Fall 2011

We have been busy this Fall. We took part in the Harvest Festival in Sharon Springs, New York. What a fun time we had! Everyone was so nice and welcomed us to the small historic town. We had a chance to visit with the Fabulous Beekman Boys and take a tour of their farm, we even met their Lama "Polka Spot". We came home with a few sign copies of the new Heirloom Cookbook.

We have secured a new location for our Fairy House Workshops. The new location will be opening in March of 2012. We will also be selling reclaimed garden items. I love giving new life to garden treasures.

Grape Harvest

The grapes have gotten out of control this year. They have decided to expand (on there own) to climb the two River Birch trees near the arbor. That being said harvest was a bit more challenging this year. We did however harvest and make the 2011 addition of Concord Grape Jam. It is by far our best year. No artificial color or flavor. The texture is wonderful, but back to the color, its so beautiful.

Wine Bottles in My Garden

I have used wine bottles to edge my herb garden for many years. I just can't stand the thought of tossing out those beautiful bottles. This year I saved our Christmas tree and pruned it to hold wine bottles in my vegetable garden. But most recently, I have found myself planting the bottles around my yard as hose guards. I added a few pieces of colored sea glass on top of each bottle for a little garden art.

Fairy Garden 2011

This year the Fairy Garden is bigger than ever. New housing has gone up in Fairy Hollow.

Beekman Boys

On Sunday I attended the Green Festival in Chicago. Among the main speakers were Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, also known as The Fabulous Beekman Boys. I made sure I was able to meet them since I am a big fan of what they do. I have told friends "I found two guys who are living my life". They are very inspirational for me to push Doug into speeding up our dream of living full time on the farm. Check out their show on Planet Green on Tuesdays nights.

More Fairy Houses

Thank heaven Spring has arrived! We traveled the two hours to open up the farm for the year and I was inspired to continue making Fairy Houses. Last week I taught a class at a local Garden Club on how to make Fairy Houses. Everyone had a good time and no two are alike. I have put away the paints and made room in my Studio for Fairypolooza. I am going to show the Houses at Gardenology in Geneva, Il. on May 14th.

Fairy House

I decided to use my spring clean up to create more art. I cut back most of my ornamental grasses and tied tiny bundles to thatch a roof of a Fairy House for the Fairy Garden. Which will be expanding this year.

My wonderful husband cut the top of stump to resemble a roof line. I then made bundles and nailed them to the stump to create a roof. The door is make of red twigs and the window boxes are milk weed pods.

Fairy Bench

This tiny fairy bench is made of grape vine. The vine was given to me when my sister cut back her grapes last fall. I try not to toss any plant material that has potential for a future in my garden. I am also

making some gates and fences.

Gardening with Photoshop

It is getting closer to Spring and I am doing some indoor gardening with Adobe Photoshop. Actually, I am using a free program you can download called "Gimp 2". It works very similar to Photoshop. I have more pictures of my plants than I do of my own children, not really, thats what they say. I do have a large portfolio to choose from. I may even Photoshop (Gimp 2) them together.

I call ART indoor gardening

I like to learn new things. This winter I finally took a Photoshop Class at the local community college. I am having a great time playing with old and new photos. This is a great way to create garden theme Art with photos. I found a wonderful photo from 1924 of my family at a Mock Wedding. I can't wait to play with it.

Valentines Day

A few years ago for Christmas, I gave each of my daughters a Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. Martha autographed each of the books while at a book signing in Chicago.

On Valentines Day my Kiki, made the most wonderful Cherry Linzer cookies from a recipe from

Martha's book. I am trying to get Kiki to continue her education and attend Pastry School.

Winter and Chicago Cultural Events

Winter is fun if you take advantage of the wonderful indoor opportunities. My dear and adventurous friend and I, took the train into Chicago to an exhibit at the Cultural Center. The exhibit was of recent discovered photos from an unknown Street Photographer in

Chicago. Her name is Vivian Maier.

Recycle the Christmas Tree

I have a collection of wine bottles in my herb garden. I just can't stand the thought of throwing away glass that is cobalt blue. This year I couldn't wait for the holidays to be over so I could take down the tree and prune it to accommodate more wine bottles. When the ground thaws in spring, I will use our post hole digger and plant it firmly in the ground.