the historic downtown. . .All along the way I can smell flowers. . .Almost every house has them. . .Along the side roads, there's honeysuckle and clover. . .So nice after smelling all the chemicals that are being sprayed close to our farm. . .

My favorite flowers will always be peonies and roses. . .When I was growing up, Grandmother had garden beds of both. . .Every time I see them, my happiness soars. . .I often sit and savor each breath I take. . .and enjoy the coolness of the early morning. . .before a busy day begins. . .

If you would like to see more of these wonderful fences around town, too. . .Click below. . .and soak up some smiles for yourself. . .

THE MANY FENCES OF STE. GENEVIEVE 

The Neutrals and Grays of Wire, Tin, and Cotton Sacking With Thoughts About Decorating Styles

Doesn't this look clean and crisp? 
Or. . .is it too much white for you?

There are different schools of thought about farmhouse decor. . .One favoring farmhouses in the last century that were filled with color and a miss-match of everything from fabric to mixing bowls. . .On the other hand, nowadays we think of the farmhouse in neutrals of whites and grays. . .

When I started blogging The Country Farm Home 2011, everything was beginning to feature whites. . .from shabby chic cottages to the new guy on the block--the country farmhouse. . .Believe it or not, finding farmhouse decor was rather difficult in those days. . .My blog was one of the first. . .and let me tell you, I sure went through a number of styles before I landed on the one that fit our farm style. . .I decided to throw out trying to mimic other's and come up with my own. . .I have always decorated according to the house type, so our farmhouse needed to look like one. . .but with an updated sense of style. . .So which school of thought did I lean toward?. .Both. . .As I've often said, I chose the neutrals of cotton growing in the field. . .white, black, gray and browns. . .with pops of color. . .because no, I cannot "do" just white. . .but white mixed with other neutrals and a little red or denim blue fit the bill for me. . .It made the little farmhouse light, bright, and airy. . .I also found that with neutrals, the decor could change easily and often. . .

Trends do come and go. . .They cycle. . .but each time an old trend surfaces again, it is built upon and made better suited to the lifestyle and decorating style of the present generation. . .I like to think that is what I've done with my own farmhouse style. . .and with the objects I include in the decor. . .Not just reminiscent of the past. . .but a statement for the present that this is a farmhouse in which we live now. . .

Wire baskets, galvanized buckets, milking items, cotton sacking and ticking will always spell 'farmhouse' without saying a word. . .These are items I guarantee you I saw in the numerous farmhouses I visited when growing up in this small farming community. . .I simply use them in a different way. . .

As I was spring cleaning, I realized I've been accumulating a lot of wire items and more galvanized tin. . .from the barns and storage buildings over the years. . .Nine years after I began our farmhouse style, I still love the look and patina of such items in my decor. . .I doubt that will ever change. . .because these items ARE part of the history of our farm. . .and thus, of The Country Farm Home. . .

But what I can say is. . .I will continue to remain open to new trends in decor that may surface. . . and incorporate those I like . . .for I think that's the secret in any style. . .Take a bit of the past, add some present but apply it to your own style. . .what makes you happiest. . .Isn't that the true sense of decorating?

I think it is. . .

Free COUNTRY RUSTIC SUMMER E-MAGAZINE!

Here's a special gift for you! You can download the entire Country Rustic magazine today! DJ Williams is bringing you this opportunity due to the COVID-19 causing  so many stores across the county to close for a time. She didn't want you to miss a single issue!

"Due to the COVID-19 virus which has affected each of us personally on so many levels, as well as adversely impacting businesses across our country and all over the world, the majority of shops and stores which carry Country Rustic Magazine are under mandatory closure orders. Instead of printing our Summer Issue, we will be providing an alternative for our readers to enjoy our Summer Issue from their homes.

Country Rustic Magazine is happy to release a special Summer Issue in the format of an E-Magazine which is FREE and available to readers for download from our website. Please note that in order to DOWNLOAD this Issue, it will be necessary for your to “ADD” it to your shopping cart and Checkout to make the purchase which will ring up $0.00, unless you have also put other items in your cart. We apologize for any inconvenience. . .

Our best wishes to you and your families for wellness and safety.
DJ Williams
Editor-In-Chief"

So take advantage of DJ's offer and CLICK HERE. 

Don't miss THE COUNTRY FARM HOME features in this issue, too!