l.o.v.e.

l................let

o...........our

v.........voices

e........echo

l.o.v.e.

together they mean one thing

but when you take time to explore "love", it opens up

for me......

it's about what we are resonating to those whom surround us


l.o.v.e.

~photo credits: my love and a tripod...a.k.a. the hood of the car~
~ cuff from Polly at French Cupboard ~
skirt by me...Anne Marie


(p.s.......thank you sweet friend)

food display idea....

we recently had some summer guests on the farm for the day....

they were bringing 8 children...all over the age of 10, so I thought I'd label each sauce and dip I made for them....so everyone could see clearly what they were adding to their
"help-yourself" pork wraps....

all you need is this.....

(I found those adorable little clothespins at the craft store)

tie it around your bowl tightly with hemp twine, write the contents of what will be in the bowl with a fine tip permanent marker, and then clip it on with that cute tiny clothespin...


do that for all of your side dishes
(this really helps if you are serving SPICY items)

the obvious things like shredded cheese and guacamole weren't necessary....

it gives a clean and organized look for your guests, and for your kitchen
(which is very important to me)


for the peppers and tomatoes, I used an old brown bread baker that when opened extends really nicely......(I have also used this for silverware in previous parties)....


let your guests be involved in the kitchen prep....because no one likes to feel helpless....

Enjoy your summer!! and share your kitchen.......

Fifi's visit to the farm....

The delightfully fabulously talented Fifi O'Neill came to the farm!!!

She contacted me about taking pictures of Na-Da Farm and all the life that encompasses this place I call home, after seeing pictures of the sale, and the farm through the blog, for her upcoming book!!!!!!

like I was going to say "no"

So I busied myself in the kitchen for my guests that were coming........
peach pie


homemade herb-from-the-garden bread

(these herb bread loaves were for Fifi and Mark...with jam and honey....but we used them as props and then ate them for supper)

I gathered sage....and spruced up some corners of the farmhouse....

Fifi's photographer, Mark Lohman was so professional, and just hilarious...we had so many laughs....it was just terrific!
Mark's photographs can be seen in some amazing publications such as Veranda, Coastal Living, Beautiful Homes, Country Living, Country Home and many more. He is Fifi's exclusive photographer for this project...and Mark: "you're a keeper" ;)

Fifi was totally hands on......putting hay bales into a wheelbarrow........carrying the barn table out with me to the prairie.........
not one complaint or negative word
just a delight
one of the most unpretentious people I've met

He took this picture of Fifi and I after we had just finished a photo shoot out in the prairie...and during many laughs and dodges from sword fights with some prairie grasses with the girls....

with our shoes kicked off.......sitting on the hay with THE ONE AND ONLY Fifi, well, it was just like sitting with a good friend I've known for years....I had to crop this photo so you don't see what we all did out there......but this book she's putting together has a few of my friends in it as well.......such as Tracey, from French Larkspur, and Angela from Parisienne Farmgirl...and to be put in the same book as some of my friends, is THE biggest treat....


let me tell you an exciting possibility.......

Fifi has agreed to come to the sale in May 2011 for a book signing at the Barn Sale!!!
(many things both in the business and personally could happen to prevent this, however, as of right now, I'm serving her lamb medallions with fresh asparagus and my homemade cream sauce with a lemon cocktail..........oh wait.......that's for you Mark isn't it?)

They came at about 9 in the morning, and stayed until about 10 that night...

We just had so much fun with them....
the kids, the chickens, the horses.......even Gilberta the goose

We ended the day on the pergola covered deck, eating supper under candlelight, followed by the peach pie prop :)

Her book is due out in March 2011 (in Canada, the UK, U.S. and possibly China) and as soon as it hits the stores I will let you know!
You can come here to the farm in May to the sale and meet her in person! and have her sign your copy of the book!!
Wouldn't that be a blast? Eating a cupcake and macron with Fifi?

~make sure you go visit Tracey's blog to see her great pictures of her time with Fifi and Mark too~

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!!........
I'm taking a little time off...just a little

xo + blessings,

flaky sweetness...

the inside entryway has seen a transformation (as I usually do this time of year...) and I will only now give you a sneak peek


things start coming out that are white......and not just in the entry.....

this lemon meringue pie I made for father's day sums me up pretty well lately

flaky

filled with tart/sweetness

and pretty airy up top

i have vowed to myself to take time for myself
i can do this



and do this........

I know where everything is in this house - even if the books are turned backwards for a chromatic look.....


and I also did this.......moved a double bowl farm sink into the Potager......

it's not nearly finished yet....that whole 'work station' out there....but soon....and I will make sure to share all of it with you....

happy white Wednesday!
from Faded Charm and moi......and many more

no need for the weather man....

this was the look down our driveway the other day......


from the west.....it was coming.....


these photographs are NOT altered.....my husband was outside taking these pictures like some sort of storm chaser......let's say, we can call him an "extreme farmer"


We had the kids go in the basement......and I was frantically pushing my tomato cages (all of them) into the ground as far as I could.....tipping over birdbaths.......taking in tables.......removing glass from any table tops outside

it was quite the workout

the winds starting bursting at @40mph

then I looked up, and this is what I saw.....

my husband looked at me, and said "start praying"

he NEVER says that to me through a storm.....he's actually chased tornadoes before!

the winds were calculated at 70mph in our area at this time
hhhhmmmm......I wonder why??

without delay, I ran into the basement.....with all our important documents (birth certificates, home insurance files, etc)

After it passed, this is what we saw......

he sure knows how to capture a storm

don't ever expect me to do the same

I'll be in the basement with the kids thank you very much

sad news though:
our little summer house has seen better days, and I was planning on using that for more dealers, but we think it would be best to stick with the horse barn for the upcoming October Sale.

one thing is for certain: there is no need for a weather man

~Hope you are all faring well~

ART SAVES.....

There's a great website out there......ART SAVES.....and I have read it now for awhile....they wanted to feature my life and story about the barn sale....so I happily obliged!!

Jenny Doh happens to be the creative mind behind this website...it's so fantastic to see someone actually trying to make a difference through art..........it's not just about the art that people create....but about the stories behind them.......the way the creative process brings either them or others around them into a better understanding of faith. I like that. a lot.
Here's a quote from their website:
"Art is what comes out of each of us, as we use our diverse spectrum to elevate to beautify our lives"

It's a place to get some inspiration from the inside........however.....the people they feature, and the stories they do on these individuals are just a click away (they always provide the links).

If you have time, you can go over and read my story..........it was featured on June 13th.......and it was my pleasure!!

Black and White Sunday...

It's been awhile since I have felt like displaying my photography in Black and White...but lately...with everything going on here at the farm.....with my life both internally and externally......I really enjoyed putting these photographs to Black and White.......


really: life is black and white.....there is no gray......sepia tone......but either good or bad.......and sometimes it's healing for me to see both sides, not just primarily black or white..........

I also learned something after fiddling with these.......that even when you are only two, it doesn't matter if you can read or play music.....but just by sitting next to someone you love is a beautiful thing.......

I hope you are all taking time to just sit......without noisy t.v. and such with your husband or father today.......they are our rock......men are just awesome.......and we can learn a lot from them.

the man in my life teaches me daily to stay in peace....especially when in nature....

take that time with him, or give that time to him....they need it just as much as us women, if not more

and a "happy father's day" to you readers who are fathers...keep up the good work...

Pure Miss E...

An easy idea for a summery layered look.......Pure Miss Elizabeth......

I had a lot of fun recently updating the photographs of "pure miss E" out in the gardens after an inquiry to sell them wholesale

As you already know...she is made of pure linen...hand stitched and oh so flattering for any body type....

Worn elegantly with a vintage slip and lace top (as shown here), or even paired with your favorite summer dress, Pure Miss Elizabeth lightens up any outfit in a unique hand sewn fashion

I take great care with my sewing projects....because each of you mean a lot to me!

They are available in my shop......and always at the Barn Sale!

Enjoy this day!! It won't happen again!!!!!

making bread...

I'm sharing my recipe of oatmeal bread today...

why I didn't crop my head off here is beyond me....however, the happy face you do see is truly how I feel baking bread for my family

one could call that picture "pregnant with bread"...good gravy...
(please note: I am NOT expecting...but thank you for your emails!...it was my sense of humor...it just looked like I was pregnant with bread :)

the rising is beautiful to watch...and I always use a sunny window to let it rise...


That wasn't hard now was it? You can do this...

HONEY & OATS BREAD

6 c. locally milled/organic flour 2 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tbsp. softened butter (no substitutes here) 2 c. boiling water 2 pkg. dry yeast (I use yeast in bulk, so it's 1 1/2 Tablespoons) 1/3 c. lukewarm water 1/2 c. organic honey 1 c. non-instant oats (try to find a local producer) In bowl, add oats and pour 2 cups boiling water, about 1/2 hour later, you're ready to go. Soak yeast in 1/3 cup lukewarm water. Let stand 5 minutes. To oats add salt, honey and butter. Add yeast. Next stir in 2 cups flour, then 2 more. Knead in last 2 cups flour. Shape into a round ball. Place in bowl, cover with clean dish towel and let rise until 2 times its size. Cut down with a knife. Divide and place in 2 greased bread pans. Cover and let rise again. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes.

I've something else cooking...which is very time consuming...and it's all over the farm...
stay tuned
(and no, I'm not expecting...shocking....even to me!)