Souvenirs:
sun

another year with my beautiful daughter serving us the traditional Santa Lucia buns she made herself...
my little saint

we all were told to get back into bed... we used the bed in the sunroom... and she served us in bed with fresh coffee... homemade apple jelly, butter, and the biggest heart...

she has the kindest heart to anyone I have ever met... I love her so very much words cannot describe the joy I feel when I am with her... like an angel on earth...
she always takes care of others, and this tradition on this feast day of Saint Lucy (santa lucia)
is a blessed way for any daughter to express their love towards their family

Whatever the fact to the legends surrounding Lucy, the truth is that her courage to stand up and be counted a Christian in spite of torture and death is the light that should lead us on our own journeys through life.

whether you believe in His Saints or not, one thing is for certain, we could all learn a valuable lesson from Santa Lucia:
bear light against the darkness, as Lucia did
find the strength within you this Advent Season to become the very best person you can possibly become
peace and blessings,

if you are interested in seeing last year's Santa Lucia Day here at the farm, you can go HERE there's a paper doll you can print out for your little ones

THANK YOU FOR YOUR IQUIRIES: NO, I did't purchase the dress, but I made it for her a few years ago... but thank you for those who inquiried if it's a "Santa Lucia Dress"... you are all so nice... but it will be passed down to her little sister, who is anxiously waiting to wear it

a look back in black and white at our stay in Montana camping...

cooking just another meal for the 'crew' at Big Pine National Forest in Montana...

we ate our supper just steps away at the creek watching a local young man fly fishing while the sun was setting

a stay we will never forget

Even though I am surrounded by color, life is still so nice to see when it's black and white
~at least on Sunday~
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend with family and friends!

xo+blessings,

I received an email this morning that got me thinking about my Bohemia roots...


the rich colors of Hungarian needlework at a market... picture source unknown as 'family legend' has it: some of my ancestors were so poor that they had dirt floors and when someone would come to visit, a design was drawn into the freshly combed dirt floor with a special type of broom

My family isn't a big family on that Hungarian/Transylvania/Bohemia side, but I do know that some of them were in fact gypsies...


my Hungarian grandfather with his team of work horses he plowed the fields with


my Grandfather today... he just turned 94 on Easter Sunday... and still in the garden Bohemia style to me is a free expression of the wild and rugged countryside of Europe cuddled with gentle touches from exotic travelers that passed through that region 

my Hungarian grandmother with flowers in her hair... both are more absolute FAVORITE pictures of them (of course, the family doesn't have any pictures of the gypsies... I wish!)
I chose Bohemian Italy — which could be hard to figure out — for the event, because to me, both Italy and Bohemia are so rich with culture and surprise and texture and intrigue... and I do like a challenge...
Blending Italy and Bohemian style has been so much fun!! Muted colors with blasts of color here and there
I am so excited for the event, and to see all of you again who came before and meet new people too... and in the true gypsy style, ALL bloggers are welcome to come to the new BLOGGER TENT!!


image via tumblr (please forgive me for not knowing the source... if you know, let me know)... I love this image! It will be a special place just for all you bloggers... to meet... mingle... have some champagne...
and have a great time meeting new BLOGGERS
If you are coming, let me know and I'll add you to my sidebar of 'who's coming'
for those of you not coming, I so wish you could...
and as you can just imagine, but life is pretty much consumed with my sweet baby Daniel and this upcoming event...
Have a great day!!
xo+blessings,

as a mother, I know what it is like to prepare for a baby

the ultimate joy increases as that feeling of knowing the birth will happen at any moment

it is hard work and uncomfortable at first, adjusting yourself with physical surroundings

taking care of your body with nutrition to the best of your ability

preparing yourself spiritually, mentally, and physically the entire nine months... and when that joyous day comes, when the time finally arrives for you to hold your baby, the pain all goes away

the sorrow is replaced with joy and peace

a deep thanksgiving for that life and that strength God gave you to get through it

such is life and this very day...

Jesus's Mother Mary is quite honestly not honored enough... to think what She had to go through for those nine months... well let's say, it is more than any one single woman has gone through... She completely gave herself to God in order to have Him work through Her...

meditating on this simple fact that Mary, is the Mother of God, still to this day, is important for all of us

to imitate Her grace (she is full of grace)

to imitate Her charity (while heavily expecting she stayed to administer to her cousin Elizabeth)

to imitate Her in love ( she loved all of us so very much in order to help... to aid... in our salvation... if is wasn't for her, none of us who believe in Christ would believe and be saved by Her Son)

when you know a woman who is just about to give birth to a baby, what do you do?
some of you may pray for that woman in order for God to give her more strength, a healthy baby, no complications so to speak...

when you know a woman who just gave birth to a baby, what do you do then?
hopefully you pray still for the baby and the mother...

my point is... it's not just the baby you pray for

if Mary didn't have the baby, there would be no Scripture, no Bible, no Church

the blood of Mary runs through the veins of Our Lord and Saviour... it was, and never will be separated

how can you separate the light from the sun? you cannot

how can you separate the Mother from the Son then?

let us honor then the Place of the King, and think upon the quiet awaiting of The Baby...

for wherever Mary is Her Son is also

xo + graceful blessings,

thought 4... dedicated thinking...

we are all thinking all the time
pouring our coffee we are thinking... putting on our shoes we are thinking...
combing our hair... cooking breakfast...
spending the afternoon when visiting with our sweet Mom and Dad...
when you tucked your child to bed tonight... you were thinking...
we are constantly thinking...

what are you thinking about??
thinking is creative... you think about something and your actions will follow
these actions are directly a result of the thoughts we are thinking
what we think = who we are

believe + think you will do good
you will do good

spend the rest of this week of Advent dedicated to creative thinking
dedicated

spend each day this week in a bit of silence within yourself
keep it simple
think good

and you will do good

that excited, happy, joyous, (more overjoyed really), filled with blessings, love, thankfulness... the whole nine yards (where did that saying come from — does anyone know?)
it hit
call it the sunshine streaming through our farmhouse windows
or the love and support from friends and strangers from people viewing the ebook, but regardless,
it hit
I just ran to the kitchen to start some potpourri on the stove (I know that sounds corny, but if you haven't ever made homemade potpourri with orange skins/cloves/cinnamon — do it and then judge me)
we are decorating more of the tree tonight — songs + cookies (which I haven't baked yet!) + more music and I'm sure a bit of chaos with lifting chubby four year old fingers up to the top of the tree to hang ornaments and a stray baby crawling on the floor to reach his stuffed candy canes...
this small farmhouse is tight sometimes, but I wouldn't have any other way
treasure this moment wherever you are, and if you haven't told someone you treasure them
do it
do it now... a priest once told me that if I think about my grandparent's then call them — that moment don't wait
I just took pictures of the new downstairs living room (well, rearranged...) and will be back after some cookies are in the oven
can I hear a 'hallelujah'??
we might not all be of the same religion, but one thing binds most of us all together at this time... and I don't know about you, but let's wipe that grumpy face off — even if you don't have a single dime to spend on Christmas gifts, you STILL have things to cherish... and life is one of them
so go on out there the rest of the day and SMILE LAUGH!

BE MERRY!! AND BRIGHT!!!!!!!!!!
Christ is shining through you! SHOW IT!
with so much love and peace,

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,

a pocket full of sunshine is what i really need

winter looms upon the horizon with all it's dusky softness and chilly breezes

a yearn for solitude and peace

a pocket full of sunshine is what i really need

over the meadows and through the woods i went... searching for a treasure — searching for the world

alone i was accosted by the sounds within my head

a pocket full of sunshine is what i really need

you cannot hear the warning, you do not know the hour of winter's icy blasts

to reach into my pocket, you will not find a nickel or a piece of gum, but seeds strung on a chain with Our Lord hanging there...

there are times when i could easily just find comfort elsewhere

but it's here He has called me and here i should be

peace + blessings,

... the key to independence + understanding + charity + knowledge +(and so much more)
don't rely on others to do the work for you... think for you... speak for you...
get out and do the work yourself
get out there and speak for yourself
don't take away from others what they worked so hard to do for themselves... but give to humanity... by saving humanity
keep yourself educated
keep yourself prepared
keep yourself at peace with God first... and your life will turn around
whatever you do today will effect your soul... your connection with God... your connection with people both near and far
understand this
understand that any ill will you give to others will most certainly come back to you if not now... it definitely will come back to you later

life is not about money or worldly things... but don't turn a blind eye and be afraid of sticking up for your beliefs... just make sure that your beliefs are truly for the better good of man
educate yourself
peace + blessings,

God almighty

when arriving home, those little arms that wrap around my middle, legs and neck all at the same time send my heart to beat fast yet slowly sinking into the moment of being home

i love home

my dad loves being home... yes, he is home and it satisfies me to no end

the decorating for Christmas usually doesn't commence until the week of

this year is different

i can feel it in my bones even

the joy of riding high on hope... faith... sacrifice... and love

peace and almighty blessings,

i am cleaning out the house, rearranging furniture, helping a friend with her computer 'stuff', hosting a young man's get together and creating a simple pot of chili today

the sun rose beautiful, all your prayers are so welcomed for my dad

he's doing so much better...

thank you so so much

i was listening to someone speak about our connection with each other... how when Christ said 'love they neighbor' what did he mean besides smiling at them, helping them out when they need it, donating to a good cause, helping in a disaster... it went deeper than that

isn't it beautiful how when Christ was preaching he rarely 'said it like it is' but rather made us think... a deeper sense of neighbor for example

this speaker was explaining how our souls are connected to one another because of Him, and because of this, we have the ability to embrace them even after they pass from this world...

so last night, i laid in bed, read some soulful inspirations, closed my eyes and imagined something i have never imagined...

that God is here with me, my Dad, and all that I see... but it's like having it completely dark, and when someone turned on a strong light you'd see God... that the veil was lifted from this life... that heaven is not up in the clouds, but rather, all around us... we just aren't able to see it because our souls are not completely to Him...

well, mine isn't

i unfortunately hold myself back from completeness into 'that realm of heaven'... i love my kids, my husband, my farm, my life, and all these material possessions...

slowly, He is making me realize this and I am able to embrace this life in joys and sorrows while at the same time (trying to be) completely His

when the sun comes up so strong and brilliant and the day is filled with so much, i am completely thankful i can still help others and enjoy this life... and learn more each day or night about who i am... who He made me

peace + soulful 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,

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

for all i care...

peace + blessings,

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

Don't disconnect with the good in life...

peace+blessings,

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...

happy autumn!

a sense of disorientation as the first morning approached... a million different birds were chirping at the park we camped in the first night

albeit, the tents were set up at 12midnight and a scurry of sleeping bags and pj's flying everywhere

an owl called in the tree above us at to say "ssshhh" — a wonderful distraction for the four year old excited with loud voice (per usual) as I sat there and held onto his shoulders while nursing Daniel and said "listen to mother owl... she's talking... shhh"

as the sun rose and the birds chatter started, we too started chattering and making that beloved hot cocoa and coffee and took a walk amongst the tall trees and the chattering birds... down at the water there were fish bones and shells and a stillness to the water

being still sounded appealing to me instead of packing up the gear and into the "unknown wilderness"

i felt on this trip like 1/2 pioneer and 1/2 gypsy...

i wouldn't change the views we had for anything... but neither would i have changed the experience...

the trip wasn't perfect... such as life... it was like God knew what I needed... what Jason needed... what all the kids needed...

all eight of us had a different experience but interconnected from living outdoors... working together with meal preparation, camp setups, calming the young ones in the car, listening to stories...

a very real experience that was so life changing it's quite difficult for me to even share it the way I would like...
besides, all the photographs I took would constitute a large coffee table book that you could literally use as a table due to the thickness it would be

i felt like the 'nature paparazzi' — and at times, 'mother moose' got her fair share of the limelight

so much is still sinking in

and as much as I would like to just write and sit and contemplate, I have school books neatly arranged on the dining room table and am very anxiously awaiting the school bell to ring "officially" (though, I would say the children learned more from our spelunking guide in the caverns then they possibly did the last two years of studying rock/natural formations in science with me)

with the barn sale fast approaching (one month away) that is a whole other set of distractions from the camping experience/journey

the early rise in the mountains will hopefully stick with me for some time... as will the giving of my whole self to my children and husband, even when 8,564 feet above sea level while kayaking on the lake in the Big Horn Mountains...

peace + early rise blessings,

I would guess that 89% of you have never met me in person... you don't know if my life is the way it is... or if I love walking in the prairie for real... or bake my own bread... or sew my own skirts...

yes, I do all of those things

but now, after being a "blogger" for awhile, sometimes it is coming back into my face with not smiles but disbelief

even those women that truly know me have said things like "you can say all you want Anne Marie... life isn't like that"

no apologizes from me... life IS like that... for me... and it most certainly can be for YOU
I'm not about to say 'sorry, but... '

I'm not about to tell you 'oh... I didn't mean to make you feel _________'

never apologize for the way you are living to anyone... if you are going through some hard times, that is for you to get through... for you to become closer to your creator... not away...

step
single
every

every
single
step

up and down we choose... what is more important to you vs. what can take the back seat

this could be all you have ever known: the ups and downs, but it still is your choice... and you may just like climbing up or descending down... and that's okay... no apologizes

no matter what you might be experiencing, there is a way to get pass that wall... you put the wall there... the one you just can't seem to not only see through, but get through, get around

God doesn't make you put that wall up... you built it with all your negativity... excess energy... wasted energy

every day

every
single
day
I go down into my soul to lift it back up again... offering all that I am in communion with Him to enjoy the day, to enjoy my life, to grow in union with my husband and our family

I choose the misery presented to me... I choose the way a song makes me feel... I choose the color of denim skirt I lift up to my hips that bore all six of my children... I choose

like my dad says "it's all in your head"...

it's my life... no apologizes indeed...
= how my boys cooked breakfast for us or how the sunrises out here lately with the cool morning makes the most unbelievable sunrises in the prairie
= how the chickens we have aren't laying eggs and would rather eat the tomatoes instead of the crickets and worms
= how I absolutely love embracing my domesticity — plain and simple — through my faith... through the Church

One thing is constant with me, and that is my constant enhancement for those around me... I like to consider me dying to self in order to give it to others...

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Not too long ago, the woman who chose to be home with her children could cook, bake, sew, tend the garden, can, teach her children, entertain, and still have time to pray

there is still that same amount of ticks and tocks on the clock

women... men... it is time you made yourself worthy of your time here...

pray/meditate/garden/live/hug someone/smile/give back/work

work your hands to the bone in prayer and that wall will fall and crumple to dust

create yourself worthy

peace + blessings,

The event this year is coming together so nicely... meant to be on so many levels...

totally random photo... he's just too cute not to post today...

There is so much more I wanted to include in the flyer, but there simply wasn't enough room!!

the entry fee on Friday night is waived when you bring your ticket (handed to you Friday night) back Saturday (if you plan on attending the event both days)

part of the proceeds both days benefit a local charity — Hope Haven -

there are more and more homeless individuals... but not enough room at their building... but we can help them
(to make a more substantial donation, visit their website here)

Making a difference in other people's lives is so important on so many levels... and community needs to stick together

that's the primary reason why Jason and I host this event on our farm

to help support many different local artists, antique dealers, musicians, etc.

My focus for the sale is baking from scratch and selling those yummies in my little 'farm bakery' in the barn...

ART on the Farm classes have begun registration and you can see more about those classes here (or on my sidebar)... seats are limited, so please register soon

If coming from out of town, I am so thrilled that the Holiday Inn Express has created a room block and ALL rooms are the same price for you!! even the King Executive Suites!! to see more go here

This is a lot of information I know, but so much needs to be said when it comes to this event... there is much more to it than just stuff on tables or haystacks... it's all our creative efforts joined together to both inspire you and to give you the opportunity to purchase all HANDMADE and USA made items crafted by our hands — all of us involved...

Here's an idea: Gather a few of your friends that you haven't seen in awhile, or that you see all the time and love being around... create a closer connection to them by planning a trip to the farm... here's even a little something for you to send them in your e-mail...

If you gathered the "three of you"... split the hotel room ($97.50) three ways... it's only: $32.50 per person!
This is an event I don't want you to miss!
Take Jill's jewelry class Friday night, go shopping afterwards, go back to your plush hotel room, have a few cocktails, laugh and giggle, tell stories and eat some snacks while watching a movie... the next morning, grab a cup of coffee (and their famous cinnamon rolls at the hotel) and head back to the farm just after the sun rises to walk the prairie (rain or shine) to Jen's class to learn how to create a unique art under glass creation with the inspiration you will find on our farm and in the back 3 acre prairie... shop some more and enjoy a class by the famous artists Jeanne Oliver from Colorado... she is teaching two classes that are both unique and beautiful to create under the skylights in the horse barn...
don't forget to grab a few cupcakes and sit under the trees and enjoy the farm!!
(that sounds like a great weekend if you ask me)
bringing your blankets to picnic or relax out in the prairie is highly encouraged:)
xo+blessings,