My Country Heart: AKA Kitty Boo-Boo & Love Those Hostas!#links

My Country Heart: AKA Kitty Boo-Boo & Love Those Hostas!#links

AKA Kitty Boo-Boo & Love Those Hostas!

 

I may have to frame this photo ~ because it was pretty darn hard to get....  Rusty here just does not like to pose or get flashed in the face for any picture-taking-nonsense.  1st-time-picture showing himself in his white tuxedo.

 

 

 

This is what you usually get....  I did have seven Himmey's  with now one elderly sweetheart left & am having a very difficult time without them.  Losing each one of them was more painful than I ever imagined.  So here/now is Rusty, aka kitty boo-boo - (when he does what he's told) getting the well- deserved press he such deserves.  He ventured on our porch one day, and never left.  And if I might mention, is immaculate in all his cat-cleaning attempts - not a single square inch of fur is missed, not even the 8 rings around his tail.  Hence, he really is a ring-tail-cleaning-cat with a huge attitude.

More photo attempts here......Oh boy!  Looks like Angel wings on his back.

.....Adding this here beautiful mum I won at my cousin's shower ~ what a neat way to win at a shower, if your birthday was nearest to the Brides at the table you sat, you won the door prize!!!!!  Thank you, Karen!

Here's my still favorite spot on the lake ~  I changed it around a little this year and in the recent storm it was totally covered with mud and weeds.  But easy to clean with a broom and a bucket.

The flowers look like they are doing great, even with the near frost we have had lately.  The 99 cent solar light is still doing its job at night - looks sweet!  All's well and the snail's happy with big frog.

 

When you live with a lot of big trees, you get to grow lots of HOSTAS.  I tend to lean more on the huge Grand - Daddy varieties, and some are younger & and haven't taken deep rooting yet - but the older ones are gimong-ous!   And some are six foot wide/across and store little pools of water in their huge leaves!!!!

 

And the Ivy is just going nuts with the ground cover - I have to pull it off the house and shed  quite frequently.  Anyone need an Ivy "start" ~ they take root in any glass container and come back every year with their shiny beauty!

This Grand-daddy with almost white underside leaves is a youngster but still gigantic!  He is two years old and came from the Hosta Farm and has his own cement name tag.  The similar  Hosta right in behind him has been all smashed down by a deer, who had made a fresh bed right on top - but it will snap right back in the Spring, bigger than ever.

 

 

Being one of my favorites, here below, she is doing just wonderful!  Look at the leaf coloring - all I use, again, is the little blue fertilizer balls and water after I sprinkle them on.  They might just love living under the big pines. 

Now, this Chinese Maple needs attention and staked up and has created a little picture widow for the rabbits to look out.....they are so lucky!

 

Last year, Georgan, across the street, brought me a wheel barrel FULL
 of these fast growing beauties and here they are all lined up around another rabbit rock.  They all get along so well with the Hickory's....

 

 

 

Okay, here's the snowmen after they have been weatherized and now waiting for their finishing touches.  These old barn boards are well over 100 years old and the red paint is the original.  Great find! 

This old wagon wheel vacationed at My Country Heart, farmhouse shop for many years in front of the porch, so she now, is back home where she belongs keeping the new birdhouse company.

 

Look at all these tiny little pinecones what a Blessing they are!!!!!  I have used so many in potpourri and they come right back every year more than ever!

 

I call this, because I don't know what it's called, the beautiful orange trumpet vine.  Looks happy as can be and took forever to root and now needs to be tied to the rail.  But I do indeed see little blooms all over it!!!!! :-)

 

One more missed face shot......, but he does follow and keeps excellent pleasant company, all over the yard.

~ Excellent news to announce at Brother's Antique Mall - I was awarded the rest of the entire huge room that I am located in there, and can't wait to for the big redo.  I found the neatest old log cabin wall covering for one wall and can't wait to see how prim I can get it to look!  ~


By for now,
Blessings and Peace To All of You,
  And -- Thank You kindly for all the 32,000 views ~  unbelievable!

Kathie~

 

Don't Want July to End! ~

Today, being the last day of July ~ I needed to blog & cherish the Summer so far.  Rain being the flavor of this here Season, not complaining - I love it when it rains - but we had a doozy of a storm here in Northeast Ohio.  One of the worst I have seen for flooding.  It seems once a decade it rains in this region an extra proportion maybe to make the trees and earth happy campers. 

This handsome potted geranium is doing well in the front yard ~ has bloomed well with the little blue fertilizer balls as feed.  Can't complain & compliments all the necessary July flags.

When you live on a lake all the insects, bugs, spiders, and flying UFO's are always much larger and you get well use to it.  This beautiful Dragonfly has a 4" wing span and never moved at all when he was being measures....I think he kinda liked it - haha.  What a beauty!

We have here a Pinterest information experiment in the Angel Bird Bath!  Find some copper pennies (dated before 1983) and place a bunch in the water and see if less algae grows!  My niece in Illinois, is doing the same and we will find out very soon if it does indeed work!

 

In the rear of my favorite wash tub here,  you will see some potted Cat Nip.... it has been hid here so it can finish growing and be planted.  Don't let Rusty know, because he eats the tasty entire plant down to the cores and when I got it to transplant nothing was there but dirt, so I see it has survived - somewhat :)

 

 

Here's a large pot of Golden Oregano and Rosemary, blooming and loving all the rain we have had - it's showing off in front of the Chairman of the Boards' Grandfather's vintage horse & wagon tie.  It's  indeed a treasured idem and will be repaired by me with some cement very soon.

Along with the plants, the weeds are having a hay-day.  This here little area is an "after photo" because if you would have seen it before it was weeded, you would not have recognized it as a little path into the sun room :)

After cleaning all the algae out of the rain gage - this depth was only a baby rain fall compared to the last one.

Still not sure if I want to sell this weathered old red barn board with the Peace Rabbit I painted on it or not.  But do have three newly painted Snowmen boards that will be out for sale at Brother's Antique Mall before the upcoming Holidays.  And look for the newly poured wax turkey's - they turned out very well and look mighty good in a basket on the table with gourds.

Here you have more weathered barn wood (my favorite, can you tell?).  Made for me by a friend.  But the best things about this beautiful porch planter is that the plant needs no care what-so-ever & I love it!   It's not real!

Listen up here....I do want to make a prediction (runs in the family)!  Just looking at this Shaggy Bark Hickorys' branches and seeing all these extra nuts and hearing them fall already ~ it can only mean an early Fall here in Ohio!  Same thing happened year before last!  I might add that this little grove of  9-10 Hickory Trees are just one beautiful sight.   But do beware of nuts.

Here they are!   The sweet little My Country Heart, signs!  I couldn't bare to sell them when I closed & moved the shop out of the 8 room Farmhouse at Copley Circle!  I did them up over 15 years ago and I still love them  like it was yesterday, here, under the big pines at home!  Many fine & wonderful memories they served!

I can't part with this big ugly ceramic frog either.  He guards the front door & keeps the toads in line.

More Pinterest good ideas -  making bird baths from pottery - try it you will love it!

My first time in a long time that I had time to plant cherry tomatoes for salads on the deck in planters.   This one plant has over 50 little green tomatoes on it right now.  Retirement is good!

And my last but not least entry is the ever blooming & interesting Grape Ivy hanging basket!!  I liked it so much I got another one for the other side of the porch.  It blooms so well and Winter's over so nicely in the laundry room.  Only requirement,  just a little sun and water once a week! 

 

 

Take Care,

 

Blessings &and  Peace,

 

Kathie~

 

 

Rusty Watches The Little Herd of Deer...

                                    & Sharing a Few Shop Photos!

 

 

One of my very favorite things, are old brass lanterns, like this one above ~ which has been electrified and redone for those of us in this here century.  It casts a delightful little glow.  It's up for sale along with the old coffee tin can with a candle lite on top with dried shells and such, sharing the window sill.

I have two "inside looking out" photos for you all today.  My favorite old lace curtains tied back with raphia from the upstairs window of the shop.  We have 9 rooms, counting the upstairs area!  It has been so much pleasure having a shop of my own in this beautiful old farmhouse on Copley Circle in Ohio.

Yep, when  you look out you see the Historic Copley Gazabo, in all its glory.  When I first opened, I hand stenciled every room.

.....And the curtains to match.  (Pipberry garland is $18 ~ we use it over doors, also!)

 

More stencil sampling.... using two different patterns, with a Moses Eaton (circa 1840s) to the right side of the above photo.

We always welcome your visits!

And finally, here is Rusty, our front porch rescue kitty ~ who loves to sit on the back porch and watch all the wild life activity ... a herd of five deer love to occasionally hide in the pines and get a drink from the here, snow covered lake, in the back.  Did I tell you Rusty does tricks?  He sits up on his back legs & quietly lets you know he is a tad interested in a treat.  I appreciate his creativity.

Thanks for stopping in today,
Enjoy a beautiful work week ~
Kathie :)

Making a Rosemary Topiary ~ And a Little Road Trip

There is something about Rosemary, that is so darn special.  I found out by accident that even the little plants like these bought in the grocery stores can produce the sweetest little blue delicate flowers if kept cool, moist, & Summered out on the porch.  And red skinned potatoes take on an air of tasty brilliance with a bit sprinkled on them for the oven with basil.

I've had my eye on Topiaries and would like to make these little two plants above into a starter topiary.  Pinterest lead me to a great looking site to get me on track & I am sharing it with you: http://www.bhg.com/crafts/nature/topiaries/make-your-own-topiary/  

Even the faux topiaries are coming into view as great window decorations.  Covering the base in burlap or old quilt compliments the bright green foliage.

 Here's another great love, and when I find them, I like to photograph 'em!  Especially well done and looking like it just stepped out of circa 1830 ~ this quaint little log home in Smithville, Ohio, is a favorite!  Look at the details!

Wide chinking and beautifully well done. Things were in small scale back then, even the lower door knob.

 

 

Love the wide hewn weathered boards and captured look of old!

The little peep hole in the privy out back is as interested as it is adorable! 

And the moss covered stone stepping, and the weathered vine wind blocking additions are sweet as sugar!

 

.....Just a little road trip into the past & back :)....

 

 

 

Adding a few of the artist's primitive dolls that are up for adoption at our Brother's Antique Mall Location, in Medina Ohio. ~

 

And we also carry resale designer purses at an interesting cost ~ here are just a few !

Always,
Peace & Happiness,
Kathie

 

Finally, Back to Blogging! ~

 It's been a long -- time Country Heart ~ Friends!

I haven't listed anything for sale on my dear little sweet blog in so long, I can't remember.  After setting up a picture trail  https://www.picturetrail.com/mycountryheart  and two facebook pages  https://www.facebook.com/mycountryheart  and presently relocating My Country Heart, our 9 room farmhouse shop, from our Copley Road, address, out to the new location: Brother's Antique Mall, in Medina, Ohio - whew - the work! (and fun!) - Ask the Chairman - thank you Mr. Givens!

  And by the way, join us on Facebook & right here on this little blog!

Thought I would take a breath and share a little photo shoot and birds eye view of the new location, which is open 7 days and sports an interesting to come, Christmas Open House and two absolutely wonderful Antique Flea Markets a year....the old fashioned kind that you love NOT to miss!  If you sampled just one of the Christmas Gatherings ~ you would never want to miss another! Not to mention the goodies brought in by all the dealers!

We are known at Brother's as HICKORY HOLLOW PRIMITIVES By Kathie ~ & My Country Heart,  you can find our two large spots in the back of the large building by the above sign over the window & the salmony colored backdrop. 

 

Now, I can finally have the "freed-up time to" hand-do designs and dolls with old textiles - one of my hearts' desires.....along with many other hand done stuff!  These old quilt pin keeps, are one of the new items in this old chunky basket that are up for your consideration ~ $6.50.  We can mail to your door.  This was filled, but still a great selection!

 

Annie, pin keep, in the Civil War blue bodice & old lace is quite a favorite with me, I love to make Annies!  She is up for sale $45 and the gray cupboard just sold today, whoops sorry ~ but old tins and such are available!

 

 

 

Two of these are available, hand punched Irvin's tin lighting ~ so primitive and quaint....along with the old picket fence in the background which is a huge flower box made from old wood facing.  Email me for more information on these  Kathiegivens@msn.com

 

 

Neat, heavy old feedsack, made into fresh and fluffy pillows.  I always like to mention how great they look on the porch!  Always 100% new fiberfill - filled (with an Ohioan stuffing license for 2013!)

Lots of old photographs to take a short trip into the past.  Come in and browse!  We mail them too!

And last but not least, presenting... my beautiful Pink Hyacinth, which I bought for myself....that bloomed on Easter morning...no less!  You would not believe how my entire kitchen was misted with the scent of this most delightful plant!  This year,  I found it at the thrift store for only $4.99 & worth every penny.  It has three big bulbs, which I always wait until the stems dry out and plant the bulbs by the front door for next Spring ~ what a simply great living memory to enjoy, of all the Easter morning's of the past and the flowers we use to bring to grandma and mom's house!   

Peace and Blessings!
~Kathie