Friday's Fences

Some explanation is in order for my photo......

This was taken on the farm in a pasture near the barn. The truth is, I was trying to take a photo of the baby goat. But my camera focused on the fence instead.

The fence has evolved, beginning with a barbed wire fence many years before I purchased the farm. In those first months of ownership, my neighbor just showed up one day and said he was going to stabilize some of my fencing. He installed the twisted vertical stays you see in the photo.

After several years went by, I decided I wanted to buy a pair of goats to help control weeds. That is when the wire fencing was added to the same fence posts.

Meggie Mac

I'm happy to be joining with Jan 'n Jer's Friday's Fences.  Please check out their blog and enjoy other Friday's Fences.

Show and Tell Cake Stand

As promised in Tuesday Post comments, this is the lovely Shell Pink Milk Glass Pedestal Cake Stand that held the bunch of grapes. It was made by the Jeannette Glass Company , circa late 1950"s.

The 10" diameter top has a starburst in the center, encircled with a raised ribbed and diamond pattern. The raised edge is decorated with hobnails.

Turning the cake plate over, you can see the interesting tear-drop shape raised edge.










A Birthday Cake or Mother's Day Cake would be the center of attention, served on this vintage cake stand.

Hope you have enjoyed another Show and Tell .....

Meggie Mac

Romance is in the Air

What does romance have to do with a cake stand filled with grapes?

As I reached up to cut the stem on my very own grapes, thoughts rushed through my mind of Italy and the romance I dream of being on holiday there.

 Did you happen to see the movie, A Walk in the Clouds ? It is a very romantic movie that includes a vineyard in Napa Valley, California. Not exactly Italy, but it is my imagination I am writing about.

These are the very first table grapes I have grown on the farm. So, I guess if it gives me a euphoric feeling to cut my grapes....I will hold on to that feeling for today!

Meggie Mac

Monday's Country Backroads

click on photo to see the beauty!

Can you guess what is in the photo? When I look at it, it reminds me of green corduroy fabric. This is a recently cut hay field, located on a side of a hill. It is so perfectly cut that it could have been sketched and painted on canvas.

What I have discovered by living in the country, is the overwhelming beauty that surrounds me. Nature's art is in everything the eye can see.

The country backroad to the farm continues to have wildflowers in bloom, like the Firewheel. You may also know this flower as Indian Blanket.

Isn't she a beauty?










Meggie Mac

Hand-Written Memories

The past few weeks I have been clearing out closets and sorting through boxes of mementos that have been saved from many years ago. I came across this bundle, neatly tucked away in a keepsake box. I had put it aside, thinking I would look at them later. Then, Jan, of Stand and Stare, wrote a post called, "Love Letters from the Past".

These hand written love letters I have saved, are a rarity today. When was the last time you wrote a note or letter and sent it in the mail?

Today, we simply turn the computer on and dash off an e-mail to our friends and family....or a text message instead of a phone call. I wonder if future generations will simply lack penmanship skills.

In Jan's post she referred to another blogger, Elaine, from Life in the Slow Lane. Elaine, recently wrote a post about the vanishing art of letter writing.

The question was asked by Elaine, "Do you think e-mails will be saved for posterity? No, neither do I."

There is something so personal about taking a pen in hand and expressing your feelings. Everyone has his or her own handwriting style. Even identical twins have differences in their writing.

Why not write a letter or note today, to someone you love....

Meggie Mac

Friday's Fences

Much to my surprise, I stumbled upon this fence post while trying to photograph Sunflowers.

 They have been showing up along the roadside for several weeks now.

As you can see, in the photo, they grow very tall.

I was lucky to get this beautiful close up.......

Meggie Mac


I'm happy to be joining Jan 'n Jer's Friday's Fences. Please check out their blog.

Monday's Country Backroads

Click on Photo

The Joys of Country Living....

Wide Open Spaces
Spectacular Views

And No Traffic......


Another view, driving the backroad to the farm.

Meggie Mac

Church in the Wildwood

When I entered the unpaved driveway to the United Evangelical Lutheran Church, the first words that came to mind were, "Church in the Wildwood".

Do you know the lyrics I'm talking about?

There's a church in the valley by the wildwood
No lovelier place in the dale
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little church in the vale.....

The simple design of this country church only adds to the idyllic setting by the country road near my farm.

Two historical markers give the history of the people and the church.

Can you imagine a Sunday afternoon church picnic, under the shade of these trees?

Like all country churches, there is an adjoining cemetery.

Walking just a few hundred feet further down the road, across a bridge, is a small pond.

The combination bright sunlight and clear water made the reflections dance across the pond.

Click to Enlarge

Looking to the right, I see the church peeking through the grove of trees. I'm thinking, what an appropriate setting for a Church in the Wildwood.........

Meggie Mac

Friday's Fences

When I started thinking about a post for today, I remembered this fence. I pull in this driveway once a month to pay my land line bill I use for my office. It is a co-op telephone and internet company that services those of us who live in the country.

It is just a few miles from the farm and on the highway that leads into town. There is nothing but rolling hills for miles around with a few farm houses dotting the landscape.

Photographing the fence made me fully appreciate the uniqueness in the building materials. I can now see, it is a fence that will stand the test time.

I thought you might enjoy seeing the entrance, with the beautiful crape myrtle trees showing off their summer  blooms.







I'm joining with Jan 'n Jer's Friday's Fences. I hope you check out their blog......

Meggie Mac

Show and Tell From England

Part of the fun in doing a Show and Tell, is the research I do for the item. I've had this particular piece for many years. I knew nothing about it except it was made in England.

My Internet search identified it as "square cake plate". The unusual square shape is what first attracted me to this piece.

The details, on the 12 1/2 inch plate, include delicately painted flowers bordered with gold leaves and raised turquoise dots.

The inner circle appears to be connected with hearts and turquoise petals.

Do you recognize this mark? I wonder what the 1574 represents....Surrey is the pattern.











If you would like to read more about this china, click on Royal Worcester. This link also shows some pieces offered celebrating The Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

What kind of cake can you imagine serving on this beautiful plate?

Meggie Mac

After the Storm

This is the last photo I took yesterday as a stormed rolled in from the North. As you can see, my security light, on one of the out buildings, thought it was night and turned on automatically.

The good news is we got some much needed rain, although it was a hard driving rain.

Smoky, in his nonchalant way, is helping me check for any damage.

Pot plants took the biggest hit with the strong winds.....

                                           But righted, everything seems to be OK.

Lawn chairs were overturned.

I guess the most damage was to the tender growth on the pecan trees. It means there will be less mature pecans at the end of the season.

Clean-up is scheduled for later today before the temperatures soar back into the 90's. This is a small price to pay for the much needed rain....

Meggie Mac

Storm on the Horizon

This is what it looks like on The Prairie when a summer storm rolls in. You can hear the thunder rumbling and see the lighting in the distance.

Where ever I stand on the farm, I can see the horizon. So, storms coming in can be very intimidating.

The winds became stronger making the trees swirl around. I got so excited that this photo is out of focus. But, I wanted you to see how dark it became at 6 pm.

 As usual, the electricity has gone off a couple of times and the Dish connection for the TV has been interrupted. Forty-five minutes later, the storm has moved on.

I thank God for the much needed rain.......

Meggie Mac

Monday's Country Backroads

Driving the back road to the farm has no shortage of barns to photograph. This particular one caught my attention with the massive backdrop of trees. In editing the photo, I first tried to soften it, hoping to take some of the heat out of it......yesterday's temperature of 99 degrees.

 In the end, I decided to show you just how hot it was, standing on the side of the road, capturing a glimpse in my life on the farm.....

Meggie Mac

Lily's Art Work

You may be familiar with the artist, Paul Klee, born in Switzerland, in 1879. This is my granddaughter's interpretation of his famous painting called, Senecio.

So what is so special about her painting, other than the fact that she is my granddaughter? She is only 6 years old.

 This is a borrowed photo of Paul Klee's painting.

She and her brother attend this amazing school, of my daughter's choosing, that encourages each child's creative side. While doing the research on Paul Klee, I found Miss G's Art Room. I hope you check it out and see what dedicated and creative teachers are doing with the younger generation.

And on that same note:  In the future, I will write a post about "My Son, the Amazing Teacher".

This week end I have been spending all my time with family. My oldest daughter and her two children (my name is Grandmother here!) are on holiday, visiting from Florida. I've had the chance to visit with all my children and their families.

It is a week end of wonderful memories I will cherish for a long time.......

Celebrate Today,
Meggie Mac