Christmas at Coachman

Now that the mercantile has closed for the year, I've been taking truck loads of goodies up to my booth in "The Loft" at Coachman Antique Mall in La Porte, Indiana. 

 Coachman is open 7 days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 on Sunday.

 Just got these ginger guys made last week.

 Too bad you can't see the old recipes on them. 

The large one is made from an old sugar sack 

and you can still see some of the printing 

under the grunge and spice coating he wears. 

 Love how my free-hand cut, army blanket tree turned out! 

 It's wrapped with a garland of rusty jingle bells and it's base is an old masher.

The snow guy in the old ice skate has a spray of battery-operated lights 

that really sets off the arrangement. 

 We sold out of the candelabra 7-candle holders at the shop,

 but we received another one  last week. 

Wish I'd gotten the name of the customer who wanted another one!

 The box on the table is an appliance cover. The back is open and it hides a coffee maker or mixer on your counter. We antique lovers enjoy hiding our modern-day electronics, but still want to use them!

 Maybe Santa will bring me a new camera for Christmas 

(or teach me how to use the settings on the one I have!)  

Most of these shots didn't turn out very well!

If you get a chance to run in to La Porte, 

be sure to check out "The Loft" at Coachman Antique Mall!

Merry Christmas!

Sneak Preview!

Worked 15 hours in the shop today and I'm still not ready for our Holiday Celebration on Saturday & Sunday, but the shop is looking awesome. I'm going to want to stay out there since I haven't had time to clean, let alone decorate my house! Here are a few photos of what you'll find. (Note to pie bird collectors, we have a collection of 39 pieces from which to select!!!)

 These are the pie birds!

Hope to see you this weekend!!!

Tale of Two Seasons!

Isn't November a wonderful month for decorating?

You can still use your pumpkins, gourds, and corn shocks 

for that harvest homestead look; 

but if you're really anxious for the holidays, 

you can trim your shrubs and evergreens for boughs, swags, 

and sprays of greens to fill your containers. My native holly was full 

of plump red berries until our terrible wind storm left most of them on the ground. 

I'd planned to use these with my greens for the winter arrangements. 

 A few hemlock branches, holly berries, and pine cones

 fill this neat wooden creche on the mercantile porch. 

The interior light brings the arrangement to life.

Here an old mustard painted tote sports bittersweet 

and hemlock branches for the best of both worlds.

This one's a bit out of focus,

but doesn't this trio look festive on the weathered bench?

 Didn't get much time to make new things since last weekend, 
but here's a tree made from an old wool army blanket.
 It's "trunk" is an old mill bobbin. 

My little sock doll is supported by an old glass telephone insulator. 

Her apron I fashioned from a scrap of an early wool coverlet and she clings 

to her little brush tree and bowl of berries. 

 She's a special order for a special customer!

Hope you can come to the mercantile 

this weekend to see for yourself!

November 3 & 4 at the Mercantile!

Over the river and through the woods,

 then on to Christmas we go!

Been working to get the shop ready for this weekend.

 Took some photos tonight to give you a sneak preview, 

but these shots barely skim the surface of all the offerings!

Hope you can come take a look for yourselves!

Fawn Run Farm Mercantile

3883 E. 700 N. 

Rolling Prairie, IN 46371

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Chicago/central time

(Don't forget to turn your clocks back Saturday night!)

My October Garden

I'm always grateful for the plants and flowers that continue to put on a show deep into the autumn season. As gardeners, we all try to plant to have something interesting to see all year long. Even though I don't have nearly enough time to keep all the gardens kept up the way they should to look their best, I must admit, there's still much to admire. 

I took these shots this evening, October 20th!

 The October Skies asters are winding down, but are still showy. 

The golden amsonia foliage contrasts nicely in the background. 

 Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida blooms later than the others, 

thus extending the season.

 Newly planted 'Purple Dome' aster color mimics the purple beautyberries.

 I so wish people would plant our native cranberry viburnum instead 

of the highly invasive (exotic) burning bush. Here's my viburnum in its fall coat. 

(BURN THE BURNING BUSH!)

Native prairie dropseed forms an arching frame to the background plants.

 I love the sound of the water movement in my county-style fountain. 

Ilex verticillata, our native wintrberry is sporting its showy fruits. 

 My 'Knock-Out' rose was a birthday gift from a dear friend several years ago. 

 Was surprised to find my pink yarrow still blooming.

 This was a "pass-along" plant from the same friend!

 This poor mum spent the entire winter last year in a pot on the ground on its side

 and still came back with vigor and put on a heck-of-a-show 

after I finally got in into the ground!

(Wish H&H flowers were still growing mums!)

 Primitive scarecrow

 Unidentified aster along my brick walk. 

Love this mum I got from Ruth Semones of The Rootseller! 

Its individual petals (rays?) look like they have a spoon on the tip!

My dawn redwood "needles" turned this salmon color, 

but they'll eventually drop off as this is a deciduous tree. 

These Dianthus start blooming in March & they're still going!

A lone Centaurea dealbata 

And finally, the faithful hardy begonia, Begonia grandis. 

Hope you enjoyed today's garden tour!