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*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*

I have to admit, that when Fifi contacted me, I thought it wouldn't go right...
that she wouldn't like it...
I was out in the garden, nails full of dirt, and hot and tired from working out in the garden when my husband called to me "Fifi's on the phone"
I started laughing... it just didn't even sound right!... but it was for real...
she started talking to me and her voice was so sweet... and she was so genuine... and she put me at ease immediately asking me questions about our farm
I answered the best I could, but it all didn't sound worth it for being in a book... so I asked Fifi if I was going to be in the 'decorating no-no section' or the 'romantic faux pauxs'
seriously
but she laughed and said "i don't think so sweetheart"
afterall, I knew the other women who were going to be featured in the book... and I knew that their talent and creativity and decorating skills far excel mine
but here we are... she did like our home, and actually did put it in the book...

after a day of photography shoots in and out of the farmhouse, we gathered some elements from inside and actually brought them outside to our prairie we have in the back 3 acres, for a fantastic candlelit dinner shot
... it really was so romantic... so Romantic Prairie Style

we then enjoyed dinner on our deck with both Fifi and Mark... and the next day, our little 5 year old daughter asked when "Uncle Mark" was coming back (she missed him already... and seriously thought he was her uncle... so cute!)
both Mark and Fifi are a part of our family now... part of our memories here on our prairie, and I hope when you see our home in Fifi's book, that you feel a part of our life here too...
no amount of money could buy the gifts I have received by knowing this sweet lady...

SO WHAT'S THE GIVEAWAY???

A SIGNED COPY OF HER NEW BOOK! enter the giveaway by: * taking the giveaway button and placing it on your sidebar, and linking it back to this post * leave a comment here sharing with Fifi and I what you love (if you wish) Deadline is: February 11th, 2011... 12/midnight Winner announced: February 14th (Saint Valentines Day)

PLEASE NOTE: that the book will not be published until the end of April, and the winner of this giveaway will be mailed a signed copy shortly after the release date...
and remember, that Fifi and Mark will both be here at the farm May 20th and 21st for the Farm Event! They will be selling and signing copies here both days... if you want to book your stay for the event, then go HERE ROOMS ARE GOING FAST! (limited rooms available)
All the best... xo+blessings, Fifi and

AND BY THE WAY... I'm linking this post to my friend Jenn's fantastic party!! go HERE to join in on the fun!

slow cooked lamb shanks... asparagus with Hollandaise sauce... white bean ragout... homemade fettuccine... warm rhubarb-Bourbon compote with vanilla ice cream

That is what I served for Fifi O'Neill and Mark Lohman (a friend and the wonderful photographer of this book), and our other guests that filled the long farmhouse table outdoors, at a farm to table style dinner late last spring.
All those recipes are now in Fifi's new book, The Romantic Prairie Cookbook
It was a pleasure having Fifi over for dinner again, and though there were some mishaps (like my oven breaking down) it all was meant to be that way. The recipes in the oven had to be changed quickly, and a quick trip to the garden inspired me, and from the reaction from our guests, they were more than happy with the results.
I'm honored to have been in this book.
Like Fifi's description of the book: "Field-fresh recipes and homespun settings"

here are a few shots from the rhubarb-bourbon compote...

this will be my 'go to' cookbook this 2012... there are some really great recipes and beautiful settings in here...

thank you so much Fifi for asking me to be in this cookbook it was such a pleasure preparing the food... and bringing it all to table
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,

An honor to be chosen from Fifi O'Neill's new cookbook for an Italian publication...

From the Italian magazine "COUNTRY & COUNTRY"...

Conforto per corpo e anima it reads "Comfort for body and soul... "
3 out of the 6 photos are of me and Farm... all I can say is thank you!!!
there I am drizzling locally raised lamb shanks with olive oil and my rosemary from the garden above me are my kids and a few friends playing on the ancient oak tree swing on the south side of our grounds
and the farm to table style dinner in the bottom photograph, taken by Mark Lohman, under the pergola and table strewn with fresh food I made for our large party of friends, including Fifi herself at the head of the table... it was her birthday, and though I wanted to make her, her favorite dessert, bread pudding, my oven stopped working and so became another favorite, rhubarb compote with bourbon dressing served with slow churned vanilla ice cream
The recipes in the book are so very delicious, as Marylout Tapp and Jennifer Rizzo (bottom right photo above) will agree.
The settings are inspirational and the recipes fresh and delicious.
No wonder it is in Italian!!
My recipes for the farm to table dinner are all in the book, pictures of our farm and me preparing it as well...
a wonderful book
such a complete blessing to be a part of that!!

saying it in Italian is so much more beautiful... Conforto per corpo e anima!!

(almost as beautiful as Latin)
xo+delicious 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,

Christina Strutt, of Cabbages and Roses is having a giveaway on her blog... go HERE... to have a chance to win Fifi's new book!!

You can read a little more about the book and Fifi in her interview
(thank you so much ladies, for mentioning 'Anne Marie' and linking your post to me)

Christina wrote the forward in the book... I can't wait to get a copy... can you??
If you don't win the giveaway, you can purchase your copy for only $17.20 on Amazon right now
go HERE to order your copy

How so very wonderful that the connections people share
if you are genuine in spirit, the connections last and are real...
~have a beautiful Sunday~
xo+blessings,

Good Monday morning to you all!!
Just a quick note for all of you who are traveling here to the farm for the May event...

Make sure you say that you are attending the "Farm Event" when you book your hotel room with the Holiday Inn Express it's where most of the out of town visitors are staying (and if you come and stay there, you get a special gift from me:)
You also get the advantage of receiving a great discount... and rooms are filling up! so make sure you book your room soon if you would like to stay there
to see how the hotel looks — and for more information — go HERE
xo+farm blessings,

YOU WON JoLynn!!!
(winner taken by using random.org) Send me your address at: ndfmama@gmail.com in order to receive your signed copy of Romantic Prairie Style, by the one and only Fifi O'Neill!!

Here's JoLynn's comment: ____________________________ JoLynn said...

Oh, how I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this style!! I feel like I have just "figured out" what my style is {actually a mix of things}, but I would be so thrilled to win this book!!! Thanks for the generous giveaway!:)
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 ____________________________

Congratulations JoLynn! Fif and I have loved reading your comments... and if you aren't JoLynn, then both Fifi and I would love to extend the invitation to come to the Farm Event this May 20th and 21st, here in Illinois, where she and the photographer Mark Lohman, will be selling and signing the book... hope to see you!

Fifi &

Want a few fresh touches to your kitchen without spending anything?

thought so

I'm all about "using what you have" and being HAPPY with what you have... and I'm not a frivolous shopper... on the contrary... I'm so very picky with what I buy for our home... a lot of what we have was given to us from either gifts or they are hand me downs... just like Francesca (but I call her Fra:)

so when I saw my good friend Fra's (who lives in Italy) kitchen window the other day, I had to share it here... because just a simple window treatment brought a totally understated yet feminine look to her home

but I love her home — it's not filled with new items, but well loved pieces from family — even her house was her grandmothers! (I do hope you take a look into her beautiful world)
We both had our babies around the same time... hers being the first, mine was the sixth... but now we share a common bond of motherhood beyond our friendship of womanhood...

and then there's my friend Stacey... she also posted her kitchen recently and like Fra, it's filled with her own style... and the colors and fun touches are just perfectly placed... she and her adorable little family just moved into this new house and she has big plans... I know how difficult it is to find the money to do the things you want, but in time it all works out... but I say she is doing a fabulous job with what she has (just the way I like it!) I had the privilege to meet Stacey at the past May sale and that meeting wasn't surely long enough!!! We're hoping to meet up and do some vintage shopping soon...

I write a lot like I'm just writing in my journal... for which I am... this is my online journal... but may I just say a big hello to all my readers... you are so welcome here on my farm... here in my journal...

I often get emails that ask me so many personal questions... and though I may not divulge in that too often, most of my posts are actually hand written with a pen in my bedside journal and then re-typed the next morning onto this journal... sometimes with revisions but most often times it's from that leather bound book and black pen that await me in the evenings... so my blog is really an "open book"

and though I may not respond to every comment, I do read every one

you are all so unique... thanks for stopping

enjoy your day!!

we start reading to the children when they are six months old... when they can sit up and look at a book
books are a big part of our life... we absolutely devour the stories
sharing them with each other... reading to each other... hearing their take on the excitement and thrills and mystery and sadness within the stories

books are not replaced with nooks and others electronic devices... they are treasured here whether from the library or from the bookstore
we learn from them and gain interests in this world from books more than anywhere else
we are not gathering our interests from the TV or many movies, and though some of us like Pinterest, it's when you see it in a book and you look at the care put into showing you in her/his style... and how you support those authors! There's nothing better than books, and you certainly are never too young...
xo+literary blessings,

For the May 2010 Sale at the farm here, I sold bundles of 'raw books'... old books that my daughter and I removed the binding from (this was hard to do to books I must say)
What was left, was these beautiful old binders, and being that they were red, they inspired me to use them for the "Farm Menu" for our recent dinner party (see here)

Everything was made from scratch... the food and the decorations
the best advice I can give anyone attempting a dinner party "from scratch" is to plan, organize, and make ahead some of the food!

Here's what you'll need: ~ old book covers (front, back, and binding still in tack) ~ a glue stick ~ old sheet music ~ and some bits of old lace and feathers (if desired) ~ some hemp twine for the tie ~ an awl and hammer ~ and of course, the printed image for your cover
First off, take the awl and hammer and make holes in your (now) menu covers

This is the image I used courtesy of The Graphics Fairy (feel free to use any of these print outs for your own use)

for the cover, I just added text and sized it to a 5"x7" to fit my book cover

then took it into my little computer arts program and just erased the deer to get this:

then flipped it, added text and came up with this: (this is the finished inside of the Menu)

With that same scroll design, I flipped it once again, and added text to the inside top:

Paste the papers (cut to fit for the inside so as not to be in front of the hole)

to cover the rather ugly inside of the binding, I adhered old lace with glue
and on the outside of the Menu, a sprig of rosemary and a small pheasant feather (which was also used in the buffet decorations) tied with another piece of vintage black lace

I cut some small strips of old sheet music (a whole page of music also took the place of a "placemat" on the table) under and above the front of the Menu with the glue stick

Of course, now looking at them, I probably wouldn't have used the black lace, but rather the vintage ticking, but the great thing about these, is that you can reuse them time and time again!!

Here's to enjoying your holiday season!
~Have a fantastic weekend~
xo+blessings,

it is simply Christmas and Jason, I and the children want to thank you all so very much for helping support our endeavors throughout the years

last year, we put together an e-book entitled simply Christmas... with Farm

and it is still available... it's only $2.99

able to view right there on your computer... online only that is...

we'll be leaving this up for some time, and if you are wanting to relax and see into our home, gather some simple recipes that are delicious and easy as well as some nature inspired gifts and decorations, we'd love to share last years e-book with you

here's a look inside...

you can purchase it here

xo + simple blessings,

one of our favorite dinners this time of year is what I shared in our e-book

inside the e-book you will find originnal farm recipes for:
a slow cooked apple jelly ham + homemade cranberry sauce + yeast rolls + from the garden squash

some of the things I like about this meal are that {{ it is simple {{ slow cooked {{ all from scratch {{ in season
I made the ebook step by step in order for you to take your laptop or iphone onto your kitchen counter (or look to your desktop) so that everything is perfectly simple
easy
and delicious
I am actually "in charge of the ham" this Christmas for the big family get together at Jason's family... and there is a reason for that
they too love that recipe
Whatever you are cooking for the holidays, think about doing something slow cooked that will feed a crowd... ham is one of our favorites, because after an early supper, you can put the ham in the fridge and eat some delicious ham and cranberry sandwiches for a late snack!
you can order your copy of our ebook: simply Christmas... with farm HERE
it also makes a great virtual stocking stuffer!! especially for $2.99

Have a wonderful first day of your week! and another 'have fun' planning your Christmas dinner!!!
peace + blessings,

always searching for more

we climb and reach
looking to a new horizon
under rocks

through the cracks... if only just for a little peak
why is this?? why do we knock ourselves out like that??
is it making us better? or is it just a waste of time and energy?? why are we like this???

what it boils down to is that hard work is in our essence of life and along with this hard work is also structure... organization
think about it in terms of 'creation'... our Creator made heaven and the earth, reflected upon it, saw it was good, and moved on... then He made light, reflected upon it, saw it was good, and moved on... and so on...

so yes, God is the first example to us of the "how" to do this thing we are living: this life
what projects are you working on? installing new book cases? starting a new online business? writing a novel? making dinner? sewing pillows?
whatever the task may be remember three things: (the perfect number to me) 1) it is a gift that has been given to you 2) make the plans + stop to reflect + give thanks for this gift and your talents 3) move on
don't dwell on whatever it is you are doing... follow the three steps above and you are sure to succeed

keep it simple...
if God can relate how He created the world, heaven, the universe, the light, the animals, the plants, the flowers, the seas, the air, and the human person with a soul that reproduces and grows from a tiny little embrio into what you look into the mirror at in a few simple words, I think we can too... (it's okay to stand outdoors in the park with your jaw dropped to the forest's floor in awe and wonder)

take it from someone who over-thinks practically every breathing moment of her existence (ehem)

keep it simple
(trust me)

peaceful blessings,

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,

The Boho-Ball at the farm is only a few months away...
it happens Friday night, May 20th from 5-8pm...
here's what you have to look forward to at the Boho-Ball: (there is more to come later on this oh-so-fun event) champagne!
treats!
an AWESOME giveaway at the door for anyone who comes dressed for the event!

MEET FIFI O'NEILL!!! and let her sign her new book!!!!
shopping!
inspiration! (can you tell I'm excited??) it gets better... 


my sweet friend Tracy Porter can't make it to the event, but she said how much she was bummed she was missing out on so much fun! So we decided to do a giveaway for ANYONE reading this post!!
no need to become my follower — or post about it -
no obligations
this is FOR FUN! in honor of celebrating life with creativity!!
if you want to add it to your sidebar to tell your friends about it (feel free) you get one chance... one comment... that's all!!
are you ready??
Tracy is giving ONE BLESSED WINNER A $250 GIFT CARD TO HER ONLINE SHOP!

I know!

ISN'T SHE THE BEST??
here's some of what her shop has to offer:

here's the rules again: -only ONE comment that's all!
*STARTS TODAY, APRIL 1st AND GOES UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY APRIL 8th — midnight-*

All the best to you! Tracy and I simply can't wait to see who wins!!!!
xo+blessings,

remember... ONLY ONE COMMENT PER PERSON... winner will be chosen per random.org *GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*

utter not a word of negativity today

that includes yourself

if you catch yourself even thinking something negative I want you to think of one simple image

a heart

from now until Saint Valentine's Day — increase this love within yourself

(yes, let's call this a challenge)

to love yourself more

I've been caught in the midst of mothering these six children of ours, and truly, have not taken much time out for myself... I have this problem see, of thinking I am not worth the time, that there is something ultimately more important to do... and I'm not "a shopper"... or go to the gym... or something outside the home

I truly am home about 90% of the time... by choice...
I'm embracing my vocation as wife first, mother second — they both equally have their time upon me
but I don't want to end any day for which negativity has swallowed it up... I refuse!!
I want to increase the love within myself for myself, in order for me to give it more freely to others
so I am challenging myself, and you can join me...

you don't have to tell a single soul... actually... I would highly recommend not telling anyone... not even your husband/boyfriend/spouse... this is a secret challenge that will totally change the way you think of who you are and those around you... creating a tidal wive ( A TIDAL WAVE) of love
no more negativity... try it onto every aspect of your existence: instead of: "I can't believe 'so and so' did that with her living room! so hokey" try: say nothing at all instead of: "why can't I go to New York for Vogue Knitting but so and so can" try: I am going to the store to buy myself a really great knitting book and save up for next year's Vogue Knitting instead of: "she really has to do something about those age spots on her face" try: she is such a wonderful soul instead of: "she's always so happy... it's quite ridiculous" try: what an example to become! instead of: "can you believe that way that person dressed in church?" try: focus on Our Lord — He is what matters
quietly be submissive to the negativity and you will overcome with such joy! fill yourself with this love!!!

xo+blessings,

When Fifi was here photographing our home for the book, she asked if I had any Cabbages and Roses fabric, and I said "no" with head hung low (for I secretly have always wanted some) no more was said
but then a few weeks after the shoot, Fifi sent me some of the fabric Christina had given her
I kept it folded up in my hutch to enjoy up until recently
I made some very relaxed nadafarm style curtains un hemmed and frayed... the way I like it
relaxed, a bit rugged, and un ironed

I made a top hem just a bit over an inch wide and strung hemp twine through the top and simply tied it on the brackets on either side of the sink and then swagged it very casual like

of course, my friend Fra and Stacey inspired me

I still have a bit of the fabric left, but have it folded up in the hutch for the future

Cabbages and Roses is just so classic isn't it?? I just love linen
xo+blessings,

redefining who you are is exhausting

comes at a time when you are least expecting it... like conceiving a baby or falling love (preferably falling in love first)

so many of us are removed from our heritage — well, i am -

i don't live in Hungary or Ireland, and cannot step outdoors and run my hands against the ancient stones that were laid upon the church's walls hundreds of years ago



photograph taken on our travels to Idaho
here where I live, on our little farmette... if felt as though there was more of a history when the barn was still standing... we do have a corn crib that is quite old... which i am certainly not complaining about to have instead
all of that is physical history... things you can touch and feel...
what i am talking about is finding my culture within

within who i am... all of me

it's kind of exhilarating thinking of that... the foods that i both create and crave... the clothes i both make and wear... the faith i both live and breathe
i could dedicate a whole book written on finding my culture within...
i do think so many of us who like to journal our lives onto the net for anyone to read should not be scared... we shouldn't hold back ourselves...

there is strength within all of us to just embrace who we are and the culture we have made for ourselves why? because it's exposing ourselves
why also? because we are able to look at whatever images we wish and read whatever we'd like to form this culture

it's not our ethnicity, that will never change... that's in our blood

it's our own personal workings in our daily lives that makes up our culture and it's intellectual activities

this table was noticed by me the moment it came out of Amy's car for the barn sale here...

I have to admit, it's kind of nice having a flea market come right to the farm...

the natural wax she put on it prevents it from chipping anymore, and the French hand towel made from flax is what i am using like a little table runner

the "curtain" is just fabric I strung up on a birch branch... just temporarily, to keep the heat out
if it was up to me, I wouldn't have any curtains
ever

but our big windows face the south... the heat pours in... good in winter... not so good in summer

we don't have air conditioning by choice, so everything is oriented in the rooms now for best light/views/heat control

this nook is so nice and cool in the crisp mornings, and watching the sunsets at night...

here's a closeup of the fabric... a nubby linen with a faded turquoise stripe

i grew up sailing with my Dad, and those memories are treasured and seem to be creeping out more and more in my sort of red, white, blue decor
you might already know how much I like Ralph Lauren's style, and seeing he's producing more of his quality goods right her in the USA, makes me like him even more
if only more of the big names did that... think of the jobs!

one of our old corn crib doors fell off awhile ago, and I recently used it for some food styling I was hired for by Jo Packham for a new book she hired me for (more on that later)
after bringing that in for a few shots, i really enjoyed it inside, and it is now very happy being in our nook

I am adding that same stripe fabric in my living room... not done yet sewing those

shopping at JoAnn Fabrics, at a 50% home decor is not so easy finding USA made fabric, but you can still find made in USA fabric, such as Waverly

it is a classic rose pattern I have always liked... and am very happy to work with it finally in our farmhouse

there is nothing like classic pattern and texture

there is a road trip I have planned with a good friend this weekend... if you follow me on Pinterest, you can see what's inspiring me in my pinboard entitled "road trip"
I'll be helping decorate a new shop in Indiana, and doing a photoshoot... but more on that later too
xo+blessings,