The CHARM of November...

November has ARRIVED...

with her 'WINTERIZING LIST' of duties to perform!

ALONG with orders for the upcoming holiday,
orders such as the ole' sausage grinder, turned
succulent, table-side planter (above).
A vintage, kitchen piece that was
well-known during the autumn season,
throughout ages past!
When out on the road... weather it be
for picking purposes OR finishing up a show,
the thoughts are always pondering the
NEXT project OR idea!

And with the majority of THOSE
pondering thoughts... the garden aspect
is considered in almost every, last idea!
For the LOVE of gardening runs deep from
within my soul... a passion my PRECIOUS 'Momma'
left instilled in her '3' girls!

Shown above...  are HANDMADE, original
sunflowers... strutting their full size in the wind!
PERFECT accent for the gardens throughout
the fall months... with added purpose of
a bird feeder... JUST cup the leaves,
creating a steady landing spot for birds
to perch while they enjoy a
scrumptious treat!

And as I turn to the garden once more...
November brings those cooler temps
to lead us into EVEN colder fronts as the 
winter season sits in.  As the gardens turn
to dismay & debris... skeletons of plants
that were once said... BEAUTY are NOW
not so, on this November day!  

So, what's a gardener to do... well, 
THIS gardener went in search of the tried & TRUE...
happy-faced PANSY!  
I happened upon a little, 
quaint garden center while
traveling the back roads in Kentucky
last week & had full-mind... that
PANSIES were the purchase for this visit!

And I absolutely LOVED the idea of 
their packaging, instead of a plastic tray...
my PANSIES were nestled inside of a 
large, paper bag with care & handed 
to me as if they were nuggets of gold!
The service was exceptional with
my $6 dollar purchase of PANSIES... 
No wonder they're pushing their
35th year of business!!!


Hoping YOU a day well spent in the garden... 

October has ARRIVED...

"Come, little leaves," said the

wind one day.

"Come over the meadows with me

and play;

Put on your dresses of red and

gold

For summer is gone and the days

grow cold."

Poet: George Cooper

Let's put our hands together... the month
of October is HERE, YIPPPEEE!

For MANY it's a time of nesting,
a time for harvest & a time for CHANGE!

With October... brings SWEET
samplings of pumpkins, gourds... squash &
EVERYTHING straw-filled OR tucked!

I absolutely love the FRESHNESS of
straw OR hay (sage color stage)!
Lol... while in Texas this previous spring,
I was gifted some of the MOST
grandest, sage color hay to use along
the beaten down trails of shoppers & pickers, alike!
 Wellllll... wet area's OR not... I was sure to
be salvaging some of this fine material...
to nestle into ironstone,
concrete planters, barrels & other finds!

Annnd... don't think I didn't...
feverishly go about the place, after
2+ weeks of show... & scoop up
EVERY, dry shred that remained about
my booth area!  I STILL today...
use that MAGNIFICENT... little,
 sage color hay as if it were strands of gold!

LOL... with ALL that being said...
JUST make sure you have a bag
set aside for those simple, decorating touches!

Of course, NO matter the season...
October OR July... ironstone ALWAYS
steals the show... with ALL the well-worn
character it offers... from the crazing
to the dark, mishap chips, it's ALL desirable!

THIS little bowl... & it's FINE filler
of straw, PLUS... '3' hand-painted eggs
are up for offer over at the MarketPlace!

It's a OOAK... filled with TRUE simpleness!

And of ALL the colors among
the varieties of pumpkins... WHITE
wins over the soul... here you'll see...
where I've replica
the WHITE Lumina variety!

A NEW design for the '2015'
autumn season!

The gardener's take heart to these
ADORABLE, little shelf sitters!
Their ease of being tucked into a pot OR
other plant container spells the
attraction!

ALSO, a NEW design for '2015'!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hoping THIS month of October...
brings YOU... the warmth of what
speaks to YOUR heart!

BLESSED evening... 

Home...

Home is the nicest word there is.

- Laura Ingalls Wilder

Good... September, autumn morning!
It looks to be a FINE day ahead...
with mildly temps & partly cloudy skies!

The days to come, will ONLY bring
along more welcoming symptoms of fall!
Decorated porches will be graced with
ALL the splendor... of muted hues,
comfy settings & plump pumpkins!

It's a GLORIOUS time of rejoicing...
for the BOUNTY of God's goodness!

BLESSED day... friends!

Autumn brings NEW Faith...

There is a harmony in autumn

and a luster in it's sky,

which through the summer

is not heard OR seen.

- Percy Bysshe Shelley

..

It's a MISTY autumn evening

here in Kentucky, one that makes you 

want to curl up under an ole' 

quilt, book in hand, while sipping

on a FINE cup of dark roast coffee!

BUT... at the moment, that thought will

have to be pushed aside, for things 

are in SUCH a disarray here at the farm!

I'm leaning on FAITH of those 

days to come, for the comfort of tomorrow...

& the NEW possibilities that lie ahead! 

With each passing day... & autumn NOW here, the moment has came to bid old things farewell!
In the coming weeks... I hope to know the true feeling of a bountiful fall, one that presents peace, love & understanding!
Oh, SWEET friends... I have SO much to share... & will SURELY do so in due time! BUT, for NOW... I sincerely ask for your time, JUST a moment of prayer that God's will be done & ALL that I do be to glorify Him!
BLESSED evening... from the heart!

AUTUMN finds & SHOW TIME...

The Earth has rolled around again

and harvest time is here,

The glory of the seasons

And the crown of all the year.

-Carolyn Wells

The days of AUTUMN 
are upon us & those welcoming symptoms
present themselves in MANY forms!

One of those forms... is through
our wardrobe & the accessories we choose!

And VINTAGE is what I choose...

with a whole lotta COUNTRY girl charm!

With years of roaming the countryside,

plundering through ole' homesteads

to gather VINTAGE goods, I've ALWAYS

salvaged every piece of clothing & accessories

my hands could grab! 

SO for the FIRST time ever...
there will be offerings from the small,
FINE collection of vintage wears/wares
that's been tucked away!

ALONG... with a SWEET gathering
of 'Beehind Thyme Farm & Garden'...
high quality, cotton T's!  PERFECT for
wearing underneath those button-up flannels
throughout the autumn & winter season!

The accessories that I will be toting
to the upcoming show... will be ALL
things VINTAGE, NO current day bling,
JUST old time goodness, SUCH as
this slide, choker chain embellished
with large, pearls!

With this sampling of finds shared...
along with other, SUPERB talent showcasing
their goods... I hope that I can encourage YOU
to attend this GRAND event!

HERE are the full details...
The Hayloft Fall Barn Sale
(click on link above & mark your calendar)

I TRULY look forward to seeing YOU...
AUTUMN blessings... 

Season's...

By all these lovely tokens

September days are here,

with summer's best of weather

and autumn's best of cheer.

- Helen Hunt Jackson

It's nearing those moments of harvest... 
the loading up of nature's BOUNTY,
another season has arrived & the one has gone!

YOU know... if you REALLY stop
& ponder on the word... seasons, 
you will find it brings a BOUNTY to the table!
It offers the division of the months, 
the flavor to food OR a time that's
characterized by a particular 
circumstance/situation in life!

NOW... that's some work for 
SUCH a simple word... seasons!

As in the days & weeks to follow... 

there's anticipation for more time to sit

quietly, to ponder & to be devoted on what lays near!

It looks to be another... season of life, up ahead,

one that will be saturated with ALL new things!

With the BOUNTY of autumn... & ALL

of God's promises, I'm grasping &

embracing ALL the newness of His will!

  JUST as in the labor of 

harvesting... there is sweat, blood & tears 

shed throughout certain... seasons of one's life!

I'm claiming the VICTORY over

all that happens to be coming... 

JUST as a farmer hopes for a PLENTIFUL

gathering come harvest time!

Well... friends, it's harvest time...
no matter the... season!

BLESSED evening... from my heart to YOURS!

A Deep LOVE For Worn Picks...

It will not

always be summer;

build barns.

- Hesiod

Good GRACIOUS... time surely doesn't
wait for anyone, even in the garden... it
seems to be in a ZIPPY hurry!
Especially when YOU have creative
projects JUST sitting about...
waiting for that PERFECT timing!

Well... honey, I'm a gardener's testimony, you've
gotta take hold & JUST create!
Those WEEDS will wait, they'll STILL
be there, don't you worry your PRETTY,
little apron to shreds about that one!

Oh, garden goodness...
do I create NOW, yes... it's pleasing to
the soul, to release... ALL these originals!

Sharing the DEEP love for ole' worn picks,
that have been transformed into garden
decor, NOT only for sight, BUT functional as well!

For several years now...
old, cake carriers have been my DEEP love!
And here recently... VINTAGE, metal/tin
bread boxes have wiggled into the
collection of goods, ALL for the
same purpose OR re-purpose project!

In EACH photo you can gain an
idea of what's being created to
result in one, TRULY delightful piece!

The possibilities are BEYOND
imaginable with THESE beauties!

THIS particular one, stole my heart...
with the color & patina it offered from
the get-go! BUT... I'm happy to announce,
it went to a LOVING home for a
farm table centerpiece... throughout
the summer months!

ANYTHING goes when it
comes to planting... I prefer to nestle & tuck
in annuals among perennials & herbs!

And for the LOVE of Succulents...
adding these will JUST enhance the
over-all, finished piece!
Oh... JUST a moment, Sedum was
almost forgotten... these are
known as 'Spillers' & add a WHIMSICAL
interest along the edge as they tumble
out along the container/planter!

NOW... unless you have some stashed
away OR happen to have Aunt Susie's, which
has seen it's better days... I suggest YOU get to
plundering about the JUNK shops,
THRIFT stores & swap meets... in order
to find that prized... cake carrier/bread box
for some time WELL SPENT in the garden!



Sunday BLESSINGS... from the farmhouse!

Last Days Of August...

August Is Like

The Sunday

Of Summer!

- Unknown

Today has dawned a cool, August
morning here in Kentucky!

There is NO doubt that the weather
is shifting gears...

And I'm TRULY ready for that
warm comfort of Fall, how about YOU???

BLESSED day... lovely friends!

The GROWING Gift We LOVE...

'Fairest of months; 

ripe Summer's Queen

The hey-day of the year

With robes that gleam with sunny sheen,

Sweet August doth appear.'

- R. Combe Miller

The signs of August lie near...

the dog days of summer are here!

AND with that... brings an abundance

of bounty among the hydrangeas, 

zinnia's & the STRONG, 

towering sunflowers!

Throughout the past weeks, 

there have been days here in Kentucky

 JUST too hot for outdoor duties!

Therefore... my thoughts & hands

 have turned to sketching 

with NEW designs being spit out two-fold!

Sunflowers being a staple

for years here at the farm... I couldn't

pass up the desire to add one OR two

to this season's series!

Look for HAND-PAINTED...

sunflower, home decor at 

ALL the up-coming... 

autumn/fall shows & events!

NOW... back to these DELIGHTFUL
variety of hydrangeas, 'Limelight'!

There's OFTEN the question...
'When is the right time to harvest
hydrangeas to obtain the BEST
finished product'?

Well... even though I've grown hydrangeas
for years offering them as potted goods,
fresh cuts & dried bundles... I STILL
find myself guessing myself!
When harvesting this one
particular hydrangea... 'Limelight', 
you are looking for a couple of things!
FIRST... timing is the ultimate key, it's

better to allow the blossom to dry slightly

while still on the shrub.

Depending on what state/garden zone

experiment on harvesting from 

August through October!

The blossoms will sometimes

pick up a beautiful shade of pink

when left on, especially in the south region!

PER: Phyllis Harris, a phenomenal, 

floral designer in the Nashville area...

states, 'If 'Limelight' Hydrangeas are still 

white, they will collapse into almost

nothing, they have to remain green,

for several weeks before harvesting!

Dry them in a cool place to prevent

discoloration... 

I, personally like to strip my leaves as 
I harvest to save on a shredded mess later! 

BUT, I have been known to leave the 

leaves for MORE interest & fullness! 

The time to harvest is AFTER

the morning dew has resided,

trying your best NOT to harvest during

the hottest hours of the day!

Here... you'll notice I harvest
them by the box full, it JUST helps
me on saving time, by placing them heads-up
as I go from hydrangea to hydrangea!
They will remain in the box
as positioned for at least 5-7 days,
 until dried to a ruffle feel!

And JUST one more tip...
REALLY a personal one for me!
I absolutely LOVE harvesting them
leaving long stems attached,
 that way the possibilities are
ENDLESS in decorating!

Hoping this gives YOU an insight
of how to harvest THOSE
magnificent blossoms, in order
to ENJOY a growing
gift that JUST keeps on giving!

BLESSED evening... & Happy Harvesting...
from my garden to YOURS!

The HARVEST...

A garden 

it feeds more 

than the table,

it feeds the soul.

- Unknown

The TRUE gardener
takes pride in EACH season given
beneath the sun!

The harvest
brings BEAUTY that will last.
Her hands carefully
place the petals in a preservative,
in order to offer the flower
another life, once more!

A life spent...
creating a house
into a HOME!

BLESSED 'Sunday' Evening...
from the drying shed!

Nature's BEAUTY Flourishes...

If you truly love Nature,

you'll find beauty

everywhere.

- Van Gogh

Well, you know it's summer here in Kentucky...
 it's harvest time in the gardens,
 as well as the road side & neighboring fields!

AND... Queen Anne's Lace is NO exception... OR
might I say... 'Wild Carrot'!
I absolutely LOVE the name 'Wild Carrot'
for some reason... Mr. McGregor & Benjamin Rabbit
  waffles through my mind as I view
this BELOVED flower!

There are fields of 'Wild Carrot'... here in the country
these days!  The harvest has been PLENTIFUL...
which makes for a bountiful autumn of dried
floral's to be offered online & through
the upcoming shows!

THANK YOU, for allowing time to visit with me this evening...
I look SO forward to spending more time with each of you!

BLESSED evening... LOVELY friends!

Simplicity...

SIMPLICITY 

is about

subtracting the obvious 

and adding 

the MEANINGFUL.

- John Maeda 

There's NOTHING like a freshly cut
hydrangea stem... especially
when it's a 'Blue Nikko' blossom
filled to it's fullest!

HAPPY Summer, lovely folks!

ROSE talk...

The point is to turn your grief into love.
The roses are helping you find grace.
- Holly Lynn Payne

Momma's rose is blooming... ONLY once this season,
have I found myself to gather up enough strength
to take in the BEAUTY & to soak in the
 fragrance of SWEETNESS!

The multiple visits, daily to Momma's,
 throughout the summer months, was enchanted by the
GRACEFULNESS of this one, particular rose!

A rose that once greeted you at my Mother's drive...
now is planted at an ole' wheat bin near the greenhouse
here on the property!

Oh, how I miss my PRECIOUS... Momma & the love she
SO graciously offered through the wisdom she
bestowed upon the lives of others!

With a relocation to the farm...
her garden's thrive today, with ALL the love within me!
No, matter where I go... her garden will follow!


THANK YOU, for sharing
my morning of rose talk...
~ Sincerely...