After you have harvested your herbs -dry them in a very dark place — hang them or put them in a paper bag — top open — until brittle
grab your most cheerful child at that moment...
crumple crumple crumple
(just sit back with your fresh cup of tea and take your cheerful child's photograph... encouraging them along the way with tales of adventure)
we have so much sage that we use large plastic bags to preserve them
the more delicate (and not as abundant here on the farm) herbs get to reside over winter in beautiful blue mason jars... respectively...
To confess: autumn is my absolute favorite in the garden... we are organically growing our vegetables, so at this time of year I can gloriously pull off a slug here and there on the pepper plants and throw them to the chickens since we have had a frost already, there aren't any other bugs (hallelujah) but it's now time for cleanup and more garlic to plant I'm hoping to find some time today to sew a pair of booties for Daniel and even my own cloth diapers (from an old sweater:) peace + blessings,
my heart is completely strong and beating within me for you all visiting this weekend
if i could show you my heart, it would be cracking my rib bones from the swelling of love for this event
i love it
i love the excitement, the stress, the organization, the emails, the phone calls...
i seriously (seriously) can say i do not care if it rains, snows, hails, or if the sun shines bright
all i care is that i make this a place for you to take time to enjoy
enjoy this gift of life that God has given you...
to hear the symphony of blessings amongst the prickly thorns
to look upon the land and see the glorious nature and feel the softness of the grass as it sways
that the time here you spend is not for you, but to glorify
glorify the One who gave it to you
a thankful embrace of the autumn splendor which our (oh so needs work) farmette has
you will never find grandeur here
don't expect a marvelously weeded bed with clean stalls and immaculately clean children
we live a real life and within that real life is a chorus of praise for what we have no matter how much work it is, or the amount of dirt that gets under our fingernails
no matter how much we try, it never (ever) is the way we dream it will be
not one thing in this life is perfect not one but it's ours... it's our home... a place we have settled down
all i care is that i make this a place for you to take time to enjoy... somewhere to come with friends or your mom...
to come say hi in the bakery where i will be with my sister, daughter, and dear friend...
to pick out something special i baked with you in mind
to get a cup of coffee and sit beneath the branches in my 'natural bakery' and listen to the live music and chat... dream... relax...
this takes a lot of work
a lot of effort on all our parts — all the dealers sitting in their creative spaces and making one of a kind creations that they love and want to share... the hours of painting and refinishing the furniture... the excitement of finding vintage flannels all around the Midwest to compliment your favorite tall boots and leggings...
work within the families coordinating time for their mom to go out with her friends
effort to save up money to enjoy some shopping to ruffle your nest
the drive out to our farm
it means more than you all know having you here and helping support those men and women who are amazing creators and artists
It's a bit after 6:00 am Sunday morning and here I am
instead of making coffee I heated some up from yesterday's second brew
for my mind was awake and my eyes were still shut
My younger sister came for a few days... we don't see eachother much... we don't see eachother enough!!
All this time I am devoting to making "prairie swags" and prairie this and that — all that wasn't going to be for sale... it got me thinking how much I am just making for fun... made for you...
when you enter onto our humble farm... don't expect grandeur... there's no 'fancy' here
there aren't playsets for children or a bin full of corn for the kiddies...
it's a place of peace...
resting your eyes upon the horizon of soon to be harvested golden soybeans... fiery red grasses and golden rod reaching towards the sky... geese flying overhead to usher in winter's call...
A small little farm
A humble little place
What you'll find here is your choice... you may not find peace walking in the prairie... you may walk for the heck of it and see only weeds, and look at the horses and chickens in disgust of their "smells"
You may just come to shop and find nothing while shopping and think it was a big waste of time
or maybe you choose... choose to really see with your heart...
In anticipation of spending time with your girlfriends, husband, or even alone, you wear your favorite worn in jeans and comfy jersey top (and a few accessories that express "you") and you make plans for a country drive... finding parking 1/4 mile down the road you grab your shopping bag, sling it over your shoulder and enjoy the walk up to the farm's gates... upon entering the farm, you walk past the kitchen garden coming to an end and glance at one of the perennial beds that surround the house... you look out and see the horizon... up is the very clean and clear blue sky... and if it rains, your umbrella pops up to keep you dry, or your unabashed childhood rings in and you enjoy the fresh rain upon you... the crispness of the day invigorates you... you don't know or care what is for sale... no expectations...
Browsing the wares under the tents... you find those perfect unique gifts for your niece and mother... you know you won't be able to purchase these things again, so you seize the chance. Talking with new people, or keeping quiet to yourself, being on the farm is energetic yet calming. You see the white pillar/posts swagged with autumn prairie... it leads you to the barn while your tummy starts to grumble with scents of pie and coffee, soup and whole wheat rolls... and music... the guitar playing is stunning... you order a cup of coffee and vow to eat a cupcake before the night's end... taking it all in, you listen while your eyes browse the shop... being inspired... no regrets coming
The cupcake was delicious, and with your hands cupping your homemade soup bowl, you venture under the trees in the prairie to sip your soup and feel the warmth of the peace within your soul... a deeper connection with nature... within yourself... thanking God for giving you this opportunity to be outdoors with a warm bowl of soup. Your heart warms even more as your sweet friend and you laugh and talk as you walk the prairie... hearing the hum of the bees and picking a tuft of grass as it twirls in your fingers... memories
Your life is utterly unique to anyone else's... your experience here on earth can be that of thanksgiving and connection
between schooling the children and meeting a friend for coffee, unexpected autumn colors are alive in this farm house... pinks and yellows... blues and dark woods amongst cabbages and roses...
it's still only early morning on a sunday, but i'm already thinking of tomorrow
the kids have embraced their mother-teacher and i have embraced the routine and deep thinking and discussing time with my children
: : i think she loves the kitchen as much as i do: : i have bits of canning to do this week, and all sorts of things to get ready for the upcoming barn sale, but this time of year makes me rearrange... look at things in a crisp view... the mornings are cool enough to wear a sweater while the afternoon's warm sun sheds the sweater and fresh air fills the house with the faint scent of harvested corn and a nutty earth smell from fresh tilling a glorious time
i'll be sharing bits and pieces of each of my days this week...
Kara... a kindred soul to be sure... a friend of mine... has opened up her brick farmhouse for a unique event and if I could, I would be there in a heart beat!!!
click on image to see more about Kara's event! helping support one another is vital to life... and Kara is one of those women who inspires me with her love for God, and her amazing talents and style
Kara almost gathered her uniqueness to the farm to be a part of my sale, but with little ones, it was just too hard to leave them... and I most heartily agree how difficult that would be! so she decided to host an event on her own... and I am so very proud of her for doing so... and so wish I could be there... (make sure you click on the image to see more about her event!!)
Vendors are securing their places here at the farm... they will be lining our gravel drive to the sale barn... where more dealers will be amongst the stillness of the prairie and the sights and sounds of the farm.
For those of you attending the art classes here (limited spaces! reserve your place today!!!) the entrance fee is waived of course to come and shop:) Make sure you bring a cozy sweater to enjoy that morning cup of coffee at Jen's art under glass class — what an awesome class this is! don't miss it!! Jill Harris is packing up her amazing pieces of found objects to create with you some unique jewelry and Jeanne will be here on the farm that weekend to teach once again... she so enjoyed her time here on the farm with you gals at the class this past May, and didn't want to miss this opportunity to enjoy the autumn prairie and create with you again.
To sign up for Jen's class email her at: thecraftyhome@comcast.net To sign up for Jill's class email her at: gypsyfleamarket@gmail.com To sign up for Jeanne's class(es) email her at: jeanneoli@hotmail.com
The weather is PERFECT today... and can't wait to get out to the barn after our studies are done!!
If you have any questions about coming to the event, I would be more than happy to answer them for you. Just email me at: ndfmama@gmail.com
PLEASE NOTE!! IF YOU ARE COMING TO THE FARM AND PLAN ON STAYING OVERNIGHT... THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS WILL BE EXPIRING THE DISCOUNT IF YOU DO NOT RESERVE YOUR ROOM BY SEPTEMBER 23RD... so reserve your room today!!!
be back soon with pictures of the barn xo+blessings,
i am sure most of you can relate to striving for that 'hold on' moment... that moment when you can sink into a pillow with a good book, or take that cup of iced tea and stir the honey slowly and watch it blend and think of nothing but where to sit and enjoy the shade on a sunny day
it's a wonder
this time... this last bit of time before summer's heat is all but gone, and that sun tea is no longer... those lazy days outdoors watching the children play... this time is so short...
it's a wonder
it is as though i am feeling just now settled into summer, when it's being taken away by the cooler nights and less hot days...
there are so many times when i can correlate myself to my surroundings... the lightness in my step when spring comes... the sauntering flip flops during summer... the shuffle of leaves in autumn and the crunch during winter... but i do have to admit, that lately, i am being drawn into a connection i cannot explain with our oldest son...
it's a wonder
his piano compilations make me stop in my tracks and almost drink the sound into my soul... the heartache of childhood leaving while the maturity of his heart growing
it's a wonder at all that anything gets done during the summer...
so much to organize and plan for school, the upcoming sale as well
the importance of being with my family supersedes anything right now... our bond is growing daily the more time we spend together, and I thank the Lord for allowing me to teach them at home... so very blessed to not have to shuffle them off every morning after packing their lunches... a lot of our peace comes from a schedule and routine of sorts... even if the routine for the day is them sleepy eyed coming down the stairs to greet me for the first time of the day with a hug and groggy "good morning"... I love those times and savor every hug... it never gets old
it's a wonder... these kids... this place... this life...
like my cup of coffee losing it's steaming hotness, the summer is fading, and though I cannot go fill my cup back up with more summer time, I can take what I have learned this summer and and a bit more just to keep me going
