Road Trip Highlights - The Country Living Fair and Ohio

All Photos - The Grower's Daughter

My mother kindly reminded me this morning that I had yet to blog about our road trip down to Ohio for the Country Living Fair.

How has it already been a month since we've been back?

Well... better late than never! Here are some highlights from the Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio, and a few other photos from our trip out to Charm, a quaint little town in Ohio, and a favourite vacation spot of my parents.

Now, first you have to understand that whole "Trip to Ohio" thing. When we were little girls, my parents used to take us to "visit the Amish". That's right... That was were we vacationed. At one point, they even bought all four of us little Amish dresses and bonnets. Most parents vacationed in the South, or maybe headed East, but not my parents. For years they have made annual trips down to Ohio; Charm, Ohio to be exact. It's not that I remember having a bad time there - it was always fun. But, as we've grown up, it's become a joke in our family that my parents still insist on going back to their favourite little spot.

This year, having already planned to attend the Country Living Fair, which happens to be only a couple hours from Charm, my parents convinced me to head out there with them. I took Willen and my sister along for a little road trip and honestly, I can't say I was expecting to enjoy myself as much as what I did. I mean I knew it would be fun, especially for Willen, but I didn't think I would love it nearly as much as I did.

Being only five hours away from us, it was the perfect distance for our weekend adventure. We ate at my parents favourite little restaurant each night, walked the local towns, and of course, enjoyed the best coffee and donuts in all of Holmes County. The inn we stayed at was cozy, and complete with a fireplace and jacuzzi tub (Willen was convinced he had his own personal swimming pool). The towns were nestled into big rolling hills, speckled with horses, and humming with the constant sound of buggies passing. The houses were simple and white and always in pristine condition (and always with a laundry line that seemed to go on forever!). But all the quaint, country charm and homey goodness aside, there was one particular reason I loved the trip.

The junking.

Barns full, warehouses full, even roadside sheds full! It was a constant hunt for the best hidden treasures and I came home with a car full of beautiful pieces!

The fair was a great afternoon, as always, but it really was only part of the fun, and to be honest, I can see exactly why my parents go so often.

After all, I can't wait to go back.

Enjoy.

The fair never fails to inspire me for the soon arriving Fall season.

This booth was a great assortment of vintage industrial.

These pillows (and bag below), were a favourite handmade find.

Urban Farmhouse - Always a  favourite.

I think this year, STASH took the place of my favourite booth. There was just so much going on, and such creativity, you could spend hours browsing through her gorgeously styled booth.

Summerhouse - Another favourite, was beautiful and full of ironstone as always.

The gorgeous countryside.

And my father's favourite find. This is literally a shed on the side of the main road through Charm that is just full of the most random assortment of junk. The owner can be found repurposing old windows into garden benches, another stack of finds piled high on his old pick up. I think my father shopped there each day.

This is how we spent a lot of our time - driving around, climbing through old barns.

And of course, there was lots for Willen to do as well! In town, there was a hugely popular family farm. It was a petting farm, store, bakery, farmer's market and restaurant all in one. He spent his time there feeding ice cream cones full of pellets to the hungry little goats and chasing chickens. He was in awe of "Big Ben", the 3000lb Clydesdale and even rode his first pony, Shorty. A highlight of the trip was when we first arrived in Ohio. He stepped out of the van and in his most serious voice, he plainly greeted a local Amish man with a "Hey Cowboy.". We all nearly died laughing. It was priceless.

An Updated Living and Dining Room

All Photos - The Grower's Daughter

I wanted to share a few quick updates I've been working on in our living and dining room. They are nearly complete, there are just a few more details still needing to be finished.

First of all, I switched out our old loveseats for this loveseat and chair set that had previously been in our basement. It's the classic slip-covered Ikea sofa set. It's white, it's durable, and it looks a little more polished than the covered loveseats did. The old ones may furnish this room again one day, when I've had the chance to get them professionally refinished, but for now, this set is clean and simple - just what I was looking for.

Having sold my old trunk, I needed a replacement coffee table fast. For now, the matching poof works perfectly with a simple white tray on top.

The piano switched walls and I finally hung some artwork. I found this pair of portraits from Tattered and Torn and am happy to have found a home for them. It should be clear that I have absolutely no artwork in my house. This is something that I've always wanted to change. My husband and I both love artwork, and can appreciate good art. However, I have a very specific idea of what I love, and I've never been able to find myself something that matches that close enough. I love old landscapes and ornate frames, but we both find ourselves drawn to old, dark portraits. These two really did work perfectly. Maybe one day I will find two matching frames for them...

Space is quite limited in our living room, but we also have a large family room in our basement that houses our entertainment systems and has a cozy fireplace. I just wanted something simple and put together for our main floor. To me, this room is nice enough for a more formal sitting room, but

is still livable and inviting.

Opposite the loveseat is our armchair. This is my chair - the place where I enjoy my morning coffee and devotional, the place where I knit or read, and the place where Willen and I like to snuggle with our books before bed.

In our dining room, I got a replaced our old white pedestal table with a new one. It's slightly higher, but more narrow than the previous one, so it fits this space better. I also borrowed four wicker chairs from my sister in law. She wasn't using them... I wanted to buy the same ones new... so here they are!  I love my sister in law.

The wicker warms this previously very white space up a great deal (though you can't tell from these dark photos... it's so dreary outside and I'm lacking natural light, but it's been rainging forever!).

And finally, the last of my Limelights. The rest have all turned their dusty rose with the cold weather.



Guest Post from Design Shuffle - Rustic Decor

Is anyone else feeling a little blah with all this rain?

I mean don't get me wrong... I have thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon nap with Willen, warm and cozy under our duvet. I've taken out my knitting (something to occupy me when the days get cooler) and I've begun making regular trips to the library to supply myself with an endless stack of beautiful cookbooks, inspiring back issues and of course, a few good pieces of literature.

I have also begun tackling items on my master to-do list. Things like having our furnace inspected before the winter comes, packing away summer clothes, laundering slipcovers etc... I have been feeling really productive around the house lately. 

I've even finished a great deal of my Christmas shopping for this year!

I would say I've been spending most of my time lately, however, fluffing our nest. When I think of decorating during these Fall months, I think rustic. Today I have a guest post from Susi, a writer with Design Shuffle, sharing some tips on how to add the element of rustic style to rooms in your own home.

Thanks Susi.

Enjoy.

I’m Susi, a writer for DesignShuffle.com, a great place for people passionate about design to showcase their work and to browse tens of thousands of images from interior designers from around the world. Speaking of photos, The Grower's Daughter invited us to share pics and decorating ideas for rustic décor. Elements of rustic decor add charm and a relaxed style to many rooms. Rustic décor elements are also perfect for fall decorating. Here are some of our favorite elements. Hope you enjoy!

Hostess with the Mostest via

This collage shows many elements of rustic décor: repurposed finds; natural elements; handmade and handcrafted; seasonal touches. Mason jars are workhorses of possibilities; use them as vases, storage, candles...there are endless uses.

                        

Blue Velvet Chair via

Love this Mason jar chandelier. The rope and wood add more rustic charm to this charming DIY candlelier.

                          

Crate and Barrel via

Natural elements are key to rustic décor. This driftwood mirror from Crate & Barrel has a rustic, beach style that would work well with a rustic or cottage décor.

                                     

Pinterest via

A big design element of rustic décor is wood. This contemporary rustic bathroom has horizontal wood panels that recall a log cabin, but the fixtures are decidedly contemporary. A perfect mix for intriguing bathroom designs.

                                         

The Sweetest Occasion via

Farmhouse and rustic styles are similar in their love for vintage elements. Flea market finds like wire baskets and painted and aged wood tables add rustic charm to any décor.

                                      

Update Dallas via

Rustic décor in the kitchen adds an old world charm to the room. Natural stone on the walls and floor pair with aged wood beams and columns. Vintage school style lighting works well with all the rustic elements.

                 

Elle Decor via

Rustic décor can also be elegant and chic. This dining room/library has the wooden beams of a barn mixed with antique arm chairs; a traditional chandelier and a farmhouse table; deep colors against creams.

                           

Elle Decor via

Rustic décor elements like natural stone, wood and nods to the outdoors in the form of taxidermy mix with modern furnishings in this living room. Mixing modern and rustic makes for interesting and appealing interior designs.

For more great ideas and inspiration from interior designers across the U.S. - from San Diego interior designers to New York interior designers - check out Design Shuffle!

Baking Day - A Thanksgiving Apple Pie

All Photos - The Grower's Daughter

Tomorrow night is our second Thanksgiving dinner for my husbands side of the family.

It's going to be an intimate dinner and a nice quiet evening with family.

My mother-in-law is making the turkey and potatoes, my sister-in-law the vegetable sides, and I will be bringing desert and the stuffing (my favourite part).

We've already enjoyed a pumpkin pie so I thought I would bring something different. With our orchards full of delicious apples and luscious pears, I decided to make the most of the abundance of fruit and make an apple pie.

I've recently fallen in love with Donna Hay. Her cookbooks have quickly become a favourite of mine. The styling is gorgeous and the recipes are simple.

Today I used her recipe for Sweet Shortcrust Pastry. I then used my own recipe for Apple Pie Filling and voila! Dessert.

Here is the recipe below.

Sweet Shortcrust Pastry

2 cups plain flour

3 tbsp. caster (superfine) sugar

5 oz cold butter chopped

2 -3 tbsp. iced water

Filling

8 Green apples

1 tbsp. ground Cinnamon, peeled and sliced

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp. plain flour

1 tbsp. water

Topping

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 tbsp. raw sugar

1 tsp. ground Cinnamon

In the food processor, combine sugar, flour and butter. Pulse until it's the texture of fine breadcrumbs. While the motor is running, add enough iced water to form a smooth dough and process until just combined. Knead dough lightly, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Roll out 2/3 of dough and line plate. Mix filling ingredients together. Fill shell with filling and cover with remaining dough. Brush with a lightly beaten egg and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake for 30 minutes until golden.

 I prefer the raw sugar on top to give the crust a delicious crunch!

I found this classic glass cake stand for $19 on my last trip down to Ohio. It's my new favourite.

Yesterday my husband, son and I went for a lovely afternoon hike at a local Provincial Park. It's peak time for the changing of the leaves here and we couldn't get enough of the brilliant fall colours and crisp fall air!

The Sunroom Makeover - An Office Space

All Photos - The Grower's Daughter

My sale is now over, and I'm left with a few "holes" in my house. Actually, to be honest, this year I'm left with quite a few holes! That's always a good thing. It means that I get to replace old pieces with new ones and tweak the look of my house a little bit more.

One room that was left quite sparse was my sunroom.

If you follow the link below, you can see how it looked prior to the sale.

The Old Sunroom

I had picked up a few new pieces that I knew I wanted to incorporate into my house, but I wasn't sure where. As I was moving pieces back inside, this room just kind of came together. I have been lacking an "office" space that I really want to be in. I previously had one upstairs, and at the time, had one in our basement. Neither were where I wanted to spend any length of time. I want to be near Willen while I'm writing and I don't want to feel like I'm locked away somewhere. However, doing all my work on our living room couch, or at the dining room table was getting old (and messy).

I sold the daybed that was in the room before, and moved the wicker chairs outside as they were looking a little tattered. The sunroom became a free space. I didn't want a sitting area - we never used it unfortunately. I didn't want an entrance - we're now accustomed to using the front one. So, what to make of it?

After moving a few pieces around, using mainly what I already had, this is what I came up with. A workspace. I have to say, I'm extremely happy with how it's turned out. It's simple, clean and useful and houses a few of my favourite things.

Enjoy!

The space is open again, which is great for traffic coming in and out of the back door. Even though we mainly use the front entrance, we use the back door. The previous space didn't allow for easy access which was beginning to get annoying. This is much more efficient. Oliver has already found a new favourite nap spot.

I moved this old rocker up from the basement and threw on a couple of my old pillows. It's a lighter stain and it matches the wicker nicely.

I had this old wicker trunk sitting around in the basement. It's empty, but I'm planning on moving some storage boxes with old files inside it. Since they don't require easy access so it will hold them perfectly. The old frame is one of my favourite pieces, as is the old European water can.

The is an old cottage table that I painted Heavy Cream by Martha Stewart. It's simple and is the perfect little writing desk. The French bistro chair is the most amazing shade. It's a sort of grayish linen colour and was found at The Country Living Fair (photos to come soon!). An old black desk lamp was brought up from my office downstairs.

Trying to keep things simple, I added a small cream ironstone pitcher and a dainty little ironstone sugar pot to hold clips and things. A simple vase with pencils is the only hint of office, aside from the computer, in the whole space. I like that.

Similarly, I kept the decor simple and just added a small glass cloche with a rustic nest to incorporate more of the natural elements in the room. It matched the displays on the shelves nicely - another nest in a pedestal glass cloche, a small clay bird, old white corbels, and a shadow box housing speckled quails eggs.

The windows make the space light and airy.

To fill out the rest of the wall, I added an old white window with rusty hardware on either side of the desk, and an old sap bucket with a boxwood plant inside. It's adds some green to the room and keep the room light and natural.

Happy Thanksgiving and Photos From The Tag Sale

All Photos - The Grower's Daughter

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had our first of two dinners yesterday (it was to die for), and the second is next weekend. I've popped out to see the annual Thanksgiving shows in town, and we've spent the most beautiful long weekend together as a family. It couldn't be more perfect.

The past weeks have been a bit of a blur as I've been preparing for my annual sale. I honestly couldn't have been more happy with how everything turned out. I had so much help and perfect weather. Everything came together beautifully!

I managed to snap some photos after setting up on Friday night - something I'm never able to do! So, for those of you who could make it, here's a look. And for those who did come out, thank you so much! I love meeting readers, and chatting with friends, and doing once a year what I love to do most.

'Till next year!

These are the Thanksgiving bouquets that my parents made - they were stunning!

And my mother, who is super talented, supplied dozens of delicious tarts and cookies for with coffee in the cafe. Needless to say, the tarts were gone before I could even get over to sample one! I wasn't able to photograph them as they didn't come out until the next morning when things were insane (though I wish I could have because they looked so deliciously perfect!)

Preparing For Saturday's Sale

via Little Emma English Home

My house is currently under siege.

My garage is packed with finds, and crates and ladders and garden chairs are spilling out onto my lawn.

My sink is full of suds and there is a towering pile of freshly washed ironstone sitting on my counter.

My dining room table is covered in items being priced and tied with pretty ribbons.

My floors are filled with boxes of beautiful things waiting to be set up outside.

My buffet is covered in pillow covers, scraps of linen, stencil supplies and sewing notions.

It's probably at the height of confusion...

But I'm so happy.

I cannot wait to style everything for Saturday's sale. Vignettes are coming together in my mind and everything is falling perfectly into place.

The week of rain has even cleared up, making way for a perfectly sunny Thanksgiving weekend ahead!

It's a great day.