New Signs from Andy's Primitive Farmhouse

What a surprise today when I opened my package from Andy, "Andy's Primitive Farmhouse". I was expecting one sign and to my surprise there was two. I just love these signs!!!!!!!

Andy is a special friend, she is a rare friend that I am happy to have found. She has a selling blog, please check it out http://primitivehomestead70.blogspot.com/  You won't be disappointed, she does wonderful work!!!! Love Andy's signs!!!

Prairie Bonnets

So here they are my first attempt at making prairie bonnets (Just need to coffee stain them). The first three are the ones that I have made. The first one, well it may fit a dolls head. He He And it took me hours to make these! I think maybe the next one I make I will be faster.All I can say is that I would starve to death if this was my livelihood. I am bad at reading patterns, so I just kinda guess on some things. But I am proud!!!!

New Doll from Sweetmeadows Farm

Here is a picture of my new doll that I won on ebay, made by Maureen http://sweetmeadowsfarm.com/

This doll is a toaster cover, but she also has legs so that she can be displayed in a chair or cabinet.

I love her dolls, Maureen is so talented!!!

Americana Lamp

I love the "Forth of July", I love the Americana decor, here is one of my favorite lamps. This was gotten from http://www.hugsandstitches.com/  I am so proud to be an American, God bless the good old USA!!!!

New apron and bonnet

Here is a picture of my new apron and bonnet !!!! I got them from Longtimestitcher on ebay. The last three bonnets I have had for years, got them from ebay, but I forget the seller.

Free Downloads-Gooseberry Patch

Free Downloads-Gooseberry Patch

Swap items from "Primitives From the Attic"

Today I received my swap items from Wendy Turner, "Primitives From the Attic". I felt like a little girl opening a gift from Santa, when I received the package. I feel like Wendy always out gives me and I am the grand prize winner. Thank you Wendy  http://primitivesfromtheattic.blogspot.com/ I was expecting to receive one doll and to my surprise here was two. I love, love, love them Wendy, you are a sweetheart!!! Thank-you!!!!!!!

Coverlet or Homespun Blanket?

Blogger friends I need your help. I would love to have a coverlet but don't feel like I can afford to pay the price for one. I know that sometimes people use these homespun blankets for coverlets. I have black curtains with a cream design throughout the curtains. So which blanket should I pick the black/stripped or brick/stripped? Also what would you do for the pillowcase, two pillow cases or a bolster? Any prim suggestions will be appreciated!!! ( P.S. I forgot to mention, these bedrooms are pictures of the blankets that I like, they are not my bedrooms, I wish they were). Sorry I forgot to mention this earlier.

New Prairie Bonnet

Here is a picture of a bonnet that I just got off e-bay. What do you think?

Happy Father's Day

Today I pay tribute to all of the wonderful father's. I am so thankful that I have my dad. He is a  hard working country man who lots of times worked two jobs to provide for his family. He still sacrifices to help out one of his grandkids or kids in need. He taught me about the Lord, and to have good moral values. Most of all he taught me about love. Happy Father's Day to my husband who is a great dad and pappy!!! Here is a picture of my son, it makes me real proud to see him love his son like he does. I feel like my dad's love is being passed down though the generations .It make me proud!!!!

FORTH GOOSEBERRY PATCH COOKBOOK

Yeepee, Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks has picked another one of my recipes for their awesome cookbooks. This recipe comes from the new Christmas cookbook ,"Homemade Christmas", It is a recipe that my sister Annabel gave me. I will share it with you:

Annabel's Pumpkin Cookies
1 c. canned pumpkin                     1 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. oil or applesauce                  1/2 t. salt
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten                                 1 t. baking soda
2 cups all purpose flour                  1 t. milk
2 t. baking powder                        1 t. vanilla
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine pumpkin, sugar, oil or applesauce and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add pumpking mixture to flour mixture: stir well. Dissolve baking soda in milk: add to dough and mix well. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Makes 2 1/2 doz. Note: Due to the shortage of pumpkin in the grocery store, my sister says cooked mashed carrots work to substitute for the pumkin.

OLD BONNET

This is an old bonnet that a friend gave me, no reproduction, isn't it awesome!

WINNER OF FARMHOUSE PRIMS GIVEAWAY

My husband picked the winner today for my 50th. follower giveway. The winner is Ashley. Ashley, please send me your addresss so I can get your package out to you. I am not sure if Ashley has a blog or not, I would like to mention your blog if you do. Congratulations Ashley, and to all who entered the contest. I will have more contests in the future.

Last chance to sign up for my giveaway!!!

Just a reminder I will be picking the winner this Sat. June 12th. to celebrate my first 50 followers! Please leave me a comment on the orginal contest post or this one for a chance to win. The prize consists of a gooseberry patch cookbook, gooseberry patch cookie cutter (set), and a cute little apron made by victorian heart. I have to admit these are some great items!!!!

Curtains to match my quilt

I have had this quilt "Star Dance", for a couple years, finally got curtains to match. I used only one panel for a window, with a star hook so I can pull them back. What do you think? But now since my collection is complete I want a coverlet and matching homespun sheets, just another prim dream.

Don't forget about my giveaway and new Farmhouse Photos

Just a reminder, don't forget to sign up for my giveaway, which ends June 12th. Also this week-end my husband and I went to our farmhouse in WV. Look on my blog for updated slide shows. This first picture is of an out building door, the second is the view of the mountains this morning. My husband and I went on a date last night, riding around on the back roads in the country.

Farmhouse Prims First Giveaway

Fellow bloggers, today is a milestone for me!!!! Today I have my 50th. follower!!! So to celebrate this I am offering a little giveaway. First I have the cutest little apron in the pattern of "Constance", made by Victorian Heart. Then a little cookbook by " Gooseberry Patch," " Road Trip Recipes", and a set of 4 adorable cookie cutters by " Gooseberry Patch". All you have to do to enter is be a follower (new followers are welcome to enter)  plus leave me a comment on this post. I will draw the winner on June 12th. Please make sure I have an email address, so that I can get a hold of you!!! Thanks for all the followers and wonderful friendships that I have made.

I remember our veterans today, who have sacrificed so that I can live in freedom. My father was a marine in the 1950's and was always so proud of this. My husband was in the army 76-80. My son Luke was actually born at the Ft. Belvoir, Va. army hospital. I want to thank all the service men and woman for serving our great country. God Bless America!!!!

New farmhouse sign!!!!

Look at this awesome gift I received in the mail today from my dear friend Andy, from "Andy's Primitive Farmhouse", didn't she do a great job!!! I love it Andy!!!!! Thank-you!!!!

Swap from Wendy "Primitives from the Attic"

OMG today I received my prairie doll from Wendy, "Primitives from the Attic", she is just sooooo cute and prim. I  was thrilled to do a swap with Wendy. I have admired her creations for a long time. I love, love, love this doll and feel very priviledged to own one of Wendy's dolls. Thanks, Wendy!!!

Rhubarb-Strawberry Dump Cake

While on my trip to Lancaster, Pa. I had to stop at a roadside stand and get some fresh rhubarb and strawberries. Here is a cake that I made:

4 cups cubed raw rhubarb
2 cups fresh sliced strawberries
3/4 cup sugar ( Splenda works)
3 oz. pkg. strawberry jello, dry ( diet works)
1 1/4 cup water
1/2 stick butter melted

Layer ingredients in order given in a 9 x 13 " baking pan. Do not mix. Bake in 350 degree oven for 35 min.
Serve plain or with cool whip on top. Makes 12 servings.

A Primitive Magazine that I Love

Please check out the new issue of  "A Simple Life Magazine" , such a wonderful prim magazine.http://www.asimplelifemagazine.com/

A few pictures from Amish trip

I have added a small slide show of my recent Lancaster, Pa. trip. I admire their simple way of  life and love of family. Also only eight more people needed until I have a giveaway, keep checking.

My Prize Arrived from "A Primitive Place magazine"!!!!!!

My prize came today and I felt like a child opening a Christmas gift!!!! Everything is so cute and prim! I just love the sampler, it is the cutest!!!! And the bird and candle/candle pouch are adorable!!!! Thanks for the runner also. I feel like a queen!!!! Thank-you so much!!!! I love your website and can't wait for the magazine!!!http://www.aprimitiveplace.org/

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Today I was planting some flowers! Flowers remind me of all the precious mothers.I am so blessed to still have my mother. I am also getting ready for a trip to Lancaster Pa. with my BF Shelia  for some prim shopping. I am going to get some special goodies for a giveaway. I think I will have a giveaway whenever I have 50 followers. So keep checking back.

I am the WINNER!

I can't believe that I am the winner of a primitive place awesome giveaway.Check it out,aprimitiveplaceblog.blogspot.com I always said that I wouldn't win anything if my name was the only one in the pot. I just want to thank a primitive place so much and for all the sweet congratulations. Please check out their winner presentation. So awesome. I love a primitve place, their website is an inspiration to all of us prim lovers!!! I am so excited about their upcoming magazine also!!! Thank-you!!! Lecia

Free Downloads-Gooseberry Patch

Free Downloads-Gooseberry Patch

Gooseberry Patch has a new screensaver for your computer, check it out!

Some other pictures of the prairie swags, the pictures didn't turn out very good yesterday. Hope these are better. What do you think?

How do you like my new praire swags?carterandleedesigns.com I wasn't real pleased with my last curtains. I have wanted prairie swags for soooo long. These are custom made in Lancaster Pa. They are black and tan checked, they are really made well.

Please check out this new magazine A Primitive Place. I am excited. I can't wait to receive mine!!www.aprimitiveplace.org/

New Prairie Tucks

Yesterday I received my Prairie tuck dolls from Amy Ferringer, "The Primitive Dollhouse", aren't they the cutest!!! I love them!!!

Pansies in Old Coal Bucket

I like to plant flowers in old country items. My first flowers of the season, some Pansies in an old Coal Bucket, I will have more pictures later as the weather gets warmer!!

Amish made kitchen table and chairs

Just thought I would show a picture of my Amish made table and chair set, it is painted black over red. What do you think???

New Stove Board Cover

Check out my new stove board cover. I got it from ebay, "Crows in the Cupboard"!!!! It gives my ugly stove a facelift!!!

Free Downloads-Gooseberry Patch-check out this new spring wallpaper for you computer

Free Downloads-Gooseberry Patch

DSC_0930 (Medium).jpg -Pictures of my son with his interperter in Haiti

Click here to view these pictures larger

A few new Spring Goodies

I have added a few new pictures today of some new items. I have put up some new curtains for Spring. I love the ones in the Dining Room esp. Now for my LR I would prefer the Prairie Swags, (maybe one day, but they are toooo expensive for me.) What do you think of my LR swags? I went with black since I have red walls,it is hard to tell by the picture but the swags have a small cream and black print in the pattern. Also I have a new Bag Holder Doll, made by another bloggger," The Olde Country Cupboard", love her. And some prim filler bowl ornies in am enamel pan. And if you scroll down to the bottom of my blog a new print by Billy Jacobs.

I haven't had much time to blog lately. But my relaxation is reading other blogs. I have a prayer request for my fellow bloggers. My daughter Stephanie is Type 1 diabetic. She has battled painful diabetic neuropathy for the past year. Her pain is manageable most of the time now, but it has effected her digestive system so bad. She gets so sick in the eve. with diarrhea and vomiting. As a mother it rips my heart apart to watch your child struggle with an illness. Pray for her healing and for the Dr. to have wisdom for the correct treatments for her.

The first day of Spring, awesome weather here in the Shenandoah Valley. My BF Shelia and I went to Lancaster, Pa. last Sun. for my B'day. Look on my blog for some pictures. I have one to put on now! I will call it "Clothes Line"

Today is my Birthday...

According to my birth cert. I am living somewhere between estrogen and death, or, as someone said, between menopause and LARGE PRINT! But I don't have to act my age because, thank God, I've discovered a wonderful antiaging remedy. If fact, it's been promoted since biblical times as a cure for wide variety of problems. What is it? Laughter.(words of wisdom by Barbara Johnson).

New Spring Shower Curtain

I am so proud of my Spring Shower Curtain and matching tissue box. I bought these after Christmas from "Tender Heart Treasures". I didn't know if they would match my decor or be country enough. But for $2.90 for both, I couldn't pass them up. And if I like something it doesn't even matter if it matches or not. I make up my own rules. He He And they match perfect, so cheerful and Springy!!!!! Scroll down to look at the picture.

New Slideshow of Pictures taken in WV

I made a new slideshow of some pictures that my husband and I took on one of our week-end drives in the country in West Virginia, so peaceful and tranquil! They make me feel like I am going back in time.

Gooseberry Patch: Free Goodies

Gooseberry Patch: Free Goodies

Gooseberry Patch Contest, I am the winner!!!! Check it out!!

Gooseberry Patch

Recipe from "Gooseberry Patch", COZY COUNTRY CHRISTMAS-pg.90- This is the first recipe I ever had published in a GP book, Enjoy!

BACON & CHEDDAR DIP

16-oz. container sour cream

1-oz. package dry ranch salad dressing mix

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup bacon bits

Mix together sour cream and dressing mix: add cheese and bacon bits.

Stir well; chill for one hour before serving. Makes 2 1/2 cups.

Crunchy bread sticks and scoop-style corn chips are just right for

scooping up this hearty dip.

Mom's Macaroni and Cheese, This is one of my recipes in Gooseberry Patch cookbook, "Comfort Foods"

2 cups (8 oz) macaroni, cooked

3 Tbls. melted butter

1tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 cups ( 8oz.) shredded, cheddar or american cheese

3 cups milk

Cook macaroni according to package directions 7 minutes: drain. Arrange

cooked mararoni, cheese, salt and pepper in buttered 2 1/2 to 3 quart

casserole. Pour melted butter over macaroni. Carefully pour milk into

corner. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour. I bake mine in a 9 x 13

inch pan for 45 minutes. Yummy!!!!

New pictures of my favorite things

Scroll down to check out the pictures of my favorite things. Also just received a letter that "Gooseberry Patch" is putting one of my recipes in their Christmas cookbook for this year. This will be my forth recipe published, YeepEE!!! I'm shooting for at least 5.

Today I went to WV one week after the snowstorm. I have added two pictures
of the outdoors. Plus made a slideshow of some of the inside rooms.

Porch construction at old Farmhouse

We are putting a wrap around deck porch on the old Farmhouse in WV. Here are a couple pictures.(Scroll down to slideshow). Can't wait to get the roof around the whole porch. Old farmhouses didn't have much closet space. Notice the porch upstairs, my husband wanted to close it in and make closet space. But we decided not to. We love settin on the upstairs porch in the mornings and drinking our coffee, we look across the field and see the beautiful view. More pictures to come, inside also.

Please scroll down my blog to view the slideshow of the remodeled bathroom.
Leave me a comment letting me know what you think.Hugs, Lecia

Slide show added today:

The computer is so hard for me, but I am soooo proud that I made this little video of our remodeled bathroom. It actually was done a while back. It was a bigger project than expected. Had to remove several layers of flooring. We planned on a weekend project, and it lasted several weeks. My commode was actually in my LR for a couple weeks. And to top it all off my daughter invited a house full of people here for my Grandson's birthday party.so glad I had another bathroom. Oh, just more memories!

Applesauce Oatmeal Bread

This is one of my favorite bread machine recipes:

This makes a 1 1/2 pound loaf

4 oz (1/2 cup) water-80 degrees

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (stir to blend any standing liquid)

3 Tbls. vegetable oil

3 Tbls. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/ 2 cup oats ( quick or old fashioned)

3 cups bread flour

1 Tbls. bread machine/fast rise yeast

Add liquid ingredients to pan. Add dry ingredients except yeast.Make a well in center of dry ingredients; add yeast. Lock pan into bread maker.
Program for bread setting.

Set back and wait for the yummy bread to be ready, Enjoy!

Please leave me a comment if you like my blog.
Hugs, Lecia

Butter Nut Snowballs

2 sticks (1 cup) butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups finely chopped nuts
powdered sugar

Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla until fluffy. Add flour and salt to creamed mixture blending throughly. Add nuts and mix well.

Shape into 1 inch balls and place on baking sheet
(If you use a piece of foil on the pans, clean up is a breeze)

Bake in slow oven 325 degrees about 20 min.

Do not brown, Cool, then roll in powdered sugar. ( I put the sugar in a zip lock back and shake them a little), this helps with clean up also.

Recipe says it makes 6 doz. but mine usually doesn't make that much.

YUMMY, ENJOY!!!!!

Good morning. We are waking up to snow, snow, snow in the beautiful shenandoah valley of Va. There appears to be at least 20 inches of snow already and supposed to snow all day today. I hurt my back shoveling the other day, so will have to depend on hubby to do it all. And my son Luke got into Miami yesterday from Haiti, no flights are flying in D.C. so I hope he just stays put in a motel. Probably will bake something today.

Caramel Apple Dip

8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, Packed
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients, mix well. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Makes about 2 cups.

(Awesome and so quick)!!!!

HUMOR FOR THE DAY

A well-informed person...is somebody who has the same views and opinions

as yours!!!!