I was never what you could call
a Farmer's Daughter.
Back in the day
my dad owned and ran a saw mill.
My grandfather was closer to a farmer
than anyone else in the family
but still the property that
my sister, brother and I
spent time on as kids
was always called "The Ranch".
There never were large gardens or crops that needed to be tended,
just an old barn where the
milk cow and barn cats shared space,
a chicken coop, a few rabbit hutches, some old knarly fruit trees
that gave us sweet plums, cherries, apricots and loquats,
Bachlor Buttons, Sweet Williams and Pinks
planted by the kitchen door
for endless bouquets for the tables,
and a small garden
that produced everything
we could ever want
on our plates.
Although my immediate family
didn't actually live on the Ranch,
when we were younger
our dad built us a house
about two miles down the way,
we were always within walking distance.
As we grew older,
on any given summer's day,
we could ride our bikes
down the country road,
through the neighbor's cherry orchard,
over the bridge, up the hill, past the barn,
and invariably end up
with a bowl of strawberries
and fresh cream
served by my grandmother
under the shade of
the old chestnut tree.
My dad's saw mill
was on the Ranch property
and he and my mom planted corn
in a lower field beside the creek.
We had fresh
corn on the cob, in season,
for most of our dinners
and I remember it always being
very sweet and my folks discussing
how much water was used
or how much less would be used
for next year's crop.
Between the rows of corn
there grew some green plants.
My mom would harvest them
at just the right time and
they tasted wonderful piled high with
butter, salt and pepper!
She called them Pigweed
and, in fact,
they really were just weeds,
but I have never tasted anything
so good.
As I started a family of my own,
I was always interested in decorating.
When we first had a home,
Danish Modern furniture was all the rage.
A lot of orange, turquoise
and bright blues and greens were used.
We had it all.
Later on, I started using
whatever was considered "country".
We went through two homes
using that decorating theme
and started incorporating
American antiques into the mix.
When we moved to the Cottage,
I wanted to fulfill her roots
and brought the Victorian influence
into my realm,
selling most of the country items
that I had left over.
Although I had been surrounded by
the farming community
while I was growing up,
I didn't see the potential
that it could hold for me
in the aspect of decorating.
What I saw were
always clean and neat rooms
with pretty colorful pieces
and an abundance of store-bought items
usually ordered through catalogs such as
Sears & Roebuck and Montgomery Wards,
or "monkey wards",
as grandma called them.
No on-line shopping then,
just perusing the catalog,
phoning in (or sending
in an order form with a check).
As neither my mom or grandma drove
and the menfolk were always working,
they were at the mercy of
someone with a car
who could drive them into town
to pick up their orders,
and they weren't even living through
a pandemic at the time!
Truthfully,
I didn't pay much attention
to what is now called
"Farmhouse" decorating
until we moved to an area
that featured HGTV
and I started blogging.
Looking back,
when we were first renovating the Cottage,
I wish I would have covered her
in shiplap and white paint
with natural and painted wood pieces
but with very colorful accessories.
It is too late now
as that time has come and gone
and without a "willing" partner
that will never happen...
...and so,
I have turned to living
the farmhouse lifestyle
in my imagination
and in my kitchen.
Last autumn,
I read a post
put out by (Sarah)
where she decorated
a beautiful table with
black and white placemats.
I apologize,
but I don't remember
the name of the company.
I just knew that
they would be perfect
for my
kitchen Christmas table.
Last month, (Kim),
showed just a sliver of
the sweetest plates
on her pretty kitchen table
and I fell in love.
She gladly shared with me
where she got them
and I was off
on-line
to Target.
Thank you, ladies,
for your kindness
and your wonderful taste.
Had it not been
for the two of you,
I probably
wouldn't have realized
that these separate objects
would be a match
made in heaven...
...these dessert plates
are just a small portion
of what this line offers...
...there is service
for eight available...
...along with
the teapot, cups
and other matching pieces.
I wish I could
have them all
and maybe someday I will,
just not
all at once.
Now, with these pieces
in my collection,
I can imagine all I want to...
As an afterthought: I covered up the red Cardinal and holly center of this Christmas plate from Tuesday Morning with the dessert plate. How cute that edge looks alongside the black and white cow.
...and
outside my windows,
I may not see
endless Green Acres
but when we
sit down at the kitchen table
the memories are
all right there.
Have a wonderful week...
Stay Smart
Stay Well
Get Your Vaccines
and
Wear Your Masks.
...Judy...
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