The Country Nest

Waiting for Spring.....

2012-01-26T13:31:00.001-05:00

Not to much going on here. I am really waiting for Spring so I can get out in the garden. My Christmas present from my son was that he re built our old arbor. I had showed him a picture and this was what he did.

Now I can't wait until spring to see the roses come to life. I want to stain it to keep the natural weathered look. I just love how it came out and it was a total surprise.

So here is the before, just so you can see what a huge improvement her made.

~Saltglaze~

2012-01-04T13:45:00.000-05:00

I am home here with a sore throat, trying to use my time sorting cleaning and rearranging. I started to put some of my salt glaze together for a bit more impact....I am not sure where it is going so as I wash it I am putting it on the floor. Mostly my older pieces because the newer pieces I use in the kitchen. I have had them scattered around the house. I use them to hold plants and such. I was a bit surprised as I put it all in one spot. Maybe I need a ~~new to me~~ old prim shelf to put it all on.

Oh boy, the dust here is unbelievable. I love how refreshed everything feels when I move dust or wash and rearrange. Now if it just warms up a bit I'll be happy.

And to all a goodnight!

2011-12-25T21:49:00.000-05:00

After weeks of shopping, wrapping, baking and cooking as I cleaned the last of the dishes, put things away I felt a sense of peace. We had a wonderful Christmas, family, friends and food. The Grands are spending the night and laughter rings through the house. My wish is that everyone feels the same sense of contentment. Life is good!

~And so to all a goodnight~

Santa Claus has ARRIVED!

2011-12-24T14:40:00.000-05:00

The day before Christmas and look who arrived!!! He had been hiding out down the street! Now can you believe a neighbor, one I had not talked to, had him? Delivered to the wrong house, after the UPS driver, who I even know, assured me he remembered leaving him at my door! Now can you believe the neighbor had this large box and did not even call to let me know it was there? My hubs ran into her hubs at the end of the street, rolled down his window to wish him a Merry Christmas and the neighbor said, we have a package for you. His wife told him she tried to call, ( I checked my caller ID, she fibbed). Now my sweetie said to the neighbor, Donna called the police and filed a report and UPS and the store. It had been at their house since Wednesday. See I am not losing my mind, I saw the truck go by my house and not stop. This stay at home Mom, does nothing, not a lick in her yard and the house could use some paint, but not her. My goodness I wonder what she does do. My husband was so happy to come in and surprise me with the box. He said wow their house felt kinda sad, no Christmas caroles playing, no baking in the oven, not wreath on the door, like our home when he entered with a big smile and my package. The neighbor has a good job so it is not because they can't. I guess everyone does not celebrate the season like so many of us in blog land! :)

I would have had a great Christmas any way, but this makes it way better. My baking is done, deliveries are made, now to relax this evening with friends and enjoy our family on Christmas Day. So my fondest wish for you all is for you to have a............

Merry Christmas!!

To the grinch who stole my Christmas!

2011-12-22T21:42:00.000-05:00

I have been delivering gifts and baking away along with working too. Well. anyway back around the beginning of Dec. I saw this wonderful Santa on another blog. It was love at first sight and I knew right where he would go. He is an Arnetts Santa and they make different ones each year so if you love it you had better get it. Will it seemed like he was taking his sweet time getting here or maybe I was just so excited...it seemed like forever. I finally got notice he was due to arrive yesterday!! Wahoo I planned my day so I would be home when UPS came and I was. I kept checking my door, but no Santa did appear....I went online to see if the status had changed :( Oh no it said it was left at my door at 5:26!!! How could that be? He was not here!

So I called the Country store....they have no more, mine was his last. I could cry.

I talked to the UPS man and he said yes he put it on my step last night, not in my porch, on my step. Now you can't see the step from the street....how could this be? It was not there.

SO to you the nasy grinch who stole my Christmas...THANKS a bunch! Bet you were disappointed it was nothing electronic! Bet you don't even appreciate what it is.

Sorry for the rant, but I am so sad.....

You asked for it!

2011-12-09T10:11:00.000-05:00

A bit more of Christmas~

A few of my readers have asked for some outside pictures of my home at Christmas, so here goes. I decorate simply on the outside greens and ribbons with my white candle lights and a couple of spotlights with a lower watt spot light. I love the soft glow with out the bright white light, sigh.

Look at the moon over the house.

Most people enter through our porch.

A bit of daytime~

We have three onion lights along the drive and they each look like this. I need to put a little wreath around my crow's neck, one with a red bow.

Christmas is coming~

2011-12-07T11:51:00.001-05:00

Come on in, the fire is lit, the candles are scenting the air, Christmas caroles are playing and gingerbread men are in the oven. I would love to sit and visit.

The grands love to find candy and cookies in the jars.

Thanks for coming by, I would love to stay and chat longer, but cookies need to be baked, presents bought and wrapped and I still don't have my big tree up.....it is my last room to finish up.

So how is your shopping and decorating coming along?

A little bit of Christmas

2011-12-04T23:14:00.000-05:00

~Joy to the world, it is almost Christmas~

This is what greets you when you come into my kitchen....I love this snowman and would like a whole bunch of them. Some for my doorstep, some in my garden and more for the house. Ok so a girl can dream, right?

This little shelf is in the hall when you come down the stairs. I should prim it up, but years ago after a visit to Texas, my sister sent this for my birthday. I always think of her as I look at it and decorate it.

A little old book I thought you could read when you come to stay in my guest room. Befitting the season, don't you think?

Oops, I need to get rid of the straw hat, maybe a knit cap?

I got a new Santa the other day can you tell which one?

It was night by the time I took some pictures and there were too many shadows. I will take some more on Monday. So for now to all a good night!

A wonderful surprise

2011-11-29T22:51:00.000-05:00

Today when I got home from work, there was a package on my door step. I looked down to see the return address of a sweet lady who reads my blog. We have emailed back and forth a few times. She sent me some great recipes and pictures and then told me my front door was her wallpaper.....flattered I was for sure. I have admired her beautiful needlework.
So I opened the pretty card, frame worthy, for sure!

and then............in this pretty bag, LOOK!! Isn't this beautiful? It has 2011 stitched on the back too. I was just so touched, there are no words to describe how her kindness has touched me.

So a big Thank You Carole! Merry Christmas to you my friend.

Busy, busy.....

2011-11-27T18:23:00.000-05:00

Lots of yard cleanup was done here this weekend, pumpkins added to the compost bins, and fake pumpkins and gourds were stored. I know I have way too many decorations and need to release some to a better home. I have been dragging out Christmas and know I need to purge here too.

I have a twig tree that goes in the dining room and I used to have lights that were green and red. I found them years ago in a shop that is no longer in business. The green and red looked so nice in my white light world. It was just the right touch. I have looked everywhere and even online...to no avail. Well, today I was in the attic and I found a basket of things I brought home from my Mom's home eight yrs ago. I had bought her the same tree and lights and she had switched to the white. The tree was sent off to her sister after Mom left us. I had not given it much thought.....until I found one single set of red and green lights, just what I need<3 Thank you Mom! I do know you are my angel and always with me. I think I will pack up some of her things and send them to my son, her first grandchild.

So my little twig tree is not quite done, but I will post it later this week.

While turkey soup simmers on the stove and the fresh bread cools I will continue to decorate. Hubby is watching the Patriots and by the sound of it, life is good.

~Happy Thanksgiving~

2011-11-23T13:59:00.000-05:00

I want to wish each and every one of my Blogger friends a Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so grateful that my son is home from Afghanistan, safe and sound this year...we missed him last year.

I am grateful for my wonderful children and grandchildren.

I am grateful for being married to my best friend for close to 39 years.

I am grateful for my sister who lives 2000 miles away, but remains close in my thoughts and heart.

I am grateful for my sweet pets.

I am grateful for my home.

I guess that is summed up to say I am grateful for my family.

I am grateful that we will all be together at some point on Thanksgiving.

So with that I wish you all the happiness you deserve and hope you have a truly wonderful Thanksgiving.

~Autumn Visit~

2011-11-08T15:44:00.000-05:00

Look Mom!

Here comes Auntie!

This is to you Margie! My ~~only~~ best sister lives in Texas and loves to come home in the Autumn. Due to work she had to come home a few weeks early. It was a quick visit~and don't you know it rained the whole time she was here. We took an overnight trip to Maine and the time just flew by. Not one picture of the two of us was taken, but a some of us as couples.

In front of Kendall Tavern Inn where we stayed. This is my sister and her sweetie.

Freeport, Maine, Ken and I

Lands End, Bailey Island Maine

Come on in....the front yard has a red-orange glow from the oaks, these are photos taken today and I wish my sister was here to see the beautiful color. My little potting shed tucked in for the winter. Margie, see Dale's tree...

The reds and orange pop against the green of the hemlock trees.
So Margie I raise my cup of warm spiced cider to you and wish you were here to sit down back in the chairs and enjoy it with me.

Margie, I know you remember when none of this was here, just trees. There are so many memories for us all. Family makes it all special! I am glad you came home and shared your new joy with us, most of all I am glad you are my sister!

It is still Autumn.

2011-11-07T16:18:00.000-05:00

Ok, so the windows are washed and sparkling in the sunshine. I have cleaned the glass on the onion post lights and all the porch windows along with the house windows. All the oaks in the front yard are casting a wonderful warm red glow. They are the last to turn color...it starts with the maples and birch in the back that turn yellow. The red of the oaks will turn brown after the red. There is a sweet smell of Autumn in the air. Wood is stacked and gardens are almost all cut back.

As I look at the blogs I see Christmas everywhere. I want to think about Thanksgiving first. A bit more Autumn...although I did pick up some Christmas gift bags and have got my list together. I am just not ready for decorating for Christmas yet.

My kittys are staying in more with the nip to the air. I like them around the house. ~In the summer they are about in the gardens and when I go out to work they will pounce and run.

There will be snow and ice before we know it and the scent of pine will be in the air.

Let's just savor these last fall days while we have them.

I'll let you in on a secret...

2011-11-01T20:12:00.000-04:00

Today is November 1st. I am so happy to say all my Halloween decorations are packed away. I love when there is just Harvest decorations, right up until Thanksgiving. This morning before work I grabbed a couple of plastic tubs and went from room to room picking out the Halloween stuff and putting it away. I put all jack o lanterns and witches and ghosts into the attic. They joined the many items I never brought out this year.

My little secret is that my oldest child loves, loves, loves Halloween. It has always been his favorite holiday. He came over last night and greeted Trick or Treaters in his Frankenstein costume. He used to decorate like crazy. fog machine , scary stuff, you name it. Well he decorated his house this year, but he dosen't get enough kids, so he came here. There were a few disappointed kiddo's that the porch wasn't all done up. I was quite content. I enjoy it a bit pared down. the other half of the secret is I could live with out Halloween. I just don't remember it being a big deal when I was a kid...it seems to have grown into a big holiday. Am I just getting old? Maybe.

So here are a few photos of my "Just Harvest"

Snow, snow, go away!

2011-10-30T17:05:00.000-04:00

I am sorry but, this is just too early for snow. Thanksgiving maybe, but not before Halloween!!!! I won't bore you with pictures of the snow, making my tall grasses lay down. Or that everything that was still blooming is now gone! So time to clean up and get ready.....for dare I say it winter :(

So what do I do when there is snow outside? I bake :)

Today I made a Apple and pear Crostata....yum. First I make my dough and put it in to chill for a few hours.

Then I slice the apples and pears and mix with brown sugar and spices.

After assembled, you bake it for 25 to 30 min. It really is that simple.

DONE!!!

Do you wonder what cookbooks others might have?

2011-10-26T01:23:00.001-04:00

Do you ever think about that? I love to read about books other bloggers read, not just cookbooks, decorating, DIY books and most any book. I do believe cookbooks are the most interesting to me. I thought I would share a few that I like best. When we redid our kitchen a few years back I had this small area just at the entry to the pantry that I had shelves put in for my most used cookbooks.

I see a couple of our seasonal reads were stuffed in there, Scary stories and Witches of Plymouth County...great October reads along with my Susan Branch "Autumn". Just a little something to get us in a fall state of mind. I just did home made marshmallows from the Susan Branch book. Yum, they came out great.

Look at this old cookbook I found in an old cookbook store. I loved that it looked handwritten. I have never made anything from it, but love the look of it.

The Barefoot Contessa is a personal favorite. I use her books all the time. I love to watch her on the food network. I have posted about her here.

My old Good Housekeeping cookbook was my first. I got it when I got married...so it is 39 yrs. old. It is my go to book. It is used and abused. I have a brown paper cover on it and the binding is coming apart, but it has many of my favorite recipes.I learned so much from this book. My Mom was not much of a cook and what I knew came from my Home Economics class at school. So I opened a book. I learned to cook. The internet has made it so different now. Not to mention cooking shows. I find my self still going back to my books. There is so much more in them the just recipes.
So tell me do you like cookbooks? Do you snuggle up on a cool fall day with a cup of hot cider and read a new or old cookbook? Look for something new to make?

Fall Door Decor

2011-09-29T15:39:00.000-04:00

I am going to join Rhoda@ Southern Hospitality in her Fall Door Decor.

~Simple and sweet~

It is hot and humid here and I need a cool, dry and crisp day to be in the mood. Everything is wet.

~Tuesday Display Chain~

2011-09-28T09:48:00.001-04:00

~Framed in~
What does that mean to you? I have pondered this one and wanted to come up with something clever and different, but my mind seems to be blank! These are the pictures that came to mind right away. My personal favorites.

My Mom bought this just before she passed away. It hangs above my desk and I think of her every time I look at it. We had gone off shopping for the day, a beautiful Fall day. I have a wonderful memory of her and the day...one of our last together.

This is my bookshelf and all but one of these parents resides in heaven.

My father in law took this picture of my hubs when he was a young boy. I just love it!

This is a sampler I made years ago when I first started Real Estate....I loved the house theme. This is still a sampler I like, mistakes and all.

I am joining Misi over at 1890 Gable House Musings for her Tuesday Display Chain. Thanks Misi for hosting the party.

Tuesday's Display Chain

2011-09-19T20:19:00.000-04:00

These pumpkins I made from a pattern I got from the Homestead Barn. I made tons last year. Aren't they great? This is my peg rack in my little guest room. I just cut the bittersweet and it has not opened yet. It is earlier then I usually cut it.

My little black pumpkin.

Some little pumpkins and gourds I grew.

My witch with with her spells and such book.

This is on my porch and more kid friendly, for the grands....

So as you can tell I am joining Misi over at 1890 Gable House Musings for her Tuesday Display Chain. Jump on over and check it out....join the fun.

My Potting Shed

2011-09-09T22:20:00.000-04:00

This is my place to pot up plants, start plants and store my tools and garden stuff. This little 10x16 post and beam shed was built in 2004 in early November and I had to wait until spring to really decorate it. At that time we did not need to keep the lawnmower and tractor in there and it was so much better, but I love it just the same.

After it was built my hubs added the outside light and a light inside so I can go out at night without the aid of a flashlight. The electric outlet lets me put candles in the windows at Christmas time too.

This cabinet I found in the basement of an old brick building my husbands family owned. They said it used to be a bakery and everyone thought I was crazy when I brought it home 25 yrs ago. Why did I want that crappy piece? I put it in the garage and held on to it. I knew I would find the perfect home someday! I think it was made for this spot. I love to work on it and look out the old window my son installed a few years later.
The window I too brought home when a friend had new windows installed in her 1900's era home. I put a stack of them in my car, how I wish I had taken more. I still have some in the shed waiting for me to put them to good use.

The other day it was raining and I love to go out in the garden and work in the shed. I cut some hydrangeas and used a straw base and some u pins and made this wreath. I can do many more when I cut the Limelight hydrangea bush. It is best to work with the green stems and let them dry on the base. They are too brittle otherwise.

My cans for the birdseed and the mower and tractor, necessary evils......

Mums that need to go to the potting bench, because I like them in clay pots.

Doesn't this look better?

My stone step that hubs had put there for me.....much nicer then the wood ramp the builder left us with.

I can feel Fall in the air, we have the solar cover on the pool so it will be warm for the Grands on the weekend. Then we can have pumpkin bread and cider and swim too! My potting shed will see less and less of me as it gets colder and the mice scurry in, yuk. My kittys better get to work, but I think they are too well fed to hunt like they should. Snow will come and we will go in there to get bird seed for the feeders and to decorate for Christmas, but then Spring will come again and there will be a flurry of activity. I put plants in there when it is too cold to be outside and I putter in there when spring rains would keep me in. I just love my little potting shed!

I have new window boxes that I am still painting and will get some more fall decorating done as it gets cooler.

So do you have a place you can go to do your messy chores?

Savoring Summer

2011-09-06T13:20:00.001-04:00

Today it is much cooler here and rained through the night with showers on and off through the day. I went out to the garden between showers and gathered some more tomatoes, so many tomatoes, lots of tomatoes! I will put some of them up this afternoon. I also gathered some herbs. I love how they flavor the food and will miss them when winter is upon us. Well, for now I am going to make some herb vinegars and some pesto ice cubes.
The herb vinegars are just basil, oregano, thyme and a garlic clove and the second one is opal basil with lemon verbena. Place in a jar with white or rice vinegar and let seep for a month or so. Strain and bottle up. Great for salad dressings or to deglaze a pan.
I will cook up some stewed tomatoes this afternoon and can them in a water bath. Love them in the winter months.
I want to plant some mesclun and some radishes for a fall crop, maybe some spinich too. My artichokes plants have a couple of artichokes on them. This was the first time I have grown them. I started the seeds in the house and moved the plants outside. They are such an interesting looking plant.

I am enjoying watching something new growing. This cool rainy day is just the kind of day I love to putter in my Potting Shed, but it is a big mess right now. I dumped stuff in there when hurricane Irene was coming and I really need to get in there and clean up and make room so I can dry my herbs and the sweet annie I grew this year. I made a hydrangea wreath in there last week and it is just a cozy spot on a day like today. Next week I will do a post on it. My son just made me new window boxes for the potting shed and I need to get them painted and then I can start to decorate for fall.
I am off to try and get something done you see I have just gotten word that I have a special visitor coming in October. I want to get my guest room cleaned and ready. Get my Fall on......

P.S. I changed the settings on my comments and hope it is easier for you to leave comments, so please try and let me know if it is better or you have any suggestions. I love each and every comment I get.

A gaggle of crows flew in~

2011-08-25T16:32:00.000-04:00

I was washing up some dishes and look what flew in.....it was more like, look what I made while watching TV. I have a few crows around the house and thought I would try my hand a making a few. I started on some pumpkins and moved to crows.

I think I need to go get some supplies before the big storm hits the east coast!

I am so lonely~

2011-08-19T15:31:00.001-04:00

This message comes from my reading nook, you see I have not sat there as much as I might like~
My favorite chair in the corner between two windows with the most delightful view of my gardens and bird feeders. It is wonderful in summer and beautiful when there is snow covering everything. Spring and fall when the windows are wide open is the best!

This is the view when I am sitting in my chair. I get distracted from reading as butterflies and hummingbirds flit by.

My beloved Kindle sits waiting for me along with my magazines and such. I just love curling up with a cup of coffee or cider and getting lost in a good story.

When I look this way I can see out the back windows and see the bird feeders and the birds all around.

This is one of my favorite spots, but of late I have been out in the garden or lounging in other spots.

Like here.

Or here watching the grands! Life is good!

Do you have a favorite spot? Tell me about it.

Summer's bounty

2011-08-12T10:31:00.000-04:00

The gardens are full of summer fruit. The old peach tree had lots of peaches this year, great for eating and I made a wonderful peach pie which I forgot to take a photo of. It only lasted a day. We have had hard rains for a couple of days, at first I was so happy to see the rain, but then it just came heavy and fast and just beat my plants down. Not such a pretty site. My work has gotten busy and I have not had the time I want to go out and putter away.

Finishing up and tweaking~

2011-08-03T08:23:00.000-04:00

I have taken the tall skinny cabinet off my porch and replaced it with this. I went looking for a cabinet to put in the upstairs hall. We had central A/C put in our home about a month back and I lost about a third of my already small linen closet. It feels like it is half gone and I had purged may items from the closet as I emptied it...where did all this stuff come from? You know I might need these sheets or how many extra pillowcases do I need? Not to mention those cute bundles of facecloths from Homegoods.......I have way too many facecloths. Some towels left the building and some sheets, but I need to purge a bit more. Anyway the cabinet from the porch traveled upstairs and I bought this new one. I love the red color and it almost matches the color I just painted the doors on the porch.

Now the doors on the porch match the front door I painted last year. See I am trying to finish some projects I started before and never got back to.

Here is where the tall cabinet landed and while I was up there I finished the stencil that I had not finished from the hallway project started in January. This cabinet holds all our cleaners and extra stuff I had no room for in the smaller linen closet. It is just right.

Here is the finished hallway. To see the before click Here and here.

This is where the cabinet started out, before I replace it Here.

I am so in love with this new piece. It is a perfect fit and the height makes viewing my treasures so much easier.

Thanks for joining me on my porch. This is one of my favorite places to be this time of year. So come on by anytime and sit on my porch and have a cupa!

In the garden

2011-07-26T15:09:00.000-04:00

Come walk in the garden with me. After many hot, hot days, my garden has had a sprinkle and seems to be saying Ahhhhh. Let me show you what is in bloom now.

The hydrangeas are in bloom and the color is vibrant. I add coffee grounds around the base all the time and they love this! If you want a deep purple blue give it a try.

I don't know the name of this hosta, I bought it from a local nursery and it was unmarked, but I love the white edge and it provides a bright spot in a shady area.

This peach tree grew from our old compost pile years ago and it has some delish peaches. Now I have been reading up on peaches so I am going to cut back some stuff around the tree and try to get more sunshine in there and possibly feed it too. It looks like this all on its own.

The rhubarb is something I am growing this year and I have already made strawberry rhubarb jam and I want to make up hypertufa and use the leaves as molds. I did one last year and I love the look of it.

My little raised bed with mints, lettuces, basil and Swiss chard and small strawberries.

We have sweet basil, lime basil and cinnamon basil.

Some rosemary and camomile, dill and sage.

This is crocosmia at the back of my herb bed and there are some peonies and false indigo. Along with some tansy and anise hyssop.

Now on Sunday this sweet bear was delivered by Lana and Dave of Winterberry Prims. Their beautiful home is featured in the new issue of A Primitive Place and Country Journal due out on Aug 1st. Lana makes collectiables for APP and this bear is holding the issue my home is featured in, so it is special to me. Let me just say pictures do not do these creations justice. He is beautifly made and just so exqusite. I love him to pieces. Thanks Lana!

Featured in our local newspaper!

2011-07-23T18:53:00.000-04:00

Let me share this link with you all. This was done because our gardens were featured in A Primitive Place and now this: The South Coast Today Check it out!

Happiness is.......

2011-07-10T19:52:00.000-04:00

OK, we were painting and weeding and trimming shrubs. Ken was adding ventilation in the eaves, before they come to do the central A/C......it was getting hotter and hotter, then our son, daughter and three of the four grandchildren arrived! Wahoooooo, we all hit the pool. What a great way to spend our Sunday afternoon!

Summer Days

2011-07-07T11:20:00.000-04:00

I have been trying to get out in the garden early on the hot summer days. The hosta garden is doing well. I love the view of it from my kitchen window and there is really no work to it now that it is established.

My small bed of sweet annie....I put it here so I could leave some plants to go to seed in the fall and not disturb it. I am hoping that I will have more next year.

Enjoy Summer!

Next week I have to go into Boston for Federal Grand Jury duty. One I hate going into the city myself, two if I take time off I would love a vacation not jury duty....I seem to get called every three years, like clockwork. No cell phones allowed in court so I will need to leave my cell at home, no electronic devices, does that mean my kindle? We are having central air put in and they start on Monday....I won't be home, oh yuk! I have closets to empty...can you spell anxiety? I will have to leave home about 6:30 AM. So if you don't hear from me you all will know where I am.

Do houses die?

2011-06-29T21:02:00.000-04:00

Tell me what you think. I was out looking with a client last summer and we found this old house, you see my friend owns a primitive shop and was looking for a possible location for a new shop. Now this property pulled us both in. There was this statley hip roof colonial sitting in this hayfield with old fashioned peonies blooming away at the side of the driveway, or what used to be the driveway. I just love old houses and would love it if they could talk. This one had be worked on years ago and sadly lots of the original stuff was gone, gone, gone.

This barn was still there! Doesn't it look charming. I don't know how safe, but charming. It has been empty for some time. The house still sits empty....do you think houses die?

The cocktail party before....

2011-06-27T20:59:00.000-04:00

My Hubby's 40th Class reunion.......was a time to remember for sure. One of my husbands classmates invited the class to his home for a quick cocktail party before the reunion. so we left from home on a beautiful Summer Saturday.

We took the back country roads and got to go here......

You know one of those secret places that say for residents ONLY! Beautiful lighted stone entry....

Sweeping private driveways that lead to breathtaking homes right on the ocean.

The stunning view from the backyard. The guests gathered and catching up was done, but all were taken in by the view.

The home was beyond compare, like nothing I have ever seen in real life. It looked like the home from Somethings Gotta Give. What I saw of the interior was stunning, but I did not feel comfortable asking if I could take pictures. It is a private home.....weekends and summer only! The owners were wonderful hosts and just nice people. I thought we were so lucky to be there.

This was a picture of the class....an all boys school in 1971, but now has girls too.

It was a wonderful summer evening spent in great company in a setting more beautiful than one could imagine.

We came home to our humble Country Nest, took off our shoes and snuggled in.

Happy Flag Day!

2011-06-14T10:26:00.001-04:00

I have been a bit busy, still working in my garden and now we are having rainy cloudy weather here....great for the seedlings. I love that from Memorial Day on I can have my red white and blue out. It is such a patriotic time of year.

Last weekend there was an historic home tour in our town. We got to view five beautiful homes. One of which I wanted to buy about ten years ago....that is another whole story. My home is 38yrs old. No longer new, but not an antique. I would so love to own an antique home. Hey a girl can dream!

So as the gentle mists bath my gardens in the sweet rainwater and I watch them grow each day, I wish each and everyone a happy flag day. Please fly your flag proudly!

Donna

New treasures~

2011-06-09T12:36:00.001-04:00

I spent the day off shopping with a friend and found some new treasures, like this little blue bottle that matches the canning jars I have. It was nice to take a day away from work, garden and family. Just a day to relax. Sometimes with my job being what it is I never get away from it. Then there have been some family issues that I was happy to leave behind......and to find some pretty new things was just plain fun!

Two little brown crocks, great for all the summer flowers I cut. I also found a couple of picinic baskets to add to the little one I found a while back. Don't they look cute all in a stack?

Happy Memorial Day

2011-05-30T10:36:00.001-04:00

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Visit my garden in A Primitive Place

2011-05-01T20:16:00.000-04:00

I received my issue last week and I am so happy with the pictures and article Along the Garden Path. Then my Potting Shed and porch were featured too. I am a lucky girl!

From this point on I would like to share a few pictures I took myself. Some on my personal favs. It was such a hot hot day. The ladies arrived and promptly started snapping away. I had take a few photos before they arrived. So here they are. Well, some of them. I did take tons!

Here they are in my kitchen snapping away......

Thank you all so much, it is such an honor.....

Tuesday Display Chain~My Favorite Wall

2011-04-19T11:33:00.000-04:00

Right now this is my favorite wall....The cabinet is a newer find as you know from previous posts. This is the wall you see when you enter my backdoor. It is the wall you see when we sit down for dinner
I am joining Misi at 1890 Gable house Musings for her Tuesday Chain. Thanks for hosting this Misi....it gets the ideas flowing! Join the fun!

Spring at my back door

2011-04-16T10:11:00.001-04:00

I was out shopping yesterday and I saw these sweet Ranunculus. I couldn't resist......
I wanted a bit of color at the backdoor to greet my visitors. It is cold here today and I am so anxious for spring weather~60 degrees please! Not 30 degrees. So yes, I am dreaming of Spring.

Easter Dispays for Tuesday Display chain

2011-04-12T12:56:00.001-04:00

I am joining Misi over at 1890 Gable House Musings and so here are a few of my favorite Easter things.

So came and join the fun!

~Welcome Spring and a little shopping~

2011-04-10T20:05:00.001-04:00

It was a beautiful sunny day and we went for a ride to Jackie's Primitives. I found a few new goodies to perk up my spring decorating. The little old box with a tiny pot of yellow flowers and the prim bunny.

A big fat honeysuckle wreath. This will be move to either my door or .........who knows? I also got a tray of pansies and filled my window boxes. A pot of pansies at the backdoor. It is still too cold here for much else.

I always am on the lookout for more crocks and jugs. This will be great with all kinds of flowers.

A new little rosemary plant which will make its way outside in a month or so. I love fresh herbs.

Love this bunny!!!

And a small yellow bowl for a perfect ending.
~Welcome Spring~

A Primitive Place

2011-04-05T18:27:00.000-04:00

Sneak peak of the new issue of A Primitive Place. Please check it out they are featuring my gardens!

I am so so excited. Linda from Behind My Red Door took the photos and they look wonderful.

Thanks Linda, Kristine, Dan and the whole APP gang!!

Much better!

2011-04-03T13:28:00.000-04:00

Look what my son made me for my birthday. A sweet box to cover my toaster. I showed him a picture a while back..... Now he made one for my standmixer too. He brought them to me unfinished. He knew I would do what I did to them and his words were "I leave that part to you Mom".

Now I am not sure what color I want the mixer box, but knew this is how I wanted the toaser box to look.

What a great gift!

So see the before below:

I love it!

~There is a new blog in town~

2011-03-26T06:59:00.001-04:00

Listen up my friends there is a new blog in blogland. She is just starting out, learning how to navigate. You know how hard it can be. My friend Barbara runs her primitive shop full time and is trying to do a blog too. The shop is always busy.... I went by to help a little and I am no expert by far and the phone kept ringing with orders and prim gals kept walking through the door. So come and take a look at The Gingham Goose. I have mentioned the shop on my blog before and the girls from A Primitive Place were there a couple weeks back. To see the post from that visit click HERE.

I borrowed these beautiful pictures from Margo who has a great post on the Gingham Goose on her blog
Circa 1892 *Homestead Primitives She takes great pictures and I would not want not to give credit where credit is due. I met Margo at Barb's shop and she is just one of the sweetest people!
So go on over and welcome Barbara to blog land!

Recently Aquired~Tues Display Theme

2011-03-22T07:03:00.000-04:00

I am joining Misi over at 1890 Gablehouse Musings for her Tuesday Display Theme. A couple weeks back I got a new cabinet and these are a few new things I got to fill it. This handmade bunny just stole my heart.

The I found this yelloware bowl and it is perfect for here.

Two small pewter plates can always be of use and now I am on the search for more.

Then last but not least I found this little picnic basket. I knew I had to have it the minute I saw it. I think I will fill it with sweet annie or something else wonderful, right now I just love it as is.

This is my cabinet I found at the Gingham Goose, you can see it in more detail HERE. This is the reason I bought my new little treasures. It is hanging in my dining room and I just love looking at it and the contents.

I love Misi's Tuesday Display Theme, hop on over and join the fun~

The brass tag says 1887~ Baskets

2011-03-15T16:55:00.000-04:00

This basket covered jug is a fav of mine. The tag says California Brandy 1887 and when we got the jug there was brandy in it....original or not who knows? The jug came from my hubby's great uncle's home and he was 92 at the time that was about 36 yrs ago. The cork in the top dried out and I was not to sure about the contents so I emptied it out. Most likely a mistake, but too late now.

Some baskets I made on the shelf in my pantry.

I made this one and the little door knob basket too. I don't know if I even remember how, but maybe I should get back at basket making.....

The basket I got a couple of weeks ago. It now holds extra throws under the coffee table in the living room.

So I am joining Misty over at 1890 Gable House Musings for her Tuesday Chain. So come on and join the fun. Who does not love baskets?

Donna

I am in love~

2011-03-14T10:50:00.002-04:00

On Saturday I went out to the Gingham Goose for the magazine signing with the girls from A Primitive Place. I got to meet Linda, Audrey and Margo. Of course you all know Linda is a dear friend from RMS days. I do go to the Gingham Goose on a regular basis. I would say don't tell my hubby, but he knows. I have been looking at this wall cabinet for ~~weeks~~ months now. I wasn't sure where to put it. Linda to the rescue. This is the exact spot she suggested.

I love it! I have been tweaking it all morning. Every time I took a picture I thought of something to change.

This little scale was found in a loft in my hubby's family store.

I love the detail of this piece.

Same thing....this bottle was found in the old building and it is from a local bottling company that is long gone. My Uncles used to run the local gas station, the only one in town....They used to have an old soda machine and I would get my cold drinks from it. I was so impressed with it because my uncle never let me spend my nickel, I could get it for free, just open the door and take it out.

So what do you think? Do you like it too? I am really in love......and my sweet hubby got to work on hanging it when I came home with it. No easy task because I want to be able to put heavy stuff and not worry. Just as he finished our son and grand daughter came in for dinner. Perfect ending to a perfect day!

a few new things

2011-03-07T11:07:00.000-05:00

I went shopping yesterday and I picked up a few new things. This crock I love, love, love! A new rolling pin, some pink plates and a great basket.

Now I wait~

2011-03-01T16:02:00.000-05:00

It all started when I painted the woodwork in this room and then the upper hallway was the last of the dark stained trim~I am happy to report there is no more dark wood to be found here!

The guest room at the top of the stairs.

The priming and sanding are done. I am waiting for the carpenter to come to put up the crown moldings and to adjust all the doors. I don't want to put the finish color on the walls until he is done. I will still need to get all the paper off the foyer and stairwell before he comes to do the wainscoting and crown down there. So this is when I stand now.

So now my list for the upper hall is :
1.Have Crown moldings installed
2.Have doors adjusted
3.Paint walls crown point sand
4. Stencil
5. Start on stairwell and foyer!

I am getting there~

2011-02-26T22:00:00.000-05:00

Everything is all primed and ready for the finish coat, you know the fun part!

These little gems have been my new best friends. Vinegar to wash the walls, a scrubbie to you know, scrub. Then the scraper to pull all the left over paste off. There was more there then one would think. My arms and hands were so tired.

I started to paint the doors. It will take awhile and I am slowing down a bit. I love the color. It is Benjamin Moore, Northampton putty and the walls will be crown point sand. Much better than dark walnut stain!

So I needed a little break so I went for a drive to the Gingham Goose ( check out her website) and picked up some new reading material and some new scents. There were some new goods from Family Heirloom Weavers. I had a nice visit with Barbara. The shop was busy and things were flying out the door faster than she could unpack them. Don't forget the girls from A Primitive Place will be there in March. I needed a break from painting. My hand aches and needs a rest.

Hallway project continues~

2011-02-11T12:57:00.001-05:00

Soak, scrape, clean, soak, scrape, clean, soak, scrape, clean. Next will be patching all the spots I have dug up on the walls, the sand and prime all the walls. You see 38 years ago when we first moved in. Money was so tight. We had just built our home, we were so young and I did not have a clue. A local store was having a paint sale and the hall was still white primer.....just like the rest of the house and it was in need of paint. Well I picked a beige ~~safe~~ color and it was on sale. We worked all weekend and we painted the walls. That was fine for a while, but as time passed we could afford to wallpaper and I found a paper that I loved.......so we wallpapered. It looked so nice, I loved the paper! About six months later we noticed that it was lifting at the seams so hubs repasted the seams and all looks good. Soon the paper is lifting and more than at the seams. I go to the paint store and tell them what is happening. They come out to look. Oh gosh! It is the ~~cheap~~ sale paint lifting right off the walls and sticking to the paper, but then the paper can't stick to the walls. Ok, we decide to bite the bullet....22 double rolls of paper. We sand and size the walls, after the paper came off which was easy, just pulled right off. We re papered the hall. Hubby said something like, you had better love this paper because I never want to re do this hall again! Well that was 1989!! Can you believe it? I really did love the paper. Now for the last 5 or so years I have been knowing it needs to be done, but oh it is a big job and we are 22 years older. After the girls from APP were here I really knew I needed to do this. I started to look, the Loretta from Under the Wild Cherry Trees had a paper I fell in love with. It was time. I showed hubby and he really liked the paper too. We have been talking about doing wainscoting in the downstairs front foyer and it is time. Then I find out the wall paper is discontinued, bu I know I need to get this done. The upstairs and downstairs were companion papers before and want to paint and stencil the upstairs this time and wallpaper down. I am now having second thought for how much work this wallpaper is. The woman is the paint and wallpaper store has told me that the new papers are not that had to remove. She said not to be discouraged. So I picked up the primer for the walls. Benjamin Moore Fresh Start. The Kiltz for the woodwork. Lots of sandpaper. Then I went to Village Stencils and picked out a stencil for the upstairs border. Now this is not the colors I will be using, but how it is on the package:

It is called Traditional Oak Leaf. Now the stencil place has lots of Primitive and Traditional stencils and has been there for years. It is located on Rt 138 in Raynham, MA. This is a great shop, but imagine my surprise that they are having a half price sale and the building is for sale and they are closing. My $25.00 stencil was $12.50. The have hundreds of stencils, anything and everything. She will be on sale until everything runs out. Look it up here http://www.villagestencils.com/

See the ugly paint, it is the same color as the background of the wallpaper. Let's just say my new paper/paint will not be beige.

So wish me luck, there is so much to still do. We need to decide just what we want the wainscoting to look like and get someone lined up to do that, also I can't pick out my paint color for upstairs until I have my supplies for downstairs and oh darn, I need to work days too. It really messes with the time I would like to spend looking for what I want to finish the hallway.

Say Goodbye beige!
Stay tuned for further developments in my hallway project and just let me say I can't wait until it is all done!

Wallpaper removal

2011-02-08T17:04:00.002-05:00

I have shared with you all that I am removing the wallpaper in my front foyer, hall and upstairs hall. Last time it took 20 double rolls of wallpaper. I have just seemed to breeze through the hall or maybe ignored it for so long because it is such a big job. There are ten doors to be painted, the stair risers, banister and all the trim. We want to have wainscoting put up and then re wallpaper, or maybe paint and stencil the upper hall. Well, last week I started to remove the wallpaper. It was coming of in tiny pieces, I think my husband used super glue. It has been there way too long and I swear it has bonded to the walls. I used Lestoil and warm water, my favorite removal formula, but not this time. I tried fabric softener and water, not so good either. I could just cry....two hours and I got about 2 sq. ft done. Gouged the wall, my hands ache. I what have I started?
While watching HGTV I saw them using these strips of cloth and the wallpaper came right off, of course it was TV. Now I think I have bought every product that the paint store has and none of it worked. So what is one more product? I went online and found what they had used, it is called Simple Strip and has a money back guarantee. What have I got to lose? I ordered on Monday, it was here on Friday morning.

This is what came. I got it from here. IT WORKED!!!! I got much larger pieces off not whole sheets like TV, but managable pieces. Not only that I got help, hubby and grandson were intrigued by the product and they dug in and helped. Now upstairs hall is about half done and it will be a long project. It may be done by the time all this #*! snow melts.

What do you do when winter sets in?

2011-01-28T20:52:00.000-05:00

Ok, here is the North East we have had snow, snow and more snow......6 majors storms in 30 days! Yuk!
Now it is pretty to look at, but it is icy and messy and I would love to just stay home if at all possible.

Come on in for a cup of Ginger tea or hot chocolate? Don't slip the walk gets icy and I keep putting driveway heat on it, but it melts and freezes again.

My sweetie warming her toes after sledding. I love to keep the fire going all day when I can stay home. I can't tell you the countless times the kids have snuggled up in this very spot along with the cats and dogs.

Can you remember THIS shot from before? I always dream of summer and look at my garden pictures to make plans for next year.

This is my upstairs hall....you see my upstairs is in a time warp....black walnut stain on the woodwork. This is my project this year while winter is nipping at my door. Most of my woodwork has been painted and all I have left is the guest room and the hall. The hall has six, count them six doors to sand, kiltz and paint. So I started with the guest room. We had wallpapered a few years ago and then our son needed to come home for a bit and I never got around to painting the trim with all his stuff in the room. When the girls from APP magazine came to shoot some pictures last summer, I would not let them upstairs to see my dated stuff. This may be what has gotten me to do something about it. The hall paper needs to be taken down and I want wainscoting installed then new paper and paint.

So I started and this was a work in progress. I hate the prep, but it is so important.

So now the trim is done I can shop for new bedding and some other things for the room. I hope my sister comes home for a visit soon and enjoys the room. It has the best view of the gardens and pool.

So now I can start in the hall. So now tell me what do you do when winter sets in?

January 2011

2011-01-03T17:24:00.000-05:00

What is it about the New Year? I feel refreshed and ready to tidy everything up. Clean closets, floors, fresh paint, shiny windows and file all of last years folders from work. My Christmas is all done and packed away until next year...I have a system. Thank goodness for Rubbermaid! The door on my Christmas closet is closed with Christmas neatly packed behind the door. Phew.

My snowmen grace our home and will stay until I start Spring. Hey, I need something seasonal. My candles are lit and the fireplace on days when I can work from home. The sun is shining in and it feels like Winter here.

My son Ben is settled into his new place and at the same time our daughter moved to a new place in South Boston. Big changes around here. Having both children close by is such a comfort. Sunday dinners may be possible again. Everyone has been so scattered the last few years. This feels so wonderful. I want to start the New Year being happy about all my blessings of which there are many.

Lots of blogs are talking about their word for the year and I know I want mine to be BALANCE
This is what I need so much, balance of work, home and family. So with this in mind I will march forward into 2011 seeking balance in my life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

to all my Blogger friends, may you all be blessed with happiness, health, and prosperity in 2011.

~The week that flew~

2010-12-29T15:33:00.000-05:00

As much as I enjoy bringing out my Christmas, I enjoy putting it away and bringing out my old favorite snowmen. So let me take you back through the week that flew. These are my snowmen, I think they are made of paperclay. I bought them years ago and they just get better with age.

Now as I start to put away and clean up I feel refreshed, love that feeling. The day after Christmas I cleaned our my closet and have six bags for Goodwill. I like how organized it all looks.

And it snowed!

And it stuck.....

My best gift was my son being home to celebrate the holiday with us and knowing he is here to stay just put a happy glow on everything.

I am just sitting down to catch up with the blogs. Now do tell how do you all find the time to post? Between work, Christmas, family, baking, parties, I just can't seem to find the time to even take pictures, let alone sit down and write a post?

All the grandchildren and children were here for Christmas. Presents were opened, food was eaten, the kids went out sledding and came in cold and wet, sat by the fire to warm up as the jackets and pants tumbled in the dryer. Hot chocolate was sipped, dessert was eaten. There were rosy cheeks and many smiles, giggles, teasing, wet floors, wet mittens and an all round good time was had by all. And after everyone left I sat down by the same fire and had a Gingerbread Martini with a content smile on my face.

Someone loved his new toy. Not to mention the wrapping it came in.

and the stockings are hung by the chimney with care.....

2010-12-23T20:15:00.000-05:00

It is almost Christmas Eve!

I am in the kitchen baking, but everything else is done! Oh darn I need to clean .....

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight~

Christmas comes early!

2010-12-16T12:05:00.000-05:00

Happy days at the Country Nest!!!!
Our Son is home from Afghanistan. This is the very BEST Christmas present we could receive. We picked him up this morning and it is truly a HaPpY DaY here!!!!

Holiday Open House

2010-12-06T20:55:00.000-05:00

On Sunday evening a couple of my friends invited me to join them. On of my friends has a shop A Primitive Dwelling and the other is a true artist...she has a company called Awe-Shucks. Isn't that a cute name? Her name is Carolyn and she can do anything and she does it all so well. Cook, oh my gosh can this lady cook. She had a gingerbread house cake, bread pudding, sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, pumpkin bread, eclair cake, delish brownies and many other goodies! Then there were the handcrafts. One woman did stunning pottery. My friend Maggie set up a mini shop....and Carolyn had Santas, wooden & beeswax. Floral arrangements, beautiful stockings, cobweb boppers made out of her sheep's wool. Beautiful chairs made from laurel wood, each unique. Gingerbread men......visions dancing through my head. It was all set in the Prince Burgess House Circa 1683. And there were house tours. From the sheep to the greenhouse to the kitchen with the big soapstone cart. Well let my pictures speak for themselves.

So tell me what do you think? Beautiful or what?

My Merry Band of Snowomen

2010-12-03T17:34:00.000-05:00

I saw a cute snow annie in Prims magazine and I could not help my self......I got carried away. Each one comes out a bit different. I have used muslin, flannel, batting and chenille. Each has a burlap pocket stuffed with sweet annie, so she smells divine and is a reminder of the summer gone by. She has a necklace of stars or bells and I just love her....

The start of Christmas...

2010-11-26T19:59:00.001-05:00

You see I need to have Thanksgiving before I can start Christmas. Ok I may be a bit ~~a lot~~ OCD, but hey what is wrong with that? I spent a good part of the day putting Harvest decorations away, mums and pumpkins were thrown in the compost bin. Lots of decorations are sitting at the bottom of the stairs in my garage, waiting to be carried up and packed away. Where did they all come from? I thought I had started to pack stuff away last week. I need to purge some of this stuff. There is just way too much. Now as I pull Christmas out I am feeling like I need to get rid of some of this too. Last year I gave lots away and cleaned out, but I need to do it again. Does anyone else feel this way?

Anyone having trouble leaving comments??

2010-11-22T14:42:00.001-05:00

Just a quick note it has been brought to my attention that there seems to be a problem leaving comments on my blog. I have tried contacting blogger.....and I just don't know how to fix this. HELP!!! You can email me at DonnaG456@aol.com.

You light up my life!

2010-11-17T12:03:00.000-05:00

Today I am joining Linda at Behind My Red Door who joined Misi over at 1890 Gable House Musing for week 8 of a display chain she has going on. The theme for week 8 is "You light up my life" The idea presented by Amy of Cottage Prims. Her thoughts for this theme "With Winter setting in and being in the dark, you light up my life" Early lighting, candles, lanterns or even new lights.

I love all the battery operated candles. They cast a nice glow and I can go off and leave them or tuck them into places that I otherwise would not light a candle.

Electric candles, from Restoration Hardware. I bought them at Christmas and ended up not putting them away. They cast such a pretty glow. Sometimes when it is still dark in the morning I will turn them on low(they are on a dimmer) it is just enough light and so pretty to see.

My kitchen pendants are on dimmers too.

We leave this on all night in the kitchen.

Another electric candle.

Some real candles~

Over our table~

Lights on our porch~

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the lights in our home. They really do help keep the dark at bay and truly do light up our lives.

Is it still Fall?

2010-11-15T11:46:00.001-05:00

Is it still Fall? Everywhere I go I see Christmas and yes I have bought a few things....one of the things is the wooden door box. I have admired them in many places and have seen different sizes. The Gingham Goose had a Christmas Open house this weekend and everything else I got was for Christmas, but this box for my front door will be stuffed with greens and winterberry right after Thanksgiving....I usually put a large green wreath with a deep red ribbon, but time for a change I think. I could not resist putting some harvest grasses and gourds in the box for a few weeks.

So before I say goodbye to Fall I will change it up a bit and continue to do fall cleanup....I don't know if I ever really finish. I would like to clean the vegetable garden more, add my compost, till and plant some winter rye. If it gets cold fast this won't get done.

The leaves are still coming down like rain and the oaks in the front still cling to many of their leaves.

In Honor of Veterans Day

2010-11-11T08:38:00.000-05:00

Simply stated this is my son. He has 21 days left in Afghanistan....I am so proud of what he chooses to do, but I can't wait until he is home and can tuck his daughter in at night, come to Sunday dinner and be safe.

There are so many men and women who are away from families and loved ones so that we can all live with freedom. The soldiers see and experience things that we wish our children would never witness. They come back as different people, wiser, stronger and sadder, but they appreciate the country we live in. They put their lives on the line everyday, they see friends die and get hurt.

My son has been in Somalia, Iraq and now Afghanistan, he said this is his last tour.....but one never knows.

I want to Thank all of the veterans who have helped to give us the freedom we enjoy each day.

Thanksgiving Dinner?

2010-11-08T11:23:00.000-05:00

It is cold and the rain is pouring straight down. Feels like a snow day. Actually there was snow on the ground when I got up this morning. Well I have been working away this morning doing real estate stuff, Mondays are always like that. Well I go up and went to look out the window and here is what I saw....look who's coming to dinner!

Let there be light!

2010-11-01T19:54:00.000-04:00

Ok, it is really time to make some changes in the front foyer....you see we just pass through it and don't really use it. The front door is opened for light and only get used on Halloween. Well, I did get a new light for the hall. I really love it. You see the other light was picked out 37 years ago. I did love milk glass back then. The wood in the hall and the floors were stained dark walnut, you see it was 1973. The walls were painted first, then wallpapered, then re wallpapered. It was a while ago, but what I did not realize was that it was 1989 the last time we wallpapered the hall. The downstairs foyer, runs down a hallway and upstairs into the upper hall. I don't know why I have neglected this area, but I have. I painted all the stained woodwork about 5 yrs ago, we had the floors stripped down and refinished, took the runner off the stairs and had them refinished, but I just never knew what I wanted to do.

My new light

My old light! oh, my.

The old stained wood. Well, I have decided this will be our first project of the new year. So wait and see...these are the before and I am not sure what you will see in the after, but this wallpaper will be gone, gone, gone! Stay tuned....

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T10:21:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my porch~

2010-10-25T18:17:00.000-04:00

Welcome!

Come on in...the entry to our home is a screened porch in summer and a glassed in porch in fall, winter and spring. It is such a fun place to decorate. Last year it was a bit more Halloweeney.(is that a word?) My son was home and he and my grandson love to decorate for Halloween. When they became too old to Trick or Treat it became a tradition to let them decorate and to greet the trick or treaters. This year my son is still in Afghanistan, but only 39 days left until he comes home. Well anyway my grandson does not seem as enthusiastic without his Uncle here. Now I like it a bit more subdued, like it is now. The neighborhood kids may miss it a bit, from the garden graveyard to the fog rolling out when the porch door creaks open, strobe lights flashing a huge ghost hanging from the ceiling...

My bottle gourds did well last year. I like this kind of natural decoration, although if my son were home I would let him do whatever he wanted!

~feeling sad~

2010-10-21T15:52:00.000-04:00

Do you see how pretty the maple in my backyard is? It is the third week in October and the colors are always pretty this week. I had never really noticed before....that is until my sister started to come home for a fall visit. My sister lives 2000 miles away in Texas. I love her visits and she loved the fall, change of season. One time I picked her up at Logan and we drove to Freeport for a weekend of shopping, eating and relaxing. We laughed and talked. We stayed at a quaint B&B. I needed the time away from work and I needed to see the colors, smell the air and slow down in general. We planned on taking our Mom the next year and sadly we lost her in September and never made the trip. Our Mom was so looking forward to it....when I went to her home after she was gone, there sat the LLBean catalogue she had been looking through...see one should not wait or say next time. Anyway, we visited my sister last year and had our Fall in Texas. Now this year she could not get away and I am feeling kind of sad. Just missing our time together. Missing my sister and my Mom. Does that ever go away?

OK, I am feeling so sorry for myself, but it is a beautiful time of year and my sister has made me more aware of my surroundings and I have stopped and taken the time to smell the beautiful crisp Autum air....with a touch of woodsmoke.

I hope you all take the time to enjoy the season and appreciate your family!

A little more about A Primitive Dwelling.

2010-10-19T21:15:00.000-04:00

This is Main Street Plymouth Ma where my friend s shop is located inside this Antique Mall.

~A happy face~

If you need some last minute goodies to decorate your home for harvest or Halloween .......

This is the Little Red School House that A Primitive Dwelling is located in.

Let's shop~

2010-10-18T08:33:00.000-04:00

I was in Plymouth with my friend Maggie last week. She has opened a shop in the Antiques Mart in the little Red School House. Don't you just love her witch? She has a ghost I love too....maybe I can get a picture of that this week. Anyway we went down to do some tweaking. She set up an Americana goose feather tree and a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. If you have time she is right on Main St in historic Plymouth!

The Americana Tree.

Be sure to come by for a visit!

The Walker Homestead

2010-09-26T20:09:00.000-04:00

The Walker Homestead ~ From the back~
I was hoping for an Autumn day with crispness and woodsmoke in the air. The smell of applepie and a warm candle. What did we get it was HOT! That could not spoil this nice day. We saw the gals from a Primitive Place and many other nice people and the eye candy was wonderful. The kids had a great time and we stopped for pumpkins and apples on the way home. Oh and ice cream too.

I want this chicken coop, just the

right size and I would love 3 chickens too!

My granddaughter love the sunflowers that were drying.

My grandson in front of the house that I just love, I loved the outbuildings and the gardens and the guest house and the greenhouse.....my dream home!

One of the many booths I liked.

Here are some of the things I bought, I just loved this crow and he is now perched at my backdoor.

The candle smells oh so good, pumpkin ginger soy candle. My little bag of sweet annie~

This basket was made by a 14 year old girl named Dakota who is from CT. I just love it and right now it is holding a large bunch of sweet annie.

~Sweet September~

2010-09-08T18:14:00.000-04:00

My bounty, ready for canning.

September with your cool misty mornings and warm summer like days....the plants in the garden are going by and there is a special smell to the air... signaling the end of summer. I love to have my coffee on the patio in the early morn. The hummingbirds are still chattering happily and darting to and fro. Many birds are at the feeders too. I love to wander in the garden, barefoot and pick the last of the tomatoes and cucumbers, peppers and oh, the herbs are at their best right now. While I am at it I pick some hydrangeas for drying. I just love the soft colors, lime green rosy pink, lavender blue, soft cream with a hint of pink. Mother nature at her best.

~Last days of Summer~

2010-08-29T21:56:00.000-04:00

It is so quiet after everyone leaves...the sound of the waterfall and the grasses rustling in the warm summer breeze.

Our son enjoying his last days of leave...playing with his daughter in the pool. The sun is getting lower in the sky, but the air is warm and dry. The grasses have grown large and move with the breeze. The sound of happy laughter floats through the air :-)

See the great pumpkin with the curly vine...then the pumpkin runner (just what I need under my bowl of pumpkins)I found at the Gingham Goose last week. The shop was loaded with fall goodies...who can resist?

We picked our first real pumpkin~a sure sign fall is on its way.

My Bitty soaking up the warmth of the stones while releasing the scent of lavender into the air. Everyone feels the season changing.

Donna

~Pumpkins~

2010-08-20T04:01:00.001-04:00

I got this pattern from Olde Homestead Barn and was not disappointed. I love how these pumpkins turned out.

From the making to the staining I couldn't wait to see how each one came out. Love this one.

This little guy is just so darn cute:-)

This is my first fall decorations....it is still so warm, but I am getting the Fall itch. How about you? Any fall yet?

Special visit~

2010-08-16T10:58:00.006-04:00

Don't you just love this chair? I do. A friend made it to hold a plant pot. She makes the best rustic chairs. They are made out of laurel wood. The star and the rusty star garland just make it special. Soon it will be filled with a big mum. I had some special guests last Tuesday. I was so excited I could barely contain myself. Linda, Bonnie and Ashley from A Primitive Place came to take photos in my garden. I thought my camera wasn't working, but I found this picture when I took some garden photos yesterday, They took several photos inside too. It was fun to watch them work. They are really nice women and meeting Linda from Behind My Red Door was extra special to me. We have know each other since RMS days, but it is the first time we have met. She is just as warm and kind as I thought she would be.

I had gotten some really pretty sunflowers from a local farmstand.

My morning glories started to bloom after they left.

At may back walk way.

I have this week off to spend some time with my family. I spent yesterday in my vegtable garden. Wish I had finished before APP came, but I just ran out of time. They took tons of pictures and I can't wait to see them all.

He's on his way home!!!

2010-08-13T17:42:00.004-04:00

We can hardly wait for him to get here.....it seems so long he has been gone. I have baked cookies, (chocolate chip, his fav) Beer in the refrigerator and pantry has lots of goodies. I know it is a long trip, but each day he is traveling it is one less day he is fighting the war in Afghanistan, one day I worry a bit less. I can't wait to see his daughters face when her Daddy is home.

Sadly it is only for his two weeks leave, but it is two weeks less that he is in Afghanistan~

~I'm in the garden~

2010-08-02T16:33:00.020-04:00

August! I love this month....the gardens are at their best. If you come by for a cupa this is what you see at my back door, because I am usually in the garden when I am not working....my joy, my serene place to watch the birds, butterflies, dragonflies, hummingbirds and the *x#* squirrels who eat all my seed! My grandson just started drivers ed classes, he is taking a week long course. He never wanted to give up Tae Kwon Do nights for drivers ed. He was 16 in March, but I am kind of glad he started late. I remember when his Mother and Uncle got their licenses......every time I heard a siren I thought it was them. If they were late, well you know.

See how my mind wanders in the garden, I get side tracked so easy....or maybe it is the menopause state of mind.

The veggies are coming fast...I don't plant a lot, but there are 18 tomatoes plants...too many golden pears tomatoes, I could supply a restaurant. The rest will be eaten fresh or canned. They make great tomato sauce and we will have them all winter. Yum. The weeds have been pulled and bedding straw put down, it looks so pretty.

This was supposed to be a limelight hydrangea. The tag was wrong. It is a beauty, just not what I wanted and it needs to be moved in the fall. I put things in the vegetable garden as a holding bed( you know, when I buy them and don't know where to put them) I made wreaths out of these last year and now have more blooms this year.

The baskets are filled. I love how this looks.

I made some wooden crows this weekend. These go with the flocks of 50 or so we had in the back yard.

OUT WITH THE FAKE!

~in with the real~

They looked great for spring, but I like this so much better.

Come on in.

At the back door

Summer phlox....the sweetest smell. I brought a few plants home 36 years ago from my Aunt's house and I still remember the smell. She had a garden at her back door and the guest room had a window facing the garden and the sweet scent would drift in on the warm summer breeze.

Another filled basket and more of the crows I made.

As you come around the corner into the back yard.

We pulled all the ivy and myrtle that was chocking this area out....the trees were being suffocated by the stuff! I was so sore I could hardly move and my hubby did most of the work. Gotta love that guy~

So now I planted his tub and it shows. I like it much better minus the ivy and I hope fall cleanup will be easier too.

What a beautiful weekend. The air has dried up a bit and I got out to do some much needed work in the garden. I started in the front, because I always seem to work in the back yard.

Then on Sunday we had a small Birthday party for my youngest grand daughter. She turned 11 yrs old, so lots of gifts, cake and ice cream and swimming.

Something New

2010-07-14T12:29:00.006-04:00

I have been in my garden with the beautiful summer days and they are starting to show the TLC they have been getting, but oh, the hot humid weather is upon us. You can't work out there with out sweat dripping from your brow. Hot, sticky, yucky. So I decided to spend some time in the A/C ( you know shopping, or walking commercial property)and look what I found. This cabinet has an old window for a door. The old glass and putty of the windows. I loved the look of it. Not to mention I needed a place to put some dishes because my kitchen is full. The cupboard is taller than the one I had before. My old one found a new home on my porch and looks nice there.

I love that the black matches the chairs and seems to ground the room.

Stay cool!

Happy Birthday America!

2010-07-05T19:07:00.008-04:00

My Country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty.....I think we should all be very grateful for the brave men and women who are defending all of our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

My son who is serving in Afghanistan would post this picture on my birthday...on his face book page. My daughter said to him, I am sure Mom loved the butt hanging out of your mouth...funny thing is I never thought of it. I had not heard from him for two weeks and just knowing he was OK on my birthday made me cry. My point here is that my son like so many other men and women are frighting the fight so we can say HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA. So we can let freedom ring! You see this is how I still see my sweet boy. It is so hard to believe almost 33 years have passed since I took this photo.I am feeling so proud of my son, but to be honest I just can't wait until he is home safe and sound along with the rest of his unit. As we hung our flag out today I realize how much I have taken for granted over the years. ~Freedom~ such a gift.

~Happy Fourth of July~

Where does the time go?

2010-06-02T14:04:00.002-04:00

I have been busy with work and trying to get my garden planted and yard work done. We got our tomatoes, cucumber, eggplants and squash in over the weekend. The compost bins are full and need to be worked into the soil...and did I mention I have been busy with work? Things are looking better around here, but oh I need to clean inside too. The pollen is everywhere. How does so much get in when I leave the windows closed? Ok, I am going to go do some dusting....

My visit to HGTV Green Home

2010-05-20T20:02:00.020-04:00

Myself and four others from my office paid a visit to The Pinehills in Plymouth today...being in Real Estate we wanted to learn a little more about the Green Home!! I live less than 30 minutes from here. The website has better details, but oh it is so beautiful to look at. I loved the table in the kitchen...

Reclaimed wood, made right in Barnstable MA

Kids room, which had no closet, but did have a nice bath.
Pretty tiny sitting area outside the bedrooms, like a landing at the top of the stairs.

Master with the famous red bed!

Don't you love the funky lights, beside the Master Bed? Looks like they came from The Cat in the Hat!

Laundry room
What a way to recycle..I could live with this.

My table again, but oh this light was beautiful...another use for burlap.

The kitchen was hard to get a shot of, always full of people. Stunning for sure.

Oysters anyone?

This Mixed media acrylic by Carrie McGee was called "5 strands"

This was just off the kitchen. I love the insides of the bookcase painted black.

"Welcome Home" I almost heard the words...on the breeze!

Clever idea.

Parting view, sigh~

Decor to Adore: The Ultimate DIY~may you be inspired.

2010-05-18T09:43:00.000-04:00

WOW,WOW,WOW! I just sat down to do a quick look at the blogs and I found a link to this blog.....I admit I have never been here before. I was completely blown away by this woman's story. I want to share it with everyone. I don't have many readers, but if I can touch one of you the way I was I will be happy. I felt pure joy for this woman and it shows you really can do anything you want! Enjoy.

Decor to Adore: The Ultimate DIY~may you be inspired.

The Hummingbirds are BACK!!!

2010-05-08T13:50:00.008-04:00

You have to look closely, see him on the left? The move so quickly. There were three of them darting around the yard. The distinctive little chirp. Oh what a happy sound....I love to watch them, they stayed all day until after dinner time.

Diving in for some sweetness....I boil 4 cups of water with 1 part refined sugar until dissolved and change the sugar water every 3-4 days. No need for the red coloring.

They usually come back around May 1st....it was the second the first day I saw them. I love watching them. The sweet little birds seem to leave around Sept 15th. They are one of my simple pleasures.

A little bit of Spring~

2010-05-05T19:04:00.010-04:00

I am starting to come out of my funk a bit and as I looked around...sort of like waking from a nap. I realized I needed to bring some Spring into the house. I opened the windows and like a breath of fresh air....it happened! I felt a little better. It was the first day I have had off in a month. I dug in the garden a bit, cleaned a bit and brought out some Spring things. First on the counter as you enter the back door. My little ol' tray, a white geranium and a small bird.

Then I cut some lilacs. I just love their scent.

Outside the clematis is starting to bloom, in a day or two it will be a massive amount of blossoms.

Out of the urn came the dwarf Alberta spruce and in went a deep red geranium.

I also ran to the greenhouse and picked up some plants. It is still a little early here to put stuff out. I also found new cushions for the outdoor furniture. It is looking much better around here. Amazing what I can do when I get a day off. OK this really helped the mood along, but tell me what did you do to enjoy this beautiful Spring day?