Coming Home Again

Spring on the Prairie

2010-05-05T13:00:00.006-05:00

Life in an old farmhouse out on the prairie follows the seasons. During winter, quiet days and long, snow filled nights fill up the calendar. We bundle up and hunker down around the fire to enjoy a good book and a cup of cocoa. We don't travel very far or very fast. Spring days are just the opposite though. The sun shines longer and warmer every day spurring us to get busy again. Spring has definitely sprung around here lately.

I just love the greening of the prairie when Spring finally arrives. I don't, however, love all the work that accompanies it. This year has been especially hectic. Last spring we were gearing up for our "faux" move. The spring before that we were actually moving. For the past 2 years, our lives have been in such turmoil that many things have gone undone. The warmer weather is allowing me to begin tackling some long awaited projects.

In the spring I always like to give everything a good cleaning. In addition to the house, I thoroughly clean my barn. That means dragging everything out of the barn, washing and disinfecting everything possible. I even wipe down and spray the walls of the barn.

We have also been cleaning out the flower beds which apparently had not been done for years. The mowing has begun. That is a real chore. Our yard is more than an acre, and I am having to mow it with a push mower! Hopefully the riding mower will be working again soon. (That is a funny story I will save for another day.)

I have started trying to clean out the garage too. I am ashamed to admit that it is packed so tightly that it is almost impassable. When my husband finally returned home last fall after his cross-country work tour last summer, he brought back everything we had in storage. We put most of the boxes in the garage. Unfortunately it was soon too cold to unpack them, so they sat there all winter. I am now trying to unpack all of them. What boxes we didn't put in the garage, we put on the sunporch, which is also a mass of boxes now. I am trying to get those unpacked and sorted as well.

Recently we opened up the second floor of the house and moved our bedroom there from the first floor. That entailed the two of us carrying all our bedroom furniture back up a tiny flight of stairs. There was lots of grunting and groaning, and even a little yelling near the end, but we finally got it done.

And as if all that wasn't enough to keep me busy, I have also been trying to get enrolled in school for the fall semester. I am looking forward to finishing what I started oh so long ago.

The long, dull days of winter are certainly over. I am on the go practically from dawn to dusk now. For the moment, I am enjoying the renewed pace of life. Pretty soon though, I will probably be longing to return to those lazy winter days of warm fires and good books.

Hope your fields are filled with flowers. Blessings.

Ugly Duckling Makeover

2010-03-31T13:27:00.012-05:00

I found this hideous gameboard at the thrift store. I almost walked right by it, but something told me that there was still hope for this ugly duckling. After all, it was only 75 cents, so I didn't have much to lose.

I started by sanding the board all over to make it easier to paint.

Then I painted all the blue squares black and painted the background cream.

Next I painted the board red. It took 3 coats. Two were burgundy and the top coat was barn red. The last thing was to stencil stars, black and cream, all over the board.

Then I placed it on top of my china hutch along with my other thrift store treasures including, Pfaltzgraff dishes, chippy paint birdhouse, and large mirror.

I would say it was 75 cents well spent.

Blessings.

As the deer panteth..

2010-03-28T08:41:00.006-05:00

As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.-- Psalms 42:1

Blessings to you on this Palm Sunday.

Freezing Fog and the promise of spring

2010-03-10T13:44:00.008-06:00

Last month we awakened to find that freezing fog had descended upon our little farm. It may be the most unusual weather phenomenon of all. It covers almost everything with a fine coat of ice which looks like a heavy frost, but different. Each tiny ice crystal seems to freeze individually, stacking up on top of each other. What amazes me most is how they appear to defy gravity. I can't even find the words to describe how they build on top of each other. You will have to enlarge the photo of the leaves to see what I am poorly attempting to describe.

While the freezing fog may be beautiful to look at, it is treacherous to drive in. That is why I am happy to say that I think winter may be done here. Woo-hoo!! The snow has finally, completely melted. This is a glorious day. We have had snow on the ground here in our little corner of the prairie since December 1st, 2009. The craziest thing is that the weather is not supposed to be like that here, because I don't live that far north. It just so happens that I moved to this area just in time to experience two of the coldest winters in more than a century.

I am pretty sure it is over though. I actually heard some birds singing when I was walking the dog. The dog was so surprised that she just stopped and looked to see where the birds were at. Then we both just stood in the field for a few minutes quietly enjoying the hint of spring's sweetness whispering to us. I can hardly wait for the beautiful wildflowers and grasses to return to the prairie. But for now, I will just settle for seeing the sunshine peeking through the curtains beckoning me to return outside, because it holds a promise that the fields will spring to life again soon.

Sweet little Rooster

2010-02-23T13:13:00.012-06:00

I would like to welcome the newest rooster to our kitchen. He arrived around Valentine's Day, and I have been trying to find just the right spot for him since then. He really is rather cute.

He helps out in the kitchen by holding a recipe when I am cooking.

Most of the time he just stands around looking handsome though.

He seemed so happy here at first. Then yesterday he started complaining . It seems that he doesn't like the darling ribbon I tied on him. I think it is because the other new fellow in the kitchen makes fun of him whenever I leave the room.

I hope the teasing stops soon, but you know how roosters are.

Blessings.

WINTER

2010-02-16T12:42:00.008-06:00

It snowed again last night. It wasn't much, just enough to be annoying, again. This winter seems long already, and we aren't even done with it.

Back in October, winter started whispering to us. The nights became longer, and the days became cooler. We knew winter would arrive soon. In November, winter stopped whispering and started knocking. The north wind began rattling the doors and windows with her power. In the mornings, the frost was so thick that it looked like snow.

Then on December 1st, winter showed her real fury with a nasty snowstorm. The weather warmed for a few days afterwards and it looked like the snow would melt. The sun was only teasing us though, and the snow never completely disappeared. Piles of it lingered in the shadows by the tractor barn, just like last year.

On Christmas day, winter gave us a really big surprise with the largest single day snowfall in my part of the prairie in RECORDED HISTORY. It just built upon what was already here.

January brought a record ice storm to accompany our normal snow. The weather forecasters were calling for about 1/10 of an inch of ice, which really isn't much. I didn't believe them though, and got ready for something worse. Thank goodness I did, because we ended up with ONE INCH OF ICE covering everything. Tens of thousands of homes in our region were without electricity. Since we live out on a lonely section of the prairie, there was no rush to restore electrical services in our area. We actually were part of the last 1/2 of 1% of people to get their electricity restored. I knew the break to our house was bad too when I looked outside and there were 9 electrical trucks lined up working to restore our power. Yikes!

What can I say about February. The snow just seems to keep coming. Thankfully we didn't get the several feet of snow that was dumped on the east coast all at once. Instead we have gotten our snow strung out over several months of unending grayness.

Truth is, I actually like winter, but this just might be too much of a good thing, even for me. Oh, did I mention that there is snow in the forecast for this weekend?! May you be blessed with warm, sunny days wherever you are.

Late night cards and other forgetful things

2010-01-25T14:32:00.006-06:00

Imagine that late one night you are busy boxing up a package to mail first thing the next morning. Suddenly you realize that you don't have a birthday card to mail with it. The nearest store is 2o miles away and closed at that time of night anyway. What do you do?

I grabbed some paper and ribbon and set to work. This is what I came up with. The picture isn't as clear as I wish it was, but you get the idea. I hope the recipient liked it, or at least appreciates the effort.

Blessings.

Cold house... warm hearts!

2010-01-16T19:41:00.006-06:00

Tears roll down my face as I sit on my comfortable couch in my safe home watching the images of the horror in Haiti. I am simply overwhelmed by the raw emotion of the victims. I feel their grief as they share the stories of the loved ones they have lost, and I recognize how truly blessed I am to be who I am and to live how I do.

These precious human beings enduring the unimaginable have touched my soul. I can not sit idly by and simply watch them suffer. I have to help. My husband and I have decided to give until it hurts, literally.

We are going to cut our heating budget in half this month and donate the remainder to charities assisting earthquake victims in Haiti.

The weather here has been milder recently, which means the temperatures have been hovering around the freezing mark during the day and staying above zero overnight. That is a January heat wave in my neighborhood.

We heat our home with a pellet stove and normally use about two bags of pellets a day. That keeps our house in the upper 50 degree range. For the rest of the month we are going to use only one bag of pellets a day. That will drop the temperature in the house to the lower 50s.

I am already wearing 3 layers of clothes anyway, so I will just put on a 4th one.

I don't actually even mind, because the joy I feel from knowing that we can make a difference means so much more to me than any slight discomfort I might feel in the coming weeks.

So if you want to feel good too, I encourage your family to give until it hurts too! There are many wonderful groups helping in Haiti right now. Please donate to one of them. Every donation can make a difference. Water purification tablets only cost a few pennies each, so every DIME can truly save a life.

Here are links to the agencies we are donating to. I have personally seen both of these charities in action where I live following other natural disasters. They are truly angels ministering in the midst of suffering.

Convoy of Hope: http://www.convoyofhope.org/

United Methodist Committee on Relief: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/emergencies/ongoing/haitiearthquake/

Blessings to you.

Happy New Year

2010-01-04T15:11:00.004-06:00

Thank you to all the sweet bloggers who dropped by and left me a note while I was absent. I appreciate your kind words. I am sorry to have been gone so long. I kept intending to get back to blogland, but life got in the way. Nothing terrible happened, just lots of little changes and inconveniences all at once, which seemed to overwhelm me. I will update you on everything when I can.

Happy 2010 to everyone. I hope your new year is getting off to a great start. Soon I will be dropping by your blogs to give you my well wishes in person. Until then, blessings to all of you.

Awesome Autumn Outdoor Displays

2009-10-23T15:56:00.012-05:00

Here are some photos of the outdoor autumn displays at Silver Dollar City a few years ago.

Silver Dollar City is one of our favorite places to visit in the fall.

The park is nestled in the rolling hills of the Ozarks near Branson, Missouri.

The park staff always does a terrific job of getting the place all dressed up for fall.

I always dream of my yard looking like this.

It never does, but I remind myself there is always next year.

Hopefully, these photos will inspire you too. Blessings to you.

Autumn Sunset

2009-10-21T09:00:00.007-05:00

I am participating in Wordless Wednesday this week. Thank you to our hostess Heather over at http://simplyheathersblog.blogspot.com/. To see more participants, pay her a visit.

Blessings.

How many cats?

2009-10-20T10:15:00.009-05:00

How many cats can you fit into a basket? Just how many cats can crawl in there to snuggle, sleep, wrestle, and even give each other a bath? Do you have a guess?

One, you think.

Two, maybe.

Three. Now you have figured it out!

You can tell the cats to get out of that basket, but they will ignore you.

You can explain to the cats where you got that basket and why you like it, but they won't listen.

Or.........you can accept the fact that they look really cute in that basket, and just marvel at their appreciation for antiques. At least they have good taste.

Furry blessings to you.

Rich Dessert at a Thrifty Price

2009-10-19T09:54:00.008-05:00

I was frugal, when frugal wasn’t cool. I don’t like to waste anything, but I especially don’t like to waste food. There are just too many hungry people in this world for me to feel comfortable throwing away edible food. This belief has meant that occasionally I have to find creative ways to use what we have on hand before it is ruined.

Years ago I had a freezer full of hot dog and hamburger buns. They had been on sale for fractions of a cent each at the day old bread store. I bought lots of them during that summer and stuck them in the freezer. When autumn rolled around, I still had a freezer full of buns. I figured we wouldn't be barbecuing much anymore, so I had to find another way to use up our abundance of frozen buns.

I stumbled upon a recipe for Bread Pudding in one of my cookbooks. The recipe originally called for a loaf of french bread, but I decided to make a bun substitution. In my mind, hot dog buns are alot like french bread, just smaller and softer, so I adapted the recipe. It also calls for a whiskey sauce, but since I don't drink alcohol, I adapted that too.

My family loved it! In fact they like it better than traditional bread pudding, because my version is much lighter. I will warn you though, this is a very rich tasting dessert. It is not low calorie either.

Here is the recipe:

1 pound hot dog or hamburger buns
1 quart milk
3 eggs, beaten slightly
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup raisins
2 tablespoons vanilla
3 tablespoons butter, melted

Break bread into chunks, and put in a large bowl. Add milk, and let soak for 10 minutes. Crush with spoon until well blended. Add eggs, sugar, raisins, and vanilla. Pour butter into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan. Spoon pudding into pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until pudding is firm. Let mixture cool. Then pour sweet sauce on top.

Sweet Sauce:

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk

Combine butter, sugar, and milk in a saucepan. Cook on medium until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

During the holidays it is fun to substitute, craisins (dried cranberries), for the raisins. It gives the pudding a pretty holiday look. Enjoy!

Are you ready?

2009-10-14T14:06:00.006-05:00

What a crazy couple of weeks it has been here on the farm. It all started when I decided to clean the carpets downstairs, which required us to empty all the furniture out of the computer room. We had to drag everything into the kitchen so we could get to the carpets in the computer room. Yes, I did actually mean the plural, as in "carpets". There are two carpets stacked on top of each other in there. The house is a rental, so we don't question why things are the way they are, we just ignore them and go on. Once we cleaned the top carpet, we had to carry it upstairs to a bedroom.Then we had to clean the bottom carpet and the rest of the house. Believe me this was a several day project.

Once the carpets were dry, and I could reassemble the computer room, we discovered there was something wrong with the internet, so I couldn't get back to blogland. Boy was I unhappy and grouchy!

When we finally got that fixed, we realized that fall had ended and winter had arrived. This wouldn't have been so startling except for the fact that fall had only been here for a few weeks to begin with. It is already COLD out on the prairie. Winter has arrived about a month and a half earlier than we expected. We got our first frost recently, and it was so heavy it looked like snow. Then a couple of days ago, it began to sleet. I have been working frantically trying to get the house winterized. A more than century old house with little insulation out on the windswept prairie can get colder than you can even imagine during the winter. We learned this the hard way last year. Now I am busy covering over windows and closing up the top floor as we prepare to live in the just the bottom floor of our house. I am hoping to avoid those GIGANTIC energy bills we had last year.

The big dilemma right now is ..... snow blower versus snow blade. The snow here was a huge shock to us last year. We were totally unprepared for the pounding we took from the weather.

Here is what I wrote about it earlier this year:

Winter is hard on the prairie. This was our first winter this far north so we had no idea what to expect. It turned out to be the worst winter here in 30 years! The first snow fell on November 30th. It basically never left for many months. It almost melted a few days later, but it never completely vanished. Then the really nasty part of winter arrived. The temperatures fell and the snow storms began appearing every 2 to 3 days. Our driveway became impassable before Christmas. Going anywhere required me to dig our car out of a snowbank, then shovel a path to the cornfield. Next I had to shovel a path out of the cornfield back to the driveway to actually reach the road. Finally we had to just leave our cars at the end of the driveway and walk the quarter mile to the house through the drifted snow carrying our groceries and other purchases. Eventually that didn't work because our cars wouldn't even start when the temperature fell to (-25) and the windchill was (-40)!

Now you can see why I have been nearly frantic about winter arriving a month and a half early! I am determined to not be trapped and frozen all winter long again, and I don't want to be shoveling snow at 2o degrees below again either. So we are trying to decide if it is best to buy a snow blower that you push or a snow blade that you put on your lawn mower. Part of our dilemma is the fact that we don't want to spend too much money for something that we may only use for one season. My husband's employer is so unpredictable that by next winter we could be living somewhere deep in the heart of Texas, hence an expensive snow blower would just be a waste of money and something else taking up space in the garage.

If you have ever purchased or used a snow blower or a snow blade, I could use your help. Please give me your opinion on which you think works best and any particular brands that work well or should be avoided. Thanks. Hopefully I will be done covering windows and moving to the warmer part of the house soon, so I can return to blogland. In the meantime, blessings to you and I hope you are staying warm wherever you are.

Following the Trail

2009-09-30T08:49:00.011-05:00

I am sorry that I have been absent from blogland for a little while now. I have certainly missed reading your stories and seeing your beautiful photographs. I just have been so busy down on the farm. Having boxes stacked all around the house makes me feel stressed, so I have been trying to get more of them unpacked. We have also been trying to complete some preparations for winter. The weather forecaster here actually warned us of a possible frost last night! But mostly I have been working on a genealogy project. Once I get started, I don't want to stop.

My genealogy search actually began many years ago. It was my freshman year of college, and I had to write a paper about three generations of my family for my American History class. This meant that I had to leave my big city university and travel back, deep into the Ozark Mountains to interview my father and grandmother. I had a long list of questions prepared to ask them. I already knew what many of their answers would be, but some of them surprised me. We kept running into one road block though. There was one particular relative that no one knew much about. He was a tall, dark, handsome, quiet young man who just showed up in a rural Ozarks community one day. His surname was my maiden name. No one knew where he had come from originally or even who he really was. My father and I decided that we would make researching him our summer project. Unfortunately, that never happened. My father died just a few short weeks later. In my grief, I packed away my notes and forgot about them. It was just too painful to remember.

Time passed. I moved frequently. My boxes got moved thousands of miles. Some got lost. Eventually the notes disappeared.

Years later I attended a genealogy workshop at work. I discovered that the husband of another lady there had relatives from the same isolated Ozarks village who had the same last name as mine. We were long lost cousins! This was the catalyst I needed. The time had come for me to begin my genealogy search. I went home and looked for those notes. They were nowhere to be found. Eventually I gave up again.

Then when we moved the next time , I opened up a long ago packed box and guess what I saw. Inside was that old, tattered notebook filled with yellowing pages of genealogy information. I have no idea how it got in there. As I reread my hastily scribbled notes I saw my grandmother's sweet smile, and I heard the depth of my father's laughter. For that moment, they were with me again.

Their clues started me down a path of learning where I had come from. I soon realized that my ancestors were simply ordinary people living ordinary lives but with extraordinary courage and passion. I discovered my beautiful great-great aunt who died far too young while in childbirth, and her devoted husband who died shortly thereafter simply from grief. I found my great-great grandfathers who fought in the same Civil War battle, on opposite sides. And I learned about the widowed, middle aged great-great-great-grandmother of mine with a house full of kids, who pulled up stakes and settled land in her own name with nothing more than her two bare hands and her sharp wit. I saw how the threads of their individual lives had been woven together to create a family. My family.

Today their examples guide me. Their courage inspires me. And their love surrounds me. Their stories have become My story. In finding them, I am finding pieces of myself.

And there is still so much more to discover. I have yet to solve the mystery of who the tall, dark, handsome, quiet young man really was. So, if I go missing from blogland for awhile again, don't worry. I am probably just walking with my great-great grandfather down a "Trail of Tears". I will be listening and learning from his story of how a people can endure the unendurable and find life and joy on the other side. There is still so much for him to teach me.

If you have never looked for your story in the past before, I encourage you to begin today. Your ancestors have left you clues. Simply follow their trail.

(P.S. The photos are my parents.)

Blessings to you.

Barn kittens gone wild

2009-09-23T16:57:00.011-05:00

In my humble opinion, there are few things in life cuter than kittens. These are photos of a litter we had on the farm in the past. We have some new kitties right now, but they are not quite ready for their debut with the paparazzi.

Cats are a blessing on the farm because they cut down on the rodents, plus they are just so darn cute! I love to pick up the kittens and cuddle them because it is like holding a tiny puff of fur with big, beautiful, blue eyes.

I even enjoy watching them make their mischief. They are constantly climbing into places they shouldn't be or wrestling with each other. The litter in these photos decided they should move from the barn into a storage shed so that they could be closer to the yard to play with dogs, and closer to the house with the people who snuggle you and give you kitty treats. Pretty smart kitties wouldn't you say!

Life just seems right when there are kittens on the farm.

Fall fun in my neighborhood

2009-09-18T15:10:00.016-05:00

Here are some photographs of fun fall displays at the neighbors. These are country neighbors, which means that they don't live right next door, just somewhere in the area. In the country, you are just so glad to have anyone near you that even folks living miles away count as neighbors.

Many years ago, long before we arrived on the prairie, our neighbors started selling fruits and vegetables retail to the public. Through the years their business has grown. They no longer have just a roadside stand. In fact, we refer to them as the "Disneyland of Agriculture." Any way you can think of for having fun on the farm is available there. Kids can pick apples, go on a hayride, wander through a cornmaze, feed farm animals, and even play on a playground. Meanwhile, adults can get an apple donut or fritter hot from the bakery or drink some cider so sweet that you will swear someone just stuck a straw in an apple. Best of all, for the ladies there is shopping, lots of it. They have a giant warehouse filled to the rafters with country style seasonal home decor. Anything you might need for fall decorating is available here. (Guess where all my extra pocket change gets spent this time of year.)

The designers here do a wonderful job displaying the merchandise and decorating the store. I just love browsing the building and looking for decorating ideas. They are so nice that they don't even mind if I bring my camera along, so I took a few photos recently. I am sorry that the photos aren't clearer. Unfortunately they don't capture the true beauty of this place either. It is packed with wonderful merchandise.

I admit that I go over there at least once (sometimes twice) a week to see what is new. You see, they even have a clearance area which often has wonderful items at a fraction of their retail cost. It is like getting things at thrift store prices, except all of it is new.

I wish all of you could visit there with me. We would have a fun day eating our way through the bakery and cafe, then shopping until our carts were overflowing. If I ever win the lottery, I will fly all of you in and we will have a grand day in my neighborhood. Blessings to you and enjoy the weekend.

Foggy sunset on the Prairie

2009-09-17T10:40:00.016-05:00

Now don't get me wrong, I will always be a little mountain girl. I grew up in the beautiful rolling hills of the Ozarks surrounded by giant trees and abundant water. That will always be my vision of what heaven must look like. The lush greenery of forest and field there brings joy to my soul, but the sunsets just can't match those of the prairie.

Here the sky is huge and unobstructed. Almost every night it seems ablaze as the sun creeps below the horizon for its' nightly rest. Vivid pinks and peaches burst forth and cast a rosy hue on all that they touch. It seems like each evening is a masterpiece waiting to be born. It is especially beautiful when the fog is rolling in. A hush seems to fall upon the world as it slips into a restful slumber. I marvel anew at God's handiwork.

I encourage you to make time today to recognize the beauty in your midst wherever it may be.

Blessings to you.

Thrifty Finds

2009-09-14T16:04:00.022-05:00

Today dear hubby and I went thrifting. This can be fun or not, depending on how fast he gets hungry and tired. I agreed to stop for breakfast before we began, so it turned out to be a fairly good day, especially because I got some great bargains.

At our first thrift stop I got some napkins in fall colors. They appear to be brand new and were only $1.00 each. We hit the jackpot at our next thrift store though. I found a beautiful basket, which I think is handmade.

I also got this cute little pumpkin.

But the real find of the day was this old sewing box full of vintage goodies. Look what I found inside. (These photos show only a fraction of the contents.)

There are vintage scissors which will be beautiful for decorating.....

And wonderful old thimbles.....

I also found buttons inside. Loose buttons......

And buttons on cards......

There are many cards of old hooks and eyes......

And snazzy old snaps.....

I found lots of thread on spools and cones.....

The sewing basket contained a box of bobbins.....

I also found rolls of ribbon, packages of needles, and boxes of vintage Singer sewing machine attachments! There was even a roll of litmus paper included in case I need to do any scientific experiments. (Don't you just wonder what that was doing in there.)

The most amazing thing is that all this sewing goodness only cost me $2.50. My total for the sewing box, pumpkin, and handmade basket was only $4.18 including tax. On the way to the car my husband asked me if I shouldn't go back and just hand over more cash to the store because he thought buying that much stuff for such a low price might be immoral.

I was feeling so good about my new treasures that I didn't really even mind what happened next. I asked hubby to drive us to the other Goodwill store in town. We made our way through traffic and headed to the GW. All of a sudden my husband flipped on his blinker and headed to the turn lane. I started yelling at him that this wasn't the way to the thrift store. He sheepishly grinned and apologized, admitting that he had forgotten about the GW when he saw the meat market and thought about all that meat inside there. "Not yet", I scolded him. "We have to finish finding the bargains. Then you can buy some beef." What is it with men and food! I can thrift store shop all day long and never once stop to eat. That just slows me down and might make me miss a bargain.

So my husband drove on to the last thrift store. We found a few things there including a pottery bowl for $1.49 and a new book of children's stories for $1.00. While we were shopping I overheard another married couple having a heated conversation. The wife was trying to explain to her husband that thrift stores were not like garage sales and you couldn't negotiate the price with the cashiers.

I snickered and got in line to check out. The wife got in line behind me. Just when I reached the register, the husband comes racing up to the register and cuts me off. He asks the cashier to ring him up. I just looked at the cashier and smiled indicating that I didn't care that he had cut in front of me. But then the man wouldn't give the cashier the merchandise. He just wanted to hold up the stuff and tell her how much he thought it should cost. She nicely took the merchandise from the man, rang it up and bagged it. When she gets done and tells the man the total, it turns out he doesn't have any money. He turns to his wife, who is politely waiting behind me in line and yells out, "Honey, come up here. They need to ring up your stuff too, and you need to pay for everything." Now his wife is really mad, because now everyone knows she is with him. She rips into him about being a line cutter and not paying attention to anyone around him . It was seriously all I could do not to laugh out loud. I told the lady to just go ahead of me and not worry because I wasn't in that big of a hurry anyway. I looked at my husband, and he just smiled because he knew we were on our way to buy beef soon.

That poor man was clearly a novice thrifter. He still has lots to learn. I wish his wife good luck and lots of patience. I wondered though, should I tell her that in the future a hot donut and the promise of some red meat can make the day much better for both husband and wife.

Blessings to you and happy thrifting.

Patriot Day 2009

2009-09-11T08:57:00.010-05:00

May we all pause for a moment today to remember those who died on that horrible day eight years ago, both soldiers and civilians. May we also honor those who continue to serve their fellow Americans whether they be in our hometowns or in a distant desert. May we remember those who have sacrificed their lives for us by living lives worthy of their sacrifice.

And may we never forget that regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic class, or political preference, we Americans are all in this together. May our words and our deeds reflect a belief that in working together we can become a stronger nation and just perhaps, build a better world. May God continue to bless the United States of America.

Ode to Summer

2009-09-09T00:05:00.004-05:00

Today I am participating in Wordless Wednesday. To see more photos visit our hostess Heather at http://simplyheathersblog.blogspot.com/. Enjoy.

On the Road Again

2009-09-03T07:37:00.005-05:00

Hello. I am sorry I have not been out and about in blogland much lately. I probably won't be for a few more days either. We are in the process of moving the rest of our stuff from the Ozarks to the prairie. I'll tell you about it when we finally get it all home and unpacked.

Unfortunately the tractor in the photo is not ours, so it won't be coming with us. I'm not sure who it actually belongs to. It was just sitting in the field of our home back in the Ozarks. Our landlord said a friend of his just left it there one day and never came back for it. I wish it was mine though!

Blessings to you.

Vintage Roosters Gone Wild

2009-08-27T21:52:00.020-05:00

Today I am participating in the Rooster Party being hosted by Barb of Bella Vista at http://barbsgoodlife.blogspot.com/ . I should probably inform you before we begin that this is a coed farm, so you are going to see some hens mixed in with the roosters.

Let's start our tour in the dining room. Here is the fellow that started all this rooster craziness. Originally he belonged to my maternal grandmother. I loved him so much that eventually he made his way to my house and has been very happy here ever since. I don't have many things that belonged to my grandmother, so Mister Rooster is very special to me. That is why I couldn't let him be lonely, so I had to start collecting more roosters.

Here are a few of Mister Rooster's little buddies. These were all picked up at garage sales or thrift stores through the years. You can tell by their chips and cracks that they are vintage, and I don't mind a little imperfection.

Grandma's rooster has some fancier friends he can look up to as well. This piece came from Hobby Lobby (on clearance of course).

I even found a set of 4 Warren Kimble rooster plates and a matching cream pitcher at Goodwill.

Just last week, my husband spotted this Metlox Poppy Trail rooster bowl at the thrift store. I couldn't pass it up at only 99 cents!

I bought these prints at the thrift store. I still can hardly believe they were only $3.50 each.

This rooster banner welcomes you into our kitchen.

When my rooster hand soap dispenser broke, I put a stopper into the hole because I just couldn't bear to part with it and it's darling crackled finish.

I located this rooster and hen hanging rack at a salvage store. It was originally designed to hang a valance on, but I thought it would be lots more fun to hang my vintage metal and wood treasures from it.

That is all the roosters roosting inside, but you can't leave until you see this rooster sign out by the corn field. Isn't it cute!

Now roosters may be popular and stylish, but on this farm there is only one chicken who rules the roost, my sweet little red hen. Bossy little Sister tells all of us what to do.

Drop back by the farm soon and we will visit some of the other animals. Have a blessed weekend.

It's here (Fall came in a box this year)

2009-08-25T13:52:00.012-05:00

When I went to the post office recently, I discovered that there was a package waiting for me. Once I saw the return address, I was so excited. I knew it was the fall gathering I had won from the giveaway by Old Annie Primitives at http://oldeannieprimitives.blogspot.com/. This was an important moment for me since this was the first time I had ever won anything on the internet.

I didn't open the box immediately though. I waited until my husband got home so he could enjoy the moment with me. Practically as soon as he was in the door though, I started ripping that box open. As soon as I opened the top of the box a heavenly scent greeted my nose. It smelled like fall had been captured in a box and was now being delivered to my door. The spices Annie used on this are wonderful. Now I was really excited. I opened the other end and slid out my prize. I just could not believe how beautiful it was! This gathering has all my favorite autumn items like leaves, and berries, and even pumpkins, and they are all in those luscious colors of fall.

My husband even said, "Wow, that looks like something you would have bought for yourself." He was right, but this was even better, it was a gift!

The new fall gathering arrived at just the right time too. It is definitely beginning to feel like autumn here. The temperatures are falling and the crops in the fields are turning golden. I have my apples, pumpkins, and mums sitting around the house to welcome the season, and now I have my gorgeous gathering as well. Thanks Annie. I think my prize is wonderful.

A hole in my drawers and a makeover

2009-08-22T11:34:00.014-05:00

That photo is a little peek at my makeover. But the story actually begins a few years back. Old houses are notorious for not having enough closet space. Our little house in the Ozarks (the one we lived in before moving to the prairie) was especially short on storage. I knew as soon as we moved into that house that we needed to find another chest of drawers for the master bedroom. I, of course, started my search at a thrift store. It was love at first sight. I spotted the chest practically the moment I stepped into the store. It was a 3 drawer, white, antique chest of drawers with chippy paint, and beautiful, curvy legs. I am a sucker for sexy legs, so I was immediately smitten. I had a smile on my face the whole way home.

When I got home I realized that my affection for those beautiful drawers might have made me underestimate what it was going to take to repair this piece of furniture. You see, there was a hole in the bottom drawer. I am not talking about a pencil sized hole, or a shoe box sized one. No, half of the bottom drawer was actually missing. I just assumed we could fix it.

I showed my husband my purchase when he got home. He laughed, right out loud, a lot. He explained that he did not have the right tools to fix the chest, and buying the tools he needed would probably cost more than just buying another chest!

I knew I was on my own with this problem now, so I just shoved a piece of cardboard over the hole. It worked at first. Since it was summer then, I just put my sweaters in the broken drawer knowing that I wouldn’t be opening the drawer much. Then gravity set in. The cardboard began to sag. Eventually the saggy cardboard jammed the drawer, and you couldn’t open it. You had to remove the drawer above the broken one, and then reach through the hole to get what you wanted. Then you had to put the other drawer back in. Finally even I had to admit that this wasn’t very practical, so I donated the chest back to the thrift store so someone with the “right tools” could fix it.

Now I had to go chest shopping again. This time I was more practical. I looked for something that had functional drawers rather than just buying for beauty. I ended up with a ho hum, ordinary, 4 drawer, boxy chest which had no sexy legs whatsoever. It is sturdy, and it does keep the clothes contained fairy well, so we moved it with us when we came to the prairie. I have never been happy with it though. That is why I decided to give it a makeover while my husband was gone. I knew that if it turned out badly I could just get rid of the evidence while he was gone.

You see, I have never done a (successful) makeover on a large piece of furniture before. I have redone some shelves and picture frames, etc., but nothing this substantial. This was my first major project.

Here is the chest of drawers before I began. You can see from this side view that it just your basic wooden chest of drawers.

My first step was to sand the piece using my little electric sander.
Next I gave it three coats of paint. I used a brush for the first two coats, and I was pretty sloppy. I actually wanted to see some of the brush strokes because I like the rough look. I used a sponge brush for the third paint job because I wanted to be sure I had good coverage for the final coat. The paint color is something in between cream and sand. I let that set overnight to dry.

Here it is in the morning before I started again.

Next I sanded the chest again. Then I brushed walnut stain all over it using a sponge brush. That turned out darker than I wanted so…..

I brushed white stain on top of that.

I didn’t brush the lighter stain over the drawer edges of the knobs though, because I wanted to keep them the darker color.

Finally this project was done. Now the chest of drawers looks like it was abused by dozens of little hands for decades, then rolled in the dirt in the barn. Perfect. That is just the look I wanted.

There are a couple of morals to this ridiculous story. The first lesson is to be sure you are not tempted by a set of sexy legs. Your clothes will fall through a giant hole in a drawer. The second lesson is to not be afraid to try painting a piece of furniture you dislike. You might be surprised at how well it turns out, because if I can do a makeover, anyone can. (It also helps to do this while hubby is away, so any major mistakes can become charitable donations.)

Have a great weekend, and I hope you get started on that long awaited project. Blessings to you.

A Year in the Life of the Prairie

2009-08-18T08:47:00.022-05:00

It appears that my husband may actually be living with me again. Yesterday he signed a contract with his employer stating that they intend to keep him at their nearby facility for awhile now. That means we will remain out on the prairie for the time being. If I was a betting person, I would wager we won't be here any longer than another year though, because the company is preparing to open a new, huge facility in another part of the United States within the next 12 months.

I am going to try to enjoy the time I have left on the prairie as much as possible though. Today I thought I would show you some more of what we have experienced living here in the last year.

Autumn will come to the prairie again soon. The nights will grow longer and the daytime shorter. The fields will turn golden. Then the harvest will begin.

Winter will arrive suddenly with the howl of a prairie blizzard rattling the windows and pounding on the doors. Then silence will follow in the stillness of the snow covered fields.

Spring is so very slow to arrive on the prairie. The skies open up and gray, dreary rain replaces the snow. The fields turn into acres of black, muddy, muck. Just when you think you can't take the drabness anymore, tiny hints of green appear in the yards and along the roadside. Then one day a gentle breeze blows in the new season and the flowers return. Planting begins.

Summer is my favorite season on the prairie. It is spectacular. Everything is alive again. The land is green as far as the eye can see. The corn grows tall and strong. The breeze blows, and the birds sing their sweetest songs.

A year on the prairie is filled with extremes. There is sweltering heat in summer and frigid cold in winter. There is unceasing rain in the spring and golden sunshine in the fall. Life is ever changing here, yet every season is beautiful in its' own way. You just have to stop for a moment and enjoy what surrounds you. Blessings to you.

Wild Goose Chase

2009-08-14T08:15:00.008-05:00

It appears that we may have been on a wild goose chase for awhile. In the last 18 months my husband's employers have had him working in 5 different facilities in 3 different states. As I mentioned previously, this has meant lots of moving for us. We now have part of our belongings scattered in storage throughout the Midwest.

My husband's employers are telling us now, that they are considering transferring him back to one of places he worked before. Ironically enough, it is the location that I eventually chose to stay at while he got moved around the country. So we may be staying out on the prairie. I still have everything we own packed in boxes though, just in case they change their minds again. They are supposed to make a final decision soon. We'll see.

When I saw these geese in the parking lot of a local hardware store, I couldn't help but be reminded of my own life. Apparently these geese were tired of migrating too, so they just stopped at the hardware store and started a family. Mama goose made a nest in a bag of mulch in the parking lot. Daddy goose walks a foot patrol around the base of the pile of bags, watching over his little family. He honks a warning at anyone or anything that gets too close to their home in the lawn care section.

I guess they kind of illustrate the idea that anywhere can be home as long as you are surrounded by the people that you love!

Have a great weekend, and blessings to you and your family.

Stressed

2009-08-06T11:22:00.005-05:00

If you took a photograph of me right now, this is what I would look like, STRESSED. So far this week, 3 different people that my husband works with have told him 3 different locations they are considering transferring him to. I'm trying to be patient and faithful, but seriously. What items we decide to move or sell will be effected by where they are sending us. Say a move to somewhere near Mexico versus a move to closer to Canada would mean keeping different things. I don't know if we need a snow blower or more swimsuits! I no longer care where we get moved, I just want to get there. I know that someday we will look back on this and laugh, I'm just not to that point yet. I hope your week is going better than mine. Blessings to you.

Americana on the Farm

2009-08-03T08:02:00.017-05:00

Now that August is here, I fear that summer will be over soon. I wanted to show you Americana on the farm before the season is gone. Here is how we do red, white, and blue out on the prairie.

Red.....

White......

Blue.....

Red, white, and blue.....

Blessings to you and enjoy the sunshine if you still have it!

The girlie-girl in me

2009-08-01T09:05:00.008-05:00

In my last post, I wrote about deciding to decorate the main parts or shared parts of the house in sort of a country, primitive, folk art style. The master bedroom is going to be different. This is the one room where I hope to release my cottage, shabby chic, romantic, feminine side. There is only one potential problem with this plan. I'm married.

While I may have a girlie-girl side, my husband is more of a burly man. He is a Nascar, hunting and fishing, and Craftsman tool loving guy. His favorite home decor catalogs come from Bass Pro Shops and Cabellas. If he was in charge of decorating, we would probably have the camo couch and matching recliner by now.

When I talked to my husband about how I wanted to change the bedroom into sort of a "Secret Garden" with lots of birds and flowers and chippy furniture, he said he just had a couple of requests. His first request was that some sort of bed still remain in the room, and his second request was that he still be allowed to sleep in said bed. Since these seemed like such reasonable requests, I agreed.

Now the fun part can begin. My first adventure has been the makeover of the chest of drawers in the bedroom. My goal is to make it match.....

this mirror....

and this picture frame...

The chest makeover is already almost done. There are a few finishing touches left to do though. I hope it will be ready to reveal soon.

Then I will dive back into the blog world looking for inspiration from some of those beautiful cottage decorators out there. I just love seeing all the different ways they incorporate country and shabby chic into their homes. So this is a warning to all my cottage blog friends, don't be surprised if you see me prowling around your blogs looking for inspiration. I am continually amazed by how you turn your thrift store, garage sale, and hand me down finds into such gorgeous rooms for your families to enjoy. I believe that your photos and decorating tips just may provide me with enough help that I can actually have a coordinated room for once.

Thank you to everyone for all the great ideas you have already given me. I can hardly wait to get started on this no cost/low cost decorating adventure.

Searching for my style

2009-07-30T10:39:00.015-05:00

I am a little of this....

And a little of this......

And a whole lot of this.....

So now as we prepare to move to a new home, I am on a decorating odyssey. As I pack, I am trying to take only those items we actually will use in the future or that remind us of our loved ones. I hope to get rid of the stuff that so often sits in boxes in storage anyway, because I just don't know what to do with it.

I think I have mentioned before that decorating our home is a real challenge for me. I don't really have a style, or maybe the problem is that I just like too many different styles. I definitely like old things, and our houses are always country farmhouse looking, but that can encompass very different looks. For example, I really like the pastel colors, small florals, and fruit motifs of cottage style. I also like the big overstuffed chairs and sofas that can go with that style. But I also like the dark colors and dark woods that go with the primitive style. I just love the soiled, tattered look of so many of the primitive crafts. The two styles are almost opposites of each other, but I like elements of both! If you are a really good decorator you can merge these two very different looks. Since I am not much of a decorator, in the past, I have just ended up with an unmatched, unattractive home. I am trying to clean up our look now and limit myself to one dominant style in each room. Hopefully this will result in a more attractive home.

Realistically I can't just follow my heart in decorating each room though. I have a family to consider besides just myself. Practicality does have to figure into the equation as well. For example, I find the dainty, airy look of shabby chic, cottage living rooms very appealing. I can just imagine having a sweet, wicker settee in my living room. That just wouldn't work at my house though.

We are not dainty, fragile kind of people. Our daughter may be the one exception. She is average height, with a slim build. The rest of us, well let's just say we are not so slim. When I married my husband, his family referred to me as "his big wife from up north". I was hurt at the time, but now that many years have passed, I think it's pretty funny. I mean, I can't help the fact that most women in his family are only about 5 feet tall. By comparison, I am an Amazon. I am both tall and "big boned." But my husband isn't exactly tiny himself. He is average height, but barrel chested. He is built somewhat like a small bull. Then there is our son. One of his nicknames in school was "Gigantor". Really, it was. He is 6'7" tall. Yes, I really did mean to type 6 feet, 7 inches. He weighs well over 200 pounds, and the emphasis in this sentence should be placed on the word OVER. He too is "big boned". His arms are like tree limbs and his legs are like 2 tree trunks. Face it, you just can't seat a mighty oak tree on a dainty wicker chair. It can't take the abuse. Our son doesn't sit just sit on furniture either. Instead he throws his entire mass onto it as he is seated. I swear the furniture used to groan when he came from school.

The last time I bought living room furniture, I had to keep all this in mind. I got a couch that was semi-neutral colored with flecks of assorted colors all over it to help hide the various food stains I knew to expect in a home constantly filled with hungry teenagers. I also bought a brown love seat because it was sturdy and the color would mask the assorted sports field dirt our son brought home after practices. Those colors would definitely work best in a primitive room. Now our son has his own apartment. He is using the good furniture in his living room right now so I don't have to store it. But as my husband reminded me, if it stays there very long it probably won't be the "good furniture" anymore.

Dark colors and already banged up wood are definitely the most practical choices for our home. Though our kids live on their own now, they do return to visit. Sometimes they even bring their friends. They are all taller now, but there still is lots of eating and lounging on the furniture. We don't really mind, but I do have to take this into consideration.

Yes, the primitive style does suit us very well for the main part of the house, and I just love all the rusty, crusty accessories that go with it. Soon, I'll tell you what I have decided to do in the bedroom though. You might say my motto there is "You go girl." Who knows, maybe this decorating thing will even be fun now that I have a plan. Blessings to you.

P.S. feel free to share any decorating tips you have. I can always use the help.

Naughty little Kitty

2009-07-28T12:28:00.006-05:00

Fluffy may look cute and cuddly, but that is just an act. He is becoming a real trickster.

Imagine for just a moment that you are a young cat living on a farm looking for some mischief to get into during the summer. What would you do? Here is an idea for you.

You could watch for the farmhouse lady to come outside and walk the big dogs. You walk beside them on the trail for awhile, then disappear into the cornfield. You stealthly sneak through the cornfield beside the trail until you are ahead of everyone else. You hunker down and silently wait. They get closer and closer, and still you don't move a muscle.

Then when everyone is almost right beside you, rustle the corn as much as possible and jump out in front of them. Be sure to stick your tail up and try to look larger than you really are. Make as much noise as you can and look ferocious.

Sometimes you might even scare the big dogs , but everytime you will frighten the farmhouse lady. If you are really lucky, the first time you do this she might even yell out in fear. It is great fun. Then don't forget to run back to the barn, as fast as you can, and tell the other cats how funny you are.

Oh, there is just one more thing. Don't be surprised if the nice farmhouse lady refuses to give you any cat treats for the next few days because she says you are one naughty little kitty.

Anybody need a cat?

In the Fog

2009-07-27T11:12:00.014-05:00

God, give your people a break

From this run of bad luck.

Psalm 25:22

from The Message

I feel like I am lost in this fog we had recently. We were supposed to have moved yesterday. The boxes were packed. The U-haul was reserved. The lease was signed on the new house, and the utilities were turned on. But 4 days before, my husband's boss took him aside and said that he needed to tell him something. All our plans fell apart in that instant. This isn't the first time something like this has happened to us though.

About a year ago we decided to relocate from the Ozarks to the prairie in hopes of it providing my husband with better job opportunities. He does contract work in the manufacturing industry. That means he is employed by one company but actually works in a facility that is owned by someone else. He had been doing that for awhile and had been staying at the same facility. He was able to remain in one plant, but that meant that each year as the contract was awarded to a new company, he had to reapply for his job. It also meant that he could never get promoted because he never had any seniority. He was technically always a "new hire" even though he had been at the same facility for awhile.

Last year we decided to move with his current company when they left our area, because my husband was offered a job at their headquarters. We thought it would help. We were wrong. Shortly after we got settled on the prairie, the world economy collapsed. That cut all overtime, which meant that our income was CUT in HALF overnight. I couldn't find a job to replace our lost income either, because thousands of local people had just been laid off. We soon discovered that expenses in our new area were many times greater than where we had moved from. For the past year we have been living off of our savings.

A few months ago when my husband was offered a chance to go back to an area near where we came from, he took it. We knew that at least our expenses would decrease and maybe I could find employment there before we go completely bankrupt.

After months of searching, my husband finally found a decent house to rent in our price range. He signed the lease and began cleaning and painting the place so I could move in. He even took loads of our belongings to the new house.

We were ready to move this past weekend. Then my husband received word that everything at the new facility had fallen through. He has been temporarily reassigned to another plant in another state.

Now we are in a real pickle. All of our funds are gone. Between the high expenses of the past year and the cost of the move which we had started, our bank account is empty. On top of that, we don't know how much longer my husband will have a job, or if he does, where it will be, or how we can afford to get there. UGH!

But please don't feel sorry for us. I am not telling you this story because I want you to feel bad for us. There are many people in America worse off than us right now. I am sharing this story with you because I know we are not alone in facing adversity at this moment. I simply want to encourage all those other people who are struggling right now as well. I want to tell them that we will survive, and so can they. I know because I have been down in this pit before. I know how overwhelming and frightening it can be to face such an unsure future. But I also know that I am not alone. God is with me. He has lifted me out of dark pits before, and I believe he will pull us out of this situation as well, and give us a firm future again. I just hope that he does it soon, cause I am getting weary. But I am not defeated, because God is in control! Blessings to you and your families.

The good, the bad, and the Oh so ugly

2009-07-20T16:04:00.027-05:00

I have lived in old farmhouses most of my life. I grew up living in an old farmhouse and have spent the last several years living in them as well. The farmhouse we are about to move out of is more than 100 years old. If you have ever lived in an old house you know that it can be both challenging and rewarding. Eventually you just have to learn to accept the good, the bad, and the oh so ugly. Just let me show you.

Here is some of the bad. How about a wagon wheel chandelier. It does match the 1970s era orange and gold carpet on the sunporch. Whenever I enter this room, I feel like I have stepped into a time machine and exited onto the set of The Brady Bunch. I'm sure this was lovely in its' time, but sadly, its' time has passed.

I won't show the ancient, easily clogged plumbing, or the leaky windows, but believe me, they are there. I also won't show you the basement which floods whenever it rains, or the tiny doorways which are so small furniture won't fit through them, including important things like your bed. But I will show you something very scary. It is in the living room. It is my least favorite thing in this house. There are a set of shelves built into the living room wall, and oh yes, that really is mirrored tile with gold marbling. It is oh so ugly. At first I didn't have a clue what to do with them. Eventually I settled for camouflage. I took foam board and cut it to fit onto the shelves. Then I covered it with a starry fabric. Still tacky, but not quite as ugly. There was a matching set of shelves in the dining room. I managed to put a large piece of furniture in front of them so they would be hidden.

But there is a payoff for living in an old farmhouse. Here is some of the good.

There is beautiful wood everywhere. Each doorway is surrounded with vintage molding. The stairs up to the bedrooms are well worn and mellowed with age. The wooden railing is smooth to the touch from years of hands rubbing it on their way up and down the stairs. There are wide, painted plank floors in both bedrooms.

Every room has an old door with beautiful cracking, peeling paint and vintage hardware. I really love old door knobs. They have character and patina you just can't get with a new doorknob.

But the best reason of all to live in an old farmhouse is that you get a room with a view. There is just nothing else quite like that. Yes, old farmhouses suit me just fine.

Blessings to you.

A Little Child

2009-07-19T08:29:00.002-05:00

Here is an encouraging story from Leaves of Gold by Crosslet Publishing Company.

"A little child on a summer morning stood in a great cathedral church. The sunlight streamed through the beautiful stained glass windows and the figures in them of the servants of God were bright with brilliant color. A little later the question was asked, 'What is a saint?' and the child replied, 'A saint is a person who lets the light shine through'. "-----Anonymous

May we all let God's light of hope and joy shine through us onto our families, our friends, and our coworkers this week. Blessings to you.

It's a beautiful day in the Neighborhood

2009-07-17T08:06:00.007-05:00

I don't have much to show you inside our house anymore, because it is almost all packed up. So I decided I would just show you around the neighborhood. Most days, it really is a beautiful day in the neighborhood. It's a very nice neighborhood, not the least bit exclusive though. There are no security guards or gated communities. There are no club houses or indoor swimming pools. There is an occasional creek or pond, but mainly there is just corn, soybeans, wildflowers, and the wide open prairie sky to admire. Many days, the beauty surrounding us takes my breath away. I hope you enjoy the drive.

They're Back

2009-07-15T10:20:00.017-05:00

Recently while I was on the computer, ironically enough, I heard a familiar drone. "They're back," I thought to myself, then headed out to see.

I remember the first time I heard that drone last year. I wasn't sure what it was initially, but the noise kept getting closer and closer. Then I remember thinking that it sounded like a plane was about to hit the house. I ran outside and saw a crop duster flying overhead. He was working on the neighbor's fields, which meant that he had to fly over our house and the nearby fields. He kept circling overhead, then diving and swirling all around. It was like watching my own private air show, and with no admission charge.

I quickly ran back in to grab my camera. I took lots of photos. I kept running around the yard trying to find the best spot, but to my disappointment, none of the photos turned out very well. That little plane was just too high and moving too fast for my camera to capture a good image. I think the pilot may have noticed me in the yard though, because before he left, he flew over my yard and tipped his wings at me.

I was thrilled! The closest I had ever been to a crop duster before was watching Petticoat Junction. Now I realize this may date me, but I was just watching the reruns. But I confess, they weren't that old at the time. I will also admit that I had a serious crush on Steve Elliot, the crop duster pilot that married the youngest daughter, Betty Joe Bradley. I think I was attracted to his wonderful voice and that beautiful head of hair. In my mind, all crop duster pilots look like that.

They are back for the season, and I still run outside with my camera trying to catch a good picture. Maybe I will one of these days, and you can bet that if I do, I will share it with all my blog friends. Hey, it's about the most exciting thing going on here in Hooterville right now.

Shhh.... Don't tell my husband

2009-07-13T08:46:00.010-05:00

I did a good thing over the weekend. I sold 4 more boxes of stuff we didn't need and made a quick $100. But then...... I did a not so good thing. I went to a thrift store. Just please don't tell my husband, because he will tease me, relentlessly. He thinks I am a thriftaholic. I say I am not. I can quit whenever I want to. I just have never wanted to. This weekend makes me fear that he may be right though.

It started out innocently enough. I was just driving by the thrift store when I decided I would stop by and see what was new, but only buy things we NEEDED. I had told my DH that I would quit buying thrift treasures until after the move. At first I was restrained. I found a huge package of clothespins for 99 cents. We will NEED those for the clothesline my husband has promised for the new house. I also found a package of new tie on price tags, also only 99 cents. We NEED those for our upcoming sale.

Then the trouble started. I saw the "other items". They whispered to me, "We are beautiful. We are bargains. You will want us later and won't be able to find us again." Somehow in a rush of adrenalin they ended up in my cart. It's all sort of a fog now, which could be from the excitement I was feeling at the time. They were real bargains though. The total expense for all of them was less then $6.00. I have always wanted one of those canning jar lamps, and who could pass up that 1829 bear for only $1.49. I certainly couldn't!

I took the photographs of them as soon as I got home. Then I ripped the price tags off of my new treasures and quickly packed them in boxes for the move. I will unpack those boxes last. If my husband asks where they came from, I will just say, "Oh, those old things. I have had them for awhile."

I won't actually define "awhile" unless he asks me to. Just please don't you tell him, or I fear that the laughing may never stop. I wish you good luck in your own thrifting this week.

Blessings to you.

New Life Beckons

2009-07-12T09:01:00.003-05:00

"Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 (The Message).

God offers us renewal. But often, we reject it. We hold onto the old life because we are accustomed to it. We cling to the familiar even when it is dead and lifeless. God longs to recreate us. He offers us a new, fresh life overflowing with possibilities, if only we will accept it.

Blessings to you today.

Beautiful Bishop Hill

2009-07-10T07:39:00.019-05:00

If you like history, and if you enjoy arts and crafts, then you need to visit Bishop Hill, IL. My hubby and I went there last year and just fell in love with this quaint little village in north central Illinois.

The town was founded in 1846 by Swedish Immigrants trying to form a utopian society out on the Illinois prairie. The village grew and prospered for several years until disbanding in the 1860s. Many of the original buildings are still standing. Today they house wonderful museums and shops sure to delight you.

I recommend making the museums your first stop in town. Each highlights a different aspect of the town's history and all are enjoyable. They help the visitor to understand why the town was founded and how it operated during the religious group's existence. The museums showcase everything from beautiful artwork to everyday articles used by the settlers. They are a must see while in town.

Be sure to allow time for visiting the shops too though. There are several to browse through. One of our favorites was the arts and crafts center which has so many beautiful items to view. (I especially loved all the pottery.) There is an art gallery you won't want to miss, and a wonderful quilt shop with lots and lots of fabric and patterns. A terrific little general store sits at the corner of two of the main streets. Inside you will find lots of Swedish decor and Swedish snacks plus general tourist items perfect for souveniers. All you treasure hunters will want to check out the antique or "junktique" shops which are scattered throughout the town. They are packed to the rafters with vintage and new goodies.

Make sure you bring your appetite with you too. There are several places to eat in town. I have heard that they all are good. We really enjoyed our meal at Red Oak Comfort Food and Pie Co. (My husband just can not pass by any restaurant that includes the word pie in its' name.) I recommend the turkey sandwich with lingonberries which are a Swedish treat. My husband had chicken and noodles followed by a gigantic piece of pie which he proclaimed was as good as grandma's! Believe me, that is a resounding endorsement in our family.

Here is a link to the Bishop Hill calendar of events http://www.bishophill.com/calendar.php

Some of their upcoming festivals look like lots of fun. I hope you have a chance to visit there soon.

Blessings to you, and have a great weekend.

ReStore(d)

2009-07-07T08:12:00.014-05:00

I have been ReStored. Have you? ReStore is a retail chain which benefits Habitat for Humanity. They sell new and used merchandise and the proceeds fund Habitat projects. They get donations from individuals, other retail stores, and even contractors. I like to think of it as a thrift store and recycling center thrown together. They are located all over the country and each one is different.

The ReStore where we used to live was fabulous! It was located in a giant warehouse and they would sell virtually anything they could get donated, so you never knew what to expect. Through the years we bought a variety of stuff there including: a washing machine, a 6 foot tall set of old barn wood shelves, closet doors, my sewing machine table, lamps, a ceiling fan, tile, paint, stain, flowers, and even books. Some of the things we saw there but didn't buy included: lots of furniture, a wood stove, a jacuzzi, floor sample cabinets from the local home supply store, and a matching bright pink bathtub and toilet (which our daughter really wanted, but couldn't convince her dad to buy). If you needed it for your home, they probably had it somewhere in the building.

Where we live now, the ReStore is a little more selective. Much to my disappointment, they only sell nice things. I kind of miss digging through the piles of "assorted junk" looking for the treasure. Here everything is clean and organized. This store is designed more for dainty home remodelers than hard core junkers like me. Still, they occasionally have some interesting things.

One time when we went in, I found this old wooden hamper that I thought would be perfect for our downstairs bathroom. I loved it the moment that I saw it. It is covered with crackled, mustard yellow paint which has mellowed with age, and the handles have worn away until the bare wood is exposed underneath. It looks old and rustic, perfect for a farmhouse.

At $10.00 it was priced a little higher than my usual thrifting purchases, but we actually needed it, so I could justify paying the price. We have zero cabinets in our downstairs bathroom. There is literally nowhere to put an extra towel, washcloth, or roll of t.p. We had been needing some storage in there desperately for awhile, but I had not been able to find anything that was small enough to fit in. This darling little hamper was going to be just right.

My husband put the hamper up by the checkout and told the cashier we wanted it. The little old man looked at my husband and said, "I know what you are going to be doing as soon as you get home."

My husband and I both turned and looked at the the man, wondering what he would say next. He then finished his sentence, "You are going to be doing some painting I am sure."

I gasped, "Oh no!".

My husband busted out laughing and explained that there was no way I was going to let him get a paint brush anywhere near my new treasure. Then he told the cashier that I was actually buying the piece because I LIKED the paint.

The sweet, little old man looked at me in wonderment and just shook his head in disbelief. He didn't seem to understand that one man's trash really can be another man's treasure.

My rustic hamper worked very well as a cabinet in the downstairs bath. I was able to cram lots of bath goodies in it, and yes it will be making the move with us. I just can't bear to part with something that has such a terrific paint job!

If you haven't found ReStore yet, I encourage you to look for one in your area. The treasure you buy there will help provide a needy family with decent, safe, affordable housing. That is a win-win in my mind. Blessings to you and good luck thrifting this week.

Flea Market Angel

2009-07-05T16:22:00.016-05:00

We spent last Sunday at a traveling flea market which was being held in our area. We weren't shopping. We were selling. It was our first time to even attend one of these, so we didn't know what to expect. I had been reading about it, and thought it might be a good place to sell some of the items we didn't want to move. I also figured a little more cash for the move might be helpful.

When we arrived for set-up on Saturday afternoon, I soon discovered we didn't have nearly enough space rented for all of our stuff. We had four tables, but probably could have filled up at least 8. We also realized that the hour and a half that the manager had allotted for us to setup was not going to be nearly enough time. I was frantically unpacking boxes until he turned out the lights and told us we had to leave. While we were unpacking, I noticed the other vendors kept strolling by to see what we were selling. We actually sold a couple of things before I could even get everything out of the boxes. The next morning, when we arrived to finish setting up, we found another dealer at our table wanting to buy something. We were off to a good start, so we had high hopes for the day.

Being a girl, just setting things out on the tables wasn't good enough for me. I, of course, had to do some merchandising. I had set up the two tables at the front to hold the best merchandise. One table had glassware and linens and the other had home decor (which was sorted by color and style). One of the tables further back held holiday items and the other one had household goods and general junk. Actually, none of it was really nice stuff. It was all just things we had purchased at thrift stores or garage sales. There were only a few items which we had gotten new, and they had all been purchased for at least 75% off retail. ( I almost never pay retail for anything!) It was mainly stuff we didn't use, or even like anymore, which I knew we could easy live without. But it was all clean and neatly laid out on the tables.

Before the doors opened to the public, I breathed a silent prayer. It was something like, "Dear Lord, please help us reach our sales goal. But even if we can't sell anything, just let us minister to whomever shows up today. Help us to offer a kind word and a smile to anyone who needs it."

Once the doors opened, people began swarming in. There were lots of lookers. We noticed right away how careful they were being with their money though. People kept asking us if we would take less for our merchandise, and nothing we had was expensive. The highest priced item we sold all day was an aluminum kettle for canning which sold for $4.00. I had priced everything really low hoping to sell as much as possible. Customers were actually asking us if we would take less for things which were priced at $1.00 and $2.00.

We shouldn't have been surprised though, times are very hard where we are living. The unemployment rate is over 10%, and in certain sectors of the local economy, like manufacturing, the rate is significantly higher. The largest employer in this area is a global corporation which has laid off tens of thousands of employees worldwide, and many of those layoffs were local. People are simply hurting and desperately trying to stretch every dollar, but it was still the first time we have ever had anyone ask us to come down on a dollar item. We did whenever we could afford to.

We stayed busy throughout the morning. We were glad when our sales totaled more than it had cost to rent the tables. We were even happier when we sold enough that we had paid our rent and made enough to get back what we had originally invested in all our second hand goodies. Then we were thrilled in the afternoon when we realized we had even made a profit on our used junk. We were amazed at how good the flea market had been in spite of the economy.

We didn't realize however, just how good our sales had been until my husband talked to the dealer next to us. It turns out this man was a professional. He travels around the state selling merchandise at the different venues. He told my husband how much he had sold that day, and he hadn't made enough to even pay for his tables. We had sold 10 times as much as he had! I still can't believe it. We had actually made money, gotten rid of 8 or 9 giant boxes of stuff, and made some little old ladies very happy. Even if it hadn't turned out that way, it would have been a good day anyway because of the angel who came our way.

We had several repeat customers. Our tables were by the entrance. Ladies would come in and look at our stuff, maybe buy a thing or two, and move on. Frequently they would buy something else on their way out, which was great. There was this one lady who just kept coming back and coming back. The first time, my husband waited on her. The next time she came back, I wrapped and bagged her purchase for her. I think it was around her third or fourth trip to our booth, that we struck up a casual conversation. Eventually, she told us that she was actually a dealer there. She laughed that she was buying more from us than she was selling. Each trip she would buy one or two things from us. She would wait in line just to talk to me and ask me how she could display some of our stuff in her home if she bought. By the end of the day, she had purchased so much stuff from us, that I gave her a free set of 2 prim boxes she had been looking at but did not have enough money left to buy. When I turned around to give them to her, she hugged me with tears in her eye. She said to me, "You just don't understand. I don't have beautiful things like this in my house. I just can't afford them, but your prices are so low, that now I can have pretty things too."

By now, a giant lump was growing in my throat and tears were beginning to well up in my eyes. Here was my real blessing in this day. This sweet little old lady with a bad dye job, no front teeth, and mismatched clothes was my angel. She had just reminded me how blessed I truly am.

None of the stuff we were selling had cost us that much. Most of it had been castoffs from others before we even bought it at garage sales or thrift stores, but it was still nicer than what many people will ever have. God used this precious little angel woman to remind me that I am blessed.

Do I wish that we didn't have to move so that my husband could stay employed? Yes, I do. Do I wish that my daughter and I were both done with college so we would have enough money to pay all our bills all the time? Yes, I do. Do I wish that we were not carrying a mountain of debt in medical bills which will probably follow us all of our lives? Yes, I do.

But am I blessed even if these situations never get better? Yes, I am BLESSED. Today, my husband still has a job. We all have a roof over our heads. We have food on the table. The electricity and water are still on. We are all healthy now, and we are safe. When so many other people are doing without these basic essentials, we are very blessed to have them. Everything beyond that is just icing on the cake.

Take time wherever you are today, dear blogging friend, to count your blessings. Who knows, maybe God will even send you a flea market angel to lead the way.

Prairie Sunrise

2009-07-03T14:40:00.010-05:00

I thought you might enjoy seeing what awakens me each morning. This is the view from my backyard. These photos were taken within a 7 minute time span on a cloudy summer morning. It's enough to make anyone want to get out of bed early. I hope you like the view as much as I do.

Old wood, new board

2009-06-30T09:19:00.013-05:00

I had been wanting one of those beautiful stove cover/dough board things for a few months. It wasn't really in the budget at the time, and my husband pointed out to me that the metal burner covers we had were keeping crumbs from falling into the burner pans anyway. I reminded him that our current burner covers were actually 3 different patterns because they were the only ones left from the previous sets that people kept burning.

I am willing to admit that my memory isn't so perfect now, so I had been removing ALL the burner covers whenever I started to cook in an attempt to keep from cooking the covers. My DH, on the other hand, said his memory was good enough that he didn't need to and insisted on leaving the extras on the stove while cooking. He ran into a little problem the other day when he was making breakfast though. When I came into the kitchen I noticed lots of smoke in the air. My husband turned to me with a look of chagrin on his face, and while holding a singed metal burner cover in a pile of pot holders and towels, explained that perhaps it was time for him to make me one of those wooden stove covers.

Now that I finally had him on board, my only problem was how to fund this project. My answer was, of course, a garage sale. When we stopped at one a few days later, (the same one where I got my large wooden bowl), my husband and I, at about the same time, both noticed a large antique looking board setting in a pile of scrap lumber. My DH grabbed it and quickly asked the man in the garage if the board was for sale. The man answered that he thought so, but couldn't say for sure because his wife was the one in charge. When she came out, my husband asked her the price and it was actually in our nearly nothing budget. I turned to him and said, "Whatever you do, don't set that board down."

When we got home, I got busy doing the fun part, figuring out how to decorate my future stove board while staying on my nearly nothing budget, and my husband got busy on the hard part, actually constructing it. Over the next few days I did a makeover on a set of 3 wooden shaker boxes from a thrift store, painting over the blue on them with black and burgundy and stenciling stars. I also painted a wooden thrift store tray burgundy to match. Then I made my first pantry cake, which my DH almost ate because he thought it smelled so good!

My husband's part of the project was a bit more challenging. My DH has done lots of carpentry through the years, both at home and professionally, and he said he thought the piece of wood itself was probably more then 100 years old! That one piece of wood is actually as wide as the stove and as tall as from the floor to the stove top. The wonderful color is the real thing. We didn't use any stain. That was the actual patina on the wood when we bought it. The age and dryness of the wood presented a few challenges though. It was badly warped, so my DH had to work that into the design to make it sit flat. Eventually he had to add a front edge to get it to even come close to appearing flat on the stove. He also wanted to do as little cutting of the board as possible because we were already thinking that the wood may eventually become an end table, and he can make me another stove cover. Our stove presented its' own set of problems as well. It has double ovens and the back piece between the top and bottom ovens is slanted. That meant the stove board couldn't have a back.

When he got it done and brought it in, I admit it, I was pretty excited. After I put all my decorating doo-dads on it, my DH was even impressed. Our project turned out much better than he thought it was going to. Granted it isn't as nice as the ones in the catalog, but the price was right. Ready for the grand total...........................................................It was around $12.00. The board was our largest single expense at........ $5.00! I still can't believe we actually got a piece of wood that large and that "antique" for so little money. Some days you do actually get lucky.

I hope you are enjoying whatever project you are working on now. Blessings to you.

Summer in a bowl

2009-06-26T15:45:00.007-05:00

Here is summer in a bowl. I went to the Farmer's Market today. It was nice. It is always second best to having your own garden though. We desperately wanted to put in a garden, but it seemed ridiculous since we will be moving out this summer. We didn't get to have a garden last year either since we were moving during garden season then too. Well, I guess we kind of had a garden but we didn't get to enjoy it ourselves.

About three years ago (when we lived on the farm in the Ozarks), I started a compost bin. It was nothing fancy, just a pile of decomposing stuff. My DH built it for me using 4 fence posts and chicken wire. We threw in yard waste like grass clippings and leaves. I threw in kitchen waste like vegetable peelings and coffee grounds. I also put in lots of bunny poo because we have bunnies. I stirred it up occasionally, but it mostly just sat there and fell apart.

I noticed when we moved out last spring, which was two years after I started my bin, that the bottom of the pile was looking great. It had become black, beautiful, nutrient rich soil. I was really excited about how it turned out, but I had to leave it behind. I just couldn't convince my husband that we needed to move a pile of dirt, albeit fancy dirt, 500 miles to our next home. He reminded me that we were moving to some of the most productive farmland in the world, so I finally gave in.

After we got all settled in on the prairie, I realized we had left our dehumidifier in the basement of the old house. When we returned to visit the Ozarks later in the summer, we stopped by the old farm to pick it up. As I came out the back door of the house, I noticed the compost bin. Growing on top of it was the largest, most beautiful squash plant I had ever seen. Apparently some of the seeds we had thrown into the bin after eating a squash in the spring, had put down roots and were growing in the compost bin! My organic trash pile was going to produce the best squash I had ever grown, and I wasn't even going to be there to see it.

This past year I got smarter. I put my compost into a large plastic garbage can. I would really like to take it with me to use on next year's garden. There is only one problem. A large garbage can of compost is really heavy, so I can't sneak it on the Uhaul by myself. My husband has already mentioned to me that we have too much stuff to move, and that he doesn't want to take

a can of poo. He just doesn't understand how badly I want to win a blue ribbon at the fair, and now I know how to grow giant squash from trash. Why do men have to be so practical?

If you are lucky enough to have a garden, I hope it is growing well. If you aren't, then just head to the Farmer's Market. Blessings to you.

Searching for my craft gene

2009-06-24T14:28:00.013-05:00

I come from a crafty family. (You can interpret that however you wish.) My mother was an excellent seamstress. It seemed like she and my aunt were constantly making quilts when I was young. Unfortunately, I never learned how. It wasn't "cool" to know how to sew back then, so I never made time to learn from them. I also took home economics in school. I attended a small, country school and it was required for all girls. I didn't learn much there either though. The teacher was very mean, and all I remember was that I never wanted to have to take one of her classes again.

After my father died, my mother turned her hobby into an occupation. She started sewing and selling quilts and other crafts at shows throughout the Midwest. My sister bought a kiln and started making and selling ceramics.

One time I hosted a craft show for them at my home. I lived in the suburbs of a populous Midwestern city and just happened to have an extra large living room, perfect for them to set up tables in. Lots of people from the neighborhood and our church came to the sale. After looking around at all the merchandise, one family friend commented on how beautiful everything was. Then she turned to me and wondered why when everyone else in the family was so talented, I didn't know how to do anything crafty! I sadly explained that, for some unknown reason, I just didn't inherit "the craft gene".

I love handcrafts though. I just don't know how to make any of them. I have spent many years attending craft shows in different states throughout the country. I always walk around oohing and ahhing at the beautiful things others have made, and wishing that I could make some myself.

A few years ago I even bought a simple little sewing machine. At the time I didn't really have any space to use it in though, so it became just an incredible hassle to even set it up. Earlier this year, I decided that I was going to try it again. I am determined to learn to sew. I figure that if I could learn how to drive a car and operate a computer, surely I can learn how to run a sewing machine too. Sometimes though, that sewing machine seems to have a mind of its' own.

A few weeks ago, I decided to make a table runner like one I saw in a magazine. Looking back now, I realize it might have been a good idea to begin with something that I had a pattern for, but I really wanted one of those table runners, so I just dove in head first. My first mistake was in not accounting for seam allowances which meant that when I first sewed my patchwork squares together, the runner was so small it was hidden under the centerpiece. Then I decided to add a border, but I wasn't exactly sure how to do this. Unfortunately, I did it wrong. When my make- it -up- as -you- go project was finally done, the runner was actually bigger than the table it was intended for. So I had to find another place to hide (I mean display) it. I also noticed there were some other issues which require the runner to be placed completely flat so you don't see the batting poking up. I have lots of stuff sitting on it now, so it may be adequately camouflaged in its' new location.

I am not defeated however. I still believe that I am going to learn to sew this summer. Who knows, maybe that long dormant craft gene will finally kick in, and I can be "crafty" too.

Glimpses of a Prairie Summer

2009-06-20T18:39:00.012-05:00

Summer is glorious here.

We have lived a full year out on the prairie now, and what an interesting year it has been. There were definitely four distinct seasons here. Fall was short but stunning, bringing us golden fields of waving grain ready for harvest. Winter was long and treacherous, but breathtakingly beautiful in it's pure white silence. Spring, which seemed to take forever to arrive, didn't stay long and brought us only rain and dreariness. Finally though, the earth has warmed and summer has come to the prairie.

The sun awakens me early each morning now as if beckoning me to enjoy the new day.

The windows are open now most of the time, bringing the prairie indoors. The songs of a variety of birds including the meadowlark, doves and bob whites echo through the house all through the day. Occasionally, I catch a hint of sweet clover blowing in on the breeze. Sometimes I can hear a train whistle echoing in the distance, and I stop and wonder where it is headed. In the evening the crickets serenade us. Everyone and everything just seems more relaxed. Life on the prairie is slower, simpler, and purer in the summer.

Sometimes I wish it could be summer here year round, but then I remember that it is the hardness of winter which makes the summer so sweet.

Whatever season of life you are in right now, I hope you are experiencing peace and rest. Blessings to you.

Home Wreckers

2009-06-18T10:05:00.032-05:00

On the way home from grocery shopping the other day, I asked my husband to stop at a garage sale. He wasn't too keen on the idea since we are moving soon and need to have less stuff, not more. He reluctantly stopped and we looked around.

I hit the jackpot. This garage sale was in a very exclusive neighborhood of newer homes, and nothing had a price on it. Amidst the piles of stuff for sale, I found a wonderful old wooden bowl. This thing is large and heavy. I picked it up and carried it around until I could finally ask the owner how much she wanted for it. I expected her to say a high price. When she said $5.oo, I immediately said I wanted it.

I already had a spot in mind for my new bowl. I was going to put it on my coffee table in the living room. Now I had to figure out how to fill it, and cheaply too. The next week I found a bag of dried apples at a garage sale for 25 cents. (I was smart enough to go without my husband this time.) At the thrift store I found a new bag of little wax balls scented and shaped like blueberries and a large pillar candle. My bowl wasn't finished yet though. It still needed something else.

I soon found my answer. Colleen at http://andbabymakesfive-colleen.blogspot.com/ posted a simple recipe for salt dough bowl fillers that sounded perfect. I figured I know how to bake, surely I could make these. I did, and it was lots of fun. The first day I baked them. The second day I painted them, and the third day I dipped them in wax. By the time I was done, I had lots of work invested in them. I didn't mind though, I enjoyed it, and they were cute. They are not as cute as Colleen's, but it was my first time. I proudly put my hearts and stars in my big wooden bowl and was pleased with how it all looked together.

That night is when the trouble began. I caught my collie with her long, skinny nose buried in that bowl. I warned her to get away from there.

The next morning when I got up, I found a stray wax blueberry laying on the floor with a giant tooth mark in it. I immediately knew who the culprit was. I picked it up off the floor, scolded the dog, and walked to the kitchen to throw it away. When I returned, I found the collie laying on the floor holding a salt dough figure between her paws eating it like it was a dog biscuit. I took the figure away from her, scolded her severely, and made her come to the kitchen with me to throw it away. When I turned around, she was licking her lips. "Yuck," I thought, "that dog actually likes the taste of salt and wax."

It was definitely time for everyone to go outside for the day. Now my other dog, the fat old lab started to misbehave. It looked like rain, so I needed the dogs to go to the barn. He hates the barn. He prefers the kennel where he can see everyone and everything that is happening on the farm during the day. But he can't be in the kennel on rainy days, because he is stupid. The collie knows to get inside one of the two perfectly good dog houses in there, but the Lab won't. He stands out in the rain, getting soaked to the bone. Then he rolls around in the mud until he is as dirty as possible. I am tired of cleaning him, so off to the barn he needed to go.

He wouldn't though. He balked. He ran to the kennel and stood in the doorway, as if to tell me his preference. When I told him no, he hung his head down and wouldn't look at me. Then he stiffened his legs, and I had to drag him to the barn.

By now, I was frustrated and wondering why I had to have the world's strangest dogs. One of them doesn't have sense to come in out of the rain, and the other one eats my home decor. I returned to the house and tried to figure out what to do with them. Then I remembered something I had seen on the internet. Char over at http://charsethman.blogspot.com/ had posted a recipe for dog biscuits.

I printed off the recipe, and baked some doggie biscuits that afternoon. This is a very good recipe. The biscuits are all natural. There is no artificial colors or preservatives so they are healthier for the dogs than the biscuits from the store.

First thing the next morning I led everyone to the barn. I gave both dogs a biscuit as soon as they went inside. First they sniffed them. Then they devoured them.

The next morning, the collie came into the living room and started smelling my pockets. She was looking for more biscuits. When I opened the door to go outside, the lab ran to the barn. He was so happy when I gave him his morning biscuit.

Two problems were now solved. My decorating dilemma had been fixed with Colleen's bowl fillers, and my doggie issue had been fixed with Char's dog biscuit recipe. Occasionally though, I still think I detect a hint of blueberry and wax on the collie's breath. Oh well, if life were perfect, it wouldn't be any fun.

Blessings to you.

Secret door

2009-06-17T11:30:00.010-05:00

Any ideas where this funny little door might lead?

I live in a rambling old farm house out on the prairie. It looks a great deal like the Ertl house (if your kids ever played with farm toys, you know what I am referring to). The house is over 100 years old. Thankfully, it does have some modern conveniences, like running water and indoor toilets, 2 actually. We do not have a/c, but we are far enough north that we rarely need it.

The house has two stories with tiny, steep steps leading upstairs and a very low ceiling overhang on the stairs. I have hit my head repeatedly. Obviously this home was built when people were shorter and their feet smaller.

The laundry room is located in a classic, scary, old house basement which comes complete with spooky cobwebs and an occasional toad. There is one unusual thing down there though, a coal room. That is what the mystery door leads to. The funny little door in the photo is located on the outside of the house. When you open it up, you discover a shoot inside which leads to the coal room in the basement. There is actually still a pile of coal in the room.

Thankfully, the house isn't heated with coal anymore. Last winter we purchased a multi-fuel pellet stove. It is much more environmentally friendly than heating with coal.

But I still think the old coal shoot door is darling. If I wasn't moving, I would probably plant a wildflower garden next to it, with some cute primitives and vintage junktiques. In my mind I can just see how cute it could be. Can't you!

Blessings to you.

Bigger than a broken bread box... makeover

2009-06-15T16:50:00.013-05:00

I had two problems, but I solved them with one solution, a makeover. My first problem was my messy spice area. I am constantly cooking and most of my cooking is from scratch, so I use lots of spices. There are certain spices that I use the most, so I buy those in large containers which I like to keep near the stove. That area had become an eyesore though, and it just seemed to jump out at me whenever I entered the room. I needed to tidy up that spot.

My other problem was a broken bread box. I had purchased a wooden bread box at the thrift store. I gave it a couple of coats of paint when I brought it home to make it match the kitchen better. I soon discovered though, that it didn't open properly. The bread box door stuck most of the time. You had to yank it really hard to get the door open. Finally, I just yanked it too hard, and it broke. The box split down the side. The door and front and back trim were now loose. The box was unusable.

I asked my husband, who is a professional fixer, to repair it for me. He went through a lengthy explanation about how difficult that would be, how much money it would cost to purchase the right size clamps, and how chances were that the fix wouldn't last. My husband and I have been married a long time, so I knew what he really meant. In girl language it would have translated to something like, "I hate that bread box and I am never going to fix it."

I knew it was best to just move on and figure out what I could do with it myself. I came up with a plan to repurpose the broken bread box. First I removed the door permanantly. Next I rolled the box over, turning what was previously the back of the box into the bottom. Then I took some good old Elmers and glued the side and trim back on. I let that set overnight.

The next morning. I painted the inside and the outside of the box with black craft paint, two coats. I let that dry for a few hours. Finally I added a fabric remnant I had hemmed to the old bread box and now it was ready to be transformed into a spice box. My large spices, the ones I use the most, fit perfectly inside. My mess was transformed.

This was a no cost makeover. My only expense came when I found the two primitive ginger jars at the thrift store. They were a whopping $2.00 each, but I decided to splurge and get them anyway as a reward for finding a way to repurpose my broken bread box. There is nothing more fun than turning trash into a treasure.

Blessings to you.

Clothes on the line

2009-06-14T13:11:00.005-05:00

I was disappointed when we moved to the prairie and our farmhouse didn't come with a clothesline. The farmhouse we had moved from in the Ozarks did have one. You should have seen the smile on my face when I discovered it. That clothesline brought back so many happy memories.

One of my favorite things about summer has always been the clothesline. I remember being a little girl and playing in the laundry hanging on the line. We actually had two clotheslines running side by side. On days when the wind was calm I would run down the center of the two trying not to touch anything. It was sort of a modified obstacle course. On days when the wind was blowing, I would dream that the sheets and things were flags of imaginary countries I would visit someday. I also remember scanning the horizon for clouds, then racing to get the laundry down before the rain began to pour down on us. Everything was a game to me then.

Still today I love the way sheets dried on the line smell. They carry that sweet scent of summer breezes and bright sunshine. When I hold them to my face, I swear I can hear the birds singing. I believe I may even sleep better when they are on the bed. It is the simple things in life which often bring the most joy. I don't care how many bedrooms our bathrooms our next home has, but I sure do hope it has an old fashioned clothesline.

Blessings to you.

Miss Priss rules the roost

2009-06-13T15:27:00.015-05:00

We live on a farm. Through the years, we have a raised a variety of different animals. Right now we only have a few animals, but they provide me with my own only little "Wild Kingdom" in the barnyard.

Time has taken its' toll on our little flock, and this is our last chicken. Her full name is "Little Red Hen", but I often just call her sister. The other day it was particularly beautiful outside. The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing gently, and the temperature was mild. It looked like a good day for some yard work. I decided to let "sister" come out of the barn and wander around in the yard with me and the rest of my wild kingdom.

Sister stayed busy. She dug for worms beside the barn. She strolled through the flowers. She strutted around the yard clucking at the other animals, telling them what to do. She was your typical bossy little hen. Sister spent the afternoon following me all around the farm, watching what I was doing. She rarely left my side.

When I went inside, I asked my husband, who was working in the garage, to watch out for sister. He agreed and looked mildly amused to be "chicken sitting." When he and I both went inside for a moment, I left Luta, our fat old chocolate Lab in charge of the chicken. I gave him strict instructions to keep her safe. (He is a good babysitter. In his younger days, he used to babysit kittens for me, but that is a story for another day.) Sister had other ideas though. When I came back outside, I found her waiting patiently for me near the door.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the day. The dogs, the cats, and the chicken all played in the yard. We only had a couple of tense moments. When sister first came into the yard, she was busy looking for worms. Fluffy, a lazy black and white cat, decided to lay down beside her to watch what she was doing. I warned him to stop flicking his tail, but he didn't listen. Pretty soon, sister saw it. She reached out and grabbed it, hoping it was a big, juicy worm. That cat let out a squall at the top of his lungs, and sister let go of him realizing her mistake. Fluffy quickly moved a safer distance away.

Then later, Luta ruffled sister's feathers. He was feeling young and frisky again, so he started rolling around in the grass, scratching his back and making his happy noise. He sounds a lot like he is laughing when he does this. He kept rolling and rolling and getting louder and louder until he was in between sister and I. She wasn't going to have any of that. She fluffed up her feathers and started running towards him like she was ready to flog him. She didn't seem to care how big he was or how many teeth he had. I had to yell at her, "Sister, no. He is just playing."

She quickly stopped when she heard my voice and realized we were safe. It was clear then though, who was really in charge of the farm. She might be little, but sister rules the roost.

We are having another beautiful afternoon. I believe I'll go get sister and we can do some more yard work. I hope the weather is beautiful where you are.

Blessings to you.

Nesting

2009-06-01T21:30:00.006-05:00

The wind knocked these nests out of the trees in our yard. They had long ago been abandoned by their previous occupants. I was delighted to find them, and promptly brought them into the house to decorate with. I love nesting.

My nesting instinct began to emerge when I was in the 6th grade. I was spending the night at a relative's house when I opened the closet door and saw a stack of Better Homes and Gardens magazines. I opened up the first one and was soon amazed to see the lovely homes featured. I grew up in a farming community, so ladies were just happy if their home was functional and clean. I was astonished to see how beautiful some people's homes were. Being the visual person that I am, I was delighted to discover this whole new world. Before the night was over, I had read every decorating magazine in the stack, and was dreaming of how I wanted my future home to look.

Through the years though, reality got in the way of my having a dream home. Our frequent relocations and limited budget forced me to eventually give up on trying to have a magazine worthy home. Eventually I quit trying to make things even match, and just started purchasing whatever furniture fit the need of the current house we were living in which meant that we had a mish mash of styles and colors in the house. Being married, raising two kids, and working two jobs didn't leave much time for decorating either. I was usually just glad if the house was tidy enough that you could walk through it without a shovel being necessary to clear a path.

After this past New Year, I looked around me and realized how much I disliked the way things looked now. Our unmatched and unstylish home wasn't very relaxing or inviting. My nesting instinct kicked back in and I decided to do something about the disorder surrounding us. I started by looking through all those decorating magazines I keep lugging back and forth across the country.

My style has always been country, probably because of my childhood. After perusing lots of magazines, I realized what I really like now is primitive country. The homes featured in Country Sampler magazine were definitely my favorites. I love chipping paint, worn wood, and rusty metal. I like my posessions to look as if they could tell me a story of the life they have lived. I enjoy having things that remind me of my connection to the past. Primitives do that for me. They remind me of the simple, country world I grew up in and long for still.

So as I pack for our upcoming move, I am keeping in mind the new home I have pictured in my head. I am trying to take only those items we actually use frequently or that have meaning for us because they are from loved ones or are valuable. I am already dreaming of unpacking and decorating the new house. I can't help it. I love nesting.

Blessings to you!

Remembering a soldier....

2009-05-25T18:47:00.014-05:00

Today is Memorial Day. A time when most Americans, hopefully, take the time to say thank you to our fallen soldiers and sailors and to pray for those who remain in the field.

I am thinking of one particular soldier today. His name was Finis Ray. He was born around 1814 in North Carolina. As a young man, he moved west to Missouri, where in 1839 he married Miss Susan Isabel Carman. They set up housekeeping on the frontier and began raising a family. They had five children. Their youngest, Rebecca Lavina, was born on Christmas Day 1856. In July 1860 tragedy struck when Susan Isabel died. Hard times were just beginning for this family.

In December of 1861, with the Civil War raging throughout the country, and particularly dreadful in the Ozarks, Finis Ray donned the navy blue uniform of the Union Cavalry. He was a volunteer with the 4th then the 14th Missouri State Militia Cavalry.

For the next few months, his unit fought the Confederates throughout the southwest part of the state. This area was considered important by both the Union and Confederate armies due to the many mines in the region. Whoever controlled this area would have an advantage because of the ready supply of lead available for ammunition.

On May 30th, the 14th was stationed in Neosho, MO. Commanding officer, Colonel John M. Richardson, later wrote that he sent "six reliable men" into the woods for picket duty that night. Finis was one of those men. One has to wonder what he was thinking that night as he sat in the woods, watching for the enemy. Was he thinking of his 5 children home alone without him? Or perhaps he was remembering his beloved Susan Isabel.

The next morning, May 31, 1862, the Confederate forces attacked. The Union forces at the battle were routed by the Second Mounted Cherokee Rifles. The Confederate commander, Colonel Stand Watie, stated in his report following the fight that the Union "loss in wounded was undoubtedly heavy. Many if not the greater part, of the Federal forces escaped on foot, and their dead and wounded were found some distance from Neosho, they having fallen in their flight."

The report from Colonel Richardson of the 14th included this information, "Our loss is 8 wounded, 2 missing, and 1 taken prisoner by the enemy."

Finis Ray was one of the missing. No one even knows what happened to his body. Some of the deceased soldiers were buried in the cemetery in Neosho. Their are no grave markers for them. Later the local people erected a monument in their honor.

Eventually some of the bodies of the soldiers from Neosho were reinterred in the National Cemetery in Springfield, MO when it opened. Some of these were unknowns. Our family has chosen one of those unknowns to honor by laying a wreath on the grave in memory of Finis.

Finis Ray made the ultimate sacrifice in hopes of preserving our beloved nation. Today, I take time to honor and remember this dear great-great-great-grandfather of mine and the many other men and women through the years who have given their all for our country. Thank you to each of you. Your sacrifice has not been forgotten.

Good Neighbors

2009-05-21T22:51:00.003-05:00

I believe it was Robert Frost who wrote that, "good fences make good neighbors." We live in the country and that has proven to be very true.

We have been fortunate in that the last two places we have lived, we have had excellent neighbors. In both locations, the neighbors were very quiet and peaceful. They were friendly without being too nosy. They seemed happy to have us in the neighborhood.

I hope we will be lucky enough to find another place like that when we move.

Ozarks Neighbors

2009-05-21T22:15:00.009-05:00

These were our neighbors in the Ozarks. A herd of Black Angus cattle was literally on the other side of the chain link fence which surrounded our yard. The cattle were on three sides. We really enjoyed watching them.

Our dog Lady, a pyrenees collie mix, especially loved playing with all the baby calves born in the spring. She would go to the fence and stick her long, skinny nose through the holes. The baby calves would cautiously come closer and closer, sometimes even touching their noses to hers. Lady would bark at them while wagging her tail. The calves would run back into the field kicking their heels up in play. Lady would race around the yard as fast as she could, then return to the fence to begin their game again.

The cattle interacted with all the assorted animals we kept on the farm. For awhile we had sheep. Two of our little rams had a crush on the Angus heifers. The rams would literally follow the heifers around in the field, content just to be with them.

Even the chickens and the cattle were friends. One day while I was looking out the window, I noticed the big Angus bull was over by the chicken house. He appeared to have his head pressed against the fence while a hen was rubbing against him on the other side. They looked as if they were having a conversation.

It was a crazy neighborhood, but everyone got along well.

Prairie Neighbors

2009-05-21T21:55:00.007-05:00

These are our neighbors on the prairie. Aren't they cute! Even though they are already fat, these guys are always sticking their heads through the fence and looking for a handout. Who could say no to such adorable faces?

I hope you are having a beautiful spring in your "neighborhood."

Blessings to you.

Loving Good Junk

2009-05-16T16:15:00.017-05:00

I love junk. I like to think that I love good junk, but others might dispute the distinction. These photos show some of my graniteware collection on my barn wood shelves on the screened in porch. I just love looking for assorted old things to add to this grouping. I dig through piles of junk at thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets, and auctions looking for more treasures.

My junk addiction probably started when I was very young and a little old man gave me a gift.

Back when I was just a wee little lass, my mother and aunt managed a gas/convenience store located on what was then, a busy 2 lane highway running through the heart of a remote country village. Most of our business came from tourists passing through on their way to larger vacation destinations in the Ozark Mountains.

Across the road from our gas station was a shop designed to draw in all those city dwellers with their large wallets. This was the mother of all junk stores. It was actually more like a Junk Palace. It was owned and operated by a very old little man named Mr. C.

I loved going to visit Mr. C's flea market. I still remember how the big wooden door always creaked as my little hands turned the knob and I entered this magical world. There were more treasures inside than my child's eyes could take in. The shelves were crammed full of goodies practically from floor to ceiling! I walked the aisles in amazement of what wonderful things could be purchased if I only had enough money. I didn't know what many of the items were, but it didn't matter. My imagination ran wild with the possibilities of what I could create if only I could buy some of these treasures.

During one special visit to the junk kingdom, Mr. C. gave me a gift. I believe it was my birthday. That day Mr. C. gave me a set of vintage gold tumblers in a gold metal carrying caddy. I was overwhelmed. They were the most beautiful glasses I had ever seen. I thought they must have been the finest, most precious glasses in the world. I couldn't believe I now owned something so wonderful! This was the perfect gift in my eyes.

When we got home, I insisted that we use those beautiful glasses at my birthday party. I was certain I had the most elegant 4th birthday party anyone ever had! Then I asked my mother to pack them away in a safe place. I didn't want to take a chance on anyone breaking my magnificent glasses. I took them out only on special occasions.

I kept those glasses for many years. I was deeply saddened after one of our frequent moves, when I realized that the golden glasses hadn't made it with me.

Now I decorate my home in a sort of funky, country style with lots of worn wood and chippy paint. Yet I sometimes find myself searching through flea markets in hopes of finding some shiny tumblers in a gold carrying caddy. They wouldn't match my home, but they are, after all, some of the finest glassware in the world. How could a girl hope for anything more precious than that!

Blessings to you.

Spring came......and went

2009-05-10T07:29:00.010-05:00

I noticed this house far off the road one winter day. It made me smile because it reminded me of spring. The house is sky blue and the trim is the color of puffy white clouds. I could just imagine some woman living on the prairie who just couldn't face another dreary winter day, so she painted her house to look like spring. I was envious of her having color and beauty to drive home to every night during the long, cold months of winter.

Eventually that didn't work because our cars wouldn't even start when the temperature fell to (-25) and the windchill was (-40)!

We were trapped in a cold, dreary world. For many months, the land was white with snow as far as the eye could see, and the sky was a gray expanse as far as the eye could see. Occasionally a clump of trees would tie the two together with their bare, black branches outlined against the barren landscape. Months passed before the snow stopped.

Then the rains began. This past March was the wettest one on record here. It was followed by an April where it rained 2 of every 3 days. It was during these long dreary months that I spotted the "spring house". It's bright color scheme seemed to shout to the world that someday spring would return. I have been patiently waiting.

On May 1st it seemed that spring might have come. I noticed that the grass was growing. The cherry tree was blooming. The air was warmer. The wind had quit blowing from the north. We actually saw the sun for 5 days in a row!

Yesterday morning when I opened the front door, I discovered the dream was over. The icy wind was blowing in from the north again and it was cloudy. I had to retrieve my heavy, fur-lined winter coat from the hall closet where it had been banished just so I could bear to go outside. If I wasn't moving, I swear I would get in the car and drive to Sherwin Williams and buy some sky blue and some white paint. I might even get some bright yellow and green paint too just for flowers. Spring is going to come, even if I have to bring it myself.

I hope the sun is shining at your place. Blessings to you!

My Blogging Rules for Me

2009-05-09T07:38:00.001-05:00

I was looking on the internet for some scrapbooking ideas about a year ago when I stumbled upon my first blog. It was a good one. The author had wonderful photographs illustrating what she had done. She had good directions describing how she had done it, and she had written a beautiful story explaining why she had designed this particular card for a certain person. This was a great blog. I bookmarked it and checked back in frequently to see what she had created.

A few months ago I decided to begin redecorating our home. I reentered the blog world looking for ideas. I was soon hooked and have spent countless hours reading other people's blogs. I have found some wonderful blogs during this search. I have also gained some insight into what I would and would not do if I ever had my own blog.

Here are my blogging rules for myself.

1. This blog is ultimately for me. This is my place to put down the ideas swirling in my brain, and to improve my writing skills. It would be very encouraging and flattering to have other people read my work and comment. It isn't necessary though. Please don't misunderstand me, I will be happy if this blog encourages or assists anyone else in their daily life. Ultimately though, this blog will serve its' purpose even if I am the only one who ever sees it.

2. A blog is NOT a personal diary. It is more like a flashing neon sign beside the world's busiest information super highway. Theoretically speaking, NOTHING is personal on the internet. While most people using the internet are good people, some are not and would use any personal information they can possibly find for destructive purposes. I don't want to give the evil ones any more ammunition than I have to, so I will limit the amount of personal information and photographs I post.

3. This is not a place for me to air personal gripes, pet peeves, or gossip. I will try not to criticize individual people here. I may occasionally air my views on public policy and political figures though. I believe dialogue and debate are good. They help us decide what we truly believe and why. Attacks are unnecessary however. The world already has enough shouting, so I will try not to add to the chaos.

4. I will try to emphasize quality over quantity. I would rather have fewer posts of good quality then many posts of inferior content.

5. I don't expect anyone else to have these rules or any rules for their blogs. A person's blog should reflect their taste and their style. I would never tell someone else, particularly a random stranger, how they should raise their family or run their business. I would also never tell someone else how to operate their blog. It's their creative place to do what they wish.

6. I find that I am often a rebellious person. In other words, I break the rules. Consequently, don't be surprised if you see me breaking my own personal blogging rules! It could happen at any moment.

Blessings to you!

Everything changes... or does it?

2009-05-04T08:04:00.001-05:00

While looking at my photos over the weekend, I noticed something unusual. I have several photos of sunsets and cherry blossoms taken in our yard in early May. The photos are strikingly similar. The peculiarity is that they were taken one year and 500 miles apart. The photos from 2008 (pink cherry blossoms and leafy tree) were taken at our home in the Ozark Mountains. The photos from 2009 (white cherry blossoms and pine tree) were taken at our little house on the prairie.

I think God may be whispering a message of reassurance to me. As I begin to worry what the future holds, He is reminding me that He is the constant. The sun will rise, and the sun will set. Seasons will come and go. Life will go on regardless of where we live, and His hand will continue to guide us.

Blessings to all.

A Moving Experience

2009-05-02T08:17:00.002-05:00

I had previously started another blog about my life as a transplant to the prairie. Just a few days after making my first large entry though, everything changed. My husband went into work on a Monday and was told he was being laid off on Friday. 4 Days Notice! We were very upset because we have been here less than a year. Last year we moved 500 miles from home so my husband could take this job because we thought it would provide more job security. We had no idea what we would do now.

When my husband returned to work on Tuesday, his employer told him that they would try to find him a position with the company at another location. They hoped they could keep us in the continental United States but made no promises. Wednesday brought different news. My husband was told then that he could remain at the current location, but would have a different job doing something he had never done before. On Thursday, the company told my husband he could keep his current job but they were creating a position for him on a new shift on different days. Friday he decided he should go ahead and apply for a transfer anyway just so we could be sure that he could actually stay employed.

So I find myself packing boxes again. We have been married almost 24 years and this is our 10th move. I'm getting pretty good at packing, but I can't really say that I enjoy it. The irony in this move is that my husband's new job was available last year. We could have moved last summer and it would have only been about 30-45 miles. Now we are facing another move of more than 500 miles and having to get adjusted to a new home and community again.

At least my husband has a job though. So many people are struggling just to find employment right now. I am truly grateful to his employer for recognizing the sacrifices that my husband had made for them previously and trying to reward him for his commitment. Hopefully this new position will work out and we can stay for more than a year.

My husband has begun the search for a rental home in our new location. Meanwhile I am busy packing boxes and preparing the little camper for the possibility of it becoming a temporary "home" again.

You can see that my life is a roller coaster full of ups and downs, and plenty of turns. It is never dull. It is always an adventure.

Blessings to you!

First Post

2009-04-25T21:58:00.000-05:00

This is my first post. I hope there will be many more to follow. Blessings to all of you.