September on my mind

Autumn has arrived at the

Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall....

Dealer "SPY"!

All the mall information to the

right under "Chapters"!

good morning!

You just can't plan this...sweet sweet

morning glories self seed & return each 

year at our flag pole base. Here they

hug a rabbit statuary & a birdbath.

I do adore nature's surprises.

Have a great l o n g weekend!

just be

My mantra for today, for this week, for this year:

"Just be."

sun flower time

they grow & grow & grow & grow

~ ~ ~  then Bloom ~ ~ ~

           Such happy flowers!

my news

This vignette is very representational of me, Kari.

The smaller vintage sketch is of an apple tree...

my ode to our beloved farm and orchard.

The larger sketch is by Carl Larsson...

who lived about the time our farm was born ~ it is

a picture of a young woman, her back to us, holding a wreath. 

The mirror to the right is from my childhood home, 

passed down from my grandma.  

As you may know, I am contemplative, a bit vintage.  

I am also passionate about advocating 

for children & families ~ that is the teacher in me.  

My Ian recently shared what he believes

to be my foible, he shared that "I care too much".  

And I suppose I do.

I believe a life lived with compassion & passion, is a life well lived.

My news is not about antiques, our farm, barn sales or kittens & goats.  

That is all a part of who I am, as is my work life...which I tend to 

not write about here.  What I do know is that I must be passionate about 

my work, and I have always been fortunate to have just those kind of jobs.

So, my news is that I am taking on a new challenge...

one that fills me with great pride.  I have accepted the position 

of Executive Director of the Family Resource Center of Eau Claire 

& Dunn Counties.  This wonderful agency grew from a community 

vision about 15 years ago to provide multi faceted support to families.

From Playgroups to support to teen parents to support for incarcerated families 

to trainings, etc....if there is a way we can support positive parent/guardian and child

interactions, we are there.

This is my news, and I am feeling very lucky.  It is time for a change!

waiting, hoping....

~~ potential change is looming~~

Hope to share some very good news soon...

Until then, enjoy my August Rose in the stair rails!

pumpkins

Of course I needed pumpkins...so I threw some seeds in an old water trough,

and the blossoms have arrived!  I am anxious to see how this raised garden works!

I figure I may have to provide some support as the pumpkins get bigger.  Love a 

little horticulture experiment!  And, love the prospect of pumpkins!

        Almost pumpkin time!

filling in

My favorite local nursery has now reduced hours and

diminished plant stock.  All the same, I recently was 

there on a mission to find some hardy fillers for my planters.

I start each spring with my beloved pansies & violas...which

tend to hang in there, but with certain disdain for hot days.  

They begin to straggle over the edges & yellow....blooming 

with their little faces all the while.  So I grab whatever 

annual looks like it will take my planters into fall.  Sedge is

my new favorite...a tall brown grass with curly tops.  Lettuce

in a deep burgundy will work...as will Asparagus Fern.

I dig them in around the yellow violas.  Smooshing in

some Thyme for good measure.  This vintage metal 

ice cream chair was missing a seat....an enamelware

pan (with several rusted holes for drainage) is perfect.

Tucked a bunny in with the plantings....why of course!

It does make me a tad sad when the summer plantings begin

to round the bend on their way to Autumn~~ but I do so

love that season, too!

How are your gardens?  Do you fill in too?

my nest

This is where I sit, reading & thinking.  Dave has his bait shop open, the 

farm cats all have found nap spots, and the goats graze or stand 

on their bridges awaiting a troll.  The birds sing...and it all feels a bit

magical.  

Just this morning I found a bird on my steps, perhaps she had 

flown into a screen, all the same she let me lift her to the safety of a raised 

planter until she was ready to fly off.  I assume she may be sitting in a tree 

branch above me as I write this on my deck....knowing I am the being 

that shares this farm with her.  That her home is here.

I look around and feel just a bit awestruck.  This lovely farm is mine...

and I am hers.  We both found each other at that moment when we

both needed each other.  Just as I helped to breathe life back into 

her nooks & crannies, she did the same for me.  I wonder what I 

would have missed if we had not made that unpretentious 

decision that we would live on a farm in western Wisconsin. 

Just like that bird, I had flown into life head first.  This farm picked me 

up, ever so gently, and welcomed me home.  And this is my nest.

room with a view

I quite adore a sweet view...so feel very lucky

that the row of Peegee Hydrangeas I planted about 5 years

ago provide a lovely view.  I try to plant off center so

that the view is accentuated not blocked.  

*Helps to have a sweet August Rose in the window too!*

Here is the same window from outside against 1857 brick.

Peegee Hydrangias turn a lovely pink as we enter Autumn.

And they dry quite beautifully too.  I ordered them as 

bare root stock and first planted in the spring.  They were 

planted a tad over a mower width from the house, so we can

mow behind & around.

And look what those beautiful Hydrangias hide...command central

(air conditioning unit & Dish Satellite).

 I did the same with our kitchen window, 

 with sunflowers....should be blooming soon.

Ah...a room with a floral view!  

What is your favorite view?