Christmas is Over

Another Christmas has came and gone. This year it was a bitter sweet Christmas. Daddy is not feeling well and we couldn't help but wonder as we took pictures of everyone if he would be with us next year. We have tried not to dwell on the sad but to look on the positive. How many woman can reach 58 years of age and still have both their parents alive? We need to be thankful for all the years we have had with them and to thank them for raising four daughters who have lead productive lives.
After a week of bitter cold, the weather has turned off gorgeous. So nice that the children have even been able to play outside in heavy sweat shirts. Alas all of that is changing tomorrow. The cold air is moving back in and there's a chance of snow Thursday night into Friday. At least we've had a small break from it and for that we are thankful.
With Christmas behind us, it's time to start settling in for the winter. My favorite time of year!!! Oh how heavenly that sounds after all the hustle and bustle we have been going through. The time of year when I can sit before the fireplace and hook, cross stitch or Needle Punch to my hearts content. If the snow if softly falling, it's just that much better.
Of course staying home is only half the fun....The Topeka Hook-in is next weekend and I'm hoping the weather will be good so I can go. Not that I need any more wool (That doesn't mean I won't buy any though! HA) but rather I need some inspiration and your sure to get that from all the talented gals that attend. I'm going to be embarrassed beyond belief for everyone to see I'm still working on a Halloween project but I refuse to start anything else until it's done. (I told you I've been busy!!!)
Along with all the fun crafting projects I have planned, I also have lots of yummy new recipes to feed my family. I'm branching out and starting to make up some recipes of my own. At first I wasn't sure I could do this but I've made up two new cookie recipes the past two days and both were big hits. Keith told me I can experiment all I want if this is any indication of what I can do! HA As I can go along I'll be sharing what I've come up with so you can try them out too.
Well, there are clothes to be brought in and dishes to be done (One of the downfalls of cooking!) so I best get in there. I hope you've survived the holidays and you too are enjoying winter. Hugs, Sher

Awaking this morning I was surprised to see snow lightly falling! While not gorgeous, big fluffy flakes it was still snow and that in itself sent excitement through out the house. You would have thought the President of the United States was arriving the way we all pressed our faces to the window. What is it about the first snowfall of the season that makes us giddy with excitement? For me it means the time has arrived that my house will be filled with the smells of candles and tart warmers and also yummy food cooking in the kitchen. It's that time of year when the fire will be crackling and I'll be surrounded by wool hooking to my hearts content. A time to cozy up with Keith and remind ourselves how lucky we are that we don't have to venture out in the cold and how Blessed we are to have the home we have. Oh, I know in a few months you'll hear me complaining but for today I'm going to sit back and enjoy the day and be thankful for it. Hugs, Sher

Our Bus Stop Decorated for Halloween

Good Morning!
I simply could not let the day pass without sharing a photo of how we have our little bus stop decorated for Halloween! Yes, even that little building gets into the spirit of the season on "Old Crow Farm"!
This year we have decorated with some Mums and pumpkins that we grew right here on the farm. Now the story behind these pumpkins is that they weren't "planted" on the farm but instead grew from last years pumpkins. Yep, we threw the old pumpkins in the compost pile last year after Halloween and this year we were rewarded with some gorgeous pumpkins. Granted they didn't grow very big but still they were FREE and it doesn't get any better than that!
Take a peek in the window. Do you see that precious Witch flying on her broom with her trusty black cat? Well, my dear friend Sher Needle Punched her for us and she's just precious. [Thank you Sher!!!!] I had planned to display her in the house but decided I would put her down by the highway where everyone could enjoy her. After draping some artificial Fall leaves around her, I think she makes the perfect focal point for the window! Apparently everyone else does too as we've had lots of compliments on her.
Well girls the day is quickly passing so it's time to get in gear. Just wanted to share another touch of Halloween around the farm. Have a great day and safe evening. Hugs, Sher

Our Living Room

Yesterday I promised to show you one little section of our living room and how I have it decorated for Fall. This area is the love seat that sets to the south-west of our fireplace. I think I wrote about this section of our living room on my other blog....Everything you see is "used". Things that have been bought from auctions, yard sales or given to us. The most expensive thing you see was the sofa and it was bought at the Salvation Army for $50! And of course as you look at the picture you'll notice more "crows" tucked here and there!
Do you see the green "Drawer Box" sitting under the old bench? This is one of my newest finds when Keith and I went out junking. It's an old Atlas Powder Co. wooden box that someone has turned into drawers. It's the neatest thing and a real make-do as they even used wooden spools for the handles! I just love things like this as they are so unique.
Also, I don't know if you can see it but inside the old wooden dough bowl on the bench is an old granitware dipper. This old dipper holds many wonderful memories. That's because it belonged to a wonderful (At that time) eighty year old woman who loved to tell the story of how she meet her second husband. She said he came to the door and said something teasingly and she had the dipper in her hand full of water and she through it through the screen door onto him. Several years later they were married and she always said they fell in love at first "throw". I couldn't believe it when she went to live with her daughter twenty-six years ago and told me she wanted me to have it. For years it's hung off a hook in my kitchen (Just as it did in Muriel's) but for Fall I've moved it to the living room where it holds a white pumpkin with crow on top. Now it's making memories for us.
Our living room is the place where our family gathers each day and this touch of Fall makes us all know winter is just around the corner and soon we'll be sitting in front of the fireplace with a roaring fire longing for warmer days. Hugs, Sher

Feeling Like Fall!

Good Morning Girls!

It's a crisp cool Fall day here on the farm! Yesterday we woke up to our first frost of the season but today it's just cold! One of those days when you wish you could just snuggle back in under the covers but you know it's not possible...Because you have little ones to get around for school! So, with them out the door, the house is mine!

Now before I go any farther I want to thank Betty over at PrimitiveBetty's for the above wonderful award. I've known she awarded it to me for over a week but there just hasn't been the time to post it. THANKS Betty!!!! I wish I could say I deserved it but the truth is, my Fall decorating has taken a backseat because of all that is going on in my life. And I'm going to award it to all girls who are decorating their homes in brilliant, Fall colors!

With Fall in the air, things are getting busier around the farm. These next few days Keith and I are going to find ourselves coming and going with all we have going on. However, as busy as we are we are going to take some time for us. Today at noon we'll be going one of our local Mexican Restaurants for lunch. We love their #1's so know just what we'll be ordering. And then once we eat we'll head to our local Dollar General to pick up some things we're needing....Things like cat food for the farm cats! It seems like this cold air is making the animals as well as the humans eat a lot more! HA

Well girls, it's time to do a little house-work so I'd best get in there. If I don't get to it this afternoon, tomorrow I'll be posting a picture of a piece of our living room decorated for Fall. I hope you'll all having a super day and getting more done than I am. Hugs, Sher

Another Fall Picture!

Good Evening Girls!
I start this entry off with an apology. I know I promised a picture of the east side of my porch weeks ago and I'm just now getting around to posting one. Let me explain.....Our porch is super tiny! So tiny that you really have to think long and hard of what to put on it least you go "over the top". I have hit that point!!!! I have so many Fall items that I love and in my poor little porch has been the place I decided they needed to be. For days I worked on that poor little porch. First putting five things there, removing them and putting ten more! By the time I finished I stood back and looked and my first thought was, "Everyone is going to think I've completely lost my mind! Who has ever seen so much red, gold, green, orange, yellow, ect..?" And poor Keith....He took one look at it and said, "Don't you think it's a little "much" Sherry?" Okay, it is a little "much" but girls, I'm a little "much"!!!! So rather than pull it all off and start once again (By this time even I'm getting sick of the colors!) I decided to leave it.
So, are you all ready to see what will meet you when you come up the steps of our house and look to your left?....

Yes, a sea of bright Fall colors but some how or other they all seem to be a part of me. A part of Old Crow Farm that screams, "Fall has arrived". I'm sure strangers and family will wonder about my sanity but let them. Those that know me know I have always marched to my own drum beat and the porch is a part of me. The part that says, welcome to our home! Hugs, Sher

I've Started My Fall Decorating!

For days I have been painting on our old picket fence. As I paint I pray for those in need (And when your painting 362 pickets you know you are praying for everyone two and three times a day!) and I think about what I can do to make our old farm house look better and not spend a lot of money. I'm now working on the front of the fence, so each time I look up I see our front porch and of course I see all the little things that need to be done to it. It too is needing a new coat of paint {I guess everything on this old farm was painted at the same time as they are all getting that "shabby" look at the same time too!} and once I get done with the fence I'll move on to it. In the meantime though, I decided to do a little something to give it a quick face-lift and add a little color.
So, earlier this week I dumped a bunch of "Fall decorations" in a clothes basket and started to work. I loved the look of my old bench and wooden "press" (I confess, I'm calling it a press because I honestly have no idea what it is! HA) so I decided to leave it and decorate around them. Pulling out pumpkins, garland of Fall leaves, crocks, and fresh mums I set to work arranging a setting that sets just to the south of my front door. I had so much fun trying to arrange things in the little bit of space I have to work with. Did you notice how a "crow" has joined my arrangement? In days to come as I post more pictures, keep an eye out for the crows in my groupings. After all, we are "Old Crow Farm" so we just have to live up to our name! HA
Tomorrow I'll show you the east side of our little porch. I'm still putting the finishing touches on it so it's not quite done. As I work my heart is filled with joy for The Lord allowing me to have this old farm and having this wonderful season to work in. Fall Blessings, Sher

Thoughts of Fall!

Good Morning Girls!
The sky is full of clouds this morning but it hasn't stopped the my thoughts from turning to Fall. Have you ever noticed how after the heat of summer the first cool breeze you feel you automatically think, "Fall!" I for one have never really enjoyed summer. While I enjoy having the kids home from school and being able to play outside (Although this year that wasn't the case because of the heat!) and watching my flowers grow, for the most part I dread it. I'm not someone who enjoys being hot and summers in Kansas are definitely that! And then there are the bugs! This year we had record rainfall and I swear it was the perfect setting for mosquitoes!!! So, all of that being said, you can see how I long for the cool days of Fall.
There are so many things I associate with this time of year. While the cooler temperatures are wonderful so are the sites, sounds and smells of the season. In these next few weeks I'll be sharing with you some of these things around our farm. I'll show you how we decorate, cook, prepare for winter and how we get that wonderful "smell" that makes you think, "This is the best time of year!" I can't wait to share with you how we are working the colors of Fall into our home. Of course there is all the other new "things" we've bought I'll be sharing with you too. Before the season is over you'll be sick of seeing all my "junk"! HA
I hope you'll join me on this journey and please do share your Fall decorating tips and pictures. I want to know how you drag the season out as long as possible and what makes you have that "It's the best time of the year!" feeling. To give you a little sneak peek of things to come I'm going to leave you with some "dog biscuits" to show you how even our old yellow lab gets to be a part of the season. Think Fall! Sher

I'm Back!!!!!!

After taking a blogging break from this blog, I have decided it's time to come back! While I'll still be keeping my other blog, it will be used for our daily life around Old Crow Farm and this one will be used for the things I love....Decorating, rug hooking, cross stitching, antiques, ect.... This way my friends who want to know what is going on in our lives can check one blog and if they want to see what I'm doing they can check this one. Is all of that as clear as mud? HA
So, on that note, please keep checking back as I share the sites of Fall on Old Crow Farm. Talk to you soon! Hugs, Sher