The Fabulous Farmhouse

Springtime Gardening in Michigan

The house garden begins. Still too wet to get much done.

A bit of my birthday was spent gardening and enjoying the beautiful weather in between showers.


The compost pile begins......


This is exciting to me. I transplanted a few day lilies to the side of the house after digging a little dirt patch. The day lilies grow abundantly along the the train track and will grow just about wherever you put them. Good size rocks come out of the dirt for edging decoration. There are so many of these river rocks here they seem to have lost some of their appeal they once held for me because everyone has them and uses them for basically the same purpose, decorative edging.


Off to Frankenmuth for dinner at Zehnder's. The Cheese Haus is part of the attraction of this little German village. Such a fun little place! The tulips and daffodils are in full bloom, and while we were waiting for dinner we saw a party of older senior citizens arm in arm dancing across the street at another old German attraction.

I also wanted to say thank you to everyone that placed an order yesterday, I have sent everyone's orders out and they have birthday cakes in them:) Thanks for celebrating with me!
Thanks for stopping by, I'm off to go play with some minis now! Cathy

The Sweetest Gift

Only through God's grace could I be blessed with this new life on my birthday 20 years ago. Happy Birthday Son, I wish I could be with you today.

Your first cake:) Thinking of you today on our birthdays.

Spring Planting In Michigan

Potatoes, Onions, Corn, Blueberries, Blackberries, Grapes, Apple Trees, Cherry Trees, and Pine Trees are some of what we planted over the past few days out on the farm. I have never done this before, so I'm glad to have someone that knows what they're doing! I am far from a farmgirl, but we got the job done, and got a lot of good sunshine! Now if Mother Nature agrees, the little plot will begin to thrive and over the course of years bear fruit. Being too wet out to plow the garden for the house, we've barely just begun playing in the dirt here at the house. The wet weather gives us a chance to catch our breath and relax because tomorrow is my birthday. It is also my son Brent's birthday. I can still count on one hand the birthday's we haven't spent together and it is difficult for me to be away from him. The focus has always been his cake and celebration day, and now that it isn't I just keep getting older. So since I'm not making a cake for Brent this year, I've decided to make cake for everyone that places an order tomorrow, April 29th. It doesn't matter what you order, let's just celebrate and get old together:) Let's have cake!

Miniature Pies

Pies restocked in our pie section today and more cakes.

 You've probably noticed pies are rarely restocked in my store. It just seems like they are always the last on the list of to do and I don't know why because I really enjoy making them. They look so cute in little mini bakeries. I got a handful of pies completed and listed today and as it is with the cakes once pies are sold the listings are turned off so you won't find these restocked pies in the new items. It was a beautiful day here in Michigan and our Arbor Day Foundation trees have arrived! Tomorrow is a day of planting :) A big rainstorm is on it's way so we'll have to get in what we can. I'll sit out there and make cages to keep the deer from snacking.  So many people planting trees around here! The man at the tractor supply store today wanted to sell me chickens to go with my chicken wire I bought, funny guy. He was serious:) That is a pretty interesting store, they have the sweetest little chickens and ducks, so cute and furry!!! Thanks for stopping in, enjoy your weekend!

Miniature Dollhouse Cakes

Ok let me blow the dust out of my little blog and say I'm here! My Dr. appt on Friday turned into a surgery! I should have just said I needed to use the restroom and ran out because I'm a baby, but no, I stayed and took my punishment. I even tried to reason, I told the Dr. what she is supposed to say is I am healing just fine and that I've done a wonderful job taking care of myself. She wasn't having any of it. So I prayed for courage (repeatedly) and got the job done. At least my sweetheart was with me and everyone there was really kind. My toe hurts!!!!! But guess what? That has provided down time for me to restock the store and today I added cakes to our Cakes Section. They aren't new, they may be new to you because as soon as they are sold I turn cake listings off. Anyway, more to come, because there are still 50 or so out of stock in that section. Soon I will have more new items including new cakes. I just wanted to say that because I love adding the new minis!  I've also created a Father's Day miniatures section because we love our dads. Especially the dads that have made or do make minis! Many years ago my dad made me a dollhouse and furniture:) So sweet! Love you dad! That is enough out of me for now......Thank you so much for popping in! Warmly, Cathy

A Few Good Companions

Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion- Some of What Mary Says
(click the link above to read the full story)

We WILL find a way - this miserable economy can't last forever. Anyway, even if times are tough, we still need to see magical things, right? We still need to know there are people out there producing fantastic things, creating warm and cozy places to live and providing us with the inspiration we need to keep going, for crying out loud! I mean, I love House Beautiful, but I can't make one magazine last all month - we need more! We need variety! We need Home Companion!

We hope you’ll keep up with us! Mary’s e-newsletter is definitely the best way to get the latest news on events, new products, ideas and free recipes, desktop backgrounds and more. You can sign up to receive the newsletter or update your subscription information on our website.

We also hope to have a brand new website and blog up and running in 2009 to keep you even more informed!

A Prairie Home Companion-  Program Overview
A Prairie Home Companion started production in 1974. Live every Saturday night from 5—7 p.m. CT, A Prairie Home Companion features comedy sketches, music, and Garrison Keillor's signature monologue, "The News from Lake Wobegon."

The Children's Companion- One of many miniature children's books available for sale at the Fabulous Farmhouse. (Click on the above link to see this listing in our store.)

Oh Holy Mother!

Is along the lines of what I said after the closet door fell on my toe Monday morning. So focused on the project at hand I didn't see it falling toward my slippered foot. I was speaking with a friend on the phone yesterday and as much as she tried to "no no no" and avoid hearing the details of what it looks like, she now has a real good idea, and thanks to her I'll spare you all the details:) I've just never hurt myself like this before because of not paying attention. Just kind of sat here and cried for a long time feeling sorry for myself:)  Pretty much all I'm able to do is hobble around slowly which means shipping is slightly delayed but will be back up in a couple days. I made it to the post office yesterday but it was just too much of a feat, a little pun there:) We'll take it easy and see what the Dr. says on Friday and anything going to other than U.S. will ship on Friday as well. I'm fine as long as I don't touch it. I won't make my post all about pain and misery. I will post this photo I keep meaning to show you.

Lots of the photos I take are from the truck as we're driving here and there. Obviously from the raindrops on the window here is another. So funny because I tried about three different times to get a photo of this house as we drove by on different occasions. It never occurred to me to say "honey slow down" but finally after setting the camera on multiple shot mode here it is!!! Tada!!
Oh and it took pictures so fast I got two different ones! Look at the detail of this princess! Only in miniature have I seen trim like this, and I will say there's more than one house like this around these parts. This one is located on M-24 in Lapeer, Michigan. It's a beauty, it's huge, and I'd hate to have to  clean it! But to look at it, wow. Finally I got to share those with you:) Enjoy your day and thanks for popping in!
On the mend here, Cathy

Happy Easter Peeps!

I had to say the peeps word one more time because Bruce and I have said it countless times over the past month and I thought I'd never want to hear the word again but, I do. Peeps! Peeps! Peeps! Blue, pink, yellow, and purple. Chocolate and tangerine haven't arrived yet but they will soon and meanwhile the other 95 dollhouse miniatures available all year long in our Easter Section are sweet enough to hold us over.

The photo here was taken today at my sister in laws house here in Michigan. I don't know who put the little baby bird egg under the pine tree but judging by the hole in the side of it, it was some predator that shouldn't have gotten hold of it. Poor chicky. That was the only egg I found today. We were noticing lots of folks hang eggs on trees around here, not so much in California, I love the yard decorating participation here and I should have done a photo tour for you, I will on the next holiday! We picked up our daughter and went to a fine French restaurant for Easter brunch "McDonald's" they have the best filet o fish!

On our journey through "sister in law woods" at their new house we spotted this plant, some wild sort of thing I will call "The Sister Easter Lilly".

Lots of adventure for us today! I wish you and your families a very Happy Easter!

Mother's Day Gift Certificate Winners

Some new Mother's Day Miniatures

Before I say anything I will tell you I couldn't decide the winner on my own so I relied on my daughter Megan, my cousin Carole and her daughter Katie, because we all independently loved the same post and agreed that the winner should be the post about the boy that asked for 25 cents and came up with a gift for his mom instead of something for himself. So we all know what Gloria Breau will be wearing as she watches her son graduate the academy. Congrats Gloria! Now this isn't to say that there were really close ones! The post about the card sticking together really made us laugh, thanks for that! and the sweet little paper plate the boy made for his mom, oh so sweet. Kids are so precious and they grow up so dang fast! I was just informed last week I was going to be a grandma for the first time. I will feel too young for that in another post, this one is about our winners. Bruce chose the random winner as he usually does, winner is posted below.

The winner of the $20.00 gift certificate is Gloria Breau
The winner of the $10.00 gift certificate is Paula H

Congratulations to both of you!

A really nice thing about these Mother's Day posts is they are all so loving, and I'm sure we can relate to many of them! Along with the posts something I wanted to point out is that because of SNAP being placed on our blog here, it allows a preview of these very talented and creative womens websites or blogs. Please be sure and check that out when you get a chance. And a huge thank you to everyone that participated in our giveaway, many thanks for sharing your heartfelt stories!

I have created a new category in the Farmhouse Store for Mother's Day miniatures. Not everything you see in the above photo is in the new Mother's Day category as there are so many little minis I have that could be gifted as Mother's Day. For example miniature cakes, or miniature cookies, or jewelry. So you'll find many of these above items in their own category, as well as listed in our new items link in the store. As with everything if it's out of stock that's not a problem, you can still order it with little to no wait:) As part of the Mother's Day miniatures newly listed items I've included six new Mother Goose miniature books, a miniature wrapped purse shaped cookie, so cute! Also because we love being pampered a princess tiara cookie, mom is never too old for that dream right? The oh so precious round clay handprints we made in grade school. These are offered in the box and ready to gift but will soon be available individually. Mother's Day miniature greeting cards, miniature boxed chocolates, framed print, gloss black benches and shelves. What am I forgetting? Oh yes the miniature wrapped "Happy Mother's Day" chocolate bars, gift bags, and lastly the bud vase with miniature flowers. Oh! Also for you non miniaturists there are miniature cupcake earings now available and more selection coming soon in our jewelry section. I think that covers the new miniatures today? We'll see;) Enjoy your Easter weekend with your family, and again thank you so much for your participation in our giveaway!
Thank You! Cathy
 

Last Day for Miniatures Giveaway!

Today is the last day!

If you haven't yet, be sure and  enter to win one of two gift certificates for The Fabulous Farmhouse.

Tomorrow I'll post the winners along with some new Mother's Day Dollhouse Miniatures.

Did you know there is a year round website dedicated to celebrating Mothers all year round? I found lots of useful Mother's Day information like crafts, recipes, gift ideas, planning tips and more at Mother's Day Central.com Who'd have thought?  Thanks! Cathy