Fall Gathering

  Ok, let me first say, I'm embarrassed that the last time I posted, it was early summer!  Yikes, I really need to get my act together. 

A couple weekends ago, my girls and I headed out to gather a little "Fall" for the front of the house.  On our list every year are the usual suspects...cornstalks, hay bales, pumpkins, mums, Indian corn, and gourds. 

This bittersweet I picked up at the Cary Farmer's Market on Sunday.

My front door should have a great wreath on it, or at least something that my mom made.  But, I was unprepared and used the Indian corn we picked up instead.  To the left of the walk you can see the crazy pumpkin we have growing....it's a left over from last year. 

This was my walk way last year after our big pumpkin haul. 

My mom made this adorable wreath out of an old bushel basket  lid. I love that it still has the original labels. The shop is filled with lots of Autumn inspiration.  So stop by this weekend! We are open this weekend as well as October 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 10th, 11th. 

Happy Fall!

Julie

Fall Welcome!

Fall is my favorite season of the year.  It is so beautiful, and the most pleasant I think.  Like always, I needed a little seasonal welcome at the front door. 

Here's what I came up with this year.  I instantly loved the new look, as did my 9 year old daughter who said, "I like the mums, they give it a nice "pop" of color".

I used a wreath that we had at the shop that mom made.  I think it looks perfect.

I got my mums at Home Depot for about $11.  Not a bad price for the size. 

I couldn't resist buying a couple of pumpkins.  I am like a kid when it comes to pumpkins.  I can never have too many!

Here is a closeup of the wreath mom made.  I love the way she can take a basic grapevine wreath and transform it.  She used some large burlap ribbon which is similar to the burlap ribbon we carry at the shop.  If you are in need of a wonderful wreath for your front door, we still have a couple at the shop.  Have a great week everyone! Happy Fall!



Autumn Drive

This is our post from last October, but I wanted to repost it because The Autumn Drive is going on this weekend, Oct. 14th, 15th, and 16th.  It makes for a perfect "Autumn Drive". I took Rt. 176 out past Crystal Lake, and turned right on Franklinville Rd. 

Looking for something to do this weekend?  

The 18th annual Autumn Drive in rural Mchenry County is this weekend.  Located on Garden Valley Road in Marengo, the festival features 12 stops along this scenic stretch.  Each stop features something different.  There are antiques, garage sales, pumpkins and gourds, arts and crafts and much more!

Stop 5 had rows of pumpkins. Large- $3, Med- $2, Small- $1.

3 for $1??? You can't beat it!

This was not my wagon, but I love what this guy picked out!  By the way, that whole wagon full only cost 6 bucks!

Soran's made his selection. One small pumpkin and 2 pie pumpkins....2 bucks.

Stop 5 also features the "Lunch Barn".  They serve food and drinks in this small outbuilding.

I parked right in front of this old building at stop 5.  Love every thing about this picture...especially the old tire.

When a place like this has a "Garage Sale" sign out front, a 10,000 man army couldn't keep me from pulling in.

OK. I actually got a hot flash when I saw this place.  This right here, is what my dreams are made of.  I LOVED this barn.  I actually asked the owner if she knew how lucky she was.  And her answer made me love this place even more...this barn was actually owned by Capone.  There is a distillery in the basement and a tall brick chimney running through the middle that they used to dump the "hooch" down when the cops came.  It would all drain out into the Kishwaukee River that runs behind the barn.

One more shot of her.  She's just perfect.  She is not part of the "Autumn Drive"...she is located a little south east a couple miles off Rt. 176.

Another fabulous day in the country!

 

 

 

Fun Filled Fall

Today Anne and I took the kids with us to go "shop" at our Friend's place.  Afterwards, we took them to lunch and then to a pumpkin patch.  It's amazing how much fun they can have at even the tinest of places.  Kruger's is a small roadside farm stand.  It was filled with tons of different kinds of pumpkins picked from their fields, as well as all the other usual fall goods. We had quite a few people asking last week in the shop where all our pumpkins came from, so I thought I'd share some pics and information about Kruger's.

 
Of course we had to check out the chickens.  They were adorable.

 
 
 
How funny is this gal? 

 
"Lift with your knees Soran"

 
 
 
 
 Pumpkins are .35/lb.  What a deal!

 
 
These were sort of like birdhouse gourds, only prettier.

 
 
 
 
They even have pick your own tomato's.  Yum. 

 
And some silly photo ops for the kids.  Some days this is exactly what my kids act like.  A which, a little devil and even Frankenstein.  Margaret should of been the which, and Lily the little devil.  Although Soran would of been a close second for the devil!  Mac should of been the ghost, because sometimes he's so quiet.   Jack is in the right place as Frank.  Augie would of been the perfect little pumpkin, but he missed out today.

 
If you'd like to visit Krueger's yourself, they are located at 28572 West Route 120 in Lakemoor, IL.  You can reach them at 815-385-4981.

Next we headed out to Dairy Queen for some ice cream, and then off to Harms Farm and Garden Center in McHenry.

 
 This place had just about everything.  Pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, Indian corn, mums, bulbs, apples, carmel apples, and tons of great garden plants to choose from.

      

They also had tons of options for the kids.  A haunted house, a maze, even a train ride around the property, and lots more.  

 
 
 
How cute is this place? 

 
This is what the back of my car looked like at the end of the day.  Notice how my vintage folding chair matches all the goodies.  And check out the awesome chippy wrought iron chairs we picked up today.  They are one of my favorite Tattered Tiques finds, and will be for sale next week.  

Stop back again soon.  I'm working on a post about our recent trip to Ohio.  The shop will be open this week, and we will also be heading out to Nada Farm, which we are very excited about.  We will post the details soon.  Make plans to visit us this week! 

 

Elkhorn Antique Flea Market

Getting ready for Elkhorn Antique Flea Market this week.  The market starts this Sunday, Sept. 26, at 7:00 am.  It is held at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, on Hwy. 11, in Elkhorn Wisconsin.  We have made another batch of cookies for all our customers.  Hope to see you there. 

 
Fall gourds, pumpkins and indian corn, make such great subject matter for pictures.  These pictures were taken on the road trip home from Minnesota.  Local farm stands are the best for fall produce.