September 2017 - Page 2 of 2 - Farm Fresh Style

In Adventures

A Close-Up of Kings Landing

I took too many pictures to share in just one post – you know me!! This is picture heavy but close-up, the small details of Kings Landing.

I tend to shoot tight and close when I photograph things. So, it was no different when we toured Kings Landing in New Brunswick this summer, which you can read about HERE. I saved some of the smaller details, the close-ups to post together in one post. I love the textures and the details in historic places, they aren’t shiny and new, but aged and weathered.

Here we go!! This first one is a lantern on a buggy. Not only increasing safety, but beautiful, too!

These mossy slate shingles are amazing to me! Stacked so neatly and still so disorderly with the moss!

Apparently I have a thing for the patina of door knobs. Here’s a few I saw around the site…

This was something one of the staff set out for us to guess what it was….any guesses what it might be? I’ll give you a hint that they would be in sets of four….

I loved the bright colours of the seed packets, the vintage drawings are awesome, too. Also, the price can’t be beat!

This is a toaster, if you can imagine. I can see that I’d burn a piece or two…

This huge wooden wheel is part of the saw mill. This kinda blows my mind, I have to say….

There’s lots to see at the General Store but this little twine dispenser caught my eye. How many yards of twine were pulled through there, while shoppers got the latest news about the community!?!?

This final shot was one I took in the Kings Head Inn where we had the best lunch. The tables were dressed with cloth napkins, the waitresses were in full costume and the lemonade was sooo tasty but not quite as good as the coffee. We had a late lunch so by the time we finished up, the lunch crowd was gone and we had our dining room to ourselves. It was perfect to recharge for an afternoon of exploring.

I hope you enjoyed seeing Kings Landing through the lense of my camera. We enjoyed our time there, exploring as a family.

And to answer the question about what that thing was? It’s a horse shoe of sorts for walking horses on mud flats!

To be continued,

Lori

This post was sponsored by Kings Landing by my take on it is just that 😉

September 5, 2017 By lori@farmfreshstyle.ca

In Make Something

Velvet Pumpkin Bandwagon

I’m sure you’ve seen them, those gorgeous, rich velvet pumpkins that are all over Instagram and Pinterest! Well, I decided I’d jump on the bandwagon to see just how easy they are to make!

Fall is definitely in the air around these parts. The calendar may say it’s only the start of September, but the weather and the fact that the furnace kicked in tells me that fall is most certainly on its way. Which means I can start decorating for fall! I love fall decorating, I love the colours, the earthy textures and the coziness. And pumpkins are the perfect thing, right? But I like pumpkins that last from year to year. So, I thought I’d give those velvet pumpkins I’ve been seeing every where a try. In fact, I knew I wanted to do this so last fall I saved a few pumpkin stems for this year’s project.

Guys, these are so easy to make. Probably 10 minutes or less per pumpkin. And how adorable are they??

Here’s a list of supplies:

Velvet { I used discontinued fabric samples from work }

Pumpkin stems, driftwood or sticks

Stuffing

Needle and thread

Scissors

Hot glue

Chalk or pencil

Something round to trace { I used the lid of my Tupperware Pie Keeper and a bowl }

Step 1. Gather supplies

Step 2. Trace your circle onto the velvet. I did it on the back so the chalk lines didn’t matter.

Step 3. Cut out your circles.

Step 4. Using a long running stitch, stitch around the outside of your circles. { I learned the hard way, so keep your stitches spaced about an inch or so apart and double up your thread, I used quilting thread for extra strength. }

Step 5. Pull the threads to gather it. Pull as tight as you can, ideally without breaking your thread { See previous note and insert eye roll }

Step 6. Stuff it.

Step 7. Pull the strings tight and knot it off. I also did some stitching back and forth to close the hole over even more.

Step 8. Hot glue the stem in place.

Step 9. Decorate your home with your pretty Velvet Pumpkins!

Aren’t these adorable?? I love them. And the colours I had worked really well for fall, too. But you could do them in any colour to suit your decor. I’ve seen creams, whites and aquas that are so soft and pretty!

Hope you enjoy them! Now I’m off do take some pictures and do a little fall decorating!

To be continued,

Lori

If you are looking for another fun pumpkin decoration, you can check out this one….it’s from those first posts I did so don’t judge!

September 4, 2017 By lori@farmfreshstyle.ca

5 In Adventures

Kings Landing Getaway

Summer is short and you’ve got to grab vacation when you can. So, when I saw a window of opportunity to steal away for a few days in New Brunswick, I jumped on the chance.

The key to a successful family vacation is to do something or go somewhere where you know everyone will have fun and enjoy themselves. For our family, it has to be history and horse based. This year, that trip was Kings Landing in New Brunswick. In the past, we’ve enjoyed family trips to Ross Farm in New Ross { you can read about that trip HERE and HERE } and to Louisbourg { you can read about that one HERE and HERE }

Our Kings Landing day dawned bright and clear and after another session in the hotel pool and waterslide, followed by a tasty breakfast, we aimed the car for Kings Landing and arrived shortly after opening. We were greeted warming and handed our map and sent on our merry way. Guys, this place is huge and amazing!! I had no idea the extent of work that had gone into the restoration of the land and buildings. And the staff were fabulous and knowledgable in their history of the area.

I took a ton of photos throughout the course of the day as we explored…no surprise there. Everything was so interesting to look at and to hear about from the staff. Michael would end up chatting while I faded in and out of the conversation to snap more pictures. The girls had their ears tuned in for the clumping of the teams of horses pulling wagons and would watch with awe as they passed by and then turn to us and confirm for the 49th time that we would be going on the wagon, right?

As I mentioned, the staff was wonderful. They knew their stuff and some good stories along with their facts. And the ones who were in full character were amazing! It totally messed with me at first when I was chatting with one lady and then I finally clued in. { duh! } The costumes were perfect, too. The building alone would be amazing, but really, the staff there are what makes it.

Everywhere you looked, there was a pretty vista. The houses, barns and buildings were spread out just like a real village would’ve been. Dirt roads joined everything up, with little paths here and there creating short cuts.

Each house had its own story and history and was set up to showcase a particular aspect of life. Some many incredible vignettes that caught my eye throughout the day…like I said, I took a ton of pictures! Here’s a few of my favourite settings, well, maybe more than a few!!

As I mentioned, for our girls life revolves around horses these days. And Kings Landing didn’t disappoint! There were pony and horses rides, wagon rides and horses in fields. I think they both wish they lived in a world where horses played a role in everyday life.

And then there was this moment…pretty sure this would make Lena’s Opa pretty proud! Actually, it made me pretty proud, too! Love that she tried this! Milking cows by hand is no joke!

We always talk about what each person’s favourite part was after we tour a place like Kings Landing. The girls both said riding, no surprise there, and I can’t remember but I think Michael said the mills – the sawmill, the sash mill and the grist mill. For me, I loved the cedar rail fencing. Does that sound lame? But I love the ingenuity of it for fencing, the texture of it to photograph and the way it pulls you along the roads and paths. I took a couple pictures…who am I kidding, I took a lot…I’ll spare you a few and just show you my favourite!

Isn’t this the most amazing setting? So quaint and peaceful, right on the banks of the St. John River. After I had posted some pictures during our trip, one of my friends commented that her grandfather helped build of the ice roads across the river to bring some of the houses onto the site, houses that otherwise would’ve been lost when the river was flooded in building of the Mactaquac Dam. I love that people cared enough about the history of the area to preserve it in this way and had the vision to create Kings Landing so we can have a glimpse into life in the 1820’s to 1920’s.

Our family loves sites like this. Our only piece of advice to book yourselves a full day to explore. And wear comfy shoes….the site covers a lot of ground. But do it, go and explore. Take your family. Pack up the kids, there is something there for everyone!

And just in case you wondered, we took the wagon 😉

To be continued,

Lori

This post is sponsored by Kings Landing but my take on it is just that 😉

September 3, 2017 By lori@farmfreshstyle.ca

In Life

Oh, September!

If I had to pick a favourite month, hands down, it’s September. And I have lots of reasons!!

Every year has 12 months. And each month has its best features. But, I have to admit September is my favourite! There’s lots to love about September…and not one reason has to do with Pumpkin Spice, either! 😉

Reason 1. School starts! Now, I’m not happy because I’m freed of my children, I like my kids and spending time with them. But I like the routine that school days bring to our life. And it gives them something to focus on, unlike summer which is an endless free-for-all.

Reason 2. Our anniversary is this month. Hard to believe it’ll be 13 years this time! We try to get away for a weekend, just the two of us. I’m thinking Oceanstone Resort or White Point Beach Resort this year…

Reason 3. The weather… Oh, how I love the September weather!! Cooler, fresher, still sunny and bright but without the intense heat.

Reason 4. Fall decorating because pumpkins and antlers and wood and loads of chippy texture! I love layering all those things inside and outside our home. I have a fun little pumpkin-themed project coming up, too! Actually, I have two….

Reason 5. Tall boots. Scarves. Layers. Sweaters. Fall is my favourite season to dress for. Completely. I can’t wait to shop for fall clothes.

Reason 6. The colours of the landscape. In fall, the leaves turn it up and show off their reds, oranges and yellows. Fields of wheat turn to gold. The setting sun turns the world into a glowing wonderland.

Reason 7. Sunflowers. Always my favourite flower! I love their cheeriness, their sunny disposition, and willingness to give up their fruits to feed our feathered friends.

So, I think that pretty much sums up why I’m happy to flip the calendar to September. Do you love fall? Do you love pumpkin spice…are you reading this in a Starbucks lineup? 😉

To be continued,

Lori

September 1, 2017 By lori@farmfreshstyle.ca

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