Showing posts with label beginning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beginning. Show all posts
Intimidating New Garden in Beginning Phase
Intimidating New Garden in Beginning Phase
Have you ever wondered how to get help on the big projects you want done? Well, in or around our home it means renting heavy equipment and letting my husband play on it. Big boy toys, I guess you would say. His friend owns this pretty little mini excavator and he was more than happy to let Doyle play on it to begin construction on the new Intimidating Row Garden. I happily call it that as I cant imagine how I will keep up with it all when it is done.
After digging up all the field sod growing in this area, Doyle began tilling it. By hand.... well, with a very old tiller he borrowed and never returned to his mom and dad. It is officially dead now that it has tilled this spot. The actual garden turned out to be 91 x 27 feet and I say that is more than enough to weed. I guess we will be buying a new bigger, healthier tiller after the chicken house is constructed. We decided the family that lived here before us and erected the milking barn, must have fed their cows in this space in the winter. There were thousands, and I am not exaggerating, of bale strings that wrapped around the tines of the tiller and had to be burnt off dozens of times during this process. We also unearthed tons of old metal things, and who knows what else in this spot. Sometimes I wonder what people were thinking back in the old days. The dump must have been way too far an old farm truck. Doyle tilled in the nasty old wind we had last week and got all of the area tilled twice. Now the Super Highway pathways and the side road paths can go in. We have that started but then get overwhelmed with the sheer size of this project.
Intimidating New Garden in Beginning Phase
Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Open House 2015!
Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Open House 2015!
I KNOW it Columbus Day weekend! And Autumn is my favorite season so I am by no means rushing Santa Claus; however, this post featuring The Village Shoppes in New Carlisle, Indiana, has become an annual tradition and it is indeed that time of the year... The 2015 CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE!
It has been a spectacularly warm Fall season thus far here in the Midwest! It has been in the 80s and warm, dry and with brilliant blue skies and abundant sunshine! The leaves are just beginning to change. the colder temperatures are becoming more frequent and, of course, fleeting thoughts are starting to turn to the holiday season.
Before I begin with the barrage of yuletide awesomeness, lets review... The Village Shoppes consists of two home interior stores across the street from one another in the quaint little town of New Carlisle, Indiana. I remember first going there with my Mom and Dad and sisters years ago and upon the first visit, we instantly fell in love and it was always at the top of the list for a road trip no matter what time of the year. It is just a little over one hour to drive in from Illinois and about a 20 minute drive from South Bend. If, after reading this post, you still havent had your fill of all things holiday, please check out my account of previous years here and here.
With both my parents now gone, walking through the doors always warms my heart with memories of visits of yore. And yet the reminiscing instantly fades as I am almost instantly awestruck by the gorgeousness before me. A visit to "Bills", as we call it in reference to the owner Mr. Bill Sutton, is always an amazing treat for the senses with so much to see, touch, taste, hear and smell.
This year we went on Sunday, the day after the Notre Dame vs. Navy football game. I never go the first day because the crowds are pretty intense. I like to go late in the day on the second day as I have time and space to fully take it all in. I actually go both Open House weekends because it really it too much to take in with just one visit. And there is no such thing as too much Village Shoppes! :-)
The wonderful thing about this store is the cacophony of decor in all different color schemes and home interior stylings. No matter with whom you visit, there is most definitely something for everyones taste, every price point and even the most finicky decorator. I was quite taken with these adorable black and white and sparkly plaques in different scenes and shapes.
With the popularity of HGTVs Fixer Upper with Chip n Jojo, the rustic farmhouse, industrial trend was definitely and most perfectly a highlight for me this visit.
I couldnt love this rustic elk shelf more! So delish!
Cute. Cute. Cute.
These rustic houses have a hole in the bottom so your can add lights! SO charming!
I love signs! All year, all seasons, all sayings and this store does not disappoint!
These arrows are quite adorable! I thought they were reversible but they were not.
Fell in love with this little beauty and yet so did my friend. I acquiesced and allowed her to have it. I just have so much and this way when I go and visit her house I get to enjoy it too.
If you ever hear of a support group for throw pillow addicts, please clue me in. I can never seem to get enough! This years collection at the Village Shoppes was over the top spectacular. I liked one better than the next although my favorite one was the Halloween one! So hard to resist!
Plaid anything is like my kryptonite! I have no power against it!
Totally Totes McGoats!
How elegantly creepy this this? That brooch on the black and white stripe is spectacular!
Elegant red and green and a classic topiary!
Just SO pretty!
This beverage cart.... PERFECTION.
Who knew sage and silver could be so wonderful at Christmas?
Who doesnt love a nutcracker at Christmas?
Those lanterns... STOP. Just STOP.
Totally whimsical and totally adorable.
Holiday topiaries. So pretty.
One of my fave things of the day - these lovely ornament crystals.
Lantern love.
SO many beautiful vignettes! It is hard to pick one favorite theme or color palette. This was indeed one of the best displays ever. I wasnt overly thrilled with last year and so the fact that the ridiculously talented design team knocked it out of the park this year is all the more exciting.
My ultimate favorite item of the day were these amazingly spectacularly fantabulous toboggan shelves!
It was most definitely love at first sight! Alas, the price was a bit too steep at $140. They only have this one set left as they sold the other one as soon as they placed it on the wall. #LOVE
OMG they are so FANTASTIC! I need these in my life! And my house! LOL
Oh and this table.... SWOON! How perfectly perfect is this? UGH. Just stop it.
So that is my field trip report on the 2015 Village Shoppes Open House! I hope you enjoyed the pictures of all the amazing decor, inspiration and imagination. If you ever get a chance to visit this retailer, DO SO! And if you live in the area - by area I mean within a thousand miles or so - run, dont walk here! You will be so glad you did.
For their website with hours and directions... click HERE!
Happy Columbus Day, Happy Halloween and Merry Christmas! #Bwahaha.
Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Open House 2015!