Yea and thanks to bellasbowtique for featuring some flags I made on a Memorial Day Weekend Etsy Treasury!!!!!

Here's the link! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=59648

Please visit bella's shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6470098

Have a great and safe weekend.

Hugs, Barb

A Red White and Blue Dessert

Stars and Stripes Forever Dessert

I am going to make this on the weekend. If you try it, please let me know how it goes for you!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY Weekend to you!!!!

From Taste of Home http://www.tasteofhome.com

Served with a creamy, full-bodied dip, sugared puff pastry stars and a fresh berry medley make a festive dessert. “It’s pretty, delicious and easy to prepare for the Fourth of July or any summer gathering,” says field editor Gail Sykora from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

SERVINGS: 8

METHOD: Baked

TIME: Prep: 30 min. Bake: 10 min. + cooling

Ingredients:

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 1 to 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon coarse sugar
• 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
• 1-1/2 cups fresh raspberries
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon Domino® or C&H® Granulated Pure Cane Sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream

Directions:

On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with floured star-shaped cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks. Brush lightly with water and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Cool.
In a large bowl, combine berries and 1/4 cup sugar; set aside. In a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add remaining sugar; beat until soft peaks form. Place sour cream in a small serving bowl; fold in whipped cream.
Place bowl on a serving platter. Spoon berry mixture onto platter; top with pastry stars. Yield: 8 servings.

The greenhouse

Spring is especially busy around here. These are pictures of the greenhouse, which my sons built. (Yes, I am a happy and proud mom-most of the time!) The greenhouse has done exceptionally well this year and the herb garden should double in size. YEA!!!!!!!

Today, must get DD ready for her 5 day camping trip for a medieval re-enactment. This is going to be very stressful as she is the ultimate perfectionist. Getting ready for son #2 to come home for the weekend-that's good. He said he would appreciate a break before he graduates. Sheep should be getting sheared today and about the llamas. They too need shearing. That should be interesting! The guys are taking the chainsaw out to the back tree line where a lot a trees went down during the storms this spring. I always worry.

Hopefully, this afternoon, I will be able to sit down, have some tea (my crutch) and do some sewing or painting. I think I will need the therapy.

Enjoy your spring. talk to you tomorrow.
Hugs,
Barb

What ya workin' on Wednesday

Today I am going to finish up some primitive items for the home. Pictured here is a wall mirror with hooks (I have to put the hooks back and add the mirror) a desk organizer and a letter organizer. They are all done in black and distressed. I am continuing to work on Prim Patriotic dolls. Again, so much to do and so little time.

There is still still to enter the Name the New Kids on the Farm Contest. Please add your suggestions in the comment area. So far the names are terrific. The little goats are female twins and they are pictured in a previous entry. Drawing will be on the last day of the month!!!!!!
Be creative and have some fun with their names.

Happy Wednesday,
Barb

Happenings in the House Tuesday

Well, I have been working on the mural in the entryway, but it is not ready for viewing yet. I did decide on the grey to paint the wainscoting. Maybe it will be ready next week.

So I thought I would show you a part of my studio or work room. When you live in a barn, it can be daunting or a great adventure to turn an area that was once used for milking into a family friendly home. It also helps when your sons are talented and can do the things you ask them to do even if they groan while doing it.

The lower level of our barn was total open space which is great for seeing everything going on in the family but not so good when desiring some peace or privacy. So after showing the guys the "brilliance" of my idea, they built a wall of closets at the back third of the barn. It allows me to attempt to hide my fabric and other items I am working on. They still spill over onto the dining room table and more. But they are great to do this and it does make life a little more livable in our fun home.

There are three boys and one girl in the family and they will soon be home for the summer. The list for this summer includes more closets, new bathroom ceiling and other indoor projects as well as the never ending fencing in and around the pastures. I hope they will be happy to be home.

Hugs, Barb

Etsy Shop of the Week

Every week I try to share a wonderful shop on Etsy with you. These are members of a great group of artisans from Olde Farmhouse Gathering, a great group of people. Love them all!!!!!

Today, you can visit the shop at I play outside the box. She has a free recipe for you. SO generous!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17323585&ref=em

Also check out her great blog at : http://iplayoutsidethebox.blogspot.com/

Happy Monday and it is a great start to the week.

Hugs,
Barb

It's Armed Forces Day-USA

Today at the grocery store the veterans were taking donations and giving the traditional poppies in return. The veteran I talked to said the money would go to help service people returning from Irag, Afghanistan and other places we have them stationed around the world. Presently they are trying to help a young man who has returned from Iraq and is in need of help paying his mortgage because he can't find a job. There are so many people who do such wonderful and needed things. It's an honor to help them, even if it is in such a small way.

These patriotic ornies are available at:
http://prairieharvestarts.com/shop/ornies/americana/saltbox/pieced-american-flag-ornies/prod_46.html

Have a safe and happy weekend.

Barb

A give away at Momma B's

MommaB is making a beautiful and useful napkin holder available as a giveaway at her blog.

It is great for the spring and summer for all the picnics, cookouts and for your kitchen...holds large size napkins....
Rules...
post a comment on her blog...please leave email address...she can't contact you without it.. holder available to a random winner at her blog.

See her blog at: http://mommabsfrontporch.blogspot.com/

And good luck to all of us!!!!!


Hugs,
Barb

The entryway continues.......

Here is the right hand side of the entryway mural. The kids think I should put a lone black sheep in the top pasture. Not sure. The barn is the building we are turning into a home. It's where we live now. It was white for years and is now tan. I prefer the white but, so it goes. Sadly the building in the lower left section burned down several years ago. I had hoped to turn it into a shop and studio. It was so old and deserving of care to keep it going. But ........

The little building with the chimney is still there but in need of TLC. A tornado years ago made it look a little tilted. Friends said they would help make it right this summer.

There is an Amish wagon because I enjoy my Amish friends north of us. Again, years ago, there were Amish in the area but they moved across the border into Wisconsin. They are wonderful and helpful. Two years ago, my son brought 11 foreign exchange students to the farm for Thanksgiving and we showed them the sights in our rural area. They loved their time with the Amish who fed them fresh bread, let them help cover strawberries and explore their wagons and farms. It was a wonderful experience for them and gave them another bit of insight into life in our country.

SO much work and not enough time. But Rome wasn't built in a day and this place will shine!!! It truly is a labor of love.

The land here had not been touched for years and we now graze sheep, llamas and horses on it.

Stayed tuned for more home improvements......

Hugs,
Barb

Still time to name the New Kids

The name the new kids contest is still going on. Name the two new little baby goat girls and win a set of Americana kitties ornies. If you have names to contribute, please add them to the comment section of this post and become a follower of the blog.

The names so far are great!!! Very creative and funny people in this world and happy to know some of them come here. Laughter makes the world go round or at least helps give us all some relief and down time. Thanks for the entrees. Have enjoyed them all.

Barb

Beautiful Wall or door hanger

Saw this on Etsy and had to share it with you!
Enjoy your cup of tea this morning and take a look at this and more:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24701504

The fabric Wall Pocket is sewn from layers of dark tea-dyed muslin, cotton batting and topped with dark tea-dyed cotton Eyelet. The back of the pocket is flat against the wall and the front is channeled and fluted into the shape of a wall sconce. A heavy twisted rusty wire forms the hanger and the red roses rest inside nestled with Spanish Moss and Green Floral Moss.


This items is presented by VintageKeepsakeTrunk.

Hope your Mother's Day was wonderful!

Hugs,

Barb

About the Chokecherries...........

Went looking for chokecherry bushes, as I said earlier. Couldn't find any. So I ordered some oneline. Just in the mood to have them.

Thanks for the comments Debra and Kat.

Debra, you can make wonderful syrup and jelly. Sooooooooooooooooo good!!!!!

Kat, you are so lucky you have so many of them. I ordered 10. That should get me started.

About the syrup. Years ago, my mom made great chokecherry syrup. One summer day she had some lady friends over and they poured the syrup over ice cream. They all wanted seconds and some wanted thirds. They laughed a little louder than usual. It sounded fun. When they left, my Dad tasted the syrup and discovered why it was such a great hit. It had fermented and turned into wine.

Happy ladies, good ice cream and superb syrup. Embarrassed mom. Happy memories.

Can't wait for the chokecherry bushes to get here.

Friday, The end to a very busy week!

Today, sadly, errands must be done. Might take some personal time to check out my favorite nursery. Need some berry bushes. Looking for Chokecherry. "Back in the day, when I was small, we made the best syrup from those berries. I would truly like to do that again.

Talk to you later, and Hugs from the farm!

Barb

How do you like the new look?

Fell in love with this template from Amybug. Hope you like it.

The contest for naming the kids is going great. All of you are so creative. This is so fun. When I look at the little girls, I can see them named so many of the names you have contributed. This is great.

Thanks

Remember to name the NEW KIDS !!!

The contest to name the new goat babies is still going. Some fun entries. So become a blog follower and enter your choices in the comment area and be the one to win the Americana Kitties!

The entryway-what a project!

This is the entry to our home. The building is a 100 year old barn that was used for sheep and dairy cattle. The doors you see on each side are the original sliding stall doors from the old days..

My sons built the wall you see and are finishing the doors. (School will be out soon and they will be home). You can see that I am experimenting with the color of blue/grey to use. It will be one of the main colors in the house. Behind the doors is one large open space which includes the kitchen, family room, living room, dining room, and just open space.

When I am finished with the mural on each side of the doors I have an idea for the top of the door.

Since today is sunny, I will spend some time outside but the rest of the week is rainy so I will be forced to stay inside and this will be one of my projects.

Stay tuned for more-----I appreciate your support.

Hugs,
Barb

Were you raised in a Barn- Yep!!!!

Every week I will show some advance in how we are turning this 100 year old barn into a home. This way I may stay on task a little better. It is easy around here to get sidetracked. I love to watch the horses do whatever they do- they are beautiful. I enjoy time in the greenhouse and the vegetable and herb gardens. Then there are the entertaining goats. We got them originally to eat down brush and then make goat milk soap. They have proven to be both blessing and headache.

Someday I will tell you about the big pig we had, a Japanese exchange student and how rodeo fit into that set of thoughts.

It has never been dull around here and hopefully never will be.

Several years ago, we had a devastating fire. It destroyed part of the barn ( our house) and a 100 year outbuilding and much of my best livestock. It was devastating!!!! After the 10 firetrucks and water tankers left, I was overwhelmed. But with the love of good friends and neighbors, we recovered.

Now it is time to finish the job and finally make this barn a warm, comforting home.

This is the start. Wish us luck.

Hugs,
Barb

Valley Primitives Gift Shoppe --Etsy Shop of the week

Just love the handwork from Valley Primitives.

Here is an example of this traditional handwork!!

Please take a look at her beautiful items at:


http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5675144

What an honor!!!!

My hand painted Americana Heart ornies were featured on an Artfire blog

You can see this great blog at:

http://moonstone.tumblr.com/

Please take some time to visit this site and see wonderful handmade items from gifted artisans.

Thanks to Linda at moonstonecreations on artfire for including me in this collection!!!! It would be great to visit her shop also!!!!!!!

Meet the New Kids

These are the two young females that were born this spring. They've been exploring with their mom in a light rain. They love to play, run. jump and check out the world. Win the Americana Kitties ornies by naming them. To play, become a follower of this blog and enter your choices in the comment section. Winner will be announced on May 30. here on the blog.

NAme the New "Kids" on the Farm and win these Americana Kitties

This year we had some beautiful baby goats--the kids! This year we are going to let you name the kids. Become a follower of this blog and leave your suggestions for name in the comment section and we will pick the winner from the names suggested. The prize for this contest is a set of Americana Cat ornies (pictured above).

This contest runs from today through May 30, 2009.


So follow the blog now and add the your names.