The best part of our holiday party tradition is being able to see and spend time with good friends, old and new. This year we got to spend even more time with friends thanks to my husband’s brilliant idea of brining in an expert to sling drinks. Isaac was a godsend and did such anContinue reading “Shhh… Holiday Speakeasy”
Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl
Before & After the Addition
There are three main parts of our farmhouse outside of Gas City. The first part is an 1849 log cabin, built with mature, likely 1600s, timber from the property. The second part is a two-story addition circa 1900 with a living room, dining area, and master bedroom downstairs. Upstairs there were two bedrooms and 9Continue reading “Before & After the Addition”
Restorations Along Memory Lane
My history with our family’s small hobby farm in Central Indiana began when my parents brought me there after my mother and I were released from Marion General Hospital in May 1971. I’m told my first nickname was “Pumpkin” because my mother was planting pumpkin seeds to pass the time during her marathon labor. SorryContinue reading “Restorations Along Memory Lane”
Cozy Cabin Holiday
This year’s holiday party was a total blast. Despite the cozy cabin Christmas theme, it was quite lively, especially the karaoke after-party, which is apparently a thing now. Theme: Cozy Cabin Christmas (we have The Farm on our minds) Signature Cocktail: A Long Winter’s Nap (Bourbon, lemon juice, and maple syrup simple syrup with ginger,Continue reading “Cozy Cabin Holiday”
Yacht Rock’n Around the Christmas Tree
The 2023 holiday party is a wrap! We had so much fun with our yacht rock theme. The karaoke afterparty was awesome, as was the simultaneous Skittles tourney. Theme: yacht rock Signature cocktail: hibiscus margaritas and hibiscus tea Ornament giveaway: Great Lakes driftwood ornaments New addition: chocolate shots of Bailey’s, hibiscus syrup, and raspberry chocolateContinue reading “Yacht Rock’n Around the Christmas Tree”
Shoppers Scramble to Add Dried Milk to Pantry Shelf
U.S.-produced dried milk for export in 1944. USDA Photo. As I scrolled through the photos my friends had posted on social media about there prep for self-isolation to slow the spread of the coronavirus, my eyes stopped on one featuring dried goat’s milk. His post with the photo: So…it’s come to this…I now understand why myContinue reading “Shoppers Scramble to Add Dried Milk to Pantry Shelf”
Before There Were Zippers
Before there were “zippers,” there were “slide fasteners.” In this vintage package insert, the slide fastener is promoted for its many convenient uses, including jackets, rompers, and darning bags. The date is hard to discern. There is no mention of the word “zipper,” which is credited to the B.F. Goodrich Co. in 1923 when itContinue reading “Before There Were Zippers”
Gaudi Inspired Holidays
For most of the 22 years that I’ve been married and even before, when I was living on my own in South Carolina, I have hosted a holiday party. This is one of my favorite traditions because I get to close out the year by celebrating with our greatest gifts: dear friends, old and new. EmbeddedContinue reading “Gaudi Inspired Holidays”
Fall Bouquet Centerpiece
Fall is a magical time of year. Just when the heat becomes unbearable, cool breezes start to blow and the treetops blaze with reds, yellows and burnt orange colors. Some early cold almost robbed me of fall this year. We had snow before the leaves fell. But I was able to rescue a few thisContinue reading “Fall Bouquet Centerpiece”
Toasting the Year the Irish Way
We had a little fun at the end of the year recreating our family’s amazing summer trip to Ireland, where we spent time in Dublin, trekking through the woods of Tollymore Forest in Northern Ireland, and visiting the western coast with a stay in Galway and a trip to the Aran Islands.For eats, we featuredContinue reading “Toasting the Year the Irish Way”
Virtual Farmgirl 