We Have a Winner for The Sweetie Tomato Pin Keep!!!!!

Good morning.........sweetie ladies......another HOT day in Kansas on the farm.......staying in most of the day to keep cool.

Thank you to all of you who made the party so much fun. I enjoy all your comments and each one totally blesses my day! 

I did the drawing and the lady that won 

the 

name is..........

Raquel.......

This is what her comment was.......blessed me!

"I look forward to your blog. You are very interesting. I have a little garden and have tomatoes, chiles, radishes, squash, zuchini and cucumbers. At this time I am my Dad's caregiver 86 yrs old and he has dimentia but reading your blog brings some sunshine into my life. I am from New Mexico and a born again Christian."

How precious Raquel that you are caring for your Daddy! You just brought some major sunshine to my life! God loves it when we honor Him by honoring our parents!!!!!

Hope you all are enjoying your day and just know that you are some of the most precious ladies I have ever known. I am not just saying that either. Something very unique and special has happened her on my blog. It's called, 

"Farmgirl Family" 

I have said it before......but it is true. 

Took my pic's for the Quilt Keeper this morning..... out in the Potter's Shed.........like how they turned out. Now to pick what I will use........Tressy is working away and putting the pattern into pages. Can't wait to show you.......please keep praying that the "company" will take it. We need a new roof on the farmhouse!!!!!! No kidding! Ice storm came through and it is not good!    #:< ) that is a raggedy girlfriend smile! 

Hugs to your day from the farm,

Linda

P.S. If you are from Colorado, Utah, New Mexico or where there are fires, please let us know how we can pray!!!!! 

So so sorry!

Finishing Up Pattern.....One More Day to Sign UP!

Good morning sweet ladies,

I am so busy today......my sweet girl and I are finishing up the pattern. I thought for fun I would tell you what the name is, 

"My Quilt Keeper"

Some had guessed at what I was working on some time back......now you at least know the name of it........but I can't show you right yet. Until all the instructions are finished and the photo is taken.......which reminds me........

I CAN'T FIND MY CAMERA!

FOUND IT! 

That is a huge deal and I have looked most of the morning.......prayed and now I am really sweating it. 

Thought I took it maybe last night when we went to visit our son's home......they can't find it. 

I can't believe this is happening to me right now! Sigh!

I pinned this pic HERE

Sooooooo while I am working today on finishing the pattern, I thought I would ask another...... 

"Get to Know You Questions".

If you could sit under this arbor, would you quilt, stitch a stitchery, read, crochet, knit, or do something different?

I would stitch on a stitchery......and listen to the sounds around me!!!!!

One more day for the party.......sign up if you would like.......

if you haven't already!!!

Go HERE

Hugs to your day!!!!!!!!

Linda

It's HOT Today!

Good morning sweeeet ladies!

Oh my......it is going to be a scorcher today. Sooo I went outside very early to pick the beans.......to my surprise there was a lot. It was quiet....the birds were singing praises......I am sure to the Lord! So was I. I told Him thank you for my life.......

that He gives me the summers off........how can I not be grateful? I was having my own little praise party sitting on the straw picking beans..........what a gift! Time is going by fast and so I am savoring every little minute! 


Wanted to thank you all for coming by yesterday and this morning and signing up for the party. Got a lot of emails and so that was fun......met some new ladies.......that was a real blessing!


If you haven't signed up yet.........please go HERE......you will see this.........

We are going today to meet another family that adopted two son's from where our Vitaliy was from.......it will be fun for V to have some of his friends back in his life. Our daughter Tressa met them while she was over there.......she said we will love them........they reminded her of our family......always ready for a party....hmmm, glad she thinks that about her fam.  

I have a little trailer....this pic is not it.......but I would like it to look like this..........ours  needs a lot of fixin........this this would be wonderful don't you think. 

On Just a Couple Acres

Now I will leave you with a funny story I read on a blog that I enjoy when she writes. She has a bundle of adorable children and a baby......right down my alley......well she posted this morning and I thought I would fall off my chair.......plus I had tears running down my cheeks......and could barely get the thing read. Love the baby picture.....you will see what I mean. The story is at the bottom of the post.........be ready to giggle!

Enjoy!

Hugs from the farm!

Linda

P.S. Thank you so much for the orders on the Sweetie Tomato Pin Keep!!!!!!! I so appreciate them!

My New "Sweet Tomato Pin Keep" Needs A Home.....Party Thyme!

Party closed......if you want to order a Sweetie Tomato Pin Keep go down to the bottom of post! Thanks for all who joined in!


Good morning sweet ladies,

All day yesterday I ran from the garden watered 4 tomatoes.....ran back to the house.......worked on the new pattern......ran back a half hour later.....watered 4 more tomatoes.......that was my life until late last night. Oh and I did get to talk with some on facebook.......my favorite part of my day!!!!!!! I am so tired of this pattern.......it can't be finished soon enough. My Tressy is scanning all the diagrams and we will be ready to clip the images into the pattern...........whewwwww. Hopefully after today I will do the photo shoot. I have not heard from the company.....sooooo I am just going to get it out there on my own. Hopefully you might help me. If you could tell your favorite Quilt Shop about it......once I get to show you...that would be wonderful! It is for the Quilter or Crafter. 

"Sweetie Tomato Pin Keep"

Okay......it has been so hard to just sit at my computer......day after day.........typing and typing on the new pattern.......so today it is time for a 

PRAIRIE FLOWER FARM PARTY....

Ending on Friday June 29th at noon

while I keep typing away and proofing!  I have seen these pin keeps out on the web and had my own idea of what I wanted mine to look like!!!!!!!! Guess what......woke up this morning.....walked out to my garden (in my favorite attire)...........and one had just grown on my tomato plant......totally amazing..........JUST KIDDING!  Feeling a little goofy...looking at a screen all day will do it to ya!

Vote one

Now for the party............lets just say you can write me whatever you want. I love hearing about your family.......what you are doing.......what do you like to do in your day........just anything you want! 

Vote 2

Tell a friend and let me know!

Please...please please please......... if you are ANONYMOUS.........you HAVE to put your email addy on your comment.......you just have to or I can't get ahold of you......and that makes me sad. 

If you don't have a blog.......just email me at 

prairie flower farm at g mail dot com 

and put "Sweetie Tomato" in the subject. I will count you in!

Time to get back to the drawing board. Almost finished!!!!!!!! Can't wait!

Hugs to my "sweetie friends, 

Linda

P.S. If anyone wants to buy one of these pin keeps they are $9.50 plus $3.00 shipping. Just let me know if you are interested! We do paypal, check and money order. You can email me. I would do them in other colors, if you would want that also. 

Soooooo here we go.........PARTY THYME! 

Getting Ready!!!!!

Good morning sweet ladies,

Taylor........our gift.........from the Lord......when I was 42 and what a precious gift! We love you Taylor......you have brought more joy to our life then you will know! Our God knew that you were the one to come and live on earth with our family. Amazing and precious how He has used you already. Your smile is contagious! Keep shining and walking with Jesus.......He will never fail you...EVER.....sweet pea! May many hear the gospel......because you have shared.  We are so thankful we chose to homeschool you......we have been able to know you in such a special way! 

Please join us as we pray for Tay's life.....that God would be her all and all and that He would give direction to her life and she would not hesitate to follow every step of the way, thank you so much. 

This is going to be one of those weekends!!!!!!! The girls and I will be baking and cleaning for the graduation party!!!!!!! Tay will have so much fun with her family and friends loving her and celebrating with! 

I soooooo wish I had a place like this as a place of refuge for those who stop by. Isn't it beautiful? I saw it on Pinterest and had to pin it to my

 Garden and Farm Life Board

It needs one thing.......a little splash of red! 

Well this is a quickie post........ thought I would just say hello......I am off to start working on getting things organized for baking and cleaning.......... I just had to say hello.

Wondering how you are all doing weather wise? Anything we need to be praying about? Let me know. 

Hugs to your day and know that you are loved a bunch, by me and definitely by the Lord! Have a wonderful weekend!

Linda

Busy Weekend!

Hello sweet ladies,

How are you all doing? We have a party going on this weekend for our sweet girl Taylor.....she has graduated from her homeschooling and want to celebrate her accomplishments. Can't believe that all my children are finished with that part. Need to adopt some more kids!!!!!! Smile!

The garden is doing well, but the squash bugs are here......knew they would come since our winter didn't kill off the bugs. I took a wire cage and put the white pumpkin plant inside and tied it in place. Hope this will help me. I have been killing the bugs when I find them, with my hands.........can't believe it. I would have never done that years ago. Now I can! They are mine......I have worked hard and the squash bugs are not getting them. I put a flap of newspaper on everywhere I tied the stem. That will help, so it won't rub and break. The wind blows here in Kansas. 

Look what I found last night. I was blog hopping and not sure where I found it the first time. Maybe Pinterest. Cute? Ordered the pattern! Making one........if you have some old vintage tablecloths and want to sell, let me know please. I am looking for some! You can email me. I think this is the cutest pattern!!!!!!! CHRISTmas Gifts for my girl's hope chests and daughter in loves!! It could be used in lots of other ways a friend said! I so agree!

Hugs to your day sweet ladies, you are loved by me.......and a lotta by JESUS, 

Linda

Please keep praying for our country.......rain, forest fires, and flooding. If you have a prayer request please leave a comment and we will pray!

Now I Can Dream Of A Greenhouse!!!!!!!

Hello Sweet Ladies,

This morning I made up one of our favorite recipes from way back when I had our boys. It was from the La Leche League, Mother's in the Kitchen Cookbook. Easy and you can add any fruit you would like to the batter. It lasts in the fridge for six-weeks. We added fresh chopped up strawberries to our first batch of muffins this morning. They are so so num! 

Six-Weeks Muffins

6 c. bran

2 c. boiling water

1 c. shortening, melted  (I used butter)

3 c. sugar or less (I used raw sugar)

4 eggs, beaten

1 quart buttermilk

5 c. flour

5 tea. soda

2 tea. salt

Pour the boiling water over 2 c. of bran and let stand while assembling other ingredients. Mix in shortening. Mix rest of bran with sugar, eggs and buttermilk. Sift flour with soda and salt. Combine all ingredients and bake as needed, at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. 

Misture will keep six weeks or more in the refrigerator. Makes 6 dozen.

You can add fresh cut strawberries, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, raisins or chopped apple at baking time. After the batch is made, all you do is ladle the batter into muffin tins and add fruit to muffin cup. 

Yesterday the V and Ian started working on the old coop again.....they came in the house and said that they had a surprise......

Later in the day Ellie and I joined the boys and we all started working on the coop. We had so much fun working along side each other. The kids were excited about some of their finds. The neatest for me was the blue door. I think it is beautiful. 

We also found an old grain keeper. I think this is what it is anyway. I have it on it's side in the pic. Most think I like the color red........and I do, but this color blue is my next favorite. We are not sure what we will do with this piece......it needs some work, but I think it will be fun trying to figure it out. 

Yesterday on facebook I had the question, what did ladies think the door (the one we found above) could be used for........I got some really neat ideas from the ladies. 

I found this idea this morning........beautiful! I think I would like!!!!!

We are moving all the boards and tree limbs to the burn pile. They are the sweetest little helpers! No complaining.......lots of God Chatter......and lots of laughter.

Found an old feeder.......we will use it again. 

When we started it looked like this..........

before evening it looked like this........

today it started to look like this........three walls are down......not much more work to finish up. 

The burn pile is getting high......we will save for the boys to burn themselves.......they will like that......maybe a hotdog roast and marshmallows? 

Now to start dreaming about my greenhouse......I haven't looked at any yet on the internet, but I will be starting to.  If you have any places for me to look, would you mind sharing where??????

Hope your day is going well. My grandkids are gone now and the house is quiet........I will miss them!

Hugs to your day,

Linda

Wasps and Nightgowns Don't MIX!

Good Morning Sweet ladies,

What a fun precious weekend was had by all! Our friend's car finally got fixed and they left early last night. They will be missed. Isn't amazing when there are years in between seeing each other ......and when you get together again it is like no time has been missed? Our friends have 3 children, two girls and a boy! They were frosting on top of the cake!  Thanking Jesus for their friendship!

Went to go and check on Willow, Twig and Leaf..............

soon Twig came........when the sun goes down they look beautiful to me. 

 Love this pic of Miss Willow! Her freckles make her face hers!!!!!

After caring for the sheep I went and walked in the north garden. Checked the potatoes........they are growing. We can't wait. 

Picked my first little mini pumpkin.......I know where it is going to go.........smile! 

This morning I went down to the milk house to feed and water all the babies and Momma's in my nightgown. I got back into the house and a wasp was attached to my nightgown. I went to get it off thinking it was a June bug. It stung me two times! Sweet man will be fixing the milk house for me, before I go down again!!!!!!

Hope you are all doing well. Please continue to keep praying for rain for those places that need it and protection from the fires that are in different states, New Mexico, California, Idaho and Colorado that I know of. Thank you!!!!!!!

Hugs from the farm, 

Linda

Read this, this morning......precious Words.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.....not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-9

Hugs to your DAY!

Good Morning!!!!!!!!!! To the Sweetest Ladies in the World!

Hi.......today is going to be one of those Mondays! Ya know........when the laundry is high and lots to finish up from the long weekend.....it will be a little hectic!  Animals all have to be cared for. Stitchin' going on later in the day! Busy, busy, busy!!!!!! 

My Tressy picked us sunflowers that she found down by Peace Creek not far from our farm. We love having them in our home......so cheery don't you think? Love this pic.......you are welcome to always use any of my picks if you would like. That has never bothered me! 

This is my short post....fast one huh? Just had to give you all a hug and tell you that I think you are so so special! 

Company is still here for part of the day and that has been so refreshing to have some sweet sweet fellowship! Our hearts have needed it as of late! God always knows doesn't He?

Hope your day is going well........hope it is sweet!!!!

Linda
P.S. My seet girl Tressy put a tribute up about her Daddy.....my sweet man. If you would like to read......here it is. It is truly the most precious thing I have read in a long time!

Walking In His Path

Happy Father's Day to all the special Dads!!!!!!

Good Morning Sweet Ladies,

Just wanted to say hello.......company is here and we are having pancakes, homemade raspberry syrup, and blueberry/blackberry muffins for breakfast. My sweet man will like!

Will be honoring our children's Daddy at the lake!!!!!!!! My sweet man to me! 

He will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. Genesis 18:19

Trusting you are having some precious memories brought to your mind....... on this special day!

Linda

Heavenly Father.......thank you for being the best Daddy any of us could have ever asked for!!!!!!

Hugs to YOUR DAY!

Good Morning sweet ladies,

I found some fabric that I had a lot of. It wasn't maybe what I wanted, but it would do. I made a simple valance. Made a small double turned hem at the bottom and one at the top that was 1 1/2" wide.  Every 6" I cut a small slit. This was going to be a fast job......it didn't have to be fancy, it was my back porch. 

Then I tied  checked homespun red and cream ribbon into bows around the curtain rod. Simply simple, that was what I needed. It pleased my eyes......and that is what we are looking for when we decorate right? 

We have company coming today..........so I need to stop decorating, but I will be back to it on Monday! Are you doing anything special in your home?

We will be celebrating our sweet man who lives in our home tomorrow on Father's Day. He has been such a precious godly Daddy to our children. We will celebrate who he is to each one of our family members. He will be honored.........and we will pray for his life, that it will be a light to those the Lord put's into his path.

Know you will be doing the same at your home.......and if by chance you are reading this and your Daddy is gone to be with the Lord, or your husband is not in your home, because of situations that have come up........know I will be taking you before the Father. Father's Day is not always the easiest these days. 

Hugs to your weekend.......I will be back on Monday.

Linda

Rain........and Wet Baby Chick!

Good morning..........sweet ladies,

Hope you are having a sweet day! We are running around the house picking up and cleaning......we have company coming and we can't wait to see them. They are a family that we have known since their college days. In fact they went to Sterling College years back, The church we went to had an adoption program where you could adopt kids from the college, who needed a place to go, when they needed family life. So I am still on the back porch cleaning and scrubbing. Making some curtains today.........can't wait to get them finished!

Last night when we went to Wichita we went to one of my favorite quilt stores........The Picket Fence. Picked up a few pieces for a new pattern.......adorableness I thought! I have been eyeing this collection for some time and finally found it. Ordered some other pieces this morning on the web. Can't wait to start some etches on paper and then start cutting fabric! I won't start until next week, but I will let you see once I get going. Still praying about the pattern that is being looked at. I showed the finished product to Lisa at The Picket Fence........she liked! That encouraged me a lot! Wish I could show you.......soon I hope! We just keep entrusting it to the Lord......all you can do....right!

Last night we got dumped on......two different storms.......and we had to drive through both of them. It was okay.....loved hearing the thunder and torrential rain! It was good to know that there was no tornados, just high winds. I laid in bed and just listened to the light mist outside. Music........we thanked the Lord over and over! 

This morning I went to go check on all the animal.......little sweet pea was a bit wet. Momma Hen must not have stayed on her nest the whole time. I will be fixing the pen up a little better from the rain. He is in the incubator right now and doing very well. He was all floppy, but once he got warm he perked up. 

Want to try to get the curtains finished today. I love sitting at my sewing machine. It is sooooo relaxing. Are you sewing anything?

Hugs to your day and God bless! 

Linda

One of Those Days.........BUSY!

Went out this morning down into the milk house........ to check on my new little chick. All sweet and fluffy don't ya think? Just three more eggs to go and Momma will be happy.......that is Human Momma!!!! 

Also went to go see what produce I might have for my pickles this morning. The walk to the garden was beautiful. Not to hot yet, they say in the 90's......oh my! I found some garlic, winter onions, pickle cucumbers, anahiem peppers, banana peppers.......that's a start. Can't wait to make them up.

Checked on my sheep.........sweet boy Twig was looking over the fence.....isn't he the sweetest?

It is going to be a very busy day today.......farm meeting.......taking the seed cart trailer back, picking up grain......and then hopefully getting to go to the Quilt Store. That will be my favorite part.......well.....no sitting by my sweet man and talking will be my most favorite part of the day! When we go to town we get everything we alllll need to get done on the same trip. 

Hope all of you are having a sweet day! Know you have been prayed for!!!!!! 

Hugs to your day,

Linda

P.S. Please keep praying for the pattern that a company is looking at........that it won't get lost in the stack of other patterns she is looking at...... and the artwork for the other company!!!!!!!!! Thank you soooooo much. This waiting is so hard, but I know the Lord knows what is best for our family! 

Laundry Soap Making at Prairie Flower Farm

Hi Sweet Ladies,

After the girls and friends left yesterday, I started working on the house.......I have so much to get accomplished before I have to go back to the college and "serve". I have a

list going.......backporch.......bedroom.......kitchen.......dining room.......and so on and so on! Also trying to do a little something special like I told you for myself each day........nothin fancy......just something that will encourage me this summer that I love to do! Once I go back to the college my life is not my own. Some of you who "have" to work outside the Home know what I am talking about. I have just felt so free this summer!!!!!!! Last night I was out in our north garden watering.......I was telling the Lord I was so so grateful for getting to be on the farm this summer. He knows!!!!!!!! Anyway.............

I have always wanted to make my own Laundry Soap!!!!!!!! I had all the ingr......... finallllllyyyyy and so that was my special thing to do for me yesterday! Ladies, I heard it wasn't hard.......guess what.......it isn't!!!!!!! EASY PEASY! NOOOOOO KIDDING! The money we will be saving in our families is unreal, something like $35. a year. I will like it!!!!!! I opened it up on my fb......got some wonderful ideas. 

Kelly's Laundry Soap Video

The other day I was on Kelly's blog called The Morris Tribe and saw her tutorial video of her making her laundry soap. That is what I like........women to women even if it is a video talking to me!!!!!! Kind of like having them in my home!

Carmen from Old House Kitchen 

(click on her name) had a really good recipe. 

If you use a certain recipe please let me know on my comments, would like to know what you do about your laundry soap.

 Yesterday I made a sweet curtain for the back porch. Pic didn't turn out. I will take another one and show you. I will be making curtains also for the windows. Guess what color? BLUE! There is so much work that needs to happen on the porch, but I am taking a little time each day!!!!!!!  I will accent with red, blue and green in the other pieces of fabric. 

I had one more spray of geraniums and another old basket.......like using the burlap like I did on the other basket the other day that I made! 

Next to the basket is an old mirror that I will be getting a new mirror put in. It has been hanging on the back porch for years, when Grandpa Jack and Gramma Jo lived here.  I made this doll years ago........I lost all my dolls when I was young in a fire that we had in our home......I still like them and love making them. The space under the mirror will have a scripture hanging that I will be making. 

Put all my laundry supplies in a basket........will be so nice!

Saw this idea on pinterst......with the burlap around a mason jar and ribbon rose..........had to make one. I put a votive candle on the inside. Turned out sweet  I thought. I would like to make a blue rose, when I get some new ribbon. I guess I could use fabric for that also.

This was given to me some years back.......one of my fav's. 

I will keep you updated on what I am doing! I am cleaning as I go. Feels so good. I have wanted to do this forever! 

Don't forget to leave a note in my comments if you make your own soap! If you wouldn't mind.......smile!

Hugs to your day from my farm,

Linda