Are you ready for “CREATE” Monday?
We’ve been busy over here creating. Getting ready for round two of my YEAR LONG challenge!! What do you have up your sleeve?
Have a great weekend!!
xo.Heather
what a chip off the old block,hey?
Are you ready for “CREATE” Monday?
We’ve been busy over here creating. Getting ready for round two of my YEAR LONG challenge!! What do you have up your sleeve?
Have a great weekend!!
xo.Heather
what a chip off the old block,hey?
Hey good looken! Whatchya got cooken? How bout cooken up some Chicken Pot Pie with me? I could NOT write that without hearing my mom blasting that old song all off tune… brings back memories! (I didn’t specify good or bad, did I??) hehe
No really though, wanna warm your heart and tummy? Then join me for cooken up some Down Home Chicken Pot Pie! Post Road style which means totally from scratch!
I made this baby last week and I almost feel like I can still taste and smell it! (‘n no, not cause the dirty dishes are still in the sink!) It is just THAT GOOD IMHO.
It basically consists of THREE STEPS- (ingredients listed below each step)
1) Veggie / Chicken mixture
6 cups fresh or frozen veggies, 2 cups cooked and chopped chicken, 1 pint chicken broth, 2 TBs olive oil
2) Homemade White Sauce
4 TBs butter, 4 Tbs flour, 3 cups milk, 1 1/2 c. cheddar cheese
3) Pic Crust
1 cup lard, 2 cups flour + 6 TBs, 1/2 c. water, 1/2 tsp salt
*makes a double crust. I only put a top crust on my pot pie and save the other crust in the freezer or make a yummy berry pie to have for dessert*
Ready for the directions, baby?
k. ready set FIRE!!
(Preheat oven to 375 degrees. I make my pie in a cast iron skillet but you also could make it in a 9 x 13 pan.)
1. Saute a little bit of garlic and onion in the 2 TBs of olive oil.
2. Add chicken broth and remaining veggies. You’ll let this all simmer as you start working on the next step. For veggies I used potatoes, beans, sweet potatoes, carrots, celery, and broccoli. I think a threw a lil spinach in there too… basically whatever you have on hand flys on Post Road!
3. While your veggie/broth mix is simmering you can start with the white sauce. First melt 4 TBs butter in a sauce pan.
4. Once the butter has melted add the 4 TBs of flour. Mix fast with a wooden spoon until thick paste forms.
5. Add your three cups of milk slowly. I do one cup at a time.. all the while cooking on low.. once it thickens add a lil more, repeat.. until all the milk is added and stirring. stirring the whole while.
6. Once white sauce is thickened add the cheese and salt and pepper to taste. I also like to throw in some herbs. Remove from heat.
7. Check your veggie mix to see if they’re tender. If so add chicken and turn off. If the veggies suck up all the broth before the veggies are done just add a lil water.
8. Start crust by cutting one cup of lard into two cups of flour.
9. Make a paste of the 6 TBs flour, 1/2 c. water and salt.
10. Combine the flour / lard mix with the paste. Don’t over mix!
11. Combine white / cheese sauce with veggie and chicken mix.
12. Dump into your skillet or pan and add rolled out crust to top.
13. Bake at 375 for 30-45 min or till golden brown on top.
let it cool off and set up just a little and then… ENJOY!
Let me know if you try this or if you have any questions!! Have fun
xo.Heather
p.s. this year I am planning on incorporating a bit more of kitchen/recipes/household goodies to yee ole blog. Rather than only the usual decorating. Even though decorating and hammering is what I like most… lately I’ve really been embracing those things that I’m not as keen on. Cooking, cleaning, and organizing. So this’ll just be one more way for me to keep those things fun and bless my family at the same time.
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Happy Monday to you! I have some ultra exciting super duper Post Road News for you! My Mason Jar Soap Dispensers are on the cover of Country Living February 2012 issue!
I just about JUMPED out of my skin when I realized they were mine! Sorry I am such a nerd but it is a dream for me and my lil Post Road shop.
This is the lovely home of Bill Albright and Michelle Pattee. Country Living is hands down one of my TOP FAVORITE magazines and their home is so perfectly country rustic, dontchya think??
I scoured and searched the pages for a “Post Road” mention. But alas, it was for none. Now THAT would have been just too good to be true, right?
Thanks to Paypal search and recognizing these babies ANYWHERE I was able to confirm they came straight from yee ole Country shop, Post Road Vintage.
I have NO idea why I cut them off the cover. Really it was #oneofthosedumbmoments. Oh boy… I really need to go wear off some of this enthusiasm. Go scrub a couple toilets or something like that.
xo.Heather
p.s. you can read more about my “Soap Dispenser Story” HERE
p.p.s. go to CountryLiving.com to see more of their bea-uuutiful home!
and of course you may go here to snag a soap dispenser all of your own!
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Why hello, how are you dear PRV’ers? Yesterday I had the WILDEST of intentions. I tore my bedroom apart with the plan to paint it and accomplished cutting in a whopping four corners. aiughhhh….
I could not, would not scare you with those photos.. so after my brutal attempt to start to paint I threw in the brush. And decided to set a purty table instead. Just perfect for the dead of winter, dontchya think? A perfectly good thing to do on the first snow day (no school!)
Darn! I love winter but lately I’ve had a craving for some sunshine and warm garden manure on my toes. If I don’t get up to town to get my busted ski boot fixed it is going to be a looong one…
But how’s the weather been in your neck ‘a the woods? Good thing for this lil lavender wreath… wilted roses from the grocery… and homemade chicken pot pie. ALL good for getten’ through the winter doldrums!!
Are you getting sick of seeing these roses yet?? Feels like they made it into my last 8 posts but I just can’t help it! Roses are so perfect because you can enjoy them at EVERY STAGE OF LIFE. Love the buds, flowers, wilted, dryed, hips… love ‘em all. ok, ok.. yes I am pining away for my garden. I hope there are at least a few living rose bushes buried under all that snow out there.
Oh! Also.. my friend Heather Spriggs has just put together the most lovely e-zine. The winter edition is all things WHITE. Check it out! I think you will love it! Warning** I am a contributor to this one and I really spilt my guts.
Thanks so much for the lovely visit! Would love to hear from you either in the comments here or on my Facebook page. Life is so much more grand with friends, you know. And I am really grateful that I’ve gotten to “know” so many of you!!
Take care ‘n stay warm!
xoHeather
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Good day to you fella ‘create’ master
If you are wondering what the digs I am talking about then you’ll hafta catch up with my post HERE. Yessiree and phew!! I would say it’s a very good thing I didn’t let you down on the first week, right??
Y’know… I am thinking that this is JUST what I need to push myself in the direction I so deeply am craving to go. As a girl whose head spins with ideas and possibilities… it is so FUN to see them actually happen. And it is so FUN to have you on this journey with me! As promised I want this to be about you too. I want to hear what’s been inspiring you and making your creative heart sing. pshaw…. don’t tell me nothing. Sorry, I just don’t believe ya.
This is the year of NO EXCUSES for me so I am so pumped to have you here to hold me accountable to that!! And DON’T FORGET to share with me on FACEBOOK what you’ve been up to… be it through pictures or words, I really would be honored to connect with you over there… let’s get inspired together!!
OK, are you curious what I’ve been up to? The very first week of this year long challenge I created this set of purty lil mug hooks. Some things I can’t get enough of right now that inspired this design…. Cabbages and Roses fabric by MODA, vintage tea cups, and wilted roses. So what color goes with all of the above… Oh baby, gray for sure! My new favorite color… specially with creamy white. So romantic. Just pure farmhouse chic, dontchya think??
This baby was built of pine bead board and trim, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, antique style mug hooks, and loads ‘a TLC. For you DIYers the colors are old white and linen gray mixed one to one with old white for a softer more ‘Post Road’ gray.
And as promised this lil country shelf is available in the shop. But I only made TWO of them. Believe me, I wanted to make about a million more but our wood shop is ‘in progress’. (in other words taking FOREVER to complete.. lol) But since I wasn’t going to let that keep me down as an excuse. No siree, not this year!! I will be making many many new things but mostly in limited amounts.
OK! It is YOUR turn to share! What are you working on? Creating? Decorating? Painting? It really doesn’t matter… if it’s something special to you I would love to see. Just post a picture (or words) on my Facebook page… let’s let 2012 be the year of inspiration and CREATING.
Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate you! And a big welcome to all new visitors by way of Miss Mustard Seed. Ya’ll are so darn nice and have blown me away with your kindness!
Find that set ‘a mug hooks HERE.
Hi! How the diggens is your week going? Tis a good one here on Post Road.
I’ve been reading all over blog land about “one words.” The theory is that you choose one word to give you direction for the New Year. The concept is a good one. After 27 years of failed resolutions I didn’t make any of THOSE this year. However I did set some goals and this “one word” really intrigued me. So I thought of a word that totally aligns with one of my goals for the New Year.
My word for 2012 is to “CREATE.”
You may think I’m already doing this. But no, and not enough. Cause I find myself stuck in a wheel. It’s a good wheel but a wheel nonetheless. There’s the business side of things. Then there’s the Mom and wife side of things. Then there’s the take care of my body and mind side of things. BUT I know it is in my heart to CREATE. I know if I’m not CREATING then all the above may just fall apart before my very eyes. I know that may sound SO DRASTIC to some of you but trust me. It’s not.
But without accountability this word “CREATE” is like just another resolution waiting to be broken. So I am asking A LOT OF YOU. I am asking YOU to hold me accountable and join me on this 2012 “CREATE” journey.
The first and third Monday of EVERY MONTH I will be here with a new thing that I’ve created. It will be available for purchase in the shop but I’ll also be here to talk to you about my creative process and to help you with yours. Some may end up being staples in the shop but many will be made only once or twice. I’m not trying to “mass produce” everything.. I am trying to streeeeetch my creative wings.
I am REALLY REALLY excited about this!! Are you? I don’t want this to be all about me though… So every first and third Monday of the month I also want to see what YOU’RE CREATING. Post it on my Facebook page…. let’s give each other ideas and inspiration. Be it room decorating, furniture re-do’s, paint colors, or any other CREATIVE ENDEAVOR I want to see it and hear about it!! And no it does not need to be some big magazine worthy, retail ready project. It only must be something that makes your heart sing…
YOU WITH ME??
Good then, we’ll see ya on Monday
(update) You can see my first weeks project HERE!
xo.Heather
p.s. the Hubby’s got a horribly awesome bad delicious hobby going on.. (as noted in first picture) but tastes even BETTER on beauty plate from Urban Farmgirl. If I’m going to break a resolution it may as well be on purty china!!
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Happy Monday to you!! I hope your weekend was lovely as a bee’s bug in a rug. Thanks for knocking my socks off with all of your kind comments on the Good Stella post.
Holy cow. You totally pulled me out of my tired and admittedly lil’ bit spunky week. (The hubby can attest to that.. y’know he is a real Saint for putting up with me at times.) OK. I am so relieved to be feeling back to my regular ole energetic, vintage loven, Post Road partying self! Today I’m sharing some PreValentines fun.. let’s just say I owe it to him after last week.
He bought me roses. (Never mind that I threw in the request.) I went nuts for a couple shoots and articles I had to finish for some magazines. (Can’t wait to share them with ya!)
Lucky, lucky that I had a bunch of roses left over (I seriously recommend you requesting this too.. some say that ruins the effect.. naw, not me. I’ll score flowers any way they come. haha) All the Christmas decor is down. Everything except this Eucalyptus garland. It was sorta Christmas-y but I loved it too much to part ways.
So how bout swapping out the wreath for some strung up jars? I was inspired by the hanging mason jars in my shop but couldn’t quite decide what should go in them. Candles? Flowers? Love letters? Finally I settled on plain Jane. Something to make the passerby-ers say, “hmmmm…” Which is by the way my favorite response of all when I’m decorating. I LURVE doing things that feel a lil borderline, ugly ‘n questionable, because usually that’s where my best ideas will pop up from.
These fresh roses stayed in these sweet music tags perfectly! I tried sticking them in the envelope part of the tag but it made them swing and sway every which way until I was dizzy with the intoxicating smell. But when I trimmed that stem short and stuck it straight into the punched hole it stayed. Wah-Lah! I have no idea how but I think it may have to do with Newton’s Law of Gravity! (no, science was never my strong point)
I know these will dry and be even purtier than before… in the meantime maybe you have a really good idea what I should fill those jars with? So pretty catching the sunlight.
On a totally unrelated note my lil Lavender Wreath made it into the latest issue of Somerset Life! This magazine is full of many of my favorite Artist’s… get your copy here.
I hope you have a *romantic week
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Hello! Are you totally recovered from the Holidays and ready to rock the New Year?? Truthfully I am still feeling slightly bedraggled… But whenever I have these feelings I know JUST the place to go to pull myself out of a funk….
{all images courtesy of Carol Spinski}
Yup, her name is Carol Spinski from Raised in Cotton. She is such a talented, generous, and creative, giving, caring woman. Seriously… you ever meet someone and want to shout to the world how awesome they are?? (Sorry Carol, just telling the truth here!)
{all images courtesy of Carol Spinski}
So many people who have insane talents seem so guarded to “share” their secrets. But why is that? Doesn’t it seem that if we all helped each other we could all benefit? This is the spirit that I like to run my own business with. So when Carol opened up a lovely site to help creative beings get off the ground… well, I was ecstatic!
{all images courtesy of Carol Spinski}
Do you have a creative spirit? No really, do you? I like to argue that we all do. Yeah.. it may be buried way down deep because of all the ‘life’ stuff that happens and we deny our own hearts the freedom to ‘just be.’ We let the doubts and insecurities get in the way. Naw, I’m not talking about running a business or even making it some huge ole’ thing even. I’m just talking about allowing yourself some time and freedom to do what you love ‘just because’.
{all images courtesy of Carol Spinski}
Carol has really inspired me to think big and dream bigger. I really, really look up to her. So it is a no-brainer that I share her good stuff with you!
Here’s a lil about her ‘in her own words’–
“I am a photographer, stylist and co-owner of a vintage focused shop called Raised In Cotton housed in an early 1900′s farmhouse in Missouri. I am very passionate about leading a creative lifestyle and fortunate that my business allows me to do that on a daily basis. Most importantly, I am married to a wonderful man and have 3 grown kids. In 2009 we found and remodeled a circa 1865 farmhouse which has been a dream come true. Lastly I am an RN so my love of embracing each day to the fullest comes from witnessing first hand how short life can be.” -Carol Spinski
Pretty darn amazing if I say so myself!!
{all images courtesy of Carol Spinski}
Go HERE to be inspired and motivated by the Good Stella Community. I also did a guest post there recently about chasing dreams and changing diapers and how to make that jive together. You can read that HERE.
All pictures are courtesy of Carol from her Raised in Cotton and Carol Spinski blogs… grab your cup a’ coffee and get lost in Carol Spinski’s world.
p.s. on a TOTALLY unrelated subject… I am trying to wean my 18mth old… struggling in all the ways you’re imaging! haha.. any tips from you pro moms?? And yeah.. she’ll only take the sorta bottles you can’t throw away! LOL
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Good day to you! I hope you had a joyous time ringen’ in the New Year!! There is something SO refreshing about a new year, a blank slate, and possibilities waiting to happen.
Speaking of fresh… our girls are really getting going on their mad laying skills. WHOOOP! Yeah, this ole country bumpkin is quite ecstatic to have chickens we don’t have to eat. (The eating part is not so bad at all.. but the butchering….)
ok, ok.. this New Years post is supposed to be all cheers and no pessimism. So let’s just forget about the feathered friends in the freezer for the moment, shall we??
It’s been so fun having the master chef around this vacation. He whips up the most delightful meals. But today he was busy all day making lil lovelies for the shop… So the cooken’ (at least lunch) was on me. HMMMM….. I do easy meals but never from the can. Cause that’s just how we roll. We try to eat fresh but we’re not too hardcore on the organic (yet). So what do you make when you’re short on time and energy but long on eggs, milk, butter, and flour??
pronounced bun-OO-guk-OO-ah
Yes.. yee old Finnish heritage serves me well on days like today.
Der is nutting better den varm bun-OO-guk-OO-ah on a colt vinters day.
**Recipe**
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. While oven preheats melt 1/4 c. butter on pan in oven.
Ingredients-
5 eggs, beaten
3/4 c. sugar (I usually substitute 1/2 c. honey)
1 c. flour
1 tsp salt
2 c. milk
Whip everything in a bowl till mixed.. pour on top of melted butter in pan.. sprinkle cinnamon on top.. and bake for 30-35 min.
You will think it has flopped because it only stays tall in all of it’s glory but a few minutes.. but it is still tasty as ever. I serve with real maple syrup or fruit sauce.
Let me know if you try this!! I’d love to hear what you think. And as for the fresh start of the New Year… I am planning to blog just a tad less this year. I need more time to get all these juicey ideas out of my head and unto my blog and shop.
(lil less talk ‘n a lot more action.)
Till next time friend!!
xo.Heather
And the very last winner of my Four Weeks of Giving is Kathy from Primitive Echoes..Congrats Kathy! You won a copy of HERS by Jaqueline deMontravels.
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Good Mornen’! Figured I’d jump on the “year in review” blog bandwagon.. My ‘lil break’ from the regular so I can build some lego towers and bow bow one sweet lil (still under the weather) baby… and it IS the perfect time to wrap up an awesome 2011. I really love this time of year. Get rejuvenated, organized and inspired.
But NOT without first looking back at all the fun you’ve provided me!! Thanks so much for a blast of a year! I really, REALLY appreciate you! I wish I could take the time to personally thank EACH AND EVERYONE of you! Do you feel that thanks and love coming through over the airwaves?? Awesome!! We’re all good then.
This was a year of hardcore LEARNING. I screwed up plenty but it was without a doubt the funnest year. (so far!!) You, who enthusiastically joined me on Facebook, my newsletter, the Homebound E-Zine. You gave me confidence to put out a ‘lil catalog of my farmhouse wares (three actually!) And I opened up my own shop to go along with my Etsy shop. WWOOOOEEE… it is really no wonder that there are suspicious looking things growing in the back of my kitchen cupboards.. lol. Before you call social services know that I AM exaggerating. Well sort of.
So thank you SO much for your enthusiasm, support, encouragement… it gives me hope that 2012 is going to be EVEN BETTER (is that possible?!!) It is my goal to provide you with even MORE JUICIER blog posts (something is wrong with that grammatically speaken’) and of course I have many, many new ideas for the shop brewing in ye ole brain.
I’m going to end by leaving you a few pics and links to top posts from throughout the year… thanks for a good one!!
Love you guys!! (not trying to creep ya out here!)
xo.Heather
{a journey and a life changed}
{make your own mason jar lantern}
{de-cluttering Post Road style}