January '10 a new beginning!

Christmas is over, 2009 over. 2010 is a new start! Brother in law has moved into a new home, oldest daughter looking for her own place. Birdie girls headstone has been placed and the garden planted in her honor. My husband has been working since October.
Last year was a bit rough, this year will be better. As I write these thoughts, I am cuddling a new member of our animal kingdom. Bogie MacIntosh. She is a four pound yorkie rescue. When Birdie passed, the stress of the year and her loss just poured out of me. I wanted to help another little girl, I had love to give and my younger male needed a playmate as well. His older brothers just don't play the way he needs!

Bogie was a mill dog, she was used to breed. Even though she had a herniated spleen, the mill owners decided to breed her anyway. This caused her whole spleen to sit outside her abdominal wall. Bogie didn't seem to be a caged animal, she actually is well socialized, but her medical needs were sorely neglected. Along with her double hernia, she had baby teeth fused to adult by the tarter in her mouth. I drove to PA and got her out of the trailer, which was permeated with urine.
My vet, successfully operated on her. Yorkies can only stay under a short period of time and he managed to : spay, replace her spleen, correct her double hernia, extract six teeth, and complete a full mouth prophy in the set amount of time! She too, has a new lease on life. She now looks brand new, feels no pain and we both are over a challenging past year!
Here's to a new year.

Getting ready for Waterford Fair in ....Waterford Virginia! This year I'll be volunteer demonstrating the art of needle felting. I also have several wreaths and tons of flora in the Dried Floral Barn. Sunday I'll be selling raffle tickets. This is what I've been working on all Spring and Summer. When all is done, I'll get back to blogging and post the updated photo's of the gardens.

GARDEN GABBING

This past week has flown by. With the weather being in the 60's and 70's, many a task was accomplished . The potting shed now has framed windows. Hoot! Since they are pressure treated, I must wait at minimum, two months before they can be painted. Rats! On the inside, however, another shelf was added to the storage area. All the windows have brass hooks and eyes, so the windows may be secured. The armoire/desk, which was damaged due to the old leaking roof, has been repaired. I put a new top and back on the piece, and all that is left to do is repair the left door. I brought the antique green table from the back porch into the shed. It is seven feet long, so it fits nicely under the South wall's window. The table started a slew of decorating idea's. More on that to follow, with photo's.

This is the time of the year when Bluebirds look for real estate. They prefer a Southern exposure, with the edge of a forest close. A perch mounted on a pole, and places nearby in which the chicks may fledge, makes for the best situs. I will be placing dryer lint on a lilac shrub, so the birds will have soft nesting material. A feeder with blueberries and meal worms should entice a nice young couple to take a serious gander at one of my boxes. If I'm fortunate the pair will take up residence and I'll get to watch and enjoy their presence !

One year, when living back in Fairfax County, I moved the direction of a nesting box. I had grown weary of couples looking at the property, yet not finding it adequate for their needs of rearing a family. It proved to be the right decision, for it was facing North, and I turned it to face South. A pair of Chick-a-dees had decided to take advantage. These tenants promptly built a nest and layed four eggs. The eggs hatched and four nestlings were brought into the world. I noticed within a day or two, a pair of Bluebirds checking out the box. To my surprise, they swept in, removed the brood, and made their nest upon the old Chick-a-dee's nest! I was horrified and started to research. I thought I had murderous birds on hand! Apparently, if the real estate is prime, the Bluebirds will do this and it is not uncommon.
Lesson learned, face the house South!
Another bird I'm particularly found of is the Goldfinch. When I see a swarm of the males, it takes my breath away. I've mounted a thistle feeder on the back corner of the potting shed. Now that I have the huge back window, it allows for great birding and if I'm lucky, I'll get to observe the male goldfinches as they turn from a dull mustard to a bright neon yellow. I will be planting Echinacea ( coneflowers ) and Rudbeckia ( black eyed Susans ) to entice these vibrant beauties. If you are in the Atlantic Corridor, these flowers do very well. As for the Echinacea, many delightful new cultivars have been created. Raspberry is not the only color, the shades are quite abundant and run from apricot to green, even varigated!

Along with the work on the shed, I was allowed a late Winters treat. I actually was permitted to start planting. Here in the Mid Atlantic region , cold weather crops may be planted. I jumped at the chance to get dirty. Lettuce, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and spinach were the crops of choice. I also managed to plant a sour cherry tree which had a great root system. Photo's to follow.

VICTORIA'S PASTYME :More Primitives

My Birdie girl, sitting on a Victorian potty chair. A pillow fills the seat and a woven dish towel is used for ease of cleaning. Chairs like this truly make adorable small dog beds. For point of reference, she is only 5 pounds! This is on my kitchen hearth, in my kitchen not the store. :]








As one can see the primitive antiques are quite plentiful in this quaint store. Along with these yummies,one may also find American made bed linens, loom woven towels, and table toppers. This store is filled with the best candles around. They go fast so I collect as soon as the boxes are delivered. That's it for the store on Colonial Highway. Victoria does have another store open in the downtown Purcellville area. Back to painting the shed, it is s l o wly coming along. TTFN

VICTORIA'S PASTYME:primitives

With my workout at the gym over, I am now showered fresh and ready for a
day of work at the best antiques store in Loudoun County Virginia.

Today I had fun photographing Victoria's Pastyme,
the wonderful store I wrote about yesterday. So many
yummy antiques. At present I'm burning one of the several
choices of candles in the store. This one is "Sweet Herbs" a fresh herbal
bouquet with a hint of lime. Fresh yet not too sweet. It definetly
has a nice warm throw and fills the room with its fragrance.

Earlier at the store it was a bit slow, so I took a few photo's of vignettes between helping customers. I hope you enjoy them. The store is as cozy as it
looks in the shots. I chose primitive antiques to shoot
even though Victoria carries American made reproductions as
well. The Farm table above is the exception. Note the hand planing in the
close up. I love running my hands over the ripples and feeling the
soft finish of the artisans work.


Enjoy browsing, and come visit Victoria's Pastyme

in Purcellville, VA.

1800's primitive wood box with original paint

Primitive child's potty chair with original paint>
(these are great for toy sized dog beds, just place a pillow in the center and, voila, instant primitive dog bed!) These are also great with potted geraniums.


Early 20TH Century child sized wheelbarrow



















< Extra large dove tailed dough box , being used as a desk

VICTORIA'S PASTYME : introduction and a chowdah recipe

Tomorrow I'll be busy in my friends wonderful stores. I am going to work part time for her again. The store? Victoria's Pastyme of Purcellville, VA. She is on the net and takes credit cards!

I am going to be in the newest store she has opened. This store has the most fantastic candles, primitives, baskets, and beautiful linens! She finds fantastic florals and has signs made by American folk artists. If you are a teddy bear enthusiast, she carries Lori Baker, Pat Murphy, and others. For those who appreciate Debbie Thibault, she has new and retired pieces! Since tomorrow is going to be colder and possibly rainy, I can't imagine a cozier place in which to be. I'll post photo's of the shop so all may enjoy. Until then here is a recipe a good friend gave me many moons ago. It just happens to be in my Southern Living Cook book. I call it:


" Harvest Cheddar Chowder "

• 3 cups chicken stock
• 4 medium potatoes, with or without skin, diced
• 1 medium onion, sliced (for this, a mandolin is perfect )
• 1 cup thinly sliced carrots or cheat and use a pkg of shredded
• 1/2 cup diced green pepper

• 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• 31/2 cups milk, whole or two percent
• 4 cups (1 pound) shredded Cheddar cheese ( the better the Cheddar, the better...)
• 1 (2 ounce ) jar pimiento, drained
• 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce ( optional ) I prefer Tobasco Sauce

Pour stock into a Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Add veggies;cover and simmer 12 minutes or until veggies are fork tender.
Melt butter in a heavy saucepan; whisk flour 1 minute. Gradually add milk; cook over medium heat until thickened, whisking constantly. Add cheese, stirring until melted.*
Stir cheese sauce, pimiento, and optional hot sauce, into vegetable mixture. Cook over low heat until thoroughly heated. Yield: 8 to 10 servings.
* Do not allow it to boil

This is a decadent chowder and served with a baguette, and white wine...(sigh)

For those of you doing weight watchers, one cup is 8 points. But well worth it!

Off to get my daughter!