Love These Tea Boxes For A Unique Sofa Table

The photo doesn't look like The Country Farm Home? . . .It's not. . .but I'm thinking about getting a set of these Tea Boxes for it. . .I just love them. . .They were handmade for us by our friends at Sassafras Creek Originals and are now in our home at Ste. Genevieve. . .

They are the handiest things I've found in a long time. . .I am such a "paper lover". . .magazines, books, writing pads, journals. . .that I always have more than I have room for in a basket. . .it overflows onto the floor. . .Now. . .at our Heil House, I can hide it all where it is very handy. . .

Kandye and her husband Dale are both so talented. . .Her store is full of handmade and unique colonial items that in many cases can be utilized in any decor. . .I've already bought several items for The Country Farm Home from them that fit well in my plain and simple farmhouse style. . .

Yep. . .I think I might need another set for the farmhouse. . .I'm positive these will never leave our Missouri home. . .CLICK HERE TO SEE AND READ MORE. . .

Faith-Love-Joy-Stockings-Angels-Christmas

What a title combination of words, huh?. . .but I bet I got your attention, didn't I? . .I just couldn't wait for the winter season to show you. . .I am so impatient. . .sometimes. . .and what's wrong with having Christmas in June. . .? ? ?

Faith. . .Love. . .and Joy are needed the year round. . .as are Cotton Bolls and Baby's Breath. . .in our Farmhouse anyway. . .

But. . .a stocking, too?

To tell you the truth. . .I've been photographing again for Country Rustic magazine. . .for the 2019 Christmas issue. . .It is forever strange to me having to look ahead two seasons from now. . .but I am getting more accustomed to it. . .And I'm also getting better in developing vignettes that I can possibly let remain set up. . .as with the bathroom shelf. . .If not for the stockings below, it could be intended as a year round display. . .with its soft message pillows. . .the cotton. . .and baby's breath. . .none of which are especially "Christmas". . .

And. . .Mom continually commented that Angels were needed all year round. . .not just at Christmas. . .She always had some of her collection scattered throughout the house, no matter what season it was. . .

True. . .a Christmas tree is a little harder to explain. . .hmmmm. . .I suppose it will have to be stored in the closet until the proper time. . .

But. . .now I ask you. . .

Do I really have to take my stocking down? 

Front Cover: Our Little Necessary House Outback

I have a sneak peek for you. . .the SUMMER ISSUE OF COUNTRY RUSTIC MAGAZINE hits the stands May 24. . .just two days from now. . .and. . .I'm sure excited because. . .my story is listed on the cover!!!! . .for the first time. . .

My Mom on the left. . .

"Our Little Necessary House Outback" is a story about the "fancy one" my Grandmother had in back of her house. . .but it is also about how John and I built our own one summer. . .with before and after photos. . .To top it off, we included some black and white photos made by my Dad of vintage outhouses. . .He has a whole collection of them. . .

It was a fun article to write. . .and I think you'll enjoy reading it. . .Hope so. . .

Coming in the FALL ISSUE, our COUNTRY FARM HOME will be featured. . .with lots of photos inside and out. . .I can hardly wait to see that one. . .Lots of cotton and farmhouse decor. . .Of course, I'll let you know. . .

 COUNTRY RUSTIC MAGAZINE LINK

Just a quick little post to let you know what's happening. . .I'll be back at the farmhouse this week and will catch you up. . .Life has been anything but boring lately. . .

Blue Bird--Blue Sky--Blue Bath

I never tire of soft and calming, light denim blues in our bath. . .In fact, I've even painted the ceiling a light blue and added clouds to make the room feel as if there is no ceiling. . .only open blue skies. . .

Recently I read that birds, like the sky, are often used as metaphors for feeling free. . .flying above whatever it is that might be holding them down. . .I loved that. . .Immediately my mind went to a bird's nest that I had rescued when it fell out of a nearby tree. . .no eggs in it, so I was sure the babies had long flown away. . .free of the ties that bound them. . .

With the nest and a 50 cent metal blue bird I found at a flea market. . .I set up a vignette in the corner of the bath. . .where I can lay back in the tub and imagine my little blue bird flying off into the sky (ceiling) above. . .and thinking how I should always remember. . .no matter how bogged down and disheartened I may get. . .that the sky is the limit. . .for a little blue bird. . .and for me. . .

"If happy little blue birds fly. . .beyond the rainbow. . .why, oh why can't I?"

Is It Easter Already?

My goodness. . .How did Easter slip up on me so quickly this year. . .It seems only last week I was scraping ice off my windshield. . .Yet. . .I am so thankful that's all over with for another year. . .and I am so glad Spring is officially here. . .The trees are leafing out. . .flowers are blooming. . .the garden is planted. . .my Spring cleaning is almost done. . .and I can wear white again. . .Remember that old rule about not wearing white shoes or hat before Easter?

I can't help but think of those Easters years ago, when I finally was allowed to wear new white sandles, a new pastel dress with a white hat trimmed in flowers and white gloves for the first time. . .Such a special day. . .My family always went to our own church at Easter but then it was a quick trip to my Grandmother Duncan's house for lunch and an egg hunt. . .Of course, we had to wear our fine clothes all day because there would be numerous photos snapped. . .

Happy Times. . .

Happy Easters. . .

Have a Wonderful One! 

Enjoying Spring at My New Reading Hideaway

Well. . .I told you I'd be back and that Spring would come. . .Right on both accounts. . .It took me almost two months to get things straightened out and have an available internet. . .We have so few options for our net needs at the farm that I tried to work with the phone company that I'd been with since 1973, thinking they would make it right. . .That was a mistake. . .I finally had enough and went with another company and couldn't be happier. . .So, everyone. . ."I'm back in business!". . .as they say. . .

We've had some rather cold Spring days. . .but when the sun shines and it's warmer. . .I like to be outdoors, whether working in flower gardens or resting with a good book. . .I decided I'd carve me out a little reading nook at the side of our Ste. Genevieve home just for that. . .I gathered brick from around that house. . .and. . .concrete pads from the Country Farm Home, along with a wooden planter left over from the fall. . .There was no expense at all, except. . .the little boy. . .Believe it or not, I walked into a thrift store at the same time I was working on my little hideaway. . .and there he was!!!!. . .$8. . .I couldn't imagine anyone discarding him. . He was perfect for my reading area. . . .

I do have an iron bench I'll be adding to the area for comfort. . .but this will do for now. . .I must admit, too, that sitting outside, admiring our backyard, I can sure daydream a lot about project possibilities. . .but that will be later. . .I'll have to work a little on John first. . .

So glad to be back visiting with all of you. . .

Hope you are enjoying this Spring weather, too. . .

Is It Spring, Yet? And, An UpDate. . .

"Winter is on my Head, but Eternal Spring is in my Heart" Victor Hugo

No truer words have I read. . .Winter IS still with us. . .but I know it won't be long in the South before flowers will be blooming. . .We are already seeing the return of robins and red birds. . .Bunnies are already hopping around everywhere. . .Doves are beginning to nest. . .So, don't give up hope. . .It won't be long now. . .

Actually, I am here to confess. . .I haven't been at the farm for almost six weeks. . .which is why I'm behind on emails. . .and haven't answered your comments. . .and why my posts have been rather short. . .But, it wouldn't have mattered had I been at the farm home because there has been flooding and damaging winds. . .Then one Sunday night the lightening was hitting all around the house, which first struck the phone line, took out the phone, blew up the DSL (literally). . .Then another strike hit the power meter and took it out. . .Luckily, John was home and able to stop any fires. . .When I heard from him about all the problems, I decided to stay in Ste. Genevieve and continue working on the house and magazine articles while repairs were made. . .The UpDate is: Still no phone and no net at the farm. . .and I don't know when it will happen. . .but. . .I WILL be back online. . .eventually. . .

In the meantime, I do hope your Winters are about over. . .but even if they aren't. . .Keep that Eternal Spring in your Heart. . .for it is coming. . .

Rabbit Nibblers Pillow by Eden Farms

Ste. Genevieve, MO

Thanks, Lisa!

Blue and White Ironstone for the 21st or 18th Century?

“Is there anything prettier than blue and white dinnerware on a dining table?” I asked my friend as we shopped the local thrift store. 

“I totally agree.”. . .

“Hummm. . .Wouldn’t this pattern go well with your colonial home in Missouri, since you already have a lot of blue and white there,” she asked as she picked up a piece I recognized as Blue Onion. I also noticed the price tag. . . $10 for the set.

I looked closer. I had never thought about the possibility that the Blue Onion design dated back to the 18^th century. I have collected random pieces of that pattern for forty years. . .and thought it was more of a 20^th century design. . .But she was right. . .the floral artwork definitely looked inspired by similar 18^th century flowers I had seen in fabrics and paintings. 

I was intrigued. . .Of course I put the set in my cart. . .I would have bought it anyway, whether it was a 18^th, 19^th or 20^th century pattern. . .My idea was to take it home to the farm and enjoy it as a change for the summer. . .But if it’s pattern dated back to the 18^th century. . .I might want to rethink this. . .

Not Blue Onion--Just Pretty Blue and White

The first thing I did when I arrived home was search for the Blue Onion pattern history on the net. . .To my surprise, the pattern dated back to 1740 when the Meissen factory in England modeled the work of Chinese porcelain painters. . .but making it their own with some changes. . . .For the next 200 plus years, other porcelain factories also copied the Meissen dinnerware. . .which is why I was familiar with it. . .

I searched more to find that the $10 set I bought wasn’t that old and that the pattern isn’t even called Blue Onion. . . .Most factories changed the name from the original, but no matter the name, most know it as Blue Onion. . .The factory mark on the back reads:

Blue Nordic, Hand Engraving, Dishwasher Proof, Johnson Brothers, Made in England, Ironstone.

Now I have a decision to make. . .Keep the beautiful blue and white at the summer farm. . .or take it to our second home for colonial dinners there?. . .Looks like whether we are living in the 21^st century or the 18^th century. . .this age-old popular pattern will be at home in either place. . .

Decisions. . .Decisions. . .What do you think?

For more on the history of the Blue Onion Pattern, go to:

OUR BLUE ONION TABLEWARE--A 279 YEAR OLD PATTERN