Farmhouse Christmas Kitchen. . .

As many of you may know, I have fallen in love with the farmhouse style.  A couple of my blog friends have blogs that reflect that old fashioned goodness that is found on a farm.

Tomorrow kicks off our ‘Creating Christmas’ party. Don’t miss linking up with Cindy from Old Time Farmhouse.  Share your farmhouse style décor and recipes.

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I am dedicating this post to the memory of my husbands grandparents.  Tula and Carl Olson had a farm on Olson Road in Virginia, Idaho.

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Is this not the sweetest picture?  I love that she is holding a hankie!

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This picture of the farm was taken in ‘2006’.  The home had been empty for more than 10 years.  When Tula was alive she had gorgeous gardens.  My hubby has such fond memories of playing on the farm. (That’s hubby on the porch)  Sadly the property was sold.  The farm was bulldozed and a new home now resides on Olson Road.

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Often I imagine what it was like cooking in the farmhouse for Tula.

Did she have a collection of rolling pins, or more than likely; just one.

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I would think that she did not have a lot of Christmas decorations.  Perhaps she used some of her everyday items for display.

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I love vintage cookbooks.  This one was $2 at an estate sale.  I have my mothers old black cookbook.  It’s precious to me because it has handwritten recipes inside.  My mom was a fantastic cook!  I found this bowl at a local antique shop.  It has no markings, but the turquoise diamond stole my heart.

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Do you think she stored treats in some of her milk bottles, or were they only used for milk?

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I wonder if she was ever able to buy little cakes in a tin or if everything was made from scratch?

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I’ve pulled out some of my old sifters and tin cups.  These would have been an everyday sight in a farmhouse.  Bottle brush trees give them Christmas spirit.

I smiled when I visited my friend, Carlene from Organized Clutter Queen one day.  She had decorated with sifters and bottle brush trees also.

Canisters would have held staples instead of treats.

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No farmhouse would be without a scale.

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The little gingerbread girl plate was a $1 thrift find.  My friend, Amanda filled a vintage bowl similar to this last year.  I thought it was so cute!

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My treat station probably has a lot more candy than Tula would have had at one time.  Ribbon candy, licorice, candy canes and sticks are old fashioned treats. My cookie cutters are from when I was first married.

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Last of all, knowing Tula’s love for gardening I am sure she would have had some flowers in her window sill.  I know that she had a lot of African Violets.

I have shown this before, but some people asked if I would show them again when they were blooming.  Yesterday I was delighted to see my first blooms.

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I don’t live on a farm, but I sure adore that old fashioned style!

Farmhouse Hugs,

Jann

I will also be partying with:

Thrift Shop Commando for Countdown to Kitschmas

1929 Charmer for Sundays Best

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Cozy Little House for Tweak it Tuesday

Knick of Time Tuesday

It's a Very Cherry World for Rednesday

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

44 comments

Susan said...


Ahhhhhhhhhh thank you for your trip back to a simpler time! I bet Tula was adorable. She looks sweet in her photo.

Pamela Gordon said...

HI Jan. You have a great collection of vintage kitchenware displayed. I love that sort of thing too and have a lot in the cupboard as I don't have much counters pace to display it all. I do bring some out from time to time though. It's fun.

Julie Marie said...

Hi Jann... so sad your family's farmhouse was bulldozed... I wish you had been able to buy it before that happened... sooo many precious memories reside there... and now with you... love that you are embracing the farmhouse life... it is really the only way of life I have ever known... I cried so when we sold our little farmhouse Jack and I built some years back... greedy developers bought up all our surrounding countryside and turned it into massed produced cookie cutter homes, schools and churches... taking away all of the things I loved about living there... but it is truly a state of mind and I carry it with me always... and my home reflects it as well... your vintage farmhouse treasures are wonderful!... I know Tula is smiling down at it all... the photo of the two of them is just priceless!... okay my friend, I know you are hooked now on farmhouse things!... can't wait to see what else you find... xoxo Julie Marie

Tami Von Zalez said...

Love those old milk bottles - I just spent $16 on one at an antiques shop.

Come celebrate December with my Countdown to Kitschmas

http://thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com/2012/12/countdown-to-kitschmas-day-1-let.html

Susie said...

Jann, I love your kitchen decor. And those paperwhites, wow. Smiles, Susie

allisamazing said...

I can just picture an old big kitchen wood burning stove and smell the sweet aromas :)

Ruby and Arthur said...

It can be sad when a home has to be sold or torn down, but we carry the memories in our hearts! Love your style, Jean

NanaDiana said...

I grew up on a farm in PA and you have some of the same items I grew up with. My Mother had one rolling pin and a set of canisters filled with all the staples. She made all our cookies, cakes and pies from scratch. In the winter she stirred fudge on the stove. I can remember when she went from a wood cook stove to an electric one and what a joy it was to her to have an electric oven.
Ribbon candy back then was so thin that it could actually cut your mouth...and I loved it anyway! Blessings-This was a wonderful post about your hubby's family- xo Diana

Anonymous said...

Cute and clever displays, Jann! Today, I put up a tribute post to the farm we just left. ♥

Grammy Goodwill said...

Love how you wrote this post and showed the pictures.

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

What a totally sweet post, Jann.

That pick of your DH's grandparents is absolutely adorable.

Trisha said...

I am sure Tula made Christmas wonderful! I never even knew there was such a place as Virginia, Idaho and I have lived in Idaho all my life! So sad that the farmhouse is gone...thank goodness for memories!

~Trisha

LifeLessOrdinary said...

I love coming to your blog to see all of your vintage things! I've been thinking about making a "Vintage Christmas" vignette and you have inspired and motivated me :)

Hugs,
Shasta

Old Time Cindy said...

That breaks my heart when they tear down old homes. Cute farmhouse decor! I'm looking forward to tomorrow! Thanks for the include.
Farmhouse hugs,
Cindy

Bernideen said...

What a sweet and touching post!

andrea@townandprairie said...

I love my grandma's handwritten recipes, too! The ones we slopped jelly on together...they are all very important to me. The memories of us baking those things together...like it was yesterday.

Leslie said...

Great post. I love your farmhouse style. : )

Carlene @ Organized Clutter said...

Thanks Jann for the mention about my blog. I loved the dedication and photo of hubby's grandparents. I also love vintage kitchen items, and I think you did a great job filling your utensils, bowls and bottles with colorful candy. This is what we as kids loved to see at Christmas.

mimi_62 said...

LOVE this post!! What a lot of treasures. You go, girl! Thanks for sharing.

Maureen Wyatt said...

I love to think of what the women who lived in my home over the last 200 yrs. did in my kitchen. There's comfort in the continuity of performing age old tasks. Your kitchen captures all the spirit of a farmhouse!

xoxo said...

I read somewhere that paperwhites have a distict unpleasant odor. Is this true? I love the way you have displayed them.

Unknown said...

Isn't it funny how we crave all the things from our childhood that at one time we considered "old fashioned", in a world of plastics the natural elements, home comforts and antiques become truly treasured items, I cringe when I think of the things our parents and grandparents threw away!
PS Thanks for reminding us what a handkerchief looks like, it is years since I have seen one. Simone x

eileeninmd said...

What a lovely post, I love all your vintage items. Lovely memories and photos. Thanks for sharing, wishing you a happy week ahead.

Pondside said...

Vintage items, used out of the everyday, give a gentle old-world air to Christmas decorating. I enjoyed seeing what you've done and reading a little about your husband's grandparents.

chateau chic said...

Jan, this is such a lovely post remembering your personal loved ones. So heartwarming! All your wonderful displays and vignettes really speak to the heart. I love them. And now you have me wanting to look for enamelware with that touch of red!
Mary Alice

The Farmers Daughter said...

Jann! Who says you don't have a farmhouse! I've enjoyed this post so much. Brought a few tears to my eyes--especially the photo of the grandparents. They looked so happy. Wonderful memories--wonderful Christmas decor--Loved it all!
Christmas Blessings,
Dru

Unknown said...

Oh, what lovely farmhouse memories. And I just love the scent of Narcissis blooming. Yours are lovely.
Dorothy

Little Susie Home Maker said...

Lots of inspiring Christmas decorating ideas here at your home! I wish I had that collection of rolling pins, they are cute! But now that I think about it, I have quite a few myself! It is too bad that the old house is torn down. My Grandpa built him and my Grandmas house, and it was torn down and the city built a tennis court over it in the 70's! I remember that house so well, lots of good memories.
Blessings,
Susie

Fran. said...

What an awesome post!! I went there in my mind with you!! I LOVE all of your Christmas decorations!! You inspire me!! Thank you for sharing the precious memories!! XOXO Love Fran.

jenclair said...

So many lovely things and virtual memories!

Jennifer @ Town and Country Living said...

What a lovely post! That picture of the grands is just precious. How nice that you were able to get your hubby's picture on the porch of their home. I love farmhouse style too and am also a fan of Carlene's blog. Love the tin with all the rolling pins in it!

Sunny Simple Life said...

This is so cozy. I just loved each and every photo and the sweet story of the farm. Oh to have it still. That would be wonderful.

craftyles said...

I love all your vintage Christmas decorations in the kitchen. Also loved hearing about your Grandma!

Chenille Cottage said...

What a sweet couple, Jann! Carl and Tula are adorable and they look so in love. They have the same wholesomeness that my Grandparents, Ray and Peggie, had. I can't help but think many of us have come from farming families. My grandparents had a little farm in Green Acres, Oregon.

Oh, Me...Oh, My! I have visions of sugar plums dancing in my head right now! Your post is like a visit to an old fashioned drug store and soda fountain with all the jars of candy and other sweet treats! You have created the perfect setting for the beloved story, "Twas the Night Before Christmas".

I visited and posted at Cindy's Old Time Farmhouse. Her blog is bursting with country charm. Don't you love those little overalls?

Thank you, my dear friend, for your sincere comments on my blog. I just love it when you stop by!

Christmas Blessings
Carolynn xxx

Debra at HOMESPUN: http://www.thehomespun.com said...

You always have such fun posts! !

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love seeing all of the old fashioned things with a little holiday decor added. You told a nice story with your post, too! Sweet hugs!

Traci Marie Wolf said...

It's so wonderful to appreciate the simplicity in life. As you said, she may have not had a lot of decorations but it doesn't make her any less interesting. I love this blog post, it helped me to remember the little simple things can be so precious.

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

All those reds sing "Christmas" to me!

Nicolas Lorenzo’s Red Virgin

ThrifterSisters said...

Hi Jann,

When we built our house 5 years ago, we went for a farmhouse style. Living in the country, it only seemed natural! I love your candy station & am definitely going to try to incorporate one into my holiday decor. That bowl with the diamonds that you found at the flea market? It is Pyrex and pretty rare. Lucky you!

Happy Holidays,

Erica

★Carol★ said...

Such a charming post, Jann, and what a darling couple Tula and Carl were! I love the way you decorate. I recently checked out the Farm Chicks Christmas book, and I am absolutely obsessed with farmhouse decor. Using what you have, and taking pleasure in the simple things in life. If I came for a visit, you'd have to kick me out because I'd never want to leave!
Happy REDnesday,
Carol

Sally Annie Magundy said...

I love this post Jann! Tula and Carl are the cutest, thank you so much for sharing their smiling faces with us. I'm so sorry the property was sold, how heartbreaking it was bulldozed. I love all your kitchen vignettes, so darling.

Happy holidays!

Cranberry Morning said...

It was so fun to visit your blog this morning! Beautiful and cozy.

Yolanda Renée said...

Reminds me of my grandmothers farm and all her beautiful gardens and nick-knacks. I'm lucky she gave me some beautiful old items to remember her by.

Thanks for sharing!

Tami Von Zalez said...

Many thanks to linking in to my Countdown to Kitschmas.

Cheers to a fab New Year!

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