East Meets West

As I was closing up the barn Friday evening, this was the view out to the west horizon. I quickly ran back inside the farmhouse to retrieve my camera, knowing it only takes minutes to miss out on a sun setting photo.

If your life is also in the country, you know there are many beautiful photo opportunities as the day begins to fade of light.

What made this one so unique was the view in the east. The moon was already showing its face high in the sky as the sun was setting.

The puffy soft clouds were shades of pink and lavender back dropped with a magnificent blue sky..

As I was standing there, with the view of the horizon in every direction, to my right was the sun setting. And to my left, there was the moon with the cool down color of evening.

Just glimpses of life from my small corner of Texas.
Meggie Mac

Ode to a Cedar Tree

Are you wondering what I have photographed on the farm today?

In a previous posting, I showed you several trees I lost this year due to the severe drought we suffered over the summer. I also wrote I would be cutting the dead trees down.

As you can see, this is not a small tree.  Before taking the main trunk down, the carpenter (aka handyman)cut many of the lower branches off  by using the chain saw.

 I knew the tree was dead, but it still broke my heart to see it come down. It had been growing for several decades and now it was gone forever.

"Wait a minute!" .....is what I shouted as he was loading up the trailer. "How about cutting me some slices for stepping stones", I said, "or maybe, I could make a wall clock out of one of the slices."

At least, I will have something left behind to remember the beautiful cedar tree.

Meggie Mac

Don't forget to click on each photo to see it in a larger size...

Perfect Friday

Well, it is the end of another Friday Project Day and I'm tuckered out. The plan today was to rework the garden pathways with pea gravel.....4 tons to be exact!

 My handyman unloaded the trailer, while I spread it with the back of a rake.

Not much help from Smoky

.
The sun was out all day with a perfect temperature of 69 degrees. This is me and my shadow taking a break.
Remember this hat ?

There are very large gravel pits in this area. So I went directly to the nearest one about 4 miles away, and paid $9.00 a ton. That price fits very well with my budget.

Here are a few photos of previous years....

All plants are started from heritage seeds by me. Next week I will share with you what I have selected for this year's spring garden. I also will be having a " free give away" of seeds. So check in with me next week.

How do you keep the dirt out of the farmhouse? I keep trying.....I leave my shoes by the door!

Meggie Mac

Fresh Eggs Every Day

This time of year the chickens are taking a break. If you don't have chickens, you may not realize as the daylight hours become shorter, the chickens lay less eggs. But today was the exception. Did you notice I have green eggs ?

After taking a closer look, I noticed one green egg had a surprise attached to it. Yes, that is a feather!

Meggie Mac

Let the Games Begin

When I started this blog in November 2011, I briefly wrote I would be exploring my Scottish heritage.

Last week, in reading this blog that I follow, she had a project showing how to make Scottie dogs out of felt.
Remember the day I received my order of 98 pieces of felt ?

So this past weekend I started making some Scotties with the idea of tagging them with my blog address. With each Highland Game I attend, I can give them away to other "Macs" that might be interested in following my blog. What do you think about that idea for promoting followers?

The first Scottish Festival I will be attending this year will be in Arkansas. In the early years of America, the Scots played a very important role. Americans are proud of their Scottish Heritage and show it every year with Highland Game events in many states, including Texas. Featured at these events are piping, Highland dancing, Celtic music, sheepdog demonstrations, and of course, the games themselves. For most of us, it is the nearest thing to actually going to Scotland.

What is so unique about this event in Arkansas is Lyon College .  The college honors its Scottish connection with its programs designed to teach, preserve, and celebrate the Scottish arts and traditions in America. Be sure and click on the highlighted words to read more about this.

This is just the beginning....there will be much more in 2012 as I "put on the tartan" of my family.

Meggie Mac

Guest Room in the Farmhouse

If you remember where I started from with the farmhouse , you can appreciate how far I have come with this project. In the weeks to come, I would like to share with you some of the rooms in my small farmhouse. So come in, visit with me and I will show you a guest bedroom, aka the sewing room.

As with all my rooms, each one has a story to tell. In a previous post, I talked about my sewing space created in a  closet. That space is in this room. Every thing you are about to see has been purchased at a yard sale, junk store, or simply passed on to me from another. If you are giving away anything, I probably will have my hand up and say, "I'll take it". Also included are gifts from my daughters.

This room started with the painting hanging over the bed. I purchased this at a flea market for about $20. It was covered with brown goop. I really didn't know how beautiful it was until I could get it cleaned up. It was my inspiration for this room.

The bed frame was rusty and needed a good coat of paint.

Of course, this chair was not white when I purchased it at a yard sale. Neither was the bench. Each piece had to be stripped of the original finish. I had an old chenille bedspread I used to re-cover each piece. Don't you think they look nice?

This small table also needed to be stripped and a new coat of sealer applied.

The black painted console and matching mirror have been in the family for about 50 years....so no money out of my pocket for it.

On a trip my daughter made to South America, she gifted me with this beautiful pastel drawing. And the colors were perfect for this room.

What you are looking at was originally a door way into another bedroom. (No hallways in this house). I took advantage of the opening and installed shelving. The small colorful painting on the shelf was a gift from my youngest daughter.

Sunlight is shining on the closed doors of my sewing space.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of my home.

Meggie Mac

Happy New Year 2012

If you live in the southern states of the USA, you are eating your black-eyed peas today for good luck in 2012.

Other countries also have their traditional foods. You can read about some of them here.

Send me a comment, telling me what your traditional foods are for celebrating the New Year.

Meggie Mac