once again

I do love this moment...this time of the year.
Wonderful fresh memories of family, stories from friends, a heart full.
This is the final gift given.

And that door waiting to open - again.

It is a new door to a new year.

With anticipation, we wait.

Holiday Sale at Hixton

Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy 2013!
Take 25% off your purchases in my booth at the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall in Hixton, Wisconsin through January 5, 2013.

For all the details....hop to the right under "Chapters".

little merry

Sending out holiday wishes thru the snow to you...8 inches so far, drifting to come.
Cozied up with work from home - will be a white Christmas indeed!

Hoping you are at the end of your lists, and ready for time with family.

ho, ho, ho!

Merry Christmas!

words to live by...

We turn during times of tragedy to words of comfort, faith, support.....as an Early Childhood Educator, I often turn to words of one of my heros, Mr. Rogers:

"When I was a little boy, and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me "Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping."  To this day, especially in times of 'disaster', I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by knowing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in the world."

So we look to the helpers:

• Teachers who protected, who read to children while bullets rang out, who decided that their care, their words, would be wings over the children.  These are the wings of angels.
• The faith of a nation, rising with prayer for families grieving unbearable loss.  Reaching out to shattered innocence with compassion.
• A resonating "ENOUGH" rising through our country...calling for control of rights.  We all have a First right to safety....and the safety of our youngest, our weakest.  This trumps all other rights, just does. 

As a parent, in my wish for my son's life, being helpful was on the top.  We need helpers......more then anything else in this world, we need helpers.

upon their wings...

And he will give his angels charge of thee to guard you in all your ways...upon their wings they will lift you up...

Prayers for the children, families, teachers & community.
Our hearts are indeed broken. Such sadness...

holiday time

I often change my mind.

I think that Christmas decor should be just natural - pine cones, fresh evergreen, cranberries threaded just so ~ pure & simple. Then I decide it really is about twinkly lights, glittered stars, tarnished silver & gold ~ that sparkle of the first snow. Then whimsy crosses my mind....sweet snowmen marching across a shelf, a flock of deer & bottle brush trees tucked about ~ magic. But then I travel back to traditional green & red, mottled color, a nod to Santa ~ the Christmas of my childhood.

Yes, I change my mind ~ ~ ~ a lot.

So in the end, I go the Kari-way.....a little of this, a little of that, always with vintage as the root.

See, December to me is just about home...and the joy found there. It is a warm quilt, a comforting couch, a warm place to cozy away in over this winter holiday. It is a sentimental nod to the past, a serene glance to the future and always the reassurance that the present is here, right here.

Happy Holidays!

much

Amount of snow we received on Sunday = L O T S

Today we will dig out...with trails for goats & kittens. But for now, it is untouched, quiet and beautiful.

snow arrives

6-8 inches of snow by midnight ~ ~ so today feels like being in a snow globe....shaken, shaken, shaken.

**snuck out in boots & a robe (still flu bound) to snap the snow start**

cup of Christmas cheer

I adore sweet little tea cups & adorable little holders. And, I love to fill them with charm.

enjoy...

a gift

So often our hurry up lives leave us missing moments...the little details that soften the hard edges of long days. To me, the details take away the mundane...remove neutrality, elevate - yes, elevate our lives. But, I get caught up in busy and miss these moments.

So, as I throw in the towel to this illness that has swept into my body this week...I also step off the roller coaster of December. I am forced to ease back, to slow it down, to lay low.

And what do I notice - the details. The chime of our mantle clock, calling out the hour as it has done for 100 years. The soft light coming in through the dotted green curtains, like being touched with magic. The solid warmth of a cat at my feet, the loyalty that awaits when I just sit down. The tiny ribbon, just right on that sweet ornament. The sound of the bells on our kitchen door as it opens to home.

As much as I will relish my return to wellness, I have come to understand, too, that we move too fast, take on too much, and miss moments. It is too bad that it takes our own body calling "stop" to understand.

white Christmas

No snow...but twinkly white inside. Our living room is green & brown with white added for the holiday. Peaceful & calm, like that first snow.

sleigh bells ring, are you listening....

With urgency, the holidays have arrived at Meadowview Farm. I am surprised how many hours it takes to "keep it simple"....at least my definition of Simple! I have tweaked & fluffed and now can sit back & enjoy. Love little sweet vignettes at every turn.

Dave did attempt to put up lights on the outside trees early this morning, sounded a bit like the flurry of profanity from the movie, A Christmas Story. This would be Dave's version ---- with more bark then bite. In the end the lights won--for today.

Below is the first view of Christmas at our farm. **My great brainstorm this year was to only use the top two sections of our artificial tree in an old washtub - love the look. The screen door you see inside near the tree (or as my Ian stated, "why is there a screen door in the dining room?") is original to this 1857 house (that's why).

Are you getting ready with haste?

Farmhouse Style Holiday

Chippy green, rusty red, Ironstone white...with a bit of glitter dust. My booth & case at the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall in Hixton, Wisconsin are ready for Christmas.

All the details~~~~~~to the right under "Chapters".

Now to find the spirit & the energy to holiday-up the farm!
Think I may just need a little nap first.

and here comes the Snow Queen

If I could say it with a whisper, I would.

But, the winds howled her in last night.

The traces of s n o w are her footprints.

As if to say, "See, I gave you a beautiful day of thanksgiving...

I hope it was not taken for granted."

Winter is knocking on our door, rattling our windows.

Reminding us that, invited or not, she is indeed waiting right outside.

thankful

I want to begin with an upper case "T", but thankful feels so humble to me....a quiet, sweet, from-the-soul feeling. And so I begin this week filled with thanksgiving.

I am thankful for all my dear hearts, for warm shelter, for harvest, for choice.

Sending out my best wishes for a lovely day & celebration.

Happy Thanksgiving!

gobble gobble gobble

Turkeys at every turn....that is what you will find at the farm. From vintage German candy containers to Gurley turkey candles to my cherished mohair Steiff ~ turkeys I say! And a flock, I add!

Just a small pictorial trip for you from the kitchen to the den, snapping as I go. Turkeys & November, a matched set....might even find a real flock in the recently shorn fields.

Especially feel the Thanks Giving coming.....and I give thanks for spending Sunday antiquing with my 2 sisters....finding critters for my Lori to glitter & cool galvanized elements for my Randi's beautiful gardens.

Feeling ever so Gobbly!   

Happy Thanksgiving!

Remember- Thanksgiving Sale still going on at my Antique Booth...details 2 posts below!

my thoughts....

We indeed are the answer we have been waiting for...
    when we offer:

• empathy rather than judgement
• compassion rather than anger
• critical thinking rather than ignorance
• an open mind rather than a closed heart
• thoughtfulness rather than blind faith

It is within each of us to reach out a hand and yet still hold strong to our beliefs.
To lead, not just blindly follow.

Just my little old thoughts this week. 
She says with a twinkle in her eye & a rainbow in her heart.

Thank You Sale

Offering a 20% off SALE in my booth at the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall as a thanks for your patronage. I am so very thankful for loyal customers!

Hixton is a little town in western Wisconsin that is home to 4 antique malls/stores....a true antique destination. My booth is in a 90 dealer mall in an old school....with something for everyone! It is an easy off & on from I94.

For more details~~hop over to "Vintage Finds" under Chapters to the right.

Sale will run through Thanksgiving ~

               ending at the end of the day on Saturday, November 24, 2012.

Thank you....

From our view....

Darkness in the morning & too early at night. Sunset & sunrise....over & over too soon. Feel like we, too, are preparing for hibernation. November has again arrived.

From our view, here in a state where seasons are distinct, change again arrives.  We begin to ready with some haste, putting up hay, straw & leaves for our goats and putting the farmyard to rest.  Yet we understand that we will not know what lies ahead....will this be a difficult winter or a mild winter?  Will it provide kind days to our flock, or days where cold, wind & snow offer no respite?  

Thus it is...we try to predict and ready, yet know, in the end, there is much beyond our control & we place our faith in what will be & in our strength to persevere.  So it is as my mind & heart moves between worries & prayers for storm survivors miles away and for an election just on the horizon.  I will offer up HOPE....because in the end, that is always our true north.

Hoo & Boo

Sending out a Happy Halloween!

Sending thoughts & prayers to all who are weathering the storm.....  

restocked

Last Friday night, we took two cars & a trailer to the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall in Hixton, Wisconsin. All is full again!

For all the details on this mall......jump to the right under "Chapters".
My code is "spy", Dave's code is "md" -- we each have a booth & a case.  I specialize in Farmhouse Style & Vintage Holiday/Seasonal.....Dave has Vintage Cabin and Fishing.

And, we will be behind the counter this Saturday, Oct. 27. Stop on by and perhaps we can wheel & deal!

gratitude

As the sun sets on our 2012 Autumn Barn Sale....

I wanted to just share how truly appreciative I am.

To my bestest "Barn Cat" friends that help the first morn: Jani, Nan & Sarah ~ my thanks!

To those of you that ventured through the rain to attend ~ my thanks!

For the many that traveled hours & miles ~ my thanks!

To our Amish neighbors that sent over a hay wagon filled with harvest ~ my thanks!

To my Dave, who parked cars in the damp weather ~ my thanks!

For the giggles, smiles & good spirit of all ~ my thanks!

My heart is happy indeed....

Gratitude is priceless.

A round of hugs to all!

here we go...

Meadowview Farm Autumn

Barn Sale

Antiques & Vintage Finds

This is our third Fall Sale!

I've tweaked the last vignette, 

set up part of the lower level of the barn (outdoor stuff inside in case of rain), 

filled up the hayloft to the brim, 

readied some warm apple cider---------D O N E.

The doors open this weekend.

Saturday, October 13 from 9-5

Sunday, October 14 from 12-5

There will be specials, of course....

Beginning with the return of the "Barn Cats" (Jani, Nan & Sarah) to help Sat. morn.

Then there is the super secret password for 10% off Saturday morning.....seek & you will find it below.

And 20% off from 2-5 Saturday.

And, and, and 30% off A L L day Sunday.

Where is this sale?

S13181 County Road R

Augusta, Wisconsin

Perhaps we will see you soon!

getting ready

sitting here in the early morning, going through my checklist for the Autumn Barn Sale....and getting my inspiration mojo on.

Dreamt last night about the sale. Will say the images made me smile just a bit.

Oh, getting ready!

All the details if you just read through the prior posts.

just one week....

Spent today at auction, with final gathering underway for the

Meadowview Farm Barn Sale.

In just one week the door opens to our 100 year old hayloft --

October 13 & 14 it is.

(Rain or Shine....we are in a barn - smile!)

All the details are in the right column under Barn Sale
Or in posts below...

This will be the last sale for a whole year...
with only an Autumn Sale in October of 2013.

Hope to see you soon!

almost time...

Tick tock, tick tock, that little clock ticks ever so quickly....the Meadowview Farm Barn Sale waits just around the corner from today.

We have been gathering lots, and setting everything up just so. We hope you might stop by on October 13 & 14 ~~ 9-5 Saturday & 12-5 Sunday. For details.....hop over to Barn Sale under "Chapters" to the right.

P.S. miss my blog friends lots....may be finding my way back someday.