Souvenirs:
shop

The colder weather and Christmas approaching doesn't 'freak me out'... does it you?
Instead of running around buying gifts, try buying from your favorite bloggers' shops that they have online...

seriously

you can buy anything from organic handmade soaps, to jewelry, to nostalgic items, to even macroons and books!

I'm not plugging my own shop... I just know why I do it, and hope that others do too...
"to support local businesses... " trust me... it's not about the money (that under $10 item I sold for the month of November, well, I'm not relying on that to feed these guys... it's just fun)


(a few years ago... i don't know about you, but I hate looking at the kids when they are so young... time goes so fast...)
I went out this past weekend with my sister-in-law and seriously couldn't even believe how much stuff in the stores were "made in china"
that really puts people in our free country out of business you know...
help support each other... by doing so, you are not only supporting small businesses, but also cutting back on the pollution that is involved with all that transporting from goods overseas to here...
not that I don't like the goods from other countries... just be conscious of what you are doing this holiday-
or better yet... do what we do, and not give but one gift per child and spend the weekend with them snowboarding and making memories...
it's just a good thing to look at the 'big picture' when it comes to this holiday season: don't get caught up in spending your money
but DO get caught up in the belief of the WHY we are celebrating
think about it: would you rather give your child a plastic toy with harmful chemicals on it to suck on and break a week (or sooner) after they get it from you?
or would you rather give your child your time together? making homemade hot cocoa and wrapping gifts for families that are in need?? let them know the word "charity" not "selfish" or "spoiled"

it starts at home, and to us here at the farm... its simply with nature...

no... not to a publisher... not to the next blogger you meet... not to any editor...
but submit yourself to your calling as a mother
as a wife
as a woman 

(one of my favorite depictions of the Blessed Mother when she is being told she is to have a Son)
don't get caught up in the shopping... the hustle... the bustle...
if I can do it with five kids and nearly seven months pregnant, I think you can too
This blogging world is not a competition... it's not something to bring us down... but to lift us up! keep us inspired!! that doesn't mean you have to go out and purchase that cabinet just like you saw at "so and so's" blog and break the bank... or decorate your home just like "so and so" and waste your money on what truly isn't your style but someone else's...
help support one another ladies!
look around and see it's okay to not spend your money!!
For so many of the women in my life that I LOVE, this is what I hear them saying:
"Santa" + money + gifts + gas money + stress + anxiety + topping last year's gift + "so and so" + family + Jesus' birth = Christmas
take money out of the equation
what are you left with:
Family + Jesus birth = Christmas
sounds pretty good to me... but the best part is this is how it should be
here's to a holy and happy holiday season for each of you this Christmas... truly from the bottom of my heart...
peace and blessings,

in the dining room that is...

There was a "want" of a double hung wreath in this corner of the dining room, but then my mother gave me this antique crystal lamp that was my grandmother's... made in Romania...
so I took a lampshade frame that was in the barn, and wove some blue juniper branches on both the top and the bottom...
part of a small collection of religious prayer books and a few of Jason's cameras came to the table top along with a great little gold tray found at Christmas in the Alley

Jason had time between working in his workshop to hang my new chandelier in the dining room
it's so beautiful not even lit...

our daughter has gathered some adorable items, like tiny porcelain vintage deer and little vintage porcelain elves and tiny evergreen bottle brush trees in the local thrift stores & antiques shops, to make these adorable snow globes... some are tiny glass jars, and others are vintage blue mason jars

they will be available at A Ruffled Nest's Christmas show tomorrow, Friday, November 30th from 5-8pm as well as Saturday December 1st 10-3pm

116 South California Street, Sycamore, IL.

Many other local artisans + vintage sellers will be next door too! Along with some dealers selling re-purposed and painted items...

Me? I'll be there helping out, selling some gingerbread men and other organic cookies + cupcakes (chocolate with peppermint frosting!) while enjoying the complimentary wine and candy bar:)

Hope to see you there! This show will be a great way to buy local/supporting these women while buying Christmas gifts!!

xo + snow globe and gingerbread blessings,

Working within a small space, our master bedroom is just that: small (or cozy depending on how I feel that day)
Here's my question (which I don't ask for very often): "Is it okay to put a sleigh bed in front of the window?"
this is what my bedroom looks like now...

We enjoy our views of the barns and prairie through our master bedroom window on one side, and on the other side is a view of the ancient oak tree — another great view -

so we have tucked our bed in a sort of alcove... which is okay, but I'm up for some change, and moving furniture is #1 on my list to do, unless I think of some other way to decorate that "alcove"
it is where I do a lot of reading and writing... so it needs to be soothing... serene... relaxing (input other relaxing words here)

I know I'm probably nuts to do this project now (with the holidays here and all) but the funny thing is, this is the time I go out shopping at retail stores the most!! I RARELY go shopping... so why not use some birthday money and do it right?
right
i thought so

My inspiration is coming from two LOVELY ladies that I adore here on the net, and am very happy to call them my friends as well...
Lulu (from Dusty Lu)
and
Jo (from Secret Garden Cottage)

I'll be posting some Q&A with both Lulu and Jo in the upcoming week, so stay tuned for the progress!!
xo+blessings,

Hi! I hope this Christmas house walk finds you all well!! come on in to our little farm house on the prairie...

more than half my day is spent in this little corner of the world... the kitchen
my kitchen = my expression = my love for my family = and oh such good and tasty dishes...
we ALL get involved in the kitchen! it's my favorite room of the house



these little candy canes are being bagged up for sale in the shop today! check back later!!!

collecting those little tins, I have made a lot of little treats for the kids
cakes and tiny pies
one of the things I really have enjoyed, is collecting small things like that — after all... I AM surrounded by six little sets of feet scampering about the farmhouse all day:)
totally not complaining

thos candy canes are vintage wire ones and the coolest quick decorating thus far this year

this may not look like a Christmas kitchen... but simmering on the stove is some raw milk I'm heating up for baby Daniel, with my cup of tea steaping in the background, and the chalkboard proclaiming I need to slow down and enjoy these last few days of Advent

nature inspires this family of mine... this farmhouse... this soul

yes, that is the mini-conservatory Jason made for me to use in the potager... it's sitting next to and apple ladder... which is all resting peacefully on top of a table Jason also made using reclaimed barn wood

we've "freaked" out a few people with letting our Percheron horse Jordan roam the property free and eat the cool grass... and this picture simbolizes so much to me
freedom

instead of taking all the pine trimmings and making thick swags, I am leaving them raw
extending their life from outdoors right into our home
unpolluted

a bunch of lavender grens as well as pine branches surround Mary especially since it's the feast day of the Immaculate Conception! Dear blessed Mother... so gentle and kind... may I always give my all to others through sacrifice Mary... help me to be closer to your Son

the girl's room...
all vintagey turquoise + red and simply so fun & cute!

this house most certainly is never 'totally tidy'... especially when you give your daughter the freedom to create in her 'vintage horse room'

back downstairs, in our once dining room (now turned living room) pinecones, dried oranges and an eskewed lamp;)... things are not perfect here

Daniel even got some new stuffed toys I hand stitched this holiday season... I couldn't resist letting him have them before Christmas day! he also loves playing with my yarn balls like a little kitty

he sure does love his sister... what a blessing a big family is!!

that's the end of the house tour for me...
in case you missed stop #8, it is my very good personal friend, who literally lives just 30 minutes from the farm: Traci Thorson... she's our official photographer for the farm events and certain other publications...
as well as stop #10: blondienc who has a great blog!
---------------------------------
I'm so excited to present to you the very special project all of us here on the farm have been working on together... especially Jason and I

We've compiled some simple and traditional holiday recipes and easy to make gifts in this
E-BOOK

AVAILABLE THIS FRIDAY! December 9th!!
it is an online e-book!!! We are so very excited to share this with you! (more on the book tomorrow)
We also have something else to share!!

the winter 2011 collection of hand carved spoons from NA.DA.FARM
Jason has been hand carving spoons they are so beautiful and special each spoon is one of a kind made from his own two hands truly beautiful
100% made by hand from reclaimed timber from the farm and other local wood
organic in nature... organically finish
each piece is sealed with organic olive oil... the safest sealant for wood used in the kitchen

We are opening up shop once again for some very wonderful hand crafted items from both Jason and myself... tomorrow!!!

From all of us here at the farm... peace + blessings,

I don't know about you... but I have been looking forward to this!! I cannot wait to head over there Thursday... for Mary's grand opening...

Mary has been here and sold her wares... which were so great... I have bought a few things from her in the past... she has a great eye, a wonderful simplicity and a chic style

Here I thought it was only Friday and Saturday... silly me...

So my "plan" is to go to Mary's shop Thursday to shop for Christmas... Sherrie's on Friday night for Christmas in the Alley to shop and sell

All this local shopping is so great!!

xo + grand opening blessings,

Out of the generosity of their hearts... for the love of creating... the passion for teaching... and because you all deserve a little time away...
Jeanne, Jen and Jill are giving away a package worth $500!!!

This is in conjuction with the October 7th and 8th Barn Sale/Event (45 min. West of Geneva, IL)

Can you believe it???

To make it a little more special, Jason and I are giving the winner VIP parking up by all the fun + some homemade goodness... we're putting extra care into your winnings!
(a little hint: it'll be so sweet...)

The winner will receive 2 SPOTS FOR EACH OF THE 2 DAYS OF ART classes... AND You will also get a FREE HOTEL ROOM courtesy of the three of them at the 4 star hotel: Holiday Inn Express! To enter the giveaway all you have to do is:
1. Blog about the Art on the Farm classes at the NaDa Farm Sale and the Girls Weekend Giveaway. Once you have blogged about it come here to my blog and let us know.
or
2. Talk about the art classes and giveaway on Twitter for a second entry! Once you have talked about it let us know here on my blog.
or
3. Talk about the art classes and giveaway on Facebook for a third entry. Once you have talked about it on Facebook come back and let us know here on my blog. or
4. Pin it to Pinterest! Once you have pinned it, come back and let us know here on my blog.

All entries to be entered here (on Anne Marie's blog) only make sure you leave a comment for each entry you do
DRAWING WILL END THIS FRIDAY! (Sept 23rd... at midnight)

Classes are filling up quickly as the NaDa Farm Sale date is getting closer.

If you want to sign up for the art of business, vintage journal or vintage mixed media class you can email Jeanne at Jeanneoli@hotmail.com to register.

If you want to sign up for Jennifer Rizzo's Reflections of the Prairie class you can email her at thecraftyhome@comcast.net.

To sign up for Jill Harris' Salvaged Treasures class you go can directly HERE to sign up.

***GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED MONDAY!

Can't wait to see who wins!! peace+blessings,

on all purchases made from now until this Friday, on anything in our online SHOP...

all items are hand carved by Jason from reclaimed wood in and around the farm... bring some Farm home this holiday season... or give a piece of Farm to that special someone...

everything marked down with free shipping...

we hope you all have a very blessed Christmas!

{please note... there is no guarantee it will arrive to you by Christmas day}

decorating that is... or I should really say: rearranging
lace is so amazing to me... hand done lace that is, not mass-produced items I love the thought of a woman sitting and creating her signature piece..and this is one of my favorites
I don't care if lace is in or out: it's in here at farm

can you believe we got snow?? this picture is so much better looking now with snow!!!!
so if you remember my post a few days ago, you remember the bird cages hanging? well, that's exactly what I did!! with a very unique piece of art by Dore, from Burlap Luxe she has some amazing pieces of art — and I especially like the stages she has created puppets, marionettes, finger plays, paper plays... I love it all thank you again Dore

I don't care if things don't match this is a bowl from my late grandmother and a shepherdess picture of a girl that reminds me of my young daughter... surround yourself with things you like!! forget about trying to fit in...

pears = organic & safe decorating:)

absolutely now the best place in the house — we were all here in this room last night decorating the tree, eating a treat or two and enjoying chai tea (the kids' favorite)

Christie Carter, from Carter's Cottage, generously gave me a hostess gift of some Annie Sloan paint, in a creamy white, and I am so tempted to paint this cabinet...

Christie has a very generous giveaway going on right now with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and accessories!! go here to enter! giveaway ends December 31st!!!

and from "some" of us here on the farm...
have a jollyFULL day!

sale ends this next week in the shop!! order this weekend for you to get your package by Christmas!!!!
thank you again to all of you who love Jason's spoons... they have gone to a chef, a mother of six, and gift wrapped for people all over the country... btw... we just added a few more yesterday!! here's the link to the shop: http://ndafarmlife.org/

peace + blessings,

Thank you to those who have liked my little burlap stockings and misc. items in the shop recently... it's been fun wrapping them all and sending them off... most of them gift for others... I hope you, who have bought them, were pleased with the packaging...

My little Etsy shop will be closed tomorrow until after the New Year there are a few burlap stocking for sale, in case you were interested...

xo+blessings,

We know how hard it is to get to the store... or want to go to the store

let alone find something unique... hand crafted... USA made...

so starting now, Jason and I have decided to host a big sale in the shop!!!!

here's a peek at what you'll find on sale... as well as other items we still have available

If you would like your items shipped and arrived before Christmas... you have to order by Monday...

**click on images to see them in the shop **

journals the sacred prairie collection...

the cutest little vintage candy canes (limited quantity left!!)

the sweet life...

spoons (hand carved from start to finish)

the ebook: simply Christmas... with farm is able to be emailed to anywhere!! so make sure when you purchase the ebook, you ignore the shop's policy of only orders in USA... Fra in Italy has enjoyed it as much as my friend Julia in USA...

it is only $2.99... and makes a great virtual stocking stuffer!!!

available by clicking the cover here...

and again... and huge thank you to all of you emailing me and telling me you like the book... thank you so much!!! we are SO glad! and it was so much fun doing... that I am in the works on another...

on a decorating note... (fun fun)
I totally redid the house today, no money spent — just lots of muscles!! am up late in so much excitement that Christmas is coming so soon... I can hardly wait! the kids and I have some really fun things to share with you...

(and I'm sure I'll pop back in here to journal some more thoughts... no doubt about that)

peace + blessings,

over the weekend, we opened up our shop farm life and
we have been busy ever since filling orders!!

sometimes life sweeps into your life like a tidel wave — or since it's so cold, like a giant snowball

without warning

I was on the phone with a very supportive friend today, and for the first time, I unloaded on her

she didn't know what hit her I think
like a giant snowball that builds momentum I talked and talked

needless to say, I had phone remorse

do you ever get off the phone with someone and say "oh good gravy that was not what I should have said"

well, that happened to me today
amongst the simmering soup I was preparing and sending out our new e-book, the snowball hit me

making sure the soup was okay, and the baby was happy with his older sister, I came over here to convey to you thought 4...
(all Advent I have been sharing thoughts)
thought 4... charity in a small world I heard this from a young woman at church on Sunday it is the sort of thing that keeps in your mind throughout the day
wanting for this snowball to melt, it took a moment to make me remember that I need not worry about what happens that charity means startring at home — giving time to take notice and comment on your four year old dressed up with his red cape on and holding a wooden sword that his older brother made by hand for his fourth birthday from Papa's wood carving set. Knowing that instead of going hungry we have a 1/4 of a steer coming to the farm and that even though the car broke down on the way to town with everyone in the car, what a blessing to have met that the couple who helped us get back home, since we were "all pioneer" and didn't bring our cell phones, and ironically enuogh, the woman has a brother in the same town that Jason and I used to live in and said brother and Jason knew eachother from being on the fire department in that small town.
small world
that everything you do comes back around to you this is a worldwide belief — whatever you may call it, "doing unto others as they would do unto you" is pretty solid teaching — regardless of faith
keeping it simple, the snowball has melted from the fire of love I have for life, and the wonderful support you all have shown us in our new shop...
Jen's party (go HERE to see some amazing homes decorating!!) is just what I needed to be a part of...
if you scroll down to the previous posts here on my blog, you can see how we are decorating...

simply

it's a minimal approach to the season... care into what is being put out... clean/simple/natural/farmstyle 

boquet was a gift from sponsor — Maple Valley Off-grid Farm
it's not much, but here's a little something for all of you, that should go really well with the recipes in the e-book

I made it myself with a bunch of snowflakes I got from the graphics fairy... thanks graphics fairy!!
(click on image to get a bigger picture + right click + copy + save)

that little four year old is cute as a button right now with his new sword, and was very tempted to want to cut his cake with it!! maybe his Papa will hand carve a serving piece for cake soon eh?

and yes, those are mini marshmallows on top... it's a quick and easy way to decorate a little four year old's birthday cake!!

all the love and support for our new products in the shop has been amazing
thank you so much!! we appreciate that more than you know
our new e-book is only $2.99
click on image to go take a peek at what's it is all about:

there is so much we are adding into the shop everyday — especially these spoons that my husband Jason has been creating from hand 100% hand carved!! I love them!!

there are also some sweet life products in the shop (hand embroidered sweet towels and aprons) sorry but we are not shipping internationally at this time
MERRY CHRISTMAS! peace + blessings,

ancient yew rolling pin

white pine spatula

yew honey dipper

ancient yew serving board



Jason hand carved, made, and finished all of the items currently in the shop...
(there is however also a knife made by our 15 yr. old son for sale, who has been studying under Jason)
to purchase any of the above items, simply click on each picture — it will take you to that listing -

we've gotten an old wood burning stove running out there in the workshop to keep up with the orders... and we are so excited each day to see what "papa" shows us from his now heated workshop...

thank you to all who came by the shop yesterday (the big re-opening) and left comments for all of us to enjoy... we appreciate your support...

xo + blessings,

all new items in the shop...

**new in the shop** are these beautifully hand carved buttons

made from ancient yew wood

when my mother gave me this hand crocheted shawl (shown here as an infinity scarf) Jason made me this beautiful button to make the perfect compliment for such a hand-made piece of clothing
great stocking stuffer or special gift for that knitter or crocheter in your family

xo + blessings,

later today all new items: :just in time for Christmas:: will be up and ready in the shop

stay tuned!!

xo,

we are SO thrilled to present this to you!!!
our very first e-book
here's a little of what's inside...

it's all about slowing down this holiday season and enjoying simple traditions
the price is only $2.99 so you can send it to friends, a mom, a sister or even your boss;)
you can purchase it at the shop
it's now open!
peace + blessings,

walking through our lives, it is rather different to understand the "why" of our daily struggles and pursuits and seeing what comes and what goes...

if we stand long enough during this walk, we can see how much our influence on others truly is

waiting for my husband to be out of surgery, I could have waited with my crochet hook and yarn quietly in the corner... but rather chose to engage in a conversation with an elderly woman... we both had two things in common... crochet and our husbands in surgery

we with our lives ahead of us... theirs with much more wisdom and knowledge and experience... and gratitude

keeping my hands busy in the waiting area, I made a hat and made a friend

her telling me of a yarn shop nearby that I didn't even know was there...
peace + thankful blessings,

(pants on Daniel were made by me as well...)

this is no time to be discouraged

the main reason so many of us feel discouraged is because of seeking greatness either in ourselves or anythings else other than God

we are not here for ourselves, or kids, or husband, or the earth

we are here for God... it is as simple as that

this is no time to think otherwise

we need to build up our strength in Him... not be discouraged because of a man or men or ourselves

a perfection of hope and fear is found in the poor in spirit
this doesn't mean we trod around with our heads hung low all depressed and saddened and submissive like a kitten against a wolf...
the poor in spirit seek happiness only in God

hope is the reward

the wolf... the enemy of this hope is despair and presumption

losing trust in God's goodness and mercy towards us is despair in it's fullest

presumption is the opposite... thinking that God will give happiness to you when you aren't entitled to it... like when you commit a sin, think God will forgive you without repenting from this sin

despair is more dangerous for us than any unbelief in God... because this means that man has given up hope

what are you living for if you do not have hope? can you have respect for yourself? respect for others? love for God??

every bad thing we do will send us into a tailspin right into despair, and we will try to fill that void of hope with (most likely) material items...

but despair can also be caused by being lustful — it truly blinds a person to only see pleasures of the flesh... aaaahhhh... the flesh... we see it all over creation don't we? it's on tv, the news, the computer, when we are shopping on the advertisements... but when you only see that, and don't see the good, your desire is not for spiritual good... but a desire to please the flesh

this is a lot to think about i know... but there is no better time than the present to begin anew...

it is certainly not difficult to attain!

laziness or being a sloth causes you to think it is just too difficult to be otherwise, and you fall into despair

pride was the fall of one in particular being...

hope destroys violence and peace rules over them

that is what most of us want isn't it? happiness and peace

we will be in the pursuit of happiness all through the season of Advent — that is quickly approaching... but I'm pulling the reigns on the world even more and showing my God I am here for Him and no one else

everything else will fall into place... into the quiet rhythm within each and everyone of ourselves...

xo+ hopeful blessings,

when I recently switched the dining and living rooms, the 'new' dining room had been sorely forgotten with creating a space to reflect the season/farm/us

friends of ours were having a garage sale... a nearby farm... and this little $35 table was just what this room needed

she even gave the kids and me free pumpkins... thanks Mary!
{{ a bit of country

{{ nests and gathered feathers from years on the farm

(here's a funny tidbit of a story involving the non-coincidence of our "campers": our friends John and Mary came by about a week ago to drop off the flyer of their garage sale they were having because Jason forgot to tell me the details — and that very day, the male "camper" that is here found out that he needed to get a new crankshaft... their engine is literally out of their truck... the whole thing... and John is a mechanist... he has a barn dedicated to this purpose... he fixes up vintage cars for a living... a shop to make any car lover drool... so their engine is now residing on another farm while they live in our barn in their camper — where it is warm and he can clean his tools and parts of the engine... basically... if John and Mary hadn't come over to give me that flyer, we might have totally forgot that he would be able to re-work the engine for the campers and order the necessary parts... isn't that just so amazing??)

truth be told... it's been a rough few weeks... (nothing to do with our new camper friends here)

gone are the warm sunny mornings with busy hands in the garden... I am running on this lonely habit of preparing... preparing meals and more food in the potager... putting up swags and hay couches

having the 'campers' here from Colorado for the past few weeks, with her being a spry 26 year old, I understand even more these miles and years that have separated me from my youth... oh good gravy... like I'm old or something? no, i know that i am not old... but i can't help but feel my bones more... the shape of my hands — the wrinkles on my face — the heart hurting from a recent blow of betrayal... all of these things have shaped the last two weeks since the sale and by gosh did i need to decorate and make things fresh

here's two of my pumpkins now...

changing up my surroundings makes me forget second guessing myself + my strength + my loves

family... friends... feathers... finds from the farm
(that's a lot of 'f''s)

here's to a fabulous fall weekend... and enjoying that hot cup of coffee in the chilly mornings
and another big thank you to all of you who have given me your sentiments about the farms through emails, letters in the mail and sharing your photographs... we had such a great time with you all here!!

peace + blessings,