the heart of the home...

Would you like to take a step inside my sister's kitchen & look around?

 

 

You'll love it here, it's one of the coziest places I know.

I love to sit and chat over a cup of tea or coffee by the big picture window that looks over her patio where the kids are playing, and her flower garden where bees are buzzing & butterflies are fluttering.

 

When a kitchen sink is as gorgeous as this it makes washing dishes a joy!

 {And how perfectly does this vintage tablecloth that's doing duty as a skirt apron match the cabinet?! I just can't get over it.}
 

 

 Some of those flowers usually find their way indoors, bringing their freshness & sunshine with them.

 

 

 Kitschy kitchen goodness is in every nook and cranny.

 

 

Of my three sisters, Beth & I probably have the most similar decorating style.

We both love anything cheerful, farmy, kitschy, & vintage.

Which can make garage sale-ing together a little tense.

Just kidding. We share pretty well. ^_^

 

 

In Beth's country kitchen there's always sure to be some fresh veggies about the place this time of year.

That's bound to be when your husband is a landscaper & expert gardener with about 4 or 5 vegetable patches.

{I've lost count how many actually...there seem to be more every year!}

 

 

Even her ceiling fan is cute for cryin' out loud!

We affectionately call it a fandelier.



 

I helped her paint her cabinets this beautiful shade of Annie Sloan chalk paint, Henrietta, a couple years back. The insides are painted with Antoinette & have Hello Kitty liner on the shelves. I neglected to take a piccy of that, but I'm sure you can picture it.

There's nothing like climbing around on the counter tops with the Beatles playing in the background whilst sipping endless cuppas with your sister.



 Speaking of cuppas...

here is the all important coffee counter.

*angelic choir music plays*

{I'm irritated with myself for accidentally cutting off the head of the cute crocheted chick-i-poo on top of her lil Keurig. Bah. Didn't realize I'd done it till I got these piccies on the 'puter. You can see it un-decapitated in the previous photo though!}

 

{A refrigerator isn't complete without some artwork!}

Even the fridge got a makeover!

She glued a pretty wood decal thingy on & then painted over it.

That chalk paint really does stick to anything.

I gave her this old metal garbage can & gave it a coat of Antoinette.

{Oscar the Grouch simply couldn't make his mortgage payments anymore & had to move to a smaller can. ^_~ You know, the economy & stuff.}

 

 

Everywhere you look there's something cute to make you smile...
this corner cabinet which belonged to our great grandma is a home to all sorts of cute tchotchkes...
vintage hanky bunting adorns the window...
and some adorable vintage wicker umbrellas hang jauntily from a hook.



 

Possibly one of my favorite things about Beth's kitchen is that she always has something yummy baked. {And she's always willing to cut you a slice} It was yummy zucchini bread this time with zukes from {one of} their garden{s}.  ;)

If you're interested in the recipe she said she uses Better Homes & Gardens' Recipe, but without the nuts cuz eww. ;P

I hope you've enjoyed your visit to Bethie's kitchen!

Much love,
Miss Michelle ^_^
{Photos by yours truly}

30 baby pies for the 4th of july...

I hope you all had a lovely Independence Day!

 I sure did.

The day was spent in my favorite way - with family & friends.

I found some adorable mini pie tins at Dollar General (of all places!) a couple months back & I just knew what I would be making for our celebration.

 

In the Summer we try to use the oven as little as possible to keep the house as cool as possible.

So, I decided cold pies were in order & graham cracker crust since they don't require such a hot oven as regular pie crust. Although we just recently bought a nice toaster oven that could actually accommodate 2 regular sized pies or 12 mini pies. So, I could have actually made baked pies, but I already had my heart set on cream pies.

I thought I'd cheat & use boxed pudding mixes & canned filling too just to make things easy.

But then we got this beautiful box of juicy Georgia peaches.

Strawberries are my all-time favorite fruit, but peaches run a close second.

I couldn't do it.

I couldn't cheat.

I had to use these fresh beauties.

I know, I'm a weirdo. ;)

And then I remembered how wonderful homemade pudding is too.

 Plus we recently had a break in the hot weather & had a few days of gorgeous Fall-like weather.

So, that clinched the deal.

 

~*~

There's nothing easier than a graham cracker crust!

 I made a few gluten free ones as well for my sister Beth.

 

 I used a cream cheese mixture under the fresh peaches.
It was pretty good, but if I were to do it again I would use homemade vanilla pudding instead.
Mmm...there's nothing quite like a fresh peach glacé pie
I did make coconut cream & banana cream using the vanilla pudding.



Abbey is always my little helper. ^_^

She put the little flags on.

I finally found a use for this cute scrapbook paper a friend gave me a couple years ago.



 

About halfway through the baby pie assembling I thought

"Wait just a cotton pickin' minute, how am I gonna fit all of these in our fridge?!"

You should've seen the rigged up system of egg cups & spools of thread I concocted to stack the trays.

 



How cute is this widdle pie?



{Shenanigans}



My sister Beth has the cutest décor, doesn't she?

Her whole kitchen is just thing cutest thing.

I've said it before but it seriously deserves its own post at some point.



  Gluten free for Beth ^_^
 



My favorite part of the day, though, was spending time with my lil poopsies.
{See them playing on the swing set out the window? That's where we spent the better part of the day.}

Annelise




Twas a grand ol' celebration.

 

Here are the recipes if y'all are interested.

 

Graham Cracker Crust:

1/3 c. butter

1/4 c. sugar

1 1/4 c. finely crushed graham cracker crumbs

 

Melt butter; stir in sugar. Add crushed crackers; toss to mix well.

Spread evenly onto bottom & sides pie plate.

I used a small measuring cup to press them.

Bake in a 375* oven for 4-5 minutes or until edge is lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

Makes 1 9-inch pie crust or 8 mini pie crusts.

 

Peach Glacé Pie:

6 c. sliced, peeled peaches

2/3 c. water

2/3 c. sugar

2 T. cornstarch

 

In a medium bowl mash 1 c. of the peaches well with a potato masher. Add water & set aside.

In a medium heavy bottomed saucepan combine sugar & cornstarch; stir in blended peach mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Cool for 10 minutes without stirring.

 

For a whole pie:

Spread 1/4 c. of the glaze over bottom & sides of a baked shell.

Arrange half of the fruit in crust.

Carefully spoon half of the remaining glaze over fruit.

Repeat the last two steps being sure that glaze completely covers all of the fruit.

Chill 1 to 2 hours.

 

For minis:

Arrange 1/3 to 1/2 c. of peaches in each tins, depending on whether you're making peaches & cream pies or plain peach.

Top with a large spoonful of glaze, dividing evenly.

Chill 1 to 2 hours.

 

Top with whipped cream.

Yum!

 

Vanilla Cream Pie:

4 egg yolks

3/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. cornstarch

2 1/2 c. whole milk

(or half & half if you're awesome)

1 T. butter

1 1/2 t. vanilla

 

In a medium heavy bottomed saucepan combine sugar and cornstarch.

Gradually stir in milk {or 1/2 &1/2 ^_~}.

Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened & bubbly; reduce heat.

Cook & stir for 2 minutes more.

Remove from heat.

Slightly beat egg yolks with a fork.

Gradually stir 1 c. of the hot filling into yolks.

Add yolk mixture to filling in the pan.

Bring to a gentle boil; reduce heat.

Cook and stir for 2 minutes more.

Remove from heat,

Stir in butter and vanilla.

 

For Coconut Cream Pie:

Stir in 1 c. flaked coconut.

Garnish with whipped cream & toasted coconut.

 

For Banana Cream Pie:

Arrange sliced bananas on the bottom of baked pie crust.

Top with pudding.

 

Top with whipped cream.

{Of course}

 

If you accidently eat all of the pudding on its own before it makes it into a pie:

I won't judge.

It's delish.

;P

 

Much Love,

Miss Michelle ^_^

{All photos taken by me apart from the ones I'm in. Those are by my sisters Beth & Kelsey.}



the littlest of things...

laundry drying on the line...

wicker laundry baskets in the green grass...

bumbles going about their business...

 

dappled sunlight through the treetops...

 

rain falling on the green fields...

{ever so rarely this year though}

running through the sprinkler...
and sprinkler rainbows...

sharing a best friends necklace with my 7 year old niece...

blowing bubbles...

picking these wild gems...

eating cheese & apples...

donuts...

{and iced coffee}

ice cream...

 {with crunchies}

{or with rainbow sprinkles}

country roads with red barns...

and round bales...

riding the ferris wheel at the carnival...

spending as much time out of doors as possible...

it's the littlest of things that make summer...
well, SUMMER!
^_^

I hope you're all enjoying yours so far.
What makes summer *Summer* to you?

Much love,
Miss Michelle

{Photos taken by me except the two of Abbey & me. Those were taken by my sisters Aimee & Beth}



the ol' barter system...

A little while back my friend Gus told me there was a sweater pattern she had found that she absolutely adored and wondered if she could pay me to make it for her.

To me it seemed perfect timing because I was just thinking about asking her if she'd make a piece of art for me. She is a pastel artist & you can see her awesome work on her blog Joyous Touch Art Studio. She's done some pretty amazing cows that are just the cutest thing.

So, we agreed to employ the ol' barter method.

Exchanging skills with no money changing hands.

Win-win if you ask me.

 

So, to Pinterest we went to give her an idea of what sort of painting {er...pasteling?} I wanted.

I knew I wanted a cottage.

I started pinning oodles of old cottage paintings on our board

Cottage Art Inspiration.

I love old pastoral scenes too so I made sure to mention that.

I was so very pleased with what she came up with!

 

 

I named it "Michelle's Cottage Dream" ^_^ complete with chickens & sheep & sunflowers. And a little creek with a bridge! I didn't even know I wanted that, but of course now I do. ;)

She took all the elements I love from those old paintings & added to them her own personal flair & cheery style which I so love. The size she made it is so charming as well. So very much like an antique pastoral scene. I couldn't be more pleased with it!

 

Now as to that sweater...

 

 

I used the Levenwick pattern by Gudrun Johnston.

It was quite simple to follow & was knit mostly in the round. (Which was really nice because the finishing work is my least favorite part about knitting and there were very few seams to sew up!) I just love the style of this unique sweater & wouldn't mind making one for myself. Lol! I'll just add that to the list. ;P

 

 

I love the beautiful teal-ish green yarn she picked & the big red buttons! The pictures simply do not do the color justice.

 

Thinking back I think it may have been well over a year now since we first had this bright idea.

Wow, time flies.

All in all a very good trade me thinks. ^-^

 

{The 1st and 2nd photos were borrowed from Gus. Thanks girl!}

what would Beatrix wear?

Hello there, my dear ones!
As I mentioned in my previous post we've been enjoying somewhat cooler Springtime weather lately. This sort of cool & rainy weather always makes me think of Beatrix Potter. I like to imagine that this is what the weather she experienced in her beloved Lake District was like.

My apparel is oft times inspired by the weather.
{And I don't just mean by what the mercury reads - though that is a big factor.}
Say it's the middle of Summer & the sort of day you could envision yourself at a county fair eating funnel cake, sipping a lemon shake-up, & admiring the livestock.
I'll go for the farmgirl goes to town look. {Think Jeanne Crain in State Fair}
Or if it's a crisp Autumnal day fit for an apple picking. A couple scenes from
Anne of Green Gables might ramble around in my head and spark an outfit idea.
Or if it's a bitterly cold day of Winter when the sun hides behind clouds & the wind whips relentlessly through the barren branches, I may wear an ensemble that heavily features wool
inspired by Helen from All Creatures Great & Small.

Well, good ol' Beatrix was the inspiration for this particular ensemble.
I thought to myself as I smiled out the window at the delightfully gloomy grey sky,
"What would Beatrix wear if she'd been born in this time?"
Here is my answer. :)

 

A feminine hairstyle, wooly goodness, & earthtones combine for a look that is unmistakably Beatrix.
~*~
Outfit details:

~*~ Dress: Thrifted ~*~

~*~ Sweater: Handmade by me ~*~

~*~ Tights: Wal-Mart ~*~

~*~ Shoes: Thrifted {Clarks} ~*~

~*~ Necklace & Earrings: LC Lauren Conrad from Kohls {No longer available} ~*~

~*~ Scarf {in hair}: Thrifted ~*~

 





I think Mr. McGregor would heartily approve of my little trowel earrings. I'm so fond of Kohls' Lauren Conrad jewelry. Well, lots of the clothing too, but the jewelry in particular. Her jewelry is always so delicate & lovely. It more often than not will be rather kitschy too! I have a necklace with an antique sewing machine charm, pink ladybug earrings, vintage camera earrings, & a little pink teacup on a necklace - just to name a few! Since I love to play in the dirt er garden I get quite a kick out of these little trowels dangling from my ears. ;)
 

These brown suede oxford booties were quite a find for just $3 at my favorite thrift store. Oddly enough they are not my size, {a size & a half too small} but they fit quite well & are very comfortable. Perhaps they are incorrectly sized & that's how such a nice pair of shoes found themselves at a thrift store. In any case I'm so grateful to have them. I think they lend themselves well to the 1930s look in addition to my Beatrix attire.

 



My brown wool cabled cardigan is so snuggly warm. It was my very first cable project - made around 5 years ago. It's made of Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool in Nature's Brown using this pattern. (I never made the sash that is supposed to go with it. I just wear it open.) It's a terribly useful sweater & I wear it quite a lot in the coldest weather. Having already acclimated to the warmer weather we had been having I was thankful to be able to pull out this old friend to chase the chills away.

 



While I had the camera out I simply couldn't resist taking pictures of the lilacs & the chickens.

You don't mind do you?
The chickens always hastily run up to the fence when they see me coming - they must assume I come bearing food. Unfortunately for them I only came bearing that shiny black doohickey that makes beeping sounds this time. That's Freckles the Speckled Sussex, Pepper the Barred Rock, & Oswald the Rooster {I think he's an Ameraucana, but I'm not sure.} You can just see Philippa the Ameraucana in the background & the ducks at a safe distance. They still don't quite trust me as they were a few weeks old by the time I got them from a friend.

 

I think one reason I really find a kindred spirit in Beatrix is because of her love for the country.
I recently watched the episode of The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends featuring The Tale of Johnny Town-mouse. The story is the classic tale of a town mouse & a country mouse experiencing each other's way of living & each much preferring their own.  One line {a direct quote from the book} at the end of that sweet little cartoon caught my attention.

 "One place suits one person, another place suits another person.
For my part I prefer to live in the country, like Timmy Willie."
~Beatrix Potter - The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse

To which I give a hearty "Hear, hear!"
Much like Beatrix, I wasn't raised in the country. I lived in a small town until I was 17. When we moved to the country I just felt it was home. {Though, I loved that little town & still do.} Perhaps it is because I have Farmer in my blood on my Mom's side that I love the country so...

~*~
 

Well, I'm planning this as an ongoing post series to feature other
"what would         wear?" outfits every so often.
More than likely featuring some of the aforementioned characters!

 

~*~

 

Does the weather inspire your attire?

 

Is there a person or character you're particularly inspired by?

Do you prefer the town or the country?

 

{Photos by me. Taken sheepishly with the timer.

 Hoping my family wasn't looking out the window & rolling their eyes.}