THE WINNER!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO...

Cindy said...

Taryn, these houses are just as enchanting as your own farmhouse. Can't wait until this year's Art in the Rough!


March 22, 2011 4:45 PM

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR GOODIES

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR PLAYING :)

HAPPY SPRING - A FREE GIVEAWAY

TINY SPRING VILLAGE

Includes 5 little houses of various sizes, none larger than 5" tall.



Created from upcycled cardboard tubes, handpainted with soft springtime colors and then aged.  Each has its own whimsical details.

OOAK creation by Taryn Reece, signed by the artist.

SPRING IS HERE GOODIE PACK

Includes:  Vintage dictionary paper pack, old hankie w/ hand embroidery, 2 tiny nests, vintage necklace, 2 old doilies and an assortment of mother-of-pearl buttons.

So here is how it works:

1.  Leave a comment on this post anytime between Monday 3/21- Friday 3/25 8:00pm EST - make sure that your profile or your comment includes a way to get in touch with you

2.  A winner will be picked at random & announced on Monday 3/28

DOUBLE YOUR CHANCES!

We want to encourage blog followers so anyone who posts a giveaway comment AND is a follower of The White Farmhouse will receive

2 CHANCES OF WINNING!

GIVEAWAY

COMING SOON A FREE GIVEAWAY!

We want to thank our customers & blog followers with a fun, FREE giveaway.  So here is how it works:

1.  On MONDAY 3/21 - tune into our blog The White Farmhouse for the giveaway blog post & pics

2.  Leave a comment anytime between Monday 3/21- Friday 3/25 on our blog

3.  A winner will be picked at random & announced on Monday 3/28

DOUBLE YOUR CHANCES!
We want to encourage blog followers so anyone who posts a giveaway comment AND is a follower of The White Farmhouse will receive
2 CHANCES OF WINNING!

NEW Items at The Prim Nest!

have you checked out The Prim Nest yet?

all sorts of wonderful artists are on there - new goodies on the 1st and 15th of every month!

here are some of my newest offerings...

Wildflower - mixed media painting

Birdies - altered oddities

Flora - mixed media painting

Common Birds of America

all sorts of fun stuff available - let's go shopping! :)

in the kitchen

there is NOTHING like the smell and anticipation of fresh baked bread...

i made two loaves last night
I find kneading bread dough very relaxing

I also made old fashioned raspberry jam - we have a bunch of frozen raspberries from our patch
maybe I will make a pie this weekend
see link below for recipe - canned up several jars
of course we kept one in the fridge for immediate gratification - yummy!

and this morning...mmmmm... toasted with a slather of butter & fresh jam...sooo good
is it me or does my little doggie look like he'd like a bite?

OLD FASHIONED RASPBERRY JAM - very simple to make, no pectin & full of flavor!

shimmer

we received a wicked ice storm...lost power for a day and the whole bit...but it was SOOOO beautiful!
now if only I could become a better photographer :(

the shimmer & glimmer of the landscape is stunning in person

the trees are glazed and make a crackling sound as they move in the wind
it is both an eery & beautiful sound

living homemade

I have always appreciated anything homemade...I was brought up in an artsy, make-do household.

If we needed pillows, my mom carefully selected unique fabric and sewed them.  If an armoire was needed to house the tv, my dad crafted one from vintage & reclaimed materials.  If the boring concrete porch step was deemed ugly, it was faux-painted differently every couple of years.

Not to mention, the crafts, gifts, food, etc...more often then not, homemade.

its easy though when you embark on your own to get caught up in the fast food, premade, shiny new, plastic world.  but my roots never changed.  In college when most of my friends headed to the mall, I always found myself heading to thrift stores, natural food stores, art stores and craft stores.  we joked that I was the mother or even grandmother of the group, always flipping through country living type magazines - dreaming of a farm, big gardens and making homemade jam.

i am so blessed to have my farm, my gardens, my homemade jam...but its still a work in progress, trying to live homemade.  What about all of the preservatives and chemicals in our cleaners, soaps, shampoos, food, etc?  What about living with the seasons?  What about growing more, making more, making do, upcycling...every day we are trying to transition into a more homemade life.  Sometimes little steps, sometimes big steps.

in the coming weeks I am transitioning our home into using homemade cleaners - dish, laundry, furniture polish, all purpose cleaner/degreaser.  I wanted to share a few recipes I have found.


HOMEMADE ALL PURPOSE CLEANER
2 cups boiling water
1/4 cup castile soap
2 tsp borax
2 T vinegar

Pour all ingredients into a clean spray bottle. Shake before using. You could also add essential oils to your solution if you would like - citrus ones would be best.

HOMEMADE DISHWASHER SOAP
1 Cup Washing Soda
1 Cup Borax
1/2 Cup Salt
1/2 Cup Citric Acid (like Fruit Fresh)
15-30 drops citrus essential oil-lemon, grapefruit or orange

Mix together and store tightly covered in a Mason Jar. Use 1-2 Tablespoons per load. Add vinegar to the rinse dispenser for best results.

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT POWDER
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda
1 regular sized bar of soap (Ivory or Fels Naptha or homemade bar soap)

Shred the bar soap with a cheese grater. Add the bar soap shreds to a cup of Borax and Washing Soda in a blender and mix it on medium speed until thoroughly powdered and combined. Then add the remaining ingredients, mix again.  Store in a clean, airtight container.

LIQUID DISH SOAP
Liquid castile soap
20 drops lime essential oil
10 drops sweet orange essential oil
5 drops citrus essential oil

Fill a clean plastic squirt bottle with castile soap (diluted if using concentrate). Add essential oils. Shake the bottle before each use. Add 1-2 tablespoons of the liquid to dishwater and wash as usual.

DISCLAIMER: I have never made these.  I am not sure how they will work.  I am experimenting and simply sharing the journey.

The Prim Nest - NOW OPEN

TODAY IS THE DAY...The Prim Nest premieres

there has been a HUGE response
a bunch of goodies - get 'em while you can!

lots of fun shopping & eye candy so you do not want to miss out :)