Friday, January 29, 2010

A Snowy Night....


Well- the snow has arrived! It started snowing here about 5:30 -just a few flurries and by 6:00 it was coming down. Although the flakes are like tiny little crystals, we probably already have close to an inch (in less than an hour). The poor donkeys had snow on their backs just walking to the barn! Everybody is safe and sound though and munching away on their hay. At least the snow will keep me inside tomorrow so I can finish up my goodies for next weekend's event at the shop. I hope you can stop by for our Valentine event next Fri and Sat. More details are on the website. Stay safe and warm on this snowy night!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The Amish Country


Hank and I love traveling to the Bird-in-Hand area in Pennsylvania. We were there for a few days last week. It is one of our favorite places to visit. No, we don't go in for the "touristy" stuff, we just enjoy getting off the main roads and looking at the beautiful Amish farms. Their gardens put ours to shame!

We love to antique in and around this area. I am usually able to find early homespun and samplers - which are impossible to find in our area. We always stay at the Amish View Inn where the rooms overlook nothing but the farmland - and a small Amish school. It's nice to enjoy breakfast while watching the Amish children clamor into their one room schoolhouse. If you have never visited this area you should plan on a trip soon.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Dreaming of Daffodils...



It seems that over the past few days, I am dreaming of daffodils. As these January days have turned unusually warm, I am beginning to see the tiny tips of hidden daffodils stick out to catch a glimpse of the sun - who can blame them? On these warm days I am finally able to attend to much needed gardening chores. Beds are getting cleaned up, perennials are being cut back and best of all - daffodils are being planted. Yes, I realize it seems too late to plant these beautiful bulbs but I usually have luck even at this late date. The truth is, I watch the garden centers patiently until they are marked at least half price and then I scoop up all I can. I don't know how many daffodils I have in the gardens here but I'm sure it's well into the hundreds. They are simply a wonderful addition to any garden and they provide so much beauty, how can I resist? Sometimes it's hard to remember where I already have them planted so when I pick out a spot I dig carefully as not to injure any previous residents! Today, I was able to plant 2 bags of a variety called "pink charm". Hopefully, I will have pictures in a couple of months or so to share. Until then, I will enjoy last year's pics and keep dreaming of daffodils.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Favorite things...

Sometimes it's easy to forget the simplest things but they are usually our favorites! As I am continuing to work on the interior of our home - I've been at it for 10 years- I forget about some of my favorite things! Many times there are things tucked away in closets that will make the perfect prim accessory to a room. My old teddy bear is one of those things. For the longest time, he was carefully tucked away for safekeeping in a closet - WHY??? I can't help it but I still love my teddy. His name is TEDDY BEAR (how creative- ha ha). He now sits quietly in a small chair in one of the upstairs bedrooms. He does have a few friends sitting just across the way but Teddy is just so special, he need not be paired with another. My grandmother bought him in Florida when my mother was about 13 or 14. He became mine when I came along and we have been together ever since! Oh how I love Teddy. He has been stitched up many times. His nose was lost decades ago on a Saturday grocery trip inside the A & P. He has had lipstick applied (and then cleaned off). He now is displayed proudly for everyone to see.
Teddy is just one of my favorite things!!

Friday, January 8, 2010

It's Cold Outside

I don't know about you, but if it's going to be this cold outside at least it could snow!!! I watched out the window several times last night for at least one flake, but alas not a flake to be found! Anyway, the cold weather is forcing me to do inside chores that have been put off. Closets are getting cleaned out and so are lots of empty boxes. I found a couple of men's jackets that we will donate to the homeless shelter. Hank was able to clean out the fireplace which forced me to use the upholstery vac on the couch, etc. It does feel great to clean out - especially when it's so cold outside. Anyway, we did take a quick road trip yesterday and I found a few goodies for the shop! I will crank up the heat in the cabin in the morning to get it nice and toasty for customers. Hope you get a chance to stop by soon. Stay warm - Debbie

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Pieces of the Past...


For those of you that don't know me, simple things in life are what make me happy. Clothes, jewelry, new gadgets, etc. really mean nothing to me. My family says that I was born in the wrong time. I feel it is my destiny to save as many old buildings/cabins as possible. One of my greatest concerns is preserving the past. We have moved many of the buildings from the farm I grew up here to our small farm. Many of these were built by my grandfather. Lately, we have been salvaging wood from the old barn to use here on other buildings. The man who bought our original farm has torn off most of the old section and re-working it with new wood. Of course, Hank and I had to salvage as much as possible since it was going to be burned! The original part of the barn is log (which was already there when his father purchased this farm). My Popaw had added on another large section along with a tremendous silo. Although the silo is now gone - the wood from it lives on as the floor of the meat house. Many of the old stall doors now grace our barn.
Today as we were working on the pile of old wood, Hank made a wonderful discovery. At the base of the old silo, he discovered a piece of concrete where my Popaw had etched his initials - PWH and the date 1927 OCT 14. As tears were streaming down my face when I saw the mark of my Popaw in the concrete, my wonderful husband gently pried off the pieces of concrete he could salvage that was put there so long ago. Please take time to remember the pieces of your past.

Monday, January 4, 2010

a new week

Well, it is a new week in a new year. Oh, I have such a long list to get accomplished this week! I guess though I won't be working in the flower gardens since everything is frozen solid! This is usually the time that I plant my spring bulbs - not this week. I am finally putting up the little bit of Christmas from the house! The shop looked so much better this weekend after cleaning out, rearranging and just keeping it simple!! Folks that stopped by this weekend commented how they could see everything now! The sewing machine is calling my name but except for a few heart ornaments I am working on, nothing is coming to me at the present!! It will though - my creative juices have gone dormant for a little while. Anyway, please continue to be patient as I learn this new program. Enjoy the day! Off to let the donkeys out of the barn!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Welcome to my blog!

Well, I finally am attempting to start my blog. I figured since everyone else is dong one, I better get started. Not that my life here at our small farm is very exciting, but I will share the daily goings on around here and updates about the shop. Please bear with me as once again I am having to learn something new. I'm probably the only person who still doesn't own a cell phone, nor do we have cable/satellite. I am still using an original answering machine from the 80's. My motto is "why change if something is working??" I just try to keep life simple!! Anyway, I will do my best to keep the blog updated during these cold winter days. Thanks for looking- Debbie