Chicken Scratch~ Last Days Of Summer

Well the end of Summer is here....It's time to get ready for Autumn days, good home cooked meals, soup suppers, school and sweaters of course. I am still filling up our Winter storage...I took a little break from canning the last couple weeks due to end of Summer colds that hit our home. But getting ready to finish up tomatoes and apples and probably will get some corn canned as well. I am also catching up on some barters I owe to a few gals since our move to Indiana. I recently received this sweet vintage feedsack quilted mug rug from a lady in Ohio!

My girl and I have been busy cooking and baking in the kitchen too! Now that the weather will be cooling down there will be a lot more of that on the homestead.

There's not much going on here other than that and school will be starting Thursday for my girl. This year she will be taking a handful of classes through a homeschool co op, we will cover a few things at home as well plus she joined an acting troupe. I feel it will be a good year ahead despite what we have gone through recently. Just so thankful for the new life God has bestowed to us here in a new state, a new home and church family. We feel loved and blessed beyond measure!

Chicken Scratch 6/30/16~ Yay Summer & Basil Lemonade

Yes, I went to the thrift shop again...I found some sweet linens and spent about $5....Doesn't take much to make this girl happy. I'd rather hunt for treasures than go shopping for new clothes. lol.... Our Summer thus far has been pretty quiet. Our girl has been getting together with friends and saying her goodbyes before we head out on our new adventure. Yup!!! Things are looking up around here. Saying good riddens to this place won't be a problem for me. There are just too many bad memories here. I can't wait to hit the road with my peeps in just a matter of a few weeks and never have to turn back. It is so exciting!!! We are beginning a brand new beautiful chapter of our lives and this one's a good one! Can't wait to share with y'all soon. 

I wanted to leave you with this recipe...It calls for limes but I had to use lemons instead...Which was still very delicious. If you like basil...You will really enjoy this refreshing lemonade! It may be a little quiet here, but don't worry I will be back periodically as we are preparing for a very BIG move. I am also putting bartering on the back burner for now as well. But look look what I recently received! Two bags of the most delightful homemade teas, I ever did smell in my life. Can't wait for some real sweater weather to enjoy this glorious tea in...

Where we are going will be real sweater weather indeed! Can't wait!!!!

Lastly, I received this lovely handmade stained glass cross from a fellow Farmgirl Sister! My package to her is so late.....She has been so sweet and cooperative with me as we have been going through our transition...That is what I love about my farmgirl community...

These ladies are precious and so patient. It will be such an honor to hang this cross in our new home.

I realize this post is a complete random chicken scratch of a mess...

Bare with me. I'll be back soon!!!

Chicken Scratch 5/29/16

Just dropping in to say hello. It has been a quiet week here. Summer vacation started for my daughter and I am just finishing up barter orders, making salves from infused oils I bartered for as well as the dandelion oil I made from the land we are on. The big hemp dish scrubbies have been a hit with fellow barterers. I have a handful to finish up and ship out in return I have some handmade items coming my way. Can't wait to get them and share with y'all!

I made more labels for my jars with my Farmgirl Freckles logo on them. They are adorable. I filled some of my containers and jars with Calendula & Comfrey and Dandelion salves...They are delightful. My dandelion smells like a fresh picked dandelion! I love love love how it turned out. 

I also designed and ordered a mug online especially for my 

tea while I make goodies for my shop... Here is a little peek at what it will look like. 

Lastly...I had signed up to win Handsome & Gretyl's new album/vinyl....I was not only picked as a winner but blessed by a whole package...They sent me their new vinyl plus the CD and CD's of their other albums!!! Now I have a bunch of happy music to listen too...After such a rough beginning to our year...The gift of music really made my day!!!! Now off to finish up projects...Will be back next week!!! Have a great Memorial weekend!!!

Farmhouse Finds & Barters

A lot of my finds for my home has been thrifted. I love the hunt and the the bargain. I have found some of the cutest things for our home through frugal shopping, as well as very useful items for our home, and saved so much money buying second hand. My recent find was this lil vintage pig creamer. Not that I needed it...But dang it was cute and for a buck...He had to come home with me. And look how cute it is filled with flowers. Other ways I save money is buying items from stores like TJ Maxx or Ross. I have found a lot of my essential oils, kitchen items, bath and home goods for a fraction of the cost. Recently I have decided to buy some better quality cookware for our kitchen/cooking...I have used second hand or cheap cookware for years...

A lot of times buying cheap isn't necessarily the best choice... I consider cheap cookware to be disposable. I am glad I finally decided to buy quality cookware because it will last so much longer (probably forever) and pay itself off many times over. I will also buy some vintage pieces as well because let's face it...They just don't make most stuff like they used too....Most vintage cookware lasts forever! Some of my favorites are collecting Pyrex dishes, Cast Iron, and enamelware. 

I was thrilled to find this Tala Large Enamelware roaster made in England at TJ Maxx.....It is so well made, heavy and beautiful. The awesome thing was getting a great bargain for it. This very piece is sold in the UK for about $80.00-$100.00...TJ Maxx had it priced for $40.00...But guess what? It was on clearance!!! I ended up getting it for $30.00! I am so excited!  just can't wait to make suppers in it! This baby is going to get a lot of use in our kitchen!

Lastly I recently received two more barters from a couple ladies. Both barters came from Virginia. I am so thrilled with getting five jars of jams...Since I may not get to can much this Summer due to our temporary living situation. I don't want to can a bunch of food and end up moving with it, fearing they would break etc....I am so blessed to have received the jam, which my family will enjoy. In return I am sending her five of the crocheted hemp dish scrubbies, which she asked for. 

 I also received a big bag of homemade loose chamomile mint tea...MMM MMM...If you know me, I love tea! In return I sent her a couple of my weaved potholders. Bartering is a great way to meet others that are like minded and the items your barter are extra special because it's something made by their own hands in their home. It has been a fun & rewarding experience so far! 

Happy Friday y'all....Come on back ya hear!

Chicken Scratch

I thought I'd pop in and say hello...I was away for the last week and thought 

I would share some current happenings with y'all!

I have been working on little things like the clothesline basket and these fun dish scrubbers I crocheted from cotton and natural hemp. I am also going to be bartering some with a fellow farmgirl for some of her homemade jams. Last week I had morning tea with a friend while chatting over stitching and and felting. I made the little piggy in the first picture....She turned out so cute!

My recent barters came in the post this last week...Check out this darling crocheted hen and egg hot pad set! She also sent a cute crochet cup cozie and fabrics.

 In return she wanted soap and a salve I made. 

I also received this awesome package from Farngirl Whimsy in Maine. She sent two container of dried calendula. calendula oil, comfrey oil. two containers of fresh mint tea, a container of her bee hives honey comb and honey and two little local Maine bottles full of Maple Syrup!

 Everything is awesome!!! In return I sent three different slaves, soaps, and scrubs. Bartering has been really fun...the only part that stinks a bit is the cost to ship something, No matter, it is still fun!

Here are my latest reads....Also wanted to share the newest issue of Mary Jane's Farm is filled with chickens and eggs...There is also a new magazine out called Living The Country Life....EEEP great stuff in both these magazines. Lastly, we are getting excited for my girls school dance this Saturday which will be held at Emma Prusch Farm...They will be having a barn/square dance. Her last day of school is this week too! Can't believe how quickly this year has passed by...Yet in so many ways I am so glad there is much of the bad stuff behind us. We are mending well and moving on. 

Here's to a great week ahead! Come on back ya hear!!!!