some thrifty finds

welcome everyone! i am joining thrifty mondays at southern hospitality. you can pop over there and see what everyone has found for a wonderful low price.

around here there aren't too many flea markets, but during labor day weekend there has always been a pretty large one about an hour away. i was really looking forward to going but was a little disappointed. the numbers of vendors were down...about half. i did find a few things but had better luck at goodwill and my favorite thrift store.

i found some more additions to my milk glass collection. about 50 cents each. i love using these for candles. they are my 'fireplace' since i don't have one. i will have to show you later what they look like when lit.

at goodwill i found these! for $3 each! and they are huge...about 3 feet. i was so excited...i know they are not everyone's taste, but that is ok. i think i will be painting them black and hanging them by our pantry. mr. farmer is so excited...*wink* here is some more inspiration for these extra large utensils here. dessert must have been on my mind saturday! found two sets of sherbert cups, milk glass and those dark green ones. we are going to be adding shelving to our pantry this fall and wanted old mason jars to fill up. found all 12 for $30. the frame i found is for a project that i will show you later.

and finally this cute vintage plates.
thanks for visiting and hope you can come again!
God bless and have a wonderful labor day.

May the Lord bless his land

with precious dew from heaven above.

Deuteronomy 33:13

feathering my nest---fall style

happy fall y'all!

it's fall nesting week at the inspired room. if you haven't visited melissa, i suggest you pop over there. but i warn you. you maybe visiting her for quite a while. i look forward to seeing what everyone else has done for the harvest season.

i love fall, so it is probably the season i decorate for the most. i wanted to share with you my dining room. i had forgotten about the harvest banner that i made last fall...so that was the first thing up. the painting is one that i had found at a flea market and snatched it up as fast as i could. i love the haying season. maybe it is because i am married to a farmer. maybe it is because it smells so good. but i loved the barn, the colors, the scene of the whole family helping on the farm. plus it was $3.00. i added some of my dried hydrangeas, some found feathers and some wheat.

in this corner, i put some sunflowers in a nail keg that i have had for years.

i found this wooden dough bowl at at antique store for $2.50, then added some decorative acorns that i found at target last year. the antler was a shed that mr. farmer found in his pasture a few years back.....i claimed it as my own. to decorate with. i don't think he is real pleased!

so here is the whole room. thanks for stopping by!

what's for supper

the fruits...er, ah vegetables of our labor. today i was able to pick tomatoes, sweet corn, pull up onions, and dug some potatoes for supper. well the tomatoes are for making salsa later this week. i have a recipe all picked out...unless i find another one before then. i am always changing my mind.

anyways, back to supper. gathering food is a great stress reducer. until i dug the potatoes. i also dug up a fire ant nest. yep. there i was, doing the two step, tying to stay out of their way. little miss emma ran to the other side of the garden. she was not going to have any part of them. the bad part of this? the plant that they had claimed as their own had very small potatoes...and i am going to blame them. is that fair? yep, i think so.

hash, is one of my favorite foods to make in the summer. because it is quick and i don't have to turn on the oven. anyways, i was anxious to try our own homegrown. let me tell you. store bought veggies can't hold a candle to homegrown. everything was so tender and moist. i hope i can keep the onions and potatoes through winter. maybe those small taters will work with a roast.

i have been craving homemade bread, but didn't have the time for all the mess. in comes little miss emma's favorite item. my beer bread. it tastes so good, and the crust is every one's favorite part. i am not kidding. we fight over it. so buttery and crisp.

see. don't that look yummy?

i don't think one ear of corn was enough for any of us. however, since we planted it late, the grasshoppers got to the silk and some of the ears didn't develop kennels. good thing my in-laws had enough corn to freeze. about 100 quarts.

for those of you that want a quick and yummy bread recipe, here it is.

3 cups self-rising flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 12 oz bottle of beer

1 stick of butter, melted

mix together flour and sugar. add beer. pour batter into a greased bread pan. pour melted butter on top. bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes. i cover my bread with tin foil for the last 15 minutes. that way the crust won't burn.

this bread makes wonderful french toast because it is slightly sweet and very dense. i do recommend, however, to try and wait at least 10-15 minutes before slicing the bread. that way it doesn't fall apart.

take care and God bless

alissa

from shabby to hippie

welcome friends! i am joining metamorphosis monday at Between Naps on the Porch and today's thrifting treasures at Southern Hospitality. i am really excited to check every one's changes.

i bought this little chair at goodwill last summer for $10.00. i knew i was wanting to recover it but wasn't sure how or with what fabric. well, i visited a pottery barn and was inspired by this fabric on this chair.... Pottery Barn

i was able to find similar fabric at hobby lobby, and come out of the store with two yards, some button cover kits and some trim. got home, found the staple gun and hot glue and went to work. it is not a professional job...i didn't tear off the old fabric. i was afraid that if i did, i would have a bigger project that i wasn't sure i would be able to finish. i was able to cover the chair with one piece of fabric. i didn't sew pieces together like the original was. i even was able to figure out how to cover buttons and sew them on the back. the seat is still not done....so don't look to close to the pictures...

here is the close up...


this has become my favorite chair. it is where i sit to use my computer, read a book or just to sit and enjoy the quiet.

thanks for visiting!

welcome friends

hello and welcome! please, make yourself comfortable. my name is alissa. i am a farmer's wife and mother to one. i hope that you will be able to join me has i try to make my life a quiet, simple one. this will be a place to share tips, recipes, ideas on frugal living, and of course my favorite, crafting. so, i hope that you can come back and maybe, just maybe friendships will be formed.
hope to see you again!