Winter Cravings

Why do we crave fresh fruits and vegetables in winter?  Is it mental, or are our bodies trying to tell us something?  Must be sunshine vitamin deficiency, since so many winter days are downright gloomy…  When the sun does shine through my kitchen window, I draw irresistably to its soothing glow and warmth.  But it’s difficult draping myself over the sink to enjoy it.  This is the time of year I think investing in a sun room is a good idea.  Sigh.

I also find myself spending copious time browsing the fresh produce section of the grocery store.  Fresh strawberries from California, green grapes from Chili, blueberries from…where are those blueberries from?  I’m eating so many succulent little popping-fresh berries, my teeth are turning blue.  And who had the bright idea of displaying bouquets of fresh flowers among the produce?  Smart, very smart.  I buy, I linger, I think I need those expensive strawberries after all…and some tulips.

Maybe a trip to Florida would be more cost effective.

White Sale

Do they still refer to linen sales as White Sales?  Since linens are now in every rainbow hue, it doesn’t have the same connotation.  Local department stores have expanded the concept of linen sales in January to “home sales” and now include entire housewares departments in their offerings.   

Although bed linens were traditionally white in Grandmother’s home, accent linens displayed a charming blend of colors.  Below is a cozy January pillow project using vintage linen.  Choose an embroidered linen runner or buffet cloth with pleasing designs, in good condition.  Fold the runner two-thirds over on itself–right-side out.  Leave a “flap” extending above the overlap.  Stitch the square together on the four sides, leaving a section in one side large enough to stuff the rectangle firmly with fiber fill.   After filling, stitch the opening closed.  Finally, fold the flap over the pillow and tack in place.  Add a vintage button to create the look of an envelope with button closing.

Cottage Accent Pillows

This is a pleasing way to preserve and display family handiwork and add a touch of color and charm.

January Snow

Old Towne Grove Chapel, Groveland, IL

We expect snow in January.  When it covers our rural landscape in pristine white, we can appreciate the beauty, in spite of the inconvenience.

The wedding chapel on our farmstead seems appropriately dressed in white as two thousand weddings have been held in its diminutive interior and surrounding garden.  Although white is traditional, brides prefer the flowers and green grass of June over January’s snow and cold temperatures.   

I walked the farmstead snapping a few pictures, before the snow loses its untouched perfection.  For this glorious moment, the chapel sits like a cake topper on whipped cream frosting.

Puzzling

Our family tradition of putting together a Christmas puzzle resulted in some frustration.  First, the puzzle we decided to tackle was huge.  Second, it had an inordinate amount of pieces in multiple hues of blue.  Third, some pieces fit with more than one interlocking partner!  As a result, we managed to finish only the border and a few inner images before giving in and tucking it away for a more likely year.

Although the project was unsuccessful, there were fringe benefits.  We all contributed some time to the effort, working separately or in teams.    It was mindless and mesmerizing work, relieving stress rather than creating it like the 9-to-5 jobs we would soon return to.    Together, we celebrated the union of each piece formerly lost and then found…   Like a puzzle, it is the little pieces of our family lives that come together to make the big picture.

Holiday Dinner Party

Festive Table Near The Christmas Tree

Christmas 2009 is a celebration of many new beginnings for my husband and myself.  Although we are retiring from our collectable business, we see it not as an end–but an opportunity to pursue other interests.  We are also celebrating the engagement of our daughter and look forward to Kelly and Adam’s wedding in June here at our barn home.  What better reason to bring out the best china and set a festive table for Christmas.

My father encouraged me to take home my mother’s Bavarian china, the set with the cranberry glass goblets that she always used for Christmas.  I was delighted he would want me to have it now and I couldn’t wait to set a table with it.   I purchased red damask napkins to echo the deep reds of the glass.  On a white damask cloth, it is very striking. 

May your Christmas be a celebration of the birthday of Christ.  Make it one to remember, with your best table.  In Him, we have much to celebrate and unlimited promise for the year to come.

Tanner, The Barn Deer

Adding whimsy to our Christmas tree this year is a three-foot resident barn deer.  He came to live with us after an excursion to Tanner’s Apple Orchard last Autumn.  On the way, we stopped at a small gift shop.  Above the entrance was a display of charming stuffed animals as large as the children who would love them.

The deer, in particular, had captured my attention but I wasn’t willing to pay the price.  I was unprepared for the reaction of my husband, usually the logical one.   He said, “Do you want him?”

“Honey, we really have no reason to pay that much for a stuffed deer.  We don’t even have grandchildren!”

“I don’t know; he would look awfully cute next to the Christmas tree…” 

I rained on hubby’s parade, refusing to encourage his whim.  But as we drove away, I realized that such whims were extremely rare for him.  “Do you really want him?”  I asked.

Without hesitation, he said, “Yes.  I really do.”  We turned around, bought him, and took him home as our special barn deer.  It was worth the detour and the price just to see my husband leave that shop with Tanner under his arm, his tail bouncing up and down with every step.  We named him after the destination that led us to him.  

Tanner, Mugging For The Camera

May your Christmas be filled with the promise of the season… and a bit of whimsy.

 

Merry Christmas!

FRESH TREE #36

We had an artificial tree our first year of married life, but then, what did we know?  The first year of marriage is a time of negotiation and adjustment–and no more so than at the holidays, attempting to meld two traditions into one.  But, on one issue, we both came to a quick agreement.  Every Clemens Christmas thereafter, the family tree would be REAL.

The Fragrance of Christmas!

The type of fresh tree we chose changed with experience.  Long-needles were soft, but hard to decorate.  Pines were nice and often less expensive, but had little fragrance.  We finally compromised on the Fraser fir, what I call the King of the Christmas tree forest!  They exude the smell of Christmas past and have needles that do not shed easily.

 

The size of our trees changed with the size of the house.  In our first little country ranch, Hubby tried squeezing in 8 foot trees, leaving sap marks on the ceiling.  When we moved into our restored barn 7 years ago, flight took fancy.  We now have 10 foot fresh Frasers standing in the center of the great room each season, and the one for 2009 is gloriously full and seasonally fragrant!

 

As we age, I think our trees will begin to get smaller and perhaps be erected mid December rather than week one.  We may even resort to an artificial tree–pre-lit for convenience…but I hope that will be later than sooner.  Decorating the family tree fresh from northern woods is a tradition we hope to cherish for many years to come.

 

“O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches…”

That Christmas Feeling

The staircase is draped in greens and berries, candles and wreaths crown every corner, and our ten foot Fraser fir stands tall in the center of the great room.  It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Farm Grove, but the decoration that causes a flutter of nostalgic Christmas feelings is not glitter sparkling.  It is the humble cardboard nativity scene that belonged to my grandparents. 

Vintage Lithographed Manger Scene, Circa 1950

As I carefully fit the worn edges together for perhaps the fiftieth time, images of Christmas past at Grandma’s house flood my memory bank…date pinwheels, bowls of oranges, and long cellophane ropes of candy canes.  The nativity scene sat on top of Grandpa’s T.V., not pride-of-place so much as the only place it would fit in their small bungalow.  The decoration wasn’t a particular favorite for me at the time–there were cousins to play with, presents to open, and pies and cookies to eat.  But it was always there, a part of what made Christmas, Christmas. 

Now, sitting on the buffet flanked by candles and greens, Grandma’s nativity infuses my home with happy memories.  How remarkable that those worn paper figures have the power to make me feel like a child again, at Christmas.

Christmas Past & Present

SHOPPING IN THE BARN'S GREAT ROOM

Our last retail Christmas Open House is past.  We have celebrated 26 in all…and all now a precious memory.

Imagine over 200 customers waiting at our front porch and shop entrance for the doors to open.   It was difficult to move during the initial crush, but our clients told me they were able to glean treasures from the merchandise and hand-crafted decorations we assembled.  Our theme was A Christmas To Remember, and it truly was memorable.

Such home-based business merchandising can be demanding, but the benefits are many.  Do you own a home-based business?  Have you thought about it?  Share your comments or ask those “how to” questions.   The best teacher is the voice of experience. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Dresden Ornaments

Dresden Ornaments

Calling all ephemera fanatics!  If you have a passion for paper, get out the scrap pictures, vintage tinsel, mica flakes, glitter, crepe paper, ribbon and vintage bunting…create your own German-inspired ornaments for the Christmas holidays.

Finding old Victorian faces and forms of darling angels, children and Santas is a starting point.  Then dress them in crinkled crepe or swath them in cloaks of batting trimmed with tinsel.  Look for reproduction-style sheet batting in craft stores for a less bleached look.  Glass glitter and mica flakes, also available through craft supplies or web sites, add authenticity as do small glass beads or vintage ornament trims.  I salvage these from auctions and estate sales and stash them away for a rainy, crafting day.  Choose trims that remind you of Grandma’s tree–that slightly tarnished look that adds precious patina to new designs.

Dresden, Germany, gave its name to these nostalgic ornaments.  In the 1800’s, multitudes of whimsical angels and Santas stocked American stores.  Antique Dresdens are difficult to come by today, due to their fragile nature, but those you create yourself are destined to become the heirlooms of tomorrow.

Preserving Summer

This everlasting wreath, featuring dried peonies, hangs in the sitting room.  It is one of the unique gifts available only at the Farm Grove Collectables Christmas Open House, Saturday, November 21.  I fashion the wreaths from herbs grown exclusively in the Farm Grove herb garden.

Dried herbal wreaths such as this capture the scents and blooms of the summer garden in an unforgettable way.  The showy flowers rest on a background of artemesias:  ghost plant, silver queen and silver king.  Dried purple oregano blooms are an unexpected touch of heathery texture and color.  The soft celedon green of dried hydrangea creates a central band and sets off the pink and white peony blossoms.  To dry peonies, cut them JUST when they open.  They will dry one-third their size. 

If you are near Groveland, Illinois, on the 21st of November, visit our Christmas Open House, “A Christmas To Remember,” in our restored dairy barn.  It is our last open house–and our best.

 

Topping It Off

This post will cause one of two reactions:  Yea!  Only two months until Christmas!  Or…No, no!  Not Christmas decorations already!

As owners of a niche’ specialty shop, our seasonal calendar  is two months ahead of everyone else’s.  So, yes, we are decorating already.  Our annual–and this year our last–Christmas Open House is November 21, the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  That date may sound early for Christmas, but in the “trade,” it is actually a bit late.   But since this is our last promotion before retiring from the shop, we held it at a time both of our children could be here. 

Specialty shops must reach the market before they are enticed away by the convenience of malls and cluster retailing.  In order to promote our unique, one-of-a-kind, collectable and discounted gift ware, the Christmas Open House is a one-day confection of home-made cookies and the culmination of a year’s work.  In the picture above, I am topping off the Red & Gold Elegance Tree in the barn’s great room.

The Christmas Open House for Farm Grove Collectables will top off twenty-six years in the specialty retail business.  It is a bitter-sweet experience, but we intend to go out as we came in–with quality and integrity.

The Test of Time

As small business owners for over 26 years, we enjoy discovering other small businesses that have stood the test of time.  Sisters’ Sweets is one such shop; we visit it on each trip to Door County, Wisconsin.  It is not as large as many retails shops on the Door, but it has something almost undefinable–character. 

The shop is operated by sisters and their husbands as a family owned business in Fish Creek.  It is located in the lower level of The Whistling Swan Inn, just off Main Street.  Their name refers to their home-made candies.  But they also offer a sweet mix of decorative accessories and cherry-themed gifts.  We purchased charming cherry placemats for our breakfast table and gifts for my helpers at our Christmas Open House from their carefully chosen assortment.  On our way back to our room, we pick up their delicious caramels as a special treat.  Our reception at Sisters’ Sweets is always warm and appreciated, and is accompanied by an invitation to sample their candies.

As we prepare to retire from our own collectable shop, I hope we will be remembered as a business with character and warmth.  As I watched the movie You’ve Got Mail again last night, I related to the Meg Ryan character.  She was closing a book shop her mother began and moving on with her life in a fresh direction.  Life is filled with seasons of change.  Our character is defined by how we adapt to the challenges of change.

Pumpkin Display

Autumn Abundance

On the corner of Main Street, Fish Creek, a composed display of everything-autumn delights visitors to Door County.  The arrangement is compliments of the up-scale On Deck Clothing Company.  Although it looks random and natural, it is actually carefully composed.  The trick is to use a variety of seasonal materials–in abundance and at different levels.  Baskets, large pots and galvanized tubs on boxes raise pumpkins and gourds in multiple colors to new heights, adding great interest.  Tall sheafs of corn stalks also give height and interest to the display.

 A white garden pillar and quirky scarecrow echo the height of the stalks.  Potted grasses as well as potted mums take this display into the “design” realm by adding unexpected and unusual elements.  A touch not easy to see in the picture is that each pumpkin wears the scripted words “On Deck” in black.  The display is, after all, an invitation to go inside the welcoming store–just next-door.

Door County–Reprise

Yes, everyone has a favorite place.  If we can’t make it to Disneyworld, we choose Door County, Wisconsin.   What’s not to like about crystal blue water, fresh winds and the fair weather of mid September!

Rocky Out-cropping at Cave Point

Lake Michigan carves limestone formations, grottoes and caves into the shoreline at Cave Point County Park near Jacksonport, Door County, Wisconsin.  It is freeing to walk along the polished stone “beach” exposed by the crashing waves.  We climb over broken slabs of limestone,  fallen into the water.  Others have already been pounded into rubble.  Our feet make a crunching sound as we hasten the mulching of billions of tiny shells  into newly-minted sand. 

Tomorrow, we visit yummy shops and play tourist.  But today we feel one-with-nature on the shores of Lake Michigan.  Sigh.  Winter is coming soon.

A Blast From the Past

Forty-Two Years Later...

When my high school friends manage to get together, we chastise ourselves for not doing it more often.  Saturday’s mini-reunion was motivated by Charlene’s visit home from Idaho.  But the rest of us are still located in the area where we attended high school.   There is really no excuse not to meet more often.  Life just has a way of sneaking up on us.    

It seems like yesterday we were attending football games and passing notes in class.  Now we pass pictures of grandkids and discuss retirement plans.   It seems we grew up, in spite of ourselves, and wove a complex tapestry of families, relationships and lifestyles.  

Some things have changed over time, but the unique personalities of our girlfriend group still manage to mix.   The same laughs… familiar smiles… cause the years to melt away quickly.  The past was a blast–but the present is not half bad.

What Time Is It?

Chapel Garden

 The slow start to warm weather has upset my inner clock.  The calendar tells me it is late July, but it doesn’t feel like it.  Nestled in a shaded garden, the snapshot above of the chapel with summer lillies looks and feels more like autumn. 

I need a few days at the beach [Door County would be nice] or a round of 90 degree days to reset my timer.  Realistically,we have another month of possible “hot”  before I begin putting out pumpkins.  If Illinois weather resurfaces, that will happen about the time the kids return to classrooms without air conditioning… 

Guaging when to set out seasonal merchandise is tricky.  It is all about sensing the desires of your customers.  Unless I’m wrong, autumn may arrive sooner this year than expected. 

Garden Companions

Wormwood, one of the silver herbs, is a showy display plant in the garden–but she has a reputation for not playing well with others.  The wormwood known as “Old Woman,” above, can actually inhibit the growth of other plants.  But the Shasta daisies growing next to it in this bed seem to be surviving well.  I can’t say as much for the false indigo that USED to grow on the Wormwood’s left!  Indigo usually thrives, and did for the first year.  But when I planted wormwood next to it, she died back and refused to appear at all for one season.  The indigo is cautiously creeping back, but I can’t say she will decide to stay.

Since I love the silvery foliage of the wormwood, I’m over-looking its unfriendly temperment.  The white daisies look especially bright next to its silver fronds, don’t you think?  Daisies, representing innocence, perhaps can tame the bad habits of its neighbor, at least enough to live together harmoniously.  They aren’t exactly on speaking terms, but they tolerate one another.

Celebrating Freedom

Patriotic Geraniums

A simple tub of red geraniums celebrates the nation’s birthday on our brick patio, sporting small-scale flags like birthday candles in a cake.  Wherever you are this July 4th, let the stars & stripes fly.  Happy birthday, America!

Sweet Lady Lavender

Scented Blooms Line the Farm House Walkway

The picture of my lavender bed, next to my Father’s summer kitchen, is from 2008.  Unfortunately, this year’s soggy spring caused much of the large Munstead shrubs to rot.  I was forced to cut away a great deal of dead material.  Parts of the plants are attempting to sprout and come back.  One shrub is even blooming.  But the display is nothing like this glorious harvest of last season.

Herbal shrubs such as sage and lavender are prone to rot when their roots are in water too long.  It is not unusual to have to replace them after five years or so because they can also become too woody.  But I still blame the record-breaking rain we had in the Midwest for the loss of my lavender.  Such is the plight of the gardener.