Jugs & Crocks ~~

Happy Spring All ~~
Jugs, and Crocks, are some of my favorite collections. Years ago my niece Debbie and I would get up early the first Friday in May and head off to Brimfield, MA for the outdoor antique flea market.


We would be prepared for an kind of weather....plastic bags for our feet in case of rain and mud (which in the spring we would most often encounter). Slickers to protect our bodies, layers of clothing underneath, and gloves in case our hands got cold. Sometimes it would be extremely cold and wet, other times we would shed most all the layers so that we could stand the blazing sun. And still at other times the wind would have the dealers running to protect their wares and hold down the tents for the wind would all but carry everything away.

This antique market is held out in open fields, we would walk miles and miles looking at all different style antiques.....depression glass, yellow-ware, trunks, firkin's, pantry boxes, primitive chairs and my very favorite .... jugs and crocks. We would repeat the process in the Fall, which is our favorite time of year, and we usually had better weather. I say usually because you just never knew.

The market is also held in July but its way too hot for us to attend. We were much younger back then and our funds were limited (some things never change lol) but we saved all year for these special trips and we always came home with a few treasures.

When we were done we would head into the town of Sturbridge and hit all the stores. some are no longer in business. We would grab a great lunch in a French bakery over what is now the HandMadien. Across the street was a great gift-floral shop Briar Patch, we always spent a good amount of time in The Basket Shop, Yankee Sturbridge Workshop, Yankee Candle, Uncle Warren's Country Store, The Seraph, Colonial Crafts, and the Tin Peddler in town.

We no longer do the Brimfield trip.....Deb still has a young one at home, and I'm not sure I could do all the walking I did back then...but we have our great finds and a trunk load of memories to remind us of our special Spring Outings. We talk about doing it one more time...and maybe we will... till then these are some of my favorite finds. Some of these are also from my days shopping and antiquing in Pennsylvania which I'm just back from. Hope there are things around your home, that bring back sweet memories and add to the special feel you have created.
Sending Warm Spring Hugs from the Cabin ~ Connie xox

Wearin' of the Green ~~

An Old Irish Blessing ~~
May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!

We at the Cabin aren't Irish..well at least this Italian girl isn't...hubby is half Irish his Mom Dorothy Sprague, and her twin sister Shirley were the last of seven children born into a very large and fun loving Irish Family. Over the years we have carried on some of her traditions as we celebrate Saint Patrick's Day.

I was always a firm believer that everyone is Irish on Saint Paddy's Day. I'll wear a green sweater, set the table with green napkins, and place green carnations in a crock. Supper will be Ham, Cabbage and Potatoes the boys growing up didn't like Corn beef..so we changed it to Ham years ago

I'll have Irish soda bread, green cupcakes for dessert, shamrock lollipops and of course the "traditional green milk". lol My granddaughters love this as much as their Dad and Uncle did when they were young. There will be Traditional Irish Music playing in the background, and possibly the girls will dance a jig or two.

I think its wonderful to celebrate with family and food as often as we can. Saint Patrick's day is one more way to get together with the ones we love. Hope you can make Tuesday special in your own way.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day ~~

Sending Warm Irish Hugs from the Cabin ~~ Connie xox

Tansy ~~

Good Morning Friends ~~

I had so many emails inquiring about my Tansy picture in my last post ... that I thought I would give a little info on the plant. The common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is generally described as a Perennial Fob or Herb.

Tansy flowers are golden and appear in flat-topped clusters; the flower's shape is frequently described as "button-like." Common Tansy often grows to a height of about 3 feet with a similar spread. Tansy flowers bloom July-August. The foliage is feathery and fragrant. It is at this time of year I cut and group the flowers into bunches and hang to dry. I also cut back the plant because it looks ungainly, and does not hold up well in the heat. Tansy flowers tolerate average, somewhat dry soils (but not wet soils) and will grow in either full sun or partial shade.

Most people and garden books describe Tansy as invasive, intrusive, poisonous, and not worthy of space in your garden, I don't share this view as you can see. lol There are no small children left here at the Cabin, my grand-daughters who visit know all my berries, flowers and herbs, and all the related info pertaining to them. Our dog Dukie a large German Shepard has never shown an interest in any of our plants, so for us there has never been a problem.

The original Tansy Plant was given to me by a friend, dug right out of her garden. Which makes it even more special, I in turn have gifted a few friends with clumps from my garden. I love the look of the plant when it first starts growing, the flowers when they bloom, and the dried flowers placed all around the Cabin. I have decorated Christmas Trees with small bunches, I have them hanging in large bunches on cupboard doors and on racks. I also fill boxes and baskets with the dried bunches some of which I have had for years. So for me this "road side weed" as many people call it, gives me much Pleasure. The deer that roam our property also have absolutely no interest in the flowers or its foliage. :-)

So on this sun filled week-end I am sitting on my porch tea in hand, surrounded with my gardening books dreaming of what will soon be. I hope if you get a chance you will

plant a little Tansy in your yard. Wishing you a peaceful day, filled with thoughts of what ever it is that makes you smile.

Sending Warm Hugs form the Cabin ~~ Connie xox