« January 2011 | Main | March 2011 »
I've been jonesing for cherry pie, so today I whipped up my Cherry Crumble Pie recipe. There's something pretty wonderful about having cherry pie in the middle of winter. It's like I'm tricking the system somehow.
You can find my recipe here on Country Living Magazine's website.
* * * *
Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.
* * * *
| | |
|
I love how Christina captures the spirit of The Farm Chicks Show in this piece. I'm so excited for this year's show I can't hardly stand it. Will you be coming? I can tell you this... it gets better every year.
* * * *
Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.
* * * *
| | |
|
Imagine it was day 2,000,592 of cold dark windy rainy snowy weather... *Oh wait* you can imagine because it's WINTER... Anyway, imagine it was another long winter's day and you stop at the post office to discover there's so much mail you need a cart. Hooray! I. Love. Checking. The. Mail. (I think it goes back to my childhood and that being my only contact with the outside world). ....
Then imagine, as you're digging through the boxes... you see this package:
Happy! Joyful! Springtime cheer!
So guess what, I marched right up to the counter to show my post office worker buddies the box. "Where's it from?", they asked. And not knowing, I flipped the box all around to see. "NEW JERSEY!" I exclaimed. "NEW JERSEY?!?!?!", they asked. And it was. And somehow, it made it all this way, across the U.S. to me in such darling condition.
And guess what was inside?
Needles in a haystack. A HAYSTACK PINCUSHION!
And lots of other cute things, carefully crafted from my Farm Chicks patterns (as shared in my treatbag download and Farm Chicks logo materials from my website) Do you recognize my tractor and aprons?:
All an incredibly sweet surprise from the girls of Vintage Bettys, who love to make home crafts, just for fun.
I bet if you twist their arm, they might be willing to share a tutorial on how to make the haystack pincushion. Wouldn't that be the best? It's my favorite pincushion ever.
Thank you, Vintage Bettys.
P.S. This reminds me.... I get asked about this a lot... About using my copyrighted patterns or logos...
All of my materials are copyrighted. When a pattern or project is shared, you are welcome to use those for your own personal use. They just can't be used for resale. (Items bearing my patterns or designs cannot be sold). And if you happen to use my materials on your website or blog, please make sure to link back to my website as the source for your project.
And I would do the same for you.
xoxo, Serena
* * * *
Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.
* * * *
| | |
|
The crown molding is all installed and looking great. It sure dresses up the place!
The base trim is installed upstairs and will go in downstairs after all of the tile has gone in:
In the master bath, Dirk designed a pattern that takes a 6" x 6" tile and makes it act as the base trim. I really like the clean look of it all. However, the pattern is complex and requires a lot of time for the installation. There are a lot of design elements going into this tiny room that will really make it special once it's all complete. (More on that later).
I opted for dark grout lines on the floor, as I love how it really calls out the hex tile, and because it's a very classic look to me. The walls will have light grout lines.
I'm beginning to think about carpet options for certain areas of the house and am anxiously awaiting the arrival of all of our countertops.
* * * *
Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.
* * * *
| | |
|
If there was any month in the year that I could choose to take a sunny vacation, it would always be February. Here in Spokane, it's the grayest of months and always feels like winter has gone on too long.
We were able to get away this year and the sun did us all some good. When we travel, I have one basic rule: Less is more. We never check suitcases, choosing to use carry-ons instead. It forces us to bring less and is just a lot more efficient. No waiting for checked or lost luggage and if there's a different flight we'd like to stand-by for (getting us to our destination earlier) it's possible since we don't have checked bags. (Airlines require that passengers travel on the same plane as their luggage).
Several years ago, I purchased a wheeled carry-on suitcase for each of the boys at Target. They were on clearance for $5 each and have been the best vacation purchase I've ever made. Now each person in the family has their own suitcase that they're responsible for.
When choosing what to pack, I make sure all of my clothing works well together. A few shirts, shorts, a couple of swimsuits, a cover-up, light sweater, and a little dress. (Pictured above top to bottom: Sundress, top, light sweater, swimsuits, cover-up, top).
Since I will be wearing sandals most of the time, they are what I wear on the plane. These neutral sandals work well with any of my outfits. (Funny story about these sandals: One time while accompanying Colin on a business trip, I decided to go to the hotel's salon for a blow-out while he was in a meeting. When I sat down in the chair, the stylist looked down at my feet with a horrified expression. Then after doing a double-take, he said, "Oh my gosh! I thought you had hair growing out the top of your feet!"
I also make sure to pack workout clothes (and shoes) and a pair of flip-flops for pool and beach.
And my favorite thing to pack? A little sample-sized perfume. It makes every outfit just a little more special. My favorite right now? French Lime Blossom from Jo Malone. And their samples even have a little sprayer. And once we return home, I like to use the sample for a while longer to remind me of vacation.
Sources:
Top image from top to bottom:
Green Cotton Sundress: Ann Taylor Loft
Pink Floral Top: Anthropologie
Striped Sweater: The Gap
Yellow Striped Swimsuit: Target
Floral Swimsuit: Boden
Ribbon Adorned Cover-Up: Boden
Yellow T-Shirt : Target
Second Image: Sandals: The Gap
Third Image:
Tennies: Nike
Silver Flip-Flops: Old Navy
Last Image: Perfume: Jo Malone
* * * *
Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.
* * * *
| | |
|
I think built-ins are such an important part of a farmhouse. I've walked through so many old places, filled with room after room of built-ins. I love how they make a house feel.
Wherever possible (and feasible), I've added in built-ins of our own that will be really functional for our family. Here are a few:
Boys desk, bookcase, and window seat. These built-ins sit in the common area between all of the boys rooms. I'm using a black laminate desktop here because it's incredibly durable and inexpensive and doesn't show the black seam (which can make laminate look cheap). The drawer hardware needs to be added still and I'll be adding an upholstered cushion that will sit atop the window seat. On the opposite wall is a nice big closet that we'll store our boardgames in. I'll also add in some beanbags for the floor and hope that they'll all congregate here together, like brothers do.
Kitchen bookcase. This bookcase is built into the stairs and will be put to good use with my collection of cookbooks. It will be painted soon, along with all of the trim in the house.
Pantry shelves. I knew there was a little bit of room in the wall behind the right-hand side of my pantry and where my dining room built-in sits, so I decided to utilize that space for smaller pantry food items. I wanted the shelves to all be fully adjustable so I could fit any products in there. What I didn't consider is that would mean over 800 holes would have to be drilled. *Gulp*! Mike, the finish carpenter, told me I darn well better adjust those shelves on a regular basis. And Colin? He thinks I'm cuh-razy! And he told me he thinks I'll never move the shelves. Well great, now I'll have to prove him wrong.
Entryway bench. We're a shoe-free house, so this is a nice place for guests to be able to sit and remove their shoes. A beadboard backing is being added to the wall behind and will be topped with a shelf and sturdy hooks just beneath for coats. I'll add an upholstered cushion for sitting and baskets beneath for shoes. There's also an entryway closet to the right for added coat hanging flexibility.
The countertops were templated on Monday, so those will be getting installed soon. Mike has finished all of the crown molding and is working on the base trim. After that, he'll be getting to work on the stair newel posts and balusters. (I'm REALLY looking forward to that part!) Todd has installed the tile floors in the bathrooms and laundry room and is now working on the master bath walls and ceiling tile. He's doing a beautiful job. Graham and crew are doing prep work for the paint. I swear, all I hear whenever I'm at the house lately is the sound of them sandpapering trim.
I remember thinking when we got the painting quote that I could just paint everything. Oh my word! One of my craziest thoughts ever. EVER.
Thank goodness Colin knows when to just smile and not do as I say.
* * * *
Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.
* * * *
| | |
|
Floral fashion (English roses, especially) is the big trend this year. You're going to see it everywhere. But floral and fashion can go wrong quickly if you're not careful. You don't want to look like grandma's comforter, do you? The key is to not overdo it. Just a touch of floral here and there. Here are some of my favorites:
Happy happy *happy*
* * * *
Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.
* * * *
| | |
|
You know that part in the Little Mermaid when Ursula is making Ariel sing? Ahhh ahhh ahhhhhh.... ahhh ahhh ahhhhhh.... ahhh ahhh AHHHHHHH... and so on... ? Whenever something good happens, I sing that song, as if I'm Ariel. (Weird, I know because that's not even a happy part....) Anyway...
Colin asked me if I wanted to go up and see the house tonight and I was reluctant. To be honest, I've been trying to avoid it. It's actually becoming really painful for me to visit because I so DESPERATELY want to be home and to feel settled.
He told me that he thought the cabinets may be in. But I didn't believe him. Actually, I didn't want to believe him because I didn't want to be let down if they weren't. And I didn't even have a reason for doubting because everything has really stayed right on schedule.
And let me tell you, my heart just about fell out of my chest and Ariel began to sing in my head when I saw this:
Cabinets!
And my sink. Remember her? She's all resurfaced and ready to be installed. I love love love this sink.
The cabinets and shelving in the laundry room are all done. The dining room built-ins are in progress and the other rooms that are awaiting cabinetry and built-ins are being tended to as well.
So now, I've been singing like the Little Mermaid all night.
And everyone's getting a little sick of me.
Ahhh ahhh ahhh.... ahhh ahhh ahhhhhh ....
* * * *
Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.
* * * *
| | |
|
All of the windows and doors are all trimmed out and waiting for a coat of paint. I'm so happy with how they turned out.
The window sills of the kitchen windows aren't in yet. I decided to have them done in the stone that is the same as the kitchen countertops. I really like the thought of having sills that can take a licking and keep on ticking, like water from the sink splashing up whenever I use the sink. And in the winter, I can grow potted herbs there and not worry about destroying the sill.
The doors are getting painted and should be set back into place soon.
The tile continues to be installed and the cabinets are coming soon. It's all coming together nicely.
* * * *
Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.
* * * *
| | |
|
I've been collecting lockets as long as I can remember. When our home was burglarized a few years ago, they took most of my grandma Marjorie's jewelry and the locket that contained her picture. But luckily, they left her picture. So, I still keep her with my collection. Isn't she beautiful?
My favorite locket has the inscription:
Butterfly
Mornin
Wildflower
Afternoon
As a girl, I collected butterfly jewelry too. But that's a story for another day...
My collection was started for me by my mom because she LOVED hearts. Anything hearts. By the time I left home, I was so sick of hearts that I never wanted to see another one again. But thankfully, this year I've warmed up to hearts again (in moderation) and am so glad that I still have my collection...
...after all these years.
* * * *
Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.
* * * *
| | |
|
I thought I'd send a quick hello from cake class. I'm so glad I finally did this after all these years. Too bad the boys are past the stage of thinking clowns are cool.
Each week, we bring in a cake that we then frost and decorate. This week, I was so busy I didn't have time to make the cake. So I frosted a cake pan instead. The thing is, if I were to wait until I wasn't busy to sign up for class, I don't know that I ever would have. And each week, as hard as it is to get here, I'm always so glad I did. And every time I'm here and seeing how hard the staff works in this little shop, I think about how lucky we are to be able to follow our dreams. We can do anything we want. Like the owner, Michelle did.
Michelle shopped at Carolyn's for years. She loved it there. One day when she was picking up supplies, there was a store closing sign on the counter. Carolyn had been in the process of selling the business to a new owner and then the deal went through. Unable to find another buyer, she was ready to close the shop down.
Michelle made her purchase and went out to the parking lot where she immediately called her husband, a school principal, to tell him about Carolyn's closing down. And then proceeded to tell him that she wanted to buy it. And here's the sweet part...
He thought she should too. That she should follow her dreams. So she did. And Carolyn's was saved.
That was years ago and the little shop is still going strong. And this isn't a romantic tale about how all she does is work with frosting all day and make cakes look pretty. It's actually a lot of hard work. Long hours at the shop and part-time work elsewhere to make ends meet.
But she's doing what she loves and she's filling a void in our community. There's nothing better than the service you get from a locally owned shop.
Which brings me back to class. I'm so thankful to be here. And thankful that all of us can live our dreams. Even if it is a lot of hard work.
P.S. If you love the thought of supporting little shops as much as me, you can always place phone orders from Carolyn's. They ship nationwide.
P.P.S. I have no affiliation with Carolyn's and have not been compensated in any way by talking about their business. I'm just spreading the love.
xo
* * * *
Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.
* * * *
| | |
|
I've been creating more sweet treats for Valentines Day. Sweets make me happy.
To begin, bake up your favorite brownie recipe. They should be a little on the dense side (you can do this by adding 1/4-1/2 cup of extra flour to your batch of brownie batter). Once cooled, cut into little cubes, about 1"x1":
Prepare a chocolate coating by combining 1 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk) and 1 teaspoon butter in a cereal bowl and heat at 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring each time until melted and smooth.
Place cubes, one by one, on a candy dipping tool or a fork. Place over the bowl of melted chocolate and spoon chocolate over the top of the cube. Then lightly tap tap tap the neck of the dipping tool (or fork) on the edge of the bowl until the chocolate has coated the cube, and the excess has gone back into the bowl. Next, set little brownie bite on parchment or foil and insert a lollipop stick. Then sprinkle:
You can do a little or a lot. Do more sprinkles mean more love?
Once the chocolate has set, it's time to wrap the little bites all up. All you need is some food safe tissue or parchment and some string or baker's twine. Simply cut the tissue into squares big enough to cover each bite (I cut my tissue squares 6.5"x6.5"). Then wrap and tie.
For a thoughtful gift, box them up for someone you love.
* Or * give one (or five) to yourself!
Sources:
The candy dipping tool, sprinkles and lollipop sticks came from Carolyn's. (They ship nationwide).
The food-safe tissue is from The Container Store.
The pink box came from Bake it Pretty.
>>>><<<<
Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there, Username: thefarmchicks
>>>><<<<
| | |
|
Let me begin by saying I'm a huge fan of Thai curry. And I've scoured the face of the planet trying to gather just the right ingredients to duplicate the curry deliciousness we experience at every Thai restaurant we visit. And I've failed miserably.
My poor family. Pot after pot of "curry". "This will be the one!", I'd exclaim excitedly, wildly waving my spoon from the kitchen. "I think this time it's going to be delicious!". And each time, after dragging each family member out from under the beds and inside the closets for sampling, it was not. Really really not.
"Maybe it's just a tiny bit too sweet?", Colin would ask. "Oh no", I'd reply. "Just swish it around in your mouth for about mmmmm five minutes and then you'll get a slight hint of the taste". - OR - "Mom, what was it like back when I still had tastebuds and could taste food before my tongue was burned up by your curry experiments?"
Imported curry paste from the Asian grocery store, special curry paste from the grocery store, curry powder, every coconut milk known to man, curry cookbooks that basically instruct me to fly to Thailand and harvest the ingredients myself, special recipes from friends, lemongrass, thai basil, fingers crossed, spin around touch the ground, make a wish ... still bad.
And then .....
*WAIT*
Cue the choir!
♪ ♫ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♫ ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♪
I present Mae Ploy. The answer to all of my curry hopes and dreams. (And restorer of tastebuds).
And yes, that is a 2 pound tub you see there. Ahem. I uh.. well, I was *DESPERATE* and found Mae Ploy at a local restaurant supply store. The ends of the earth, I tell you. That's where I've traveled for this.
But before I let you in on my discovery, I wanted to make sure it was widely available (and that you wouldn't have to mortgage your right pinky to buy it) before I recommended it to you. And lo and behold, It is! You can find it here, here, here, and lots of other places online. (In Spokane, you can find it at Cash & Carry).
Oh, and here's the best part: It's just spices. And no preservatives. I just followed the simple recipe on the back which included adding some coconut milk, chicken, potatoes, etc.
I've found I like to use lowfat coconut milk best, but regular coconut milk is delicious too. Just a lot more rich.
And just like that, I've cracked the curry code.
And none too soon. I think my family was about to rebel.
P.S. I'm not related to anyone with the names Mae or Ploy and was not paid to let you in on my little discovery.
P.P.S. If you're going to go to the trouble of making Thai curry, make sure to serve it with Jasmine rice. It's the yummiest. And nope, I don't have any relatives named Jasmine either.
* * * *
Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.
* * * *
| | |
|
