Where's the Little Boy Who Looks After the Sheep??

I'm assuming this means that the cow's in the meadow.

The Feeder

See the little bluebird house?

I wonder if he feels the same way I do when I sneak some chocolate chips.

The Haymow

This is easier on the neck.

The dash of color on the Amish farm: gas can

Look at that kitty sneaking past!

As for the original question, where would you start looking?

Hope you're having a great start to your week! The grandkids are here so it's busy...and fun. We're expecting the rest of the family in by the weekend. They're coming from the four corners - Texas, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and they'll be here to celebrate my birthday with me.Yea! :-) We've done this for the past four years and I love it that it's become a tradition. Who wouldn't?!

***

'Clover Blossom'

Natural, Handcrafted Vegan Soap

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

and at

Our ETSY Store 

This post may be linked to one or more of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and Get in My Tummy and  Cure for the Common Monday and  Clever Chicks Blog Hop and  Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and    Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Efforts and Assets and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Creative Showcase and Memories by the Mile and Crafty Texas Girls and  Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday  and Love Bakes Good Cakes and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Wildcrafting Wednesday and   Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Girl Creative, Thursday and  Creative Things Thursday and Be Inspired and Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Friday Fences and  Thursday's Inspiration and  The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and Creative Things Thursday and   Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and Share Your Creativity and   A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday and  Market Yourself Monday and  Saturday Nite Special

Home Arts Magazine July 1936

I thought this was such a sweet illustration on the cover of the vintage Home Arts magazine from 1936. And I also wanted to get this posted before July is over!  Even 77 years ago kids and pets drew an audience, didn't they.

What a darling little hat!

And no flip flops?

Ten cents. Hmmmm.

***

I hope to get to your blogs later today. Right now I have three young grandsons who'd like me to hook up my laptop to the TV so they can watch SpongeBob. Normally I would suggest playing outdoors, but we're having a great rain, even as I write...

'Sweet Baby Calendula'
All-Natural, Handcrafted Vegan Soap


...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

and at

Our ETSY Store 

 


  This post may be linked to one or more of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and Get in My Tummy and  Cure for the Common Monday and  Clever Chicks Blog Hop and  Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and    Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Efforts and Assets and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Creative Showcase and Memories by the Mile and Crafty Texas Girls and  Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday  and Love Bakes Good Cakes and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Wildcrafting Wednesday and   Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Girl Creative, Thursday and  Creative Things Thursday and Be Inspired and Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Friday Fences and  Thursday's Inspiration and  The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and Creative Things Thursday and   Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and Share Your Creativity and   A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday and  Market Yourself Monday and  Saturday Nite Special

Storm Clouds - Rain Fresh Homemade Vegan Soap

Our daughter took this photo several years ago. It's still one of my favorite storm photos. I thought I would post this photo and my new 'Storm Clouds' handcrafted vegan soap, which is now available at our Etsy Shop.

'Storm Clouds'

Natural, Handcrafted Vegan Soap

'Storm Clouds' is made with all-natural base oils, including olive oil and coconut oil,  a natural colorant, and a quality fragrance oil (because as far as I know, they've not been able to squeeze an essential oil out of rain) :-), this is a deliciously rain-fresh soap for shower or bath.

'Storm Clouds'

Currently available only at our ETSY Shop

...and more! Check out all our handcrafted, vegan soaps at

HomemadeSoapnSuch

and at


Our ETSY Shop

Don't miss our Buy Five, Get One FREE offer!

This post may be linked to one or more of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and Get in My Tummy and  Cure for the Common Monday and  Clever Chicks Blog Hop and  Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and    Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Efforts and Assets and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Creative Showcase and Memories by the Mile and Crafty Texas Girls and  Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday  and Love Bakes Good Cakes and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Wildcrafting Wednesday and   Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Girl Creative, Thursday and  Creative Things Thursday and Be Inspired and Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Friday Fences and  Thursday's Inspiration and  The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and Creative Things Thursday and   Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and Share Your Creativity and   A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday and  Market Yourself Monday and  Saturday Nite Special

Wisconsin Barns - Scenes Near Colfax, WI

Always a Favorite Scene:

A barn, a fence, and flowers
(the ubiquitous corn field in the background)

As you may know, we live in the rolling hills of NW Wisconsin. There's some pretty flat land north of us, but going south, there are beautiful hills and valleys. I love the gorgeous farmland and views we see along the Red Cedar River. The photos in this post are from the Colfax area. 

Zooming out, the same barn, outlined in lilies

as viewed on a warm summer afternoon
Remind me to plant lilies. 
Remind me to read up on lilies so I don't waste my money.

Although the Harvestore silo seems to be the focal point of this photo, I was trying to get a somewhat panoramic view of the farm with surrounding hills.

A nearby hayfield and lots of wooded land.

Wisconsin has trees. Lots of trees.
Trees, hills, rivers - three of the things I love about Wisconsin

Red Cedar River, taken from a small bridge

NW of Colfax

I would have loved to get a photo of cows standing in the river, but I'm pretty sure that's now a thing of the past - pre DNR and EPA.

No idea why this farm is called 'Peek-a-Boo Dairy'
I cannot imagine anyone coming up with that name.
I'm sure it wasn't the cows.

Wild phlox beside a country road
Look at those beautiful white pines in the background.

I was thrilled to get this photo of a pair of 

Sandhill Cranes as they slowly meandered across a pasture.

Click HERE to hear the squeaky wood call of the Sandhill Crane.

I love the fun, distinctive sound they make!

There's lots more to see on a drive between our home and Colfax. Maybe I'll post those photos at another time.

***

'Forest Floor'

Natural, Handcrafted Vegan Soap

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

and at

Our ETSY Store 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

This post may be linked to one or more of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and Get in My Tummy and  Cure for the Common Monday and  Clever Chicks Blog Hop and  Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and    Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Efforts and Assets and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Creative Showcase and Memories by the Mile and Crafty Texas Girls and  Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday  and Love Bakes Good Cakes and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Wildcrafting Wednesday and   Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Girl Creative, Thursday and  Creative Things Thursday and Be Inspired and Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Friday Fences and  Thursday's Inspiration and  The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and Creative Things Thursday and   Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and Share Your Creativity and   A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday and  Market Yourself Monday and  Saturday Nite Special

The Unorthodox Birthday Cake

 

The Grandsons, watching Dad light the candles on his birthday cake -

Gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, stacked

and pierced with a candle

It worked, kinda, as a birthday cake substitute. I used a Betty Crocker GF Chocolate Chip Cookie mix and added a couple extra cups of chocolate chips and chopped walnuts. Of course.

And now, to watch Dad blow out the candles

Such serious business!

You can see I made sure to put this birthday cake on a beautiful display plate, lol. And btw, I never really notice how much junk I have sitting around until I see a photo like this.

Where's Waldo?

Can you find:

The coffee grinder

The soap box and cutter

The chalkboard

The laundry basket

The stick of butter

The key-holder cat

The coffee maker

The scrambled eggs

The vintage egg crate

The vintage boiler

Grandpa Nelson-made bench

It was fun to have our oldest son and two of their boys with us on his birthday. The other kids and Mom were home, sorting and packing as they get ready to put their house [in the Minneapolis suburbs] on the market and move to Wisconsin. I can't wait!

Our vintage son - with Grandpa Nelson c. 1972

Helping feed the heifers c. 1974

There are lots of new adventures waiting for everyone... 

***

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

and at

Our ETSY Store 

Strawberries and a Dog and a Cat

Strawberries finally arriving

Second week of July

I really need to read the UW Extension brochure on raising strawberries. This is the second year for these plants, and they're in two nice, pretty-much weed-free rows because I have strips of carpet on either side of the rows. We had a satisfying crop of berries until it got really hot, several days (it seemed) in the mid nineties. Then the berries seemed to stop. There are a few, but they're marble sized. Once they're completely done bearing, I need to figure out what to do for next year, whether it's transplanting the smaller berries and tilling down the row of older berries or what. I love having strawberries and I hate weeds. Hate may not be a strong enough word.

 

Just a handful, 

but a couple days later, about 5 quarts

They're not huge and beautiful like the ones in the store, but the taste is amazing!

 Some small, some big, but all sweet and delicious!

I checked with those who frequent Hometalk and one of the responses to my question about getting bigger berries informed me that my strawberries might be too close together (which they are!), and that they need to be fertilized twice a season (which they've not been). So, I think I have some good information to take into next year's crop.

Blind and deaf little Misty

The update on Misty is that since the photo above was taken, she is completely blind and almost totally deaf, never leaves the kitchen except when I take her out on lead to the great, scary outdoors. Right now she is lying on the cool kitchen vinyl floor. I try to spend several petting segments with her each day, for that seems to be the only time she interacts. She still usually raises her head and sniffs the air when someone comes into the house, so we know her olfactory receptors are working. 

Until a couple years ago, Misty spent summer afternoons running and leaping through the alfalfa field, chasing butterflies. She loved it! Now her world has become much smaller and she confines herself to the kitchen, except when I take her outdoors. Even then, she wants to get her business done and get back to the safety of the house. Misty is a sweet little girl, but something tells me that this (probably) 13-15 year old dog isn't going to make it another winter. Maybe she'll surprise us. I hope so.

Tuppence, in her favorite spot:

Lying next to me on the chair, watching TV
'Endeavor' - PBS Masterpiece
Check it out!

***

Buy Any Five, Get One FREE

'Fig & Brown Sugar'

Natural, Handcrafted Vegan Soap

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

and at

Our ETSY Store
 

This post may be linked to one or more of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and Get in My Tummy and  Cure for the Common Monday and  Clever Chicks Blog Hop and  Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and    Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Efforts and Assets and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Creative Showcase and Memories by the Mile and Crafty Texas Girls and  Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday  and Love Bakes Good Cakes and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Wildcrafting Wednesday and   Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Girl Creative, Thursday and  Creative Things Thursday and Be Inspired and Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Friday Fences and  Thursday's Inspiration and  The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and Creative Things Thursday and   Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and Share Your Creativity and   A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday and  Market Yourself Monday and  Saturday Nite Special

Contentment - Which Represents You?

'...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.' - Philippians 4:11b

I looked at these two photos and thought how much they say about my life at various times. How about you?

P.S. After reading the comments thus far, I felt I had to add the following:

There's a big difference between healthy curiosity and utter discontent. ;-) (Sorry, I couldn't help myself.)  But seriously...

Draft Horses and Amish Log Cabins

Draft horses, reflected in door glass

And here they are, unreflected

There is a huge stack of huge logs...

...that they turn into things like this - a house...

...and this, a 14 x 28 cabin.

When my brother and sister-in-law were here from Denver for a couple days, we drove down to Schrock's and looked through some of  the many cabins and houses they build. Log houses aren't my favorite thing, but I became a quick believer after seeing these. Unfortunately, they don't throw a draft horse into the deal. Aren't they beautiful animals.

If you're looking for a log cabin, here's where to write for a brochure!

They've had buyers in ND, IA, MI, WI, and other states.

Cute bird houses, huh.

 Don't forget: Every cabin needs one of these -

and a Sears Roebuck catalog, of course

***

'Coconut & Lime'

Natural, Handcrafted Vegan Soap

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

and at

Our ETSY Store 

This post may be linked to one or more of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and Get in My Tummy and  Cure for the Common Monday and  Clever Chicks Blog Hop and  Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and    Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Efforts and Assets and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Creative Showcase and Memories by the Mile and Crafty Texas Girls and  Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday  and Love Bakes Good Cakes and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Wildcrafting Wednesday and   Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Girl Creative, Thursday and  Creative Things Thursday and Be Inspired and Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Friday Fences and  Thursday's Inspiration and  The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and Creative Things Thursday and   Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and Weekend Reflection and  Share Your Creativity and   A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday and  Market Yourself Monday and  Saturday Nite Special