Beauties from Le Jardin

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Hydrangea, Red and Pink Rose, Day Lilly, Bachelor's Buttons, Lambs Ear

The farmhouse needed a dose of sunshine today! These are a few of my favorite garden varieties. Sadly, I do not know their proper names but they have all started out strong this year.

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today! We love having company.

Au revoir,

Centaurea cyanus

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Centaurea cyanus, commonly referred to as:

 Bachelor's Button, Bluebottle, Cornflower, Garden Cornflower

The Centaurea cyanus is a member of the Asteraceae family with only disc like flowers. The outer discs are somewhat bell-shaped, with sharp pointed lobes, more frequently blue in color.

Family: Asteraceae – Aster family

Genus Common Name: Knapweed

Native Status: Introduced

This introduced species was brought over to North America as an ornamental by immigrants from Europe, and is commonly cultivated. It is now found wild in every state except Alaska, and is also found in most of Canada. 

In its native southern Europe, this flower grows among the grain field, giving it the "Cornflower" common name.

In Tennessee it is considered weedy and/or invasive by some authorities. In massive growth, I think it rivals the Texas Bluebonnets. (Has this AR native become a Tennessean?)

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today! We love having company.

Au revoir,

It's SPRING!

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

AND....mowed the lawn, weeded the grass, put up lattice for red velvet rose to climb along, cleaned up the flowerbeds, freshened up the pine bark nuggets, put out the hummingbird feeders, stained the back patio/deck,

AND....planted a few potted plants, two hydrangeas, two yellow rose bushes, and nine tomato plants,

AND...this is just the first week!

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit. We love having company!

Au revoir,

(photo "borrowed" from Facebook post, sorry credits are unavailable) 

It's NO Secret

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

It's no secret that I love watching The Housewives of Beverly Hills! I think Lisa Vanderpump reigns supreme in glamour, beauty, and as a successful restaurant entrepreneur. I've recently signed up for a "Dose of Divine", a newsletter written by Lisa that offers her opinion and advice on various subjects including wonderful recipes such as these:

 Campfire Cookies aka S'mores Cookies

Rather than copy and paste the recipe, I'm adding the link here where you can find it along with other sensible and practical advice.  I'm in agreement that it's the caramelization of the marshmallows in the batter of these cookies that make them "Divine".  

 I've also jumped on the "Drop Cloth" slipcover bandwagon.

The Mauve Wing back (with my assistant, Jack)

 I'm half way finished with the project but unsure at this point if I'll complete the cover. For some reason, it just ain't the look I'm going for! When I get to a fork in the road such as this, I usually sit is aside and "stew" over it for awhile.



The center back ( inside out )



The right wing--or is it the left?



The way I look at, I have two options--one:  toss it and find another material that "feels right", or two:  finish the project. Either one will be o.k. 'cause life is too short to sweat the small stuff!



Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit! We love having company.

Au revoir, 



Bonne Annee from Campagne Maison

Bonjour et Bonne Annee from Campagne Maison

I am sharing great news with all of you today! "The Parisienne Farmgirl" is launching an online quarterly magazine that will debut in April 2012. She is super excited about this announcement and is hosting a very, very generous give-away for everyone to enter. Please hurry on over to her blog for all the details and for sign up information!

http://www.parisiennefarmgirl.com/

Be sure to subscribe to the magazine. I did and I am super excited and eagerly awaiting the first issue!!

***************************

Our humble little farmhouse is situated about five miles off interstate Hwy 75, in the beautiful Sweetwater Valley of East TN. Almost exactly midway between Knoxville and Chattanooga, downtown Sweetwater oozes with history and features many antique and specialty shops nestled alongside family owned and operated businesses. As a former Main Street director, I can attest that this town is the epitome of what the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street REhabilitation program stands for!

No, my cottage is not a French chateau and to my knowlege, has no history of French heritage. In fact, she sits 4300 miles from the French countryside, built from lumber that was hewn by hand, on-sight, from trees that were cleared from the hillside almost 100 years ago. She has housed several  families and undergone several REnovations--some good, some bad! But she is filled with a history of hard working people who raised their families to have strong work ethics, strict morals and a desire to contribute to the growth of their community and to society. They desired what I--like you, desire--a home that bids all to enter, "sit a spell", and put a great distance from the hustle and bustle of  LIFE!

Even though it meant selling our home and RElocating over 400 miles away from our children, grandchildren, and friends, we felt compelled and destined to become the caretakers of this property. I knew immediately that she was to become our home in the country, our "Campagne Maison".  I just knew, that I knew, that I knew!!  Even though health issues and budget constraints are making our progress slower than we initially expected,  it is still a "good" satisfying progress. Besides, our work, like life, is going to always be a work in-progress!

As I continue to share my REmodeling adventures with many of you this coming year, I look forward to seeing what inspirations that I receive from reading your blogs and hope that I return a few to you as well! 

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today! We love having company.

Au revoir,

Is she CRAZY??

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

A friend of my sister asked her if I'd be interested in having this 1930's era corner cabinet for the farmhouse.

In need of a good cleaning and some fresh white paint but none-the-less I SAW the beauty.

Who could resist the NATURAL cracklin' white and aqua paint?

There was no other way but to paint a fresh coat of the white BUT the aqua remained untouched.

With the addition of four HALF-shelves, I was able to double the storage space. It worked out perfect for the bottle height of all my craft paints!

Lace inserts for the door fronts and shelf edges....

Some stencils and Graphics Fairy decals

How NEAT is this?

Perfect Cabinet for a perfect corner in my perfect little farmhouse!

In a GOOD way, I'd say my sister's friend IS crazy. But I sure love to be on the receiving end when  "one person's trash is another person's treasure".  I also love it when I get to use my 3 R Rules !

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today! We love having company.

Au revoir,

In the beginning, there was none

 Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Space for this Powder room was stolen from a bedroom. Bunk beds magically turn the remaining footage into a sleeping "nook".

This small but much needed RE-model gave me the opportunity to accessorize the room with a few of my favorite things--Paris posters,

.....Moulin Rouge Opera advertisements....

a two dollar shelf and a fifty cent wooden letter decoupaged with French music paper..

 a little rhinestone bling...

a ten dollar chandy and lots of red French poppies...

....my collection of enameled tins sit atop another two dollar shelf

and a couple of ninety-nine cent brass door knobs painted with Rustoleum Hammered steel paint

In keeping with my 3 R rules, costs of this RE model were kept to a bare minimum by shopping at SAM's  (Sweetwater Area Ministries) a local thrift store. This helps put money back into the community by supporting local church ministries as well as keeping good things out of a landfill! 

Paint colors: Walls-Linden by Eddie Bauer Home and trim and doors-Country White by ColorPlace

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today! We love having company.

Au revoir,

Campagne Maison Peanut Brittle

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

One of my favorite things about Fall is the cool weather that creates the perfect environment for making candy, one of which is Peanut Brittle. I actually have better results with Peanut Brittle than I do fudge and divinity, so I really enjoy making it (as well as eating it). As soon as the peanuts start showing up in grocery stores, I grab them up and start shelling them in preparation for cooking day.

CAMPAGNE MAISON PEANUT BRITTLE

2 Tbsp real BUTTER

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup white Karo syrup

1 cup raw peanuts

1 tsp baking soda

Combine the 1st four ingredients in an iron skillet. (Actually I use my Presto cooker pan). Cook on medium high heat until you can hear the peanuts pop AND the syrup begins to turn a wonderful caramel color. Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda. The mixture will start to foam and increase in volume. Stir quickly and pour immediately onto a LIGHTLY buttered or Pam sprayed cookie sheet.

Gently rotate and tap the cookie sheet against the counter top to spread the hot brittle around and into shape. Cool completely. Break into bite size pieces and enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today. We love having company!

Au revoir,

When the Battle's Over

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

(note the crown atop her head)

A circular piece of the rusty arbor fell off during the winter months and I noticed that the DH was inspired to use his creative eye at design...not bad for a beginner!

The first thought that entered my mind when I saw that he had made a crown for my Angel was the gospel song by Isaac Watts...

"Must I be carried to the skies on flow'ry beds of ease,

while others fought to win the prize, and sailed thro' bloody seas?

Sure I must fight if I would reign, Increase my courage Lord,

I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by Thy word.

..And when the Battle's over we shall wear a crown,

Yes, we shall wear a crown....."

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today. We love having company!

Au revoir,

Braggin' rights!

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Today I picked my first ripe cherry tomato!

My mom and sister have over two dozen tomato plants covered with tennis-ball size green tomatoes, all the while I've been waiting in anticipation of seeing the blooms on mine transform themselves into the coveted treasure.

But today, as I was walking by my tiny cherry tomato plant, much to my surprise, look what I found!

Now, I can lay claim to braggin' rights by harvesting the first ripe tomato!

Ahhhhhhhh, I love it when "Underdog" puts on his cape and saves the day!

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit. We love having company!

Au revoir,

Here's MY Sign

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

RE-purpose, RE-finish, RE-cycle and RE-think the possibilities! An old twin bed headboard went

from this:

to this:

A couple coats of left over Country White paint, vinyl lettering, and sealer made the total cost for this project $ 25.00. A tree was saved and a discarded object found new life!

I would like to say a special "THANK YOU" to Lorrie at http://fabricpaperthread.blogspot.com/ for her expertise with the French language. She is blessed with many talents and I am always inspired by her blog posts. If you haven't visited with her, please do--you won't be disappointed!

Linking back to Mary's "Boogieboard Cottage" at: http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/ , for Masterpiece Monday.

Joining in Linda's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at: http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

Joining The Shabby Chic Cottage with Gina for Transformation Thursday at:

http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/2011/04/transformation-thursday-oh-how-far-weve.html

Joining Cindy for Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2011/04/show-and-tell-friday

Come join me and meet some amazingly talented people!

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today. We love having company!

Au revoir,

Daffodils

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

"Daffodils"

I wander'd lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed--and gazed--but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

written in 1804 by William Wordsworth

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today. We love having company!

Au revoir

Ain't She Sweet?

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

I've been sitting on pins and needles ever since I got the phone call! Many of you may recall my post about Amanda Jane and my quest to find her. (For those of you that are not familiar with the story, you can find it in my blog archives). As luck would have it, or as I would rather like to think "providence" had it, the first phone call that I made at random from the area telephone directory put me speaking to Georgia, the wife to Ray Wyrick, great-grandson of Amanda Jane. Within the hour, both of them were sitting in the farmhouse living room and we were looking at records that Georgia had obtained thru her extensive research via Ancestory.com.

A couple days later, Georgia called to tell me that she had located photos of Amanda Jane. I think my screams may have awakened Amanda her from her resting place, which is less than a mile down the road. I think that if they did, she was as excited as me!

Ms. Amanda was the lady of the farm house during the early 1930's, having acquired the property thru her son, Arzello Jefferson Wyrick. She passed away in 1936 and the property was deeded to her daughter, Minnie Ethel and husband, William Gaines Cox. It was upon their death that the farmhouse and property was inherited by Robert Cassady, from whence the locals grew to know it as the "Old Cassady Place".... Long story...I know.

Due to conflicts in our schedules, it has been a long wait to get to see the pictures. I spent a couple of hours today looking thru scrapbooks that Georgia has painstakingly assembled for their children and grandchildren. I was also fortunate to get to see pictures of Amanda's other children, their spouses, and some of their children. I will be posting more pictures later.

I left the Wyrick's home with a feeling of nostalgia, of great satisfaction, and of a feeling that it was meant to be! I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Georgia for helping me with my quest to find out more about the people who lived and loved at Campagne Maison. I commend her for her diligence in researching, not only Ray's family history, but her own as well. It is my belief that if it was important in biblical times to keep birth and census records, then it is just as important today.

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit. We love having company.

Au revoir,

Recipe for MOI

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

take a dash of Chippy bold red

add a pinch of Jade, drizzle on a glaze of Opalescent pearl

throw in a tinch of jungle print for the "secret ingredient"

mix them all together, serve them up generously, and you will get a little taste of my personality, perhaps a spicy little bite of Moulin Rouge, here at the farmhouse.

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today. We love having company.

Au revoir,

Silence is Golden

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

but my eyes still see....

I am so loving the season change! Every crook and turn in the road that leads to the farmhouse explodes with colorful vistas that only God could create. This tree has lost over half its golden foliage but still beacons out....Look at me!!

Great news to share....Sea Witch is about to celebrate her 100th post with a very generous giveaway! Swim on over to her blog

http://musingsofaseawitch.blogspot.com/2009/11/100th-post-give-away-sneak-peak.html

to see what it's all about. You will be glad that you did!

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today. We love having company.

Au revoir,

Let there be light

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

I now have 4 of my stained glass windows framed and hung in my laundry room/office windows. I love the serenity they bring into the house every morning as the sunrise filters thru them and the colors surround the room in kaleidoscope fashion. It brings joy to my soul and life into the farmhouse.

Great news to share!! I've had the pleasure of meeting Donald Ray Wyrick and his wife Georgia this week. Ray is the great-grandson of Amanda Jane. As luck would have it, the very first name that I chose from the telephone directory was a lucky draw. They made a special trip out to the farmhouse and brought with them some genealogy information that may help me answer some of my curiosities.

My quest is to find a picture of Amanda Jane and/or pictures of the farmhouse during her occupancy. Would that be asking too much?? Wish me luck as I'm off today on another quest to continue my search.

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today. We love having company.

Au revoir,

Amanda Jane

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Amanda Jane Wyrick

Born: February 4, 1852 Died: June 30, 1936

I dusted off my remodeling britches, put on my history buff hat, and hit the road "investigating" as I declared "Administrative Leave" this weekend! Everyone that knows me knows that I L-O-V-E history, old houses, and graveyards. Ever since we started this remodeling adventure at the farmhouse, I've often wondered about the people that have lived in this house. I can't stand the thought of having a puzzle to put together and not having all the pieces. Well, the itch got so bad that I just had to scratch it! Sometimes, a woman has to do what a woman has to do..

Are there any of you like me???...those unanswered questions, the not knowing about things, the wondering about the who's, the what's, the where's---that drives me up the walls sometimes. I spent almost 4 hours Friday, digging thru deed records and court house minute books until my husband finally declared it a full day. Those of you that know my husband, knows that he shares absolutely NONE of my passions, is usually a party pooper, and is best left at home with the remote control. (Note to self: Leave him there next time)

My mission is not complete but I have tracked the property ownership back to 1921 and have lots of names to research. YEAH....The most interesting information that I have been able to piece together pertains to Amanda Jane Wyrick. Don't you just love the sound of her name...Amanda Jane...!!

Amanda was living in the farmhouse at the time of her death in 1936. She was married to John V. Wyrick who passed away on my birthdate, January 2, in 1912. They were the parents of twelve children. At different points in time, three of her children held deed to the property. So far, it appears the "final kinship" ownership exchange took place in 1970. However, I may find that not to be true when I dig a little deeper into that family tree.

Fortunately for me, Amanda and her husband and some of their children and their spouses are buried in a graveyard less than one mile from the farmhouse. It is comforting to know that Amanda is resting so close to what was once her home.

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today. We love having company.

Au revoir,

It's A Wrap

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

It brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart to see how simple, inexpensive things can still make for fun times with the kids in this age of electronic games. Our children have no shortage of them and can usually be found caught in their hypnotic grip. Thank goodness they all have active imaginations, great social skills, and plenty of energy to still be normal kids.

A few cans of Silly String, a Slip-n-slide, some tattoos and enough water to keep squirt guns filled up for imminent battle, kept our kids occupied for hours. Jayci covered herself in dirt. I really do not know how her mother got it all out of her hair. Madison pushed a doll stroller up and down the hills. Hayden locked Mya and Haiven together with a pair of play handcuffs and they all chased each other across the bridge playing tag and hide and seek.

They even had fun having their pictures taken while holding the Corn Toss trophy!

Kaleb, Conner, Parker, and Hayden

Haiven, Mya, Evan, Conner, Parker, and Hayden

Maggie playing hide n' seek

Jayci--without dirt

Madison with her pool toys

Twins Parker and Conner Kung-Fu play fighting

Maggie...learning at a young age that it's tough being a woman in a man's world!

This is my niece, Sylvia. She is Rick's daughter.

This is my sister Patricia. She is married to Larry.

This is my brother-in-law, Wayne. He is married to J. Karen.

Our Family Reunion would not be complete without mentioning our father, Voy Rivers, who passed away on March 1, 1981. His tombstone reads "Taken too soon" and he was.

Last year we started a new family tradition to have our reunions here at the farm, in memory of our deceased brother-in-law, Carlos. His love for this farm was contagious. Without fail, at least one of us would accompany him out here, when we came to TN for a visit. It didn't take long for us to fall in love with the slower paced lifestyle and serene atmosphere of country living.

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit. We love having company.

Au revoir,