Bunney Table Runner

A cute way to dress up an Easter table-a bunny runner!

A Bunny Family

I bought the two taller plastic bunnies at a thrift shop this winter and I had the smaller one- doesn't it make a cute little family!

Primitive Eggs

I bought these primitive eggs from a dealer friend several years ago. She had made them. I usually don't like grungy, primitive items, but these just looked good in a wooden bowl. Notice the round runner under the bowl- rabbits running around it. I also bought it from a dealer friend. Signs of Easter to come!

Easter in my Kitchen Window

I love to change the views in my kitchen window since it's an area we see several times a day. I hadn't noticed it at first when I placed the easter postcards-it forms a cross with the interior of the window. In the center should be the cross or Christ Jesus our Savior!

The Gingerbread is Added!

I think it was the next year that we added the gingerbread on the top of the porch to look like the original. You'll see touches of gingerbread as I post garden pictures from around the yard because it's probably one of my top favorite things-like icing on a cake! I painted the porch grey and the brick green to match the roof. We also added landscaping around that time - something I wish we'd never done. Old houses didn't have all that commercial landscaping around the house. At least I researched plants that were popular at that time-spirea, hydrangea, lilac, roses, holly. I'll post pictures at another time of our fence project-it was a major undertaking- but well worth it~

The House the Year we were Married -1994

We added the gingerbread under the porch the first year. I hung bridal wreath hanging baskets and the ferns on the porch were from the wedding day. We were married in the back yard. The yard before the landscaping.

The House when I met my husband

This is house the house looked when I met my husband in 1993. The windows are shorter, but it has a new porch with railings and siding. A nice place to start for all the ideas I had!

Our Home Late 70's

These pictures were taken before my husband moved in around 1982 when he graduated from the U of I. His father began working on the house. It was in bad shape and renters had no doubt trashed it. I hate to think what was destroyed or taken out during that time. I try to erase it from my mind and concentrate on bringing it back to what it might have looked like. The posts are gone and replaced by metal ones.

Another picture of our House

Additional Pictures of our Home after the Turn of the Century

Larger porch- still same gingerbread trim. Notice the fireplace on the outside and the front porch has a bumped out area. I loved the longer windows. My husband's father took them out around 1982- long before I married my husband.

The History of Our Farm and House

This picture shows a fireplace which was later on the outside of the house along with a fence like this one we added around 2001.

I've been wanting to post the history of our farm for some time now. This is one of the earliest pictures of our home. We believe the house was built between 1850-1855. Notice the pet sheep and the porch was smaller. This is the 2nd generation to live in the house. The man in all of the pictures is William Riley Zimmerman. His father, James Zimmerman, built this house and later moved into Ashmore (where the outhouse came from). William's son later lived here (Glenn Zimmerman-I will post those pictures later). I will continue to post pictures that will show the progression of the exterior details. The house still has it's original bat wing gingerbread and the new larger porch was added later. We added the gingerbread to match on the porch to match after studying these pictures with a magnifying glass. We still have two sets of original shutters from the house which are black.

Spring Cleaning

Is anyone else in the mood to just throw open the windows and just dig in and make things tidy and fresh again? I know that I am and so is my best friend, Teresa. It's sunny today (I work), but tomorrow I'm off- and I'm ready to start the spring process of not only airing out the house, but digging into the garage, the barns(3) and the shed to see what I can part with. I'm ready to get the Barn Cleaning Sale (Saturday, March 27th 10-2) over with and start planning the first fun sale of the year which is planned for Sunday, May 2nd 1-5. I'm hoping to have some friends come and bring some of their created treasures and have a fun day visiting with all of you! So until then- Happy Spring Cleaning!

Doll Vignettes

Love the mittens and the little hat box with the word "Dollie"

Christmas book with stockings and mittens

Parlor dolls -dressed in their finest

One old doll, two newer ones-love the doll on the right with it's large ticking legs

I love to set up little vignettes - especially with old dolls and chairs.

Two Crosses

Two crosses given in friendship.

The metal ring was on a co-worker's hand (Tiffany)and I told her I really liked it and asked if she would pick me one up the next time she was at that store. The next time I saw her -she gave me hers- I will always treasure it because of her friendship and because she gave it so freely(something I have yet to learn!)

The wooden cross was brought home one Sunday by my husband. His minister(we go to different churches) had given them out at church. I really needed the message that came with the cross that day. Bob Thompson has made over 5,000 crosses just like this one and given them out. They were made from old church pews that had been used at an outside church camp and were going to be burned, but he saved and re-purposed them. As he said - how many people sat in those pews and heard the message of God and now they(the crosses) are being used to worship God again!

My Grandmother (My Father's Mother)

My grandmother - what can I say? I didn't really get to know her as much as I should have for which I deeply regret. She mostly lived out of town but I would visit her when I could and she would sometimes come and stay at my parents. She had a wonderful air about her and loved to tease people(which is where my dad gets it and I get it from him) and I liked to hear her laugh. She loved animals and had a beautiful mean furry cat just like I do and she still loved that cat even when it bit her. She had quite the sweet tooth (so does my dad-but my sister got that trait) and always had several bowls of candy in various places around her home. She was always kind and had a great smile and enjoyed her family. I really didn't know how sick she had gotten because she had moved to Peoria to stay with my aunt for the last year or so and then went to a nursing home. I hope that she knew that I loved her even though I didn't get to see her at the end and tell her so.........

Caroline Riley

MATTOON - Caroline C. Riley, 88, of Mattoon died at 7:15 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 27, 2010) at Fondulac Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in East Peoria. A graveside service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at the Dodge Grove Cemetery. Schmidt-Haller Burial and Cremation Services in Peoria is in charge of the arrangements. She was born June 8, 1921, the daughter of Leon and Clara Marie Oliver Fitzpatrick. She married Harry G. Burwell. She later married Wayne Riley in 1987; he died in 1995. Survivors include three sons, Gerald L. Burwell of Lewistown, Harry L. Burwell of Eureka, and Harold E. Burwell of Mattoon; one daughter, Patsy M. Parker of Sunnyland; one sister, Helen M. Edwards of Toledo; 13 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.

Pink Friendship Roses

My friend Teresa sent me these beautiful pink roses on Monday. I'm not a big fan of

sent flowers ( I prefer the hand-picked garden kind) because my first boyfriend would buy me roses and then not have any money left for dinner or anything else and because they are generally expensive. This gesture of friendship was so kind because she was having a difficult day on Monday and chose to send these to me. They are my favorite color and are so-o-o pretty! Thank you for your friendship Teresa- it means so much to me!

Metal Frog Collection

My first day off since the sunshine started a few days ago and it's RAINING! I really wanted

to work outside picking up sticks and cleaning things up, but instead I started cleaning our back porch. It's a long enclosed porch with 15 windows and lots of fun stuff, but it tends to get very dirty and messed up over the winter. Here is one of my backporch collections- metal flower frogs.

Update to Tombstone

My friend Teresa did some research on the family of the little girl who died the day she was born. Her name was Frances Emma Seaman and she was born on August 6, 1921. She was born in Galton, Douglas Co, Illinois the daughter of Vernon Cornelius Seaman and Pearl Gladys Smith. She was their first born child and they had 4 other children. Teresa suprised me with this gift (she is so good at genealogy) and I think it is so neat to have it.

Antiquing Trip Yesterday

Found this at Linda's shop- an old mirror top missing the mirror. I think I will add chalkboard paint and use it for a sign in my shop. I love enamelware-especially the ones with roses- don't see much of it anymore.

Found at Linda's shop- saw this last year and almost bought it. She had added a bathroom to the shop and it was hanging on the wall. I hang these in my bathroom(always a hole in handle). I think it may be alligator? I've seen this old photo tons of times and liked it but someone had marked it down-now it's mine. I might change the frame-it's kinda plain.

Of course I also collect these and the price was right. A saying that I'm learning- Thy will be Done (on earth as it is in heaven)

I found this crazy little stuffed rabbit at the same store as the picture above - it has a goofy face but it is kinda fun and it's pink!

Although I didn't get to go as crazy as last time- I did find some treasures and had another wonderful day spent with Linda. I'm glad we got to go because soon it will be time to stay home and work in the yard and sale barn!

A Day of Antiquing

Today is the Day to go Antiquing with Linda-finally! I've been looking forward to this for over a month since the last two weeks we had to cancel. We had such a good time last time- good conversation and shopping!!!! Hope to find some treasures and inspiration. Here are some pictures from my booth at Copper Eagle in Charleston- it's kinda messy and full- these pictures were taken right after I moved spaces so it's still a work in progress! I've been marking items down and taking out the winter stuff- time to move on to spring cleaning and spring decorating.

Wall in My Dining room

We don't ever really use our dining room-how many people do? It's my husband's favorite room but we really don't ever entertain and I don't cook. It's a room that's been done since I got married and moved here. Perfect size and I've added several of my collections (of course-I'm running out of room). This is where I put all my cross pictures. I really love them!

My other Purchase

Well, this is my other purchase from last week- I know most people would really not want it. Last fall an antique dealer mentioned to me that he had this and would sell it to me for only $5- what he paid for it. I said yes. I just met up with him last week and he brought it up. I will take care of it, but of course use it in my halloween display.