A Flower a Day...# 3

Zinnia

A Flower a Day...# 1

Cosmo  Celebration in Pink ~ Heirloom 

Keeps the Dr. away! Enjoy a flower a day for the next several days as we enjoy our annual  UN- plugged vacation!
 Love!

I Promised you Sunflowers didn't I?

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do.

~ Helen Keller 

Goldy Honey Bear Organic

And, Sunflowers you shall have! Instead of planting the common mammoth sunflowers this year I went in search of some unique heirloom varieties that were also good cut flower candidates. I started some from seed in the greenhouse in late April and the rest I sowed outdoors after the first danger of frost back in late May or early June...

Sunflowers are so easy to grow. These are Botanical Interest Drop Dead Red sunflowers! A wonderful variety of different shades of red, gold, yellow, orange and deep maroon. The Red ones look almost black in the garden when they are under cloud cover or in shade.

Just plant them in a sunny spot and watch them grow!

All of these images are available as a set of 12 note cards or up to 11x14  by special order.
Leave a comment if interested in a larger size. Go here to order your handmade note cards using Pay Pal. Leave a note to seller ( me ) indicating Sunflowers.  Or just enjoy!

Farmgirl Friday # 68 and a Surprise FEATURED FARMGIRL

Welcome back one and all to your favorite farmgirl blog hop! The place where we round up the best of the best of farmgirl/guy talents from all over the world... Did you know we've had farmgirls link up from faraway lands such as Norway, Denmark, Australia, and England to share their can-do-it- iveness...!
This weeks mystery FEATURED FARMGIRL hails from the good old USA... She lives in Idaho, works on a farm as a B n B hand, a magazine stylist, writer and editor, party planner, creative crafter and last but not certainly least, she's momma to her two darling daughters and wife to her hubby Lucas.  Anyone want to take a guess about who our mystery farmgirl is? ............................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................whistling while I wait..............................................................................................................................................
Oh, alright. I'll tell you who she is!  Our FEATURED FARMGIRL IS sister # 2, the lovely and talented Megan Rae of MaryJanesFarm and MaryJanesButters daughter!  But, this isn't the usual ' virtual ' feature where we exchanged emails and photos... NOPE! Megan and I met ' IN THE FLESH for late afternoon Tea on Cape Cod this week where she and her family were visiting for a family reunion! Ya see, Megan and I have a common bond ( besides being in love with all things MaryJanesFarm) she's a beachgirl at heart too, having spent many special summer times as girl on Cape Cod with her Grandparents and now with her family and extended family.

Here we are just before we had to say goodbye after a long afternoon Tea at my favorite Tea Shop on the Cape... The Dunbar Tea Shop! Meg is just a cutie-pie inside and out! We had fun sharing all things family, BEACH and naturally a little MaryJanesFarm too! It was Meg who I ' kept in touch' with over a several month period about how I might possibly contribute to MJF one day. We dreamed up the MJF Beach Farmgirl Blog idea together and when the time came for them to add new bloggers I was on Megs list! 

I think I really pestered the heck out of her but she says I finessed my way in! See how nice she is!

Well, in between breaths we managed to eat too! We decided to try the Dunbar Tea Sampler with tea... Wanna little finger sandwich or some vanilla cake? The scones and jam were so yummy served with a dollop of whipped cream!

When our tea came we both filled our teacups to the brim making it hard not to bring attention to ourselves with all the giggling and trying not to spill, not to mention the slurping...Meg said, " oh well, we're farmgirls. "I said, " the Queen WOULD NOT be impressed. "

How do I feel about my sweet friend Meg and our ( all too short) tea time together? 

Okay... sniff, sniff... time for the hop!


Bring it on farmgirls!

Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the Mr. Linky space to your Farmgirl Friday post.


3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!
 
Thanks to all who enter each week and for everyone who visits! 
Have a great week! 

Dahlia Delights

Dahlia

 It's finally here! The day we've all been waiting for! The Dahlias are starting to bloom in my backyard flower farm! So many of my perennials in the established borders are already past their prime but the cut flower gardens are starting to shine! 

 

I've just come in from feeding the flowers, doing some pest control and snapping a bouquet of images!

 The flowers were looking especially photogenic today after getting a much needed drink from last nights rainstorm. It's been four months since the Dahlias were planted and each day since then has been worth waiting for this day!

 

  Keep in mind that none of these are in ' full bloom ' yet...! Look at the center of each flower and you can tell they still have a ways to go!

 The range of colors is mind boggling...

 

Dahlias today!  Sunflowers tomorrow! 

I'm sharing these blooms with Heidi's Country Homemakers Hop! 

Farmgirl Friday blog hop # 67

 

 Welcome friends old and new! It's time to gather up your cute and clever, romantic and rusty, tasty and tart farmgirl/guy entries into one special place. 

The Farmgirl Friday blog hop # 67! 

 I hope you've been keeping cool this week. A late afternoon thunderstorm blew through our area yesterday taking with it the oppressive heat and humidity we've had for several days. Ah.... I can finally think again. I was beginning to get worried I might have BLOG FOG! 

This weeks FEATURED FARMGIRL goes to Glo of Off the Grid at- 30 blog for her 

 cold dinner of Chinese Salad and Deviled Eggs!

This is right up my alley this week with all the heat we've had. Tonight is the first night we've had anything HOT to eat. Who else has some great ideas for ' Cold Dinners' ?

Think about it while you link up for this weeks Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop and don't forget to leave a note on the kitchen door on your way out! 

 Come visit me on the shorelines for my HEALTHY NURTURING RECIPE  

in Summer Nurturing s on the MJF Beach Farmgirl blog!

Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the Mr. Linky space to your Farmgirl Friday post.


3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!
 

Thanks to all who enter each week and for everyone who visits! 
Have a great week! 

GREEN TEA ~ with citrus and LOADS of ice

 

 Hello friends! How's the weather in your neck of the woods?  We are in the third day of ' record ' heat ( and humidity ) along the New England south coast... Excuse me while I wipe the sweat off my brow... I went out early to check the gardens and cut some fresh flowers but I didn't stay out too long. I needed to hydrate! I skipped my morning HOT coffee and went straight for something COLD and refreshing....

Here's one of our favorite ICE COLD summertime drinks.

ICED GREEN TEA with CITRUS

2 cups heated water
3 green tea, tea bags
1 orange
1 lemon
1 lime
*sprig of mint and a pineapple chunk if ya have one!
 

 Heat water on the stove or microwave then steep the tea for 3- 4 minutes. Pour it in a one quart pitcher then fill it to the top with cold water. Add as many slices as you like to the pitcher. Pinch some mint from the garden at toss it on top!

 * make sure you wash the mint. God has quite the sense of humor sometimes. Did  you know inchworms are the same color as mint leaves? Well, they are and I almost found out what they taste like too! 

Oh, one more thing! These are for you! 

 

I'm off to write my next BEACH farmgirl post for MaryJanesFarm.

Stay cool friends!

Love, Deb 

What's your favorite COLD summer drink? 

 

Flower ART

  

Whew doggies it's hot out! And humid too! But, some flowers need the heat turned up for maximum blooms! Like the one pictured above. My mom whipped up this hand-painted beauty for me as a mothers day gift this year and I adore it! She painted it with acrylic paint on a 6x8 canvas...I think she should paint some more of these so I'm encouraging her to keep the canvas wet and her brush filled with the colors of summer!

I love the contrast of all the bright colors popping against the black background.

  What sorts of ' arsty fartsy' things do you like to do inside during the heat of the summer? I've got some unfinished sewing to do... I'm making pillows and a window valance for the cottage this week! I've had this project on the back burner waaaaaay too long now! I'll keep ya posted!

Stay cool and be sure to keep the folks out in the blazing west in your prayers.

 

 

 

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 66

www.vintage-apron-patterns.com

Welcome Farmgirls and Guys! Kick off your boots, grab a cold one ( whatever that is for you )

sit back and enjoy another great week of entries! This hop is in it's 66th week and going strong... We had 73 entries last week. Amazing, good stuff going on out there friends. Keep em comin'!

Any one for some homemade vanilla ice-cream? I sure could use a scoop right about now, how about you? 

This weeks FEATURED FARMGIRL is Patrice of Dogwood Lane Rambles blog. Her recipe for homemade ice-cream has me clamoring to the nearest department store to buy and ice-cream maker..She made it sound so easy and it looks out of this world scrumptious!

Have you ever tasted homemade ice-cream? I was served a heaping scoop at a graduation party recently and I was hooked... Thank you Patrice for sharing your recipe... just in time for the hottest part of the summer! 

 This farmgirl has been keeping busy in my backyard flower farm and keeping my mother in law company too.... She stays with us every other week for a few days. You don't get to be 90 without a gathering a little wisdom and she certainly has... If you're like most farmgirls, you're busy from sunup till sundown doin' your thing without a pause...My mother in law tells me to REST and like a good daughter in law I've been listening... In between trips out to the cutting gardens to weed, and apply organic pesticide to eradicate ( love that word ) the earwigs that have dibs on my dahlias beds, I pour myself something cold ( iced green tea ) sit down ( with the latest issue of  MaryJanesFarm magazine) put my feet up and read. You know what? She knows what she's talking about! It feels good to pause mid day... and sometimes I'll give in to sleepy eyes and nap... okay, maybe a little more than sometimes...:)

I've been playing with my house flowers this week too! Here's the latest bunch!

Oh, one more thing! My sweet mom painted the most beautiful painting for me for Mother's day this year but it deserves it's very own post! SOON!!! 

Time to link up and do some braggin'!

Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the Mr. Linky space to your Farmgirl Friday post.


3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!


Have a great week everyone and thank you so much for all you share here every Friday! Also a big thank you to all who visit Dandelion House... It's always so nice to have you here!

Happiness in Jar

Backyard Blossoms 

  The first of many to come...

 If you've been following along my Backyard Flower Farm posts you know that I'm a new grower of cut flowers this year! I'm proud to show you the first " jar of happiness" to be cut and arranged for a hostess gift!

 Here they are ready to go!  

Who doesn't love fresh cut flowers?

The ribbon and tag are from Michael s Craft Store. 

Inside the jar are zinnias, cosmos, poppies, tiger lilly, butterfly bush, verbena and snapdragons, cone-flower and delphinium!

Enjoy!

I'm gonna dosado with this post on over to the Homestead Barn Hop 

and Heidi's Country Garden Showcase!

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 65

Welcome one and all to your favorite down home blog hop! Farmgirl Friday week 65# is here and I'm looking forward to seeing what you have all been up to this week! I'm guessing there were a few cookouts, maybe a picnic or two and plenty of fun celebrating America's birthday! We spent time at the cottage and took part in our annual beach parade! Here are a few shots from the fourth, BEACH STYLE!

Our beach community got a new/donated fire truck this year!

My sis in law is hiding from me behind the truck in her birthday crown!

Here she is all dolled up ( with a Happy Birthday theme ) for the annual fourth of July parade that takes place on the beach.

Aren't we a lucky bunch to live in America, the land of the free? So blessed are we that men and women have and will continue to fight for our freedom.This to me is the beauty and the gift of being an American. America is a prosperous nation and her people are generous and caring.This weeks Featured Farmgirl Mary of Back to Basics Blog has gone out of her way to help others by creating a cookbook where some of the proceeds are donated to help people in need... It's called : Mary's REAL FOOD Cookbook  and there's still time to order!

 In Mary's words: 

To me, real food means homemade.  It's simple, healthy food with an occasional decadent dessert.
The book would not be complete with out Great-Grandma's 14 Karat Cake.  Recipes include a mix of traditional, exotic, light and sinful all in one compact book.  The cookbooks are 6"x 9" Eco-friendly, with a certified Forest Stewardship Council printer using high quality 100 lb silk finish paper and lay-flat spiral binding.

I chose to donate to Feeding America because "Out of every dollar donated, 98.4 cents goes directly to feed the hungry. With nearly 49 million Americans struggling with hunger, it is going to take efforts from many people to help alleviate this issue."

I think this is a lovely idea! Good job Mary! Now, on with the hop!

Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the Mr. Linky space to your Farmgirl Friday post.


3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!


Have a great week everyone and thank you so much for all you share here every Friday! 

Farmgirl Blessings to all and God Bless America!