Eclectic Farmhouse

Twig Lights

2012-01-08T13:34:00.000-05:00

I love these twig lights purchased from a store that I love in Columbus http://www.swankyabode.com/ Now that Christmas is over, I can't bear to put them away. I think they can stay until, at least, spring.

Happy New Year everyone!

I would have loved this when I was a child

2011-12-13T10:34:00.001-05:00

Photo from Restoration Hardware

The tents that were constructed in my parent's living room were never this cool. Mostly they were made from sheets and blankets and were draped over furniture. This tent from Restoration Hardware is so cool and made from recycled RAF materials. I would have loved it. (Still would).

Christmas Time Is Here

2011-12-11T13:54:00.001-05:00

New Art

2011-10-11T09:18:00.000-04:00

Vintage Photo's

2011-10-07T09:54:00.000-04:00

I love old photographs. These are two from my grandma's school days in the 1930's.

Have a great weekend!

Wine Rack

2011-09-28T12:52:00.000-04:00

I recently celebrated my birthday and a dear friend gave me this wine rack. I have never seen one like it. I just need to replace those empty bottles with full ones.

Curbside Find

2011-09-27T10:04:00.000-04:00

I found this great vintage stool on the curb. It needs a little work but still a very cool piece and the vinyl is in perfect condition.

Who is Michael Galbraith?

2011-09-09T10:32:00.001-04:00

This Good Luck charm came to the surface in our garden a couple of years ago. I put it in a drawer and rediscovered it recently. Curious about the previous owner of this lucky charm,I put the name of Michael Galbraith into Ancestry.com, hoping to find out who he was. No luck. I can't find anyone by that name who lived anywhere near Mansfield. So how did his charm end up in my garden? One of life's great mysteries.

Out On The Town

2011-09-05T12:38:00.002-04:00

Mike, Hugo & Jen
Photo by James Amos

On Friday night, we went to The Happy Grape to see TV Movie perform. It was an awesome experience. I love their music. Bit of nostalgia yet totally fresh & new.

You can find TV Movie here: http://www.reverbnation.com/tvmovie

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

This is tiny bit of my vinyl collection (thanks Mom & Dad).

Now I am searching for the perfect piece of furniture to house them. Any suggestions???

Control

2011-08-15T09:06:00.000-04:00

I finally got a chance to watch Control - the story of the post Punk band, Joy Division (after Curtis' death, they became New Order). I loved the way it was filmed, the music and the opportunity to learn more about the early days of the band and Ian Curtis.

Wine of the Week

2011-08-01T12:22:00.001-04:00

I am in love with this wine. It's the 2009 Arizona Stronghold Vineyards "Dala" Cabernet Savignon. I'm not going to get snobby and wax poetic about it. You can read the tasting notes on the website...or better yet, buy a bottle.

If you're in north central Ohio, you can find it at

The Happy Grape

Check out the website for tasting notes and so much more!

http://www.azstronghold.com/dala.html

New Art Available

2011-07-31T17:46:00.001-04:00

Galaxial Fancy

Acrylic on canvas

$425

New Art

2011-07-30T10:41:00.000-04:00

Untitled -Acylic on Canvas $400

New Art Available

2011-07-04T10:34:00.001-04:00

Tides - Acrylic on Canvas 12x12 ~~$250 + shipping~~ Sold

Pretty Birdie - Acrylic on Canvas 12x12 $225 + shipping

Contact me with any questions/terms of sale at ecogirlmansfield@aol.com

New Art

2011-06-28T10:49:00.000-04:00

Here are my two most recent paintings. They are done in acrylic on what was formerly a table. Happy Tuesday!

Lisa Hannigan's I Don't Know

2011-06-18T11:23:00.000-04:00

Can't stop listening to this album from Lisa Hannigan so I thought I'd share it with you.

Brain Blankets

2011-06-13T12:18:00.000-04:00

Check out this amazing headdress from Mansfield artist, Kate Westfall. You can find this design along with her other awesome hats (Brain Blankets) at http://www.etsy.com/listing/74113676/tree-of-knowledge-brain-blanket

Find your Happy Grape

2011-04-25T04:48:00.002-04:00

Check out the website for the area's newest and only wine bar

http://www.myhappygrape.com/

Faces From The Past

2010-10-26T13:12:00.002-04:00

I have been looking into my family history - on and off - for over ten years. It's a bit like working a puzzle. You start out with a few pieces that fit together and search through the random pieces until they fit. Just when you think you've put it together...you realize that you, sort of, crammed a piece in where it really doesn't belong.

This is one piece that I've been working on. It's one of those classic family photos in which nobody thought to write down who the people are. I can identify a couple of them but the rest remain a mystery...for now.

So while things in the garden have dwindled down for the season, I'm getting into my winter project of organizing all of the photo's and letters that have been thrown into various boxes over the years and continuing to piece together the puzzle of my history.

New Music...Tuesday???

2010-09-14T12:15:00.000-04:00

Ok. So I havent been posting much lately...what can I say...there's a lot going on. But I thought I'd bring you a new video from Kate Westfall. She's a very talented artist/musician in the Mansfield area. The video was shot by another talented local artist, Luke Beekman. So check it out by clicking the link below.

Photo by Bryce Millikin

http://vimeo.com/14954264

You can find Kate at: www.myspace.com/vokatemusica

Unlocking Old Secrets With New Technology

2010-09-12T23:46:00.002-04:00

Over ten years ago I began the search into the history of my family - before Who Do You Think You Are became a television success leading millions of people to search for their roots. I don't remember ancestry.com even being around but there were a few other genealogy web sites. It was fairly easy to track down my father's family (or most of it anyway) but the history of one man on my mother's side has eluded me for years. My mother's grandfather, Harry.

I knew that my grandfather's parents were divorced in the late 1920's. Scandalous - or so I thought. Through all my research I've found more stories of divorce in the newspapers of that time then I imagined.

This is what I knew:

My grandfather's mother died from a stroke when he was fourteen. His mother, Martha, was only 38 years old and had been bed ridden for two years. He and his sister were sent to different family member's homes to be raised. The father never came back for them.

My grandpa only saw his father once after he left the family in 1926. It was during WWII and grandpa was sent to Camp Cooke in California. His father was living near Los Angeles. They saw each other for a few hours before my grandpa was sent to war. I do not know what they talked about but they had to have thought that it might be the last time they would speak. I wonder what was said.

Since my grandpa was raised by his mother's family, we were just absorbed into them. My grandpa never kept it a secret that his folks were divorced but he never talked about it either. I knew that he occasionally sent and/or received a Christmas card from his father but that was the extent of their relationship.

Back in 2000, curiosity got the better of me. I put a note on a genealogy forum asking for information on my absentee great-grandfather. All I had was his name and where he lived. It wasn't long before I received a reply from a woman in California. Her mother-in-law was my grandfather's first cousin.

The woman sent me loads of family history back to the very beginnings of recorded Welsh history. I had dates and names but still didn't know any more about the great-grandfather who had headed west and never looked back. Then the woman sent me this photo...the first photo that I had ever seen of him. She didn't know anything about him other than he was listed in the 1910 census as an artist. There was also a bit of mystery surrounding this man's mother. It was told in the family that she was the illegitimate daughter of a prominent Philadelphia restaurateur of Spanish origins.

Excited about my discovery, I sent the pages of family history to my grandpa. He seemed to enjoy learning of his ancestry but still did not offer up any information about his father. I sort of let the matter drop and went on about my life. I would occasionally look up his name on the Internet but nothing really ever came of it...until now.

You Never Know What You'll Find

2010-08-10T10:22:00.002-04:00

My house is built on land that was once on the outskirts of town. It was part of a farm and we are apparently located on the old burn pile. When I was a kid, we used to have little archaeological digs behind the garage where we would turn up old bottles, pieces of china and all sorts of interesting things. Last spring, this bit of bottle came up in the garden after the frozen ground forced it to the top. I think it's beautiful. It has to have been there for over 85 years since that is the age of my house. The cool thing about it is...you never know what you'll find.

2010-08-04T10:19:00.000-04:00

Crooked Fingers - Sleep All Summer

2010-07-26T10:45:00.001-04:00

I found this song through the blog, "Even Cleveland" and it's perfect for New Music Mondays. Be sure to check out Even Cleveland. It's a fabulous blog and the link is on the right.

Mad Girl - Think Smaller

2010-07-26T09:23:00.003-04:00

This is my latest collage entitled, "Mad Girl - Think Smaller".

It depicts the idea that we are constantly being told to think in absolutes...to think smaller and let policies and procedures do the thinking for us...placing us in a black & white box. How often have you heard the phrase, " I don't get paid to think"? The implementation of endless "zero tolerance" policies remove all thinking and common sense.

2010-07-23T11:47:00.001-04:00

I love these pieces from Soul Flower.

2010-07-20T12:35:00.001-04:00

Mixtape | Tift Merritt

2010-07-19T09:57:00.000-04:00

Photography

2010-07-19T09:48:00.002-04:00

This is a hidden alley in our downtown...beautiful.

New Art

2010-07-14T10:59:00.001-04:00

It's hard to see in the photo but the texture on this piece is really cool.

Donavon Frankenreiter - Free

2010-07-14T10:52:00.000-04:00

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - The Sun Ain't Shining No More

2010-07-07T09:14:00.001-04:00

A Facebook friend posted this video and this song is addictive. I have listened to it over and over. It reminds me a of Smash Mouth's Walking On The Sun. Check it out.

2010-07-04T10:59:00.000-04:00

Things I've been playing with

2010-06-30T11:13:00.005-04:00

What I'm Reading

2010-06-29T13:37:00.004-04:00

Following Living Oprah, I started Julie Powell's newest book. It's been out for a while but I just got around to it.

This is a story of Julie's apprenticeship as a butcher but it's not just about that. Things are never about what they are about. Right?

There are many mixed reviews of this book. You can google them to read. I'm not a professional book reviewer. I can only give you my opinion.

I loved the Julie/Julia project (Julie's blog and subsequent first book). In fact, I credit Julie Powell with inspiring me to explore new things. That inspiration led me to a few freelance writing jobs, a fairly successful local blog and a new attitude about the second half of my life. So I guess some of my success as an accidental writer is because of Julie Powell.

I tried to keep this fondness for Julie from skewing my view of her second memoir. So here goes... I have never read a writer who was so brutally honest in my life.

I read the book in only a couple of days, stealing a minute to read whenever I could. All I kept thinking was, " The chicks got balls". As a writer it is incredibly hard to not want to present yourself in the best possible way. This could have been a rather boring book about butchery -which is interesting to me but, possibly, not to the masses. Instead, Julie explored and exposed almost everything about herself on the pages. She was completely honest, vulnerable, and self-deprecating. She had to know that this honesty could damage her career considering her squeaky clean image in the Julie and Julia movie yet she wrote it anyway. I finished the book over a week ago and am still thinking about it.

While I found parts of it pretty graphic and disturbing, I had to read on. Whether you end up loving Julie for her honesty or hating her for it, I think the book is worth the read.

By clicking the image above, you will be taken to Amazon if you want to purchase the book.

You can find Julie Powell at: http://juliepowell.blogspot.com/

New Music Mondays - The Wandering Bards

2010-06-28T16:54:00.003-04:00

On new music Mondays, I'll bring you a link to a new group that I've been listening to. While the group or song may not be "new" they are new to me.

This past week or so, I've been obsessed with The Wandering Bards; particularly, the song, "Spam in a Can". I can't get enough of it. Love the harp licks.

So check them out at http://wanderingbards.com/home.html

Vintage Pic Of The Week

2010-06-28T13:53:00.006-04:00

They gave me a uniform to do this?

-caption by Mike

ReadyMade magazine

2010-06-28T12:31:00.005-04:00

I love Readymade magazine! Many of my favorite mags have "ceased to be" during the recession. I was in deep,deep mourning (still upset over Country Home) but ReadyMade has eased some of the pain.

If you have not read it....be sure to pick up a copy or check it out online.

In fact, it was through one of their blogs that I found out about the free music from Levi's.

http://readymade.com/magazine/

Free Music from Levi's

2010-06-28T11:39:00.004-04:00

http://www.levispioneersessions.com/

This awesome website is brought to you by Levi's (as in jeans). They invited pioneering musicians to re-create the songs that inspired them. The free downloads are available by following the link above.

There are some incredible musicians including:

The Swell Season (one of my personal favs)
John Legend and The Roots
She & Him
The Shins
Dirty Projectors
and many more.

What I'm reading now

2010-06-09T12:01:00.003-04:00

Living Oprah - My One-Year Experiment to Walk the Walk of the Queen of Talk

by Robyn Okrant

This week's library book has been both entertaining and thought provoking thus far. As a "sometimes" watcher of Oprah and occassional reader of her magazine, it's been a lot of fun to read Robyn's adventures while she is trying to live out all of the suggestions that Winfrey makes through her show, web site, and magazine to encourange women to live their best life.

I'm all about the encouragement but I'm finding out that to truly "Live Oprah" it takes a lot of time and money.

Anyway... it's worth the read so pick up a copy or borrow it from your local library. Great summer read.

Hoarders

2010-06-02T12:45:00.002-04:00

Has anyone else had the Hoarders inspired cleanout? Every time I watch the show, more clutter gets hauled out of this house by the bagfuls. My husband - a minimalist- is loving it.

The first thing to go was butter tubs and Cool Whip containers as this seemed to be a common trait of the shows participants. We threw away a large bag of them as move were not the type of plastic that can be recycled.

Next, I started going drawer by drawer and closet by closet, organizing and clearing out. My linen closet has never looked better.

I am slowly working my way through some old magazines that are stored neatly but I don't really have to keep them all. I could tear out the pages that are important, store them in a folder and recycle the magazine. So I started that project on Monday while watching...you guessed it...Hoarders.

I sympathize with those who suffer from this disease. It's tough when you have so many emotions wrapped up in stuff. It's hard to let something go that has a precious memory attached to it but we only have so much space. It's also hard to let something go when it's in perfectly good condition even if you don't use it.

So the rule now is this: When something new comes in...something must go out. It has to go into the yard sale pile or be immediately donated. I have to say that it's nice to open a cabinet or drawer and not have to dig through a bunch of stuff to find the one thing that you're looking for.

Can't wait to start organizing the yard sale. The stuff is in the garage until I get it together.

So let me ask? Do you watch the show and has it inspired you to clear the clutter?

P.S. You can watch episodes and clips of Hoarders at A&E's website

Vintage Pic of the Week

2010-06-02T12:29:00.003-04:00

Last summer, I posted a vintage pic of the week featuring some photos of summer fun. Now that the summer season has officially begun, I thought I'd start posting them again. Enjoy.

This picture was taken at Lake Erie in the late 1940's. My grandma is pictured on the right. She had that bathing costume for a long time. I used to wear it in high school.

Please do not copy or reproduce this picture. It is part of my personal collection. Thanks.

Lettuce Entertain You

2010-05-29T12:43:00.001-04:00

Here's a pic of some lettuce that we planted. It's a pot on top of a pot. The top pot has rosemary planted in it and when the lettuce has all been devoured, I'll fill in the empty space with herbs.

It's edible and beautiful.

Love these flats

2010-05-23T11:32:00.001-04:00

Recently (Ok. Maybe it's been about six weeks ago) I went to Easton in Columbus for a great day of window shopping. The picture above is of the flats that were built in the area of the mall.

I'm curious what they are like inside but from the outside they are reminiscent of London.

It would be a tough choice. Take the first floor with the cool windows or the third with the adorable balcony.

Love this light fixture

2010-04-28T13:03:00.001-04:00

This is the Meridian Pendant from the Sundance catalog. Love it and the price is great at $175.00 (buy 2 or more at $150.00 each). Check it out at http://www.sundancecatalog.com/

Baby Boxwoods

2010-04-14T12:26:00.001-04:00

It's still a little early to plant most flowers since we could still have frost but I was itching to get my hands dirty. I picked up these tiny boxwoods instead. Planting them satified my desire to be outside in the dirt and I can bring them in if it gets too cold.

Spring Lilacs

2010-04-12T14:10:00.001-04:00

Stair Problem Solved

2010-04-08T10:35:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Cherish Toronto (one of my favorite blogs), my painted stair dilemma may be solved. When we tore the old carpet out of the house, we found that the stairs had been painted - not only on the treads but on the risers as well. Not exactly what I had hoped for. We toyed with the idea of stripping them but had concerns regarding lead paint and we weren't sure what type of wood was underneath. A fresh coat of white paint seemed to be the answer and I have been looking for the right carpet runner since. Then I saw this picture posted on Cherish Toronto of the stairs from the HGTV show Sarah's House 3 and I think we've found the answer in this clever,fresh idea.

Be sure to check out:www.cherishtoronto.blogspot.com

Photos: Top is from www.hgtv.com . Bottom is our staircase, currently.

More Restoration Love

2010-04-08T10:18:00.001-04:00

Here are a few more pieces from Restoration Hardware that caught my eye. I think I was literally drooling in the store the other day. The colors and textures of everything in the latest collection were very soothing and homey to me. Wish I could decorate the entire house from there. Oh well...maybe someday.

www.restorationhardware.com

Chair Love

2010-04-07T10:13:00.001-04:00

Photo from www.restorationhardware.com

As much as I try not to be materialistic, every once in a while something comes along that really turns my head. Restoration Hardware's 1950's Leather Copenhagen Chair is my current obsession. The Mid-Century design paired with rich leather....oh yeah.

Check This Out

2010-04-07T09:45:00.001-04:00

I could see myself driving around in one of these. Really cute and roomier than I thought.

A Day Off ...

2010-04-06T11:01:00.001-04:00

As much as I love living in Mansfield, sometimes I need a city fix. Yesterday was the perfect day to escape with a trip to Easton Town Center in Columbus. I'm not really a mall person but since Easton is outside, it was ok. I came home armed with decorating inspiration and catalogs from Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn. Here are a few pictures from Easton.

2010-04-06T10:46:00.001-04:00

I purchased this bell jar and the air plants at Nest, a new store in Easton Town Center. The store features new and vintage items. Other purchases included a cool little Mexican tile and two vintage diner coffee cups.

The Future of Cars?

2010-03-28T12:08:00.001-04:00

This is the the AIRPOD-Ultra light urban transporter by Tata Motors. Powered by compressed air, the three seater tricycle, may provide the answer for those of us who make short trips. The driver steps in through the windshield and the passengers through the rear window.For gaming and Sci-Fi geeks, like myself, you may find it interesting to know that the car is steered with a joystick. One cannister of air will provide enough for a 120 mile trip at 30 miles per hour.

This innovative vehicle has many advantages over electric or biodiesel cars but I don't see head/tail lights and am curious if it has seat belts. I'm left wondering if they will be able to produce this vehicle for the U.S. in terms of safety. I guess, we will wait and see.

No Impact Man

2010-03-26T13:09:00.004-04:00

No Impact Man, the movie, finally arrived in the mailbox. I placed it in my Netflix queue months before it was released and it finally made it's way to the top of the list. Now halfway through the book, No Impact Man, I am re-energized about our lifestyle choices and am becoming even more committed to reducing our consumption and living a simpler life.

Colin Beavan and his family embark on a one year journey from their Fifth Avenue apartment in Manhattan to live sustainably for one year. What this translates to is: no cars or any other transportation that leaves a negative impact on the environment, no food that comes from anywhere more than 250 miles from NYC, no electricity and no garbage.

Both the book and the documentary are inspiring and thought provoking. In trying to apply it's lessons, I can see how some things would be challenging in NYC and other things easier than in my rustbelt city. For instance, the farmer's market shown in the film offers a much wider variety of goods than our newly formed downtown market. When I inquired about cheese at last years market, I was informed that health codes would make it difficult and expensive for vendors to sell. We do, however, have many local produce stores but then the problem is sprawl/transportation. It is very difficult to exist in our city without a car. Cycling is an option for many short trips but our public transport is lacking (to put it mildly).

The big issue is over-consumption which then breaks down into a series of smaller issues that have to be tackled individually.

I know I can't change everyone's love affair with their cars but I can change mine. In an effort to tackle our transport problems, we have implemented a few things:

1.
We only have one automobile. It is a four cylinder that gets great gas mileage. Purchasing a new hybrid is not in the budget even with a tax credit. In the beginning, it seemed impossible to survive with only one car but it's been seven years and it's fine. When we lived in Florida, the car would remain in it's parking place for days. Not the case now but we each have several bicycles and working legs to supplement the car. It is important to note that maintenance is important to insure optimum gas mileage and to increase the life span of our vehicle.

2.
We combine trips for errands. A little planning goes a long way. Sometimes my mom and I will go shopping together which saves a trip for one of us. One major challenge is my work schedule. Although work is less than 2 miles from home, I come home from work at midnight. The neighborhood that I must pass through is not safe to walk or cycle through after dark (although I've done it a few times, the stress just isn't worth it). In 5 1/2 years we have only put about 30,000 miles on our car and that included a few long trips.

3.
We have purchased a carbon offset for our vehicle. Since we have accepted the fact that we cannot live here without a car, at least we can invest a little money toward an eco-friendly project to try to undo the damage it is contributing to the environmental problem.

It's apropos that No Impact Man arrived now. April 22nd marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. It's the perfect time for us to renew our committment to a life of simplicity.

Thanks to Colin, Michelle and Isabella for the inspiration.

For information about No Impact Man go to: http://noimpactman.typepad.com/

Goth Glamour

2010-03-11T12:36:00.002-05:00

Who could forget the glamorous Goth style of the Addams Family?
Even in black and white...it's fabulous.

photo from Sitcom Style

Sitcom Style

2010-02-28T15:36:00.003-05:00

I picked up this book at the library today. It has some awesome pics of TV sitcoms.

This kitchen is from 3rd Rock From The Sun.
Carrie Bradshaw's Sex and The City bedroom and entryway.
Check back for more photos.

Images from Sitcom Style ISBN1-4000-5178-9 2005 by Diana Friedman

Sleepless in Seattle Houseboat

2010-02-27T11:39:00.002-05:00

I know it's been blogged about many times before but Tom Hank's Seattle houseboat ranks among my top picks.

There is a great post about this house and many other great movie/tv houses on http://www.hookedonhouses.net/. Be sure to check it out. I have a feeling that I'm going to be spending a lot of time there.

image from www.hookedonhouses.net

Favorite Set Designs

2010-02-26T14:01:00.002-05:00

Due to a lack of home projects right now, I thought I would post a few of my favorite tv/movie sets. The set of a movie is just as important to me as the movie itself.

This apartment of Leonard and Sheldon (The Big Bang Theory) is one of my current favorites. I could seriously live in it. Love the leather sofa, the books, and all the scientific props located throughout the apartment.

Image from www.bigbangtheory.com

Dining Dilemma

2010-02-22T13:54:00.001-05:00

I dream of having a set of matching chairs. I mean, is that too much to ask?

I don't want to get rid of the table. It was my grandma and grandpa's. Every holiday meal was shared at this table. But this dining room doesn't exactly scream...hip, urban couple live here.

The Pottery Barn catalog does nothing to help this discontent. The tables are all set perfectly for entertaining but if I really stop and think about it...it's a perceived lifestyle. I could replace my furniture and I still would not use it. It's not my lifestyle. We would still eat in the living room 99% of the time. It's just the two of us and with our crazy schedules, it just doesn't work for us.

In the five years that we have been in this house, we have used the dining room ...maybe five times.

In our Florida condo, we didn't even have a table and chairs unless you count the patio furniture. We had a breakfast bar with stools and didn't really even use that. A girl can dream but it's hard to justify the purchase of furniture that would never be used.

I have even thought about re-purposing the room for something else but I can't figure it out. The room is placed between the living room and kitchen so it's just a pass through between them. Any thoughts?

Vintage Valentines

2010-02-09T12:44:00.002-05:00

Amaryllis In Full Bloom

2010-02-09T11:02:00.001-05:00

My mom gave me this kit from Smith and Hawkin for Christmas. I got it started Christmas night and now it's in full bloom.

Amaryllis: Also called the Belladonna Lily.

Stop Making Sense

2010-02-07T14:32:00.002-05:00

How I ever let Talking Heads slip into the recesses of my mind, I will never know. I loved them so much that I forced (perhaps forced is a little exaggerated. Begging until she relented might be more apropos) my mom to take me to a midnight showing of Stop Making Sense in Manhattan.

I thought I was the coolest because the movie had not been shown in Ohio yet. It was definitely worth almost getting mugged on the way back to the hotel after the movie. Thanks to that, I had bragging rights for quite awhile among my outcast cast of friends. I digress.

Over the years, Talking Heads, were pushed to the side for new things (foolish me). Anyway, Psycho Killer was featured in the movie "Julie and Julia", albeit it was sung as "Lobster Killer" by Julie's husband, and hearing it again brought it all back. I am officially re-addicted. After 25 years, it's as cutting edge as it was then. Wow, unbelievable but it really has been that long ago.

Find all things Talking Heads here: http://www.talking-heads.nl/

Farm City:The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter

2010-02-01T12:17:00.004-05:00

Novella Carpenter has a menagerie at her farm that includes chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys,rabbits and pigs. She doesn't live in the country or even in the burbs but makes her homestead in the middle of an Oakland ghetto. Her tales of urban farming are intriguing, hopeful and at the same time, brutally honest. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the slow food movement, organic gardening, urban homesteading or to those that just dream it.

Be sure to check out her website at: www.novellacarpenter.com

New Paint In The Kitchen

2010-01-19T20:53:00.001-05:00

The worlds ugliest kitchen is becoming...well...it's becoming tolerable. We recently repainted the walls and cabinets. No HGTV budget here. No granite countertops or new cabinets in our near future but the fresh paint makes it look like a new kitchen. I especially love the chalkboard paint on the door. It's convenient and looks cool.

Spend A Day With Little Dorrit

2010-01-14T09:16:00.002-05:00

Image from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/littledorrit/characters.html

Snowy, cold weather prompted me to stay in last Sunday and watch Little Dorrit - recently released by BBC Video. This screen adaptation of the Charles Dickens's story of the hardships found in London circa 1820 was gripping. As usual with Dickens, there are many turns of fortune and several subplots to keep you interested and hanging on to see what will happen next.

The actors were superb and you will recognize many of them if you watch any British television. Newcomer, Claire Foy plays the part of Amy (Little) Dorrit. She is perfect for the role and is surrounded by a cast of fine actors. The sets and costumes are spot on and the 452 minutes of the series will go by quickly. It's a BBC/Masterpiece Theatre classic.

For more information and study guides: click the link above

The Swell Season

2010-01-11T13:24:00.001-05:00

image is from www.theswellseason.com

The Swell Season has become my musical addiction. Not a day goes by without listening to them. It's sort of driving my husband nuts. It's on in the house...the car...everywhere. He's beginning to think that we have no other music in the house. Anyway, their new album (do they still call them albums?), Strict Joy, is out. I think it even tops the first album and the "Once" soundtrack.

Native Irishman, Glen Hasard (am I too old for a celebrity crush?) and the Czech-born Marketa Irglova make up the group and are accompanied by some of the worlds finest musicians. Be sure to check them out at http://www.theswellseason.com/

P.S. Thanks to Amy for getting me hooked.

Vintage Stationery Find

2010-01-11T10:28:00.001-05:00

Once, I purchased a box lot at an auction for $1. This beautiful, old stationery was included. It is from one of the finest stationers in Paris. Casselgrain has been in business since 1919 and is still located at 422 Rue Saint-Honore, one of Paris' most exclusive areas. The picture above is from the box. The beautiful greeny-blue has yellowed with age and has some brown spots but that only makes it more precious to me. Who knows? It may become a rare antiquity since no one seems to take the time to write letters anymore.

The box contained the paper pictured above and matching envelopes.

This type is on the back of the box.

Winter Beauty From My Window

2010-01-11T10:13:00.001-05:00

This is a picture taken from the window at my desk. It overlooks our backyard. As you can see, we've had plenty of snow. Still, it is beautiful.

Armchair Traveling

2010-01-10T10:15:00.001-05:00

This week, most of the country has experienced the Arctic blast in some form or another. Ohio has been no exception. We had exceptionally mild weather until about 15 days ago. Since that time we have had snow each and every day along with gray skies(OK... well, maybe the sun did peak through a couple of times...but not for long). The temperature dipped into single digits last night. Good thing I have flannel sheets and a down comforter to snuggle under.

Since this is my first weekend - in a very long time - without some kind of obligation (looming writing deadlines, Christmas functions or work), I decided it would be a weekend of hibernation and armchair traveling. The local library has supplied me with four issues of Britain magazine so I'm headed for the Cotwolds, Cornwall and many other beautiful places in the UK.

I had the privilege to travel to the UK ten years ago and it was the trip of a lifetime. It was an anglophile's dream come true. I even got a glimpse of Prince Edward. Unfortunately, I was not there long enough to see all that I wanted to but hope to go back...someday.

Armchair traveling is a great way to mentally escape when you can't actually do it. Travel books allow me to live vicariously through others and dream of a life lived in a far away and maybe even exotic place. I love to spend a Sunday wrapped up in a blanket with a cup of coffee nearby, and escape with Peter Mayle to Provence, Frances Mayes to Tuscany, and Bill Bryson to anywhere (I love his humor). So if you're stuck inside, bored with the same old stuff on television, and are craving a change then try taking a trip without even getting out of those flannel PJ's and fuzzy slippers.

www.britain-magazine.com

Mmmmm....Crescent Rolls

2010-01-04T19:04:00.002-05:00

I have fond memories of waking up on a Saturday morning to my grandma making crescent rolls in the kitchen. The smell of the warm, yeasty rolls permeating the house combined with the creamy taste of butter spread onto them was divine. I have been afraid to tackle this recipe for years but today - driven by the stress of a looming deadline on an article that I have been procrastinating throughout the holidays - I decided to go for it. I mean, what better time to take on a scary and new recipe than when you have to submit an article on the same day?

The recipe: From the Betty Crocker 1950 Picture Cookbook

The Challenge: Figuring how to convert a recipe that calls for compressed cake yeast to dry,active yeast. (Difficult but not impossible. I finally gave up trying the read the conversion charts and used two packages) and trying to get the dough to rise in a chilly, Ohio house.

The result: I'll admit they are not perfect but still delicious. Especially the ones that I ate right out of the oven with the butter melting on contact. Surprisingly, they were not hard to make and may become a regular on our dinner table. They lack the flakiness of a croissant (due to using shortening instead of butter) but not quite as heavy as a dinner roll.

Mix the following ingredients together until smooth:
1/2 C. sugar
1/2 C. soft shortening
1 t. salt
2 eggs

Stir in:
3/4 C. lukewarm milk

Crumble into mixture and stir until dissolved:
2 cakes compressed yeast

Beat in with spoon:
4 C. sifted flour

Scrape dough from sides of bowl. Cover with damp cloth. Let rise until double. Shape as crescents. Cover, let rise until double. Bake in a 425 degree oven until golden brown. *Brush with butter before baking*

My modifications: I mixed everything in my mixer. Made the work practically nil. As I mentioned before, I used two packages of active dry yeast. Once mixed, I placed the dough covered with a damp towel in front of the register since the house is chilly today. It gave it just the right amount of heat.

To shape the rolls, I rolled the dough out on a floured cutting board and cut triangles with a pizza cutter then rolled them up. It worked perfectly.

Farmhouse Movie Collection - Julie and Julia

2009-12-28T11:42:00.001-05:00

Happy Christmas to me!

I loved the books so much more than the movie but it's a delightful adaptation of both.
The scenery and costumes are fantastic and the stories of these two very different women are inspiring.

Christmas Mantle

2009-12-07T09:20:00.001-05:00

I like to change the mantle from year to year. This is what it looked like a few years ago. The barn star is now hanging from a fence in the garden and the stocking holders are packed away until I feel inspired to use them again (maybe next year).

Vintage Christmas Photo

2009-12-07T09:02:00.001-05:00

This is a photograph of my grandma that I have reprinted and hand-colored for the holidays. She's adorable and it made a great Christmas card.

Christmas At The Farmhouse

2009-12-06T10:31:00.001-05:00

I've been collecting vintage glass ornaments for several years. My favorites are the pinecones. Since the tree looks like it's dripping with candy, I've decided to decorate the mantle with natural things found in our yard.

November Rose

2009-11-10T09:32:00.001-05:00

It's November 10Th and here in north central Ohio, I just went out to my garden and cut these beautiful white roses. We had one pink rose bloom, a couple of weeks ago, on our Queen Elizabeth rosebush but I can't believe these bloomed. Beautiful!

Final Pic of Fall

2009-11-05T11:47:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, we had our first little bit of snow. Nothing that actually stuck to the ground but it was falling from the sky. I can't believe how quickly this year has gone by.

I took this picture last weekend. The tree is now bare but for a moment it was beautiful - the orange leaves against a perfect blue sky. So enjoy because it was my last pic of the folliage for this year. Can't wait to see icicles dropping from the branches. Oh well ...time marches on.

Halloween Purse

2009-10-17T10:12:00.001-04:00

I made this altered purse for Halloween a few years ago. It was a purse that I found in a thrift store and embellished using an old photograph, paper, ribbons, paint and other crafty doo dads that I had in my craft room. I've received a lot of postive feedback on it and it's a one-of-a-kind.

Framed Postcards

2009-10-17T09:36:00.001-04:00

Need inexpensive artwork? Framed postcards are a great way to commorate a trip or place. These cards are from our local art center.

Black Cats

2009-10-06T11:00:00.001-04:00

I started collecting funky black cats a few Halloween's ago. These are just a couple of them.

Halloween Trinket Box

2009-09-30T12:09:00.001-04:00

I made this trinket box last year. It's interesting to play around with old photographs and alter them into something new. This is just a paper mache box purchased from a craft store. It may not be a masterpiece but I had fun making it.

Farmers' Fair Covington Ky - This Weekend

2009-09-23T09:12:00.000-04:00

I learned about Farmers' Fair from Jennifer @ Fab Ferments. If you are in the Cincinnati area, be sure to check it out.

Happy First Day of Autumn

2009-09-23T08:36:00.004-04:00

As of yesterday, Fall is officially here. I started to put away the seashells and brought out some of our autumn accessories. I'm not quite ready to get the Halloween decor out yet but transitioning into it.

One issue was our dining room. We rarely use it so we put our bookcase there. Now the ongoing challenge is to keep the clutter under control. Books are a necessity for us and we're always bringing more home. We also have tons of books in our bedrooms and offices. I've tried to get rid of some but find it hard to part with a lot of them. I guess we'll just have to purchase more shelving.

Happy first full day of fall.

Beautiful Business Cards

2009-09-22T12:03:00.001-04:00

I have a thing for business cards. The more beautiful and creative; the more I love them. They're like little works of art.

Here are some of the gorgeous cards I picked up at the Country Living Fair.

Hope you enjoy!

And Even More...Country Living Fair

2009-09-21T10:23:00.001-04:00

Love this display!

Bought this necklace from The Vintage Barn... you can purchase one at: www.barnbarnbaby.com

More Country Living Fair - Part Deux

2009-09-21T10:03:00.001-04:00

These shots were from the Homegirl booth.
You can find her at: www.homegirlshop.com

More Country Living Fair

2009-09-21T09:48:00.001-04:00

I took a lot of pictures at the fair to share with you.

Country Living Fair

2009-09-21T09:31:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, Mom and I went to the Country Living Magazine Fair held at Ohio Village in Columbus, Ohio. This was one of the best events of this type that I have attended. The booths were all outstanding and there was more than just your average "welcome friends" type crafts.

As you can tell from the map. There were a lot of things to look at.

Even though it was the third day of the fair, every vendor that we talked to was just as fresh and perky as they would be on the first day...and they had to be tired.

We only purchased a few things but we came away with a lot of ideas and we will definitely go back next year. Might even have to make a weekend of it.

I had to snap a picture of this woman in her dress and cowboy boots. How fun! I loved it.

Vegatable Quiche

2009-09-15T12:13:00.000-04:00

1 ready-made pie crust
6 large eggs
1 carrot, grated
1 Sm. onion, chopped
1/4 green pepper, chopped
1 cup broccoli, frozen or fresh
1 cup cheddar cheese , grated
1 Sm. tomato, sliced
1/4 cup whole milk
salt/pepper
herbs DE Provence
2 T. butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt butter in small skillet. Add carrot, onion and green pepper. Saute until onions are opaque. Boil broccoli until tender.
Let sauted vegetables and broccoli cool.

Whisk eggs in a bowl. Add sauted vegetables, broccoli, cheese and milk. Season with salt, pepper and Herbs De Provence.

Pour into pie crust.

Top with tomato slices.

Bake in 350 degree oven for approximately 12-15 minutes. You will know it's finished when a toothpick inserted, comes out clean.

Sedum Blooming

2009-09-08T10:18:00.002-04:00

A friend gave me a couple of starts of Sedum about two years ago.

It's just beautiful when it's in bloom.

Estate Sale Purchases

2009-09-06T10:43:00.001-04:00

I purchased these items at a yard sale for $3. The rolling pin is nearly perfect.

Vintage Aprons

2009-08-07T11:17:00.001-04:00

My great-grandma was a seamstress. I was lucky enough to inherit many of the aprons that she made. I wish the pictures were a better quality so you could really see the detail in them. I love the fabrics-so many cool prints.

Classic Blue & White

2009-07-28T09:40:00.001-04:00

My sister-in-law, Cathy, has the cutest house. She has the touch for putting objects together in beautiful displays. I asked her to send some snapshots and this is the first one that she sent. I love the blue & white. It's always a classic yet fresh look. Although the patterns are all different, the like colors make it a cohesive look.

Easy Leftover Lunch

2009-07-20T11:05:00.000-04:00

There are only two of us in our household. That usually equals a lot of leftover food. A batch of chili or spaghetti can, easily, last the week. We never waste anything at our house so I have to come up with some creative leftover combos because by the third day of the same thing, it tends to get....well....samey.

Last Tuesday, we had roast chicken for dinner and the next day we had these lovely Swiss Chicken Muffins for lunch. Easy and tasty. I spread some light mayo on the muffins. Next came the chicken (I just picked it right off the bones), followed by a slice of tomato, salt/pepper and topped with Swiss cheese. Into the 400 degree oven and finished when the cheese is melted. It was very good and made use of things we had in the fridge. Enjoy.

Farmhouse Library

2009-07-17T11:01:00.003-04:00

I thought I might, occasionally, feature some of the books that we have here at The Farmhouse. I read this one a couple of months ago. The Anglophile in me absolutely loved this book. I sent it's author, Jerramy Fine, an email to tell her how much I loved the book and she sent me a personal response and we exchanged a couple of brief emails. She was equally as charming and warm in her emails as she came across in the book.

You can visit her website here: http://www.jerramyfine.com/

Change Your Look With Slipcovers

2009-07-16T13:04:00.002-04:00

We inherited a sofa from my grandparent's estate. Although it's in beautiful condition, the fabric is a bit "stodgy" for my taste. The answer: slipcovers. Easy, inexpensive and versatile. I can change out the slipcovers and pillows anytime that I want a new look and we don't have to be so careful about things like eating in the living room. This was the pillow/slipcover combo a couple of summers ago. Casual and comfortable. The cedar chest/coffee table belonged to my great-great grandmother and it's been with me for all of my adult life. It's great for storage and can be moved from living room to bedroom if I ever find a coffee table that I like better.

Farmers Market Friday

2009-07-12T15:00:00.000-04:00

Our local Farmers Market is a great place to purchase fresh yet inexpensive produce. This Friday, I purchased cucumbers, onions, peppers, green beans and these delicious cherries.

Summertime Treat

2009-07-12T14:52:00.001-04:00

I bought these beautiful cherries at our local Farmers Market on Friday.

Simple Summertime Side Dish

2009-07-11T10:50:00.000-04:00

We had some zucchini in the fridge along with some spring onions that had to be used immediately or thrown away. A simple solution: cube the zucchini and saute with the onions. Salt and pepper to taste and top with some buttered bread crumbs. Bake in a low oven (275 degrees) for an hour. Fresh and delicious.