Forgotten Spaces in the Barn

While they haven't necessarily been forgotten, the spaces under the oldest barn on my sister's farm haven't been regularly used in a long time, at least not by humans.  Enter the realm of the barn cats, and one of my favorite places at Erin's farm.

I covet this old chicken equipment. 

This appears to have once housed either chickens or turkeys, at least during the cold weather.

Yup, it's been a long while since these tools have been put to use, but I kind of like it like this.  This way, they tell a story.  Stand still, close your eyes, breathe in the scent of the earthen floor and listen for the past.  I can hear it, can you?

Our time at Erin's was brief, but well enjoyed.  Family, farm and fun - what more could a girl ask for?

Sweet Spots on the Farm

A few things caught my eye and the lens of my camera as I poked around on my sister's farm.  Thought you might enjoy sharing a peek. 

Much of their 50 acres have been put into a prairie reclamation project with the state, so there is much less corn and much more natural beauty to behold.

There's a hole in the bucket dear Henry, dear Henry...

Love this rusty bucket just standing sentinel at the field gate.

The path through the brush down to the pond.

The prairie is awash with so much fall beauty.

An old non functioning piece of farm equipment functions quite nicely as a planter.

I think this scarecrow has grown weary of standing guard.  What do you think?

Seamus, one of two Chesapeakes, sends his love and a goofy dog grin. 

A visit to the farm in Wisconsin.

Columbus Day weekend was superbly beautiful weather wise both here at home (I'm told) and in Stoughton, Wisconsin where the girls and I ventured by plane for a quick, long weekend visit to my sister and her family.  Erin and her husband, JR, and their three children live on a lovely piece of farmland on the outskirts of town.  And I am the farm girl!!  Well one day I'll have my farm too, but for now I can absorb the farm life when I visit there.

The old farmhouse is getting a new look with a fabulous wrap around porch addition that was being built while we were there.  When it is done, it will add 800 square feet of front porch living.  How sweet it is!

See the super lush green growth in the back of the garden.  That is a huge, very mature asparagus patch to die for!  They eat fresh from the garden to the table asparagus all spring long.  The garden also yields a wide variety of other vegetables.  There are also fruit trees, and both a strawberry patch and raspberry brambles, two of my favorites.

I love this huge old windmill, water pump.

Many barns and outbuildings, all a picturesque red and white.  Just so homey and lovely!

Check back soon for the sweet downtown area and some scenes around the farm that caught my eye.

Vintage Birthday Centerpiece

For the month of September, my dining room centerpiece had a birthday theme - vintage style of course!  September held four birthdays celebrated at our house - one for me, one for my dad, one for my husband's visiting aunt from Germany and one for his mom (technically in October, but we celebrated in September.)  Now that October is firmly established (and I am home from travelling to Wisconsin) it will change to to a Halloween centerpiece, but before that happens I thought you'd like to see it.

Sorry for the floor shot.  I was using all my table tops and counters for a very spread out project of organizing and pricing my items for the next (and last of the year) Cooperage Market.  My "cake" is made of ribbon rolls stacked on a petite glass pedestal plate.

For candles at the top of the "cake" are two boxes of vintage birthday candles. 

This little jar of cake sprinkles came out of my grandma's cupboards on my last visit to her before she died.  Sorting through the spice cupboard for some nutmeg for the Swedish meatballs she and I were making together, I came across this and asked to have it.  It had probably been in there for 40+ years.  Hopefully it had not been used for that long as well!

Vintage birthday cards, more candles, a tin horn, candle holders and ruffled nut cups round out the rest of the treasures. 

And last but not least, I received this book for my birthday this year (thank you Kris!) and added it quite appropriately to the display.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to any of you celebrating today!

Buzzzzzzzy in the flowers.

Even with the cooler days, the bumble bees are still buzzing around and busy in the fall flowers.  They were so engrossed in collecting nectar, I had no trouble zooming in for some close up photgraphs.

Even Honey seems to want to buzz around in the flowers.  I found her in the now empty vegetable garden.  All that is left is the marigolds that bordered the sweet corn.  Honey was enjoying the soft dirt and sunshine, thanks to a short break from the rain, and watching the bees buzz around in the flowers.  Oh puppy!!!

Vintage School Days

My mantle needed a change.  Out with the summer beach theme, but I wasn't quite ready for pumpkins and Halloween ghosts and black cats.  I opted instead for a vintage back to school theme.  It is still back to school season after all.  I'll bring out the pumpkins and ghouls mid October.

I love the little ones in this 1948 class photo from the Kendall School in Concord, MA.  Dresses, mary janes, nickers, suspenders and mini ties.  Ah a season gone by!

Autumn is in the air and the yard!

Not only does the calendar say it's autumn, but my yard decor has officially been transformed from summer to fall.  Hope you like what you see.

Even Myrtle, my vintage 1960 Fan trailer, got a "porch" makeover for fall.

I love acorns.  Finding this one nestled at the base of a vintage wagon wheel was a good reason for a photograph.

The first fallen leaves floating in the the bird bath.  Suppose it won't be long before a skin of ice greets us on a frosty fall morning.

Happy Fall!