Sweet Gifts from Misi

Good morning Girls! I know not blogging as much lately.I think with summer life just gets super busy.Wanted to stop in and share the sweet gifts I recived from Misi She and I decided to swap on the Bee Happy Swap I hosted.We both had another partner as well.Let me say she totally spoiled me....

She sent so many thoughtful things.Large doll from Burlap Owl,Small doll from Traci York Mountain,Goat, Stitched ditty filled with strawberries,Wallpaper box made by Misi with wool nest tucked in and beeswax bluebird,French Beeskep....I gotta say Misi is so generous and never expects anything in return.She is very thoughtful and giving....So I did manage to get a few things out so far...Goat found it's home here....

The beautiful doll went here...

Zoom in and look at her beeswax necklace...I gave her a pea hen friend...

Thank You so much sweet Misi I am overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness and Love everything! I hope you enjoy the gifts I sent as well....Well off to the vets taking both dogs at the same time so it should be interesting.Hope you all have a wonderful day!~Amy

Quick Hello

Hope everyone had a great long weekend.Ours was nice we decided not do Flea market so that was a huge break.It's alot of work especially packing up in the sun..Hubby got his first veggies from our garden out at gradma's old farmhouse.I got the rest of our plants to do my kitchen garden at home,planted some flowers and my bike basket.Will get some pics once everything takes.Realized sunday I'm getting old because grandma ask me what a PPD was? Can you guess? Well I said not sure.So she told me it's a purple panty dropper.The boys told her when they sent a text.Really I'm just out of the loop because I don't have a cell phone and don't text.Well actually I do have a cell but I don't keep minutes on it and don't use it.Hubby makes me take his when I go out sometimes in case of emergency.I just think if I'm out or visiting I don't need interrupted.Call me when I'm home and not out..So last week I found a few treasures..

This is huge in person.It's dated 1907..It's lithographed metal.A store mercantile display.You spin the arrow to the needle type you need,slid open the window and inside is a wheel that holds wood vials with needles.Alot of the wood vials full are still inside.If I can find a space I'm going to keep....

This is a Round container with removable wood lid.It held 10 lbs of Powdered Cigar Gum.What's neat is it has all the original labels.It shipped from NY via the Railway Express to my hometown.Probably gonna keep..I've felt a little overwhelmed by stuff lately.When your in the business sometimes it's hard to let certain things go.Me I start piles on the sun porch,on the kitchen table and in the spare bedroom so it's time to go through my piles and let some go..smile..I've been a bit frustrated and worried lately because I heard word that those horrible people are moving in next door June 15th..Hubby says don't let it get to you there's nothing you can do about it but in the next breath tells me we are going to buy surveillance camera's because he's nervous about leaving especially on the weekends.(yep that makes me not worry) He also says they probably won't stay long.The one saw hubby at the store getting his coffee and told him we are going to be your new neighbors, "We can have cook outs and come over and swim in your pool".Hubby didn't know what to say, so said he had to get to work.Should be a interesting summer because we like to be outside enjoying ourselves.Ugggh!!!! Well girls I gotta finish up the garden and try to talk hubby into putting my sunflower gardens in.Warm Blessings!~Amy

Rainy Day kitchen Pinterest

 Yesterday we broke the record in PA at 79 degrees but today is mid 50's and rainy.Good day for a PJ day..smile...Hubby is building me a small walk in closet pantry  for the kitchen then will be redoing and painting the kitchen over the next few days.Yikes I hate mess and change! But I love the idea of having a pantry.As most of you know we live in a cape cod cottage house.Although relatively small compared to most homes I'm lucky to have large open rooms.The kitchen is large eat in but has limited cupboards so to remedy this I stuffed way to much furniture in plus all mine and hubbies "collections" so the room is very closed in.Our goal is to make it open and more inviting.In this room we have a huge stepback that is my current food pantry.Then I have a hoosier that holds some pots on the bottom. antique dry sink below holds cake stand,crock pot and such..

 Then I have the old ice box which has bills and paper work inside,the farm table,a butcher block,pie safe, long wall shelf that holds graniteware,a barn wood chimney cupboard,our stove and refrigerator.Then stacked around are our collections like crocks,butter churns,old buckets and such so it's packed.

 My goal is to move the hoosier to the sunporch.Get rid of the reproduction prim cupboard that is currently on the sunporch holding pots and casserole dishes.I'd also like to get rid of the barn wood chimney cupboard and everything in and on it.I really don't think once it's gone I'll miss it.It's hard to let go as prims and antiques are getting hard to find but again I don't think once it's out I'll miss it.The problem is Hubby says "You'll never find it again" so then I second think getting rid of things.But I do want a more stream lined open area and don't want sooooo much stuff to clean...Just walking in I can see plenty I could part with and once it's time to put everything back I'm sure there will be plenty more....

 These pics are only a fraction of what is in the kitchen...

Lucky I can take it to fleamarket whatever I decide to part with...Also might have a small blog sale...

So what are you sweet ladies doing this weekend? I would like to get market in tomorrow but looks like rain as of now.Maybe it'll move out.I want to get some craft time in and try some new recipes out...Oh and for all you Pinterest lovers who were worried with the terms and such they updated their policies.I still stand by the rule make sure everything you pin clicks to the source and give credit were do.Better safe than sorry.I've been going through my boards and deleting anything uploaded by a user or that doesn't link back to the source....

Well off to visit some of you.Enjoy your weekend! Warm Blessings!~Amy

Country Drive ~ Birthday ~ Old Stone Church

Well monday was my birthday..I told hubby I was celebrating tuesday though because as of monday I was three days without sleep (5 hours total) and was not in good cheer.I was very moody which is very unlike me.He kept trying to put me to bed and couldn't quit figure me out.I sat down for a cup of warm sleepy time tea. I was prescribed sleeping pills but I do not like taking pills other than advil unless in real need so I never got the prescription filled.I was able to finally get sleep and now am back on track and my normal happy self.Let me tell you I never want to be emotional like that again..Today is hubby's birthday so I'm going to make him something special for dinner.Not sure what yet but I'm going to the store and will pick something then.For my birthday I got a subscription to Early American Life, Hubby gave me some cash to get some new clothes,I hardly ever buy new clothes,I like house stuff better and could live in soft PJ's but I did find some nice clothes and a lovely Paris Chic Green Shirt with French scene and angels I'm saving for christmas...We also stopped at the antique mall and he bought me this pinkeep bird in brown...We've also have been wrapping our christmas presents and he gave me these early, he was afraid they would get broke or the cat would sleep on them and crush them..

I love them! I have a nice collection of antique putz sheep but these are the smallest ones.They'll probly go in the old store display cabinet with the others.....
As most of you know.Sundays we normally gather at Grandmas farmhouse for dinner and family.Every since I was a child there were certain things that let me know I'm almost there.. A house I call the gingerbread house,the old amish farm and this old stone church.I remember a few times as a child going to sunday school here but it was not our regular church.....

It is so familiar and I notice it every time I drive by.They just got done restoring the steeple in copper,can't wait till it gets that wonderful patina...Love that they put the antique lightning rod back on....

We also took a ride to visit a friend,it's a beautiful country drive and by the river/stream these two goats live.The have a plank with steps they climb up on and there is a pully with a bucket they send food over to plank.I took these from the car window so sorry not so great....

Recently I won a giveaway from http://whistlestopcountrystore.blogspot.com She wrapped it all up and sent some wonderful little goodies.....

I had big plans for the mold but can't get it to seal right and believe me I tried. It's great sitting on my kitchen shelf though and the little tag that was on the package I added to my garland..I love the little snowman necklace it's not something I would buy for myself so it's a special treat and I already got two compliments when I wore it out.Oh and did I mention chocolate...Tried to save one to share but I ate them all.Well in my defense there were only 5 little pieces and it was my birthday and I needed energy from the lack of sleep..LoL..You understand right?

Well it was cold,very windy and rainy here the last few days,yesterday we had a few flurries..I'm soo ready for snow.Yes I love it as long as I can nest inside.The rest of the week is supposed to be really cold so I'm getting my running done today so I can nest a few days.Mung already settled into nesting.Gotta love my little fat baby..

I signed up for a stocking swap supposed to get my partners name today so while I'm out I'll pick up a stocking to fill.I'll see what she likes before I buy goodies to fill it up.I also need to get things listed in Etsy I really have neglected it lately,the thing is hubby has been working alot and I hate wrapping and going to the post office and he normally does it but now I have to do it so I've slacked off a little but the new things I list sell right away so I got to get some stuff on..Maybe (smile)...I also want to pour some candy cane candles and found this old pineapple mold that I want to pour a blackened beeswax centerpiece out of..Always busy! I have to keep telling myself slow down enjoy the season.I'm loving your "Giving" entries for the giveaway.So many wonderful thoughts it will be hard to pick for the second drawing.Want to welcome my new followers.Hope you all have a wonderful day.Warm Blessings!~Amy

Oh The Little Old Stepback Cupboard

This a story of a little cupboard that had to have me.About a month ago I went to the antique mall.There's a lady there that always has Handdids and Old Furniture she actually has three stands and her displays and ideas are delightful early settler style.Today I was going to look for a old corner hutch but she didn't have any.So I saw a little slant top desk with a cubby shelf.Oh I just loved it.So I told hubby I'll probly buy that but let me think while we walk through the rest of the mall.He convinced me by the second look that I already have a slant desk that is nicer and there really was no room for the cubby were it would go.I was drawn to a plain head mold with bonnet sitting on top of this little cupboard but didn't find much interest in the cupboard itself so I looked at it a minute and decided I was tired and ready to go.Well it started nagging me about two days later.I found myself thinking of it all the time.I told my girlfriend how much I wanted the little cupboard not sure even why.I told hubby a week later I have to go look at that little cupboard again.I was smitten the second time and put it on layaway without hesitation.

It's antique.I know it's a pennsylvania piece as parts of it ,like the back are made out of local wood boxes as the say York PA.It is a miniature stepback.Not sure why they made it short at only about 4.5 feet tall.Maybe the roofs were short as were common in old houses or maybe it was built to go in a specific place.The top part had a cupboard door but I took it off to have open space to display.It has the original old paint that is worn,rubbed and has that nice crackle appearance we try so hard to reproduce.The top is a blue type color and the bottom is deep red.The shelves are natural wood that aged to perfection.Well after 2 weeks on layaway I picked it up and bought the little stepback home.But it was not a piece on my wish list or had a set place so began my husband saying.... You have every inch of this room covered floor to ceiling.So after a talk and some agreements on being slow on my end(I don't like to let go) We decided to clean out and simplify.I got rid of a old dry sink,a reproduction full size step back,a oversize love seat and some odds and end prim "fluff".The funny thing is the little cupboard was decided were it would go before it came home and it never changed it's in that spot.I love the openess and it will be easier to clean,but mostly it helps me appreciate the nicer antiques I have.So from here on I'm trying to keep only what I love.I cleaned about 50 items out of the kitchen the other day and don't even notice them missing.So all beacause the little cupboard had to have me it changed my way of thinking.(even if only slightly)LoL!

And everytime I look at the cupboard I just think how it's the sweetest and how much I love it.Hubby just shakes his head and knows it's better to just agree here......

I want to say hello to all the new followers.Thanks so much for visiting my little spot.I'll be chatting,sharing recipes,decorating.travels and family here.I love your input and comments and hope to become like a old friend.Harvest Blessings!~Amy