the more and more time I spend on this farm, the more I realize how we become who we are by simply just working with what we have, and listening to our surroundings... opening our eyes
that is the great thing about life it is constantly changing... with new ideas... and right now, with advent season upon me and the farm, a new perspective on quite a few things have entered into my life here and yes, even in my farm kitchen...
this cabinet was in my craft room... it's a small nook off the living room which I use to sew and create in but when Fifi was here, she made a comment that this white hutch, was out of place... that it didn't fit into the rest of the house except for the kitchen (where we have white cabinets)
I didn't get upset... not in the slightest!... but it got me thinking on that ever since she brought it to my attention I just thought it looked good where it was... but who am I? certainly no decorator!! so this past week, I moved that hutch into the kitchen, where the chippy paint/jelly cupboard was...
make sure you stop and smell the roses wherever you are... these are still from my birthday! within the hutch, I tucked a few treasures...
a few ornaments here and there...
it brightened up this space even more... in all areas of the kitchen
sometimes friends and family make fun of me moving furniture around like this, but call me silly, but doing so, changes the physical and mental atmosphere here... decorating therapy so to speak possibly *************** i know my little "Christmas Cowboy" is in this photo... he had a birthday this past week... and he looooves being a cowboy (i love it too)
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 sacrificeMary... 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,
when we first bought this old farmhouse, one of the features we loved, and love now, are two "nooks" as we like to call them... this one in the kitchen is by far my favorite
I have quite a bit of wire holders for spices and such in the kitchen, and while organizing the basement last week (there seriously is not a place untouched by organizing lately... the "nesting instinct") this wire hat rack with hooks was snatched and put up in our kitchen nook... this 1950 chef's hat sits on top, as well as a few of my red & white French kitchen towels I have collected over the years... and of course, my favorite rolling pin that I use almost every day
In case you are interested in the details of the room... *here's what we did to this nook when we moved in* — removed the vinyl flooring, and refinished the original douglas fir floorboards -removed the butlers pantry that was in major disrepair — which we repurposed as our large vanity in our bathroom downstairs -new Marvin casement windows — new trim and beadboard (in lemon chiffon — but you can't see a hint of yellow) -new douglas fir tongue and groove ceiling ceiling -installed chandelier (it's been with us ever since we have been married) -I refinished this table top, painted the legs and did the same to the chairs -chair pads were purchased via Country Living
it's a place I sit with friends over coffee or tea and always a piece of pie or a homemade cookie... it's an area for silence... views... and morning cheer!! xo+blessings,
When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs? ~G.K. Chesterton
what G.K.Chesterton told me through this quote was that gratitude is simple and comes from the most basic needs of this life... how I need to remind myself of this fact daily... that the most basic needs are what we need to thank God for even legs or in my kitchen... peppers
As I am stringing up the last of the peppers that we covered under our makeshift frost protector, I can't help but look at all the colors and variety now hanging down like jewels from our kitchen windows... out the window it certainly looks like winter with branches bare, but as the trees loose their leaves and fall to the ground to blanket and help protect the flower beds below with their natural mulch: gratitude is there gratitude is there in the morning with cutting boards waiting at the ready
gratitude is there with a clean kitchen and my tea kettle whistling
as Chesterton again had said: "Gratitude is the mother of all the virtues." from gratitude... it all starts... all other things flow... and all this week will be a self-enhancing inward journey for myself to find more and more gratitude amongst my life here on the farm...
in order to say 'thank you' properly, we have to first slow down and figure out how we would like to thank our Creator... for our life... let's start with a thank you letter... there is too much going on in my head at most times, but if I slow down and take out some writing paper (nothing fancy), I can begin to open up my mind to take in all that is going on... start the process of gratitude today I will be starting that letter to Him advent is right around the corner and I want to be fully prepared for the feast!! a lot to plan, yes, but if I break it up into small bits (starting with a thank you letter), more grace... more joy will follow peace + blessings,
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 have heard me say this before, but a nice comfy vintage sofa in my kitchen would be perfect, if only i had the room...
thermos's at the ready (the small new one from Jen Rippenger's booth at Past & Present Shops)
a vintage clay mug from the Open Air Market... it's holding all of Jason's newly carved spoons, knives and honey dipper we'll be selling in the shop online soon
there's always room in my kitchen for Her
I also bought this little dust broom at Open Air Market hosted by Cheryl Hunt in Sycamore
a little treasure by a bird that once resided in my grandmother's home and a shelf from someplace along the flea market path from years ago... it is the simplest room of the house... and has to be... it's where all the baking happens... the baking nook i like to say
I received this book from a good friend this Christmas:
thanks Jenn because she knows how much I do love them:) she even brought me TWO boxes of macarons when I was expecting... because that's what friends do! anyhow... I haven't made any up to today... but I had to get my mind off of how I'm looming to 2 weeks overdue... so this was a great distraction today... and totally worth the EASY EFFORT! If you haven't made macarons... don't be intimidated!! they ARE easy!!!
We even made our own fresh organic lemon curd and strawberry filling for the inside... (when I saw "we" I mean my lovely daughter and I)
our strawberry jam-type filling macaron yes... I know that they are flat... (I don't care... and if you do... then I still don't care:)
our homemade organic lemon curd filled macaron
yum — o — ramma
no... they aren't perfect... but neither am I... and I don't care if they footed well or whatever they were so fun and easy to make and I see many more happy days ahead in the kitchen making these cookies some people 'scoff' at a 'not so perfectly made' macaron... seriously? who gives a darn! get in that kitchen and try something different... something you have been wanting to do... it's only sugar and almonds for pete's sake
enjoy that kitchen!! (p.s. it's a heck of lot cheaper than buying them at Trader Joe's too... AND you know what's in them!) xo+blessings,
The Master Bedroom Design Q(uestions) & A(nswers) was a BLAST! Wouldn't being a decorating reporter be so fun? I think so So many of you wonderful readers haven't asked me "why" I am re-decorating my bedroom with Jo and Lulu as design stylists... because it's obvious why! They both have great talent... What's my decorating motto for this bedroom: "un-decorate" Today's Q&A is with Jo, from the Secret Garden Cottage. Her and I have talked back and forth, because of the blogs, for quite some time, and as soon I saw her kitchen/dining area, even though it's a kitchen, it inspired me for my bedroom... and here's why:
All of Jo's Answers are in italicized print, and all pictures in this post are from Jo's beautifully inspiring blog. Here's the Q&A with one of the nicest women, Jo:
1) When you design your rooms, do you have a focal point? something that anchors the room? If so, it is usually art or architecture
A: Yes. I definitely always try to have a focal point in each of my rooms, usually architectural pieces. I don't use much art in my home, mostly because I have a hard time finding something I like 100%.
2) How do you achieve an understated feminine approach to your style? A: Well... I try to keep in mind that this is my husband's home, too, and wouldn't want to overwhelm him with too many floral prints, ruffles, or super feminine colors. I try to add a feminine touch to my decor with some of the furniture pieces I use, such as the table I recently bought and placed in my kitchen. It has some decorative scroll work and pretty, curvy legs. I also use flowers and herbs from the garden to add a little bit of romance to my home, as well as the slipcovered furniture and accessories, such as glass cloches, white ironstone pitchers, and candles.
3) what would you classify your style as? A: I think my style is very eclectic. I love French farmhouse, Scandinavian, and American country cottage styles, and I think I have a little bit of each style in my home.
4) how do you achieve an overall cohesive look to your home? A: Sometimes I fell like I struggle with this myself. I try to give my home an overall cohesive feeling by using the same color scheme throughout my home. I generally only use different shades of white in my decor, including my wall paint. I also try to purchase furniture pieces that work well together... have similar architectural lines and so forth.
5) If you were to design my bedroom, by knowing me personally, and seeing my style on my blog, while incorporating your style techniques, how would design my bedroom? what elements would you include in your design plan? A: Keeping in mind your personal style... I think that the one thing you like about mine and Lulu's style is the use of white in our decor, so I would give you an all white bedroom. I would use an architectural piece with white, chippy paint such as a vintage door(s) or fireplace mantle for your headboard. I've also noticed that you like warm wood tones in your home, so I would incorporate warm wood pieces of furniture, such as your night stands and maybe a vintage chest or bench (if room allows) at the foot of your bed. The bed linens you have would look beautiful in the room, but I would add a bed skirt to make it a bit more femine. I also noticed that you love vintage silver, which I think would look gorgeous in the bedroom in the use of accessories. I would dress the windows with sheer linen or cotton curtain panels that puddle on the floor just slightly and use tree branches for the curtain rods. Since your room is small, you would want to keep accessories to a minimum to give it a serene, peaceful feeling.
Anything else you would like to say?? I just want to thank you again for including me in your bedroom makeover, Anne Marie. I feel so honored that you would consider my ideas alongside Lulu's to inspire a room makeover in your beautiful home. You have such an amazingly beautiful style and creative mind, so I know this room will turn out to be the beautiful haven you desire, and I can't wait to see it when it's done!
Isn't she the sweetest?? I wish she lived closer to actually help me! How much fun we'd have... After I saw THIS POST she did, and she had quite a few of the same inspiration photos that I have in my design collection, I knew I would beg her to do this for me:) Tomorrow is my friend Lulu's Q&A with me... stay tuned! Hope you are all enjoying your week thus far!! peace and blessings,
my very good friend Traci Thorson, as you all know I'm sure by now, is not only an amazing photographer, but her home is so real/inspiring/cozy/and oh my good gravy that kitchen!
Jason was the carpenter back earlier this year for the kitchen remodel — it's a wonderful farmhouse kitchen!!
She is one of the most unpretentious and genuine persons I know... and her home shows these virtues
Traci's home is stop #17 on Jennifer Rizzo's Christmas House Walk... it's been a great walk... and I'm loving be on this other end this year... to see my home for lat year's walk, go here
to see Traci's wonderful home and all the others, go here or to Jennifer's blog here
If I entitled this post "happy birthday" you would think I had the baby! rest assured no baby however... it IS my (beyond awesome) husband's birthday today,
I only baked him this cake... (his favorite... chocolate and peanut butter)
it's made with a deep and rich homemade chocolate cake(I used yogurt instead of sour cream)... organic homemade peanut butter frosting... and a mouth watering chocolate ganache topping
he said I could just give him a baby instead of "something else" he also said he would have openened it earlier... but we'll both be surprised now
I love my husband so much words seriously cannot come close — he loves nature... God... us... and is such a talented carpenter as well... you can see some of his carpentry skills at: Jennifer Rizzo's (he was the carpenter for her new kitchen) and he also constructed Tracey's cabinet... and he's pretty much the reason why our farm is featured in Fifi's book... if it wasn't for him, our farm would be in shambles... ~i love you Jason~
and I'm so happy to tell you that he will be joining me on this blog about homesteading! yeah!! We are thoroughly engulfed in permaculture and agriforestry studies right now, and we have so much to share with you... and hopefully help you If you want to know a little 'secret'... I've been contracting pretty heavily... yeah again!!! xo+blessings,
p.s. you can find the recipe for the cake at Smitten Kitchen
After Jason was well enough after back surgery, and the February issue of Country Living Magazine came in the mail we decided to put up some shelves made from reclaimed barn wood in the kitchen for our every day dishes -
as you can see, I only have a few plates left... they are getting used and abused since we switched to hand washing our dishes... and I would love to find some ironstone ones now... (though I would really like to become a potter and make them myself...)
they are so much more functional than what was there — and a cinch to put away! (and display)
we left the barnwood on the sides all beautifully raw and rustic...
I like keeping some of the items on there corralled — especially my silver pieces — I use those everyday (those forks I just got at my local antiques store... and baby Daniel thinks they are pretty great!)
Jason made this cutting board... by hand... I believe it is black walnut
we sealed the 'counter top' area with our bees' beeswax — it is made from Douglas Fir (like our flooring) thank you CLiving for such a great feature... you can see where my inspiration came from here peace + blessings,
the heat makes us pick super early in the morning and late at night as soon as they come in, they get washed and kept in the cellar, while we wash and prepare the jars and lids
the next morning, it's time to dice/slice and start the brine
we went a bit "overboard" with planting cucumbers we enjoyed them so much while gazing out at the frozen tundra during the harsh winter
since we went overboard, we are able to share so much with friends and family... and I'm so glad the garden is doing quite well considering the heat and due to planting so close together in most places, I am able to not weed so much (imagine that) so I did some more sewing using a striped sheet and appliqued a sailboat on it for our daughter
I didn't perfectly line the stripes up... without a care I made this skirt... she doesn't mind and neither do I we had lost power from a terribly windy storm... the weather up here is quite peculiar lately and I almost caved and got an air conditioner almost but once again, we chose not to it's almost a game now... letting it cool off inside the house and run around and closing the windows at just the right time... funny really... but with heavy drapes and quick feet, we are able to keep this old farmhouse cool enough... but we aren't using the oven, instead the grill and the side burner outdoors which I am hysterically calling my 'outdoor kitchen'... someday... someday! I am however, taking a break from pickles, and am blending and juicing them galore quite versatile anyone know of uses for cucumbers? I would love to hear how you use them in and out of the kitchen
herbs are starting to be hung to dry in the kitchen... and being that I don't have a summer kitchen outdoors (someday I hope!) it sort of feels like it with that ladder up there and the fresh herbs drying when you are drying herbs, they shouldn't receive any sunshine — hang in smaller bunches from hemp twine in a dark place — I like this spot because I can snip here and there when needed in recipes, but soon the herbs will be harvested and dried in much bigger quantities for storage for over winter this is the time I start thinking of food storage... canning... freezing...
I receive quite a few emails in regards to 'how I do things' with the grocery shopping/etc... and I'm working on that to show you who are interested but it takes time I've been calculating things, making notes, writing this and writing that
August 15th is the big reveal of the October Barn Sale/Event theme as well!! I can't wait to let you all know about it! back to the potager I go...
me preparing a dynamic new pesto: sage blossom pesto (recipe shared later this week) herbs are hanging from my antique spice rack above the stove now... it is a great space to do this at, because the direct sunlight doesn't hit the herbs, and they dry so nicely (besides me liking them hanging there) now is your time to harvest any blooms on your herbs, in order to make a prolific herb harvest soon
peonies dry beautifully, as does chamomile (for my organic chamomile teas i make)
Jason bought me this enormous antique wire whisk from Josie's antiques for mother's day... i cannot wait to use it
i do have to say, the kitchen has been stripped, minimal crept back in... and i now have a very different looking kitchen since i snapped these photos whenever i give a completely thorough cleaning, things get rearranged (hence why my house is always turning around... i like love to clean)
see the extraordinary in your ordinary day see the beauty in utilitarian objects see the beauty in work see the beauty in bloom xo+blessings,
I recently had some girl friends over... I encourage them to bring a friend... and I'm so glad some of them did... it's so nice to meet new people...
the night of Cupcakes & Cocktails was so nice...
I got to showcase some new recipes for some cupcakes I want to sell in October here at the event... = lemon and lavendar with a white chocolate/buttercream frosting = apple pie cupcake with buttercream frosting = gluten free chocolate cupcake with whipped cream mint frosting (the total favorite with the ladies) = carrot cupcake with classic cream cheese frosting = my classic (favorite) chocolate cupcake with white buttercream frosting (the other favorite)
i made these simple flags and inserted them into the cupcakes to let the ladies know what was what
I rearranged the rooms (more on this new look later this week) which was so fun to decorate for the get together
the table Jason made is perfect in the corner of the room for a buffet...
and of course... the cocktail...
when I have the 'hub' in the kitchen, I put my large cutting board on top of my stove, and use it for extra counter space... it works out great... here's the cocktail I made up (yumoramma... but after 4 o'clock only:) -for one drink — 2 oz. gin 2 T. na.da.farm pure prairie honey 4 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice 4 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice -put all together in your cocktail shaker and shake it up good... serve over ice-
A hit with old and new friends alike! I would like to thank Midwest Living Magazine for such a nice article on me and the event/barn sale my husband and I do twice a year... thank you!! (there was a 'typo'... we are 80 miles WEST of Chicago, not East:)
The article is in the Out and About Section...
there really was no need for my picture!! for more information on the upcoming events, you can follow our homestead website: na.da.farm What to expect this October here? -ART on the Farm is back again... so very excited about the diversity we are presenting to you — BARN SALE... theme this October?? Prairie Holiday Jason and I are presenting a new area to the event... I'm working hard in the kitchen to offer my very best cupcakes and baked items for sale... enjoy the day! xo+blessings,
my Farm Kitchen is now open! come by for a visit anytime you'd like a "homemade from the heart" recipe
this week I'm featuring the Spritz cookie... a classic cookie here at the farm
Have a great weekend! And oh, by the way... if you have a loved one in the hospital... nursing home... care facility... go visit them love them they need it!! so badly!
Hello!! I hope you all had a very blessed day with your family and friends
A special thank you for everyone who takes the time to stop here and say hello, leave comments, and read... thank you
We were unexpectedly blessed with having our Christmas here at the farm... alone... so peaceful and quiet
it was wonderful
here's an inside look all around the house... and a bit outdoors too
the mudroom...
the kitchen...
the three oldest when they were little in front of our old barn as "the nativity" scene... a treasure for us
can you tell I love the shelves Jason made for that wall?
my little snowman that our 11 yr. old son hand carved and made for me... i love him so so much! he even made the little mittens out of felt! the tree...
the living room...
I set up a little wine bar on the bookshelves in the living room
we added shutters in the bathroom, and i hung a jar my younger sister made with some lavender and spruce
upstairs in the kids rooms...
the boys' tree and decorations (they love to do it themselves)
and the girls' room... much different than the boys:)
and in the master...
a very special birthday gift from some good friends:)
my dresser was temporarily a wrapping station
made in Germany... these little angels lull me to sleep with their beauty
a view out the master... the first snow...
little Daniel's blue woolen coat hanging in his room
going back indoors, we are baking and feasting and loving this wonderful life...
Hope you are all celebrating all 12 days of Christmas...
measure 2/3 cup sugar + 2 teaspoons of vanilla = add to egg mixture, beat together until well combined (but not foamy)
stir into egg mixture 2 cups of cooked rice (leftover plain rice works great too)
optional: add 1 cup of raisins and cinnamon if desired
pour into 3 quart casserole dish or individual custard cups
bake for 30-45 minutes for custard cups or 45-50 minutes for casserole dish (stir after 30 minutes) (if using custard cups put them in a 13x9 casserole dish with 1/2" of boiling water before baking — boiling water so you don't crack your dish in the oven)
it is done when a knife inserted near the center comes out clean serve warm or chilled (I like them fresh)
if you used individual custard cups, you may loosen edges with a spatula or knife, and slip them out inverted onto a plate
peace + farmhouse kitchen blessings,
just so you know, I (try to remember) to pray before I bake anything:)
there is nothing better than a bright sunny day and a clean kitchen to get me baking my special organic chocolate filled cupcakes coming right up! (have to practice before I sell them at the sale right??) I had a fantastic time with my two daughters and the baby at Kane County Flea Market Saturday... it was so great to see the dealers who were invited to sell here at the farm. It's so important to Jason and I to make personal contact with them... besides, a day out shopping is just what I wanted/needed. Meeting up with two friends I haven't seen since before the baby was born was great too! I don't know about you, but spring is awesome isn't it?? I LOVE the feeling of spring!! A HUGE thanks to all you other super duper dealers at Kane setting out our fliers... I love all the support you give one another... and we appreciate you spreading the word of our sale (yes... I said super duper) I saw some awesome booth setups and great stuff to buy there — but didn't buy anything this time — my hands were kind of full:) can you believe he's a month old??
& a very special thank you to Lauren for such a sweet girft!
