This week I was looking for a birthday gift for my mother-in-law. I found a candle that smelled like pumpkin pie and I chose two flower bundles. A local grocery store with a floral department had some of their bouquets marked down to a bargain price, yet the flowers were still beautiful. So I chose an autumnal bouquet and a bouquet of cream colored roses. They may be a bargain price, but the flowers are still beautiful, and I’m sure I can make them look like an expensive bouquet with just a little bit of effort.
I began by unwrapping the bouquets from their packaging. After laying both bouquets out for me to see what I had to work with, I began by layering one color after the other. I layered orange first, then cream, then orange again, and so on, until the flowers were mixed. The result is a bouquet that looks expertly arranged. It’s a nice trick that can work with nearly any sort of flower. What looks like a line on the table, turns into an artistically arranged bouquet when pulled together. So, for less than $8.00, I was able to put together a beautiful bouquet, and save a penny too.
We started work on the addition to the barn this week. I wanted to choose a design that would be in keeping with the antique charm of the original building, so I referred to a painting I have in my kitchen that has a milkhouse on the back of an old barn, with many small windows side by side.
When I was a little girl, my dad’s milkhouse had a similar appearance, which gives this addition some special meaning for me. It brings back memories of hot, sticky, summer mornings being in the milkhouse, cooling my bare feet on the cool concrete floor. Ever so often I would lean against the huge, chilled, stainless steel bulk tank. My dad would have the radio on that hung on the wall. He seemed to know that it relaxed the girls.
I remember the hum of the serge milker and best of all, my dad hard at work attending each cow with a huge, swarthy, loving hand, humming to music as he would flash me a smile with those sparkling blue eyes of his. What a lovely memory, and now, every time I look at our own three little windows, I catch myself smiling and remembering those summer mornings so many years ago.
January 6, 2022
Repurposing old storage containers and celebrating with a 12th Night feast.
April 21, 2021
Crazy weather, the greenhouse is packed and flourishing, Easter happiness, and waiting for the arrival of new baby chicks.
February 17, 2021
Wrapping up the holidays, jumping into a painting project, and cleaning the house from top to bottom.
November 19, 2020
For years I would sit and stare at my house and wonder why it didn’t have that colonial feel that... View Article
November 18, 2020
Seed starting begins again, just before the busy holiday season gets into full swing.
November 9, 2020
November begins with cool weather and blustery days. The seasons change and Harry enjoys the days.
November 2, 2020
Once again the coop needs some attention and some much needed safety additions. My joints just can't take the bend to feeders anymore!
October 31, 2020
Rushing to finish a big job never helps, but some last minute trim ideas make a big difference, and all in time for Halloween
October 20, 2020
When it rains it pours. Both the weather and the power tools conspire to keep the porch from being repaired.
October 19, 2020
A hearty one pot soup for all the leftovers or just in anticipation of Thanksgiving
October 12, 2020
Cool days give a taste of fall weather. I spend some time in the greenhouse and muse over the animals enjoying the day
October 5, 2020
Spring bulbs arrive for next year and Harry discovers a toad
September 28, 2020
I begin the porch project with some early painting and decorate for the season
September 21, 2020
Non-native problems continue but I tarry on with the season all the same.
September 14, 2020
Anniversaries can never just run smoothly, can they?
September 7, 2020
I start looking towards the holidays with an old fashioned recipe, and I look backwards as I transplant some wildflowers
September 1, 2020
The old yew bushes are removed to make way for a porch face-lift, and I attend to some inside repairs
August 24, 2020
Some late season planting, ordering bulbs for the coming year, and tackling a new antique project
August 17, 2020
Where has time gone? Visiting a familiar old house that has gone to ruin.
July 3, 2020
The weather has switched to summer heat and it is searing. Time for the garden to explode with weeds and produce.
June 27, 2020
It's my birthday again. Strawberries are in season, and I spend some time hauling rocks . . . again.
June 20, 2020
I do some late season gardening and try some greener products again, this time, with sheep milk
June 13, 2020
The garden has been giving us a preview of what is to come, and the weather gives us a taste of storms ahead
June 6, 2020
The package saga continues, and some early summer sounds kick into high gear
May 16, 2020
Mother's Day arrives, and amidst enjoying my homemade tea room I deliver some lovelies straight from the greenhouse
May 9, 2020
The wildflowers are here. I begin planting the last bits of my spring order and gift an instant garden to my sister
May 2, 2020
Warm weather comes a bit early for us, but my toad friends are back for another year of bugs
April 25, 2020
More deliveries as Covid continues. Each day is full, and only the inconvenience of a few missing packages affects the Little Corner
April 18, 2020
As we all adjust to Covid, Harry helps the Easter Bunny and delivers a bit of springtime cheer to family
April 11, 2020
We tackle the window project and find a few surprises, meanwhile my tattersall rugs arrive in time to give the house a lift for spring
April 4, 2020
We begin ripping out the old windows in preparation for the new installation, meanwhile spring burst forth all around us
March 28, 2020
Some fruit trees arrive, including some very old varieties, and I do a massive replant in the new section. Time to make that little forest grow.
March 22, 2020
We experience a strange St. Patrick's Day as the first Covid birthday gets underway, and the fencing project finally comes to a completion
March 15, 2020
While the country seems to be poised for a lockdown, we keep plugging away at the fence, and work in a little landscaping too
March 7, 2020
The fence project continues, while we have a quick birthday for Doodles and a little bit of cherry pie to celebrate the day
February 22, 2020
We start the task of fencing in the whole of our 5 acres, and with the weather shifting between snow and warmth there is a lot of mud
February 15, 2020
I get creative with trying to solve an old puzzle -- just what did that old baker use to make such perfectly sweet red icing?
February 8, 2020
Our great prognosticator has predicted an early spring, and we begin preparations for the new parcel
January 31, 2020
A new phase of the Little Corner begins with the beginning of a wildlife habitat and expanded sheep field
January 25, 2020
It is already time to think about the garden and time to think about getting cuttings from my salvaged fall pots
January 19, 2020
Our snow for 2020 looks like it is going to remain a bit spotty, but Harry still gets some time to play, and I tackle cutting the petunia trees
January 13, 2020
I begin the New Year with spring cleaning, a repair inventory, and some Moses Eaton styled floor cloths
January 6, 2020
This year the flower color palette for the Vienna New Year’s Day concert was in shades of pink and yellow. ... View Article
December 31, 2019
I end a busy 2019 sharing my best wishes to everyone and a wish for the 'quiet life'
December 25, 2019
The season marches forward with Christmas bakes, and I try a few experiments on some old favorites
December 7, 2019
With Christmas on its way, I take a look at the 400+ seedlings in the basement, and Harry helps . . . or so he thinks.
November 30, 2019
I substitute an old favorite in our rarely altered traditional meal, and my family and I head to the tree farm again
November 24, 2019
My daughter's birthday inspires some unicorn decorations and the sky seems to join in the fun
November 17, 2019
After so much heat, and still so much green hanging on the trees, an early snow surprises us all
November 9, 2019
I get my husband to make a late season alteration to our coop, which will hopefully help my bones this winter
October 31, 2019
I make some last minute adjustments to the yard, just in time to catch the last of the warm weather
October 20, 2019
The frost finally shows up and autumn activities accelerate to match the change in weather
October 6, 2019
When we should be thinking of hot drinks, the weather keeps summer barreling into fall, which makes late season gardening miserable
September 30, 2019
As we wind down the year towards the fall season, another repair presents itself, this time our refrigerator
September 22, 2019
Following a recipe mishap years ago, I attempt use up some of our pear bounty and make a tasty chutney
April 21, 2021
Crazy weather, the greenhouse is packed and flourishing, Easter happiness, and waiting for the arrival of new baby chicks.
February 17, 2021
Wrapping up the holidays, jumping into a painting project, and cleaning the house from top to bottom.
November 19, 2020
For years I would sit and stare at my house and wonder why it didn’t have that colonial feel that... View Article
November 18, 2020
Seed starting begins again, just before the busy holiday season gets into full swing.
November 9, 2020
November begins with cool weather and blustery days. The seasons change and Harry enjoys the days.
November 2, 2020
Once again the coop needs some attention and some much needed safety additions. My joints just can't take the bend to feeders anymore!
October 31, 2020
Rushing to finish a big job never helps, but some last minute trim ideas make a big difference, and all in time for Halloween
October 20, 2020
When it rains it pours. Both the weather and the power tools conspire to keep the porch from being repaired.
October 19, 2020
A hearty one pot soup for all the leftovers or just in anticipation of Thanksgiving
October 12, 2020
Cool days give a taste of fall weather. I spend some time in the greenhouse and muse over the animals enjoying the day
October 5, 2020
Spring bulbs arrive for next year and Harry discovers a toad
September 28, 2020
I begin the porch project with some early painting and decorate for the season
September 21, 2020
Non-native problems continue but I tarry on with the season all the same.
September 14, 2020
Anniversaries can never just run smoothly, can they?
September 7, 2020
I start looking towards the holidays with an old fashioned recipe, and I look backwards as I transplant some wildflowers
September 1, 2020
The old yew bushes are removed to make way for a porch face-lift, and I attend to some inside repairs
August 24, 2020
Some late season planting, ordering bulbs for the coming year, and tackling a new antique project
August 17, 2020
Where has time gone? Visiting a familiar old house that has gone to ruin.
July 3, 2020
The weather has switched to summer heat and it is searing. Time for the garden to explode with weeds and produce.
June 27, 2020
It's my birthday again. Strawberries are in season, and I spend some time hauling rocks . . . again.
June 20, 2020
I do some late season gardening and try some greener products again, this time, with sheep milk
June 13, 2020
The garden has been giving us a preview of what is to come, and the weather gives us a taste of storms ahead
June 6, 2020
The package saga continues, and some early summer sounds kick into high gear
May 16, 2020
Mother's Day arrives, and amidst enjoying my homemade tea room I deliver some lovelies straight from the greenhouse
May 9, 2020
The wildflowers are here. I begin planting the last bits of my spring order and gift an instant garden to my sister
May 2, 2020
Warm weather comes a bit early for us, but my toad friends are back for another year of bugs
April 25, 2020
More deliveries as Covid continues. Each day is full, and only the inconvenience of a few missing packages affects the Little Corner
April 18, 2020
As we all adjust to Covid, Harry helps the Easter Bunny and delivers a bit of springtime cheer to family
April 11, 2020
We tackle the window project and find a few surprises, meanwhile my tattersall rugs arrive in time to give the house a lift for spring
April 4, 2020
We begin ripping out the old windows in preparation for the new installation, meanwhile spring burst forth all around us
March 28, 2020
Some fruit trees arrive, including some very old varieties, and I do a massive replant in the new section. Time to make that little forest grow.
March 22, 2020
We experience a strange St. Patrick's Day as the first Covid birthday gets underway, and the fencing project finally comes to a completion
March 15, 2020
While the country seems to be poised for a lockdown, we keep plugging away at the fence, and work in a little landscaping too
March 7, 2020
The fence project continues, while we have a quick birthday for Doodles and a little bit of cherry pie to celebrate the day
February 22, 2020
We start the task of fencing in the whole of our 5 acres, and with the weather shifting between snow and warmth there is a lot of mud
February 15, 2020
I get creative with trying to solve an old puzzle -- just what did that old baker use to make such perfectly sweet red icing?
February 8, 2020
Our great prognosticator has predicted an early spring, and we begin preparations for the new parcel
January 31, 2020
A new phase of the Little Corner begins with the beginning of a wildlife habitat and expanded sheep field
January 25, 2020
It is already time to think about the garden and time to think about getting cuttings from my salvaged fall pots
January 19, 2020
Our snow for 2020 looks like it is going to remain a bit spotty, but Harry still gets some time to play, and I tackle cutting the petunia trees
January 13, 2020
I begin the New Year with spring cleaning, a repair inventory, and some Moses Eaton styled floor cloths
January 6, 2020
This year the flower color palette for the Vienna New Year’s Day concert was in shades of pink and yellow. ... View Article
December 31, 2019
I end a busy 2019 sharing my best wishes to everyone and a wish for the 'quiet life'
December 25, 2019
The season marches forward with Christmas bakes, and I try a few experiments on some old favorites
December 7, 2019
With Christmas on its way, I take a look at the 400+ seedlings in the basement, and Harry helps . . . or so he thinks.
November 30, 2019
I substitute an old favorite in our rarely altered traditional meal, and my family and I head to the tree farm again
November 24, 2019
My daughter's birthday inspires some unicorn decorations and the sky seems to join in the fun
November 17, 2019
After so much heat, and still so much green hanging on the trees, an early snow surprises us all
November 9, 2019
I get my husband to make a late season alteration to our coop, which will hopefully help my bones this winter
October 31, 2019
I make some last minute adjustments to the yard, just in time to catch the last of the warm weather
October 20, 2019
The frost finally shows up and autumn activities accelerate to match the change in weather
October 6, 2019
When we should be thinking of hot drinks, the weather keeps summer barreling into fall, which makes late season gardening miserable
September 30, 2019
As we wind down the year towards the fall season, another repair presents itself, this time our refrigerator
September 22, 2019
Following a recipe mishap years ago, I attempt use up some of our pear bounty and make a tasty chutney
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