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

________________________________________________________________________________________

My Country Gardens

HAPPY EARLY SUMMER!!!

This is a busy time of year! I forget how 

much work it is in the spring.

I love it though, especially if we have 

SUNSHINE!

I generally browse my garden photos in the 

beginning of the planting season. 

Since I like to look at other's too,  

I decided to share a few with you!

 My garden shed. Dale built it as a Turkey house. 

We used it once for turkeys...that was enough for us!

 The fence is from the side of a corn crib that 

Dale's mom tore down from their old farm.

 An angel in the bee balm. :)

 My garden in 2008

 This is a potato planter nestled in the wild flower garden.

 This was taken at my friend Becky's house. 

I LOVE black-eyed Susans, old birdhouses and milk cans!

 It may become obvious that this is a favorite color combo.

My friends Matt and Penny made this birdhouse stake. 

 A birdhouse on a spindle hiding in the Susans...made by us.

The chicken coop...I started it new in 2009. 

Where the chickens used to run, so things grew VERY well!!

 In the background, you can see the sign for Bittersweet Farm.

 My garden in 2009

 Pink, blue, white and yellow mingled w/ green. Love it!

 South-facing warm spot on chilly days....The shop blocks

the wind so we like to sit here in the evenings.

 A view from behind the garden shed, looking toward the barn.

 This is the back side of the gift shop.  :)

 My Mother's Day bench from Picket Fence Gals. 

My favorite summer place to sit ...and have a mocha frapp. 

 I like to stop and read my mail 

here on the way into the house. 

*****

If you have a post with garden photos, 

share your link with me in the comment box. 

I would love to see your gardens!!!

It would be fun to have a post with several links 

so they are accessible through one click. 

If I get enough, 

I will put them on here!
Click Here for another garden!

Happy Memorial Day weekend! 

Thank you service men and women 

for giving to our liberty!

Next week (starting 6/1) 

Bittersweet Farm is 

open four-days a week:

*Wednesday*Friday*Saturday 

10-4

*Thursday 12-6

What's New?

Happy rainy season from Wisconsin.

Wait! Do we have a rainy season?

*** 

It is still so chilly... and the leaves

are slow in coming, but they are

starting to make their appearance.

Finally!

I am enjoying the 

daffodils and tulips here on the farm!

***

Bittersweet Farm is open 

Friday and Saturday

Summer merchandise is arriving!!!

***

Just in: 

New braided runners, coasters and wool candle mats!

Also these tealight lanterns. Wouldn't they be awesome on your

porch on summer evenings? 

 I have two sizes of framed photo prints.

Some have sentiments like the one above by Mother Theresa,

others are simply beautiful photos.

 Isn't this a great wall-cabinet?

 I think this would be awesome in your entryway with a

battery candle in it for welcoming your guests in the evening!

 Available words w/ flower: Relax*Dream*Friends

For those of you waiting for1803 wax melts 

They are in too! 

• Olde Dough Bowl
• Seasons
• Pilgrims Harvest
• Weathered Crow
• Village Mercantile
• Dandelion Wine
• Cabin on the Hill

***
We have flowers and birdhouses for on

your arrows also! Come check it out!

Friday 10-5

Saturday 10-4