A Tiny House Christmas

With the passing of my mother-in-law this year, the K family will convene here at the farmette.  This meant taking all of the holiday decor out of the closet under the staircase.  And, I do mean all of the decor.  

This delighted my daughter to no end.  She was my partner, until she deserted me midway through this activity to go to the gym with her dad.......

So, I decided to surprise her with some small decor. I have a small collection of 1950's metal dollhouses and some barns.  I decided that even they needed a little something.  

Santa seems to approve......

My old farmhouse is decorated with its fair share of wreaths, so I  this 1950's Colonial needed a few as well.  

Every house needs a snowman.  Maybe it needs some artificial snow on the lawn.....

Skaters are on the pond.........

Dear readers......I hope you took out all of your Christmas decor, too. 

"Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, and receipts for all major purchases."  

Bridger Winegar  

Friday Randoms

It's the day after Thanksgiving and the Christmas decor will be out in full force, here at the farmette.  

If you are into Advent calendars, this one might be for your.....just not the kids.  

 Well, here are the top rated Thanksgiving episodes ever.  I do remember the WKRP episode.  A classic.....

I rarely watch television anymore, so I am a bit late to the game when it comes to good tv.  I am currently binge-watching the FX series, Justified, and have made it to season 4.  It doesn't disappoint.  

Leaving you with some Kari Kimmel for the weekend.  Have a good  great one!  

Thankful Thursday

Here we are at the ultimate day of thankfulness.  The day of food, family, food, togetherness, food, and more food.  I hope all of you take a moment to be thankful for the big things, small things, and all of those things in between.  

I have so many things to be thankful for, including the blogging friendship I receive right here.  

Now, put on some stretch pants and enjoy this day!  

"I am grateful for what I am and what I have.  My Thanksgiving is perpetual."  

Henry David Thoreau  

Brown

Brown is the word of the day. 

The adjective for the end of the fall season.  

The dark color that will draw us into winter.   

The barren color that makes you appreciate the beauty underneath the leaves.  

The color that denotes rest for the weary ground.  

The word that describes beauty in forms both large and small. 

"And fall, with her yeller harvest moon and the hills growin' brown and golden under a sinkin' sun."  

Roy Bean 

Barns on Parade

A trio of barns that reside along the back roads in my small town area.  

At this time of year you can still find tobacco drying in a lot of these structures.  

This barn is my favorite.  On occasion an old tractor is parked inside, with a ceiling of tobacco.  

I am linking up with Tom today.  Not only is he a fantastic photographer, but his collection of barns is equally as good. 

 Pay him a visit, won't you?  

Friday Randoms

A fleeting glimpse of Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.  To learn more, just click here.  


As a teacher, I confess some adoration to anything school related.  To all those who feel the same, check out this eatery.  I happen to have some of those cafeteria trays right here in my own kitchen.


The public restroom.....do we even need to talk about this?  Wouldn't it be nice if all public facilities looked as great as these examples?


Is there anything quit like the quintessential American farmhouse?  Here are a few classic examples and they are actually for sale.  Be still my heart.....


I will leave you with one of my favorite songs by Jennifer Nettles.  Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend.

Thankful Thursday

Thankful this Thursday for Joy.  Not really joy for myself, though seeing others happy does bring me joy, I mean the joy of others.  My son harvesting a buck last weekend, my daughter laughing with her youth group, and seeing my sister-in-law happy to be trying marriage again.  

"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life."  

Richard Bach 

All in the Details

Life is such a big thing. 

 All of us trying to be all there is to be and still make a difference anyway we can.  

If we stop and take a look around, any of us can see those small things that decorate our lives and make statements about who we are, what we like, and what is important to us.  

I passed these Native American figures while out on a small country road.  

They were at a driveway entrance, of a very lovely homestead.  

To me, they were so distinctive.  Quite unlike anything I have come across before.  And, though I don't know their owner, I can tell that they find importance in small things.


"Details create the big picture."  

Sanford I. Weill  

Riding Along in My Automobile

The last bits of color are clinging to the trees.  

Fall is on the cusp of winter, in these parts.  

The extended weather forecast has some ice arriving around the first days of December.  

It will be interesting to see if the season changes that drastically.  

For now, we continue to enjoy some pleasant days and chilly nights.  

Perfection, as far I can tell. 

"When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised change, I feel something stir inside me.  Hopefulness?  Gratitude?  Openness?  Whatever it is, it's welcome."  

Kristin Armstrong  

Friday Randoms

Just a photograph of a tractor mailbox.  I bet you see one everyday.  

I think this whole pumpkin spice business has gotten entirely out of hand.  I mean, pumpkin spice gum?  Gross......

Just in case you don't know what to get the man in your life for Christmas, Clip-in Man Buns are a real thing.  

This is a great house.  No other words needed.  

Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton gave an excellent performance at the CMA's with this song.  If you are looking for something a little livelier, just click here.  

Thankful Thursday

Thankful today for the tiniest moments I experience in one day's time.  Those moments when a student writes me a special note, I receive a hug, something interesting arrives in the mailbox, when the house is quiet for a few minutes, or when I finally find the softball sock that doesn't have a hole in it.  A multitude of small things happen in each of our lives everyday.  Put them together and they make it magnificent.   

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."  

Gilbert K. Chesterton 

This and That

Just a bit of random photography for today.  

I spotted this old house on a hill just outside of Perryville, Kentucky.  This small town was witness to the largest Civil War battle in the state of Kentucky, on October 8, 1862.  Makes me wonder if any soldiers roamed this land.  

As per many previous posts, I am a fan of cemeteries, this one is in New Haven, Kentucky.  I enjoy the ornamentation and architecture of the graveyards of old.  We should all be so lucky to have our grave adorned with a praying Angel.  

Finally, I love a bit of rust.  These chairs have such character!  I wouldn't want to sit in one, but as part of some outside store decor in Russell Springs, Kentucky, they caught their fair share of attention.  

Linking up with Mersad today.  Pay him a visit!  

Making My Rounds

This week certainly has been busy around our house.  Yesterday had us near Lexington at the beautiful campus of Asbury University.  My daughter was participating in  softball clinic, which meant plenty of time for me to wander around campus, and the surrounding town.  

Two Gingko Trees were capturing the attention of everyone who passed by them.  Parents were photographing their children in their glorious leaves.  The brilliant color of these trees is something my camera cannot do justice.  

The Farmer of the house has already decided that we need to plant a couple of these specimens on the farmette.  

Apparently the male variety is best, as the female trees drop a fruit that also emits a foul odor.  

Known for its hardiness, they were the sole plant survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945.  

"A people without children would face a hopeless future;  a country without trees is almost as helpless."  

Theodore Roosevelt  

Friday Randoms

I am think these are Sweet Peas....am I right?  Anyhow, they are still blooming here in Kentucky with our warm weather.  

Our planet is made up of so many wonderful types of people and this video shows an expert level of communication.  

This artist turned an old house, and three vacant lots, into a bit of urban farming.  Wouldn't life be wonderful if more people could do this?  

This is one seriously, patient dog.  

Just in case I am ever on Dancing with the Stars.....this is my song.  Just wanted to put that out there.....

Have a great weekend!  

Thankful Thursday

Stone wall/fence discovered at the Gethsemani Abbey.  

Thankful this Thursday to be able to pick up the phone and talk to my parents anytime I like.  School was out earlier this week and each day I had the opportunity to speak to my parents.   Checking on their home improvements, asking about the dog, (Hamilton!), and just generally having conversation is something that can be taken for granted.  I am so glad to still have the chance to have these  conversations.  

"We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves."  

Henry Ward Beecher 

Linking up with Theresa today.....

Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey

Yesterday had me with a day off from work.  The Man of the House and I took advantage of the situation and made a very short trip to the Abbey of Gethsemani.  Founded in 1848, the Abbey is home to an Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance, more commonly known as Trappist Monks.  

At present around forty monks make this Abbey their home.  They can be seen walking around the property, but the monastery area itself, is marked as private.  The Abbey was home to the famous monk, Thomas Merton, student of comparative religion and social activism.  

Two-thousand acres make up the property and the order utilizes some outside help to work the land.  

They also run a business making fudge and fruitcake with local products, including fine Kentucky Bourbon.   The acreage includes hiking trails and, what looks to be, a walking stick available for the next person.  

The monks are called to prayer seven times a day by the tolling of a bell.  Their day begins at 3:15 a.m.  

Visitors are free to participate in services.  

We missed this service by a few minutes.  

Silence is encouraged and felt throughout the property.  Gardens have signs that indicate no talking.  Even in their gift shop, it was quiet.  The Abbey does offer retreats, which are quit popular.  

You can check out their mail order selections here.   I purchased some of their white chocolate lemon drop fudge and it was excellent.  

 If you live in my area, I highly encourage a visit to this beautiful property.  

Time

With the time change going into effect this morning, I was up and about much earlier than usual.  

Today will be one of confusion for some people.  Our small town area sits next to the Central/Eastern time line.  Smalltownland resides in the Central time zone, but people around these parts like to choose what time they want to use. Some folks live in one time zone and work in another.....confusion.  

Taking to the back roads to run some errands, I found trees with lovely colors, but the sky was a washed out, pale gray.  

As I pulled over to take a picture of this barn sinking into the ground, a farmer stopped to ask if I was alright.  

Always nice to know that a helping hand is nearby. 

"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late."  

Ralph Waldo Emerson  

Linking up with Tom today......