Prim Pails, Posies and Porches~Garden Tour #2

Here is my second picture post of my gardens which

were on the garden tour last Saturday.

This one features the porch my husband

added on to our farmhouse, 

the olde enamelware-top farmhouse table,

many of our made-on-the-farm birdhouses,

and pails full of flowers...

Tune in next time!!!

ALSO: Just back from a shopping trip with 

wonderful new additions to the shop...

Garden stakes, birdhouses, berry garlands,

candle rings, picks, baskets, shelves, tables, 

battery candles, prim holders and MORE!

Wed /Fri /Sat 10-4

Thursday 12-6

Garden Tour Photos

The garden tour was wonderful on Saturday.

I love to tour and talk about flowers!

Here is a peek at my gardens and deck.

I will have to do it in three different posts or it

will be one lonnng post.

This post is of my back deck and front yard. 

Garden Tour~ June 25th!

More info on the orphanage here.

Surprise Gifts...

I landed on Tammy's blog a few weeks back, and she was hosting a "swap". I have observed swaps among bloggers, but never participated in one, so I thought it might be fun to give it a try...

This was a secret swap, so we didn't know who we would receive a package from. 

To my delight, I received these pieces in the mail a few days ago...

A framed stitchery,

A beautiful angel (my favorite!)

An inspirational book,

and a hand-made pillow ornament.

From  Tamara of Country At Heart

Thank you Tamara!!! They are lovely!

{...Tamara did pop in on my blog and leave a 

comment, but I had no idea she was investigating... ;)}

It's been fun meeting new bloggers through this swap. 

Pop on over to Tammy's blog for other posts on the swap. 

Blessings

Kathy

Color*Light*Fragrance

 A trio of COLORFUL

 red, white and blue stars 

for you to add to a wreath 

on a package/ gift. 

I have them hanging on a twig tree. 

 How about this copper electric LIGHT 

with a few stars to fill the dish.

You could add potpourri for

FRAGRANCE too!

How awesome is this little reminder to 

keep on in the hallway

for when you tuck 'em in at night... 

 Have you seen these in the magazines? 

It is called a pastry cloche.

You can hide your food under it when 

you are hostessing outdoor dinners...

or you can hide your little paperback book

 underneath near where you sunbathe! 

(and if you are like me, your reading glasses)

 When you have guests over this summer, 

here are cute heavy duty

COLORFUL  napkins to surprise and delight!

 A Shelf with two drawers and a towel/quilt bar.

A wonderful addition to your bath or kitchen...It would 

look great in your back-door entryway too!

 Just in: dish towels, red ticking stripe 

just like grandma's pillows!!!

Or...a creamy white towel surrounded by black stripes. 

 I love these check placemats! Runners available also.

The hint of cinnamon fragrance from the candle is soft,

and the stars around the outside add so much!

 I'm extra fond of pandas...my grandma gave me a stuffed

panda when I was little and I caught my love then...

 You can choose from several of the smaller sizes of the

framed prints. Reminiscent of days of old in the country!

 These photos are a bit blurry, 

they are two new electric wax melters

that give both LIGHT & FRAGRANCE!

The 1803 soy wax melts are 

wonderfully fragrant for in the melters.

 Flag folk art...by me...on snowfence pieces. :)

 I tend to pick up little funny expressions. I like when people

come in the shop and get a little chuckle. You may want to 

put one in your porch for fun conversation!

 These covered dishes were wonderful w/ eggs in the spring!

Now I added potpourri, and it will be mini pumpkins/gourds 

in the fall, and ornaments or candy for Christmas.

Could be candy all year...if you dare! 

 A strand of lights rolled in cinnamon give a warm glow.

How about in a enamelware or a tin pan in your porch 

with some angelhair vine and flowers?

In the evening you could burn a candle and have the

lights glowing and soft music in the background.

 This little cabinet would look good in so many locations

and function to hide [you name it!]

 Wood Sunflower could hang on your garden shed, 

fencebehind the perennial bed, 

or in your house. 

If you haven't tried the Black Crow candles, you should for 

the FRAGRANCE is wonderful!!

Bittersweet Farm is open 

Wednesday through Saturday.

Wed, Fri, Sat 10-4

Thursday 12-6

btrsweetfarm@hotmail.com

Garden Tour!!! June 25th!

...Bittersweet Farm...

Will be part of a six-garden tour in Amery, WI on Saturday, June 25th. 12-5pm.


The cost will be $10.00 to tour the gardens. All the proceeds will go to two different missions. I wanted to post stories of them here on the blog so you will understand where your donation will be going. 


Chad Carlson is a man who grew up here and the Lord lead him to Kenya, Africa where he brings life-necessities like learning and aid along with the Gospel (good news of Jesus' love). We will be supporting an orphanage there with the garden tour. 


From Chad:
Records held by relevant authorities reveal that the children have been rescued from extremely harsh and diverse backgrounds. Some were born and left in maternity-wings as their mothers walked out on them. Others were born and left to die along sidewalks in plastic bags. Worse still, some were left in strange places, like along riverbanks and in pit-latrines (outdoor bathrooms). Still others were dumped into forest thickets and garden fields, where they were left to starve and succumb to death due to the grimly isolated locations. 

A specific story that shocked the whole city was that of Baby Cherub (picture at right), who was dumped in the bushes of Dagoretti Corner within the city limits of Nairobi. Amazingly, God in His immeasurable grace used a dog to rescue the baby who was rushed to a national hospital where she was left under the care of doctors and nurses. Eventually, Baby Cherub was released from the hospital in good health and placed in the care of the orphanage.


I hope you can come out on June 25th to view the gardens, receive coupons for local businesses and bless the babies in Kenya!


Here is the basic info:
Open Hand Children's Home (OHCH) Kenya is a non-profit organization, which is founded and operates on Christian values and principles. OHCH was registered in 2003 as a Community-based Organization with the mission of rescuing newborn infants which have been abandoned and left to die. So far, OHCH have rescued forty-one (41) from infants and children from different settings and very deplorable circumstances.
 
OHCH has four main objectives:
 

• These are destitute children coming from a very sad background. Therefore, meeting their basic needs is our priority: housing, food, clothing, health-care, education and counselling – so that they may experience the tangible love of Christ and a sense of stability in life.
• Nurturing the children to full maturity: physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially, and mentally. There is an emphasis on Biblical discipleship and Christian nurture throughout their time at OHCH. 
• In Liaison with the Childrens Department of the Government of Kenya, we facilitate legal adoptions, foster parenting, personal sponsorships, and above all, we re-unite these children with their extended families [where possible] while ensuring that their welfare is not compromised.
• We also are very intent on the alleviation of poverty and hopelessness in the lives of these children.

 

Indeed, these children have gone through some dehumanizing experiences, and it is for this reason that we are doing what it takes, to give them a second chance with the focus of providing a favorable, Christian environment for their overall development. Our greatest hope is to witness their lives being transformed by the grace of God through the loving service of His people. ~Chad Carlson

Please join us for the tour! For more info or questions contact me at: btrsweetfarm@hotmail.com

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