When I was growing up we never had a laundry basket in the house. That's because we were so privileged and averse to any form of manual labour that we simply threw our dirty clothes in the woodland forest behind our house and had Yves (St. Laurent) make us new stuff.
By the time I was 8, the pile was so high we could ski down it in the winter. My skis were made of diamonds and if I ever fell down and cut myself, gold coins spewed out of me instead of blood.
No wait. That was Richie Rich.
We never did have a laundry basket, but it was because we had a great big wine barrel instead. That's where all the dirty clothes got thrown. A great big wine barrel in the basement. Actually, chances are it wasn't a "fancy wine barrel", but probably a whiskey barrel. I wish I could say at this point, No wait. That was the Clampetts. But it wasn't. It was us. Our dirty bloomers were kept in a whiskey barrel. And sometimes my mom sent me to school with Sandwich Spread sandwiches. Nothing else. Just bread and sandwich spread. She also used to make me play with a potato. To this day she insists it was a legitimate toy.
From the moment I was born until the day I moved out, that wine barrel acted as our laundry basket. And I'm sure my mother will refute this, but we never actually got to the bottom of the barrel. There was one grungy old tea towel at the bottom of it, that in 25 years never got washed. It's true. Believe me, not my mother. My mother's a notorious liar.
So when I visited my mother in the summer to borrow some money, or tell her how much I disliked her multi coloured quilted jacket, or some other daughterly thing, I was rattled to my core when I saw the barrel out for the garbage. THE GARBAGE! I rescued that barrel, shoved it in my car and took it home. What kind of nut case gets rid of a perfectly good whiskey/wine barrel/laundry hamper?
I stuck the barrel on my porch and put a Boston fern in it. It's winter now. The fern died. Barrel's sad and empty. I have to refrain from throwing underwear and tea towels in there.
Losing the fern turned out for the best actually, because the same way my mother got sick of her wine barrel, I got sick of my normal birch log planters in the backyard. I grabbed those birch logs and dragged them out to the front porch. Same logs, different place. And I love them again. Often times you can instantly fall in love with things you're sick of just by moving them. Your bowels are a perfect example.
So this year for Christmas I changed everything up. Everything. I used all the same stuff I already owned, I just used it in different ways, in different places. I'm feeling a pull towards a very farm-like, rustic Christmas this year. It's probably the chickens. It's definitely the chickens. Chickens DON'T like wearing Christmas hats by the way. Just so you know.
Here we go ... picture time. No explanation necessary I don't think, so here, at this point I bid you adieu for the day.
HOLD YOUR HORSE AND BUGGIES! I do have something else to say. It's almost impossible to get a picture of my front door because there are two porch pillars right in front of it. So ... sorry for that. AND, when I got inside and started reviewing and editing my pictures at night, I realized I completely and totally forgot to make and put up a door swag. No wreath this year ... a rustic swag. Looking at the door, I'm not sure I need it now. Opinions? Not that I'll listen to you. I rarely listen to anyone ... but just for fun ... opinions?
Ginger
Stunning. You are so lucky to have those birch branches. Love it all. Glad you rescued it!
Holly
Decorating the porch. Novel idea! I should try that. It looks great and the whiskey barrel is a great addition. I need something to distract me from the hideous inflatables on my neighbors' lawns. A 10' Grinch doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy inside when I walk out my front door. P.S. My chickens are much on outerwear either, but I still want to make them ponchos anyway.
Nancy
I love white birch trees..thinking of planting a couple in the back yard..and I too want some of those huge pine cones..It all looks picture perfect Karen..you don't need to add anything..
Robyn
LOL! Looks like I'm not the only one who had milk spew out my nose while reading your post! Hilarious! Love your writing and your pics too!
KatyKazoo
I see I am the only one who is disappointed that this post is not about making a rustic pouch. Sigh.
Bea
Oh... how do you know chickens don't like those little hats?
Karen
Um. Just trust me. :) ~ karen
Bea
THis is lovely just the way it is! You make me want to be more creative!!
christyl
You are so dang talented. I am not worthy. maybe a red bow on the door?
Patricia
You first made me spew milk out of my nose reading, "your bowels are a perfect example." and THEN you made my mouth drop open when I saw your porch!! You make my inflatable penguin and pink flamingos look tacky. tee hee
kate
Your doorway/entry is winsom and charming - how wonderful to have inspirational chickens! However, your question puts me in mind of the Sesame street song 'One of these things is not like the other, one of these things just doesnt' belong".
For not belonging, I pick the big fluffy swag above the door (not the garland of boughs that define the sides and top of the door) as being 'out of place.' All the other decorations have boughs and pinecones and white lights and then there is: 'The Swag' - all colored lights with the wires hanging out, red bows, and what looks like artificial greenry. The key thing is do you like it?? Do the chickens like it?? Does the fella like it?? That's all that matters. Enjoy, enjoy.
After all, you asked.
Karen
kate - The picture is deceiving. The entire house is trimmed with greenery (yes artificial because there's probably at least 200 feet of it, and coloured lights. All the windows have garland with coloured lights swagged arounnd them. The garland and coloured lights you're seeing is part of that. It's swags around the entire roof of the front porch. The side of the house, where coloured lights surround the windows have window boxes. In the window boxes are the white lights swirled all in with greenery. So there is a connection, you just can't see it. :) ~ karen
kate
WOW! I had no idea! 200 feet you say?
I shoulda known.
Jeanne
My mother made me Sandwich Spread Sandwiches also!!!
Love hearing stories about growing up, way back when,(not implying age). Love your decorating with
whats on hand, just laying around the yard. Nothing on the door. Maybe a little green attached to the top of the light fixture, just left of the door?
Good job..as always. Thanks for your efforts.
Hope
No wreath...let the barrel shine this year! I will need to share with my husband what "the chicken lady" (our name for you - as he loved following the chicken posts. ) has been up too. Maybe he can cut me some birch poles too!
Louise
I think you should be a stand-up comic ;) That being said, your porch looks fantastic.
Jen A
Niiiiiiice ... reeeeeally niiiiiiiice.
Mary
Looks fantastic,
Love it!
Brigid
No swag, it takes away from the relaxed, rustic look you're going for.
And for God's sake! put a nasty, dirty old tea towel in the bottom of that barrel and fuhgetaboutit. The barrel will thank you for giving it back an old friend!
Rachel
No need for the swag... the challenge of all decorating is knowing when to stop!
Langela
I think it looks good as is, Karen. I also think it would look even better on my porch. However, if yours goes missing it probably wasn't me that took it. Probably.
BTW, where do you get all your greenery? Is any of it real? It looks so full and beautiful.
Karen
Langela - All the greenery is real. The stuff in the barrel is blue spruce, which I cut from my own overgrown bushes. It's on top of the stack of wood too. The white pine garland around the door is also real. I bought it for $9.99. ~ karen!
Langela
Do you order it or get it locally? Something like that around here would run about $30!
Karen
Just at the garden centre. Must be our Northern climate. Fresh boughs and branches are everywhere this time of year. ~ k!
Babie Knoop
I still want to know why your mother got "rid" of the wine barrel?
PS: Front door looks FAB leave it. :)
marilyn
oh karen that was hilarious! i love betty! i too have one of those teatowels! only not in a whisky barrel / laundry hamper. but i do have a laundry chute! yup ! a hole in the floor in the closet in the bathroom! just chuck those dirty clothes down that hole and boom! just like that you've saved yourself a trip down those treacherous basement stairs with a basket full of wash.every house should have one.i love the rustic look and the reincarnation of the laundry barrel...bet betty wants it back now!