rainbows in the country...

 Look up to the sky...

You’ll never find a rainbow,

if you’re looking down.

~Charlie Chaplin

Happy Friday!

(linking up to Skywatch Friday, here)

never stop making wishes...

A couple of months ago, I found myself wandering through one of my favorite shops...a great small-town store that has become a "must" anytime I'm nearby. Filled to the brim with everything vintage, primitive, antique, and retro, it's nothing short of fabulous!  

On one of the walls was this sign: 

Something about it caught my eye...the lovely shade of turquoise-blue, the talent behind the hand-lettering, the message. Yes...so true, NEVER stop making wishes! 

As much as it called to me, it really didn't "fit" into our style. Built in 1864, I've tried to fill our home with things that have a sense of history...old trunks, cupboards with wavy glass, spongeware dishes alongside yellowware bowls, spinning wheels, handmade quilts...you get the idea. As cute as this sign was, it just wouldn't work. 

After wandering through the store, I finally told myself, "It NEEDS a home."  You see where this is going...yep, it did come home with me. I wrapped it in paper and tucked it away. Not sure what to do with it, but knowing it just had to be a little gift to me, from me.

Which leads me to this...no matter what, NEVER stop making wishes. What do you wish for? Dreams delayed come true every day! Just because you're living in an apartment now, doesn't mean you won't be gathering eggs from your own happy hens in the country some day. Making business deals across the conference room table, doesn't mean that you won't be making lunches for kids, and yes, climbing the corporate ladder, can be exchanged for chasing fireflies. Here's a little story of my "dream delayed."

An earlier post of mine was titled "Dream a Little Dream"  and all about the search for a vintage camper. A search my teenage daughter began, and I was determined to help her. There's the story of the cutest little 10' Shasta compact camper that was the $100 find of the century!  Not my find, of course, but one lucky gal had her wish come true. It was so...Tiny. Yellow. Adorable.

Then there was another Shasta I drove by for several days just pondering over. Maybe? Maybe not. Okay, definitely! Peeked inside...no leaks, had potential, yes! Bring the Hubby to look over it/climb under it...let's make plans! 

Lesson learned...do not ponder too long. By the time I decided to show it to Hubby, it was gone. On it's way to Michigan with a young family. You know, for months I found myself still looking at the spot where it sat...as if I could turn back time and it would still be there.  

I kept looking in the paper and reading online auctions. Nothing was right, or nearby, or simply nothing existed at all. Vintage campers and glamping had taken off like wildfire and I could find nothing. And so the search continued...for years.

One day in March, I sat down to catch up on a friend's blog...I'd followed the progress on her 1963 Yellowstone camper for about 5 years. Freshly painted, with cheery fabric stitched into curtains and comfy seating, it was fun to look at the before and after snapshots. 

    

It's amazing what a little TLC can do!

(see the whole transformation here)

While reading her blog I blinked...what? "I have decided to let our little trailer find a new home." No pondering this time...I immediately commented, and then, just in case she didn't have time to check her blog, I sent an email. I knew that the camper was well-cared for and only about 15 minutes away. In no time Hubby and I looked it over, then brought along a friend who knows all the ins and outs of vintage campers. He suggested a rubber roof and a quick fix on the water line.

And you know what? That sweet little 13 foot 1963 Yellowstone Cab-over camper is sitting in our driveway. The first thing I did was unwrap and hang the picture telling me to "Never Stop Making Wishes." While the turquoise blue wasn't right for our home, it was perfect for a camper now named Maizy! I'm dressing her up with turquoise, cherry red and a bit of lightning-bug yellow...I'm having fun putting my own retro spin on her. And you know, for someone who loves antiques and primitives, who knew I had a surprising amount of vintage goodies tucked away just waiting for someday? When she's all "just right" I'll share some photos.

Yes, a time for everything...and I can hardly wait to take her on the road with our family!

(I'm linking up for Wonderful Wednesday here!)

wise words...

I am so fascinated and in awe of chalkboard art...just so pretty, so creative, and such talent! 

To some, I'm sure it comes easily...what a blessing. I've been experimenting with chalk myself, but until I have confidence enough to share it with you (!) I'll share this one.

Wise words, indeed...

source

"If for a while the harder you try,
the harder it gets,

take heart.

So it has been for the best people who ever lived."

~Jeffrey R. Holland, 1982

Well, keeping these words in mind, back to my chalkboard, chalk, and eraser!

Happy weekend, friends.

a frosty morn...

Why yes, farmers do sit around and talk about the weather...as do farmGIRLS!

Around here, the weather has been incredible for the last week...

Monday...4-1/2 inches of snow, 

it was so beautiful, fluffy and thick. I was disappointed

my camera just couldn't capture all that my eyes were seeing.

Barn cats can be found snuggling in their little red house under the mulberry tree.

Our clothesline...just waiting for quilts and warm breezes.

Tuesday...2-1/2 inches of rain,

I did not venture outside for photos of this downpour...it was a day best enjoyed with a steaming mug of chamomile tea and a good book.

Yesterday brought light snow that fell all day and was oh-so pretty. 

But today, we woke up to the lovely hoar frost covering everything it could land on. Every surface filled with sharp spikes, but so delicate at the same time.
This frost is always a treat to see, as it seldom visits unless conditions are
just right.

frost on a gate...

on the handle of a pump...

and this just made me giggle...frost on the toes of our angel weathervane!

And so that's the weather in our little corner of the Midwest;

they say Friday it will be in the 70's...ha, let's just wait and see!

So, how is the weather in your part of the world?!

Linking up with Our World Tuesday here and here.

happy Easter!

From our family, to yours...

random signs...

I'm always drawn to signs...some old with chippy paint, some new and colorful. When I see one that particularly catches my eye, either because of the words it shares or the beautiful hand lettering, sometimes they make their way home with me...

like this one hanging in a wonderful store stuffed with antique/vintage/primitive/retro goodies (I'd been looking at it for weeks!) And so it became a little birthday treat from me, to me.
Hand-lettered, what talent! 

And this sign that hangs by the back door everyone comes through. While it was found in the Christmas section of a country store, to me, it says much more. Why yes, this house does believe in Santa (!), but also in old-fashioned values, traditions, going to church together, family prayers, and simple pleasures.

Hand-lettered on slate and sitting in a corner of our mudroom, I'm reminded to visit the year 'round indoor farmers' market off the town square, the summertime farmers' market, the produce auction, and the individual veggie stands that pop up along the country roads.

A sign pointing me toward the Farmers' Market each Saturday morning...get their early for the best choices and take time to enjoy visiting with neighbors, too!

Last, but not least, one you've seen recently...

Just sharing a few of my favorites...and linking up here, at Friday Five.

and by the way!

source

Irish festival...

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I'm sharing a few snapshots from our visit to the Dublin Irish Festival last summer...what fun!  We'll definitely be going back again this coming summer...wonderful food, colorful clothing, toe-tapping music...fabulous!

Click here for a little music to get you in the  spirit...here's to St. Patrick!

Colorful Gaelic kilts on littles and bigger folks!

  

Sweet furry faces!

Oh-so pretty clothing (I think I "need" one of these!)

Amazing dancing!

And this was so lovely...

take a minute to read some of the heartfelt wishes placed upon the tree...

Truly a fun family day...a taste of Ireland only an hour away. We can't wait to go back!

thankful...March sunsets

As they say, good things come in threes...

no filters, no color adjustments, simply what was captured by my camera.

Thankful indeed.

Also thankful for the chance to link up at: it's a small town life and skywatch Friday.

happy Pi(e) day!

"Pi represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.
It’s an important part of the foundation of mathematics, most importantly geometry, where pi is key to equations calculating the area of a circle, A = πr2, and the volume of a cylinder, V = πr2h."  (source here)

A reason to celebrate? No and yes. Stay with me here...

No, the above explanation of Pi, at least to me, does not sounds like an enjoyable thing to celebrate; although contemplating infinity (as in the upcoming Marvel movie, Infinity War) does!

And yes, if we were inclined to celebrate Pi, technically March 14 is perfect (pi is 3.14...).

With all that said, I am completely unable to pass up the fun of Pi(e) Day...and I hope you're having some silly fun with it, too!

What's on our menu?  

Pizza Pie

Kentucky Pie

Toll House Pie

Moon Pies

Short and sweet...

the thought for the day?