Holiday Trees continued......

and a bit more!  

 

Our sweet tree in the Master Bedroom.  I love how the lights reflect in the window at night and on dark days.....

Another from the Keeping Room.....

Can't forget the garage area!

Just a couple more to share on another day, I would include them now so as not to draw it out so long but I haven't taken time to snap photos of them.  I will do that today and wrap it up soon!

I've been busy getting things finished up for our 

Holiday Offerings Part Two, coming up very soon.  I'm not positive of the date yet but working towards late this week or early next at the latest.  

Lots of Christmas.... unique little trees in antique containers, sweet small wreaths, antique smalls for the holidays and all through the year.  Tinware items priced right to clear out and some other things in this department as well!  

Leaving you with this photo of the Olde St Nick that will be in the offerings as well....

He's definitely one of a kind.  His face is hand sculpted and painted, coat, hood, pants and scarves created from old fabrics of wool and cotton.  The sheep his hand made needle felt.  Just the greens and the tree and snowshoes in his backpack are purchased premade.  

He was a joy to create from top to toe...... we hope you'll love him, too.

Watch for another post soon with all info needed to shop our Holiday Offerings Part 2!

Until then, enjoy your days....

Stay safe and healthy....

From the Lane ~ Sharon

The Holiday Trees, continued......

white lights of hope

Our guest bath.... actually our only bathroom with a tub, a clawfoot that I love.  Our bathroom of small antique mirrors... and what better to mirror than the beauty of these sweet lights.

Another peek at this room... did I say that I love this tub!

The feather tree in our guest room.... it's difficult to light a feather tree and I usually don't but I thought it called for lighting this year.  Do you spy the candles in the windows?  

A candle in the window, God's perfect light.  A candle in the window and peace in your heart

We have more to share and it won't be so long in between this time.  I worked the polls as an election inspector on Tuesday.... and Wednesday also, I guess.  Nineteen + hours and I don't regret a moment of it.  It may take me a few days to get more towards my normal but I'll get there.  

One more thing to touch on before I bid you a good night..... 

Holiday Offering from the Lane are coming tomorrow night, Friday November 6 at 7 pm Eastern

Sydney, Stasha and so much more will be offered to feather your nest for the Holidays!

We hope you'll join us tomorrow at

www.picturetrail.com/yellowdoglane

The album is password protected right now as I add photos and content.  I plan to do something a bit different this time by opening up the Offerings Album at 6:45 pm for viewing but I won't accept any purchase requests until 7 pm.  The How to Purchase Album is open for your viewing anytime and tells you how to go about making a purchase if you choose.  

Wishing you all a good evening and day to come....  I thank you all for your friendship and we hope we bring at least a bit of a twinkle to your heart with our thoughts and posts.

Take Good Care,

Sharon, Wayne, Ivy, Lola & Isabelle

The Holiday Trees.....

 

not yet Christmas trees....  Holiday Trees, our Trees of Hope for 2020

This sweet tree is situated in our Keeping Room here in the Little Cape on the Lane.....

Simple and sweet it is.  No matter how simple the sweetness of it brings us joy.... joy at a time when it is so needed.  

The Pantry Tree is what you see.....  it is wee but mighty, don't you agree?

Just one more for now, with more to come....  

This little beauty shines so bright and sits in the breakfast room and it seems so right!

Now I know I could share them with you all at once but don't you think it will be more fun to share them  more like one by one?  

It might be a day or two before the rest you see.....  they're all in place and twinkling bright but we think we'll wait till the time is just right!

And now you can all chuckle along with me as I think I'm a poet and didn't know it!!  Sort of!

I have a very long day ahead of me tomorrow.  I will be working the polls here in Michigan as an Election Inspector.  It will be a very early morning and most likely a very late night.  I will plan to pop in on Wednesday at some point to share some more joy with you.....

The Holiday Trees, for you to see ❤️

Be safe, Be well....

Sharon

O' Christmas Tree.....

 settle down..... I know it's not even Halloween and all of you who want nothing to do with Christmas prior to Thanksgiving, let alone Halloween, it's all good here.  

I'm not much of a Halloween type decorator, although I do love autumnal decor and always add touches in for Thanksgiving, a special time and day that in my mind just can't be overlooked!

I am an early Christmas decor person compared to some but I have always waited until at least the day after Thanksgiving to deck the halls in our home.  I also undeck it the day after Christmas.  Now I'm sure some of you are shaking your heads at both, but as they say, to each his own.  

Getting to the point of my O' Christmas Tree title.....  I got to thinking the other day when dark had come early evening, how nice it would look once the Christmas trees graced each room of our little Cape here on the Lane.  Then I thought some more about it but knew I would be breaking my own rule of "no Christmas before Thanksgiving"...... and then I thought just a bit more.  I said to myself, and well, to the Girls, because they're always ready to lend an ear to what I have to say, no matter how silly or far fetched it might be.... so, I say, "trees with tiny white lights all aglow aren't Christmas... they really aren't.  Or at least I don't think so, do you?"  Ivy tilted her sweet head and I knew she was saying, "No Mom, not at all" Lola continued snoring.  So anyway, the thinking continued and my thoughts told me how nice it would be to start enjoying the trees with the tiny white lights a little early this year..... being the year that it's been, a little added twinkle, a HeartSqueeze whenever the glow of each tree was viewed, little lights of hope.  Something simple to warm our hearts.  So guess what's happening at our house this week?  Let's just say there is an explosion of pine in our garage right now and that alone makes me happy each time I enter!  We are adding the trees to their designated spots, fluffing them and checking to see that their lights glow just right.....               

Come Saturday evening we will light each tree...... our Holiday Trees is what they'll be, little trees of hope of good things to come.  They will glow for as long as we see fit this year and beyond if it is called for.      We won't be forgetting Halloween, our bowl of candy is ready.  Definitely not skipping over Thanksgiving as the Turkey, Give Thanks, Be Grateful decor will be joining the Holiday Trees come Sunday.  What we will be doing is bringing a bit of joy to our hearts a little bit earlier than usual and for as long as that extra bit is needed.  

Think we're crazy if you must..... we're all entitled to our thoughts.  Come Saturday our thoughts will be lit with visions of joy and hope with our Holiday Trees.....

We promise to share them with all of you come the weekend!  Maybe some of you might be lighting your trees a bit early..... ??

Be well, be safe....

From the Lane ~ Sharon

Well, it's back to the drawing board......

 for the idea on the "private" blog.  Seems I played a Big Pops when it came to this and didn't read the directions before trying to put it in motion.  Well.... I did read the directions, but a missed a thing or two in the extra fine print.  Like the fact that the private blog only allows 100 members and we had almost double  that number in requests, not to mention that it would only let me add 53 before it told me I had added too many.... that's when I went in and read that extra fine print, so......

I am not giving up on something a bit different than this whole wide web world looking in so I will keep at it and also keep you in the loop.  Until then I will continue to update you here and for all of you who are signed up to receive notification of our posts via email, you'll be the first to know!

It's a rainy, dreary day here on the Lane.....  good for Hallmark movies, stitching, stuffing and snacking.  

Cool enough for a fire to take the damp chill off, too.  Just one more thing I love about this season.  Not to mention snugging in and taking extra time to feather the nest for days spent indoors for the colder months to come.....

Be safe.... 

From the Lane,

Sharon

A bountiful harvest.......

for creating for sure!

We've had such glorious fall days here this week and I have managed to spend as many minutes of the day outside enjoying them.  The Greenhouse is tidied and organized with garden elements that will need shelter from the elements of winter.  Today I bundled some of the harvest and have it hanging in wait of a creative project.... a wreath or two, some swags and whatever comes to mind.  

Also have some wonderful bundles of Sweet Annie hanging in the garage and when you open a door to walk in the aroma is heavenly!  

It hasn't been all fun and games though, I've been finishing up a few windows in and out, mostly out so that has made it more bearable.  

When I can't be outside I've been spending time stitching Holiday items....

Some pears in all sizes and wool holly picks.... much more but for now a peek at these!

In our last post I mentioned that I will be utilizing this site more and FB less.  I have decided I will be making the blog private very soon.  Many of you have already asked to be included in the guest list and all you'll need to do is email us at yellowdoglane@gmail.com with your first and last name and the email where you would like to receive the posts.  I will respond with any other instructions you might need.  I haven't had a private blog prior so I'm not sure what the format will look like to visitors until I have it set up.  We hope that you will join in and that when you visit you will feel the comforts of home, among friends and safe.  

Until next time......  harvest your bounty.  Create, inspire and be kind.

From the Lane....

Sharon

Pumpkins......

here, there and everywhere this time of year!

 Now I'm not one of those who tip over backwards when they announce that the Pumpkin Spice in every way shape or form has been spotted as the season approaches, and just to be clear, I don't tip over frontwards or sidewards either!  I do however love the real thing scattered around, or quite precisely placed around in the home, indoor and out, decor.  After all, what would autumn be like without a display of pumpkins.  It surely wouldn't get my vote.  

That brings me to the foodie part of the pumpkin, my favorite part.....  pumpkin pie, a special pumpkin dessert, pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting, oh.... and pumpkin cake with the same.  Makes my mouth water just typing it all out!  I love the breads of fall, zucchini, apple, pear and yes pumpkin!  I found an easy pumpkin bread recipe on Pinterest but I wasn't crazy about the fact that it had 3 cups of sugar and a cup of oil in the ingredients list, sooooo, I changed it up a bit and this is what popped out...      

Let's just say, oh so good!  It turned out super moist and is tasty with our without butter or a frosting to sweeten it.  You can of course add either if you like and it would be more perfect!   Here is our version of the recipe~ 

"Easy Pumpkin Bread" 

Gather your ingredients, preheat oven to 350 and lightly grease two bread pans.

INGREDIENTS

3 1/3 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 15 oz can pumpkin

1 cup applesauce

4 eggs

2/3 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

In a large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, applesauce, eggs and water, mix well.  Add each dry ingredient to wet mix, mixing in between.  When nicely mixed, spoon mix into your two bread pans.  The mix will be quite thick so the easiest way to smooth the top of your loaf a bit is to jiggle your pans a bit.  Pop them in the oven and set your timer for 60 minutes.  Check for doneness with your toothpick in the center trick and it's good to see the sides of the bread pulling away from your pans a pinch.  When done, let cool for about ten minutes and flip to pop them out of the pans.  Be absolutely sure to test the first piece while it's still warm from the oven.  You surely wouldn't want to offer someone a piece and not know it was good!

Just a couple little footnotes ~ I'm going to try the next batch using Cinnamon Applesauce and I also think I'll use 1 cup sugar and 1 cup brown sugar.  I'll be sure to let you know how it tastes!

Now this is totally off the subject of pumpkins and food but wanted to share as well.

I know I've said before that I will be sharing more here on my Blog, and I am also well aware I haven't been very diligent about doing that.  It's so easy to get wrapped up in the FaceBook game and shamefully I have to admit, that's where I've been sharing, reading and as of late becoming very disheartened by all of it, so.....  here it will be.  This is where I'll share photos, stories, offerings from the Lane and well.... all the newsy stuff from life as it is, here on the Lane!  

I am in hopes that you'll choose to follow along as we share and also that you will comment and interact with us here.  I've made some changes to the format and I will continue to make a few more in the coming days.  I am toying with going to a private format where you will be able to see our page by invite only.  You would just have to let me know via email to add you, I would follow through and your would receive all of our posts directly to your inbox.  You could of course unsubscribe at anytime.  My thinking is it might make it seem like a better place for you to want to visit and comment, more like a personal visit right here in our Keeping Room with a bunch of good friends.  Please let me know your thoughts.  

Now, I will bid my good day to you with one last photo.....

Stay safe, stay well and enjoy this beautiful season of Autumn.

From the Lane,

Sharon

Brown Sugar Peach Cake, Fireflies and.....

Good Trouble. 

I baked the Brown Sugar Peach Cake today.  Yes, it was nearly 90 degrees and and very humid and still I fired up the oven and forged ahead.  An easy recipe with the best brown sugar butter frosting you can imagine..... just the right amount of sweetness.  Just like the Girl I baked if for.  

A bit of a belated Happy Birthday to You Cake for our Jen.  

The best part was getting to sit around our little table and share it together.  

Happy to share the recipe if you'd like.  Leave me your request and email in the comments and I'll send it along to you.  If you like peaches, brown sugar and butter...... just sayin'

Oh my the Fireflies..... 

we had the very best show from them last night, and you know I have a song for them....

Fireflies, Fireflies, glimmer glimmer.  Fireflies, Fireflies, glow....

Light up the night with your pretty glow, give us a the very best show!

I only wish I had a photo to share with you.... of the Fireflies and also of Ivy and how mesmerized she is with the show.  She is like a bobble head watching them but she doesn't move a pinch otherwise!

Lola, she just watches the two of us and wonders what the fuss is about.

God gives us such simple things in life to make us smile, lighten our hearts and even if for just a little bit, a chance to throw our worry and troubles aside.  

Good Trouble....

When I was much younger a special person in my life use to say, 

"if you're gonna make trouble, be sure and make it good trouble"

I remember the first time hearing it that I had to ponder the meaning and I'm really 

not sure if I ever grasped the real meaning of those words for some time, but when I did, I couldn't believe I didn't know right away what was meant.

Good trouble.  Stand up for what's right, even if it's not popular.  Be good to that person that everyone else might be shunning.  If you're going to rob someones pumpkin patch, be sure to leave the pumpkins on the porch of someone who has none.  When the world is dark and full of controversy, hate and sorrow, keep a light in your heart and stand up for what is right.  

Fond memories revisited at the news of the loss of a Good Man.

Rest in Peace, John Lewis.  Make some good trouble way up in the sky.

Stay safe, stay well.....

Sharon

Sophie Lee......

It's impossible to forget a Dog that gave you so much to remember 

She gave us unconditional love and loyalty

She left us with wonderful memories to ease the ache of our goodbye

Gone two years today

Forever in our hearts

We loved you more, Sweet Sophie Lee

Nine years ago, today......

and this is one of the things I look back on.  

After the devastating fire that stole Saltbox Farm from us, and many others who loved it,

this picture found hanging in place, on an inside wall where all else was destroyed.

The frame heavily charred, the glass broken but the quote on paper, fully intact.  

I remember so well, walking in among the ruins, seeing this, looking around me,

and breaking down into tears.

I remember that for many weeks I felt that I had lost my purpose.  I had lived and breathed 

Saltbox Farm for twelve years.  We had met so many people, made so many friends and I was doing something I loved, something I felt made many others happy as well.

We muddled through the days and then years, trying to bring it back.  Our hearts just weren't in it.

Our building was gone, and it wasn't just a building....there was a story behind it.  A beginning that a new building would never have.  So we made the decision to move past it all, and now, here we are nine years later and we realize that the important things really haven't changed

We have the wonderful memories of all the happenings at SBF, we are still able to dabble in buying and selling antiques and most importantly, we still have so, so many of the wonderful friends that we met in our days at the Farm.  Some of them are like family and many we are in touch with often.  We did lose that special building and it's contents but we didn't lose what's most important.....

the love and friendships that were built because of it.

I have been absent here as of late, since March actually.....our world here and across our country was turned upside-down with the Coronavirus Pandemic.  I haven't felt like writing, and then this morning

as I looked back at our memory of this day and read the words in this charred photo, I decided that I need to write.  Write to tell you of the happy and good things going on.  Of life day to day and also of our everyday strifes.  Not doom and gloom.  Most definitely not politics.  

I need a purpose, just like I did nine years ago and I found it then by having faith that everything would work out and things would be good again.

I will be striving to write a time or two a week.  You can read or not.  I will be stepping away from the pages of FB posting.  It really isn't a good place to be in my eyes, especially now.

I hope you will follow along here, and if not I'm sure I will pop in now and then to social media.

For now, remember when it looks like the bad surrounding us will never end.....

think of my charred photo and the words written.

Keep your faith, tuck your worries away.  Good will come of this.

From the Lane.....

Sharon

Spring Offerings Sale.....

Monday March 2, 7pm

Visit us at

www.picturetrail.com/yellowdoglane

Our album of Offerings will open promptly at 7 pm EST and is 

filled with hand mades, spring florals and more!

You will be able to purchase directly from the pages.

This will be our first time using the PayPal cart and check out at the time of sale.

Here's hoping there will be no glitches and all will go smoothly!

We hope you'll have some time to stop in and take a peek!

Happy March from the Lane!

Sharon