Accidents Do Happen

I wasn't able to post yesterday because of an eye accident.  Twelve hours of sleep and rest helped with the recover. I'm very lucky there wasn't any permanent damage.

So, today, Meggie One-Eye decided she could at least go outside and photograph.  The temperature has dropped about 30 degrees since yesterday and as always the wind is blowing. The wind, on this hill in Texas, is either blowing out of the south in the summer, or the north in the winter as it is today.

I'm still wearing my summer hat. After all, two days ago it was 80 degrees. At one point, the wind took it right off my head and landed in a flower bed.

Looking at this crepe myrtle close to the house, I notice 2 or 3 leaves still waving in the wind. After I checked the photographs, I realized the leaves are from another variety of tree and just got caught in the branches of the myrtle.

This summer we experienced the worst drought since I have been living here. Pictured are two very large cedar trees that didn't survive.

Not only did the farm lose two beautiful trees, I also must pay someone to cut them down.

This is what I would call a winter sky.  It even looks cold....

One tree that has managed to give off some fall color.

More tomorrow
Meggie Mac

Smoky the Helper

When I arrived home yesterday evening, Smoky was sitting by a big box left by the UPS driver. Smoky saw how excited I was and immediately tried to help me open it.

It's so nice to have a little helper like Smoky.

"Now Smoky, pushing on it will not get the job done."

No pouting, please! I know you are only trying to help, but I think it will go a lot faster if I open it with my scissors.

Just what I expected. It was my order of 98 different colors of  "Made in America" wool felt along with my sample assortment.

You guessed it! I want to do some sewing/crafting projects with felt. If you love felt too, please check out this company. You will get hooked on working with felt.

Hopefully, I will have time tomorrow to post a simple Christmas Pillow using the new felt.

Don't look so sleepy....the fun is just about to begin!

Meggie Mac

Farmhouse - Phase One

If you have been following my blog, you know a little about my farmhouse and what it looked like when I bought it. It had been vacant for over 15 years. 

The grass was waist high. I wasn't sure there was a road under all the grass.

The very first people to help me were my neighbors from across the road. They just showed up one day with their tractor and said they would be cutting the grass as a "house warming gift".  What they were proposing was an all day job on the tractor. They continued to be very supportive in the weeks to come.

The house had to be leveled and raised up off the ground before any other work could be done.

Looking at the photo you can see how much it was raised. There also was a portion of the front porch that had been enclosed. Windows panes were broken, while some windows were completely gone.

The thing about old places, they usually have a treasure trove left behind. In my case, the only treasure I found in the barn was a big stack of wooden windows. What I've come to believe is that my 90 year old house was built with parts of older houses that had been torn down. The stack of windows were left overs.

And so, that is where I found the large window for my upstairs bedroom.

Getting it up there was not so easy. Also take a look at the new metal roof.

The next step, for the outside, was to scrape and sand all the old wood before a coat of primer could be applied.

Yes, that is me....trying to save money by doing it myself!

These photos take up such little space, but in reality it  took many months to get this far. The work was being done on week ends only. There also were things going on inside and under the house.  All the plumbing was broken, the electrical wiring was obsolete, and air conditioning, heat and insulation were non-existent.

Phase Two will be the "Cowgirl Room".  I hope that is enough of a teaser that you will visit my blog again and see what a cowgirl room is......

Meggie Mac

New Look in the Farmhouse

It was a busy week end, starting with Friday Project Day. In checking this blog, I came across her furniture makeover.  It started me to thinking about a china cabinet I have in the parlor of my farmhouse. It wasn't the first time I had considered painting this piece to give the room some "pop".  Her project gave me the courage to move forward with my idea.

My farmhouse original rooms are small. When I say small, I mean, 12' x 12'. There are no hallways in the house. Each of the original rooms lead into each other. And by the way, there were no closets either.

So, back to the project.... This past summer I had cut off the legs to the china cabinet and hung the upper portion on the wall. I did this to give me some floor space to put two ottomans under it for storage. The ottomans also gave me two extra seats when I have company.

When you live in a small house, using every inch of space is important.

First, I tried a couple of colors, before I decided on the right one for the room. I also removed the door from the hinges and the key and brass keyhole from the door.

I used the same paint, Behr Premium Plus Ultra Interior Paint with Primer, that was suggested from the other blog. It is the most fabulous paint I have ever used. I also used a smooth foam roller that is suggested for kitchen cabinets.

I went easy at first, thinking I might leave the front panels with the natural wood.

Finally, I decided it would look best completely covered, except for the top. I left the top and the inside shelves the natural wood. The door on the cabinet is small and only lets in a small amount of light. By painting the inside back of the cabinet, it appears to give more light to the inside for displaying my china.

Allowing it to dry overnight before attaching the door and hardware, gave me a chance to wash the china before replacing it.

Viola! A new look for $15.00 in paint cost.

As in anything I do, this is not the end to the story. I'm already thinking, after Christmas, I may paint a few designs on the front.

And, by the way, the final photo doesn't show my cello in the corner. I'm going to give the paint another week to dry  before returning the cello to it's home spot. After all, it's the only place big enough for a cello in The Farmhouse !

Meggie Mac

Lionel Tales

Do you think there is humor in this photo?

Too Many Tails

Tales and Tails

Cat Tails

The thing about animals....they don't need coaxing or posing to get these cute photos.

Meggie Mac

Life is Just a Bowl....

The saying goes, "Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries".  Can life be Just a Bowl of Cranberries? In my kitchen, during November and December, the bowl is full of cranberries.

It's funny how something as simple as a pottery bowl can make my heart flutter.  Collecting them has always been a passion of mine.  A bowl doesn't need to be expensive or from a particular brand name to catch my eye.

One of the bowls that I keep on display in my kitchen is the one pictured above. I bought it at a popular discount store many years ago, probably for less than $20.

My all-time favorite...to tell you the truth, I don't remember where I purchased it.  I use it for all my mixing, whether it is a cake, bread, or meat loaf.  I guess you could say the bowl and I have a close relationship.  Can you understand how a particular item in your kitchen gives so much pleasure simply by existing?

Before December is over, you will be seeing more of my newest purchase, a Christmas bowl.

And that reminds me, have you finished decorating for Christmas?  I was able to get the boxes out of storage.  They are now setting on the floor of the Keeping Room.  Setting up the table display is about all I have accomplished.  I guess I will get on the fast track this week end.

Meggie Mac

No Words Necessary

Yes, the label says it all.  

A couple of months ago, when I was buying supplies to make my dilly beans, I saw this label on the package of canning jars.  There was another brand produced outside our country that was only slightly cheaper. The Made in America label made my choice for me.

 

Do you not agree?.......
             
                      more Made in America labels.

Meggie Mac