Country love elsewhere: Sweden
I have a few Swedish friends, and recent contact with them has got me thinking about Sweden, so here are Swedish cottages in the country-side for you.
 |
| Interior |
Try heirloom in your garden
 |
| Heirloom Seed Collection by Terrain |
I love to grow my own vegetables, granted my thumb isn't quite the greenest and I'm still an amateur grower, and I live in a city where growing can be a bit of a challenge sometime... Regardless of all these set-backs, I'm still a grower at heart. And I know I would love these collection of heirloom seeds as a gift. So if you know anyone that loves to grow, the Heirloom Seed Collection by Terrain would make a perfect gift!
It comes packaged in a vintage-style burlap bag with a booklet of descriptions and history of each vegetable!
Seeds included are:
Christmas pole lima beans
Broccoli calabrese
Tonda di parigi carrot
Lemon cucumber
Louisiana long green eggplant
Mervielle des quatre saisons lettuce
Or, be creative and take the next step to make it even more personable by creating your own heirloom seed collection gift.
Making popcorn the way it used to be made
 |
| Popcorn Popper by Terrain 27"L x 6"D x 8"dia |
Invite friends and family to make popcorn over the open flame of a campfire or fireplace w/our long-handled popcorn popper. A hinge lid and enamel cooking surface make it easy to load, pop and enjoy the snack.
Anthropologie makes it possible to bring the forest to you
Anthropologie creates an enchanted forest for your very own room, whichever room you'd like, children's room, dining room, library... Chances are it'll bring charm to just about any room you put it in. So if a walk in the real woods doesn't quite do it for you, this one just might.
 |
| Enchanted Forest Mural |
Once again bicycling country-side
 |
| Breukelen Women's Bike |
Remember that post I did not too long ago about bicycling country-side (A Bicycle For Your Travels), well, here is a little addition to that post. Anthropologie's Breukelen Bike which comes for men as well as women is adorably vintage, simple and very... country.
Painting landscape
Why not capture the beautiful scenery as well as start a new hobby? Or perhaps you will be dusting off your old painting supplies! Whatever the case may be, if you see something beautiful, and no doubt you will in the country whether it be bees on flowers, a humming bird afloat, a robin nesting, or just plain rolling hills... capture it.
 |
| Artist's Attache Case @ Anthropologie |
Country-styled kitchens
A compilation of stunning country-styled kitchens are pictured at Beautiful Abodes, there may be a lack of genuine country in them but they are never-the-less very beautiful, and plus, it's nice to know you can have a country-styled kitchen and/or home even if you really aren't in the country.
A proper patio chair
 |
| Dalloway Armchair @ Anthropologie |
Lazy summer days sitting out on the porch listening to the hundreds of insects buzzing about and the chickens lazily walking about clucking randomly.
The perfect bed for a country home
 |
| The Edge Bed by Environment |
A nice large urban-styled wood bed frame for a good sleep in the country may be a perfect substitute to the squeaky, rustic metal frames I always envision in a cottage home.
Sottland Highland Cottages
The cottages in the Scottish Highlands are definitely more remote than the cottages I'm used to googling images for but there is something serene and tranquil about the rolling green hills and nothing else in sight.
Make declarations on a chalkboard
 |
| Declarations Green Chalkboard 26.5"w x 27.5"t |
I love it when I walk into a French restaurant and they have a vintage looking chalkboard with the day's Specials, so I thought, why not have one of my own? My first thought was that to find the kind of vintage chalkboard I was looking for would be difficult, actually it wasn't, I landed on Second Chance Art & Accessories, a store specializing in charming vintage signs, chalkboards and things.
Vanishing of the Bees, a documentary
I love to watch documentary films that I can step away from at the end of the film and know that I know so much more and know that I now know a little more about the truth of what is going on around me in the world and in my daily life. Vanishing of the Bees is one such documentary that I've recently seen that has moved me to see the truth of the world around me and it's consequence. It reminded me of why I dream of a life in the country, why I want to grow my own vegetables and fruit and why I feel it is so important to live in harmony with our natural environment.
Farmer's Market Wear on an Autumn day
I frequent my local Farmer's Market and stock up on my vegetables and fruit for the week, it is often the high-light of my week as I truly love visiting and shopping at the Farmer's Market, it could be the fact that I'm shopping outdoors and know that these vegetables and fruits were grown with love without any added chemicals. I always like to fully enjoy my weekly Farmer's Market shopping day and very often this also means dressing appropriately since you could be standing out in the rain or sun for a period of time. For Autumn in California it is important to dress warm but not too warm, here is my suggestion for a Farmer's Market ensemble in California Autumn.
The paper-bag waist, below-the-knee skirt in a bright color for an Autumn morning can brighten a cloudy gloomy day, pockets I find are very important at Farmer's Market as digging through your wallet at every single stall or even every other stall can be quite tiresome.
 |
| Bright Coral Paperbag Waist Midi Skirt @ Topshop |
Go for a fitted top to pair with your paper-bag waist skirt if you're afraid to look frumpy and poofy.
 |
| Cotton Spandex Jersey Cross-V Bodysuit @ American Apparel |
Walking outdoors in cooler weather means covering the toes and wearing comfortable shoes. When I look for comfy shoes there's only two places I go to, Campers or Born. On days at the Farmer's Market I tend to go for the easy off and on shoes, that way when I get home I don't have to set all my bags down to fiddle with my footwear.
 |
| Dublin Shoes @ Born |
Cooler weather means covering up just a bit, such as with a snood.
 |
| Nude Zig Zag Snood @ Topshop |
And of course you'll need a basket for your goodies!
 |
| Sophie Picnic Baskets in Walnut @ Costplus World Market |
Pic-Nic
 |
| Pendleton Throw, Black |
Hiking up into the hills or into a woodsy area for a nice lay down with a basket full of delicious food and a pillow or two can be a great pass time. When I plan a pic-nic today I have a rather hard time finding a blanket or two and very often if not all the time end up taking two or three beach towels which is a real hassle. So naturally when I saw the Pendleton Throw at Anthropologie I knew it would be quite useful.
The Charm of Mason Jars
As I've become more informed about prepackaged and processed foods I've been doing a lot more cooking. I've begun to pickle my own vegetables, and make my own sauces and jams. I had a cabinet full of jars waiting to be used, jars I've saved from the past, now... the jars all in a row are being utilized for pickling and storing. So, when my sister bought me a set of 9 16oz mason jars I was more than enthused, I can pickle once more! And how charming these mason jars are! They come in a variety of sizes and can withstand heat, and they look absolutely county beautiful all lined up in a row with their colorful fruit and veggies inside.
Farm Fresh Refrigerator Magnets
 |
| State Fair Magnets (6 pack) $34.00 @ Anthropologie |
Now look me in the eyes and tell me you don't think these are just the cutest little magnets you've ever seen!
Getting creative country-style: 12-Twig Crayons Set
 |
| 12-twig crayons set $28.00 @ Chasing Fire Flies |
Non toxic and and hand-made these twig crayons are perfect for some country drawing, plus they would make one helluva gift for older or younger. So who feels like sitting out on the porch to sketch a little bit of nature now?
A chicken coop for your chicks
I go on and on about growing veg and feeding chickens but I've never really tackled the subject of where the little chickadees will stay, a chicken coop of course! The great thing about chicken coops is most often than not you can build it yourself, from very basic to not-so-basic, they're all pretty simple to make and probably lots of fun to make as well. Get creative! Here's a few chicken coops to get your imagination going.
In my endeavor to put some helpful information regarding building your own chicken coop I ran into a blog called Free Chicken Coop Plans that seems to have loads of information on the subject. Should you seriously be thinking about raising your own chickens I hope the site helps.
Eating Big Sur
 |
| the veg are separated into boxes, netted but also gated |
Over Labor Day weekend I went to go visit a friend in Big Sur. There up in the mountains over looking the ocean on one side and the mountain full of trees on the other a beautiful home resides. They are solar powered and they have vegetable garden to die for.
 |
| tomatoes |
 |
| and more tomatoes! |
 |
| Green chili |
 |
| Strawberries! |
 |
| Have no idea what these are but they were growing there too |
 |
| Persimon |
 |
| Pomegranate |
 |
| I'm in the fig tree, picking and eat fresh figs |
There was much that wasn't documented such as all the different berries and the grape vines that crawled around the property. One day, I will have a garden such as this!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
