Meadowview Farm

Secrets of an old house....

2012-01-25T16:55:00.001-06:00

I live in a very old house....and sometimes, I make the decision

that little "cosmetic fixes" are the best means to the end.

For instance

In this picture, there was a seam line between the lower

wall and the wallpaper - a chair rail wouldn't work.....

So -- hot glue gun and vintage lace to the rescue!

This will work until the day when we have a cash surplus and can

indeed redo the walls in an HGTV kind of way (insert "sure, when pigs fly" here)

until then,

vintage lace it is.

works for me....

Bakers Twine

2012-01-23T12:48:00.003-06:00

Oh...how I could write an ode to Bakers Twine --

Lovely to look at...

sweet in just the right places

Tea Cup Picture Credit

I have thought about owning a whole cone of this wonderful twine...

And now I do...

Do you want some too?

I will have it for sale by the yard at the Spring Barn Sale...

Or if you want your own 2 pound cone...

order it here

($9.95 + $8.20 shipping)

I know, I know...I should set my "want" bar a bit higher.

worn

2012-01-22T12:59:00.000-06:00

I began this new year with my hope that this would be "the year"...you know, every day purposeful & intentional. And here it is, the 22nd day of 2012 --- and I struggle to build up the motivation to get up, attend to my list for the day...bills, vacuum, folding the clothes that I am spinning in the dryer for the third time. I feel guilt when any moment of a day feels wasted....but I am also learning that there are days when I will need to concede to being tired. Perhaps it is my new job with the challenges that that brings, perhaps it is the pace I run when I feel well, perhaps it is just the "too much" that catches up with us. I also wonder if I underestimated the power of that little deer tick bite from this past fall...and if I need to respect that Lyme Disease may just be chronic. I have been in contact as of late with the doctor's office, and discovered that the words, "profound fatigue" are in my little file. Not sure...but today I am worn...not worn out, just worn. If I respect & even revere this in my antiques....then I will need to also allow this for myself, too....not every day, not all the time....but for today. So, I will not feel any guilt for sitting in my robe, tucked inside my warm home today-with the world getting on quite well without me. Guess I need to hit the dryer button once again.

cold

2012-01-20T17:39:00.000-06:00

And winter is here...cold--shivering cold. We provide extra straw for our goats and a little space heater for our barn cats. We pull out our quilts, turn the heat up an extra degree or two, and lay low. Motivation goes into hibernation. Winter is here..and those in warmer places wonder why we live where we do...I wonder the same on days like this. I think of filling up our car with goats & cats and just driving until we feel the sun again. Picturing little goat heads hanging out the side windows of our red KIA will keep me warm tonight. How about you...warm or cold...how does January find you?

picture credit

2012 Spring Barn Sale - countdown begins

2012-01-16T08:21:00.001-06:00

We began what we shall call the "big gather" for the May Barn Sale this past Saturday...here is our pick by the numbers:

1 -- first trailer full of finds arrives at the farm for the sale
2 -- number of falls I took climbing snowy mounds to fill trailer
3 -- bruises from above mentioned falls (smile)
4 -- outbuildings we climbed thru to fill trailer
5 -- hours spent on a chilly Saturday picking thru outbuildings
6 -- number of bungee cords it took to secure our load of finds
7 -- hours it took to thaw out after quest...jaw so frozen, couldn't talk
8 -- at least that many very cool galvanized watering cans & pails found
9 -- minimum times we stopped to pinch ourselves as we picked -- wow!
10 - size of stack of old bikes I am sure I was standing on at one point
11 - wooden tables, farm chairs, ice cream buckets AND letters found
12 - May 12, 2012...Meadowview Farm Barn Sale door opens at 9:00
13 - May 13, 2012...hayloft of our 100+ year old barn opens at 12:00

And the countdown does begin!

For all the details, click HERE

stack up

2012-01-13T16:39:00.000-06:00

On my "I adore list" are vintage boxes.

Created with such detail...

from the outside covering to the inside lining

-- each with the sweetest clasp & hinges you might ever cross paths with.

This stack includes checkered, striped, and floral.

Precious floral boxes.

And here are my faded red velvet boxes...adorable!

These lay in wait for Valentine's Day.

When I find one, it comes home with me.

What is on your "must adopt" list?

Sweet Heart...

2012-01-10T17:26:00.000-06:00

I just adore Valentine's Day....

I think it is my favorite of all celebrations --

because it is just so simple, so sweet.

my decorations, too, are sweet & simple

little hearts tucked here & there

doves & sparkle

So, are you a fan of this sweet day too?

The bear went over the mountain...

2012-01-05T17:13:00.000-06:00

So - rumor has it that there lives a bear behind our farm......a real live, big old black bear. By the neighbor's calculations -- a 500-600 pound bear!! That's a big bear.

With the mild winter, the bear has been awake & rooting about. With the lack of snow, it has also been crossing the road to drink from the creek across the way. Rodney has seen it three times in December.

So, I think, what do I do if my path should cross with a big old bear. Even though the facts note that black bear generally are people shy ---- the facts also state that one should climb a tree - a tall tree. It also states to not try to out run a bear -- as they are faster than they appear.

So, if anyone should happen by the farm and see a Kari on the roof of the barn -- do not question how I got there -- just know why I got there!

Construction Zone

2012-01-02T21:03:00.001-06:00

I have been contemplating a bit of a new look to this little blog of mine...and have become very aware of my -- shall we say, lack of design ability. I have been trying out some differing templates & colors, but have not settled in yet to one I like. So please pardon my little mess --- will be "Under Construction" for a while.

picture credit

And he arrives - 2012

2012-01-01T07:17:00.000-06:00

The winds bring this new year to us...rolling in from the north with gusto.There is nothing gentle about this arrival, it is with a, "hold onto your hat, I'm here!".So, here we go - hang on, 2012 has arrived.Happy New Year!

picture credit

Do you Pinterest?

2011-12-28T16:23:00.000-06:00

O.K. 'tis just a bit addictive ....But oh so fun!

Have you found your way to the magic of these inspiration boards on Pinterest?

Honestly --- for me, so much better then tearing pages out of magazines.

Here are some of my most recent wonderful finds....
from my Celebrate board.

whipup.net

marthastewart.com

lindaalbrecht.typepad.com

Tonight I will work on three new boards:

Little Girl

Happy

Poetry

I have already begun work on these inspiration boards (and more):

Study in Sepia

Window to my heart

and even a little sneak peak...

Sipping Tea - Spring Barn Sale

Find me by clicking on: Pinterest - Meadowview Farm

It is well worth a peak....

container-izing

2011-12-26T07:44:00.000-06:00

definition: organizing by putting things in quite adorable containers.

I do this often, well, to be honest, very often. I love vintage items that can hold stuff -- baskets, bowls, orphaned boxes & drawers. They each offer the same important purpose, "hold my things".

So - with no exception --- Christmas is no more than "out the door on the way home" and here I go making a switch-a-roo on my little old blog. Creating a new sweet holder for my words & pictures -- containerizing it. I do this with the seasons, sometimes with the change of the wind. It is just what I am about and who I am...changing, ever changing -- and always finding a sweet holder to scoot my stuff into. So, here I go again -- I can feel a new year approaching. So, polka dots it is -- and two columns vs. three. A new blog container. Enjoy...

our wish

2011-12-21T07:04:00.000-06:00

All is calm, All is bright…

Every now & again -- when the hurry up of life seems to take a toll -- I am reminded that we each have a silent night, holy night within our grasp.

On a recent morning, I found just that. It had snowed the night before, the first snow of the season, the special one, and I was anxious to greet it. Pulling on my boots, coat and mittens, I grabbed my little camera. There was no traffic, only light in the country was from the moon, our farm security light & the twinkle lights decorating several trees. It was so very quiet, I could hear the flap of wing over head. I walked through this fresh snow -- where no tracks had been, careful to disturb as little as I could -- to leave it calm, & pure for the moment. I captured that early untouched hour in my heart -- it would travel with me on busy days.

Often when Dave & I enter our barn at the first or last light of the day, we are greeted by this same pure joy -- it is found in the animals that call it home. It is found in the hundred year old hand hewn wood & beams so high they form a cathedral overhead. It is a sanctuary so exquisite & humble it can mend all hurt and take away that bustle that often fills us up. It is a place we relish and respect and love.

And home…our Meadowview Farm -- has offered such respite. I never understood that I was such a weary traveler until we found this place -- this place that called to us just as we must have called to her. This place that embraces us after a hard day of work and reminds us that we must celebrate and feed the soul & spirit.

So---what we wish for each of you is that you have a sanctuary in your life. Perhaps it is found in the hand of a child, in the knowing smile of an elder, in a kitten curled up in your lap or a dog at your side. Perhaps it is turning the door knob at the end of the day or a special quilt pulled up as you read. It is a place where all is calm, all is bright. It is yours - just yours for that moment, and it reminds you that all is indeed O.K.

We each need this, deserve this -- and sometimes have to find it, again. It is heavenly peace - right here on earth. And it is ours to have.

Blessings this holiday season,

Kari & Dave

beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2011-12-18T09:11:00.002-06:00

and our farm kitchen is ready for the holiday

A sweet little bear by the artist, Jennifer Murphy
(in a product line for Seasons of Cannon Falls)...

and bottle brush trees tucked here & there.
to find out more about the charming artists & midwest treasures,
Jennifer & her mom, Pat-
check out their blogs:
andothersillythings.blogspot.com
murphybears.blogspot.com

In my kitchen, Ironstone is the anchor -- with little nods to red & green added.

The little parade of sweet cups on the top shelf was this year's promise.

Each holds a little secret - an ornament, bottle brush tree, mini wreath.

as much as our living room is about "serene" - white, silver & gold....

our kitchen is about "joy" - color, color, color.

Even Dave adds his own take on Christmas...

hanging a vintage lure or two.

One of my favorite books for sweet, simple, easy-to-do decorating with what you have is:

Merry & Bright *301 Festive Ideas for Celebrating Christmas*

by Country Living magazine

I must also share my favorite holiday decorating books of ALL times:

Celebrating Home

Decorating for the Holidays and Seasons

by Seasons of Cannon Falls

**Watch for a special give-away of several copies of this book in 2012**

All for now, hope you are enjoying this count down week to Christmas!

Kari

"Hurrah, for the Holidays"

2011-12-16T03:06:00.000-06:00

I have this little book from many holidays ago...1915.

It is all sweetness - loved & worn.

The words, the pictures...of a Christmas story for a child.

It is simple, quite charming -- a celebration of Christmas in the woods.

The Bunnikins Bunnies Christmas Tree

by Edith B. Davidson - 1915

Soon after, Paddy Tippity-Flippitt, Ruddy and Chippy Gray-Squirrel, and Frisky Bushy-Tail arrived, and then the great fun of trimming the Christmas Tree began, the children having been told that they could do it all themselves. They had strung yards and yards of the snowiest popcorn, which they festooned all over the tree, and on all the branches they hung little yellow and green gourds, which glowed like tiny oranges. Mr. Gray-Squirrel had gilded a basketful of walnuts and acorns for the tree, while Jack and Billy Beaver had shown the children how to make the prettiest birch-bark cornucopias. These had been filled with tiny frosted cakes and delicious candy animals, made by that nice little mouse, Mrs. Poppetty-Poppett.

I am so drawn to vintage toys, sweet pictures,

charming nods to childhood.

That reminder of waking with anticipation on Christmas morning

when our only worry was how we would ever stay in bed but a minute more.

"Hurrah! for this Merry Christmas Day;

Hurrah! for our Christmas Tree;

May every one have a glad New Year

And be as happy as we."

Then they went in for supper,

Mrs. Bunnikins-Bunny had trimmed the table with holly and little red candles,

and never were there seen so many good things to eat.

silver & gold

2011-12-14T07:33:00.000-06:00

I am part of the "Rudolph generation"...growing up

nestled around the black & white t.v. with my sisters,

while Burl Ives shared,

"silver & gold, silver & gold - how can you measure it's worth?"

My answer now is "tarnished, please".

And in bowls, on trays, in jars....

old forgotten ornaments, vintage silver garland decorate my living room.

anchored with chippy white wood & Ironstone...

and little deer all in a row...

Oh, no -- feel another Burl Ives song coming on about the most famous reindeer of all.

What are your go-to colors for the holidays?

special holiday sale

2011-12-11T06:17:00.000-06:00

For your shopping pleasure (and as a thanks),

I am offering a 20% off sale in my booth AND case

at the Hixton Antique Mall

from December 10-31, 2011.

For the scoop on Hixton, click HERE

Enjoy!

Stillwater, MN

2011-12-10T10:22:00.000-06:00

Oh yes...we got away to one of our favorite holiday stops -- arriving just after breakfast and getting home well after supper. To start my little story -- here is the best -- my sweet finds, the ones that will live with me. I am so easily smitten, when this little mottled Japan made rabbit peaked out at me from the case at the first Antique Mall we visited, I hurried to the man with the keys and said, "let her out". Combined with vintage tinsel garland and a yellowed with age glass star mold found on my day of gathering-- my twinkle has been tickled.

Now...with the bunny out of the bag,

Let me share our day.

Stillwater, Minnesota is a sweet vintage town set along the St. Croix River on the border of Wisconsin. It is but an hour & a half drive from our home. The downtown can be easily walked - even on that cold Friday (but must be said, Dave moved our car every now & again for easy loading of our treasures). We always start our day at Midtown Antique Mall -- as the three floors require our full attention. This is where my rabbit found me. From here we traveled to American Gothic Antiques -- two floors, finding a few treasures, and enjoying the welcomed cup of coffee. Next in line was Country Charm Antiques -- where I met a dealer with a booth I always enjoy (discovered she visits me in Hixton too)...adopted vintage garlands from her. The final stop before lunch was at Rose Mille -- sweet sweet little gift shop -- which, to my amazement was moving & had a 30% off storewide sale -- quickly adopted the latest Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Interiors book. Then on the 5th stop, we rested....here at Leo's Grill & Malt Shop. (For the sake of the story -- let's pretend that is Dave & I standing out front...it is not - just two willing participants in our little story.)

Here we found the best onion rings, kitchen made kettle chips & malts around...

trust us, we tried them all.

Rebooted, we traveled down Main Street, ending our day

at the Staples Mill Antiques. (Shops are generally open from 10-6 on weekends)...

so we stayed until almost the end, always respectful to check out well before the clock tolls closing.

And as we left town, who was on the corner?

As we drove by, of course I had to open my window to

greet Mr. Claus.....not to mention driving around the block

to greet him again.

(Dave is a good sport)

What a wonderful day -- highly recommended to boot your holiday mojo.

Fun shops, nice folks, pleasant way to spend a day...

on our list every year!

What holiday jaunts are on your to do list?

holiday charm

2011-12-08T06:36:00.000-06:00

I love little sweet Christmas details tucked into little spaces in my home --- and I spend a good day unpacking all my favorites. I have become a bit more discerning over the years -- and generally now just use vintage decorations (I have also down-sized to just 4 Rubbermade containers -- smile). In recent years, I have become especially fond of tarnished silvers & golds and faded red -- and always my go-to color - green. Tinsel garlands, spools of holiday thread, little papered boxes, sweet little cards, Christmas ribbon and millinery will always come home with me.

Of course, fabrics that make me swoon are tucked here & there

not to mention sweet little nods to Santa.

Now...speaking of Santa -- let me take a moment to share a little story about "holiday charm" - or rather, lack of it (this is the "you'd better be nice" stuff). Recently, I stopped in what I always consider a fun little antiquing town in Minnesota (names will not be added to protect the innocent). I had driven a bit to get there, so the first stop was a multidealer mall with a restroom in the basement. As I entered, I checked in with the two older ladies sitting behind the counter, "Hello....how are you two doing...now, your bathroom is in the basement - correct?". One of the ladies lifted her painted-on eyebrow to reply (in a curt manner), "that is the employee bathroom. But if you have used it before - go ahead." O.K... but as I walked to the back of the building to access the stairs she yelled, "we like to have people buy something before they use the bathroom". Hmmm -- so sometimes (not usually) I might let this go -- but come on, Santa Claus is coming to town.....so, once I came back up to first floor I went back up to the counter to ask what their mall discount policy is and identify that I am a dealer & tax exempt. Then I stated quite clearly & concisely, "you know, a part of me would like to take my wallet and leave this mall right now -- as that was the rudest welcome. I suspect that if I ever treated a customer like that at the mall I work at, I wouldn't work there anymore." The lady apologized (sort of) and stated that so many people come in to just use the bathroom -- to which I responded that the 3 foot by 3 foot sign next the bathroom that states "restroom" -- feels mighty public to me. And, I followed up again that no one deserves a rude welcome in a place of business. Later, as I checked out my almost $100 worth of purchases, she apologized again & again. Fine, accepted --- but in the end, I would guess that she hadn't been reminded as of lately that rude is rude. And, I suspect that she may not have had eyebrows left as she was sweating bullets when I left---which I felt kind of bad about, and kind of not -- see, I do believe that I will be the last rudely welcomed customer in a while........see, holiday charm shouldn't be relegated to shelves & table tops only. As I left, I might have let out a tiny "ho, ho, ho" (thinking that I may indeed have earned me my own little lump of coal -- oh well.)

and she arrives...

2011-12-04T08:18:00.001-06:00

welcome winter, we have been waiting

your beauty does take by breath away

And, as I walked thru fresh snow where no step had been

and, as I waited, but no sound stirred the air but the flap of a crow's wing...

contentment arrived for the day.

ribbon

2011-12-03T06:56:00.000-06:00

~I covet vintage ribbon ~

So, once upon a time - at an auction -

when I not only found the sweet wire basket above....

BUT all the vintage ribbon in the cast off pile,

I swooped in & gathered.

You will go home with me, I told each little strand I found.

Each little ribbon would be honored.

Each little ribbon had been picked to decorate a package from the past.

And then saved - to be used again.

No dumpster would do for these sweet memories.

A place on a little Meadowview Farm alter would be their destiny.

ribbon, vintage ribbon, makes me smile it does indeed

loved, lovely, cherished still

What reminds you of Christmas past?

dreaming of a white Christmas...

2011-12-01T05:25:00.000-06:00

And so it is, for the first time,

contrary to what I ever thought I would do...

I unveil a white tree.

With

antique ornaments

in silver, gold, pale shades of green & blue

vintage postcards

old upholstery webbing as a garland

even a house tucked in the branches

And under the tree...sweet white.

(and, this morning, a sprinkle of snow greeted us)

Are you trying something new in your holiday decorating?

tick tick tick tick tick

2011-11-25T20:10:00.000-06:00

Every year, as soon as the Thanksgiving leftovers are tucked sort of neatly

into the fridge, it feels like the timer is set, the whistle is blown,

and we are off.....

the race has begun to Christmas

And, every year I vow to keep it all in perspective,

to not make insurmountable lists....

but then these little thoughts creep into my mind:

how about a candy cane theme in the kitchen?

hmmm - could I really do just white in the living room - tree too?

what about a few lit up deer in the orchard?

And

before I know it, I have mounted the sugar plum pony---and

we are off to Christmas!

Hang on & enjoy the ride...

tick tick tick tick tick

Ralphie on the horizon.

2011-11-23T10:20:00.000-06:00

Each morning we look out the window to the pasture -- to our little family of goats: Little Moo, Taffy, Charlie and Ralphie. This morning they were playing -- stepping back, raising their front feet, butting heads. Once they see us, they will call to us -- each in their own little alto maaaaa -- asking for hay, fresh water & a stroke or two.

However, on one recent morning since the corn was harvested, Dave looked out to see Ralphie...

not in his pasture, but eating corn........in the field, outside the fence. Seems our boy had raised up his little goat feet on the fence to see if the grass might indeed be greener on the other side and fell head over hoof into the field beyond. And, Ralphie, being Ralphie (yes, Cheryl -- he is one of a kind)....stayed just outside the fence and munched. The other goats, including maternal Taffy, called to him. And, when Dave got out to the pasture, Ralphie was trying to figure out how to reverse his way back into the pasture. Dave helped to lift him over the fence line (no easy do -- Ralphie is a big little goat)...and then repaired the fence wound. And Ralphie was back with his family -- not even interested in sharing this keen adventure, or trying to get back out to the acres of corn....just happy to be back home.

So, now each morning we peak out the window at dawn to see if this:

has been added to this...

to equal one little black & white goat running across the horizon...

running home, kicking up his little goat feet, munching here & there...

but traveling back to his family

where he indeed knows the grass is the greenest.

Happy Thanksgiving....

May each of your homecomings be grand!

Kari, Dave & Ralphie...

call me content...

2011-11-20T06:47:00.001-06:00

I am just old enough & wise enough to know

that you have to take contentment when you can.

There are enough storms on the horizon that will some day arrive...

but when there is that sweet moment of "all is good",

you grab it, embrace it, hold it close to your heart.

And so it was -- we went to harvest evergreen boughs from our

property up north---and in that quiet place, contentment waited.

And, when we returned home just after dark--

the lights of our farm whispered, "here too".

For this moment, call me content.

Dave on our land in Winter, Wisconsin.

Where do you find contentment?

P.S.

guess what greeted us this morning?

kitty prints in the snow...

call me tired...

2011-11-17T02:26:00.001-06:00

as darkness comes way too early now

as cold mornings hint of days to come

as layers are added

that feeling of nesting & hibernation sets in.

I almost look forward to that

first snowed in day (call me silly)

when we are trapped from the world & must stay still.

But right now it is, "hurry little squirrel,

gather your stash for winter".

This week (actually year) in my work life has been crazy -- crazy expectations, crazy hours, crazy motives, crazy... And, I haven't felt well to boot -- the body has a way of often saying, "too much, slow it down". So--in the middle of meeting after meeting after meeting on Wednesday, I managed to run (yes, literally over lunch -- needed a horn on my cart) to the grocery store and get all my Thanksgiving needs. I know I am lucky for having the means to get what we want for that day (so do call me humble), and I now make sure that the first item I purchase is a donation to the Humane Society or Food Pantry (call me appreciative) -- but I really must share ------- that as tired as I felt by the end of the day with "one more this, or one more that", there was something pretty special knowing that Thanksgiving dinner was in the trunk of my car... a certain symbol that I would soon close my door to the world as it is. That my family would gather around our table, eat more than we should, play one more game of scrabble, take treats out to the barn and keep the crazy world at bay.

Call me tired right now --

I am needing the sanctuary of my own normal (my Kari world) to

anchor me, provide a safe harbor and nourish my soul...

so I can go back out and fight those dragons again.

but not now,

now I just want squirrels & kittens & goats & family

and time to relish it all.

call me organized...

2011-11-14T07:18:00.000-06:00

And so it is...as I stand and admit it -

yes, I am one of those Type A folks -

who sets their own bar way too high,

creates systems within systems...

and,

yes, get ready ---

even has an organized little bowl of flower frogs.

Now I once had someone wonder if I had the ultimate-
all my spices organized in alphabetical order --
but alas, I am more of a grouper when I organize,
an aesthetic grouper might I add...
so my spices are not in alphabetical order,
but are in the most delightful red spatteware pan you might ever behold.

Call me organized--

but, come now --
who ever can miss that life is not complete without
a batch of chickens (& a duck or two), just waiting in
their organized little box?

Would that be getting your ducks in a row?

Are you organized -- come on,

stand & share...

call me kind...

2011-11-12T06:10:00.000-06:00

or call me thoughtful, or helpful.

I aspire to this every day, every moment.

Sometimes it is easy, sometimes not.

When my son was first born...

I wished for him that his life would be

seasoned with kindness.

And as he got older,

I expected that he would be helpful without judgement.

So each day, I try. If there is a door to be opened in some one's life, or a kind word that may be meaningful, or a "thanks" that may be unexpected....I try to offer my kindness. In small ways, without expectations, kindness can make a difference -- I know it has in my own living. But it isn't always easy -- I once worked at a Food Pantry, helping to organize & get food out to those that needed it that day -- another volunteer turned to me in line & with a smile shared these unexpected words regarding someone at the pantry that day, "you should see the car they drive -- they don't need this food". My heart just hurt in that moment -- makes me cry to this day. But I do understand, kindness is hard, helping without judgement is hard...because it is an act of selflessness. And I also can attest to the fact that I am no Mother Teresa -- I do have a German gene coursing through by blood that can get out and out feisty or defiant at the smallest indication of, shall we call it, yucky behavior. But in the end, I would like to be remembered as both -- strong & kind. An advocate & a helper. Someone who might call you out or reach out a hand.

So -- here is my list of what I know I can do:

Help those in need....bird food in the winter filled daily, a dollar or two given to the bell ringer, a "here let me help..." offered without expectation. If you are a parent, model this for your children...cause in the end they do what we do, not just what we say.
Offer kindness...sometimes it is a smile, a word at just that moment....those unnoticed, no thanks needed, times when we show that this is indeed our own "better angel".

Call me kind -- most of the time

(and that is far better than none of the time).

call me thankful...

2011-11-09T09:04:00.000-06:00

I look at the calendar and am

continually amazed when

this time of year rolls around again.

How ever did that happen so quickly?

A few years ago I stumbled upon the book Simple Abundance at a thrift sale -- and read it daily that first year. It suggested keeping a Gratitude Journal -- writing down 5 things daily that one appreciates. I did that well for about a month....then wandered off from that to just jot a note in it every now & again. So this time of year takes me back to that list --- 5 things that one appreciates. Now, the typical way one might go about this is to do the basic: home, family, friends, health, work......but what if it needed to be specific -- detailed moments that caught your breath and made you think, "I am indeed lucky".

So, do call me thankful for:

Running across the farm yard with three cats at my side - Whisper, Chestnut & Cinnamon. They keep steady to my pace, making me feel like an Olympian. And when we make it to the barn door -- I am surrounded by a chorus of purrs -- a fitting closing ceremony.
Turkeys in a compote, buttons in an Ironstone bowl, quilts in a pile, magazines stacked by season, lace at the window -- gentle & inviting nuances that say "this is home".
The stack of 1st edition Harry Potter books found on a recent antique trip -- with a call to my Ian, they now await his homecoming --- my 23 year old has discovered reading for pleasure -- and I am not caring if that reading is about a boy & his owl or the best of William Shakespeare -- he is reading.
A call to the front desk of my office just yesterday-- where a client waits with flowers and a card that says, "thanks for your guidance". Oh my -- I can't even put words to what that means to me.
Ladders. This morning I asked Dave to take the ladder up to the hayloft -- I need to put the barn to bed for the winter and have some taking down to do upstairs after the last Barn Sale. There was a quilt hung in the rafters I would need to get. And then I saw him folding the quilt in his arms on our porch in the early light, gentle and thoughtful -- he had taken the quilt down for me. And I thought about ladders we climb to reach our goals or maybe to even reach for a star or two. What would we do if there were not others to hold that ladder steady, to encourage us to climb, to maybe even lead the way up.......so, my blog friends -- I am thankful for each of you. You might not even know that you do that -- but you do, you hold my ladder every now & again. Please know I am thankful -- ever so thankful for that.

Do call me thankful....

call me obsessive...

2011-11-06T08:33:00.002-06:00

Oh, how I wish this was how I got

ready for winter...

My indoor cats, Shawnee & McCoy,

on their pillow pile in front of

the first heat of the year.

But alas, no....

this is how I get ready for winter:

And -- as you might notice,

plenty of unchecked items.

Now I'm thinking about Zac Brown's song

"Colder Weather" -- and hoping we

can get this all done soon.

So, what are you -- "orderly" or "let it come" when it

comes to winter's arrival? Or maybe

pretend "it ain't so"....

Call me obsessive,

call me a tad too organized...

but hopefully,

call me ready.

Oh my...

best get checking things off today.

call me sentimental...

2011-11-03T07:29:00.002-05:00

I am drawn to words, to details,

to intricate layers

and

equally magnificent wonder.

(this is the tree line behind our farm)

I put my Halloween decorations away last night, bringing out the turkeys that would roost in the house for the next month. As I did so, I thought about things -- pondered them in my heart, retelling a story again in my mind and now here. Although sometimes it seems like yesterday -- it was a fair number of years ago that I spent a last Halloween with my mother - a strong, independent woman who knew a thing or two about joy & hardship & celebration & resiliency (all the ying and yang of life). She also knew about the power of simple magnificence -- and would mark the first snow fall and the first robin's return as important markers in life. I sat with her on that October day -- window in the nursing home open with that year's unseasonably warm weather for a Halloween. I sang songs to her -- from day camp, from holidays past, words that came to my mind ... about peace and farewells and silent nights. Knowing that in each of those last moments time was fleeting -- but yet it stood still. So, it was no surprise at all that as she passed on, I would turn to the window just inches behind me --- and see robins lined up on the window sill.

Call me sentimental, call me spiritual...

sometimes

yes, sometimes

the moment truly takes your breath away.

"my whole world it begins & ends with you...."

(those are the words I think of lately

-- words by my favorite Zac Brown Band)

How lucky we are to have moments, people & places

that make us smile when we see them

and cry when we say our farewells.

Put your feet up, relax - home tour continues...

2011-10-31T16:56:00.001-05:00

When we first climbed the stairs of our house,

walked through our floral sewing room...

and came to what is now our bedroom,

I thought I was in a dance hall --

yes, it is a big room.

Here's a view in:

3 walls are "forget-me-not" blue

-- the wall behind the bed is green.

There are three fabulous windows...

It is just such a sweet sweet room.

It required floral...just did.

To get to this room, you have to go through

the study or the sewing room--

so it feels kind of like a secret.

It needed a special color palette:

with a bit of dark wood to

anchor it...

and a bunny or lilac or two to boot.

It came all together with a quilt over the king size bed.

And here is a "walk around the room"...

door leads to study

big oval rug, yellow painted floor...

door to our sewing room is to the

left of the yellow dresser...

Since there are no closets (because in 1857 those were taxed too)...

we use wardrobes & dressers & trunks for storage.

Now, let's add some "sweet" & "adorable"

Even an original Tracy Porter Collage!

And a "Kari Original Collage" too...framed

foam core covered in vintage lace.

Added all my favorite paper scraps, pins, millinery.

**Hint -- if you ever cross paths with a 3-tier table,

nab it. This table is perfect for so many uses --

here holding a sweet array of goodies

-- have also used it on the dining room table.

There it is -- our sweet bedroom....

purely simple & quite precious,

if I might say so myself.

you never know...

2011-10-27T19:30:00.000-05:00

I would imagine that when you walk thru my home,

you might wonder...

-for example-

What is that little stumpy guy doing on the kitchen shelf?

Or, why ever is there a goat on the dining room table?

At every turn, in many nooks -- there may be

a question just waiting for an answer.

The truth be told

to me it is all about

W O N D E R

That wonderful feeling of smiling just a bit, in that somewhat

curious way, when something that doesn't quite make sense

kind of makes all the sense in the world.

Shouldn't life really be all about not really knowing

what awaits around that next corner?

Thank goodness my home has many corners.

lots of
"you never know"

spaces.

To leave in wonder always feels

like the best kind of departure.

Consider yourself invited...

2011-10-23T11:16:00.000-05:00

Every now & again I feel the need to reboot & refresh my booth at the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall in Hixton, Wisconsin. Now, this is not when I bring a basket or so to add -- this is an all out, down & dirty, move it all about, shake, rattle & roll -- shift the room redo. So -- that was me Friday night -- I arrived at 5:15 as the mall closed with "I mean business" on my mind -- within 20 minutes, the first furniture was getting pushed and shoved about my booth....at 10:00 I called it a day -- arriving back the next morning a bit after 7:00 to finish it up before the mall's doors opened. And -- I did it without breaking a single item (my usual number of casualties is 3). So -- if you haven't been over in a bit --- stop on by. Meadowview Farm (dealer "SPY") has two car fulls and a full trailer of vintage goodies added!

The mall is located on Elder Street in Hixton --

and is open10-5 every day.

It is right off I94 between Black River Falls & Eau Claire.

I might guess it to be perhaps the second largest multi-dealer mall in Wisconsin -

with 90 vendors.

There are 3 other antique stores in Hixton -- so it is a day trip!

Now -- if I could only get inspired to clean my house today...

hmmm - couch looks mighty inviting.

so long little friends...

2011-10-21T07:50:00.000-05:00

I do so dislike the farewells of this time of year.

When the decision is made to not cover the plants -

to let the frost come.

good byes are said in the first morning light

when their passing is mixed with magic

with sparkle

with frosty glitter

Farewell all my little friends.

I will miss you so...

Do you cry too?

The Halloween tree...

2011-10-18T07:55:00.001-05:00

I imagine that the folks seeing me dig in the "free" bin at the thrift sale this summer, and then loading a big old white Christmas tree in our trailer felt a bit sad for the old girl (me - not the tree). They wondered what anyone might want with that white eyesore (tree - not me). Well -- I had a thought, an idea, an inspiration. That tree would become something quite special in a corner of the hayloft for the Autumn Barn Sale -- it would become -- The Halloween Tree.

I gathered my goodies:

orange twinkle lights
BINGO cards
vintage pictures of old souls
old playing cards -- black spades & clubs only
worn clothespins for attaching
crows & a spider web
small pumpkins
sunflowers - to lighten it just a bit
tart tins filled with dominoes to tuck in the branches
black shoelaces to dangle
an old film reel for a garland

Put it all together with a fabulous old black bedspread for a tree skirt.
And, S P O O K Y it is!

Oh, I do so adore this time of year -- (insert cackle, cackle, cackle here). With black & white & orange & a pop of apple green & a tad of yellow ---such twisty funky colors -- and the spooky theme, irrisistable!

Do you get into Halloween decorating?
Did you happen to see the Halloween Tree at the sale?
Do tell....

It's Halloween, it's Halloween - the moon is big & bright...

2011-10-16T09:27:00.001-05:00

oh my...

I do so love this celebration & this time of year.

Adding a dab of orange here & there,

or a pumpkin or a squirrel or a sweet scary guy brings fall & Halloween to our home.

The greens, yellows & browns of our living room, dining room & den were inspired by this time of year!

And...to add to the festivity, Dave & I are celebrating 30 years of marriage today.

A pumpkin in the pearls -- of course!

Kind of an analogy of life.

Enjoy today!

Sensational!

2011-10-10T08:05:00.001-05:00

So, I tried to think of a word that best described the

2011 Autumn Barn Sale

and it was, hands down,

"Sensational!"

Now, I don't often use that word - but it works here for me.

Weather...Sensational!
Friends...Sensational!

And, those of you that took the time to attend...
What can I say?
Sensational!

Sensational!!

Special thanks to Dave & Ian - my guys
and
Sarah & Nan (aka "the Barn Cats") --- you guys ----- SENSATIONAL!!!

My thanks to everyone...

Opening the door & Welcome - Autumn Barn Sale 2011

2011-10-02T19:01:00.002-05:00

Hmmm...I wonder what is waiting up in the hayloft

for the Meadowview Farm Autumn Barn Sale?

What: Antiques & Vintage Finds

Sale offered in our 100 year old barn's hayloft twice a year!

When: October 8 & 9

Saturday 9-5

Sunday 12-5

**Sorry, no early sales**

Where: S13181 County Road R

Augusta, Wisconsin

Discounts:

Saturday 2-5 20% off

Sunday 12-5 30% off all day

And, just say "carving pumpkins"

to get 10 % off from 9-2 on Saturday.

Psst...over here...

here's a little peak, right when you open the door -

one little part of the huge hayloft...

Opening the door at last!

Here we go - again...

2011-09-30T07:20:00.000-05:00

I must must must start this post with the fact that

the Barn Sale is right around the corner....

October 8 & 9!

And, all the information you need to know about it

is in the following post -- or under "Barn Sales" to the right.

It is indeed a bright spot on our horizon,

and we look forward to meeting all that attend.

However, part of the here we go again has to do with

the call I got on Thursday afternoon at my office from Dave.

It began with "You had better sit down."

Seems the north winds that were reaching gusts of 40-60 mph on Thursday

took down our gigantic cottonwood tree along our driveway.

Our neighbor, Rodney, saw it literally "blow up" at the midpoint,

scattering enormous limbs everywhere.

County Road R was closed down for several hours as they dealt with debris

and a downed power line.

We will be cleaning up for some time...
those of you that attend the sale will be able to see first hand the
volume and magnitude of this tree--
it was the eagle tree, likely over 100 years old -
one of the tallest vantage points in the area.

Our immediate thanks goes to:
Neighbor Rodney for clearing our driveway before we got home.
Dale, our electrician, who worked from the call he received at 4:45 until 9:45
to restore our power (the tree tore the electrical box right off the house).
My Ian, for hopping in his car & driving home 2.5 hours to help in the aftermath.
Ian's friend, Brad, for working after dark to begin to clear the area around the house.
And the crew from the electrical company who came out against company orders at
9:30 p.m. to restring the power line from the road to the house saying that
"no farm will be without power overnight."

Yes, here we go - again...

Please do not worry, if you attend the Barn Sale, we will not make you cut wood -
although you are welcome to take a souvenir branch home with you.
(insert tired smile here)

The clock it is a ticking...

2011-09-23T16:18:00.003-05:00

Counting the days until the Autumn Barn Sale 2011

and wanting to invite you!

October 8 & 9

Saturday: 9-5

Sunday: 12-5

(sorry -- no early sales)

Featuring Antiques & Vintage Finds

Special Discounts:

20% off from 2-5 on Saturday

30% off on Sunday

And if you say "Carving Pumpkins" you will get 10% off from 9-2 on Saturday!

Join us at Meadowview Farm in Augusta, Wisconsin.

S13181 County Road R

Other events in the area that weekend:

Hixton Antique Mall will be holding their last Flea Market of the Year that weekend

(20 minutes south of farm)

The Foster Cheese Haus will be hosting Beer-Tasting & Live Music from 2-4 on Saturday

(10 minutes north of farm)

Find out about Foster Cheese Haus HERE

Marmie & me

2011-09-22T05:17:00.000-05:00

At the end of many days I could be found sitting on the stoop of the barn door,

an orange kitty in my lap - purring, ever purring.

I would say to him, "no one in the world knows we are here except Marmie & me."

And we would sit.

All my woes would be gone.

The day's concerns would evaporate in that moment.

It would be just Marmalade and me.

Two old souls, connected.

A would be farmer and a barn cat.

Tonight I sit alone,

my Marmie buried behind the barn...

ever near the barn he loved so much,

the family he cared so deeply for,

the stoop we came to know.

I will miss those moments when it was

just Marmie & me...

for he was not just a barn cat, he was my barn cat.

May his memory be for a blessing.

Junk Bonanza

2011-09-17T07:18:00.001-05:00

If I might put all my memories in little compartments...

like the tins I saw

at the show on Friday, they might include:

Meeting & chatting with Ki - the show's founder, she truly makes you feel like the one & only (in a crowd of thousands).
Sharing hugs with many of the folks on my "Places I like to Visit" blog list. - wow, these are my mentors, inspiration points, gurus!
Seeing friends, out on "the hunt" too.
Finding treasures - some to keep, some to share.

Here's a little peak inside Friday at Junk Bonanza in Shakopee, Minnesota.

To find out about the Junk Bonanza click here

I must add one final little note...

This past week I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease -

seems I had a tussle with a teeny tiny deer tick, and it won.

I have been so very exhausted lately, and now know why.

So -- I awoke on Friday, had the day to go to Junk Bonanza,

but couldn't quite imagine the 4 hour round trip drive.

So, my Dave, ever my junk partner - offered to get me there & home.

Now, mind you, men are the minority at Junk Bonanza --

so I was a bit concerned about what he might do for the time I was there.

Well, we got there, Dave loved it! -- even found several

fishing items that were keepers.

At one point I am quite certain he even may have "ditched" me.

smile, smile, smile

fun day

Did you get to Junk Bonanza?

apples

2011-09-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

17% up this year -- that is what they say about apple production. And, one look at our little orchard confirms this. Several of our trees have branches so laden with apples, we have to prop them with "I mean business" pieces of wood. Mowing the orchard under heavy branches becomes a riding mower version of doing the Limbo. And just keeping up with the tree fall apples takes care of any need for toe touches or squats.
All of our tree fall apples are taken in wheelbarrows to the edge of our driveway - they become our community donation. Given to an Elk Reserve, a chicken farmer, a pie maker, or for the deer. It is with a mix of joy & pride that we watch a car or truck stop at the end of our farm drive to take apples in the boxes, bags or truck bed that awaits. They wave with a "thanks"...for our apples.

Do you look forward to orchard fresh apples

at this time of the year?

peace

2011-09-11T09:16:00.000-05:00

If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his next again,

I shall not live in vain.

Emily Dickinson

Big Red Barn

2011-09-10T07:04:00.000-05:00

By the big red barn in the great green field...

How often had I read Big Red Barn by

Margaret Wise Brown as a nursery school teacher & a parent...

never quite imagining that I would open my back door

one day so many years later to this view.

Never quite imagining that I would live the lessons of the Big Red Barn...

those icons that still dot our countryside, but are also aging & leaving us.

The lessons taught in a barn about life & loss,

about stoic strength,

about something so pure & genuine it can make your heart hurt.

I never quite imagined that I would come to know so well:

the feel of a barn door, as you pull it along the track
the majesty of the hand built construction
and the genuine, sincere warmth that awaits within

Just last week Dave shared with me that his favorite walk

was from our house to the barn.

To our Big Red Barn -- the heart of the farm.

A sanctuary - our sanctuary.

And the sign said...

2011-09-08T06:55:00.000-05:00

We have a new sign for our farm -- picked it up on Saturday. No, not the big "ANTIQUES" -- but the sweet "Meadowview Farm" below. Our former sign will now go up on our barn near our hayloft/Barn Sale door.

Here is the artist -- Susan Envey of Annandale, Minnesota with our new sign at our pick up spot - Buffalo Nickel. Susan sells her handpainted furniture there (tis where we discovered her). Susan is wonderful to work with, and custom designs to your liking. If you would like her contact information, let me know in a comment or an email.

We have had Susan paint many signs for our farm & Barn Sale and also sweet chairs that tell the story of our farm for our kitchen. I love the whimsy of her work -- sweet & charming.

Hidden Treasures

2011-09-04T11:55:00.000-05:00

I am quite tickled, actually blushing just a bit...
We are pleased to be featured in the Chippewa Valley's Hidden Treasures - Autumn Edition
available online by clicking here

Lori, the founder of Hidden Treasures, shares the story of our arrival to Augusta, the finding of our farm in 2006 and our move to the beautiful Chippewa Valley in 2007. It shares information about our biannual Barn Sales. I feel especially honored as Hidden Treasures was my map to this amazing area when we first moved. To be now featured, truly a dream come true. Thanks, Lori!

All reminds me again of the words of my girl, Tracy Porter...

"Dream with your eyes open". We are trying!

Opening the door -- Autumn Barn Sale 2011

2011-09-01T07:17:00.000-05:00

Count down -- a bit over one month to our Autumn Barn Sale.

October 8 & 9
Saturday 9-5
Sunday 12-5
Augusta, Wisconsin

Door is almost ready to open!

Happy Sunflowers -- our Barn Sale Logo!

Chicken coop/potting shed -- barn in background.

See that open door - getting ready!

For all the Barn Sale details, click on

"Barn Sales" under Chapters to right.

Traveling south

2011-08-27T07:19:00.001-05:00

4:30 a.m. - alarm sounds

5:30 a.m. - car heads out

destination - south

Madison, Sun Prairie & Columbus, Wisconsin

on the horizon.

8:30 a.m. - there they are:

The Dumpster Divas (and one Dude) and a sale to rival all sales!

John, Nan & Sarah

Madison Junking Celebrities.

They offer a once a year end of the summer sale in Madison.

*I arrive honking, elated to finally attend this event*
My pile grows as I shop all the vintage finds...
"darn" I think, left the bigger car & trailer home.

P.S. If you attend my Barn Sale...you might just recognize Sarah & Nan
(aka - the Barn Cats).

From here, I travel to Sun Prairie to gather up Jani.
*Yes, Jani from the blog
(not to be confused with Jenny from the hood)
& Barn Sale.
Lunch with a friend...
then off to the Columbus Antique Mall
(featured in the new edition of Flea Market Style magazine).
We shop for hours - but it feels like minutes.
Jani's find of the day - a vintage Santa...
a wish come true
(literally - Jani was just sharing that she was looking for these,
before the words came out -- there one was winking at her)

My day ends in Madison again -- with my very own Ian at my side.
Supper, 1/2 Price Books, shoe shopping --
whatever I do with that boy makes my heart sing.

Home by 10:00 p.m.
Tired, happy!
Traveled south
-- with friends, family & finds
at the end of that rainbow.

home again...

2011-08-23T20:01:00.000-05:00

I am a home-body.

I simply & honestly love to be home.

If I could, that is where I would spend 99.9% of my time.

I am just plain happiest at my farm.

But, truth be told, I spend a fair amount of time away.

I just returned tonight from two days spent in Polk County for my job.

Polk County is absolutely gorgious...

and I spent last night near the falls in St. Croix Falls.

But....

coming home takes my very breath away.

Are you a traveler or a home-body or

somewhere in between?

Color Collection: sparkle

2011-08-21T10:16:00.000-05:00

silver, gold, tarnished tin, crystal, clear glass

These shiny, sparkly additions

add magic to a home.

Gilded frames

-- no need for even a picture - beauty is in the frame itself.

Candy jars filled with sparkle...

vintage garland & crystals.

A sweet vignette -- cake pedestals add sparkle here.

My "sparkle" collection includes:

Vintage beads, glass door knobs, clear glass compotes,

anything with vintage glass glitter.

Do you collect sparkle?

Color Collection: brown

2011-08-17T07:42:00.000-05:00

In my home, where there is a fair amount of pastel shades...

brown keeps it all in the grown-up world.

It is my mature go-to color.

Butterfly book plate & a sweet tea cup.

The little tea cup was a "have to adopt" when I found

this wee little house inside of it.

Little whisk brooms with velvet on the top.

*Why was there velvet on the top of a utilitarian object?

So sweet - so pure.

Little wire baskets, teeny abandoned nests.

My brown collection includes:

Feathers (found in the yard), transferware, worn/discolored ironstone, clothespins.

Do you collect brown?

Color Collection: green

2011-08-14T10:19:00.000-05:00

I adore - absolutely love - green.

If I had just one color,

it would be green.

Checkerboard green...

this little hot pad holder now holds notes in my kitchen.

My kitchen floor -- checkerboard green too.

Clocks & Frogs - never enough!

Fabulous pitcher, sweet planters...

Green, green, green --- love it I do.

My green collections include:

Pottery, frogs (from garden statuary to Steiff), bird cages, painted stools & benches.

Do you collect green?

Sweet little ones...

2011-08-11T07:37:00.004-05:00

Here is our spring litter...Summer, Spring & Winter

They are on the porch,

a little hospital triage set up to get them better.

See, part of farm life that I am still learning

is "mass doctoring" animals.

If one is sick, with shared food dishes, you treat them all.

Seems my hurt Marmalade brought home illness with his injury...

and we had to make a

mass exodus to the vet on Wednesday - 7 cats.

These little ones (as well as Marmalade) were running high fevers &

were dehydrated.

Fluids & antibiotics given...they seem to be rebounding.

Now my day starts & ends with antibiotics....

given to 7 cats.

We are not out of the woods yet -- will need to get thru ten days of this,

but each morning -- a greeting from kittens & goats...

is absolutely priceless.

Really doesn't take much to make me happy.

Sweet little ones, they climb into my heart & fill it.

I send prayers up for their well being & care...

and celebrate their sweet little ways.

August 14 Update:

Touch & go...

but it is now looking like go for all my sweet ones.

Still have the newest babies sequestered on the porch.

Hope to let them out soon.

Momma Hope chooses her family over her freedom every day.

I let her off the porch, she comes back in to be with them.

I learn so much from these little ones.

Never ever question investing in love.

A happy ending to this story...August 17:

This morning we carried all the babies back to the barn -

they were home.

Whisper & Chestnut & Momma Hope followed us -

a celebratory parade.

Marmalade met us at the door and kissed each one.

Even the goats came in to greet them.

They all made it...the little ones almost doubling in weight in

the 7 days on the porch-hospital.

As I walked back to the house, Hope and the babies were running with

such joy to the corn crib to play.

For this moment, for this morning -

all is right at Meadowview Farm.

Color Collection: yellow

2011-08-10T04:25:00.002-05:00

Such a happy color yellow is...

truly sunshine on my shoulder.

A chick chick here & a chick chick there.

One of my sweet children's plates.

A serious little plaster chick and polka dot McCoy pottery.

Also beaded flower peaking off to the left...

And sunflowers. swoon.

This one made by my Ian years ago.

Beginning to bloom about the farm.

My yellow collection includes:

Pottery planters, pitchers & bowls, pears, chicks.

Do you collect yellow?

Color Collection: pastel

2011-08-08T08:39:00.001-05:00

These sweet demure colors are so often underrated.

In a world of more, brighter, bigger...wow....

we often miss sweet, kind, nice.

That is pastel to me-often

best experienced as a group.

Faded vintage Christmas bead picks.

A bowl of charm.

The "Forget-me-not" bracelet is from my mom...
probably 1940ish -- a name collected for
each sweet friend.

Floral, floral, floral...
*the Raggedy Ann was bought at a Thrift Sale
this summer from sisters in their 70's. It was theirs, mended, loved.

My pastel collection includes:
bark cloth, wicker, Shawnee & McCoy pottery, toy/children's chairs.

Do you collect pastel?

Color Collection: red

2011-08-06T21:31:00.000-05:00

Such an intense little color, yes,

red is strong.

Vintage store price tags

Vintage kitchen utensils and Polka Dots!

Apple crates with wonderful graphics.

Let me share a quiet little story of strength about

my Marmalade, resident tommy, not quite 1 year old -- but worldly all the same.

He is my orangey red kitty boy--a barn cat.

He limped home last Wednesday morning - hurt bad,

we didn't know if he would make it.

We hand fed him, encouraged him to drink...

blood at his eyes, nose & ears -- really hurt.

For 4 days he slept, sometimes on my lap -- so hurt, so worn,

yet still purring.

Tonight he got up on his own & ate with the other cats.

Strong -- yes -- that is red...and that is my Marmie.

My red collection includes:

children's brooms, spice tins, transfer ware, faded flags, red handled cookie cutters.

Do you collect red?

Interrupting all previously scheduled programs....

2011-08-04T11:06:00.000-05:00

Getting ready for the

Autumn Meadowview Farm Barn Sale....

October 8 & 9, 2011

Augusta, Wisconsin

Making Posters.

Readying Postcards.

Work, work, work.

If you would like to be added to the mailing list --

feel free to drop me a note with your name & address.

Contact me by leaving a comment on this blog or emailing me at:

meadowviewfarmwi@gmail.com

Watch this blog for the super secret password

that entitles you to a 10% discount the opening morning of the sale.

Color Collection: blue

2011-08-03T07:23:00.000-05:00

In my home, blue represents cool, quiet, calm.
It is a soothing color...

Blue bottles...sometimes in a row, sometimes in a cluster.

A hint of blue in my vintage trim basket.

A blue ice cream bucket, now a planter.

I wake to forget-me-not blue on the walls of my bedroom.

Our three entry doors to our house are blue.

Blue bids welcome, good day...

it will all be O.K.

My blue collections include:

Ball canning jars, blue bird dishes, blue spatter ware, anything with vintage blue paint.

Do you collect blue?

Color Collection: white

2011-08-01T06:32:00.000-05:00

August will be all about color...

highlighting pieces from my vintage collections.

I have become a fan of the serene feel of white.

As I love white on white decorating...

I love color more, so have never quite gone that route entirely.

But creamy, subtle white most definitely lives here.

Ironstone with pearls, a glass tray over book plates.

A wash bowl filled with buttons.

Sweet little white surprises tucked in a glass front cupboard.

My white collections include:

swans, Ironstone, vintage lace, doves, enamelware pitchers, sheep.

Do you collect white?

totally complicated

2011-07-30T07:27:00.001-05:00

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying

to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I gather sweet & charming -- it is what I do. At flea markets, in people's garages, in overgrown farmyards, in dark crannies -- I am searching for sweetness & charm -- collecting, bringing home to display or sell at the antique mall or at my biannual Barn Sales. I covet these things - I do. And, I live on this farm -- where sunflowers grow out of weed beds, kittens sleep with goats, and a day may just begin with the song of a wren at your window. If I look beyond the daily work, the worn edges -- it is often quite magical, certainly very sweet.

But, by day - I work for a Community Action Agency - an agency that works to alleviate poverty -- not so sweet, not so charming -- and totally complicated. Home is sanctuary for me -- where I run to to get away from injustice, small thinking, and sometimes overwhelming work. When I can't fix the world, I certainly know I can weed the garden. When I can't understand the turning of a back, I can hold a kitten. When I wake at 2 a.m. wondering why & how, I can look at my little guys all around me -- little friends on shelves & table tops that reach out and say, "be still my heart".

One night I was driving along a single lane & busy stretch of highway --- cars streaming fast in both directions....dark, dark night. Two eyes were caught in my headlights -- those of a raccoon -- running down the center line -- caught between two lanes of cars traveling fast. Running, running -- right on the line, right down the middle of the road. There wasn't anything I could do, but try not to hit the poor fellow. I wanted to stop, but didn't know quite how. I wanted to help, but didn't know quite how. That image haunts me. In my sweet Kari world, that raccoon eventually found a way off the center line -- moved left or right and ran for his life off the road, safe in the woods - curled up in a tree for the rest of the night. In the real world, I am guessing the story didn't really end that way. Totally complicated -- it all is, it all is.

So -- to stay true to oneself -- we mix up all this stuff -- the good, the bad, the sweet, the ugly....stir and stir and stir and stir. Sometimes we run down the middle of the road, sometimes we grow in the middle of the weeds, sometimes we curl up in a tree and pray that sanctuary will remain until morning.....and sometimes we collect little friends, little things so sweet & charming to remind us that all can be simple & pure & nice. Totally complicated. It is.

That's what I think today.

July sale days ending soon...

2011-07-29T17:03:00.000-05:00

The 20% off sale at my booth at

the Hixton Antique Mall in

Hixton, Wisconsin ends soon.

New stock will be arriving in August.

For all the details about the mall --

check under "Vintage Finds" under Chapters to the right.

compromise

2011-07-29T07:42:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking a bit about this word lately...wondering if in the end, the only way we ever ever have "win win" is with compromise. We each do the "give & take dance of life" -- standing firm sometimes, bending with the wind sometimes, saying "sure" sometimes. It is really what we do - right?

My two male unfixed tom cats - brothers mind you, have had a little debacle over who is the king of this farm. Don't let their sweet names (Marmalade & Cinnamon) or their sweet disposition when in my arms fool you -- this was a battle. In the end, they both decided that they could both rule -- taking turns by day -- with Marmalade as King of Meadowview Farm and Cinnamon as Prince -- not Co-King, but maybe CEO -- which was fine with Cinnamon. They both just wanted rights to the food & milk & the love of two would-be farmers and worked it out. They compromised.

Dave & I will celebrate 30 years of marriage this October -- funny how this happened when he is still 13 at heart and I am in my 30s (wink wink) -- but it happened. Our dance has been the dance of compromise. We still own our own opinions -- but have become a better union when we work together. Tree falls on our lives, we move it limb by limb out of the way together. Road becomes rough, we fill the potholes with gravel side by side together, wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow. When his knee gives out, I carry the load. When my heart is too full, he carries me.

As an early childhood educator my mantra is "play well in the sandbox"....

If you want that truck right now, I could:

a. smack you in the head with a shovel & grab it

b. scream or cry to get my way (called a tantrum)

c. work it out -- maybe with the teacher's help -- but after all these kiddos are little

Hmmm -- if 3 year olds can compromise & cooperate -- wonder why it is so difficult at times for adults to do the same?

So anyway -- been thinking about compromise just a bit lately.

Seems that if two tom cats can figure it out -- we adults can do so too.

Just thinking....

little flowers

2011-07-28T06:33:00.000-05:00

I am in process of garden cut back & clean up. Cutting back those plants that have become just far too leggy - sometimes giving them their second chance at growth, sometimes removing them all together. It is necessary -- but never ever easy for me. So often it is my beloved pansies that by July are overhanging their pots that take the massive cut. And, putting those sweet little faces in my garden discard bag just hurts. However, trying to tease out each little flower to save takes such patience & time, then they only last a moment. Sometimes I take the time, sometimes I just close my eyes and throw. Little flowers, little plant haircuts, my oh my -- does anyone else suffer through these things like me?

Bye Borders...

2011-07-26T19:48:00.000-05:00

Eau Claire has but one large-ish book store

and that is/was Borders.

So, it is very sad to see it go.

Now granted,

books have always been beyond my budget

unless found at thrift sales,

Half Price Books in Madison,

or the library...

but I do so love to look.

So it is sad to bid it farewell.

Today, I went to say "goodbye"

and look at the going away treat I received...

Magazines

& Somerset Studio

Book-azines at

40% Off.

There were still lots to pick from today...

Go and say "Bye" too!

Thank, Borders -- will miss you!

Just as free, free as we'll ever be...

2011-07-24T07:21:00.001-05:00

It poured -- skies just opened, and it poured.

Still, we grabbed our folding chairs, rain gear...

Ian drove up from Madison,

and we arrived at CountryJam just as they took the stage.

Early -- things were moved around, acts were cancelled or changed.

And then the blue skies returned and for three hours they sang to us...
three hours!

People danced, sang back and were happy.

And, to hear thousands sing the chorus..."free as we'll ever be" with the

Zac Brown Band

magic, pure magic...

Every now & again you capture that moment,

tuck it way way back knowing it is special & will

be cherished.

Standing there, last night with Dave & Ian and thousands

of other folks that had arrived in Eau Claire-

Didn't matter our ethnicity, socioeconomic status, political views...

under that one sky, with mud on our feet

we were all happy -- just happy.

And we sang...

This is how it rolls in the country -- in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
on a wet, stormy Saturday night.

Autumn Barn Sale 2011

2011-07-21T06:31:00.000-05:00

October 8 & 9

Saturday: 9-5

Sunday: 12-5

Meadowview Farm

Antiques & Vintage Finds

Augusta, Wisconsin

Click on "Barn Sales"

under Chapters to the right for all the details!

It has been hot...but not too hot to gather & get ready

for the next Barn Sale.

Oh my my my -- some great finds await!

Impending

2011-07-20T08:22:00.002-05:00

that's the word...

that was the weather...

Impending

My first glimpse was from the window...

what was this?

At 8:30 p.m. a sky so ominous.

Expected a space ship or a large hand to reach

right down.

Perhaps the reckoning had arrived.

Impending -- storms coming.

They roll across the countryside -

announcing their arrival

for miles.

Lightning, then wind, then buckets of rain.

And a lost kitten, Winter...out in the storm.

2 months old, lost in the storm.

Impending

Heartbreaking

Yes, that is the word.

I don't much care for storms.

They take, always take -- never give...

Impending doom -- announcing it had arrived, to take again.

Addendum July 21...

My little kitten Winter has returned, scared - but back.

doom & gloom be gone...

Our Study - home tour continues...

2011-07-19T12:51:00.003-05:00

This is the one room where Dave has really made his mark...

with his vintage fishing collection on full display-

and, gasp, even a fish mount or two or three.

This is our study on our second floor
...outfitted with a cozy chair,

a desk, and a wall of shelves.

The desk is a fabulous chippy door topping a table

with a piece of glass over it.

The drawer unit on top was purchased at auction

and houses everything from tape to note cards.

Above the desk are baskets on a trellis --

This is where bills await (and wait)...

Also above the desk are two bulletin boards made

by covering foam-core with fabric & attaching to a frame.

Storage is found in containers

suitcases

boxes

little drawers

toy wagons

metal tins

and even a dresser or two.

The wool rug was found at auction and stored for many years

until it found the perfect use in this room.

It totally set the dark & cozy color scheme.

Shutters are installed as shelves along the ceiling.

Other details:

The monkey lamp...well, from Tracy Porter's auction...

featured in her books. Love it.

Not old -- but fabulous!

Find out about Tracy by clicking HERE

Cozy, studious, organized...

that is our study!
It is what we aspire to!

Jar full of memories...

2011-07-17T07:39:00.001-05:00

I stumbled upon this idea somewhere for

A Memory Jar

a place to keep those sweet reminders of childhood.

Here 's the jar for my Ian (now 23).

His jar includes:

a Ninja turtle
a tiger that used to knock down Lincoln Log houses
Legos
a hockey puck

Not a memory box -- but a collection,

bittersweet...

all those memories mixed up

like a favorite recipe.

That's my Ian --

definitely the very favorite cookie

in my Sweet Shop!

Kari (aka mom)

hollyhocks, day lilies, snowballs and farm gardens

2011-07-15T06:55:00.001-05:00

I am not a gardener...

however, I do like the play of foliage & perrenials & annuals -

and know just enough.

In our last home in Sun Prairie - we were fortunate to

earn "Garden of the Month" distinction

and be featured in the city's annual

Garden Walk.

But still -- I make no aspirations at Master Gardener.

When someone asks about a plant -- my answer will likely be,

"I like how it looks".

So - with a vintage farm

- my quest was to keep the gardens

pure & simple & true to the farm's age.

That meant hollyhocks, day lilies, hydrangeas (snowballs)

& any other planting that
could stand hardy farm living.

And, with a barn red & Old Chicago brick backdrop-
colors must be subdued, thoughtful, quiet.
The pinks above were picked by the hollyhocks, not me...
but I do like their play against the brick.

Plants were rescued from the old gardens, found as
we "civilized" the farm yard edges.
Rusty "art" was added,
just enough wild was left unaltered,
with a restful, peaceful farmyard as the goal.

What is your favorite garden secret?

What better to do on a hot day? Antique of course!

2011-07-10T09:57:00.001-05:00

Years ago, I stumbled upon this wonderful
multi-dealer mall (90 dealers)

in Western Wisconsin...

the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall.
*Learn more about this mall by clicking HERE

(FYI -- SALE alert below!)

Hixton was always one of my favorite places to travel to
on an antiquing adventure when we lived in Sun Prairie.
What could be better - a LARGE mall
& 3 other antique shops in town too!

Now that we live in Western Wisconsin --
we not only sell at the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall
-- but work behind the counter 1-2 Saturdays each month too.

And, in honor of the wonderful customers
that have found their way to my booth...
I am hosting a
20% OFF SALE
in my booth
during July.

Find your way over to the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall.
It is located right off I94 --
just about 40 minutes SE of Eau Claire
-- the exit between Pigeon Falls & Black River Falls.

Our dealer codes are "SPY" & "MD"
(I have a booth & case and Dave has a case)

Happy Antiquing!

sweet breeze blowing...

2011-07-08T08:40:00.001-05:00

Some days are simple:

gardens watered

clothes on the line

animals fed

and a sweet breeze blowing...

Want to send a blog "hi" to Barb at

Plum Thickety Place.

If you haven't had a chance to visit yet,

check out her sweet blog by clicking HERE

Enjoy this summer day...

coming home...

2011-07-06T08:48:00.001-05:00

Saturday I traveled - to my sister's place -- my nephew from California home - a party, a celebration!
Tuesday I traveled - an antiquing adventure -- three hours each way. Morning to Night.

As I traveled back last evening --
I felt this overwhelming emotion.
Thoughts of Homecoming.
Trying to define what that was, what that means.

I know it by the pull & tug of my heart:
Seeing Kevin, my nephew, with his son in his arms -- a homecoming.
Watching as my own Ian, arrived at the celebration -- his blue car coming up the hill -- a homecoming.
Seeing my farm as I traveled back, tired from a day away -- a homecoming.

It is a warm embrace at the end of a journey.
It is a welcome that quietly calls to you.

At my own farm, my little Chestnut kitten waits under the birdbath near the porch. All day she waits, listening for the squeak of the porch door or the flap of a wing. "Homecoming" is defined in this little kitten's world as "there you are". I like that definition about the best. It can end with an exclamation point or a "..." It is faith & hope & celebration & joy -- all wrapped up in this sweet, enduring coming home.

What does homecoming mean to you?

It's a party for our gal!

2011-07-02T04:12:00.000-05:00

She's the emblem of

the land I love...

the home of the free & the brave!

Happy Birthday America!

wishing you all a great weekend...

I will be doing a little antiquing,

visiting with my nephew from California,

& at some point...getting all misty eyed about this country,

her birthday & how great she indeed is.

So whether you will parade, camp, sit in a lawn chair, watch fireworks,

or simply & perfectly reflect...

enjoy!

A little ditty about "cow whispering"...

2011-06-30T08:30:00.001-05:00

Who ever knows what adventures await...such was indeed the case the other day. Started on my way to work, ventured past a neighbor's farm -- and there were several dozen cows in the corn field. Now if I have learned anything living in the country, one thing I know is that cows and growing corn -- not a mix. Better turn around. Traveling back past the farm, there is my neighbor & his daughter, also now in the corn field. Better grab my mud shoes. Arrive at the farm with a "how can I help?" "Stand between the buildings" is my job.

Now -- here is how this goes -- they were going to run these "on the loose - goosey goose" cows back toward the barn -- if they ran between the outbuildings toward the road, guess I was supposed to stop them. So around the corner they come --- not quite a stampede -- but holly cow --- cows are big! One runs my way, I step aside. The daughter runs after it -- I yell over to her, "thought I was going to scare it"....she shares back while running after the cow that that is kind of the idea. O.K. -- now my role is clear. I am to be a Cow Whisperer -- actually, a Cow Clapper. See -- to keep those cows on their path, I was going to need to be bigger than a cow -- louder voice, clap of the hands -- wide arms. Need I say, not another cow got past me -- "come on, in the barn" clap, clap -- wide arms. A dozen collected. Hands bruised. Job well done.

That left about another 10 or so way across the field -- on a little munching adventure. "How about I drive over to Barka Road and move the rest back to the farm?" was my idea. "O.K." was the reply. And I was off -- drive, drive, drive, climb thru the tall grass along the road edge...head toward the big cows who are not in a fence...but standing munching in front of me...their home is over the crest beyond the scope of reason. At that moment it occurred to me that this idea could fail miserably. Those cows had many choices: eat, run to the road (in two directions), eat.... Oh well, made myself bigger than a cow -- and guess what -- they turned around and began to head back to their farm. What a sight this must have been -- city raised Kari -- arms outstretched, moving a small herd of BIG cows across a field. I hoped at this moment that someone must be watching, quite impressed....people driving by saying, "look at that!" (not "look at that?") I was indeed cow whispering...or at the very least -- acting odd enough that they decided home was even better than fresh corn leaves.

And so it was, I could now say I survived a tornado in the spring and I herded cows in the summer. Just wish I would have grabbed me a towel for a cape when I grabbed my mud shoes. Feeling just a bit like "Cow Woman" --herder of all things grand.....at least for the moment.

That's my story, and I stand behind it
(yelling "move" with my arms spread wide...)
Cross that off my bucket list.

Yes, I confess...

2011-06-27T17:48:00.000-05:00

have to, wouldn't be right to not step up & say it...

so here goes...

I love T.J. Maxx.

There I said it.

Now, you must understand as much as I love antiquing,

I hate shopping.

But there is something about T.J. Maxx.

And I also believe there is something about

toning down too many vintage items with

just a bit of fresh.

My "fresh" generally comes from T.J. Maxx.

So -- just behold my latest:

Fabulous padded chairs in this fabric...

happened in just as the clerk was clicking a new sales sticker...

bingo, nabbed at $30 each!!

Honestly, other shoppers were applauding my good find as

I left the store.

Are you a T.J. Maxx or Marshalls kind of girl too?

P.S. don't get me even started on IKEA.

"shouldn't air your dirty laundry"

2011-06-25T17:45:00.009-05:00

So...in my last post of June 24th,

I proceeded on my little home tour that I began last winter.

Took some quick snaps of my laundry/utility room -

Posted

Described

Then I got to looking and felt,

hmmm -- not liking that room so much at the moment.

Not that you could see the dust --

but it was a tad cluttered, unorganized, dirty...

And - there it was -

I had aired my dirty laundry...

Like a clothesline full of under garments when company arrives.

So, this is my -- took it to heart,

de-cluttered,

cleaned,

changed around a bit.

I have two full baskets of items from this room that will

be heading out to the hayloft for the Autumn Barn Sale.

Anyway -- guess you might call this post a "do over".

Wash Day - home tour continues...

2011-06-24T11:53:00.002-05:00

Come on in & take a look around our

Laundry Room.

This was indeed one of the last rooms we redid --

up until then, we called it the "icky room"...

'cause it was, well, kind of icky.

In our green & blue & yellow color scheme -

we went off the map in this room --

with a big dose of deeper blue & a punch of red.

Gray calms it just a bit.

Now, I can't imagine this room was ever so rudely titled, "icky"...

I would now call it our "work horse",

likely one of the hardest working rooms in our house.

So, let's get down to business with a little tour---

you enter thru the kitchen.

A quilt hangs in the doorway if need be to close this room off from view.

Or in my Kari world - to just look sweet.

The former Summer Kitchen -

this room has one of our three home entrances.

This one now goes out to our deck & back yard

(called a "door yard" on a farm)-

and clothesline.

Grill on the deck is conveniently located too.

When our house was built in 1857 -
every room was taxed - even closets...

so - this house has just one real closet - in the upstairs landing.

Since this room is a big contender for home storage --
we had to get creative.

We now hang coats, grouped by season,

on a coat rack salvaged from another home.

Below it stands an Amish bench.

Apple crates & a Chimney Cupboard store our everyday supplies:

cat litter, tools, string, glue...

This beauty was purchased at the Columbus Antique Mall

in Columbus, Wisconsin.

Our Washer & Dryer are angled around a green dresser Dave found

along the curb --- the green table to the right was also a roadside find.

This dresser stores all our gift supplies:

tissue, gift bags, gifts-in-waiting...

The table has a sweet tool caddy that

keeps the ribbon, scissors & gift tags organized.

This fun shelf was purchased in Waterloo, Wisconsin -

have to have fun stuff to look at while folding laundry. -

right?

This freestanding wall hides a sink...which is still on our

"to do" list. For now, we keep our "grab & go" items here.

There is actually one small broom closet in our laundry room -

big enough for a mop bucket, mop...and of course

a broom on the door.

And here is where my collection awaits a trip to the antique mall -

this old bassinet corals it just right.

See this room works as a waiting station & tagging central

for my antique business too.

So -- what pulls it all together?

-- a table in the center of course.

Might I add, one hard working table.

You might find this holding folded laundry,

set up for gift wrapping,

filled to the brim (above & below) with antiques.

The tablecloth provides a bit of

"don't look behind that curtain"

hide & seek magic for antique overflow.

And sweet stuff has to live in this room too.

I have come to absolutely adore

this Laundry Room.

Instead of cringing, as I did in 2006 when I first walked into this room

and wondered what we would ever do to fix it up...

it now makes me smile.

P.S. -- if you click on "Home Tour" under the labels

on the right you will find other rooms of

our 1857 home highlighted.

Addendum...
to see an update to this post click HERE

it is here

2011-06-21T21:18:00.002-05:00

S U M M E R

welcome....

*At 8 p.m. tonight I looked out the window

& there was a double rainbow.

My silly little camera could only kind of capture one over the adjacent field --

but that was because silly Kari

was running about the farm yard,

barefoot in the rain.

"Look Up", I wanted to yell.

"Look up"...

"It is here."

With just a bit of fanfare, summer has arrived,

and I am giddy to greet it.

ambition

2011-06-19T10:31:00.000-05:00

I am a list maker...

even when not written down,

there is always a list hanging about in my head.

I like to check things off -

feel good about getting something done,

moving forward.

So - on days like today,

my list feels quite tiny:

1. vacuum

2. sweep the cottonwood cotton off the deck

See, the couch calls, a batch of popcorn & HBO calls, magazines call.

I almost wish it would rain to ease my guilt just a bit.

Guess I just may need to add to my list:

3. put up your feet, sit a spell (it's O.K.)

How about you -- do you take time to just relax?

Ode to Americana...

2011-06-15T07:51:00.000-05:00

One of the many benefits of a Barn Sale or Antique Booth is that you have a chance to "clean house" every now & again. As I love to gather & also have a bit of "need to change - bored with that complex" --- I sometimes will move it out, move it on. Thus was the case with my 4th of July collection. Pulled up the rubbermade for my May Sale -- and out it went. So here's the thing --- it no sooner went on the sale block, when I began to rebuild it. Now my Americana is found on my porch -- from Memorial Day to July 4th.

Found this sweet as a peanut quilt -- faded just so -- $22.50.
Found this adorable little red shelf -- will be great for Christmas & Valentine's Day too -- $18.00.
Added a vintage child's jump rope, several sweet finds -- and there you have it.

My newest vintage "Ode to Americana"

What have you found lately?

Do you ever get bored with your collections -- if so, what do you do?

Winter, Spring & Summer

2011-06-13T08:04:00.002-05:00

Introducing the newest babies:

Summer, Spring & Winter.

(they are in order of names above)

Sweet as can be.

Almost ready for adventures.

Did I say sweet?

Addendum:
Yes, Cheryl, Hope does indeed have beautiful babies.
As mentioned in past posts --
Hope is our only "unfixed" momma cat.
The mortality rate of barn cats is short --
so adding to the group is O.K.
(usually about 7 at a given time -- which my real working farm neighbors
say is about the number to have for mice control).

Anyway --- in the land of "Hush-a-bye" --
we do fret over the naming of the kits.
This year we had a suitcase full -
everything from "Bumblebee" to "Peanut".

But when the three looked up at me for the first time --
I knew at least we had three seasons represented.
Perhaps an orange "Autumn" will be in the fall litter.

My first words to them,
"welcome babies, some day we might just fall in love".

reaching out...

2011-06-11T08:13:00.000-05:00

across the miles

my hand...

take it if you will.

A shoulder to lean on -

there, too.

A chair to sit in - with me quiet or listening or reflective.

Words, picked carefully, to lift you.

Thoughts, shared gently, to support you.

Reaching out -- not quite sure how -- but I am.

Words alone - sent over the miles.

Thoughts, bold & strong -- harnessing the spirit of comfort.

Prayers...prayers...prayers.

to you -- you know, you know

Once you reminded me, "wisdom begins in wonder".

remember -- we wonder first, we question second, we know, then we find the courage to wonder again.

All my love -- reaching out to you.

Kari

Moo

2011-06-09T07:58:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time...

but that is really not quite the start of this story, yet it is.

It is a story of this farm & what had been.

A hardworking dairy farm - before.

A hardworking farm family - then.

Starting & ending their day at the barn.

Today the memories remain in the stories that they share when they visit.

If you listen just so, tilt your head & squinch your eyes

-- you might just be able to picture 24 cows lined up for milking.

The stanchions in the barn still stand ready.

And this little shelf awaits in the laundry room, just inside the door.

Facing the barn -- a tribute.

To hardworking farm families - thank you.

June is indeed Dairy Month.

perspective

2011-06-05T08:23:00.001-05:00

Phlox...in our meadow.

Beautiful...

Yet, can you see the thistle or nettle that stand beside them?

perhaps

Can you detect the ticks in that tall grass

that thwart my morning coffee as

I instead set my cup down to remove them from my Cinnamon?

(who delights in sleeping in the meadow)

perhaps

There are days I see the thistle & nettle...only.

There are moments that the ticks are the bane of my existence.

And there are, thankfully, hours when the Phlox call out to me - and time stands still.

Perspective...

a gift we get each morning

My sincere thanks...

2011-06-01T16:54:00.002-05:00

It has been a year since I started this "blogging thing".

I remember wondering, who will ever be interested in what I might have to say?

I remember thinking -- well, at the very least I will have a journal for my own posterity.

And so I started....with the little picture above and

the little post found by clicking HERE

I took my first step.

And, there you were - those that have provided such

support -- thru comments, thru visits here -- whether vocal or not...

your support has mattered,

and I thank you.

I have grown over the past year --

I have learned the pace & content & climate

of this little world of my blog.

I look back at my own year, smiling often, shedding a tear at times...

ever with you at my side.

Thank you...

Really, thank you.

Kari

just a little secret...

2011-05-31T07:37:00.000-05:00

tucked away

that is where they are.

safe

snug

protected

(up in the hayloft - with all the Barn Sale boxes)

three new little kittens

Hope's spring litter

Introducing: Winter, Spring & Summer

just a little secret...
sweet one at that

P.S. This is no secret --
we will not be opening this summer for an "in between" Barn Sale,
just too much gathering to do.

Our next Barn Sale will be October 8 & 9.

remembrance

2011-05-29T04:45:00.000-05:00

I will never ever forget certain things:

The little slip of paper my father folded & refolded in the hospital table drawer-- a slip I would later find with our phone numbers on it...waiting patiently for a visit or a call.
My mother calling across the nursing home table, "there's my Kari" when I arrived. Always welcoming me home - no matter where home might be.

These are etched in my mind for forever...and I do remember embracing those moments, capturing & seizing those instances, knowing time is fleeting. I remember saying to myself "remember this, remember this."

So now, I fold & refold my memories and call out to my heart's deepest deepest places --- because that is what we do on this weekend. Yes, we may have an extra day off, and yes, we may have time for that first summer fishing trip or flea market....but we also have a bit more time to stop & remember. I will.

Recycling Center - Vintage with a Purpose #6

2011-05-26T07:41:00.001-05:00

A hamper for a recycling center.

Just large enough to hold a waste & recycling bin.

Just sweet enough to work in our kitchen.

Just green enough to be perfect in my little world.

Yes, it really is a hard worker.

Keeps it all neat & tidy & out of sight.

Large enough to also store all our extra store bags for re-use.

Recent finds...

2011-05-23T07:37:00.000-05:00

Spice Boxes...painted green, all the better.

{love the little tags on each drawer}

Pie Birds & Crescent Spice Boxes.

{blue & a sliver of a moon - charm on a box}

Enamelware Pitchers - staple of mine & colanders.

{sweet, farm house sweet}

Children's dish sets.

{Oh my -- such adorable pictures}

What have you found recently?

Relaxing, Reflecting...

2011-05-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

Here are some of the "stars" of the Spring Barn Sale.

Official greeters and goodies.

Vintage farm finds.

Me (in middle) & the "Barn Cats" (Nan & Sarah).

My fabulous friends and support!!

Missing Jani this sale.

Wonderful shoppers.

My thanks to each of you!

Lots & Lots of vintage finds!

Trucks & Jars & Signs...

Vintage Store Price Tags...

Even a sweet surprise or two.

Thanks to everyone for an amazing Spring Sale.

Now to start reloading for October!

*P.S. We may open mid summer -- around the July 4th weekend.

Check back for details.

My Cup Overflows...

2011-05-16T13:20:00.000-05:00

Pardon me as I make my list -

the list of all the blessings I feel at this moment.

You see, the weather may not have been great --

but to all of you that brought your warmth & energy to

the Spring Barn Sale -- my sincerest thanks.

I will post pictures soon -- but for now...

My loving thanks to:

Dave -- you always have my back -- just do.
Sarah & Nan -- there, without the need for fanfare - working at my side -- there.

Were you there?

What was your favorite find?

P.S. the next Barn Sale is October 8 & 9...

And....Jani we missed you.

"Picking Daisies"

2011-05-10T07:59:00.000-05:00

Not quite a daisy...but close enough in my world.

"Picking Daisies"

those are the words to share at check-out for 10% off from 9-2

at the

Barn Sale on Saturday, May 14th.

(shhh -- this is just for you blogger friends)

For all the information....click on "Chapters of my story: Barn Sales" to right.

Also...publicized sales are:

20% off from 2-5 Saturday

30% off from 12-5 Sunday

Fingers crossed for good weather.

Regardless of any sprinkles -- we are in the hayloft.