My husband hates these animals and he swears that they will kill chickens. I truly don’t know, but they are interesting animals.

Loved the article on opossums! I always say “It’s a good day when you learn something new”. 🙂

I absolutely adored this blog, especially the pictures.

What a great story! Loved reading ! I had heard that they were great “ tick eliminators “ and I am delighted to read that. Protect our wildlife!
Thanks!

Enjoyable article about opossums. Local rehabbers can be found at:
animalhelpnow.org.

I want to knit wee sweaters for your visiting friend!

Thank you Nicole for this article on opossums. It is good to know as much as we can about our fellow earthlings who we share a world with; and does everyone know that God created the animals first, and Adam last to take care of them? I am glad to know all this about opossums and I feel sorry for those I see that get hit by cars. I didn’t know they mostly have a short life span. Could be why the female has so many babies at once. I haven’t seen any around my area lately, but if I do, I will be happy to leave food for them. I did know they are a great tick terminator, deer probably appreciate that fact too. It is just great to know that there is a reason for every insect and animal on earth, even if we don’t know the reason for them. A perfect plan.

Very interesting and informative. They are so cute. Wonderful there is help for them. Thank you for sharing!
Happy valentines Day.❤

Thank you for addressing this! So many misinformed people that refuse to educate themselves about these beautiful creatures. I have a heated shelter set up for them and feed them year round. They have issues with calcium. They love cooked chicken, yogurt, cheese, and fruit, and a few other things. I can’t get the ones that I feed to eat vegetables! I had chickens and grew up on a farm, not once did we lose a chicken to a opossum, maybe a few eggs, but not enough to break the bank. I am so grateful that there are rehabbers for opossums, I am no longer in a position because of my health to rehab, I rehabbed birds years ago though, maybe my health will improve and I can do the schooling, etc. required to rehab these beautiful babies. Again, it is a breath of fresh air that you posted this to educate and bring attention to the opossums.

Hi Nicole and a very happy new year to you and yours this year. It’s certainly an exciting year for you, yes it sure does fly by. It’s sad and exciting all at once when our children are finishing up a season in life. Your daughter sounds like she has a great balance of interests and has goals. I’m sure she will do well in whatever life decisions she goes with. Learning and growing through hard work, mistakes and following dreams and goals is life.
It’s everyone’s stories in life. I don’t like others pointing out the negatives to me either, so not necessary when the decisions are ours alone to make. I’ve had to deal with the same over the year’s, everyone has an opinion and for some reason likes to share it when it none of their business anyway.
Thank you for a lovely post as always, you look amazing by the way.
Happy new year from Australia xx

And to Denise in Australia, love and prayers to everyone and every animal there.

Dearest Nicole and Audrey

I would like to send an e-chin scritch to Norman. I have a soft spot for orange tabby cats . I really hope that he gets back to his normal self soon.

When I raised a teenager many years ago the world was so different. That being said nosy, non-listening adults are still prevalent, even more so.

Reading about the strong family that is behind Audrey and the fact that she knows who she is makes me smile. I feel she will succeed in her chosen field and I would love to meet you all.

Hugs…Martha

Great blog, Nicole. I am so proud of Audrey too! I cried when I saw her sweet baby picture. She was such a sweet and affectionate baby girl. I loved the pictures. I am proud of both of you and love you both.
Nana

So many truths written here. Here’s to 2020! Wishing your sweet girl all the happiness and success she so deserves!! Dinah

I’m so very happy that your daughter has grown into such a lovely young woman.
I know how are it is to have a sick furry child. I’ve added him to my prayers.

Sisters and Mothers are so wise, caring & thoughtful. First of all, sounds like you have done a great job as a mother with parenting your daughter with love and respect.
Difficulties have always been a part of growing up. The problems are just different. I
learned that from my own youth and in raising 3 sons in Massachusetts and Kansas.
I still remember all the unwanted & critical advice even starting with my first born whom
the nurse said would starve if I did not supplement formula with breastmilk! All my
sons are kind, caring & responsible men today. They each chose a different path, but
I love and respect them all. My advice to your daughter is to pursue her passion and
just go for it. Loving your life work is the most important path. Thank you for taking the
time to write – insightful, interesting and I so enjoy your posts.

Good Day Nicole,
May you and yours have a blessed New Year as well. I was blessed to read your blog today. We are parents of an only and yes the milestones are passing us by so fast. We are proud to give her the time to make her own decisions and we try to guide them the best we can. It isn’t always easy but necessary. We are grateful to know we are not alone in how we are raising our daughter. It sounds like you have done a wonderful job and we pray she loves what she does in life. That alone is half the battle. Thank you for the words of encouragement. I also wish people would be more supportive of others and their choices instead of trying to give them unwarranted advice. I have been known to let my momma bear out also when I do not like what someone expresses to my child. I pray one day God will give me the filter needed to let it go. 🙂 Once again thank you.

how very sweet, and fun!!

facinating.

Wish I could post picture of myself in hat

What a great place. I am going to put it on my bucket list as a must see!

Great post, I just watched the 1925 Phantom of the Opera last night on Halloween. Would love to go there, my husband would love it.

Love it

Hi there,
I so thoroughly loved your article about the hoosier cabinet. My grandmother owned one and I don’t know who inherited it. I also have loved vintage and antiques of all kinds, especially in the kitchen. I grew up in a house that had been built shortly after the civil war. When we moved into it in December of 1941 it still had gas lights throughout. These were gradually replaced with electric lights. We also had a water pump in the kitchen sink.
I was only 3 when we made that move so I’m surprised that I remember so much. I still have wrought iron brackets and holders for kerosene lamps that were removed from the walls of that house.
My neighbor, when I lived in oregon has a hoosier cabinet that is beautiful and I drooled over it everytime I was in her kitchen for a visit.
At my age (81) although I still dream of owning one of those cabinets, I doubt that I will.
BUT, I can always love reading and re-reading about yours.
Thanks so much for your pictures and your posting.
Suzanne

Hi Nicole,
Your Hoosier is beautiful!
I also have one I purchased from a local Bed and Breakfast in 1993. Mine is white with red trim and has many of the same features yours does.
My Hoosier has mainly been used in my kitchen, but there were a few years when I used it in my sewing room to store some of my quilting fabrics and notions.
Thanks for sharing the pictures of your Hoosier!
Bonnie, in Oregon

WOW! What a beautiful blessing. I am so happy for you. I have wanted a Hoosier cabinet for many years. You have it decorated beautifully.
I look forward to your monthly blog! Thanks for all you write. Keep inspired 🙂 Rose

I have an original Coppes Brothers and Zook Hoosier Cabinet made in Nappanee Indiana. It belonged to my great-grandmother. I have all the original cards with weights, measures, spices, things to know, etc that came with it. All spice racks, sugar ring, flour bin, cooling racks, bread drawer, etc are still there. Everything is perfect! My TREASURE!!! I’m 65 so you know it’s an antique. A beautiful piece in my open kitchen! I love your cabinet and all the glassware treasures you have in it! Just beautiful!!!! I’m a Hoosier Farmgirl born and raised in Leesburg Indiana, but living life in North Carolina now.

It looks in great shape. You really got a prize!

I also have a Hoosier cabinet, which of course I love. Mine does have the flour sifter. When my oldest grand daughter (now 22) was 18months old she loved ‘Splorin’ my kitchen as I cooked, washed dishes. One day I could not find her, then I saw the lower door on the Hoosier move, ever so slightly. She had found her perfect hiding place …until she went kerplop to the floor, when the thin bottom board have way. She was surprised, not hurt, but could not play in there until I fixed it. We also have an old icebox. It keeps my cup towels, table cloths, etc. Don’t you love the metal pull out top on your Hoosier?

I love the Hoosier have one in fact. How cute yours looks and glad you found one. I’ll share where mine is on blog for you to see. It was painted years and years ago has the sifter but it is now rusty. Love mine as well it was my well you can read about it if you want. Here…https://www.hibiscushouseblog.com/2011/10/traveling-hoosier-cabinet.html

What a great article! I love my Hoosier. We owned the Michigan Hoosier Company and built reproductions hoosiers years ago and I still have mine. Such wonderful memories.

I enjoyed reading about your “new” Hoosier cabinet. I wanted one for years, as I am an old soul as well! Finally several years ago I found my beautiful cabinet that is red and white, which I LOVE! Recently, I moved across country, from TN to MT! I was worried about it in the move but couldn’t bear to be without it. So we carefully packed it with the two parts separated. I am so thankful that I did since our condo is small but has the perfect place in the dining area of the open kitchen. I keep spices, baking powder and soda, and have it decorated with my husband’s grandmother’s wooden bread bowl, crock type bowls, and an old butter churn found in a barn in MT. I store almost all of my cast iron (which I have collected), and my small “appliances” such as two cheese graters and a cherry pitter that needs the enamel top to attach them to. When visitors come that is the first piece to usually get a comment and it takes them back to special memories. If I could I would attach a picture of my cabinet because it makes me smile each time I use it or look at it. When you mentioned being at the “right” place to find your cabinet, that is how I have felt about my cabinet as well as about several of my other pieces, like a treadle machine and wooden flour bin. It’s funny how I can remember when and how my pieces came. I know you will enjoy your cabinet for many years as they are so versatile and “easy” to find things in. Do you ever notice how things get lost in built-in cabinets but not in this cabinet? 🙂

Love Hoosier cabinets – so handy and useful!

Like you, I’ve always wanted a Hoosier cabinet, but don’t know where I’d put it! However, I’m sure I would figure something out if I found a good deal. 🙂 What I really want is one that still has all the original parts, including the flour sifter, but those were often removed over the years since people weren’t really using them. Maybe one could be found and added back in.
I love yours, and am glad you got one with the feathered windows! That’s extra special, I think? And, I love your kitchen. 🙂
I must admit, though, that when I just saw the title of this, “Who Loves a Hoosier?”, I first thought you meant the people – like me, a born and bred Hoosier, still living in Indiana. 🙂

Hi! I inherited my grandmother’s Elwell Kitchen Cabinet, The tag also says Minneapolis, Minn. I believe Elwell was somehow involved with those who made their cabinets under the name of “Hoosier”. It it made of oak, has 2 metal lined drawers, along with a large storage area on the bottom portion, along with 6 smaller drawers, and a large bread board. The top portion has storage inside the 2 doors, and, shelving along the back. The top portion has a smaller bread board, a spice cabinet, a roll-down compartment for sugar storage, and, 6 smaller drawers. My mother paid someone to make the brass pulls shiny bright. They married in Iowa in 1919, spent some time in Moville, Illinois while my grandfather was studying to be a dentist at Northwestern University, ended up in McHenry County, North Dakota. I’m not sure when or where they bought this cabinet. My mother told me that, when she was a child, my grandmother would remove the bottom middle drawers (2) and all the pots and pans from the storage area below those. My mother could then crawl into the pots space, closing the door behind herself, and play “store” through the cavities left by the removed drawers. My grandmother had reserved empty food boxes and tins for my mom to use when”customers” came to make a purchase. I have enjoyed having this cabinet in my home for many years. I am 71 years old, now. I do hope that one of my grandchildren will want this cabinet, in due time, and love it as we have loved it.

Nicole: There can always be two, one in kitchen, one in sewing room. I had one in my younger years but down sizing is hard in getting rid of all the beautiful furniture. Enjoy while you can. Love Ann

I love the story, also I previously contacted you as I grew up in the Palouse country and lived just a few miles from Moscow. I now have the lovely position as caretaker in a heritage house in Langley B.C. I have found many lovely antiques for the old house (built in 1888) but no hoosier.
Sandra

I enjoyed your article on the Hoosiers and can certainly appreciate your excitement in having one. I have four, yes four, that I bought in the 70’s and 80’s and have moved them many times. They have served me well in various rooms in my homes throughout the years.
My regret is that now, hardly anyone wants them, so they will probably be a very cheap item in my estate sale!

Nicole, I too had always wanted a Hoosier and year before last I found one on Facebook’s Marketplace. We, my son and I, had been looking for a long time for one and one day when I got on Facebook and went to Marketplace, the first picture there was of a white with red trim and black knobs Hoosier. I had been having trouble walking, but when I saw the Hoosier I almost ran to where my son was and told him to come and look at what I had found. The excitement flowed that day and we contacted the owner who was having a yard sale about 60 miles away in Indiana. We told him we would be there with our trailer the same day to buy it and bring it home to our unfinished house. Our house was not completely done yet and I always wanted white cabinets with black knobs, and this Hoosier fit right in with my ideas. It has on the top half, two long doors, one with shelves, the other where a flour sifter bin used to be, and a small glass front door between them and below that an open area where I store my cookbooks, and below the doors are two small drawers on each side. The lower half has the pull out table top of white porcelain, with the red trim. On each side are two pull out drawers that are as long as the depth of the cabinet, great for storing numerous items, and between them the bread drawer with the metal inside that does keep our bread from spoiling as it used to in a wooden bread cabinet. Below those drawers are two doors that open up to a half shelf and a full shelf which holds many of my baking dishes. This was my first piece in my kitchen and we now have all white cabinets with round black knobs and on either side of my vintage kitchen sink are two glass front cabinets that hold my glasses, plates and bowls for everyday use. I also, because of your blog about vintage treadle sewing machines was able to purchase one from the Habitat Restore the same year. My son also collects cookie jars and the top of the Hoosier holds five of them. I also was able to find an older metal wine rack that holds five wine bottles and has a handle and I use it to hold our five rolling pins and it sits in the middle of my kitchen table until we have company, then I move it the Hoosier. I love reading all the blogs from Mary Jane’s Farm girls and especially those about vintage things.

LOVE IT!!

Thank You for this article……….MJW

Probably 10 years ago I convinced our ladies at the church “we” should have a tea party done in style. A lady who does this for a living directed us through the preparation and serving and another lady came and talked with us telling the history of the high tea and its place in society. It was a BIG success and some of them still tell of it. We all learned a lot also. It was a bit of trouble coming up with all the lace tablecloths.
Thanks for prompting the great memories.

Loved this article! Once moved into our new farmhouse, I thought inviting gals over for “”Tea at 2 on Tuesday” might be fun!

Nicole, I always read your blog and enjoy it. I should be a better friend and reply to each one telling you how special it was or what special meaning or memory it gave back to me!…I’ll try to do better, ha ha ha.
Also, I really appreciate the lovely pictures you share with us! Being an avid photographer myself, I know how much time is spent editing, framing and preparing the pics for your articles….thank you.

Oh how I love an afternoon tea! A morning tea! An evening tea! Oh how I love tea! My grand doll and I have many tea parties!

I love this blog! The pictures are so pretty of the you and your friends, tables, food and tea servings. I love scones because you took me to a tearoom in Connecticutt and they were delicious.
Love,
Mother

A good book about tea is THE TEA GIRL OF HUMMINGBIRD LANE. Not about high tea but more about the origin of tea. Found the book very interesting..

Hi Nicole,
Thank you for your always interesting blogs and pictures. I can’t wait for your next one!
You have not experienced “high tea” until you have gone to high tea at the Plaza Hotel in New York City! I took my daughter when she was 16 years old. It was absolutely WONDERFUL! If you are in Connecticut, hopefully some day you’ll go to the Plaza for high tea!

Hi Nicole –
That is a great day with the ladies in your life. In November my church hosts an Autumn Tea and each table has a different theme. People really go all out and it is a very nice afternoon with friends, sipping tea and just catching up with one another. Thanks for the wonderful story! Diane

Do enjoyed reading your blog.
Rodella Johnston

Hi Nicole –
The Knit In is the first Sunday in May. We had another great turnout. You will have to come sometime and bring a friend or two. It is so great to bond with these women and a few of them that I met have now become members of my Prayer Shawl Group. I will definitely be at the Wool and Sheep show in Rhinebeck. I am even taking a class in Needle Felting as I always wanted to learn this craft. Are you going? Hope to see you there. Have a great day! Diane

Just got home from a 10 day stay at the cabin in the Rockies. The lake is full to the brim and the wild flowers are profuse. Color is everywhere as are the deer (and spotted fawn), the, Chipmunks, hummingbirds, fox and, of course, mosquitos. There’s a moose up there but as yet we’ve only seen what he’s left behind. BIG piles of what he left behind. Our guest house is almost done and that’s our little camper, including a red coffee maker.

I enjoyed reading your newsy blog and the pictures added so much. Thank you for allowing us into ÿour world” for a bit!!

Nicole, I love how you decorated your camper and home!! I too love red and have lots of red touches everywhere all year long. My passion is Apples and they make the perfect vehicle to add red and feed into that “American as Apple Pie” sort of thinking!

Enjoy these long hot days of Summer with your perfect get away vehicle and restful porch!

Your Camper is so cute!! I love all the decor!!

Everything is so cute! We have spent most of July at our northern Minnesota lake cabin where it has been often hot and rainy. Many gorgeous days as well.

Enjoyed the blog. Great pictures, especially the bee pictures.

everything you decorated looks so adorable, inside and out!

While our weather has been a bit cooler and cloudier than usual (Willamette Valley OR), my berries have been producing like crazy and my orange pepper plant as well! Go figure…. I love red as well, and you’ll find pops of it throughout my bungalow-arts and crafts-inspired little house. Love the pics of Gidget!

I adore your camper! We have used ours a few times this year, but it rained most of the month of June and now July is becoming increasingly humid and hot.

Enjoy your blog-takes me home to New England. I am a transplanted suburbanite from Massachusetts. Have learned to appreciate my 4 acres in rural Kansas. Loved your beach experience-too fun (wish I had been with you), beautiful wildlife pics, and the adorable decorating of your camper. Nice touch with your your love of pink and red especially in vintage pieces. There are so many simple but special times
with country life. Saw a fawn & mother drinking by a creek
today. Yesterday took a friend to a breakfast cafe and
blackberry picking. They are so big & sweet; I don’t
know if any will make it to the baking stage!! Country Life is good! Pamela

Everything looks relaxing and inviting…so charming is your little Gidget Glamper.. 🙂

Glad I found this in all honesty. I’m enjoying this article pal.

I have been to New Milford Connecticut many times. This was all before 1998. The observatory sounds like an interesting ,educational and exciting place. Glad you enjoyed yourself. Thank you for sharing.
Marilyn

Very interesting….

Golly gee Nicole, what a great blog as always. It is so amazing that we live on such a small planet and our universe is so big. I didn’t realize the earth was so much smaller than the sun either. I am going to check out more information on space and our universe as you have piked an interest in me to do so. Thanks for a great blog and until next time, have a blessed month.

Beautiful post, Nicole!!

I loved how your daughter looked, the dress was wonderful.
I enjoy your blog and every time I see a vintage trailer, I think of you.

Hi Nicole;
I saw a picture of a mantis with a hummingbird in it’s clutches on Facebook and I was shocked to see it. I also didn’t know they could eat a bird, even a small bird. I love both of them and was thinking about making my pond and garden mantis friendly, but not now and also I read that purple martins, which we now have in our birdhouse, will also eat mantis’ so everything is a meal to something. We also have a cat that lives outdoors and catches mice, rats, robins, squirrels, bluejays, starlings, ground squirrels or chipmunks, and he doesn’t eat them, just kills them, so I am wondering if he is weeding out the weak and old, which is good for the species, and actually makes them stronger. He gets plenty of food in our garage where he sleeps and hides from the marauding dogs in our area, who have chased him up a tree, off our porch and he, so far has always made it to the garage pet door we put in for him. Our dogs do not bother him and we keep them on leashes or in a fenced area of our yard. I love your spring post and your pictures of your daughter and her boyfriend and the prom dress. Wonderful. So glad she likes vintage. I fear modernization has left the best of the best to be wanting. I love vintage and comfort.

Spring is my favorite time of the year! It just doesn’t last long enough. Here in South-Central Il. it is starting to thaw, robins and song birds have returned. The buds on the lilac bushes and the red bud trees are swelling. Soon, when they flower and the leaves are just about half unfurled, I just relish in that time!!

We have had a very long cold, snowy winter also and I am ready to throw open the doors and windows so my spring cleaning (and this year, new paint on the walls) can begin!

My peonies are peeking through and I love them so. Mine are double whites w/the pale pink centers. Oh, they smell wonderful.

Have a FABULOUS Spring!

LOVE that Gidget is out…truly spring has arrived! And the mixer is amazing…a step back in time, I love the 40’s…music, clothes, ahhh, the look. Pink, well I’ll tell you it’s not one of my favorites but that mixer, oh my, may have just changed my mind!

Love pink too my work station in salon is pink evern the ruffle on my haircutting apron!And April is my month too

I adore pink all year long!!! Your blog is beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Spring is arriving slowly here in Columbus Ohio. Like you, I adore the spring babies. Have a wonderful spring and a joyous Easter!

I love all the pink. Pink is my favorite color. Thank You for sharing.
Marilyn

Hi Nicole
Spring is definitely here. My yellow and white with pink Daffodils are blooming all over the place, and our Irises are up along with blooming tulips already and my hostas have appeared also. We just planted a Japanese Snowball bush and a mini yellow rose bush that I received for my birthday last November. The Snowball I received from my older son this week along with my favorite annual, a pot of pansies. Our apple trees, lilac bush and our tulip poplar are budding. The robins are numerous already and we have rain but also lots of sunshine. As for the color pink, I like it in some areas and in some shades. I used to always wear a pink lipstick as it looked the best on me with my skin color; couldn’t wear red or orange or any wild color. The pink depression glass is lovely but my favorites are the amethyst or blue depression glass. Love your blog. Until next time.