frecklewonder posts

Sponsor Frecklewonder This March

Jenny Mitchell — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:46:12 +0000

I'm excited about March. You should be too! We're that much closer to Spring. Ahhhh, Spring.

Have a rad blog or super cute shop that you're looking to promote? I'd love to help! There's just one large ad spot left for March but there are plenty of little ones available, and they're a steal at just 20 buckeroos, so get in touch! February is coming to a close!

Our House on Houzz: Alexander Girard

Jenny Mitchell — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:51:27 +0000

Thanks so much to Becky + the fine folks at HOUZZ for including our house in this awesome Alexander Girard round-up.

Head on over to HOUZZ to see the whole kit and kaboodle.
See more of our house (or, Camp Freckle, as we like to call it) HERE.

Chicken Keeping : A Snowy Day

Jenny Mitchell — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:54:29 +0000

I got quite a few emails, tweets, IG questions yesterday about the chickens... How do they like the snow? How will they handle it? Do they eat it? And so on... So I thought you guys might like to see a few pictures I took yesterday of these kooky girls out in their first real snowfall.

So, as I mentioned, we got something like 7-8 inches, and it was too deep for me to just cut them loose... they would have been up to their chicken breasts in snow and we'd probably have a frozen chicken feet on our hands and that probably wouldn't be any good, right? But oh, what a boring day it would be to be stuck in the hen house all day, so I shoveled a path from their door into their back yard and shoveled away a big enough area for them to be on dirt and peck for bugs all day. Chickens that can peck for bugs all day are happy chickens.

Usually, they bust out of the door right away in the mornings as soon as we come to let them out. Yesterday was different. They all stayed inside the house, looking outside at all the snow, seeming a little unsure about the whole thing. It was Sparrow, our fearless leader, who decided to venture out to see just what this white stuff was all about... and the rest soon followed. (ok, with a little gentle nudging from Henry and I)

There was a lot of huddling together, necks stretched, eyes about as wide open as possible. These girls were CURIOUS. A little hesitant but a whole lot curious. Pretty typical chicken behavior.

*note Butters and her poor scalp... the big mean Reds plucked her feathers right offa the tippy top of her head :(

After a little while, they all seemed to settle in like it was any other day. I think the snow brought a bit of drama and excitement to their Monday, actually. Every once in a while, I'd look out the kitchen window, and big chunks of snow would fall from the trees above and the chickens would scatter and run like they were under attack! I think they rather enjoyed all the mud, too. Lots of bugs to be found that way.

In other happy chicken news: we have a half dozen Americauna chicks on the way!!! I officially placed my order at the feed store last weekend... they should arrive around the first week of March. So excited!!!

I read somewhere recently that Chickens Are Addicting. I totally get that.

Last Hurrah

Jenny Mitchell — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:25:22 +0000

Well. Whaddya know. 100% chance of snow really did mean snow! I was at the shop on Sunday when it started. Just a few flakes, nothing to freak out about. And I thought it would be slow, but it was quite the opposite, people pouring in the door every couple minutes and not just browsing, actually buying things so it felt weird to think about closing early... as the snow really started to come down, I decided I'd better scoot out and get home to my warm house.

Um? The snow fell FAST. I only live about 8 miles from the shop but it took me 45 minutes to get home... the interstate was covered in snow, visibility was terrible and there were no plows in sight. What the what?! Where was VDOT? Needless to say, kind of a terrifying drive home with no 4 wheel drive on my little hybrid, 18 wheelers zooming past me like it was a summer day and cars sliding off the road to the left and right of me. It sure was nice to glide into my driveway, safe and sound.

I think we got 8 inches, though much of it has melted today! Kinda nuts. The forecast says 65 by Thursday. I'll take it and consider this to be winter's last hurrah.

Weekending

Jenny Mitchell — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:14:32 +0000

And making the most of the nice weather.

Except today there's talk of snow. 100% chance talk of snow!

I'll believe it when I see it.

Happy Sunday, Friends!

A Visit From Santa

Jenny Mitchell — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:36:03 +0000

Friends. I think I had a little visit from Santa yesterday. No, I'm totally serious. This week, Dotty has been talking about Santa a lot. One morning she told me she wanted to make a "bed fort" in her room so that Santa could stay there all the time. And the other night she was looking out the window after dinner and she was convinced she saw Santa in the sky. Who am I to argue with that magic, right?

So yesterday, I heard a little whisper from the Thrift Fairy. And we all know, if you get the call, you answer. Fifteen minutes later, I found myself at the thrift. My first find was this 1950s Santa pillow. See? SANTA. I toodled around the store for 20 minutes, hitting up little sections, finding a few things, and then... I decided to check out the kid's book bin. OH, Friends. Oh my book lovin' friends. Prepare to have your book lovin' minds blown...

But wait... I'm not done!

Are you still with me?

I KNOW. I know.

Five minutes, people. FIVE MINUTES! I was finding these books by the handful, 5 and 6 at a time. And completely not even breathing, I don't think. It was one of those moments where everything around me stood still, I couldn't hear any of the usual thrift noises, nothing but the sound of a choir of angels singing inside my head. Another one of those moments where I had to go into the dressing room, just to do a little happy jig and have a little giggle to myself.

Thank you, Santa!!!!!!!!!

week long series: My Favorite Collections

Jenny Mitchell — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:16:49 +0000

The nice thing about vintage brooches: you can pretty much find them anywhere. They're always in thrift stores, they're plentiful in antique malls. You can find them for as cheap as under a buck, and you can splurge and spend a Jackson. Or two! I like to keep my brooches under the $15 price point.

I pin them on jean jackets, dresses, cardigans, you name it. I've been collecting for as long as I've been thrifting. So it's safe to say, this collection has not seen it's last brooch, that's for sure.

RADIOS are here

CAMERAS are here

Le Sigh...

Jenny Mitchell — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:49:11 +0000

You guys know I love me some old cars. So, I'm just going to put it out there: One day I will own an aqua car. Something early 1960s and wonderful. With shiny chrome and a killer dash. And great big lights and bucket seats.

One day... hopefully not too far off in the future. I'm definitely keeping my eyes peeled. And I'm a big believer in putting it out there.

Sweet

Jenny Mitchell — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:42:11 +0000

This little girl was so very excited about her "Val-wen-times" celebration at school yesterday. It was so cute to see, she had no idea what to expect but she knew that she had painted a special bag at school to put all her Valentines in, and she knew we had spent the day before cutting and gluing about a zillion and one little hearts.

She told me she should wear something special, LIKE A DRESS! and decided on this outfit herself yesterday morning before school. She's a real fan of the pattern mixing right now and I love it.

Hours later, when she came home from school, I could hear her squealing and giggling up the walkway with Matt. She was so excited to show me what was inside that painted bag, A YOTTA YOTTA VALWENTIMES!!!

We had a candlelight dinner for 4 last night and read through them all at the end of dinner. I would say, "Oh, this one is from Francesco!" and she would hug and kiss the Valentine and say, "OHHHH I WUV FRANCESCO!!" and so on and so on, through every single little Valentine. Twenty-something little Valentines. Very sweet.

Dotty is wearing: striped tee, c/o Polarn O. Pyret / polka dot dress, Target / striped pants, Gap / boots, Target

One Last Valentine

Jenny Mitchell — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:05:14 +0000

And I do believe it's a gem.

Hope you all had a great day and felt the love.
xoxo