My Yellow Farmhouse

WHOA where have I been and what have I been up to

doing this - moving some furniture out

and some of this - sorting what's going and what's not

and a whole lot of this - packing up some of the cave


and that's just what it's going to be like for the next couple of weeks.  I've given myself a deadline of February 11th to have all of this behind me - why that deadline you ask, well the house will officially go on the market during the next few days after that deadline.  The Realtor comes on the 12th to take final measurements and PICTURES - oh the horror she would see right now, LOL, and I want everything done by then.  I crave and need some balance in life and by pushing and getting everything in place I can achieve that somewhat for awhile.  I know that until this move is complete life won't be "normal" and I'm OK with that because it's all good and I feel very blessed to be able to be doing this at all.   The sewing room is such a mess because it's getting a major clean out and I'm packing up what I'm not going to need in the next couple of months.   Oh the things I've found, LOL.

I've gotten lots of feedback regarding the cake recipe - glad so many of you enjoyed the cake as well as that YUMMO frosting.  That frosting is good on anything and really good out of the pan, LOL.

Thank you everyone for your great comments on which door to pick.  So which door did I pick - after lots of back and forth I went with my gut feel which has never let me down unless I don't listen to it - and went with the frosted glass door front with the a clear star and the door and trim will be in red.  I loved the idea of the screen door - but it would require keeping things neat inside, the chalkboard would have been so fun - but I worried about how it would look after lots of usage, you know when the white chalk won't wipe off and I will say it wasn't Mr. Farmhouse's favorite either.  The glass door seemed like the best long term pick.  They've got all the taping done and the ceilings where finished up this week with the texturizing.  Monday they start the priming and paint will start by Wednesday and I can't wait to see that.  I'll share pics once that's done.

On Monday I took a quick trip down to Mpls Gift Mart show and shopped for some things for the website.  My poor site has really gotten neglected over the last month or so.  I think I picked up some fun things and they should start arriving in the next few weeks.  I bought some great samplers, cute wooden plates, greenery that looks real and some great prim Easter eggs, carrots and a few bunnies.  I know there's some more but I can't remember.  I have lots of those great felted mittens to get on the site  this weekend and I will be offering wool sample packs of lots of different colors and textures.  Anne has done a great tutorial on her website regarding working with wool if you want to check it out.  Have you checked out Bunny Hills free BOM - A few of the peeps and I are doing it and will be shopping at Farmhouse Woolens for all our wool needs, LOL. 

Thought I would share a couple of other things while I seem to be all over the place with this post.  This is a picture of one of the peeps finished stitchery that all of the peeps signed up to do last year.  We all bought frames from a place that Wendy suggested to me that would work for this project. They came white and we all planned on painting them to match our homes.  Three other peeps have there's into the framer - I've got 6 done and will get this one done hopefully over the next couple of months - it's a monthly black-work stitchery by Kathy Schmitz

This is a quilt and pillowcases that I received from my dear Friend ME - she had the great seasonal store in the mall and this is a quilt I've been eyeing for a long time and she knew that

it has such an old fashion feeling to it and will look great in the guest bedroom at the new house.  Word on the street is that there is another kit floating around so that I could make another one and have matching quilts on the twin beds.  I was blown away by her generous spirit - isn't she a peach.  Thank you ME - you know I will treasure it :).

While cleaning up the sewing cave I decided that I would pack up everything that I didn't think I would be using in the next few months, wow did that open a can of worms - YIKES.  Actually I'm pretty sure sewing up there will be pretty rare.  I don't know about you all but I'm a messy sewer and once that baby is cleaned up I just don't see myself making a mess with a project on the rare chance that the house needs to be shown.  So I think it's going to be nothing but handwork and possibly some knitting going on for this girl.  I did come across lots of fun projects that were hidden away, so once the move is complete I'm pretty sure I won't be needing to buy much - ya right, LOL.  Thought I would show you my personal stash of wool - this isn't what I've bought for the business, just what I've acquired over the years -some of the bins are full and a little hard to slide into the shelf - they are in bins by color.


Now remember this stash has been in the making for a very long time.

Now onto the winner of the giveaway - sorry it's taken so long to get back here to announce that.  Life certainly got in the way this week - and I forgot to ask Mr. Farmhouse on Sunday to give me a number, so on the way out the door on Monday morning I asked him and he said #29 which is Melissa from Cornbread and Beans
I asked why 29 and it was the last 2 numbers of the check he just took out of the checkbook that morning, LOL.  So Melissa I will be needing your snail mail to get your patterns out to you.  Thank you everyone for leaving your comments.  I have something planned for a giveaway in a couple of weeks to celebrate my milestone  birthday.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.  We actually have a little warmer weather the last few days and that's a good thing.  Lordy it's been cold here.  We've got friends coming over for the super bowl on Sunday and looking forward to that.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Until Next Time

Hmmmmm - Cake for Breakfast

I say why not, LOL.  Well it wasn't for breakfast - let's say coffee break OK.  I mean if I needed to photograph it so that I could share the recipe I can't really put it back in the pan right, because you know I touched it.  Hey I can justify just about anything if I look hard enough.  So last night I hosted my card making group and had to come up with a card idea and dessert.  The cake is a yummy one and probably in just about everyone's recipe box - but just in case here's the recipe.

• Chocolate Cherry Cake
• 1 pkg Devils Food Cake
• 1 can Cherry Pie Filling
• 1 tsp Almond Extract
• 2 eggs beaten

Mix all together and pour into a greased and floured 9x13 cake pan.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Just before cake is done cooking, make Gail's Killer Chocolate Frosting.  Seriously just add this directly to my hips - I make brownies and cakes  just so I can justify eating the frosting - again with the justifying thing - hmmmm.

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter

boil for 30 seconds and then add

• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 1 cup chocolate chips

mix until everything is melted and pour over the cake as soon as you take it out of the oven.  Cool and then cut yourself a big ol slice of that cake and eat it for breakfast if you want, after all it does have fruit in it, LOL.

Since I was pressed for time on the card idea I picked out my stamp set - wait let's back the truck up first - before that I cleaned and organized - oh yes I did - my stamp cupboard in the kitchen ( well it was so I could find the stamp set I was looking for, but I digress so let's move on to the post).  Why is the stamping stuff in the kitchen you ask - because I like to have lots of room to stamp when I drag the stuff out and oh ya the cave is full of sewing stuff and there's no room - how sad is that, LOL (SEE -  I can justify anything).  Anyway here's a picture of the now organized stamping cupboard - ready for inspection by a potential home buyer

ain't it purty - I'm so proud of myself.  Oh ya back to the post - so I found my stamp set and mossied on over to splitcoaster stamp site looked up my stamp set and clicked right on over to see examples of cards and found this little cutie

I did mess up on the background stamp not getting it inked enough, but hey this was just the sample.  And can you believe it I had everything I needed in that little old cupboard - didn't have to buy a thing, WOO HOO.  So those girls got busy and made themselves up a bunch of cards.

Let's see what else can I talk about.  I'm pretty sure this post is going to be all over the place so bear with me, could be the chocolate cake kicking in - oh ya - Lois came over on Monday and we freshened up the sun room with a new coat of pretty paint

what's that you say - why yes I did to paint - I rolled and she did all the cutting in - that girl is a whiz with a brush.  Her ceiling line is amazing and the woman doesn't have to tape off on the woodwork, she has the steadiest and fastest hand I've ever seen, that girl is a legend.  We did have to paint over the stencil around that stained glass because we couldn't match the original yellow - but that's OK - it is what it is.  I'm thinking that Mr. Farmhouse and I should leave the beloved recliners right where they are and we could have deep meaningful conversations together eye to eye.  Those WILL NOT be moving with us BTW.  Now the room is somewhat back in order - I brought this chair down from the cave so that potential home buyers can actually walk around the cave without getting bruised.  I'm liking how it looks.

this is pretty much the state of my house right now

I got nuttin on the shelves or tables.  After I took down all the holiday stuff I decided that I would wait before anything else went back up.  I'm in the mode of staging the house for sale and packing away stuff that is either being moved to the new house and stuff that's going bye bye.  My friend Rosemary is coming over tomorrow to help me with a critical honest eye and will figure out what will keep out to make it look warm and inviting and then I can pack away and move stuff that we don't need right now.  Should make it a lot easier for cleaning, LOL.  Every weekend we head out to the house we take a load - should make the final moving day a bit easier.  But the house sure looks boring right now. 

OK here's a question for you -  this is a picture of the new kitchen - in that left corner is a walk in pantry (on my wish list for a long time) and I can't decide on the door - well I'm getting close to a decision but let's here from you all - I'm trying to decide between a screen door and a wood door where the bottom half is wood and the upper half is a chalkboard - I'm also considering a frosted glass door with a clear glass star in the center.  That same thing will be in a transom above the little bathroom door just down that hall on the right.  But I'm leaning more towards the chalkboard or screen door.  My cupboards will all be cream and my center island is a wonderful shade of red and I'm thinking about the pantry door being the same shade of red - so what's your thoughts on the pantry door?  I should say that the house will have a country farmhouse look to it - very straight and simple lines.

Mr. Farmhouse like I've told you always feeds the critters every Saturday.  He loads up the barrels with 700 pounds of cracked corn and the 3 bird feeders with lots of sunflower seeds and birdseed and it usually last until about Wednesday. On Monday morning those barrels were cleaned out.  On Tuesday this little guy and the squirrel inside the barrel where trying to get every last nibble - can you see the squirrel tale on the side of the feeder - that just cracked me up for some reason - oh and last night at dusk there were about 15 deer down at these feeders all staring up at the house, I'm not kidding, looking at Mr. Farmhouse and I staring back - I swear they were saying - "hey what gives, we've been out for a few days here mister, cough it up"

now this morning this is what we found

can you see both feeders are knocked down and the right hand one is on it's way down the bank to the river - with a happy little squirrel sitting on top - I think he's taunting the other happy little fella on the ground - "come on, make my day".

Mr. Farmhouse says he refuses to be "bullied" - I say fine but I'm not hauling my butt down that steep bank to help you pull that barrel back up, LOL.  Who knows what tomorrow morning will bring.

So I passed a milestone and didn't even realize it.  Yup 200 posts were exactly 4 posts back - which if your counting makes this my 204 post.  Soooo in honor of that and if you've stuck to reading this long dribble from me I'm having a giveaway for 1 set of these  pattern/kits. 

I think these stitcheries are darling and will be adding them and several other months to my site this weekend.  So if you leave a comment I will have Mr. Farmhouse pick a number on Sunday morning for a winner of the 2 kits, not the finished one - that's mine all mine my pretties,  I actually got something done - can I hear a WOO HOO for me, LOL.

Well I think the sugar is wearing off - so a nap might be in order before I tackle my closet - ohhh now that's scary, LOL.  So I think I will join Ms Cami and sun myself by the window

and "walk away" from the cake pan, LOL

Until Next Time

WEEEE DAWGIES - THAT'S COLD

yup your reading right there sisters - that's 30 below zero at 11:00 in the morning on Thursday, AND that's without the wind chill.  Hey Sharon wanna move here, LOL.  Lordy it's been a bit chilly here the last several days.  But the weather man said yesterday that it was warming up to a "balmy" -2 below.  Who'd a thought that would be an improvement, LOL.

OK enough of that.  Thanks everyone for making Ms Faye feel so welcomed in her guest blogging post.  I'm thinking she's going to take the plunge and start one of her own.  She has a wonderful knack for writing and a terrific sense of humor.  She is the official woolie secretary and sends the best emails to all of us.  So once she takes the plunge I will be sure to send you all her way to stop by and visit.

So I took that picture of the thermometer in my car while sitting outside Ms. Faye's house to pick her up for our monthly woolie get together. Now there was a small amount of talk about canceling it due to weather (it was about -40 with the wind chill and school was canceled for the day) but being the hearty girls we are and not wanting to really miss our chance at our get together, we forged ahead and bundled up and while visiting made sure to start our cars a few times to keep them running when it was time to head out.  Makes you want to move here doesn't it, LOL (hey JM enjoying CA are ya and glad to be gone for several weeks).  Ms. Denise had a wonderful lunch for us to start the get together with


a wonderful chicken hot dish, yummy lettuce salad and warm beer bread.  BUT the dessert, lordy I forgot to take a picture of the dessert, picture vanilla wafer crust, filling of peanuts, caramel and cut up snicker bars with a chocolate frosting, oh with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to round it out.  WOW I was pretty sure we all hit a sugar level unseen before, but everyone belonged to the clean plate club when we were finished, LOL.

A little show and tell was the way to start our sewing time - Ms Denise made this adorable quilt for her granddaughters room

I believe it was a pattern from a magazine.  Then of course the little dolly needs a matching quilt

and she also whipped up this little quilt - how cute

Now Ms Penny has a son getting married in a warm tropical area very soon and made the special wedding couple a quilt that really knocked our socks off

this quilt was STUNNING in person and her machine quilting finished it off.  There was much discussion on the right binding to cap it off and the perfect one was picked. WOW it was beautiful and I do know it's a Buggy Barn pattern I think from the book Phebe's Favorites or something like that.  The happy couple will love it I know.  A true labor of love.

Ms Jean had some cute socks she made for Ms.Faye's granddaughter Olivia (Ms Jean and Ms Faye are SIL's) aren't these sweet

she also finished up a punch needle
don't ya love that frame - she made that and will be making some for the web shop to frame some monthly stitchery patterns I will be listing this coming week.   

Ms Denise also had a couple of darling punch needle patterns that she finished up and used the temporary Tack It to attach them temporarily to some fun pieces like a crock and treeneware scoop

another quilt project that Ms. Denise is working on to hang outside next winter when family and her woolies come to visit

Let's take a little tour around Ms. Denise's house and see a little of her prim decorating - first off her winter tree in her kitchen

cute snow angel and snowflake in her bay window

loved this cute pillow in her entryway

now here are a few snippets of spots around the house

So that's it for now - it's taken me 2 days to get this post finished- cripes that's crazy.  I've been working on a stitchery that I'll show next time and I have my 2nd Jan Patek block all prepped and ready for stitching.  This week has been busy busy busy but next week looks a bit quieter.  There busy muding and taping the sheet-rock out at the new house and painting should start in about 2 weeks.  All cabinets and flooring have been finalized and I went with bold colored cabinets in the laundry room - GULP but it's gonna be fun to do go into that room and do laundry if that's possible.  Wednesday is deadline for woodwork and door styles and I'm just about sure on the style I've picked.   So I hope to be back on Tuesday with some fun things to show.

Until Next Time

1 Ringy Dingy - Guest Blogger Faye

Ok were going to try this again and see if I can make it work for Ms. Faye and this time you get the pictures - you all know "techy" is not my name

A GRACIOUS HELLO

Remember when Lily Tomlin was Ernestine the telephone operator?  It always cracked me up.  She is sitting there with hair & makeup done, legs crossed and always with an expression like she'd just bitten into a sour pickle.  One hand would be on the headset phone and a finger on the other hand was always kinda poking down into her bosom.  After dialing, she always counted:  1 ringey dingey, 2 ringy dingies, then she'd answer saying, "a gracious hello" and add a little laugh that had a snort at the end.   So just for today I'm channeling Lily Tomlin as the telephone operator.  A gracious hello!!!!  (snort)

No, I’m not Karen.  Your “guest blogger” today is Miss Faye (not to be confused with the book titled “Bobbie Faye’s Very (very, very, very) Bad Day”).  HER bad day was very (very, very, very) funny whereas MY bad days were not.  I am she of the broken leg that took a month in the hospital to fix.   But fixed I am and mega thanks to those who cheered me on.  Ain’t life grand?

Do you remember a while ago when Miss Karen posted a picture of mouse traps lined up along the kitchen counter?  We were training our dog, Baxter, to quit shopping on the counters.  Here’s a picture of the mouse traps now

Here are pictures of Baxter being perfect:
 

Well, he’s almost perfect.  I think today will be the day.  Can you relate?  I used to say that about my kids too – until I caught on.  Now I’m trying to train little Baxter to wipe his feet when he comes in covered in snow and ice.  I figure I have a better chance with the dog than with my hubs. (I was gonna say “My Better Half” but that’s got to be the dumbest expression ever thought up) Sigh.  Can you relate again? 

Boy, do I ever feel stupid now.  Really, I’m not making this up - check out this picture of what our precious Baxter was doing while I was writing this:

Yes, there’s a big hole in the front of this pillow that I just finished this week and yes, there’s stuffing coming out of the hole………….Well, except for that he’s almost perfect.  Tomorrow could be the day.  J 

I never did get around to talk of quilting, woolies, or decorating.  So, how about I show some pictures of a miniature challenge my Loose Threads quilt group did.

 

Until next time:

A GRACIOUS GOODBYE!!  (snort)

Let's Head Down the Road to the Lake

Mr. Farmhouse and I packed up the holiday decorations into the car this weekend and moved out to the new house.  So I thought I would share with you how beautiful the drive is right now to the house.  This road is the turnoff road that takes us to the house.  Mr. Farmhouse had his car loaded and was in front of me.  Yes we both had full cars but there was also 2 artificial trees in the car as well. 
Hey Mr. Farmhouse wait up


 

that's the lake straight ahead in the above picture

were getting close - can you see the snow covered house

Ahhhhhh future home sweet home

Here's a peek at the front porch railing - can't wait to sit out there this summer

I'm starting the dreaded job of going through cupboards and closets now in preparation of putting the house officially on the market at the end of February.  Our Realtor has someone who is interested in seeing it as soon as I'm ready this month - so the pressure is on to get the job done.  I plan on NEVER moving again, LOL.  But this is a good time to really sort through all of my treasures and really decide on what I want to keep.  I'm looking at this move as a fresh start, of being honest on what I really want to keep and what I really use.  I told Mr. Farmhouse that even if it's a family treasure unless it's really important we just can't move it again.  It's time to simplify.  I see a big garage sale happening after this move.  Anyone want to come help :)

So Anne of course met the challenge and got her 2 blocks done.  I have the first one just about finished I just have to applique 2 stars down and the 2nd block is halfway prepped.  Well so I'm still behind but I'm farther ahead than I was a week ago, LOL.  I will catch up - yes I will.  My applique skills are just a bit rusty - but getting better each stitch I take.

I stopped at my favorite antique store last week when when the Mister and I ran up to Fargo.  I've had my eye on this little prize and decided that with my Christmas money if it was still there I was going to get it - and yup it was there waiting for me to come and get it and bring it home

isn't it cute (sorry for the bad picture but it was to dang cold to stand out in that garage for to long) - I'm thinking next holiday season it will hold a smaller tree on our porch or in our family room.  The owner thought it was from the 1920's and it's in perfect shape.

Now here's another little prize just waiting to be moved and unboxed (is that a word) - my new sewing table that I bought down in Houston last fall at quilt market.  Ms. Anne dragged me over to the Horn booth and made me buy it saying it was a great one to have and it's the one that she has in her sewing room.  So I said OK Anne I'll buy it because you say so.  I can just hear her gasping as she reads that sentence, just kidding Anne, but she did recommend it and I'm glad she did.  It will be perfect in the new cave and will be fun when it's in place.

Here's the start of packing boxes and tubs and bubble wrap just waiting to be filled with house stuff for the move.  Yikes I'm not looking forward to that.  I'm thinking I'm going to need a few more boxes and tubs, what do you think, LOL

Until Next Time

HAPPY 2009 EVERYONE

I just wanted to pop in and say to you all.  I wish for you a wonderful and healthy 2009. It's been so much fun getting to know so many of you.  Thank you for all your special friendships - they are a true blessing in my life.

We went to a fun get together with our friends on New Year's Eve with the intention of some outdoor games which is why we are were all wearing sport jerseys.  Well it was just to cold and windy for even us hearty Minnesotans, so we hung out inside, ate and played some fun games and Mr. Farmhouse and I even made it well past midnight. 

Here's a recipe that I brought to the party.  A dear friend shared this one with me several years ago and it's always been a hit when I've served it.  Not even sure what you call it - so I'll call it
Little Weinies in Sauce, LOL

3 lbs of Little Smokie Sausages
2 1/2 pounds thin sliced bacon
4 cups brown sugar
2 cups yellow mustard

Cut the bacon into 1/3's and wrap a small piece around each smokie and secure with a toothpick.  Lay in a single layer in a jelly roll size pan

mix together the brown sugar and mustard and pour over the little smokies.  Bake in a 350 oven for 1 hour.  I then put them into my crockpot, poured some of the sauce over them and kept them on low and they were DEE-LISH

not the best picture I know but I was in a hurry before we left - try them for your next get together.

Today I'm going to finish taking down the little bit of Christmas dec still up and get that put away.  Yup were under another winter storm warning - seems to be a pattern here for every weekend, LOL.  Mr. Farmhouse took care of feeding all his animals, the deer, birds, rabbits and yup even the squirrls

Hey Mr. Farmhouse - good job, your critters will thank you

So will see you back here on Monday - it's time to get back to regular posting and hopefully some finished quilt blocks.

Until Next Time