So This is the Porch...

Trying to decide how to arrange the furniture, on the front wrap-around porch, has not been as easy as I first thought it might be. I want to keep it looking uncluttered, but at the same time, inviting. The door, at the end of the porch goes directly into the dining room. There is a matching door at the front of the house.

Winds, out of the south, sometimes blow the plants off the porch. Of course, this makes for a much cooler space when the temperatures soar to 100 plus, in the summer.

There are five large white columns that dominate the look. It's very obvious they have been repaired over the last 130 years. I know I must keep vigil for any future repairs. They would be very expensive to replace.

I have chosen some new black rockers to go with the white wicker I brought from the farmhouse.

So far, I am using ferns to give the porch a soft, vintage look.

                       This is a flea market find, that works well beside the front door.

It is a good place to add some color with yellow petunias and maroon verbenas.

Just to the other side of the front door, I have placed another black rocker. To give the open end of the porch a more private look, I have added some lattice work.

 Eventually, the jasmine growing below, will trail on it. The summer blooms of the sweet jasmine, will be a nice fragrance for the porch.

At the back door, of my home, is a modern built deck. I am still dreaming of ideas of how to use the deck. As you can see, it was raining the day I photographed both spaces.

There have been multiple delays in finishing the small lean-to greenhouse attached to The Studio.   If you look closely, you can see I am using some re-cycled window screens....from the farmhouse.

I'm so happy to see the rain. We have been in drought conditions for quite some time.

This is just a little update on Das Kleine Haus, as things slowly move into a proper place.

Meggie Mac

Sewing Nook On the Move

If you have ever moved from one home to another, you understand the challenges of making your new spaces and furniture work. Most of what you will see today, has been moved from my lovely sewing closet at the farm, to my new home in a Victorian Folk-Style house.

There are only 5 main rooms in the house, not including bathrooms and mud room, but each room is quite large. I decided to use the largest of two bedrooms, as an activity room, naming it "The Book Room". Most of my book library is in this room, with 4 book cases lining the walls. There is also a TV and a a sofa-bed for family stay-overs.

 

But, in one corner of the room, I have carved out a small space for my sewing nook.

When the house was originally built, around 1880, there were no closets in the bedrooms.  Luckily this room had a previous renovation of a large closet. It is the perfect spot for my stash of fabrics.

 It's nice to be able to see my fabrics organized. Some are grouped according to pattern.

While others are with like colors...

The work surface is an interior door, cut to fit the size of the nook. Just for decoration, I edged it with two wood yard sticks. The skirted table for the sewing machine, came from my sewing space at the farm. It is on rollers so I can angle it to watch TV while I'm sewing.

The door table top rest on two filing cabinets, giving it strength to hold the above shelving.

To help control the cords from the overhead fluorescent light and the extra lamp, I have cut a hole through the door. This allows my work service to be free of electrical cords.

I tried to maximize my space, using containers I have bought at the Dollar Store.

Here are the fabrics, I have pulled from my stash, to use in decorating my bedroom.

Some of this fabric is left-over from previous projects, like this vintage piano stool.











I hope you have enjoyed seeing the new space in Das Kleine Haus .....it is just the beginning.

Meggie Mac

The Book Room

The naming of this room came about when I was moving into the Haus. The guys moving my boxes and furniture, from the farm, started calling it "The Book Room".

After carrying more than 25 containers of books up 18 steps on my very long staircase, they just assumed the room was for books.










Even though the room will eventually be for sewing, a guest bedroom sofa, TV watching and my writing, it will also house all my books.

Two bookcases in upstairs hallway...two more to go!

This story actually begins with the gift of 4 bookcases, from my dear friends who lived across the road from me at the farm. The three of us, all too old for this project, carried the bookcases upstairs. I can tell you, after two of them, I was ready to quit.

The shelves filled up quickly. So, today I ordered two more from Ikea.

Nothing like spending a winter's evening, curled up on the sofa, with a HEA (Happy Ever After) book....

The room is far from completion....there are curtains to sew, more wall paneling to install, and of course, setting up my sewing area.

The reflection in the window pane is a lamp in "The Book Room"

This is the view from my writing desk.

      So very different from the farmhouse.....but, I'm beginning to appreciate the new life in Das Kleine Haus.

Meggie Mac

Chapter Two...on the Prairie

There is no shortage of things to write about as I continue to travel the Back Roads on the Prairie.

Click on Photo

Each year the Giant Reed, sometimes called Wild Cane, begins to bloom in August and September. The tall perennial grass will grow to 20 feet tall.

The two foot long, plume like panicles are quite showy, swaying back and forth with the prairie winds.

I try not to take anything for granted in this life that I live on the prairie, including something so common as the roadside plant life. It seems to come back each year so effortlessly.

We all have things around us that seem to be just there. Life has changed drastically for me in the last few months, but particularly the last few weeks.

As you know from reading my blog, the sale of the farm has been impending for some time. You may also know that I lost my mother only a few weeks ago.

This week, the father of my children has also died. My family is in mourning, as am I. Within just a few short weeks, the two people who most influenced the first 42 years of my life are gone.

And in all that sadness, the final papers on the farm were signed yesterday....the passing of the keys.

This Saturday will be the First Day, of Chapter Two, in the life of Meggie on the Prairie.

Life is Good......and God continues to bless me.

Meggie Mac

What Mysteries Lie Inside This Case

Until I sent these photos to my dearest friend, Elaine, this was just a vintage leather valise I had purchased, at an estate sale, more than 20 years ago.



Click on Photo

It was during the move to Das Kleine Haus that I took another look at the labels attached to the small case. I thought how intriguing that it had labels from the UK. Addresses have been written, scratched through, and new ones entered.

It was Elaine, at Pear Tree Log, who has brought life and excitement to a well traveled bag...a valise that had it's origin across the ocean from where I live in Texas, to a small island called Isle of Man.

As I read her email, I realized our relationship had taken on another layer of connection between us.

Three Legged Symbol

She wrote the following:

"The three legged symbol stands for the Isle of Man, which is a small island of about 32 miles long by 14 miles wide. It lies in the sea between Great Britain and Ireland. It is a place I have visited many times - a wonderful island of amazingly varied terrain for such a small place, very peaceful with fascinating history. For a while, we used to visit for 2 or 3 weeks at a time every other month. It is very dear to our hearts."

 Just above the key hole is the three legged symbol, etched in the brass lock.

I can't explain why I never opened the luggage until a few days ago. All these years, the ribbon has been tied so neatly, in a bow.

What a wonderful coincidence to now have a friend and myself connected in such an unusual way.

My imagination is swirling around the mystery, of how the valise traveled so many miles to America....

Meggie Mac

Where is Home?

Morning Sunlite Across My Headboard

Calling Das Kleine Haus home doesn't feel right....at the moment.

You know how it is, when you are on vacation and first wake in the morning. For a split second you are not sure where you are. That is how I felt waking up the first morning at Das Kleine Haus.

It didn't take long before I saw all my clothes packed in plastic containers...and remembered, I have moved.

Taking the first peek downstairs...yes, it is my furniture, just re-arranged somewhat. The big pieces of furniture are in place with everything else lined up against each wall.



The artwork in containers

Lamps. baskets and chairs, organized by categories, just waiting to be chosen for a new spot in the Haus.











It will take time to sort through it all. I'm hoping you will enjoy watching as I take on my new life at Das Kleine Haus on the Prairie.

Meggie Mac

Splish Splash...I was Taking a Bath

Reflection in Mirror

Do you remember the 1958 hit song, "Splish Splash, I Was Taking Bath", by Bobby Darin? That is what I thought of when I started writing this post.

This is Step One, Phase One of updating the bathroom at Das Kleine Haus.

When I bought the house this is how it was dressed up.

And this is what was behind that beautiful curtain....

I don't believe much water came out of the shower head and the left facet handle fell off when I touched it.

My friend, and professional paint expert, Cipriano, arrived on Saturday with his son. He had previously re-finished a tub, for me, at the farm.

I bought all the supplies at the local hardware store; re-finishing kit (epoxy paint), 0000 steel wool for sanding, and most important the respirator to cover your mouth and nose. Cipriano's son is working on the first step, by sanding all the surfaces.

Believe it or not, this is the reflection from the light of the window.

And, two hours later, we have magic !!

Meggie Mac