Posted in Everyday Happenings
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I'm a little late in getting these posted, but here are a few pictures from my trip to the herb farm. I saw so many pretty herbs and flowers and came back with lots of ideas to use in my own yard. I came home with a few new additions for the gardens too......Spicy Globe Basil, Golden Oregano, Berggarten Sage, Red Rubin Basil (a variety of purple basil that I'll use for flavored vinegar), another lavender, and a dwarf pomegranate. We also made a stop at another nursery on the way home and I came away with two new plants for my hummingbird/butterfly garden......Indian Pinks and a plant that I never heard of before, Knautia. Both of these will hopefully keep my butterflies and hummers happy.
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One of the formal gardens
I thought this was a neat idea....peppermint growing inside an old log.
Some interesting garden art.....this fellow is made from old metal parts. Posted in Everyday Happenings
 Today I'm going to be spending some time away from home. Taking my two youngest children, I'm going with my sister and Mom to Gilbertie's Herb Gardens. Sal Gilbertie has been one of the biggest names in the herb growing business for over 35 years. His herb growing business is one of the largest in the whole country. And to think he's right here in little, ole Connecticut. It's been years since I been there and I am so looking forward to this time away. Not only can you find the common herbs there, but there are hundreds of unusual ones....many that are used for medicinal purposes. These are the ones I'm looking for....something different...something that I don't already have. Herbs are a passion of mine. Hopefully I'll be able to check back tonight or tomorrow and share some photos. ~~Anne |
Posted in Everyday Happenings
 Take a few minutes to check out Small Town Living, a wonderful on-line magazine. It's put out by a fellow farmgirl, Tina Wilson, and her husband Paul who live on the panhandle of Florida. The current issue (June/July) includes articles on subjects such as miniature cattle, using rain barrels, lemonade landscaping, and herbwalking. It's a great magazine I'm sure you will enjoy. Be sure to look back at the past issues too. The April/May issue had some great articles about backyard poultry, composting and farm dogs. Feb/March includes informative articles about cold frames & hot houses, how to succeed at a Farmer's Market, and something we all would probably love...planting a chocolate garden. Check it out....You'll be glad you did. http://www.stliving.net ~~Anne |
Posted in Everyday Happenings
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My blog has been inactive for over a month now. I didn't intend to take such a break, but things around here have just been so busy and I've been feeling overwhelmed and unable to keep up. Back in the middle of March, I had a tooth extracted....it wasn't supposed to be a big deal.....but some complications arose that left me battling a severe bacterial infection. Going to the dentist three times a week for treatments left me with little time to write. Plus, I was usually so wiped out by the end of the day and discouraged by the whole situation that there was nothing interesting I had to share. My treatments have now ended and everything is healing up nicely, so I'm hoping that I can get back on track and spend a bit more time here now. Plus, John has reopened his furniture repair and restoration business and that is keeping me extra busy too. Besides private work, he's also doing in-home service calls for some large furniture stores in the state. In my efforts to be his helpmeet and ease some of his burden, I'm the one that is calling all the customers, making appointments and setting up his daily schedule. I'm doing the paperwork and billing too. It's like I have a full-time job now. That's in addition, of course, to the other full-time jobs of being a mommy, homemaker, home schooler, etc. etc. that I already had. But, the extra work will all be worth it in the end. After being without steady work and income for so long, we now are able to get back on track and are working diligently on getting out of debt. There is light at the end of the tunnel. God is good!! So, if anyone is really interested, I will be back blogging on a somewhat(!) regular basis. I admit, that sometimes I wonder if I have anything that interests people anyway. My life seems so boring. I mean, the normal things I do around my home are exciting and interesting to me, but I just wonder....................... ~~Anne |
Posted in Everyday Happenings
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 The magazine hightlights farmhouse activities such as cooking, crafting, collecting, pet care and home arts and skills. Some of the articles in this Spring issue include: catching rainwater to use around the home, refurbishing cast iron pans (complete with pictures), making butter, yogurt, kefir and cheese, keeping a farm journal (excellent article), collecting and cooking food from the wild (another excellent article), and so much more. (You can click on the above picture to read more.) If you can get your hands on a copy, I think you'll enjoy it. This is only their second issue published so it might be a bit hard to find. Jen found this issue at a Tractor Supply store near where she goes to college. I've never been there, but I know some of you here have mentioned it so maybe they have it or can order it for you. ~~Anne |