From The Homestead Kitchen

You all know I spend alot of time in the homestead Kitchen. I thought I would brighten up the entry way by adding some yellow flowers to the basket. Yellow is a happy color to me & just screams smile. I hope you are smiling as we chat a bit today.

It is calling for rain today so what better time to have warm chili & corn bread. When things are cool & damp I say warm the bellie. The smell of chili simmering in a pot & baking corn bread in a cast iron skillet in the oven warms the kitchen. I have had a little taste of the chili & it is yummy. Nen shared the recipe for Flatlanders Chili on her blog Living The Small Town Life this week. Yesterday I picked up fresh ground beef at the butcher shop & a few spices at the market to try it. Left over chili will go in my little jars to be eaten later.

Yesterday I visited Tractor Supply to take a look see at the baby chicks they got in. Oh my I heard the sound of peeps as I entered the store doors. Off I followed the sound of peeps until I arrived at the large water troughs they keep them in. They were so cute & running about in the pine shavings. I had to pick one up & hold the little sweet creature. Only two breads to pick from. With my mind made up I was going to take 2 home with me. I was disappointed to see a sign reading chicks must be bought in a minimum of 5. I planned to buy 4 of one bread & 2 of another breed. I could not buy just 2 chicks to take home with me to start the small flock. Now we have to wait until they get another shipment of baby chicks in. They will let you mix breeds within the minimum of 5 chicks. Sam was expecting to find baby chicks in the brooder when he arrived home from school. I had to tell him we will have to wait a little longer.

I wish you all a wonderful safe weekend!

Blessings Til Next Time!
Lara

Ramblings From The Homestead & X - Stitching Question

I worked on this spring display for the top of my sewing machine cabinet today. I was happy with how it all came together just using what I already had around the homestead. This time I used my noodle & put it on a wood tray making it easy to move when I need to lift the hinged lid to get into my sewing notions.

The much unwanted snow has all melted leaving a muddy mess about the homestead. I took a look see at the garden pond today. Just a thin sheet of ice over the top. I was happy to see all of our fish made it through the winter after counting more than once. I see the spring flower bulbs I planted have sprouted through the cold frozen soil. What an amazing process the Good Lord has called them to do. Soon the green shoots will be clothed with colored blossoms unfolding into beautiful flowers to enjoy. I have started to buy seed packets of flower seeds as I find the ones I so love to plant. I am just waiting for the ground to thaw so I can plant the pea seeds I bought a few weeks ago.

The ducks roamed the homestead today quacking as they waddled about the garden. Oh my the thin sheet of ice on the garden pond had melted in the sunshine & those feathered friends of mine took a swim in my garden pond. Another count of the fish. All were safe and swimming on the bottom. The ducks were having a great time swimming & dipping themselves. But I feared for the fish. Not sure how I will keep them out of the garden pond all summer. They will be out and about much more as the weather warms. I had a large window screen I used to cover the smaller pond while the ducks were roaming. The screen will not cover the new larger pond. I will have to find a way to keep our fish safe. With all of the neighboring Tom cats I will surely have to have something. The Toms are still visiting the homestead each day.

Talking about feathered friends I gave Tractor Supply a call. They have gotten a shipment of baby chicks in. None of the breads I was interested in. I may take a look see any how when I go for groceries Friday.

On to my question for you all. I have stitched samplers for some time but never done them in the X stitching. I would so love to try my hand at it. I have seen some amazing ones on your blogs from time to time. I really know nothing about the cloth used or the 24 28 count or how to even use a charted pattern. So before I go off & purchase a pattern can any of you offer some advise to a new X stitching to be learner?

I saw a little verse I wanted to share with you all tonight.

MOTHERS are like buttons....
They hold everything *** Together***

Blessings Til Next Time!
Lara

Yesterdays Dreams

Yesterday after every one was off to work & school as I cleaned I did some dreaming. I remembered a beautiful old two story cabin I saw last summer. I had stopped on the road to take a photo of it & stored it in my computer.

This would be my dream home with the exception of the blue on it. I really love shades of brown so it would be painted. I saw this old beautiful cabin last summer. To bad they were making some changes. For shame. A very new looking brick addition & a huge metal building with more than one large bay opening. I have not seen if all is completed. This summer I may.

My dream kitchen would have cabinets that look like furniture up against the walls. Appliance would all be hidden inside the cabinets & an island with a butcher block top. A soap stone apron sink & water pump faucet. I found a photo online but it would not load so you can dream with me on this one. I pretty much have my dream dining room & living room already. I would keep it all the same.





My dream bedroom would have this beautiful bedding on my four poster bed from Family Heirloom Weavers with my wood chest (that I plan to refinish) at the foot of my bed & two large wood clothes cabinets on each side of the headboard of my bed. I hope some time soon to refinish my chest & finish the blanket crane Lucas & I started. My large windows letting the sunshine in & making me smile as I sit at my sewing machine sewing located in front of one of those windows. My desk sitting in front of the other window. A fireplace with wood cabinets surrounding it & filling the wall area. As I sit on my love seat watching T.V. behind a dough tray table my FIL made. I hope to give it a home in the years to come. Of course two make do chairs on each side of my love seat & my dry sink up against another wall. Well my bed room is not quiet that long but I hope to take a wall out to connect the next room to it in my dream.

After a day of dreaming cleaning & running kids to & fro it was just Sam & I for dinner last night. No fancy home cooked meal here at the homestead. Just a simple dinner of french fried taters & meat pies served in the living room where we could watch a little T.V. No homework. Ya!

Blessings Til Next Time!
Lara

My Giveaway Winner

Is everyone ready to find out just who the winner is of my giveaway? Well lets get on to finding out. Here we go!

The names of those who entered were put into a bowl just a bit ago.

Sam got the honor of pulling a winner from the bowl of entries.

The winner is Michelle from Michelles Cozy Cottage. To visit her blog click on the Giveaway Winner in my side bar. Congrats Michelle!!! Drop me an email with your snail mail address & I will get it sent out to you. aprimitivehomestead@yahoo.com
Be sure & let us see just what you do with the cloth block after receiving it.

Blessings Til Next Time!
Lara

Giveaway Update

As you all know I am having a giveaway. I have gained 20 new followers since it started. I am so happy about this. I would like to welcome all of you new followers at this time. A Great Big WELCOME to you all. I would like to also thank all you who have followed my blog for some time. Thank you to all of you who have added the giveaway to your side bar to help me gain new followers.

Well the update is that I have decided to announce the winner tonight. Why drag it out any longer? Well guess what while cleaning & reorganizing my craft projects I seemed to misplace the stitchery square. You see I do every thing in a hurry & my memories is a bit short at this time. So many things going on her at the homestead. After much looking & digging I found it. So I figured I should just end the giveaway early before I misplace it again. I was thinking no one would mind. So stay tuned for the announcement of the winner some time tonight. Good luck to you all.

Blessings Til Next Time!
Lara

Tuesday Display Chain "Bowls"

Just a little walk round the homestead today to see what bowls I have stashed among my displays.








To join in & see more of Tuesdays Display Chain visit Misi the host. http://1890gablehousemusings.blogspot.com

Blessings Til Next Time!
Lara

Primitive Stubby Little Bubby Doll Offering

My newest offering is what I have named my Primitive Stubby Little Bubby Doll. Her body is made from an old kitchen towel. She has a stitched sleeping face. She is wearing a blue with very small flower print bonnet. She is wrapped in her blankey. Her blankey fabric is blue stripes on one side & flower print on the other. She is Aprox 11" long & has been coffee stained for the old prim look. If you would like to purchase her you can leave a comment & email aprimitivehomestead@yahoo.com $35.00 includes shipping & insurance. I Only ship with in the USA & I accept Pay Pal Only. Thanks for stopping by & looking at my newest offering.

Blessings Til Next Time!
Lara