Sweet Little Brayers at Play

Well, you might imagine a sweet little “hee haw” from Gracie and Ruby. Prepare to be shocked (right after Goldie’s bark). The news from the donkey barn radio is blaring in the background, and you’ll also hear a rooster crow.

My Mild-Mannered Girlies :)

Ahhhh… life on the Farm ♥

A Celebration of Barn Quilts

Back in 2009, I received a phone call from friend Margot McMillen. A few weeks prior, I had published this blog post about our fun day at her diverse farm near Hatton, Missouri - Terra Bella. Included in that post was a photo of Terra Bella’s barn quilt. There was also a barn quilt painting activity going on that day.

Enter – Google Alerts. An author, Suzi Parron, was signed up to receive Google Alerts by email regarding these key words: BARN QUILT. She received the alert and link to my blog post, contacted Margot, and in turn the original bloggie photograph was published in her recently released book Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement. A few years in the making, this book is a feast for the eyes and heart, with gorgeous Barn Quilt photos across our nation as well as the tender stories involved with each barn quilt. I am proud and honored that my photo of Margot’s Barn Quilt was published in this wonderful book. Thank you, Margot and Suzi!!

Back to the Celebration part of this post: This week we were invited to attend an event at Hatton, coinciding with Suzi’s whirlwind book-signing tour across the American Barn Quilt Trail. What a wonderful evening!
And it was so great to finally meet Suzi! She is this bundle-of-energy-type person, with a true zest for life (and Barn Quilts, of course). A high school English teacher by day, and author/photographer by night (and down time from school).

Lovely quilts by a famous Callaway County quilter were on display in Hatton Hall. The pieces were about the size of a postage stamp and the colors were so brilliant.

Margot’s husband Howard Marshall, as well as our Fiddler and other musical friends helped provide the musical entertainment.
 Broadway Brewery chefs (Columbia, MO) were on hand with a delightful meal prepared for all of the attendees. All gourmet dishes were prepared by foraging for and utilizing local/Missouri meats and crops/produce. Several of these luscious items were produced at Terra Bella Farm. Broadway Brewery offered a nice selection of their always delicious (I am told ) beer as well. Mr. W and I must visit Broadway Brewery in person soon. It is the Fiddler’s favorite place to eat currently.
On the Menu: Patchwork Family Farms Pulled Pork, Missouri Rice Pilaf (I had forgotten there is rice grown in MO!), Pickled Lady Apples, Missouri Tomato-Cucumber & Wild Purslane Salad (I just pulled purslane from the garden today – apparently it’s a delicious weed!), Dilled New Potato Salad, Missouri Peach Cobbler (YUM).


Apparently, I’m not a great food blogger. I tend to eat fast. Too fast. Before I can snap a picture of the whole meal. Trust me, it was delish beyond compare.

The tables were beautifully decorated on a quilting theme by Barb (Margot’s friend).
Side note, Barb and Margot introduced me to beekeeping about 10 years ago – this whole beekeeping thing we do now is totally their fault! Back to the table decs and wall décor…

Jenny Bondurant of Auxvasse Creative Arts Program and Bill Hart of the Missouri Barn Alliance and Rural Network told about their respective programs. Suzi Parron ended the evening’s festivities with a slide show presentation and delightful commentary – so much barn quilt eye candy! It left everyone truly excited about Barn Quilts, whether they had a barn or not!
I will also make mention that the evening’s events were a fundraiser for Missouri Barn Alliance and Rural Network and Auxvasse Creative Arts Program.
So, Bloggers, just so you know. Keep blogging and posting your photos. You just never know. One of them (or more) might end up in a book someday. And how cool is that for a little old country blogger like me?
If you’d like to order Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement, check out Amazon or Suzi’s website. I see she has a limited number of signed First Editions on her website. These books would make wonderful gifts for the quilt lovers in your life as well!

P.S. Presently, we are receiving a much-needed rain here at Flat Creek Farm. Praise God! Never lose hope.

Purple Martins 2012

We had no tenants last year, but this year.. YES! The young ‘uns have been flying for a few days now. Another amazing thing about the 100+ temps is that it seems they have all survived and thrived through this. Earlier this week I hung out with them awhile (they fussed a little.. but not too much).

Love them!

P.S. The answer to yesterday’s Crusty Rusty Mystery Item: Sorghum Mill or Sorghum Mill Press… depending on which side of the river you were born ;)

Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

I hope. Sorry for the unplanned blogging hiatus. I don’t know even know where to begin, so I’ll just jump right in and see where I land…
Drought and Heat 2012: We are still suffering in our neck of the woods. Grass, crops, gardens.. all are dying. Even the trees are in danger at this point. I’ve been watering to try to save what I can. The good news is we’re now into the “cool 90’s” this week after two weeks of upper 90’s to (as much as) 107 here. Please tell me what’s going on where you are. The rains have been so spotty. I know some have received showers of blessing.
In spite of everything, we still have a few blooms and tiny bit of garden left. Amazing, I say.


Bees: We are picking up another hive of bees this week from a relative who is a beekeeper and does his own splits each year. This will be Hive #4. Yay! On one of our hottest days last week (107), I captured these honeybees soaking up the moisture at the bird bath. It was really interesting to watch! Maybe because I’m a Bee Nerd? At any point during those warmest days you could see several bees at a time cooling off here.

Do you ever have a list of “things I should have blogged, but never did?” Here’s one of my many. This handmade mosaic stepping stone was given to me by my parents on my 50th b-day (gulp) 2 years ago. I sooo love it! The gentleman who creates these is wheelchair-bound in a local nursing home (about my age), and donates the proceeds to our county’s Relay for Life.

Now, here is something that Mr. W is quite proud of. One of his newest projects. Still doesn’t seem real to us sometimes, but his dear blacksmithing friend Ed passed away suddenly a couple of months ago. Slowly but surely I think some of  Ed’s “best of the best” rust pile has somehow found its way to Flat Creek Farm :)
Just for fun, can anyone guess what this lovely crusty rusty item is?

One more random catch-up item.. and I’m outa here for now (hopefully not so long this time). Remember Goldie? Wow, she grew up! She’ll be one year old at the end of this month. Notice the post-critter-chasing tongue?

Hope everyone is doing well. I’m trying to slowly catch up on blog visits too. Where does the time go??
Till next time…