Farm Goings On and Such

My sweet boy Angus, photographed by my sweet friend, Stacey on a recent trip to the farm.  She just grabbed my camera and snapped a few quick shots and seemingly with no effort came up with this photo of my best boy - Angus.  He's getting older and I know that this will be one of my eternally favorite photos of Angus that I will always love.  As you know, Angus was a rescue puppy and I have had him with me for the past 10 years.  I've loved every minute of it.

Ha.  This one cracks me up.  Another Stacey shot of Molly checking out a blueberry.

My son Ryan, with "Meaty" as he calls Molly.  She is a chunk and we love her anyway.  Poor Molly is currently on a doggie diet of only dog food and veggies.  We also have to limit her to her daily rations as she is a grazer like her Mom and will munch all day long if allowed.

Occassionally, a lone rider will pass by the farm in this instance one of our Amish neighbors.  See the horse's ears standing straight up?  That's because Angus was sounding the alarm by barking way too loudly.  He just wouldn't stop until the horse and rider had passed the barn.  My neighbor seemed to find this very amusing as Angus is only about a foot tall including his really big ears.  What he lacks in size he more than compensates with his loud doggie voice.  Wow, is that dog loud.

Sweet Dan is putting on the last coat of pain in my future studio space at the farm today.  I am so excited about my future studio space.  I currently work in my finished basement in the city, so I am super excited about all of those windows and bright white walls.  The next step is installing the hardwood floors.

Lots and lots of windows.  I will be able to view my flower garden from these three windows while I work.  Bliss.

I purchased a chandelier for the studio today at one of my favorite antiquing venues.  I love.love.love it!

I cleaned all of the crystals today and Sweet Dan is going to hang for me tomorrow.

This is the light that I found for the space above my kitchen table.  It has the prettiest milky white glass.

Another vintage fixture for the guest bath ceiling.  It was originally a tarnished brass, but with a fresh coat of glossy white paint it becomes perfect.

Some of my other favorite finds for the farm...

Lovely vintage cannister set.

Tiny procelain espresso set from Czechoslavakia.

Vintage aprons hanging from a French Rooster hook on my pantry door.

Green bakelite dominoes in an ironstone bowl.

And one sweet little cast iron bull dog.

I never get tired of designing my perfect sanctuary in the country.  Isn't it fun finding something special to add to your home that just makes you happy whenever you look at them? 

It's sunset and once again the sky is ablaze in hues of vibrant pink that looks so beautiful floating above the blue tones of the snow on the ground...what can I say, I am a country girl through and through. and it's here that I feel most like me.

Blessings - Julie

Collecting Elegance - Finds From the Weekend

det mysiga heestrand

Collecting Elegance will be the new title for my weekly offerings to you replacing Fabulous Finds.  I think the new title is a bit more fitting, after all isn't that what we do?  We gather elegant items for our homes that soothe us and create an atmosphere of understated elegance...

Bringing in these lovely items creates a calming effect in our personal havens where we rest and escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Children's Rosary from Italy - Purchase Here

I love rosaries in general and have an extensive collection, but my very favorite rosaries are the small versions made for children.  This one is especially sweet with tiny opaque white glass beads and a tiny silver crucifix made in Italy.  Drape it over a lampshade, hang it in a window, place in a tiny crystal bowl or lay on top of a vintage Bible.

paul massey

I have been gathering tarnished silver pieces, vintage linens, beautiful worn books, kitchen enamelware, old cork bottles in lovely shades of blue and artist odds and ends that I will photograph this week and present to you next week.  I love them all!

Vintage Brass Hose Nozzle - Purchase Here

I love these old brass garden hose nozzles and use them in alot of my displays because they remind me of my love of gardening.  When I can't be in the garden, I like to surround myself with vintage items from the garden.  Old plant markers, hose nozzles, garden tools, vintage seed packets and gardening books.  It's the next best thing...to being in the garden with my hands in the dirt.

paul massey

Blending the old with the new makes me happy, it's the perfect blend of vintage meets modern design.  Good design will always be good design...making all eras interchangeable.  It's a sophisticated eclectic style that I love in my home.

det mysiga heestrand

I have decided to replace some of my cabinetry in the kitchen with white open shelving to display my vintage kitchen pieces.  I have been collecting vintage hardware to add hooks to the bottom of the shelves.  I must reproduce the tiny fly screen cabinet, too.  Don't you just love it?

Spring is such a wonderful frenetic time of year, with all the activity after months of being cooped up inside, it's so much fun to dash outside and bring blossoms inside from the garden.  The challenge for me is to always have fresh blossoms to snip and place in vases inside throughout the growing season. 

I picked up the prettiest white geraniums and lavender petunias for my front porch that I can't wait to plant in a hanging wire basket.  The smell of sweet petunias as you come and go is a sweet indulgence.

What are you planting in containers this year?  Have you found anything special lately at the antique markets?Any Spring projects going on?  I'd love to hear about them.

Vintage Star Colander - Purchase Here

Vintage colanders have an abundance of uses other than the obvious - washing fresh strawberries from the Farmer's Market.  They also make great candle holders on tables in the evenings on your screened in porch.  They cast delecate star shapes as the candle flickers inside.  They also make great bowls for pistaschios, candy or fresh fruit.  Like any bowl, the usefulness is endless.

Enjoy the week, my friends....may you have gentle rains for your Spring gardens, warm sunshine on your shoulders and soft grass beneath your feet.

Blessings - Julie