Cozy Couch

 Last week I had some Gramma Bird time with Ezra!  He is just the happiest little thing - absolute joy!  While visiting, Anna and I made some Christmas candy.  Next to the grocery store in her small town is a thrift shop.  So, when we went to get ingredients, we had to shop.  

I ALWAYS find awesome pickin's there!  This trip did not disappoint.  I found this vintage Beacon blanket.  I was so tickled, it was only $5.  I just had my friend Nancy crochet me a very similar blanket.  I could already see it all in my mind on my couch.  I did look up the blanket, since it was unused, with original papers, to see if I should keep it or sell it.  This exact one, new like this, sold for $56 on Ebay.  I'll keep it.  

Now on to Nancy's blanket.  She rarely uses patterns.  This one was just in her head and heart.  Here is a link to her page:  Nancy's Hook N Needle

Now to put it all together

The pillows I bought from one of the estates I did this past year. 

I should be "decking the halls" instead, I am doing this....but I do love how it looks.  

Now on to more of making merry....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

What Gifts Can I Bring

 

Do your children have a wish list for Christmas?  Do you have family and friends asking, "what gifts can I bring?"  I'm sure you do.  Or, do you have a wish list for yourself?  This post could apply to both.  

When I think of the gifts given to Mary at Jesus' birth, I am reminded of the scripture:  "But, Mary kept all these thing and pondered them in her heart"  Luke 2:19.  I'm no Bible scholar, but I do know that each of these gifts represented something about Jesus and his life.  Gold is for the King, frankinscence is for the One who is mortal and myrrh is a symbol of death.  Jesus' Christmas gifts, was one to ponder on, what does this mean and what was to come.  

I was listening to some young mother's talking about what was on their child's Christmas list.  As I listened, I was thinking about all the Christmas lists my girls had.  All the gifts over the years.  Then, it hit me...this post.  

If one could give, or parents could give, gifts that you had to ponder on, wow what gifts!  Important things, not material things, you know, "real" gifts, what one really needs!  Often these gifts cost nothing.  

"What do you want for Christmas?"  (loved one) asks....

"an hour with you free from your phone"

"for you to play with me and not your video games"

"for you to look at me while I'm doing something, instead of taking my 'perfect picture' for social media"

"to have heart to heart instead of a conversation"

"for me to make mistakes and you forgive me"

"for you to put me first and not something or someone else"

"one on one time with you"

"you teach me how instead of doing it for me"

I could go on, but I think you get message of what I am saying.

As I am typing this, I am brought to tears as I need to give these types of gifts myself.  These gifts can't be wrapped, have a pretty bow or even be opened at Christmas.  However, these are the types of gifts we all need.  These gifts don't end up in the landfill.  These gifts have an everlasting value.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Welcome December

 

We took our granddaughter to the Enchanted Forest at the Rosholt Fair Grounds in Rosholt, WI.  What a charming experience.  There were dozens of decorated trees.  Some from local clubs, organizations, businesses and some with themes.  I really enjoyed looking at all of them.  The fair grounds have beautiful, huge pine trees that add to the winter wonderland feel.  December gets "busy" and filled with "things" to do.  Try to remember to slow it down and enjoy the reason for the season.  

Here are a few things I plan to enjoy doing the month of December:  

1. Reading "his" story again.  Reflecting on the "gift" this season represents.  

2.  Cutting boughs and making my own "wreath" etc.

3.  Making some homemade gifts.  

4.  Cleaning, deep cleaning, of house so I can totally decorate.  I plan to do a virtual tour on December 23 at 7 pm.  Follow along if you want here:  Very Merry Virtual Tour

6.  We challenged our 4H club with "act of kindness" in lieu of having a monthly meeting and party.  Like I said, everyone is so busy.   Here are a few ideas that you may want to try.

7.  Candy making day with Ezra.  Cookie decorating with Lauren.  

8.  An intentional "vacation" from my self-employment.  

9.  Bring back a few decorating ideas from the past.

10.  Take a "break" from all the "viewing" and "comparing" of what other's have accomplished....yes, it can steal my joy.  In fact, I'm working on a - I don't know what to call it - series of posts - "How To Be Happy For You and Me Too."  I struggle with this.  

Do you have any plans for December?

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

"I Never Met A Cookie I Didn't Like"

 I was in the drive thru to a coffee shop recently and asked "what type of cookies do you have?"  As this young man started telling me I said "stop, it's o.k. just surprise me.  "I've never met a cookie I didn't like."  He started to laugh.  Because I'm "the entertainer" type personality, I had to add "oh, and at my age I never get surprises, well good ones anyway...."

Well, I met a cookie I didn't like and I made it.  Hahaha!  I made some applesauce from our own apples and was hungry for some cookies like my Grandma Kincaid made.  Well, these weren't it!  I made them for the lunch I prepared for the school my granddaughter goes to.  The teachers and some of the kids ate quite a few.  I also made Dicky Bird's Harvest Time Quick Bread from yesterday's post.  Thank goodness I did!  That was a hit!

I was thinking about this "I never met a .... I didn't like" saying.  I used it since then about cheese.  But, then I thought about goat cheese and limburger, so that's not a true statement either.

So now I'm sitting here typing this trying to think of something that statement would be true of.  I happen to look out the window, the sun is just coming up, orange and pink.  O.k. "I never met a sunrise I didn't like."  

Can you think of something that you could use that statement on?  Let me know.  I'm curious.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Dicky Bird's Harvest Time Quick Bread

 

My sister, Bonnie, shared some heritage squash seeds with me this year.  Neither of us can remember the name.  Anyway, they are the BEST squash I've ever eaten!  They are naturally sweet, shaped like a Hubbard and some a little elongated.  Al took the time to save the seeds for us for next year too.  

I made some for our family Thanksgiving and everyone raved about them.  I had a bit left over so I made up this bread.  I looked at a pumpkin bread recipe, but tweaked it to fit my flavor profile.  

I did the wet ingredients first:

2 C squash puree

1/2 C maple syrup

1 C oil

3 eggs, beat well

Add:  

1 T pumpkin pie spice

1 T cinnamon

1 t salt

2 t baking soda

1 C brown sugar, blend well

Add:

3 C flour 

1 1/2 C chocolate chips

I made a "paste" of: 1/4 c melted butter, 2 T brown sugar, 2 T flour, 1 t pumpkin pie spice, 1 t cinnamon.  I placed on top of bread in little teaspoon globs.  Sprinkle top of bread with additional chocolate chips.

Bake 350 for an 75-90 minutes.  This makes 2.  

I did cook down this squash and put it away in the freezer.  You can bet, I'll be making this again.  Super moist and full of flavor.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday Week 45 - Antique Show

 This Farmhouse Friday, I set up and sold at the Wausau Antique Show and Sale at Marathon Park.  It was nice seeing old customers and new ones.  What amazed me the most, were the people coming in with their phones and showing us the pictures I shared on various sites asking for those specific items.  Could you imagine just 10 years ago, this being a "thing?"  I am still not a pro at navigating my way through social media, but I am thankful I figured a few things out that helps our sales.  Saturday is the last day.  Here are just a few vignettes of our booth.

I had several customers message me and want to buy items from my sneak peek photos.  I told them after the show has been open for an hour or so, I will message you, if the items you are interested in are still available, I will let you know.  So I did sell some that way too.  It's crazy, I know, but this is how people shop now.  One customer even did a live video to his wife of our booth.  I could hear her saying "pick that up" or "how much is that?"  Another lady was buying for her daughter who lived in Milwaukee.  She somehow saw pictures of our booth and sent her mom to buy....I don't know how these things work.  Her mom was sending her messages and photos too so she could buy more.  

Well, anyway, we had a good day and hope to have another one on Saturday.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.    

The Struggle - Toss it, Stage it, Sell it?

I came across an instagram post or reel, I can't remember and I had to go to look at the profile page.  ALL of the posts, just made me smile.  All that RETRO style.  She really nails it!  The photos reminds me of 3 or 4 of our own customers....you know who you are....

Here is a link to her instagram account so you can go look for yourself: https://www.instagram.com/imarriedamillennial/

Corbyn Hanson Wittig - Imarriedamillennial

What caught my eye was this.....

 

That right there...what she has collected...is why we tell family, "please don't throw anything away, we will do that."  To some, this may look like just "old cleaning supplies" toss it.  To others it looks like "a snip it of history" to be saved and enjoyed.  I tell you, it is a real struggle for us, probably because we find try to find value in everything.  Obviously, someone isn't going to use the product.  Enjoy the grapics, the history of a company that may no longer be in business, yes!  That is what this collection is.  

When we get to these types of products while staging our estate sales, Town Hall Trinkets, LLC and Town Hall Trinkets On Line Estate Sales we never toss them.   I think, "well this lady has saved this for all these years" far be it for me to toss it out now.  Truthfully, thank goodness someone was a "saver!"  

Or, maybe some of this "history" would be lost or forgotten.  Sometimes while digging in the estate homes, we will find something like a bottle, or box with advertising on it and not even know that product or company ever existed.  History lesson - hands on style.  We will often "google it" sure enough that was a "thing" back in the day....

So, just know, if you come to one of our sales or events, you may find items you think, "why are they selling this?!"  Because, we have customers who "get it!"

 Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.