My Happy Mess

 Is this mess not a lovely sight to see??

Called a GF this morning to see how she was going with the final touches for her Daddy's wedding tomorrow and found out she was in need of some clips for the bridesmaids hair....Being so last minute the last thing she has time for is shopping for such things....So I did what any friend would do...

I asked her what colors and is there a theme?...She told me the girls are in yellow sundresses, denim jackets and boots...Yup, country cute for sure ♥...And this is what I came up with.

So with that out of the way I better git back to my house work and prepping for the Photoshoot I have booked this weekend...Excited much?? You betcha

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing for:

Farm Girl Friday

http://deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Potpourri Friday

http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/

Revisiting an old love...

Yesterday I got a few quiet moments just for me, so I snatched up the kiddies crayola water color set and headed out to sit in the sun on the front porch.

A little disclaimer, back in my pre-marriage days I was an oil painter, water-colors are something quite different...I am also year out of practice with a brush, but boy did it feel good to have one in my hand again.

Painting a moving chicken was a challenge since the girls were in full "find the bug mode" all over the front yard...Maybe I should try working from my chicken photographs to begin with.

My Jar lid might be a little lope sided but I was happy with how the glass jar turned out...

I think next time I have some quiet moments for myself, I will dust of my old text books and do some of the basic exercises in the Elements of Design....after all 12yrs is a very long time when you are not using a skill set.

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing today:
Show and Tell Friday @
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

A little Christmas Miracle ...

I have been meaning to do a Christmas tour of my house to share, but well, we got a little tired up with other things.

 In the living room are boxes that were supposed to be returned to the attic a week ago...The "Santa Chair" next to the tree is buried under clean laundry...I am nursing a sick chicken, oh and I just booked my first paying job doing a Family Portrait photoshoot this weekend...

I thought I better practice getting some pretty Christmas light photos...and as you can see, my model was so happy to help me...

She did perk up a little bit when I told her I would pay her for her work with a lolly-pop.

I am so excited to have this work come my way after many prayers about finding some work to help out, and will still leave me available for my kids and of course the day to day chores on our little farm...God truly does listen and answers us...Praise the Lord.

Blessings Kelsie


Sharing for Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Dream Goats

Many years ago before Farmer Brown AKA Hubby and I were married, we talked about what the future would hold for us...We discussed all the usual things, children, career paths, our expectation of a future together, what country we would live in (he is American, myself Australian) and the logistics of the relocation etc....and of course GOATS....

Just like any other couple preparing to spend a life time together, right??

Of course our discussion about goats was about one day when we retire, it sure would be nice to own a little land and raise a few goats, sheep and potter about our garden enjoying the quiet country life style as we grew old and grey together...

Well seems this dream was closer than we could have ever possibly imagined back in 2000 when we tied the knot...Due to a series of events that started with 9/11 and the impact it had on the airline industry (my husband's chosen field) we found ourselves re-accessing, re-working and by 2004 relocating to a small parcel of land in FL that had been home to more than a few generations of my husband's family...(they homesteaded it in 1896)

Finally in Nov 2009 we had the opportunity to purchase the parcel of land for our very own and we began to build us a little blue house...We moved into the house on May 4th 2010 (Our 10th Wedding anniversary) and then started working on making our long shared dream come true..

This year we purchased our first 2 Nigerian Dwarf goats...and though we have a long way to go, each time I look out my back windows to see these funny little creatures (usually eating) I have to pinch myself....Because these 2 little goats are just the beginning of the dream...

They are our DREAM GOATS...

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post at:
Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com/
Potpourri Friday @ http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/
Fall Farm Friends Friday @ http://www.verdefarm.com
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Getting to know you...

Today I have a little bit of a random assortment of images to share with you...As I have mentioned in a previous post I am trying out a Nikon 5700 camera to see if I want to buy it...Well as with everything around here, it got interrupted and delayed a little.

BUT, Yesterday I did manage to find a couple of moments to take it out into the front garden...Alas all the squirrels and birds scattered and I did not have time to await their return...So instead...

I took a new photo of my little Cherub statue...
Don't blink, he might cry
(little Dr Who reference for those of you are confused right now *grin*)

Change of focus, Cherub in the background and a lovely new Lavender stem in the front.

Then in the afternoon Lil Sara, her dolly Wil and myself took a little stroll to see what we could find...

Look we found Daddy working on his cars...So Lil Sara and Wil helped him out some.

Then Sara checked all the tires where good and tight....

The cows next door were very curious to see what was up...Who would have thought dust from them running to the fence could look so pretty in the afternoon sun light...

Talking of fence...Only our southern property line is fenced...We dream of the day when the rest is too and we can bring in more animals and really get serious about raising our own food.

The gate in the south fence...It used to get used a lot but alas our neighbor moved away and now his house stands empty and his fields are rented out.

I hope today to have more quiet time to work with the camera so I can try and make a decision about buying it or not...We have a hawk that hunts in the Sorghum field behind the house each day that I am dying to get some photos of.

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post at:
Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com/
Potpourri Friday @ http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/
Fall Farm Friends Friday @ http://www.verdefarm.com
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

THEY'RE HERE!!!

It has been a long and exhausting 48hrs here, but we did it...We got the pens finished the shelter in place and drove to Fort White and collected our goats....Only took us 8 weeks to get them home...

I only managed to snap a couple of photos with my phone because as soon as we got home and them unloaded it stated to rain...Then we had to run to town and pick-up Sara from Daycare....Maybe tomorrow I will be able to take the Nikon outside and try for some better photos.

Boots in the back and Princess (the goat previously known as Deenie) in the front

Not a great photo of the goats but I love the over exposed Americana feel of this photo of Sara, whom is VERY happy to have the goats home...Boots of course is hers and Princess (goat formally known as Deenie) is Big sisters.

And lastly Farmer Brown aka Hubby with the goats...You get a real sense how small they are in this photo...I love the fact that as Nigerian Dwarfs they will not get much larger either.

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post at:

Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com/
Farm Photo Friday @ http://farmchickskitchen.blogspot.com/

Potpourri Friday @ http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/

Fall Farm Friends Friday @ http://www.verdefarm.com

Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Home grown Pear Pie

I believe I have mentioned occasionally that we have a few (14) very old, very large, super productive pear trees at our place...I know...Joy, Rapture and all those fun noises...Well the trouble is everyone of them are "cooking pears"...not the kind you could just pick off the tree and nosh on...So what does one do with so many cooking pears??

This was one of 4 box we took to Miracles Happen Ranch a few weeks ago

Well many of them go to a friend for her goats and horses to enjoy....I send some home with my MIL...I actually enjoy watching the squirrels and birds devour them....and many get run over with the lawnmower and/or get composed...My chickens do try very hard to make a dent but alas, we still have hundreds of pears EVERYWHERE....

Well this afternoon I took some advice I was given to "treat them like apples" and made a Easy "pear" Pie....I simply followed the recipe here
http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/easy-apple-pie-recipe/3/
but substituded pears for apples....

The perfect way to end the evening...
Delish pie from home grown fruit and a glass of milk...

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post at:
Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com/
Farm Photo Friday @ http://farmchickskitchen.blogspot.com/
Potpourri Friday @ http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/
Fall Farm Friends Friday @ http://www.verdefarm.com
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Fertilizer Friday @ http://www.tootsietime.com/

Big Daughters Room

I am sharing photo's from the archives tonight. They were taken back in Feb, of my eldest daughters black and white room...
I will be doing a little tweaking in there over the next couple of days, and getting it ready for her when she comes home for awhile (longer if I have my way hehehe)

Am I a little excited??....You bet I am....Have missed her much??....Like I would miss breathing.

Just 3 more nights and her head will be sleeping on these pillows....

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing for
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

New visitor at Our Country Home

As someone born and raised on the only continent in the world that does not have wild squirrels (other than those that have escaped zoos) I have a special fascination with these cute little tree rodents ever since moving to the USA...In fact during my first visit to the USA almost 35% of the photographs I took home were of the squirrel playing in the front yard of the house in Charlotte NC...I was totally enchanted.

Since moving to FL 7yrs ago I have always felt a special delight each time I see the big Eastern Fox Squirrel (that is what the "locals" tell me they are called...or cat squirrels) ....These guys are huge compared to the small grey and red squirrels I had grown so fond of in NC....The first time one darted across the road in front of me I was sure it was a cat because of it's size....I slammed on my breaks and then watch it dart half way up a tree on the other side of the road, spin around to twitch it's tail and tell me "what for" as only a squirrel can...

Alas we have never been graced with one of these guys on our property...at least not that I had seen...that was until today....Me thinks he might be after some of those pears since that is what brings in the small Eastern Grays (and lots of birds) to the trees just 30ft from our backdoor.

Isn't he/she just gorgeous...and since we have more than enough pears to share...I hope our new visitor decides to stay for awhile so we can enjoy watching his/her squirrel antics.

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing for:
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com
Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com/
Farm Photo Friday @ http://farmchickskitchen.blogspot.com/

And home came the goat...

Despite are rough start to the day, where the trip to go see the goat was canceled due to a certain young lady not doing as she is instructed...After lunch we were back on track and in the car for the hrs drive to Fort White (Yes in my previous post I got the distance wrong...oops) to see the little guy...

His bottle mommy Merry was so sweet and though he is actually fully weened had a bottle made up and waiting so Sara and "Buddy" could bond....She also sent home some goats milk, wormer and other medicine he needs with him and the promise to answer any questions we have in the future...

Anyway no surprise he came home with us...Look at how happy this made Sara...Now how to break the news to them both that he really is not an inside pet...Never mind the fact he is currently in the front room watching Dora the Explore with Sara and Daddy...Which brings up the point of his name..."Buddy" has now been renamed "Boots"

Boots exploring the backyard for the first time...

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing for:
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com
Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com/
Farm Photo Friday @ http://farmchickskitchen.blogspot.com/

Toy Box Make-Over

As most of you know I have been working on creating Lil Sara's "big girl" room...The look...Country Chic

(to see the previous Sara Room posts CLICK HERE)

I want to create her a space that she can entertain her dollies and care for her babies, take naps and generally just get her toys out of my living room...(yer I'll be honest, this project is really all about me *wink*)

So my challenge was to blend in a white melamine toy box with all the lovely country looking painted furniture...Well obviously painting it was not the answer since a box is a box is a box...and I really did not want to make it bulkier by adding trim detail...And since she needed some seating...

I created her a pillow top using one of her old crib comforters and some pink check cotton fabric from Walmart...Added giant buttons and VOILA...now she has a cute little bench.

I made it like a giant pillow case so I can remove the inch foam padding and wash the cover...Notice the ribbons...they are holding the buttons in place...again so the cover can be removed easily....I also used Velcro strips (the kind you sew one side to the fabric and the other glues to the hard surface)...this will keep it from slipping when she opens and closes the toy box.

You may remember these flowers I got on clearance for 28cents each...
Well I butchered 3 for the giant buttons...Actually I butchered 4 but one did not survive the carnage.

Now not only does she have a place to store her toys that blends in nicely with the rest of the room, but a great place to host a tea party with some of her favorite friends...

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing For:
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com
Pink Saturday @ http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com
Wow Us Wednesday @ http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

Sara's room - Headboard complete...

I am really loving the look of the furniture painted "Heavenly Blue"...

Here is what the headboard looked like before...

Lovely soft Country Chic feel going on...

Quilt was handmade by Sara's Great Grandmother as a gift to us when we first married..

Draw Pull Note: I am leaning towards a crystal pull and received 2 comments suggesting the same...I have reattached the original hardware until I have time to shop for a crystal one.

Today we are going to tackle the bookshelves and sorting the toys and bringing them in so she can start using the room...

The to-do list for the room includes:
Creating a padded cushion for the toy box lid..
Painting mirror frame blue...
Paint small wicker chair white...
Creating her a custom Pennant Banner...
Removing the wall mounted shelves and patching the wall...
Removing the TV cable and patching the hole in the wall...
Finding my packet of Children Proof Outlet Covers...
Finding just the right fabric for the curtains and making them..
Shop for a floor rug..
Paint large frame white and make into a memory board..

Sharing for Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Melon Bus

Hubby snapped these from the back door last week of the melon pickers in the field behind our house...

When we first arrived here we wondered why every other farm you drove past had these cut up buses parked in their fields...After the first melon season we wondered no more...Now we anticipate their arrival on the roads each season..

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing today for:
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

First Corn for 2011

Daddy helps lil Sara pick the first ear of corn for the year...

I got me sum shuckin' to do...

Soooooo sweet...

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post for:
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
Farm Friendly Friday @ http://www.verdefarm.com/
Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com

Antique German Doll Redressed

On the weekend I shared a before photo with yall of an antique German doll that I had been asked to re-dress for a dear sweet neighbor...Today I am sharing the end result...

On the back of her head I found the stamp "Germany - 136 5"
This would indicate she was made in Germany, using head model number 136 and is a mold size 5...My research tells me that this doll head was in production during the 1890's and early 1900's...making her close to 120yrs old...This doll has had 3 companions over the years and is been well loved for many decades by her current companion who named her Suzy.

Aunt Audry and her beloved Suzy...Suzy is now wearing a dress resembling one that would have been typical of this kind of doll originally..

This is how she arrived at my studio...Somewhere along the line someone had added a "poof" to her and made her a bed doll...

I carefully removed the poof to discover that Suzy still has the cloth part of her legs...But we are still not seeing the original dolls body...The lace top and satin pants are most definitely machine stitched and my guess was done in the 80's from what I was told of her history.

I removed that layer to find the original suede body...I did not remove the satin on the arms and legs as the integrity of the suede under them did not feel like it was still fully intact...
Which brings up the point...why are her arms and legs so stumpy?...She would have originally had porcelain hands and feet but over the last 100+ yrs are no longer with her...

Here she is today...

Click Image to enlarge to view the details of the garment...

We chose a lovely soft antique inspired patterned cotton that brings out the blue of her eyes...I accented it with white lace and a small amount of blue ribbon...The style as I mentioned is in keeping with the time period of the dolls production...I also made Suzy a set of fabric hands, which I did attach to the doll...The dress and petticoats however are fully removable.

It was such a delight and honor to work on such a loved antique doll...

Blessings Kelsie

Joining the following parties this week:
Wow us Wednesday @ http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/