Iowa Farmhouse.... Room of Memories...

I've visited many Farmhouses, over the years... and been lucky enough, to be invited, to stay a day or two... Seems like, my spare bedroom, fits right in, with the Farmhouse Guest Room's I've stayed at.....

This room, was once the kids' room... then, we repainted, and made it a spare room.. It's on the main floor, of the old house, I walk by it, a million times a day... look into the room, {I put the french door on, a few years ago, to let light into the hall...}It's always a gentle room... I love the color... No matter how hot it is, in the house... when you walk into this room, the temperature drops, 10 degrees... It's full of dust, and cob webs... Certainly not ready for company... but, would be, in a jiffy! It's probably my favorite room, in the house...and I never realized it, 'til today...It's where our memories have come to roost... The old China Cupboard, in the corner, with the broken door glass...{ this happened on a Sunday morning, about 20 years ago... I worked, as a waitress, from 5 a.m. 'til 1 p.m., and the first thing I saw, when I walked in the door, at home, was my Mother's China Cupboard, with a broken glass... I just stood there... John, watching a race... the kids, taring around... and... Mom's broken Cupboard... I remembered Mom, refinishing that Old Cupboard, when I was 7 years old... Outside, our old Farmhouse, near Keystone, Iowa...in the Spring, of the year...it was beautiful... during one of the most favorite periods in my life... I just stood there... asked what happened to Mom's Cupboard.... Everyone looked stunned... "What cupboard?"... "What?...Where?..."... I turned...and walked back out the door.... in tears... Jumped in the car...and drove.... I drove out to the old Farm, near Keystone....Only... it was gone.... I had been there, on that Easter Sunday... I always revisited the old Farm, on the anniversary of us, moving in, in 1971...It must have been, 1991, when they took it down...I was crushed...but... somehow... just standing, where it once stood... made everything o.k.

We never repaired the glass... I'm kind of glad, we didn't... Inside, I found the bottle of water, I collected, on the shore, while visiting my Sister, Merry Jo, in San Francisco, when I was 9... Flew out, by myself...and stayed for several weeks... it was grand... The old Cupboard drawers are filled with old Valentines, and Birthday Cards....from way back... The room, is a 'catch all'... like a treasure chest... I have collected Grant Wood prints... and Grandma Moses prints, for several years.... I was always going to re-do, this room, make it a bit more Country, a little more 'Folksy'...... but... think I'll do Justin's old room, with all of that... Leave the missed matched, soft, and a little Victorian room, alone... after all... every Farmhouse has to have a room of Memories...

'til next time,

Barb C.

Iowa Farmhouse Style....

This is my favorite Farmhouse, that, I'm sure, will be gone...soon... I can only imagine how wonderful it is... but... my imagination is quite grand...I can see it, when it was the most happy place... I think... I could almost draw the floor plan... tho, I've never been inside... It is... amazing...It 'is'...'Iowa Farmhouse Style'...
Our Treasures that Rest... on the Old Pie Safe...

As Wanda and I were headed home, from a long day, Gathering... We were discussing the term... 'Iowa Farmhouse Style'... I asked her, her interpretation... It was a clean, white, and off white palate, with bone, beige, tans, and muted browns...a slick, and cleaned down version of country... a Pottery Barn, feel... hmmm... This is Not, what I am referring to...I'm referring to the 'Emma Vislechel', style...the... 'Flora Belle Shuck', style....I'll be sharing that look with you, in weeks ahead...After hearing Wanda's interpretation...well... I'm a bit apprehensive about sharing Emma's Style... But... I knew Emma... when I was 5 years old... Her home has always... always... been in my soul...ever since... I never felt more, safe, loved and wanted, than when I was in Frank and Emma's Farmhouse... Our home, looks much like it... I'll share... soon...But... here's a fair warning... It's not something you see in magazines, today... Trendy... ah, nope... I'm in it for the long haul...

Come on in... sit awhile... have a slice of fresh Dill Bread, and we'll leave all of the World's problems, outside the old screen door......

'til next time...

Barb C.

Wooden Ware...

These are wooden pieces I purchased yesterday... I use all of mine, in the house.... Just be sure, if you use your bowls, and spoons, to season them with lard, or solid vegetable shortening.... Never use oil... they will become very sticky.... I have a few bowls, I want to remain 'dry'... If I put rolls, or chips, or anything, that has the least bit of oil, grease or butter in them, I use a sheet of plastic wrap, under a linen cloth, before I put anything in them... If you don't, your 'dry' bowl, will have splotches... I prefer to use my seasoned bowls, for anything that may soil a dry bowl.... Better safe than sorry!

'til next time,

Barb C.

Red Raspberries...Delicious!

Red Raspberries...Nothing could be more inviting on a late Summer's day, than a Red Raspberry Bush... laden with so many berries, the branches bow, to you, just begging you to lighten their load. Several years ago, my friend, Pam, brought us out a Red Raspberry start... It has grown to be about 10 feet square.

We had visitors last night, and refreshments were in order... The Raspberries were a lovely touch...I pulled the old Rooster Pummel, from the cupboard, along with a mixture of stemware, threw a few berries in, gently mashed them, added a little ice and Ginger Ale... Voila! My friends were very impressed... and... refreshed!

You can ad a bit of Red Raspberry flavored Vodka, and have a perfect, hot Summer Evening Chill!

'til next time....

Barb C.

Iowa Farmhouse Style...by Simply Iowa

With this new title, I hope to share the decorating passion I have for this early Midwest, homey, and soulful environment...

You are invited into my humble abode...Welcome... pull up a chair...have a cup of coffee...and...just relax....

You won't see matched sets of dishes... or much of anything, modern... mostly, handed down treasures from dear friends, antique shops, auctions and estate sales.... sentimental stuff...That we use, everyday.... The house, won't be spotless... we all work around here...and enjoy our time together, visiting with one another, not scrubbing floors... there are always cookies, or a nice banana bread, close at hand, and always, some fresh apples, or pears, from the old fruit trees, just outside the back door... In late summer, we will have our own tomatoes, that we have to share...with our fresh herbs, gathered from the old cupola top, herb garden... just dressed up a little with olive oil, and fresh ground pepper and a little course ground sea salt....Nothing fancy... just... Iowa Farmhouse Style...

Now... come on in... kick your shoes off, and stay a while...

I hope to post on this blog everyday... This will be a window, of Iowa Farmhouse Living... or the way I see it, through my window... "Simply Iowa", will remain the crazy life of this Iowa Antique Dealers Daily Journey's, and Mad Hatter lifestyle...Oh Dear...

This, "Iowa Farmhouse Style", is my home life, and the style I have admired and yearned for, from my very first memories, as a child...and, now live it... and love it so...

My Love to You...

Barb C.