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