Farmhouse Diner Drawing!

I have two sets of these diner baskets in sets of six I found one day while shopping with my sister, Pam, at TJ Maxx. 

I'd like to have you enter to win, if you don't already have a set!  They are fun to use, and I use them on sandwich night when we have a sandwich and chips or sandwich and fries.  I just line the basket with a paper towel.  

Clean-up is simple and kids love it!

They are so cheerful, sunny yellow and bright red!  Now don't you think you need a set?!  



Leave your name and MAKE SURE you're a follower, and that I have your email address so I can let you know that you won!  


The DRAWING will take place on Tuesday, June 19!


There will be TWO WINNERS!

And The WINNERS ARE.....!

I drew the names, and here is my list of the three winners.   I had so much fun with this drawing reading all your reasons to like/hate winter!


Now, on to planning out those gardens!  What fun it is to look forward to turning over that dirt and watching seeds grow, right?

Congratulations, I can't wait to mail you each your brand-new Ball Blue Book!  I wish you all many years of happy gardening and canning!


The three readers who are the winners are...



#1

Cindy said...

Being a Southern Girl the worst of winter is the below freezing temps.
Our well freezes up...so it is always draw up enough water to last the freeze.My children remember taking spitz baths in the kitchen with water drawn up from a large rubbermaid and heated on the stove..lol

The best of winter..the unique sunrises with pink in them..and my daffodils peaking out of the ground.

Spending soooo much time during the winter with my daughter in Oklahoma these past few years..

The worst..the ice
the best...the icicles.and the snowflakes

Great giveaway!!If I win I will donate my book to one of my daughters.

Hugs Cindy from Rick-Rack and Gingham

***************

#2

Deborah aka Miss Bee said...

The best... evenings by the fireplace and stews, soups,roasts.

The worst... losing power, falling on ice, dangerous road conditions.

I would love to win one of these books! I want to learn to can!

Deborah in NC

********************

#3

Brenda Evans said...

I think the worst for me is having to wear so many clothes - I feel like a big bear trying to drive the car all bundled up in heavy coats etc. On the other hand - I actually love winter because I like snuggling down in the blankets at night with the thermostat turned way down - I grew up sleeping in a cool house and I still love that cozy feeling under the covers. Thanks for the giveaway op -this is very generous of you. I love your blog - I read it everyday - your photos are terrific !

January 28, 2011 10:32 AM 

I am ready to mail them, just need confirmation of your addresses!  

Would you all please email me at 

oldcentennialfarmhouse at gmail dot com

Thanks!

GIVEAWAY: A BLUE BOOK--To Beat Back the BLUES...!

I know we're all gettin' just a lil' bit cranky over this winter thing.

Do you ever think things like 

"The snow sure is pretty, but why do people have to drive in it like IDIOTS?"

FIFTY SOME ODD days until SPRING!  

(Can you stand it?)

We all know in our hearts that we can't do much about the cold, the wind, the snow, being sick and tired of being cooped up, filling and refilling the humidifier, and we know we shouldn't--but we do it anyway.

We gripe about winter.

It's a sport, a contest.  

Who can be the most bitter about winter?  

Bahahaha!!

All you need to do TO ENTER THIS DRAWING is in the comment section, leave your best 

and then go ahead, complain, whine and tell the worst about winter

 in the comments to enter yourself in a drawing for a new copy 

 of the

BALL BLUE BOOK...

(the canner's Bible!)

I know a lot of us are going to plant gardens for the first time, or perhaps will be canning for the first time, and I'd like to help THREE of you out with a brand new Blue Book!  If your Blue Book is old and outdated, you might want a new copy!

Yes, I will choose THREE WINNERS!!

(Please, please make sure you have your email enabled or you leave your email within your comment.  The worst thing about contests is not having a way to notify winners, and having to "redraw"...)

So, don't be SHY!

DRAWING IS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7th!

It would be nice if you were a follower when you enter the contest, but as usual, there are no strings attached...nothing is required but a comment.

Just tell me your best and your worst about winter!

Kick those BLUES to the curb with a new BALL BLUE BOOK!

Farmhouse Christmas

Christmas is a feeling
memories,
foods,
lights,
places,
happiness,
elation,
lots of things,
let us all enjoy each one.

Just a smell can bring many feelings rushing to the surface.


Pine, 
Cedar,
Candles,
Cinnamon,




We might miss someone who is not here with us any longer,  think of them when we hear a certain Christmas carol...hum along or sing along, and it brings us a wistful smile.


We might wish to be with those that are far away...or like me, you wish you could be in TWO places at one time!


But being with the ones who are with us,


And doing our best to remember all those we can't be with...


Making this Christmas as wonderful as we possibly can...going that extra mile....not from obligation but from the heart.


That's what it's all about.


It's what makes Christmas, Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  From my house, to yours!

AND....THE WINNER of the therapeutic RICE BAG giveaway is....

 Debbie (ASPIEMOM)!  

 And...

Just because it's CHRISTMAS, and I have several just waiting for new homes...

 I drew a second name 

and that winner is

MISHA!  (From My Front Porch in the Mountains)

Congratulations to you both and I'll mail them as soon as I get your information!  I hope you get them in time for Christmas and that this gift will truly warm you!

(email me at oldcentennialfarmhouse@gmail.com)

THERAPEUTIC RICE BAG GIVEAWAY!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! I am going to give away one of my therapeutic rice bags from me to one of my lucky readers!

So....please enter here and make sure I have your email address to let you know if you've won it!

I will draw from the entries on DECEMBER 15th.

As usual, there are no big long strings attached, just let me know in your comment:

1. Where from or what state you read my blog.

2. If you are a new reader/follower or if you've been with me for a long time here in the blog neighborhood!

Waving hello over the fence to you where ever you may be in this world!

*Sorry, but due to shipping costs of this heavy item, the drawing is limited to the United States only.

(If you would like to purchase additional rice bags, they are available, for sale for $15 plus flat rate shipping costs.)

(These aren't only wonderful aches and pains, but for just putting behind your head when watching television or whatever. And....the last few nights, it's been so cold, I've heated mine to use as a foot warmer in bed, it was wonderful, you'll LOVE IT!)

The Day After....!

Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful! (Leftovers are one of the best parts of cooking Thanksgiving dinner, right? Yum! Pie for breakfast on Friday is another one of the sweetest things about making all that good food!)

There is still time to enter the drawing for the AMISH COOKING cookbook. I will draw late Monday night so keep submitting your entries HERE!

Oh, and are you a "Black Friday Shopper"?

"Not I", said this little red hen. Been there, tried that, the only fun part was having lunch with friends. Some people just LOVE it and it's as much fun to them as opening day of deer season is for men. ;-)

The rest of the madness wasn't really worth the hassle and I didn't want to associate ladies getting into fights at Wal-Mart with Christmas....yuck.

I'm not so sure that internet shopping wasn't made just for me. I will be looking around for some goodies online today, that's more my style.

As for me, today I will take down all things fall on the outside and inside of the house and try to start getting Christmas decorating underway. I'm one of those holdouts that won't let Christmas decorating start until Thanksgiving is over.

There is the first snow of the season in the forecast for Friday, so that will help me set the mood with the Christmas decorating! The winds are howling and it's coming! Here's an easy and fast soup for that leftover turkey...it's a warm and filling one.

And just because I KNOW your mouth is watering, here is a link to these easy cinnamon rolls!

Thanks + Giving! A COOKBOOK Giveaway for You!

'Tis the Season! This is one of the best holidays, because thankful is all you really need to be.

Simple.

Well, that and being able to cook! Heh.

Oh, wait...make that cook and eat.

Thankfulness, cooking and eating: the pilgrims knew what was important!

And you, like me, are probably insanely busy this week!

Which means, this is a perfect time for a GIVEAWAY ON MY BLOG!!

I have a plain and simple, shiny new hardcover AMISH COOKBOOK to give away to one of you, my blog readers, whom I am very thankful for!

The binding is made so that it lays open nicely...which I love.

I know it will come in handy for your Christmas baking, the Amish can bake and many of their recipes are for a crowd. I bought this at a tiny Amish store up north in a small town where a bunch of my extended family lives.

I love visiting the store (lit with gas lanterns and skylights!) and browsing through their choices of cookbooks, this one was the very best.

From "AMISH COOKING", you will enjoy new recipes for things like Angel Gingerbread and Burnt Sugar or SHOOFLY cake! All intriguing, right?

In addition to hundreds of just plain good recipes, (even a section on using leftovers!) there are sections on breads, drinks for a crowd (in case you have a barn raising!) ice cream, homemade candies, canning and preserving, the garden, child care, sewing, poems and inspiration!

They've packed a lot into this little hardcover book. I like that there are plenty of spaces in the margins for us to make notes in...which I tend to do!

And in my usual fashion, I don't have a lot of strings attached to my giveaways, I just ask that you make sure if you enter, that I have your email address to contact you if you win!

All I'm asking that you leave five things in your comment that you are thankful for.

Simple, right?

I will draw for the winner on Monday of next week, which is November 29!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

AND... here's to LEFTOVERS!

(One of the best parts of cooking for Thanksgiving!)

XOXO
Joni

Pssst! DON'T FORGET to leave your email address! ;-)

We Have A Winner! Vintage Linen Rescue Drawing!

Folks...I took my head out of the clouds of baby love for a few minutes to realize what day it was!
I passed my own deadline for my VINTAGE LINEN DRAWING!
It's a few days late, and I made the time to find the winner to our drawing for the "Southern Belle" vintage embroidery piece.

So.. on the Random number generator the 4th person to enter was chosen to win this piece and that was...............

JANET from MacQueBlogSpot.com!!

Janet lives on the coast of Georgia near Savannah!


*
I think it's really neat that this vintage embroidered "southern belle" is going there to live in her home where the magnolias bloom, Spanish moss hangs from the trees and the days are hot and humid, and life and the iced-tea are sweet and laid back.

I am excited to read Janet's blog, it looks like my kind of place with some history and patriotism thrown in, as well as some humor, too!

Please go say hello and congratulate Janet if you have a minute!

Meanwhile I will be notifying Janet of her new acquisition and will be sending it on its way to hot, steamy Georgia soon!

Thanks for all your participation and for your visits to Old Centennial Farmhouse.

I'm very appreciative of your stopping in here on your way around the web to visit!

Rescuing Vintage Linens

About a month ago, I went to a neighborhood sale with a friend. It was a very cold, very rainy and gray day and when I say cold, I don't mean a little chilly, it was layered-clothing-plus-winter-coat-and-mitten weather!

It was buy-coffee-at-the-first-sale-you-stopped-at-weather.

It was numb-nose-and-toes-and-freezing-your-fanny-off weather.

It was find-out-if-you're-a-hard-core-garage-saler weather.


One of the first few sales was a loaded garage.

It took quite a while to look through all the tables.
After I'd made a couple selections, and before I paid,
I spied some boxes sitting on the floor.

I decided to take a peek.

You do find some of the BEST stuff in boxes, under or beside tables....

Do you EVER.

I sat down right on that cold-freeze-your-fanny cement floor and made myself at home...looking through that box.
My friend helped me.
The box was full.
(She's a good friend.)
And she didn't want any of them.
Can you believe it?
Not one.

And wow...what a treasure trove of vintage embroidered linens.

All unmarked.

I asked how much and the lady of the house said "A dollar apiece!".

Well, let me tell you, I looked through every single piece, and these shown here were just the pick of the litter--I left plenty for the other shoppers that day.

I took some photos to show you one late spring afternoon just before sunset so you could see the beauties I nabbed.

I am particularly in love with the pieces that are just loaded with french knots.

As well as the tiny, crocheted edging.

And this southern belle, is she not gorgeous?

And the cut work, get OUT!!!!!

(I've got something special planned for this beauty! Read on!)

And I already have someone in mind as the recipient for a special birthday gift which will include this sweet little embroidered dishtowel.

(I just can't wait to give it!)

And this little one...yes, I have someone in mind for this sweet linen number, too.

I could not have done all this finely done and perfect embroidery in an ENTIRE summer....and for ten minutes and a few dollars....I did alright.

Eh?

I am on a mission:
to rescue vintage embroidery,
one piece at a time....

AND GUESS WHAT?

I'm having a GIVEAWAY for the
SOUTHERN BELLE
piece!

I rescued her just for someone who reads my blog and enters my drawing.

ANYONE can enter.

There's only ONE rule:
Tell me from where you read my blog.
Just your state or country.


Please be sure that if you do not have a blog that you leave me your email address within the body of your comment.

If you have a blog, please make sure you have your email enabled on your blog so I can email you if you become the winner!

The drawing will take place June 15th!

We Have a Blog-Birthday WINNER! It's RUE!

Rue, girl, I see some nice toast and jam in your future. Or biscuits and jam. Or pancakes and jam.
Or some jam in between the layers on your coconut cake.
And isn't it funny! Someone with JELLY in their blog title wins it!?!?
That's what I thought! Click over here for a visit to Rue at
Rue's Peanut Butter & Jelly Life!
She's a sweet lady!
(Sorry, couldn't resist!)
Rue...email me when you get home from that state fair and let me know where you want this sweet stuff sent!
XOXO
Joni

One year ago today...

We Have A Flag Winner! And Other News...

THE LUCKY WINNER OF THE BEAUTIFUL "WAVING FLAG" ORNAMENT IS:
VALERIE....of From Our Front Porch Looking In!!!
And, Val, I really hope that you enjoy this flag as much as I loved choosing it!

I wish you ALL could have won one of these gorgeous ornaments! I didn't even get myself one, I wish I would have, but I can always go back! Here's the absolutely magnificent tree it was hanging on! What a gorgeous tree! My daughter shot all the ornaments so you could see them...

This ornament was over $30!!

IN OTHER NEWS.....

Our impatiens have been enjoying the cool and cloudy weather. The grass has enjoyed it and is still green and velvety and isn't growing quite as fast as it does on ninety degree days.

This is my birthday present.
It's PURTY.
It is also a major goof on my part.

It's my birth-a-day today. I'm doing what I want ALL DAY, and then someone I love told me that we can go out for dinner and I can eat crab legs tonight! Now that's LIVING!

I am hoping today to hit a few garage sales and then come home to start a pinwheel quilt similar to this one. I have a couple of the season sets of OCTOBER ROAD to watch (remember that wonderful series that got canceled in its prime?) and I can put that in the DVD player and GO TO TOWN!

I cannot wait to see it come together and am planning to do it in primary colors or in basic crayon colors. For some reason, timeless patterns like scrappy patch quilts, scrappy nine patches, and scrappy pinwheel patterns really appeal to me; I don't think I could ever tire of them. I'm taking the plunge and trying it and hope to have it done in time for our family room re-do this fall (after the kitchen).

About that beautiful china cabinet! We saw it that day last week when Jamie and my husband and I were antiquing and I fell in love. I thought I knew the perfect spot for it. So. I came home, measured, thought it over, then Lem told me just to get it for my birthday. So then we went back and got it and brought it home, and the men put it into the spot it was bought for, and let me tell you, it's a heavy piece. I moved all the items into it, then looked at it for more than twenty-four hours and absolutely hated where it sat and how it looked in that room. So, again I had my husband and son move it, (boy were they HAPPY about that!!!) and we all hated it in the new spot!

Right now this beautiful cabinet is in LIMBO. And I have no idea what to do with it and cannot return it. I have no where to put it right now except the pole barn. Maybe if I leave it sitting in the house a few days something will dawn on me about where I can put it.

It is a very nice old piece and if any of you know anything about the name of the style of it, I'd love to know. The inside is nice, too and has some cedar built into the interior to make the whole piece smell wonderful. I plan to change out the knobs but I am completely taken with the columns and the detail in the wood on this cabinet!
(I'm considering drilling holes in the back, removing an interior shelf and turning it into a media cabinet!)

And....WHAT ARE YOU DOING TODAY?