Double Yolkers!

We have a hen that has been laying double yolk eggs for months.  The last few days she has been only laying every other day.  This is an unusual event.  My husband found articles with people getting 6 in a row and the odds of that are 1 in a trillion, yes that is a trillion, that could put the odds of finding a dozen double yolkers at 1 quadrillion.  The person that we sold a dozen of these eggs to, all 12 eggs were double yolkers.  He took this picture and emailed it to my husband.  I have trying to put at least one double yolker per dozen for those that are purchasing eggs from us.  This is just another reason for buying local  farm fresh, free range all natural eggs!

First Christmas at the Farm 2013

We are so excited to spend our first Christmas on Buttercup Farm!  It has made this Christmas special just being here.  As I type this I am smelling hickory wood being burned in our wood stove.  It is so cozy in our little farmhouse.  Cozy means challenging decorating.  I really had to pick and choose what decorations to use this year.  I am sure I will decorate totally different next year.  I mainly decorated the family and dining area.  I hope to exapand the decorating to other areas of the house next year.  On this post I am sharing some pictures of the Christmas decorating.  I hope you enjoy the tour. 

 I had to insert a picture of our sweet puppy sadie!  This is our first Christmas in 10 years without our beloved Jack Russell Lucy.  Having Sadie has softened that loss.  She is a sweetie and a cutie!

 My daughter and I made the burlap garland off of pinterest post.  It was more difficult than I thought it would be, but the result was worth it.  I did the top garland which is a little tighter.  Alli made the lower one.  I like her look better.  After we purchased the burlap garland (2 rolls) from T.J. Maxx, we went back a few days later and all the burlap was gone.  I wish I would have bought them out.  We didn't have enough to go around the entire tree.  We still love it though!  The burlap has musical notes on it. 

 This Christmas village is part mine and part my mother's.  I love the size of this village.  It fits perfectly on my buffet which is filled with our movies.  The village has a church, school, library and houses.  It is so beautiful it makes me want to live there. 

 I love snowmen.  I have collected them for years.  This is one of my favorite figures.  These snowmen look like they are having a blast as they sled down a hill. 

 This is not the best picture and is a little bit of a hodge podge, but I wanted to show off the giant ornaments that my husband accidentally bought me this year.  He bought some pallets at an auction and we found these gems in a box.  I have four giant bulbs.  I put three in this cermaic bowl that was given to me by a friend.  (She found it at a thrift shop)  I have one more on the fireplace mantel. 

 These little sheep were part of my mother's collection.  She left them out all year and so do I.  Next to them is a lovely birdhouse.  We do a Christmas exchange at our work every year as part of our Christmas party.  Everyone purchases a 5.00 gift and wraps it up.  Then we all take numbers and pick gifts or steal from others.  It is like a white elephant only we purchase nice gifts.  I purchased this bird house and stole it back because I loved it so much.  So, basically I stole my own gift back!  Fun!!

 I know decoraters all over the world are cringing because I have a recliner in my picture.  Well, we live like real people and comfort is important.  I love my recliner!  It may not be pretty, but it is comfy.  I love having the Christmas tree right next to me.  We actually had it in another area of living room, but my husband didn't like the lights shining in his face.  I however, love the lights.  I sit and stare at the tree and it makes me happy!  I see ornaments from the span of my life.  I have seen a lot of posts from friends and family with gorgeous Southern Living like trees.  Mine is definately not of that caliber, but I can't stand the thought of not putting meaningful ornaments on my tree. 

 Some might think my troll elves are ugly.  I beg to differ.  They are whimsical and fun!  Everyone should have a bit of whimsy in their live!  Another T.J. Maxx find.

 This was my mother's mouse and lantern.  I love this mouse.  I don't like the real ones, but this one is one of my favorite Christmas decorations. 

 My friend gave me this plate as a house warming present.  It fits my decor perfectly and says it all.  We do serve the Lord and thank Him everyday for His wonderful blessings!  The true meaning of Christmas for us is the birth of Christ.  Without Him we would be nothing!  Every Christmas we read the Christmas story from the Bible before we open up gifts.  It is important for us to instill in our children the true meaning of Christmas!

 Christmas Goose!

First Christmas on the Farm

We are really excited to have our first holidays on the farm.  Thanksgiving was fabulous.  We were a little pressed for space, but it was cozy and the time with family was precious.  The only thing that could have made it better would have been if my mother could have been here.  She passed away a little over a year ago.  Even though she wasn't here in person, I believe she was here in spirit.  One of the things that helps me feel close to family members that have passed is having things that they loved displayed in my home.  Hubby calls these things clutter; I call them memories.  I have a book case that my grandfather built, a large wooden carved white goose that my mother always displayed on her table, her collection of sheep, my grandmother's and great-grandmother's quilts, and I have my great-grandmother's dresser and my grandmother's dresser.  I even have my grandfather's lunch pail that he took to work every day! I am not a materialistic person, but I love these things because they were loved by those that I love!  As I decorated our cutie pie, smallish Christmas tree this year, I had to make a lot of decisions about what ornaments to use.  The ornaments below were a no-brainer for me.  My mother made the Mr. and Mrs. Claus ornaments, and we had them on our tree every year when I was growing up.  My tree would not be complete without them.  Our Christmas tree is a beautiful blend of past and present.  My daughter and I made a new memory this year by making the burlap garland.  I have seen a lot of my friends and family post their trees on facebook, and they are beautiful.  They could be in a magazine they are so perfect with all matching bows, ornaments and colors.  For me, though, it wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't have the lovely mix of eclectic ornaments from the many years of collecting!  From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and God bless you this holiday season!

 

For Farmer's Market

One of our goals is to sell farm fresh eggs and chickens as well as herbal products at Farmer's Market.  We hope to get into the Farmer's Market in Lee's Summit since it is ranked one of the top markets in Missouri.  However, they have a waiting list, so we will just have to see if we get in.  I am a little nervous about being ready for this venture since it is so new to us and we are new at farming.  Anyway, I decided I should start looking for things for our future booth. I have been on the hunt for booth displays and signage.  I was waiting for my cooking class in Downtown Lee's Summit at A Thyme for Everything, and I went into a cute little shop next door.  That is where I found the Fresh Eggs sign.  I fell in love with it right away and had to buy it.  Right now it is resting in my kitchen on a small shelf above my cabinets.  Eventually, it will hang in our booth. 

 

 At an estate sale we found these bushel baskets.  These will be perfect for displaying vegetables and/or fruit for sale.  I do not like to pay full price for things, so estate sales and garage sales are a great place to find treasures.  I can't wait to garden and fill these with goodies to share. 

 Sometimes you find things in the most unexpected places.  The Farm Fresh menu sign was at T.J. Max on sale for $55.00.  The thing is, I bought it and they didn't charge me for the item.  I got home and looked at my receipt, and it wasn't on there.  This was the day before Thanksgiving.  I wasn't about to go out during Thanksgiving or Black Friday.  I don't like crowds.  I went back on Saturday and told them they forgot to charge me for the sign.  They looked so befuddled that I had actually came back in the store.  I think most people would do the same.  I couldn't feel good about using something that I didn't pay for.  It would be the same as stealing to me.  The manager called me and said she was mailing me a 20 percent off coupon.  Wahoo!  I love T.J. Max and Home Goods.  I love this sign too!  I have been looking for a chalk board sign, and this metal sign is perfect.  I think it says, "Come to my booth and buy from me."  I hope you all will come to the Lee's Summit Farmer's Market if we have the opportunity to sell there.  It is December and we are already excited for what the spring and summer season will bring!