Their Mother

The Wild Children outside, hair flying, untied and unkempt, too long even.
Climbing the tree with the ivy hanging down.  Little one yelling and now crying.
Neighbors wondering -- then sighing. A yell of frustration and then muffled whining.
Isn't there school today? Yes, but this crew is feeling free and loose. Mother is
biding her time til the next door flung open-wide ends her quiet space inside.
Boys scheming, sister longing, wishing and resigning. Not big enough to stay
and play, moping whimpering - sent away.
Whose are these? the wild children belong to ease.

Apothecary

For a very long time I've been drawn to anything having to do with herbs... growing, cooking and creating with them.  Since I became interested in gardening as a young wife (with our first home) and started growing things from seeds (because it was what I could afford) I have always had herbs in my garden.  Even before that while I took some massage therapy courses I also dabbled in arometherapy. 

So as I began soul searching for a new sense of direction recently, I wanted to use what has already been established in my life.  My gardens and love for all things creamy and herbal.  And so soap! 

I have been dabbling and trying out recipes and combinations.  I have done oodles of research on packaging ideas, labels, ingredients, formulas, suppliers and such.  And finally, now it is time for

a place to be, my own studio.

In the place our office now resides there is the potential for a new place to create! Tucked conveniently between our kitchen and potager is a room that has struggled to find her best purpose until now! 

Here are some of the items I plan to use:

2 lovely stainless steel tables in the middle with caster wheels, shelves below &

mismatched stools all around

(I wish I had a photo but they aren't set up yet)

a chandelier from pottery barn glowing prettily overhead

simple open shelving above with mixing utensils, jars & the like

(no toaster but the rest can stay!)

And voila! 

Not only are soaps pretty but they are oh so practical too!  I am looking forward to getting set up so that I have more space to work in.  Just another month or two and we should be able to move some things around and create the space I'm dreaming of!  Not only do I plan on working in the studio but I also look forward to the day when I can pass on what I have learned in some workshops.  I would love to teach young women just starting out in life not only the practical skill of soap making but also some of the concepts of entreprenuership too.  I love being part of our community which is a small farming town.

Solitude, Puttering & a few of my favorite things

Monday, the children back to school and momma's tired.  I've hardly spoken any words today and it's so nice.  Calm and quiet and good for my soul.  I've been spending these moments of solitude doing my favorite thing ~ puttering and enjoying the house in it's hushed state. 

I feel like it's really mine for a few worthwhile hours and then happily welcome THEM in once again.  It doesn't really feel like a home without THEM anyway. 

Puttering is fun isn't it?  Handling your favorite things and taking a good look at them!  Realizing a few things that aren't a favorite anymore and setting them aside to find a new home.  The pile of donations is growing and needs to be taken out. 

I love the process of editing.  Thoreau said "simplify, simplify, simplify."  This speaks to my soul!  Have a blessed Monday.

Olivia

The Caterers Wife

In preparing for the in~house caterer to arrive home from a rather large event with tons of produce to overflow the fridge ~ the caterers wife (you can guess who that is) got to work in the kitchen today to make room.  This is a fabulous recipe I found when my older kiddos were tiny like below miss mouse!

I have made it enough times that I use whatever ingredients I like together and only follow basic proportions these days. 

Here it is:

Blueberry Gingered Granola Bars

1 1/4 c. toasted walnut halves

1 1/2 c. puffed rice cereal

1 1/4 c. oats

1 c. dried fruit

1/2 c. oat bran or wheat germ

3 T. crystalized ginger, fine

1/4 c. (or desired amount) semi sweet chocolate chips

~~~~~~~

1 c. brown rice syrup

1/4 c. natural cane sugar

1/2 t. salt

1 t. vanilla extract

Oil a glass baking dish and set aside.

In a large bowl:  Combine first 6 ingrediants & toss well.

In a small saucepan combine the next 3 ingrediants & boil for 4 minutes gently stirring until thickened.  Remove from heat & stir in the vanilla.  Pour the sauce into the dry mixture and toss.  Pour into the prepared dish and let set up for 45 minutes before cutting into bars.  

Delicious & nutritious, right in time for the first day of school!

Whilst playing in the kitchen (I mean working very hard) I also got to changing around the countertops a bit and added in this little shelf to display some of my favorite little kitcheny things. 

If you know me very well at all you would know that the only way I really get inspired to do a clean is by moving things!  My friends always tease that they have to look around every time their here to see what has changed! 

Anyway, that is much of how I spent this Sunday afternoon!  How did you spend yours?

Blessings,

Olivia

The Farmers Market

We spent the morning at a local Farmers Market, just the four kiddos and I.  Before you go thinking "Oh how lovely for a Saturday morning..." let me just say it didn't last long.  I think I forgot to give the "if you aren't listening and having good attitudes we wont stay" chat!  Anyway before we made it out of there I managed to grab a delicious farm fresh breakfast burrito, a lovely bouqet of dahlias and a handmade soap to try.  And the best part of course ~ the inspiration!

I came back wanting to get to work making over the front porch ~ the window boxes and general arrangement of everything!  Here is the finished look until the pumpkins start coming out and then those will have to be worked in also!

Chrysanthemum's and Kale, Chickens and Pumpkins and little violets!  Delight!

Welcome friends, welcome fall!

my new thing

i've got a new thing goin'!  it might just be... no it IS just the thing i've been looking for! 

i am learning to make beautiful hand-made soaps and candles.  this by itself is delightful.  working with all these fattening creamy delicious ingredients and turning them into fragrant treats without the calories!  mmm good! 

but, even better is going into business with my dear good friend leah who is a potter!   we have dreams of going "to market, to market" together!  selling our wares packaged beautifully, crafted with love, combining both our talents!  i have always admired leah for her unique vision, style and drive to create.  she inspires me!  by the way, her business name is "raine or shine pottery co." and she will have a website going soon! 

photo courtesy dennisanderson at etsy

hopefully i will have photos to share along with more of our vision shortly, in the meantime, you will have to wait & see!  also look into the new blog lilywhiteandcleanco.blogspot.com
blessings,
olivia

Beautiful Weather

We have had some beautiful weather for about 3 days!  It's been so long I started to lose faith in summer and gardens and warmth altogether (not in God though).  I've been working outside and the gardens are looking great!  Now I have to get inspired to make the inside match the outside!
Still haven't figured out my camera situation.  I would love to post new photos, sorry!  One day I'll have things back to normal around here!  (hopefully before my children are grown!)
Blessings,
Olivia

All things country living... english style

A few of my favorite things....

1.  Country Living Magazine British Edition!  Expensive - yes!  It's the only magazine subscription I still have though!  It is full of inspiration for style, gardening decorating.  It totally brings out the romantic in me!

2.    Little white churches....

3.  Boots & that includes all kinds!

4.  Old Rustic Barns

5.  Eating, cooking, baking (finding new inspiration) food in general, yes there is a reason I married a chef!  (although thats not the only reason!)

6.  Babies, need I say more?

7.  Pretty comfy sweaters...

8.  Chicks, the little fuzzy kind



9.  seedlings in the windowsill

10.  that leads me into the potager which is finally in place!  (below photo is sadly misleading as I am still having camera loading challanges...)  real photos soon to come!  I am very happy with the way it's turning out!

Just a little sampling of what's on my mind lately!  Hope you find a little inspiration here!

Blessings,

Olivia

 

Going "All In"

The idea I'm pondering today is about being "all in" about who I am.  Today I got up and dressed in a  farmgirl chic sort of outfit.  Occasionally I've got the guts to go for it, despite where I am going or who I'm gonna see.  I put on a darling cream sundress with vintage rose print, grey leggings & boots and a cream sweater with a brown hat.  (I would love to show you a photo of me but.... having some technial issues.)

What starts going thru my mind is "Am I meeting up with one of my super stylish always dressed to the hilt friends?  Should I temper my down home girl comfy wrinkled usual style?"  Am I confident enough to show who I really am to everyone all the time?  What I realized today is this...  Some people may not get that there are different kinds of beautiful and may not understand my style.  (or maybe they do and I'm not giving them the chance)  BUT, isn't it SO MUCH more interesting to be with someone who is "ALL IN" showing you who they really are?  Yes absolutely!

However, this goes deeper than the way I chose to dress today.  Beyond that it goes to being real, opening the door to welcome guests....all the time (this includes showing off the wrinkles again), to working hard to bring more depth into each experience.  To fighting for the creme de la creme in life every moment of every day, (or at least every day).  And looking for ways to add value to everything and everyone I can touch by being real and being honest and offering comfort, joy & warmth!

I think that about sums it up!

My Dream Potager, Practical & Pretty

One lovely day I was reading a favorite magazine (several years ago so I can't even remember which one) and I found a good story about a kitchen garden right out the back door!  What a romantic idea to walk right out in the midst of cooking dinner to grab a handful of chives, some sage, a fresh tomato or two...and thus my dream garden was alive in my imagination. 

Currently we have two 16 x 16 ft gardens way down by the pasture on our property, one for roses & herbs (this one will stay) the other for veggies & berries (this one is going for more parking).  We also have a funny little plateau that you walk out onto off our back deck.  We are waiting for a friend to level the plateau so it is nice and even.  The 5 raised beds are already built (5x8 feet each) according to my garden plan (above).  Many of the seeds have arrived from Seed Savers Heirloom seeds.  I am just dying to get started.

(picutre above from The Violet Fern)

I'm dreaming of something like this.  It will have some formal lines, even some boxwood at the inside edge to bring a little english flair.  We will set our patio table and chairs in the nook next to the deck.  I have also included a border of white hydrangeas (I love them but also because of shade in that area) to add some flowers and fragrence.  I love the idea of the garden being beautiful and useful even in the winter months.  And so, the potager! Wish me luck at getting the men motivated on the structural work so I can get to planting and preparing!
Blessings,
Olivia

A tribute to talent!

This is just a little post in honor of my husband who is having his birthday this week and we are also celebrating our 11th Anniversary!  He is so talented and these photos are just a few from a recent local event we catered!  "We" meaning I printed menu's, chatted with the staff and ate!  (that's not all I do though!)

Even from the beginning his career made an impact on me.  As soon as I met him and he told me he cooked he had me hook line & sinker.  I didn't know he was this good!  The pictures are pretty but the taste is amazing!  I am so thankful for the way he provides for our family but also for the success he has carved out in his career.   I am so thankful for the kind of dad he is to our children, he is fun and active always teaching them important skills and lessons! 

And I am also thankful that when he offers to cook dinner for the night it isn't boxed macaroni and cheese but more like braised cabbage & slow cooked ribs or .... any number of flavorful dishes!

Thank you God for my husband, & thank you honey for choosing me!

Blessings,

Olivia

Adventures in Farm Life

I go through phases, as I've mentioned before!  About this time of year usually I start feeling really expansive!  Wanting to dream big and live more adventurously.  This year that need is being met by a new wave of fitness mania (not my favorite subject really but I'm working on it!)  In previous years it has been adding a menagerie of animals to our lives.  Carmel the calf was among the first!

Too cute to resist right!  He lasted around here about the shortest (only a month) as we wondered how much trouble he would be as he grew!

We've added a small crew of kitties, none of which decided to stay around permanently.  That's okay, apparently the mice in the barns around the neighborhood and the wild life speak to them! 

There have been the chickens!  And even a horse or two!  A few dogs, a couple rabbits, several goats.

And last but not least a few babies! They count as animals on a farm right?

This year there will be no such additions!  No new animals, definately not any new babies!  Four of those have been blessing beyond measure!  So I'm wondering, what adventure in farm life will we focus on this Spring!?  Maybe I'll finally get back to the gardens?

Oooh I hope so!  
Blessings,
Olivia