Good Morning Sunshine

It's COOL. . .It's SUNNY. . .It's QUIET. . .except for the cicadas singing. . .I see Little Bit (the barn cat) stretching after a long night's rest. . .Everything looks FRESH and NEW but still a little sleepy. . .and I'm enjoying it all with my first cup of coffee on the much less cluttered BREEZEWAY PORCH. . .A wonderful place to wake up. . .and plan for the coming day. . .

I will admit that for most of the year this same porch was filled with boxes of cast-offs among boxes to open and go through. . .It was an absolute mess. . .and embarrassing when folks stopped by. . .I ignored it each morning as I headed out with coffee in hand to the outside porch and my favorite rocker. . .Then the storm hit. . .We lost the front porch. . .mosquitoes were bad. . .I decided to move inside and enjoy the screen doors. . .to the BREEZEWAY PORCH. . .Of course I had to do something with all those boxes and make it more peaceful without the chaos. . .I rolled up my sleeves and set my mind to the task at hand. . .After all, this is August and I haven't used the breezeway except as a 'warehouse'. . .It took me days to get all boxes where they needed to go and the furniture moved back in. . .Then came the cleaning and dusting. . .the addition of plants. . .and making all COMFY. . .This is a place to ENJOY--not picture perfect magazine style. . .although. . .I do think even in it's simplicity, it's very CALM and INVITING. 

Another LIFE LESSON remembered. . .how the loss of one thing is only the OPPORTUNITY to begin another. . .We'll get our front porch back by FALL (I hope). . .where I can sit and look out over the FARMSTEAD. . .but for now. . .I'm sitting in the comfort of a LOVELY room. . .with the breeze calmly blowing through the screen doors. . .just sipping my coffee. . .and thinking how BLESSED we are. . .As I often say at the DUNCAN FARMSTEAD:

"LIFE IS GOOD" 

 

 Yes. . .IT IS. . .ISN'T IT?

 

 

Changes in the Bedroom

Well LADIES and GENTS, it's been another one of those Summers. . .where nothing has gone as planned. . .I DID take a little time this morning to gather up a few of  the junkin' finds and fabrics for the 'new' VINTAGE BEDROOM. . .I'm only experimenting. . .Nothing is etched in stone. . .but I thought I'd show you what I'm thinking. . .It always amazes me how different a bedroom--or any room--can look with a minimum of expense. . .especially if you go a little bit shabby and a little bit farmhouse. . .or as I've said many times before. . .PLAIN AND SIMPLE. . .

Absolutely love the new BLACK FLOORS. . .John did such a wonderful job. . .They look old and painted. . .which is just what I wanted. . .I've noticed in Country Living either this month or the last one that black floors are beginning to show up more and more. . .Mine have actually been down since the first of the year. . .I chose them for two reasons. . .With the black and white checkerboard FLOOR in the kitchen, I thought black floors in the living room off the kitchen. . .and in the bedroom off the living room. . .would compliment each other really well. . .The second reason was the price. . .I actually hadn't thought about a painted floor until we were shopping around for  flooring. . .It all looked too new for our old FARMHOUSE and for MY STYLE. . .Then the salesman said in jest, 'I have lots of old-looking black I'll sell you. . .Can't get rid of it". . .You should have seen his face when I said, "Let's go see!". . .He was kidding. . .I wasn't. . .Way, way back in the warehouse was where we found the pallet. . .I fell in love with it right away. . .but I didn't want to seem too enthusiastic. . .I needed a deal. . .AND I got one!!!!  Only 88c per square foot. . .It retailed for much, much more. . .He was almost ready to pay us to carry it off! . . .Sometimes things just work out, don't they? 

I thought the black might be a bit hard to keep clean, but honestly it's not. . .I keep an old-fashioned dust mop at hand. . .A quick swipe when necessary is all it takes. . .

The next challenge I had to meet was the ceiling fan. . .I needed one, but nothing looked old enough. . .Easy to find a fan alone that looks old. . .not so easy to find a light fixture. . .I did not see anything locally that fit the bill. . .'OH, JOHN. . .'    Bless his heart. . .He's always game to try out my ideas. . .

We bought the fan in black. . .Found a silver cage that we spray painted black. . .John gathered all the other makings. . .and in a few short hours, the one-of-a-kind FARMHOUSE FAN was completed. . .The above right photo is the fixture I took down. . .a little fancy for me. . .Remember. . .I'm PLAIN AND SIMPLE. . .

 I ran across this BEAUTIFUL QUILT while cleaning out the sewing room. . .I've had it about 20 years. . .always loved the detail. . .the SMOCKING and CURLICUES. . .Lots of movement. . .I didn't notice until I was editing the photos that the whirls mimic the METAL DOOR piece leaning against the wall. . .

Looks as if I did that intentionally, doesn't it? . . .Of course, I did. . .(grin). . .I'm trying to find the WHITE DRESSER I bought a few years back so I can replace the dresser you see here. . .I don't know where we stored it. . .If I don't find the white dresser soon, this one may 'turn white' one day when I have an extra minute or two. . .Like I said. . .these are all elements I MAY use. . .I've been known to change my mind. . .(wink). . .

FABRIC is forever my friend. . .Found this piece of BLACK FLOWERED UPHOLSTERY in my stash. . .I laid it on the CHAIR I plan to use in the bedroom. . .not tacked down. . .in case I find something I like better. . .The more I look at it, though, the better I like it. . .

The colors certainly compliment everything else, don't they? What do you think?

On the floor beside the bed is another REMNANT find. . .

It's a bit blurred but I'm sure you get the jist of it. . .I bought the heavy upholstery to make an area rug for the living room. . .Had searched and searched for a black and white check rug with no luck when I ran into this find for $5 (It's doubled in the photo) . .figured I'd make a rug. . .Now I don't know if I want to use it in the bedroom or the living room. . .I may have to search further for the living room. . .I'm liking it right where it is.

That's about all the time I had to play. . .On to other things the rest of this week. . .I do have an up-date on the porch. . .In case you missed the post, we had a bad Summer storm that took the front porch roof with it. . .Since that post, it's been verified that we had a tornado. . .We are so blessed that we had a house left. . .blessed and thankful. . .

We had damage to other buildings also that we are gradually repairing as the weather permits. . .Neither John nor I can work in a heat index of 115!!! . . .Looks like this Fall we'll have to remain closed for maintenance and repairs. . .instead of having our tours. . .The storms threw us off schedule. . .and we do want it safe for our visitors. . .It's almost like we're starting over again in many ways. . .

Sure hope YOUR Summer is going well. . .Miss not being as in touch with you all but the time flies away each day before we know it. . .I do have a NEW COLLECTION of. . . .Oh. . .I think I'll save that for another post. . .Give you something to look forward to. . .I promise I'll share soon. . .They are prim and farmhouse and inexpensive (right now). . .Who knows. . .I may be setting another trend? (grin)

 Sending BLESSINGS your way

Soda Crates in Farmhouse Style

Photo by Brian Woodcock, Country Living Magazine, July-August 2015 

"These fizz-tastic finds—from crates to coolers to syrup dispensers—are bubbling over with retro style."

One day last week I actually took a break and sat down with the newest issue of COUNTRY LIVING magazine. . .only to find that once again I was ahead of the game in FARMHOUSE décor. . .Let's face it. . . I do think outside the box many times in my decorating style. . .often finding a year or so later that the trend is heading that exact way. . .Doesn't bother me that I'm different. . .I enjoy buying while the prices are low. . .and challenging myself to use the great finds with FARMHOUSE STYLE. . .

"In the early 1900s, the burgeoning soda industry was made up of local drugstores who mixed and bottled small-batch recipes and delivered them in hand-stenciled crates. Today those rare boxes fetch up to $200. More recent specimens (like the 1950s and 1960s ones shown) go for $20."

Yikes!!!! $200!!!!! My point exactly. . .Only two or three years ago. . .when no one wanted soda crates. . .I was picking them up for $5 and less. . .Pickles!!!! (my word for 'heck'). . .Some people GAVE them to me and were glad to get rid of them. . .They probably laughed as I drove off.

I was actually collecting them for OUR OLD COUNTRY STORE displays. . .but a few did end up in the house. . .I especially enjoyed them in the summer. . .Maybe you remember?

 In June 2013: Coke Case & Cola Bottles--Farmhouse Style (click to see more)

 

 

In August 2013: Summer Farmhouse Kitchen (click to see more)

 

 

 

It shows up again in August of 2014 on the back porch:

Vintage Ads+Graphic Art+Apple Red Metal=Smiles (click to see more)

 

 

 

Cotton Pickin' time brought out the SODA BOX WAGON

 

 

 

and. . .a DOUBLE COLA BOX  by the fire was handy in WINTER. . .

 

 

SODA CRATES are still relatively inexpensive. . .You can find them for much less than $200. . .We went junkin' in Missouri last week and ran across many for $20 or less. . .They are so versatile for a FARMHOUSE look that I'd encourage you to add one or two to your decorating style. . .And while you're at it, don't forget about the VINTAGE SODA BOTTLES. . .They are super with the crates. . .Try putting a couple of daisies in the bottles and you'll have a instant eye-catcher with a lot of impact. . .

 

Country Living Magazine



SEE: COUNTRY LIVING'S "A COLLECTORS GUIDE TO VINTAGE SODA POP FINDS

 

Decorating FARMHOUSE STYLE is so easy. . .All you need is a make-do attitude. . .and an eye for possible uses other than the norm. . .Think outside the box (a soda box?). . .then set back and accept the compliments. . .

 

 

 

Remember the Front Porch?

 

Remember how COOL and INVITING the FRONT PORCH was just a couple of weeks ago?

Well. . . .HERE IT IS NOW. . .

The BIG BAD WOLF was certainly trying to BLOW our house down this past Tuesday. . .He howled and blew and blew and blew with WIND up to 80 mph. . . drenching RAIN and a little HAIL to boot. . ..We huddled inside. . .HOPING and PRAYING that once the storm was over, we'd still have a home. . .and barns. . .and buildings. . .READ MORE. . .

Guess you can see what we'll be doing in the coming weeks?

. . .from my broken 

but still standing 

farmhouse to yours. . .

holy COW!!!!

 

The COWS have left the barn. . .and found a cooler spot in the LIVING ROOM. . .Yes. . .I've been at it again--working on the living room decor--snatching a few minutes here and there in between these very busy SUMMER  days. . .

We were 'COUNTRY COME TO TOWN' for a few days recently. . .leaving the farm to visit our state capital of Little Rock. . .I was shopping for a new Town and Country van (which I found) but could NOT pass up an opportunity to do some junkin', too. . .It was at BLUE SUEDE SHOES ANTIQUE MALL that I spotted the COWS and had to have them for the living room. . .for a POP OF COLOR. . . I also loved their sweet faces. . .

My decorating style is always based on the history of our farm. . .Until now COTTON has been the focus. . .so I was just a tad hesitant to add cows to the room. . .but I had to have those adorable faces looking at me. . .They make me smile. . .It wasn't until we'd been home for a week or so that I discovered that in the early days (1930s) of my Granddaddy's ownership of this farm that he had lots of CATTLE. . .along with the cotton and other crops. . .Coincidence? . . .(GRIN). . .

Whatever it was, the THREE COWS are bringing the living room together. . .almost as if the room woke up and went beyond 'okay'. . .What I enjoy about my decorating style is that it evolves. . .I can write down all kinds of plans and color palettes but then I'll find something that looks so much better. . .to me anyway. . .I'm always open to a CHANGE. . .

Yet, I haven't gone too far off THE PLAN (CLICK HERE). . .The BLACK PAINTED FLOORS. . .the shades of GRAY and DENIM BLUES. . .the dominance of SOFT WHITE throws on the couches (I have two). . .the galvanized 'FARM THINGS'. . .RUSTIC SYMPLICITY is working out beyond my expectations. . .I'm only giving you a few snippets. . .a tease. . .I admit. . .but I don't think you'll be disappointed when I get to the GREAT REVEAL. . .later. . .

So here are the 'TEASE' photos. . .See what you think. . .

Pull Up A Rocker and Sit a Spell

Summer has definitely arrived here at the FARM. . .and the very best place of all to sit, relax, enjoy a tall GLASS OF ICED TEA is on the wraparound PORCH. . .where there are plenty of ROCKERS. . .and a COOL BREEZE most of the time. . .It's here that our guests enjoy themselves the most. . .where we sit a spell and visit with neighbors. . .and where John and I meet while resting from the daily list of 'CHORES'. . .Ahhhhh. . .COUNTRY LIVING at it's best. . .

Blogging has certainly taught me a lot about my decorating preferences through all the trials and errors of the past three years. . .SIMPLE. . .NOT FUSSY. . .DOWN-TO-EARTH FARM STYLE. . .This is real FARMHOUSE LIVING. . .not 'cookie cutter' farmhouse style. . .It's the real thing. . .We live it each and every day. . .and it's what I LOVE the most about our little farmstead. . .no pretense. . .just good farm living. . .

Like to JOIN us?

I'll save a ROCKER for ya. . .(grin)

(singing). . ."SUMMERTIME. . .and the living is EASY. . .

Fish are jumping. . .and the COTTON is high. . ."

ATTENTION ALL RAG RUGGERS. . .

There's a tip for weaving with T-shirts at: 

OUR OLD COUNTRY STORE

 

SUNDAY: Roses and Thorns

A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully. Before it blossomed, he examined it. He saw a bud that would soon blossom. He also saw the thorns, and he thought,"How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?" Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and before it was ready to bloom, it died.

 So it is with many people. . .

Within every soul there is a rose. The qualities planted in us at birth, growing amidst the thorns of our faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects. . . We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. . .But, if we see the rose within us, water it, love it's beauty. . .We can conquor those thorns and blossom into a beautiful thing. . .(Author Unknown)

"Show us the rose,

that we may overcome the thorns"

~ St. Thomas Acquinas

...SUNDAY BLESSINGS to ALL...

'You're a BOUQUET OF ROSES

in the Garden of LIFE'