Apple Orchard and my New Apple Sign

I love this lil' long cabin at the orchard.

My daughter picking a granny smith apple

I have been following Lynn's blog for awhile and fell in love with her work.  I had also seen this on Aunt Ruthie's blog and didn't feel like it was something I could recreate so I asked Lynn.  She did an inspired version of the one from her blog.  If you would like to see how she made it she wrote about it on her blog Painting Thyme Needfuls.  It turned out great!  I can't tell you how nice it looks in person.  I just love it, and it fits in perfect for my kitchen.  The rolling pin is a real vintage one too.  

I put it above my pantry in a prominent place in my kitchen, when you walk in my side door which is just about what all our guests do, you see this!

Anyone know how to fix these picture issues for a few weeks now I've not been able to load pictures correctly, ugh... so frustrating.  I've had trouble before and can't remember where you can adjust the settings.

Have a wonderful Fall weekend!

Carey

Confessions of a Sign Addict...

Recently I began looking around my home at the signs, I just can't help but not to pick up one when I'm shopping.  I'm not sure what draws me in...is it the words, the meaning, or style? I think I've always liked print because I like to read and it must be the teacher in me.  

Some I've had for awhile...thinking about painting this one?

This is my newest one, love what it says.

We shouldn't forget the past.  We can learn so much.

Family is so important.

I have a soft spot for these stitching's too.  This one says, "Grow old with me in our home the best is yet to be."

This was a birthday present from my Mother -in- Law. 

She knows just what I like, I love her so much.

Fall is in the air...

Then last but not least one that shows the pride I feel for our Country. 

Do you have a love of signs or some other collections?  I'd love to hear about it.

Have a great day!

Carey

Do it Yourself Primitive Trashcan!

Good Monday to ya!  I just got back from a fun filled weekend get-away with my hubby!  Boy was it fun, we headed south to Kentucky.  It was just gorgeous!  We stayed at a bed and breakfast and went to little antique shops, restaurants, and had a great time.  My birthday was Saturday and our 20th anniversary is coming up this week.  This was all his idea too.  He is the best hubbby ever, he even took me to some prim shops along the way!  I'll be sharing more pictures later this week...stay tuned.

One of the projects on my honey's list was this trashcan. I first saw this ad about a year ago and well he just now is getting to it, LOL!  He used the picture from Country Sampler.  If you get that magazine well just take a peek and you'll probably see his inspiration.  If you want order one yourself just click here Hill's Country Furniture and you'll be able to get one too.  Mine is a bit larger than the one in the magazine.  My husband used almost zero dollars to make this!  He used my Father-in-Law's tools and we bought some clearcoat to protect it.  My father in law had the cabinet door already which saved a bunch of $$ and the other wood was just scraps.  He used a honey, cherry stain on top and flat black on the rest.  The stain will darken over time. He also distressed it and put more stain on top of the black.  This doesn't really show up in the picture very well. The door swings out and that's where the trash fits.  He designed ours around a large trashcan that we bought a while ago.  He even added a piece of wood on the inside to keep it from falling while you take out the bag.  The drawer is actually one working drawer where I'm corraling all my cell phone cords at the moment.  Whatcha think?

Have a blessed day!

Carey

It's Still summertime!

Hello! Today I got up and thought I'm in the mood for a change!  You ever feel like that?  I had to do my weekly cleaning anyway.  This week was time for the Family room anyway.  Read more about the flylady method if you're interested in cleaning tips.  Generally, I give everything a more thorough cleaning during this time.  So I figured while I was at it I might change things around.  While I do love my Americana I put it away and got out my sunflowers and crows.  I love that I have little totes in my basement that I can get and add to my rooms when I need a little change.  Generally, I leave up my 4th of July things up around a month to six weeks.  Then around the end of July or first part of August I put up my sunflowers and crows.  I keep crows and stars up year round. 

Here's how my mantle looks:

My round white tablecloth came out from the closet again.  I added my white pitcher some sunflower garland and flowers.  Then I added my big crow I got at a craft show years ago and my little white lantern.  The sign I got from Lisa last year Prims From Above.  She has her own selling blog too.

Here's how I changed my coffee table

I added my crow runner, little cart with crow and basket of flowers.  The sunflowers are actually a candle ring that I shoved in there to fill it up!

I'll be back to show you more things tomorrow!

Carey

P.S.  How do you like my new template and background? I've been playing around with things a bit.

Americana Kitchen and Dining Room

Hello! Hope you're having a nice week so far.  I thought I would put up the rest of the pictures I took of my house.  I am really happy with the way my stovetop looks.  In the dining room I just added my goose, some ribbon and rearranged some of my things.  That's one thing I recommend doing on a regular basis.  Change can be refreshing and good.

For summer I brought out my gernaniums, prim strawberries, fly screen then added some patriotic ticking the farmstand candle is from last year.  I put a smaller candle inside it and it smells so yummy!  It's this one from Bath and Body works, they're having a sale right not so I have stocked up!  I like the summer melon, lemon and the orange sapphire the best.

Hoosier Cabinet

I added some red, white, blue berries star garland on top.  I also put an americana shade on my light.  Then I brought out my stars, eagle, Uncle Sam cookie cutters.

This is the top of my old pie safe.  I added the flicker candle, put in some more of the ticking then placed the aged copy of the Declaration next to it.

my year round tree with Patriotic ornies

 Thanks so much for stopping by I really appreciate all the comments that you leave me.  I know it's not always possible to comment on everyone's blog you visit.  It really makes my day and puts a smile on my face.  I'll be back soon with some recipes.  Have a great day!

Carey

Americana Home part 1

Good evening I thought I'd share a little of what I did last week to the house.  I generally like to have my Americana things up for a whole month or more.  It was time to take down the spring things and celebrate all things summer!  For me this is more like adding to what I have up year round.  Geranuims, flags, bunting, ribbon, ornaments all play their part. I like to enjoy it at least until my birthday which is the last day in July by the way!  My hubby and I are also working on a flag pole for the front yard.  I told him it was flag day soon and he just chuckled.  I am so excited about having a big fourth celebration at our home this year!

Here's some pics:

Let's start at the front door...

View of coffee table, the candle is a B & BW summer melon it smells delicious!

Entryway

In this area I just added a little flag print homespun and the graniteware bowl with flag inside.

I changed out my Fall picture for the colonial gameboard.   The game board is a little shorter than the picture so I had to play with scale here.  I found the old glory tall tin to add height to the display.  Whatcha think? Does it work?  I'll keep fussing with it I'm like most of you.

Be back soon with more pics!

Carey

Open House Goodies!

Good morning!  I hope everyone had a great weekend and is off to a good start this week.  I was able to go to two open houses and I'm hoping to go to some more prim stores later this week or next.  As many of you know from previous posts I live near Warm Glow candles.  They had their annual tent sale and I found a few things.  Most of their things were 20% off or more.   I got a yellow, pussy willow candle ring like the one I gave away too.

My husband made holder for me years ago when I saw one in a store.  It's been a long time since it's has a long loaf style candle in it but I found this in the clearance section. 

It's snickerdoodle, and it smells yummy!

I also bought some little pie dishes, I'll show you those later. 

I found these hankerchiefs at a garage sale.  They were just too beautiful to pass up. They belonged to the man's mother.  When I brought them home I could still smell her perfume on them.  It made me a little sad and miss my own mom.  Since it's almost mother's day those of you that are lucky enough should go call your mom or give her a great big hug.

I was thinking I might make a table runner out of them and stitch them together.  I might tuck them in here and there.  I might just give them away for presents....not sure yet.

I found these at a little store called G & G crafts.  It's the only little store I close by me that carries some primitive things.  She had a spring open house and I took advantage of clearance items and got the candle for 20 % off.  It smells like apple pie.  The State Fair one seems to be hard to find.  It's a McCall's candle. I love the way the little pillows had red, white and blue in them.

Hope you have a great day!

Carey

Strawberry Romanoff Pancakes with a Brown Sugar-Cream Sauce

Good morning folks, it's been a hectic weekend.  My son just started baseball and we had a tournament with no idea how many times or when exactly he would play so I tried all weekend to get a post up!  I got this from Southern Living 2009 Annual Recipe edition.  It's one of those try it for 30 days in the mail books.  Normally, I wouldn't go for this but I couldn't resist after fixing some mouthwatering things from the flyer.  I had to get more recipes.  Someone my DH knows just loves their cookbooks and she recommended it too. 

My kids love these and they aren't real big fruit pancake kids normally so that amazed me.

Here's the pancake part:  Makes 18 small 2 1/2 inch thin pancakes.
Pancakes

1 cup cake flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. orange zest
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 Tbsp. melted butter

Mix dry ingredients.  Then add wet ingredients and whisk together. Let stand a few minutes.  This makes your batter fluffy.  *Note I let my stand overnight and they were pretty thin, not very fluffy so maybe that's what was wrong with mine.   If you like thinner pancakes which I do then these are for you!

Strawberries

16 oz. or 2 containers of strawberries cleaned, hulled and sliced
1/3 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. or orange liquor or orange juice * I used the juice because of my kiddos

Let this mixture stand for a few minutes to macerate the fruit.

Brown Sugar-Cream Mixture

1 cup sour cream
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
Stir together and let chill for 30 minutes.

To assemble pancakes stack pancake, then layer strawberries and a dollop of sugar-cream mixture on top.  These are so thin that you could make multiple stacks. 

The pancake recipe was very easy but if you're short on time you can always use a buttermilk mix.  Also, the book gives a great alternative to any leftovers.  Simply use the strawberries and puree' them, add vanilla icecream and milk for a great shake.  My kids loved these, my son ate seconds. 

If you haven't heard yet The Primitive Place has a new magazine coming out.  Check it out here!  I'm looking forward to seeing these wonderful homes. 

 

Have a great day! I'll be back tomorrow with my GIVE AWAY!!!!

Carey

Prim Shopping in IN

Good morning! I got this little picture at a store in Cambridge City just down the road from my house.  It's called the Pour House.  They serve delicious homemade soups, breads and desserts there too.  I loved their store.  The prices were reasonable.  I bought a wreath, sampler and runner too.   I love the wreath because it matches my other little pumpkin garlands.  I loved what the sampler said it spoke to me.  I didn't get to go to Cows in the Creek that I've heard so much about from Mercantile Gatherings but it was closed, next time.  I may head out there this week again to see if I can catch it open!  My sister and I went to a pretty nice antique mall there too.  It was such a fun day.  I look forward to many more outings.  I have 3 sisters who live close by and 2 of them are really into decorating their homes like me.  My sister Debbie has a beautiful home, maybe I can talk her into some pictures sometime.  She likes more victorian things.  I think a good way to describe her is country victorian.  My sister Deanna likes primitives like me.  We have very similiar tastes.  We have such fun when we're get together. 

my new wreath

the crow runner

This runner is from G & G country crafts in Richmond.  I went there on Friday.  She has a cute little shop and I was glad to find it as it's not far from my house at all.  Her shop put me in the mood to decorate for Christmas.  There has been so many articles and blogs about that lately.  I have to ask when do you decorate for Christmas?  I tend to get started the day or so after Thanksgiving and then have it done by the end of the week.  It takes me awhile because I have so many totes full of decorations.  It's overwhelming to do all at once.   I really like to enjoy it so my live tree usually stay up until shortly after the 1st and my snowmen stay out till February.  All the rest of the Christmas things get put away by New Years.  I'm starting to make plans for the outside.  I can just see a rope of garland on my white fence on the front porch with a few icicle lights hanging down, candles in the window and wreaths with big plaid bows.  Very exciting indeed!

Leave me a comment about when you are decorating this year.

Carey

Amy, I would love to mail out your give away so email me.

Retail Therapy

Good morning yesterday I stated that I was heading out to go shopping so I had to share some pictures of my goodies. Now I know you're probably scratching your head. What is this woman doing she's getting ready to move why is she buying more stuff to move?? Well, I don't really have an answer for you except that this is my outlet. I love to shop. I like to shop for my home the most. Having a warm and inviting home has always been important to me. I like to shop for candles, kitchen goods, clothes, jewelry, shoes. You name it I've always been a shopper. I like to get a good deal too. I don't go all that often anymore so I really don't feel that guilty when I do shop.

I regret not taking my camera because it was such a pretty day. I went to one of my favorite primitive stores again Homestead Primitives which you may remember from a previous post. It was already decked out for Fall and it was hard to resist all the goodies. I also checked out a little store on a farm with the sweetest couple I've met. It was so cute ladies. They have a pumpkin patch in the Fall and it's called Pumpkin Blossom Hill. She had her own workshop attached where she could paint and make her goodies. This is where I found the red/white bucket and baking soda tins. Then I headed off to Red Bud, IL such a neat little town to Wickes N Country. It's a very nice place too. I picked up the little bowl 4 and 20 blackbirds baked in a pie. It fits in with my pie theme so well.

I got the 3 little crows and pumpkin from Homestead Primitives and the Hillbilly Homebrew candle too. The smell is spicy mulled cider and it's wonderful, I got a tart first to try and had to have a jar of it. The company is the Black Crow candle company. They should start paying me to advertise for them. LOL! The little cherry pie in front is for my vintage toy stove.

Then the cottage cocoa tin, fall signs,clabber girl tin and enamel ware is from D & D country. store. The bowl is from Wicks N' Country.

Enjoy your weekend, it's supposed to be really cool here.

Carey