Homekeeping at Crooked Hedge Farm

Summer is quickly upon us and the temps here in Iowa have been excruciating, to say the least.  It's perfect for the corn (especially sweet corn) as the saying goes, "knee high by the 4th of July".  In many areas, I'd guess this is true, however, eastern Iowa experienced 100 year floods early this spring, and I'm afraid many fields have not even been planted yet, nor will be.  It's been a difficult time for our farmers.  

In amongst the heated days, I've spent much of my time the past week in my garden beds.  They were, and some still are, a disaster.  When I had the time to get in them, it was either raining or unseasonably cold.  Even though it was hot, I seemed to get quite a bit done and felt real good by days end.  There's just something about getting in a good day's work...you're tired; and I mean tired.  A very good tired. 

This week, it's all about prepping for my monthly occasional sale this weekend.  But, before that, we CELEBRATE!  The 4th of July is this week, too, and although I'm not a real big holiday decorator, I have pulled out a few things in my stache of goods.  It doesn't take much, to add a few pieces to your everyday decor to look festive and in the mood for the holiday.  

Our annual outing is to the parade in a neighboring town.  It's always a nice one and we always seem to get our same spot...nice and shady.  I do love a great parade and the 4th of July ones are my absolute fave. YOURS?

The one thing about the summer holidays; Memorial Day to Labor Day, the red, white and blue theme works all season long.  Again, a few additions here and there.  A take away, like Uncle Sam, over there, and your simple easy decorating works.

In this photo, I have a vintage, stand-alone, flower box that sits front and center on my front porch.  Filled to overflowing with annuals, I added a flag that will stay in year 'round, actually.  Uncle Sam adds to the 4th of July spirit and I have a cut-up piece of a South Dakota license plate that fit in perfectly.  Both Uncle Sam and the plate will come out after this weekend.  The rusty, crusty flower stays up all summer, too.  I've had it for several years and I never tire of it.  Made by a local gal pal who runs her own business, I've bought and sold many of her pieces through Burlap & Roses over the years.

I've found another local biz to get my own designs cut, now, so I'll be selling them at B&R starting this weekend.


This display is found in my home.  The large platter is a piece out of a set of Pfaltzgraff.  Love lives here, is a tin tray that I picked up for $5 bucks at Dollar General.  I could not pass it up and it fits perfectly behind the vintage beaded daisies, placed in vintage apothecary jars.  Their little tops sit in front.  I like how this turned out.

Let's just say it's "as fresh as a daisy" in its appeal.  Nothing fancy.  Nothing over-the-top.  Simple in design, clean and fresh.  

I'm inspired by many things.  What inspires you?  A color, flower, barn or building?  Good people doing good things?  Tell me about what INSPIRES you.

A few years ago, a gentleman in Indianola came into my shop and offered to let me and my biz partner come into a home he was going to demolish and get out what we wanted.  As I was walking around the outside, I asked him what his plans were for the surrounding landscape bushes and plants.  He said they'd be destroyed.  

I jumped on that and we saved quite a few of the Hydrangea bushes.  I'm happy to say, mine all survived and have done very well.  

I went out today and got another bunch to replace the original bouquet.  They are lush and vibrant.  I quick made this display using vintage flash cards, old "collectors' stamps and the creamy hued Hydrangeas. 

Bits and pieces come together to make great vignettes with very little time or money spent.  Shop your home...your garden, heck event the garage.  One never knows what you'll find. 

Our lighted flag is slightly swaying today in the mild breeze. It hangs in its rightful place of honor at our front steps, on the old round porch post.  

I've place a solar light in one of our planters that keeps it lit at night so we don't have to take it down daily.  

I think our flag is very pretty.  

RED.WHITE.BLUE!

What are your 4th of July plans?  How do you celebrate?  Please share with me some of your traditions or new things you're trying.  A recipe?  An outing?  Picnic?  Leave it in the comments section on this post.  It makes it fun for me and everyone who reads it. 

Happy 4th of July...and REMEMBER, 

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE 

Burlap & Roses at Crooked Hedge Farm is open this Friday and Saturday, July 5th and 6th from 10:00-5:00.  4500 G76 Hwy., New Virginia, Iowa 50210

You can always SHOP with me on my ETSY store.  Open 24/7 for your shopping convenience. Just click on the link and you'll be taken to my site.  

You can follow me on Instagram: Burlap & Roses

Today...I'm home-keeping and I'm happy and blissful.

It seems my life works around blocks of time.  For instance, last week, it was focused on getting my shop ready for the weekend sale I was having.  This week, it's blocked out for home-keeping and preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday.

There are many things that make me happy...and blissfully so.  Nothing compares to having the grand-kids here.  It's always lovely when all my kids are spending some time with us.  Traveling with my hubs is at the top of my blissfully happy list. There's plenty to make me happy and blissfully so, but, I must say, there is something about home-keeping for me that satisfies my soul; that touches me in a way that is comforting.peaceful.reassuring. 

As I sat down to write, Louis Armstrong is singing in the background.  And, the song is one of my favorites:  What a Wonderful World. How perfect.  How blissfully good for my soul.  I'm in my happy place.  

Whether I'm hanging new curtains, wiping down walls and base-board or just doing mundane laundry, at times, it's just pleasant and something I really love to do.  And, music in the background allows me to put a little hand pump, swish and sway and a bit of groove to my duties. If you knew me, on a personal level (and some readers do) you'd get a vivid picture, I'm sure.  

Not everyone feels this way.  The thought of being at home doing the mundane home-keeping chores drives them insane.  Me, too, at times.  About four times a year though, I really get into it.  

Maybe it's the changing of the season, maybe because company is coming.  Or, maybe it's just an inane need that I can't really put a "reason" too.  All I know is that I'm doing it and loving it.  

I've always loved being at home; never really tire of being here.  I've always known I wanted to be a home-maker.  I enjoy keeping my home relatively clean (minus the daunting and excessive dust and areas of creating).  I don't really mind cooking and baking. My interests have a home & family basis.  I like the ebb and flow of it all.  I need it, for my soul, about four times a year.

Today it's the upper level that's getting a good clean.  Bedding laundered, a new look to some of the rooms by changing out the top covers.  I love this warm and cozy time of year and want the bedrooms to convey this.  Vintage quilts, coverlets, and old wool blankets are coming out of the closet.  Flannel sheets have been on for quite some time.  In Iowa, we've only needed the furnace and warm blankets on this past week.  It's been unseasonably warm...hot, actually, for this time of year.  A picture perfect fall, as far as I'm concerned.

The lower level will get tackled tomorrow along with roasting the turkey and a fire going in the wood-burning fireplace.  I haven't gotten any fall decorations out at all, so, for this year, I'm forgoing them and going straight to the Christmas/winter holiday decor.  That'll come out after Thanksgiving though. I'm more of a seasonal decorator, rather than specific holidays. I find I'm too busy to change everything out so often.  Seasonal it is for me.  How do you decorate?

Today...I'm home-keeping and I'm happy and blissful.  I want to make my home warm and inviting for those I love most, because, as the sign says, "What is most important almost always involves the people around us".  Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours.

Valentines Day memories...

As I have been spending some time looking through vintage Valentines that I've collected for resale and collage projects, I'm reminded of the Valentine Days of my and my children's childhood.

Remember the boxes we all had to make in school.  We spent time decorating ours to our hearts content.  Just waiting for the day when we exchanged cards with our classmates.  I still look at a box in the store and remember "when". 

If you were like me, you'd go through each card, picking out the right one for each classmate.  Maybe a super special 'person' would get a super special Valentine...but, you didn't want to  be too obvious, that you thought this super special 'person' was super special to you. 

We were never allowed to leave anyone out.  But, me being me, I wouldn't have done that anyway.  And, you sure didn't want to be one 'left out' either.  Even our teacher got a Valentine from each one of us. 

As I look through the vintage cards, I'm enthralled with the beauty of each one.  Some are cute...but, the ones that I favor are the romantic ones with sweet sentiments or simply ask:  "Will you be mine?".  Or, "Happy Valentines Day". 

What are your favorite memories of Valentine's Day?  Mine are the ones from childhood...a young and innocent time.  And especially from my children's youth.  Watching them decorate their box, bring it home after the party and go through each card.  And, of course, now...as an adult, when you know that Valentine's Day is more than a card with a sweet sentiment.  It's what your Valentine does all year long, that makes life Valentine's Day year 'round.

Merriest of Christmas' to you and yours

Merry Christmas~

I wish everyone a very merry and blessed holiday.  

And, looking forward,

May your worries be lighter and your days much brighter. 

May the New Year start in the right direction,

and all your dreams be filled to perfection.

Beth Cort-Voltmer

From my home to yours...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Beth

Autumn Cottage...a real "got to have" publication

I was so excited to pull my issue of this bookazine out of the mailbox.  From the cover to the back, it's eye candy for the heart and soul of us who love all things home, family, entertaining and AUTUMN.  

Enjoy! 

Click here to go straight to the order page at Hoffman Media.
http://www3.mailordercentral.com/hoffmanmedia/prodinfo.asp?number=HM-AUTCOTTAGE-11