Happy 4th of July.....

Dearest Readers,

I just wanted to wish all of you a Happy Fourth of July!  May God bless America!   I hope that you have a wonderful day full of good fellowship and food, as well as sparkling fireworks to light up the sky!

Yours kindredly,

Shan

Patriotic Pride...

Dearest Readers,

It is time to show a little Patriotic Pride here at Honey Hill Farm.  The outside has been decorated with bunting and flags and now my attention has turned inward....

Clip art postcards, sporting a little glitter, mingle with drums, Holly Hobbie plates and pretty little flags....

One can almost hear the fireworks and big brass bands playing to celebrate our dear Country's birthday..... 

It is a delight to decorate for each season and holiday...a simple joy!

Please don't ever feel as if you must spend alot of money to enjoy decorating your home.  Everything here is from thrift stores, discount stores and printed right here on my own computer... and then it is glittered - of course!  You just need to put on a smile and use your imagination!

Yours kindredly,

Shan

Getting Ready for the 4th......

Dearest Readers,

It is hard to believe that it is almost July!  We have been much occupied here at Honey Hill Farm.  One of the summer festivities we enjoy immensely is celebrating the Fourth of July! 

Normally, we would have a large gathering of family and friends out here on the farm.  We would have a BBQ, lots of fun games for the children (complete with prizes), face painting, volleyball, soccer, swimming and fishing in the pond.  I usually give a guided tour of our dear old Victorian home.  Later, it would be time to watch the fireworks.  From our hill we can see 5 different cities shoot off their beautiful fireworks....oooohhh......ahhhhh!

This year will be a little different though, as most of our family will be attending a wedding back east.  So, it will be a very quiet gathering of folks, oooohhhhing and ahhhhing together! 

No matter, I will still put up my decorations both inside and out! 

This simple wreath (I use over and over) is adorned with an old bunting woven through some seasonal flowers.  It ties in nicely with all the colors of the flowers that are blooming in our yard, but is boldly patriotic!

A small frame (from the discount store) sits in the middle with a glittering vintage postcard (from clipart) proudly proclaiming a Happy 4th!  This is easy to do and you can re-use the frame for other holidays!

Tomorrow I will bring you a few photographs of my entryway, brimming with patriotic pride.

Yours kindredly,

Shan

Summer Decorations....

Dearest Readers,

Even though the last few days have been full of drizzle drops and gloomy clouds it was time to celebrate the beginning of Summer here at Honey Hill Farm....

I just adore decorating my charming entryway and have a pretty little sideboard that is home to all my decorating whims.  I started the theme for my decorations by using my computer to print-out the word "BEACH".  I used clip-art for the "frame" and just added the letters for each one.  A pretty variegated ribbon holds the banner in place above the seaside pretties.

The decorating fun continued with old postcards, "clip-art" postcards (printed on old looking card-stock), seashells and a very cute Salt Water Taffy box that I purchased a few years ago at Cracker Barrel.  It was full of taffy...but honestly, I would have bought it empty! (Cracker Barrel still carries this darling box in the candy section.) Of course, everything is nestled on my "standby" burgundy velvet....

A sweet pail purchased at Michael's years ago (it was my lunch pail in the School Days display!) becomes a sand bucket, spilling forth treasures of the sea...  Lastly, I always add various trims to give my decorations a Victorian feel. 

I will keep this display up until July, when my entryway will display it's Patriotic side.  I hope you are inspired to change things for the season in your own home.  I would love to hear your ideas for bringing the summer indoors!

Yours kindredly,

Shan

Time for a Chat with Dear Friends......

Dearest Readers,

My how I have missed you!  It has been quite busy here at Honey Hill Farm, with two of our Darlings graduating within a week of one another! 

First, I must update you on our Darling Girl....She attended her Graduation in a wheelchair!  The poor thing dislocated her knee right before her Nurses' Pinning ceremony on Friday, May 2nd.  She had gone to the store to pick-up a card for a Professor she wanted to thank, and suddenly she was on the floor of the store and they were calling an ambulance!  She was taken to a nearby hospital and I met her in the emergency room.  Of course, we fully expected to be there for the better part of the evening, and had even called to let her friends know that she most likely would not be attending the ceremony.  Well, it turns out that our Dear Girl had worked as a student with some of the staff on duty that night....they told her that they would NOT let her miss such an important event!  We were only in the emergency room for 2 hours!  We went straight to the Pinning Ceremony....crutches, hospital pants, and ID bracelet! A memorable evening to be sure.

Meanwhile, the lovely staff of the University arranged everything from parking for our family and a wheelchair, to a private usher to wheel her around during the Graduation Ceremony!  Our Daughter was so blessed to have attended a wonderful Jesuit University....the Holy Spirit is truly alive there! 

Our Darling Son's Graduation was no less eventful as the winds howled and the temperatures dropped.  The bunting was ripped off of the the stage while the beautiful flower arrangements toppled to the ground below.  Large speakers fell over, narrowly missing students!  Wisely, the administration shortened the ceremony and we all went willingly to our warm homes to celebrate.

All in all, it was a fun day, with friends and family sharing good food and memories of our two Graduates.

I must close now, but I should now have time to visit with you more often.

Yours kindredly,

Shan

Photo:  Just a few "School Days" decorations put out to commemorate the event!

Easter Blessings.......

An Irish Blessing.......

Dearest Readers,

I dedicate this St. Patrick's Day to my dear Irish Grandma Fern, who was a true Irish Blessing!

Her love of her family, her Catholic faith, and all things Irish will remain on my heart forever.........

May your heart be truly Irish, even for a day,

Shan

Lavender, Bunnies and Chicks......

Dearest Readers,

It is time to decorate for Easter here at Honey Hill Farm.  One of the sweet little nooks in our dear old house is located right inside the front door......

For the spring into summer season I hang 3 wire baskets filled with spanish moss, lavender and greenery. It is easy to add new flowers or flags (think 4th of July) to add to the sense of the season.

Dearest added a "spotlight" to the buffet and I scavenged a piece of velvet from my fabric stash.  A delicious "chocolate" bunny stands tall among the lavender and is joined by a very sweet chick.  A few old boxes and tins surrounded by old millinery, add a sweet old fashioned feel ......

We can't forget to put out a carrot for any stray bunnies that stop here at Honey Hill Farm.....

Just a little glimpse of this quiet, gentle day.......

Until tomorrow dear friends,

Shan

Outdoor Easter Decorations........

Dearest Readers,

I am happy to report that I have finally finished the outdoor Easter decorations I started nearly 3 weeks ago!  First, I created a pattern for all of the shapes - I used the outdoor flag I had purchased as my inspiration. I have several Victorian flags but I did not have one for Easter.  I looked and looked but could not find a Victorian one, so I just bought the flag (see photo below) that spoke to my heart.

I had Dearest cut out shapes for me out of some scrap lumber.  Next, I used a water based sealer and sealed all the shapes on all sides.  You can buy the sealer on the same aisle as the acrylic paints. Then, I base coated all of the shapes, traced on the patterns and finished with all of the detail painting.  I finished with 3 coats of exterior varnish (on the aisle with the paints). 

We had a couple of days of warm temps and Dearest was able to drive the stakes into the ground for me.  I then gave my light-up Momma Goose and her Goslings a touch of Easter!  I also tied my "carrots" in several of our trees to finish with my decorating.  (In case you are wondering, I bought the carrots years ago.  They are supposed to be for treat bags, but I think they are fun hanging in the trees!) 

 Now I must get busy and finish decorating the inside of our dear old home! 

I would be so grateful, dear readers, if you would leave me a comment and give me some ideas of things that you would like me to post on my blog.  Would you care to see more pictures of my home?  Would you like craft ideas?  How about recipes?  The history of our dear old homestead?  As I am new to blogging, I would be interested in your opinion. 

Kindrely yours,

Shan