Monday, September 28, 2009

{ Comfort Foods }



With the weather finally turning cooler here,
but not quite cool enough to warrant the woodstove burning yet,

I find myself, between stitching projects,
yearning to cook up some of my favorite comfort foods...

I have thought for quite a while about publishing a cookbook of sorts~
one that would contain my favorite homestyle, yet nourishing
recipes from my family, passed down and some brand new...


I would include in this book, some of my primitive illustrations,
perhaps a cross stitch pattern or two,
and really make it something that you could turn to
when those dreaded Wednesday nights roll around
and you don't feel like cooking,
but ache for something homemade at the same time...

I think after this weekend's show, I'll begin to really focus on that...
finally realizing that little dream into fruition~

let me know what you all think?
I so appreciate your feedback :)

Off to the Post Office and Bank now...
then back to my stitching and needlefelting for the show!!

Hoping your day is filled with all that comforts you!
Blessed be~
Lori

Saturday, September 26, 2009

an Awesome Folk Artist ~

I don't usually do this,
because I have so many friends that are so very talented...

but I must let you know about a friend named Tina~
Tina graced Notforgotten Farm last Saturday,
with her sweet family, kind manner and most wonderful dolls & folk art...
Tina's workmanship & pride in her work shows with every little stitch...
and I'm sure you'll all agree with me!
Tina's Mom & children came to help her at the show,
and we instantly made a connection as kindred friends~
I'm blessed to know her!!
Please visit Tina's website at:
www.theburlapowlprimitives.com
and her blog at:
tell her I sent ya!
It is MUCH cooler today ~ thank the Stars!!!!
I even have on jeans and a sweatshirt!
(how weird jeans feel after going in shorts & skirts for months!)
even have on my wool clogs today! ha!
I think I'll spend the day painting or perhaps needlefelting...
to bring to Saturday's show in MI.
as my fingers are sore from cross stitching!
I will put a pot roast on the stove and bake some bread in my bread machine~
I love when the old farmhouse gets all cozy!!

Hannah has her first Marching Band competetion this evening, so we are hoping that this year they will again come home with the trophy~
GO Nelson!! GO GOVERNORS!!!!!!
Blessed be, Friends~
Lori

Friday, September 25, 2009

A Preview...


I thought I'd show you one of my new Christmas/Winter designs that my sweet Friend and talented stitcher Robin Muddiman has finished up for me...
This one (above) is called
"Dirty Snowmen"
(this is before finishing, staining, etc...)
it was stitched onto 18ct. Linen Aida (really cool!)
and measures 90 x 90 stitches
(5" x 5")
I have two others being stitched by Robin...
they are called
"Primitive Wynter"
and
"Hoe, Hoe, Hoe"

I'll let you see them as soon as they're ready!
I am hoping to release them the first week of October ~
let me know what you think of my Dirty Snowmen...and how should I finish it?
a pillow? framed? a pocket?
send me your suggestions!
back to stitching I go...I have alot more to be finished
before I am ready for this weekend's show!
Happy Stitching, Friends and
Blessed be!
Lori

Thursday, September 24, 2009

JACKPOT !!!!!

am am in my glory!
I LOVE old bottles...and for as long as I can remember,
have always loved to dig for them...
nothing like rooting through the fresh dirt after a spring rain,
when the Earth shares her hidden treasures with us!
This cache of tinies was found at a local antiques shop ~
there are tons of medicinal bottles (my favorite)
some that still retain portions of aged & faded
paper labels with crazy remedies for cough & cold, like:

"Dr. John's Remedial Cure for Catarrh"
(um...what?)

I will gently cleanse them, try to save their labels
as best I can, and use them for my Witch Bottle Reliquaries...
(www.notforgottenfarm.etsy.com)
they will be able to be worn about the neck,
hung from waxed-linen cords
and filled with herbs and oils for
protection, harmony, peace, deliverance, etc...
sealed permanently with beeswax.
I have so much fun making them and offering them to those in need!!!

Look for them in my etsy shop soon!!!
and offerings will again be listed on my ebay page as sooon as I can get to them!!

<:-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
in the meantime,
I am getting ready for the Ghoultide Show in MI. next weekend~
I've been stitching away the days & nights,
.....my needle is a blur!!!!
Hoping for MUCH cooler weather next weekend, too...
between the humidity and my, um...
"Power Surges"
I'm about ready to spontaneously combust!!!

I've even been fogging up my spectacles!!! LOL!!!!

Wishing you a relaxing evening, my creative Friends!

Blessed be~
Lori

Monday, September 21, 2009

My Sincerest THANKS!!!!!!

A HEARTFELT Thank You~

To all of our Wonderful Vendors,
because of your hard work, beautiful displays
and awesome attitudes,
our first show was a huge success!!!

To all of the Customers,
who made the day a joy for us all with your
sweet & kind words, encouragement and patience for standing in line!!

To our Friends and Helpful "Volunteers",
your help was so APPRECIATED ~
please know that you're all very special to us!
~and~

to Our Family,
for your unwaivering support...
whether it is via telephone or telepathically,
physically or emotionally...
...You Hold Our Hearts.
And Now, some pictures of the Show!!

FABulous Weather!!!
Smiling Faces!

Great Goodies!!

Pure COUNTRY!!!

Happy Customers...

Happy Vendors!!!

Such Talent!!

Such Friends!!!!

Great Folks & Folk Art!

Best STUFF!!!!


Prims Galore!!!

Beautiful People!!!



who could ask for more?
not us....
WE ARE TRULY BLESSED!!!!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
(Oh...I can't WAIT for next year!!!!)
Lori

Thursday, September 17, 2009

some shop pictures....

For our Friends that can't join us Saturday,
here are a few pictures of the shop all spiffy for Hallowe'en!!





the rug hooking area, wool, hooks, patterns & kits and a nice comfy chair!



the old wood cookstove, ready for potions and brews ~


the huge farm cupboard, displaying potpourri and soaps...
and mannequin dressed in festiveness!!


smaller primitive cupboard holds black cats and witch's hats...


who's that in the hooking chair??
(looks like me, after Saturday!)


primitive punkins from the 'patch', and

a cauldron-full of delight!


wee little witch's heads from Pineberry Lane grace this old shelf~


another view of witch's heads,
make-do's and my notecards...

I'll be sure to take pic's of the vendors' booths once they're set up.
...I can't wait to see all of the Treats they'll have!!!
Blessed be,
Lori

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The Brechlin Zoo Parade...

Once a year, the Brechlin Zoo Parade comes to town...
what is that... you ask yourself?
well...
Once a year, Lazy & Buddy need to have their booster shots at the vets office.
easy?
no.
First,
the dogs don't want to go...
second,
I don't want to take them.
So, the Games begin with
"Corral the Dogs"
a game which, when finished, there are no winners.
the object of the game is to leash the dogs, and simply put them in the back of the box van.
we almost always, however, end up chasing them around the farmyard...
all of us with maniacal looks on our faces (especially the dogs)
finally, after getting up from tackling them,
we can usually get the lease on them and drag them to the van...
we get Lazy in first, in the hopes that Buddy the Beast
will follow his lead...
yeah. right.
Buddy doesn't want to be in the back of the van.
nope.
Buddy wants to drive.
and Buddy's driving skills are like watching Pac-man on LSD.
...just crazy.

Once in the van, Lazy will usually vomit.
projectile vomit.
not a good thing...

and everone is ducking.
and Buddy is shaking slobber all over everyone...

did I mention that we are usually dressed in rags for our vet's visit...
(they probably think we're destitute),
but no sense wearing good clothes.

Upon our arrival at the office,
by now, Lazy 'gets' what's going to happen next...
(shots & medicine)
so he goes into a Death-Roll in the back of the van...
wrapping himself in his leash, along with my arm,
usually twisting me around and getting me into a position
that i never knew i could get into...
or out of!
After that session, Lazy is exhausted


...and now it's Big-boy's turn....
Seeing me wrestle with Lazy,
has now sent him cowering into the back of the van,
and he has ......um...
'tinkled'...
after that embarrassment , he wasn't budging.

out come the dog treats...
(should have thought about that when being torqued by Lazy...)

Buddy will do anything for a treat....
(well...almost)
He grabbed it out of my hand,
and quickly tried to hide under the driver's seat.
(and THAT'S not happening!)

Finally, we get into the office.
usually we are greated with
"oooh's and ahhh's"
regarding Buddy's size...
with this time being no exception...
In the waiting room, a little girl was sitting quietly, with a little cat
(OH NO!) in her lap.
She blurts out:

"A POLAR BEAR!!!!!!"

which not only excites Buddy,
but has drawn Lazy's attention to the CAT.
(Lazy loves cats...loves to chase them, smell them and...taste them...)

Little Girl now gets up and starts to run,
trying to get out of Lazy's path....trying NOT to get into Buddy's path...

(Ohhh...have I mentioned that yes, Peter was 'there' with me...
but laughing so hard that he was absolutely no help to me whatsoever.)

So, we emptied the waiting room...
some guy with a cockapoo headed for the hills,
and another lady just sat there,
stunned...
as Buddy helped her remove her some of her make-up.
I guess this commotion set the Dog Doctor into motion, because he came flying out from what looked like a closet door,
with two Hypo's in his hand...
one for Buddy,
one for Lazy...
who is now panting so hard that I'm thinking he'll hyperventilate
(Maybe if he passes out he won't puke in the van again on the way home? Hmmm...)


Dog Doctor asks: "Who's first?"
I reply: "My Husband."
(Dog Nurse laughs...Dog Doctor won't even crack a smile)
Nurse says: "What kind of dog is he?" (meaning Buddy)
I reply: "Chihuahua"
(DOG Doctor laughs, Dog Nurse shoots me dirty look)

Shots are finished, walls are covered in spit-slime, waiting rooom is evacuated,
Dog Doctor is happy it's over for another year, Dog Nurse needs a life...
All done. Fini'. Kapoot.
SOOOO.....back into the van we go...
Tails wagging, tongues hanging out...ready to go back home.
oh,..yeah...Buddy & Lazy were happy too...
Blessed be, Friends~
Lori

Sunday, September 13, 2009

hoe, hoe, hoe....

he works so hard...

my dear, sweet hubby.

Peter has turned the shop garden into a true Work of Heart...
for those that will be visiting this weekend for the Gathering of Primitive Friends show,
and you see the beautiful shop garden,
please make sure you give kudos to Peter...

he has literally transformed it into my dream garden!!!
yesterday,...he & I went to a local nursery and purchased end-of-season perennials...
we saved SO MUCH $$ !!!!

I, on the other hand, have been in the shop...it is on it's ...um...ear.
(i'll be posting some pic's of this hallowe'en MESS on my midnight farm blog)
BUT
in a day or two, it will be shining again in all it's primitive glory~
THEN I can get back to working on things for the Ghoultide Show
(WOW...that's coming up FAST!!!)

Hoping you all have a Peaceful Sunday,
enjoying your favorite people and hobbies!!
~Lori~



Saturday, September 12, 2009

Don't forget!!!


...the new Spooky Time Jingles offerings will be posted tonight at midnight~


please visit:


to see our awesome Hallowe'en offerings!!!

~Lori~

Thursday, September 10, 2009

I have NO CLUE....



no clue whatsoever...

do any of you know what this contraption is?
It found me at an antiques shop, and of course, I had to have it for the shop here...

it has a wooden crank handle, and is screened, like to sift something...flour perhaps?

If any of you know what it is, or have any entertaining ideas as to what it might be,
please comment away...
I'll be happy to know!!
On another note about having no clue...
where did the last two weeks go?
HMMMMM???
I am getting anxious about the show here in a week and 1 day
(OH MY STARS AND GARTERS!!!!)
my sewing machine has been a-buzz, whipping out goblins and scarecrows,
I've dulled two punch needles, and have bent 3 sewing needles!!
I've been receiving daily phone calls and emails asking directions, lodging info and who's vending.
wowzers!
I can't wait till the 19th!!!
in the meantime, please visit my Witchy blog to see another new art print!
www.midnightfarm.blogspot.com
Blessed be, folks...
~Lori~

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

....FINALLY !!!

...after 5 days without a phone and internet service,
we finally have service again!
Oh technology
...how we love it.
and hate it.
especially us primitive artists and lovers!~

our computers allow us to offer our wares to the absolute WORLD in the blink of an eye,
...we can virtually visit shops, homes, and auctions in our pj's,
but
it can also wreak havoc with our lives by infecting "us" with virusus, porno and spam...
...not long ago, Ma Bell owned the phone company
and when we wanted to talk with our neighbor,
we dialed "O" and someone named Flo or Pearl came on and asked us how our kids were...
we actually knew them.
the other day, when I called Verizon
(from my cell phone, standing on one leg in the middle of our sheep pasture,
with one arm raised and wearing a tin-foil hat)
about the disrputed service, we never actually spoke to anyone...
it was all computer generated.
I got absolutely no-where.
So I got in the car and drove down our road...
I came past a neighbors house and noticed
that it looked like he was doing some work on a bull-dozer.
hmmm.
luckily, we have a friend that lives down the road that works for Verizon,
and he was there, talking to the neighbor...
come to find out, said neighbor didn't
"CALL BEFORE YOU DIG"
and plowed down the in-ground phone service sub-station...
along with the electric lines.
it's amazing that he wasn't electrocuted and welded permanently to the dozer.
he will, however, be charged a hefty fine for diggin without a permit.
So here I sit, back at the helm of my beloved computer, waiting for it to crap-out yet again.
(maybe I'll click on a link that will bring me to a place back in time
when all we had to do to get in touch with someone was dial "O") ...
Blessed be, Friends~
Lori

Saturday, September 05, 2009

AAAAArrrrrrrrgh...

Well folk, technology has struck again in Podunk, VA...
apparently, somewhere our telephone lines (UNDERGROUND) were somehow cut and
we have absolutely NO PHONE OR INTERNET capabilities...
I'm on a borrowed 'puter now, just letting you folks know...
I'll try to check in as ofetn as I can...if you have any questions or concerns please post them here!
Wish me luck!!!!!
Lori