Friday, April 17, 2026

CLARK AMISH COUNTRY TODAY

 About 45 minutes from our home is an
Amish community that is wonderful to
visit and find lovely items. Over the years
we have kept their map and added to it with
scribbles - especially adding those who do
not participate in the map.  Farms selling
different items aren't marked terribly well so
the map helps.



Keep in mind these photos aren't the best
since they are taken from inside the car and
undercover since the Amish don't appreciate
cameras.  This would be a typical Amish farm
house here:




Their culture is so interesting.  We passed
quite a few schools and I noticed many
of the children were barefoot.  It was 
around 80 degrees out. 

I had never stopped at the first plant place
so I did today.  Lots of annuals and hanging
baskets.





The little building in the collage below is
one of the little schools.



We are expecting a storm tonight so several times
there were questions to us about what we had
 heard about a potential storm.  I was reminded
 that they do not have radios or televisions.



We stopped at 4 businesses and this plant place
above is a favorite.  I have no sense of direction
but my husband always figures out how to
find different shops.


 


Our car came home quite covered in dust
from all the country roads.  The dusty roads
 get much worse later in the summer.  We try 
to stop when we see a cart coming our way
to let them by without covering them in dust.




I have never been to their auction house but
imagine you could find some greatly priced
items.  I remember going to one in Pennsylvania
many years back in the 70's and got a whole
crate of cauliflower for 50 cents.  That was
fun!  I put all of it in the freezer too.


Everywhere there are goats, sheep, cows and
horses and chickens too!

We got some homemade butter which I  am anxious
to try and cheese that we purchased before
in the past.  I found thread that was cheaper
than Walmart's.  I love their spices that
they package themselves.  Today I bought some
of the large noodle "shells" to stuff for pasta.

I got my 3 hanging baskets made up quickly
after we got home.  They aren't very impressive
now but will be in the coming weeks.  I only purchased 4 plants for each one but I planted
marigold seeds in the middle part.  I save my pots
every year and just buy some dirt and peat to
go in them. 





 I just texted our across the street
neighbors as I offered to fill their hanging pot
again from when I made it up last year.  This
was my idea of a fun day!






Tuesday, March 31, 2026

TIME FOR VIOLETS


About the time the calendar said spring was here,
we got a freeze which really damaged my garden.  
The lilacs had started to have buds and leaves and
now those parts are quite brown so this year who
knows....we just take it as it comes.  In the meantime
we will cover the table with violets:



I have loved violets all my life.





Because I have such a fondness for old vintage linens I decided to set my table with an old
1950-60's violet tablecloth, an embroidered
topper, etc.


 

Someone very sweet must of made that
little violet doily above.  I love it.












I hope your springtime brings some violets!

Saturday, March 14, 2026

BEATRIX POTTER FIGURINES

In the springtime I find myself always thinking
 about Beatrix Potter.  I loved that sweet movie
that came out years ago, "Miss Potter".  I
love so many different types of people from
the past:  Beatrix Potter, Tasha Tudor,
Jane Austen,  L. M. Montgomery, the
Bronte Sisters and Edith Holden.  It's not
 that I like every single thing about them but
 rather I choose to focus on the characteristics
I like best.  

We have been watching the Road to
Avonlea series recently and we just love it.
But we have our favorites episodes and our
 favorite characters.  I think what we love is
the idea of "community" - people who know
their neighbors and support one another.

Back to Beatrix Potter:



We have some daffodils and hellebores and
pussy willows so I did my first little bouquet.



I have been so excited to see some of the earliest
bulbs appear.  I do know that winter isn't over
 and tomorrow for example, is supposed to
 be ugly!
In Iowa maybe a blizzard - oh boy!



Doing this post,  I have pulled out these little
figurines which I collected many years ago.



This doll has stirred up memories for me
as I have a friend who is turning 80 years
old soon.  I met her when I was 17 and we
were both attending a small Iowa Bible
College.  During the 1980's she lived
in Toronto, Canada and we went for
several visits there to see her family and 
on one of the visits we went to a gal's
farmhouse who sold antiques and vintage
items and I 
purchased
this doll from her.




Beatrix Potter certainly left a wonderful
legacy which so many celebrate today.














I hope your springtime
comes very soon!



Saturday, February 28, 2026

GREEN TRANSFERWARE FOR SPRING

 When March arrives we know that spring is soon
to arrive and we get so excited.  One of the things
I like about living in Missouri is that winter is
a brief season.  There are actually four different
seasons and spring is definitely a favorite one.

To me, this green transferware marks the
upcoming arrival of spring.



I recently had cataract surgery on both eyes so my
second surgery (they do one at a time with 2 weeks in
between) was this week.  I can already see so much better
so I am thrilled about that and looking forward to
seeing my garden come to life.

Over the years I have shared this green embroidered table-
cloth my Grandmother did for me when I got married.
It is a small topper and a tablecloth which I put
over an old Quaker lace larger tablecloth.  There
are napkins to match and I cut up one years back
to make a tea cosy.











Do you collect any English transferware?
This pattern is called "The Florentine" by Johnson
Brothers and is hard to find.  Many date it to around
1913 which means it is very old.  I have 5 saucers and I am
always looking for the needed 5 cups to finish
them as a set.  In the meantime, I have some mix and
match.



 How do you spell the word "cosy or cozy"?
I have recently started spelling it "cosy" because
Etsy seems to want me to spell it that way.  



As you can see there are other types of green
English transferware.  I love them all.




These dishes are brighter green but there is also quite
a lot of darker green and teal green to collect.  I
only collect the spring green.



I don't know if this has ever happened to you but
I was enfluenced many years ago as I saw Carolyn
Aiken share on her blog about her love for transferware. 
 You can find her on Instagram which by the way, I enjoy 
Instagram immensely.



Sunday, February 8, 2026

VALENTINES DAY MAKES FOR FUN TABLE SETTING!



 

If you enjoy doing table settings you might have a similar
problem as I do.  Without thinking, it's easy to do it the same
the way next time!  I noticed that before so I decided to grab
a different table cloth this year and start there for this 
Valentine
table setting.







Last year I put out the plates that I now have above in
my armoire so I purposefully chose differently this time.
The little Valentine angel is a Nicol Sayre creation.



I have these little heart shaped plates from the
90's that are fun with Victorian style clip art and
 I mixed them with some USA red transferware
called "English Abbey".  The white plates from
are from Czechoslovakia with a pattern name 
"Bernadotte".





I had made the tea cosy last year.  The fabric
is by Cynthia Hart The Gifted Line.  The plates inside
the armoire are Victorian images of romantic
couples that are by Adams and are English.





I think I got the fabric for this tablecloth on Ebay.
I also made a runner for the buffet.








I also want to say you might not like my style of things
and I am ok with that! I don't ever remember a time when 
there were so many different styles.






Here are some Cupid vintage napkins I found a year
or 2 ago:



As a senior, I really enjoy table setting even if I
am not having anyone for dinner.  I go from season
to season or holiday and especially love that I have
flowers in the garden to enjoy making bouquets for
the table.  Do you enjoy table setting?