I'm not messing around here, it is officially bunny time!

Cannot wait a single moment longer, no, not one more minute.
The bunnies are out!

First to arrive, antique German candy containers (they open to hold candy).
Mixed with green pottery pitchers on a framed piece of velvet wallpaper.
My homage to St. Patrick's Day, Easter & Spring - with an upper case "S".

I watch the bunny that waits for warmer days under the Bridal Wreath bushes outside our window. "To you sweet rabbit, to you!" Let the spring gala begin!

sometimes I wonder, sometimes I just know

If I were to pick my mantra, my motto - this would be my choice.

It has taken me a fair number of years, people & places to have these words find me, but sure as the crow calls, they have. It is that ying & yang of being ~~ moments when you step forward because you let your heart lead, moments when you dig your heels in because you must. To wonder is letting go, to know is holding firm....and both can be who you are.  Wonder & Wisdom, cornerstones for certain.

Sometimes I wonder, sometimes I just know.

next

And green it is!
Green of the shamrock, vintage waxed Easter grass...reminders of this home stretch before spring. This time of year when we wish only to shrug off heavy coats and step outside - even if it means mud boots on. Spring is still in the distance, but nearer now then yesterday. "Next" we seem to collectively whisper to the wind....."next".

sweet wishes

for a wonderfully happy Heart Day!

that's all.....

some explaining

Just recently I was asked, "So, you're not going to have a barn sale this spring?"
The answer is, No.
Our one & only Barn Sale will be in October this year
~~ October 12 & 13, 2013 to be exact.


Now no one has asked why, but I thought I would do just a bit of explaining.

When we bought our farm and first climbed the interior steps to see the hayloft in our 100+ year old Danish barn, once we looked beyond the bales & bales of old straw & hay, we saw the promise of an antique sale right up there. I soon added that thought to my bucket list. I pictured this little old sale, I would have such fun setting up "rooms" in the hayloft, we would then open the doors and we would sit gingerly by and enjoy selling a few goodies. Never ever did I picture hundreds of folks arriving with the need for help on the first morning of the sale (thank you to my sweet friends Jani, Nan & Sarah for the gift of happy help). Never ever did I imagine that it would take almost every free moment leading up to the sale to gather & set up. Never ever did I imagine that this little idea would become a bit of an event. The sales have exceeded every expectation I could have imagined. I have loved every minute of it all!

So, truly the success of the Barn Sales are why I am scaling back to once a year, there are just not enough hours in the day (smile)! With our full time jobs and our work & sales at the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall.....it has been tricky to find enough time for everything. Add to that the fact that we are back to tackling projects on our home & farm........and we are finally building a bit of a cabin on our property in northern Wisconsin - so it is really difficult to find extra time.

So, this spring I know I will miss opening our barn door and seeing many of you -- but I hope to see you in October. As for Dave & I, you might find us on the road looking for vintage treasures, behind the counter at Hixton, with hammer or paintbrush in hand at the farm, or maybe even in a hammock with a book or on the lake up north.

hard hat zone...kind of

Just a little peak at our project progress:

Bathroom is almost ready for a coat of "Daisy White".  Soon, soon, please soon!

Upstairs hallway....had some fun with wallpaper & some kitty help (my McCoy).

The reveal......soon!

in the wee hours...

In those early hours between dusk & dawn, I often evaluate, reflect & plan. Going over the past day's events or the next often helps me organize my thoughts while lulling me back to sleep. These lists are my sheep....I count them until my eyes again close.

Last night I realized that we had accomplished well beyond our share during this new year. My work life seemed in better order, with an office clean-up to end the month. At home, we had organized closets, given & replaced clothing and come well beyond the half way mark in two large projects: our upstairs hallway & bathroom. We enter February with the goal in sight. Soon the final dust will settle. Soon we will walk through rooms without concern of bumping into displaced furniture. Soon I will add all my sweet details, embellishing these rooms with their own personality - again. Then on we will march to the next on our list....

In the wee hours, all is right in my little world, so I indeed savor the stillness. In my mind I cross off items & smile to add a few more.