Jun 28, 2012

Spotlight Michele Scaife

Hibiscus House
 is pleased to present our 
Spotlight Story of the Week


Michele Scaife

     Welcome to Simply Scaife Family Farm. Having grown up roaming the wide open prairie farm my grandparents’ owned, farm life is deep in my veins and close to my heart. The richness of soil, bounty of harvests and the hard work of herds and flock are treasured memories and valued parts of my modern life. My husband Donny and I, along with the help of our three teenagers (Nicole - 19, Jenny - 17, and Justin - 15), have spent the past twelve years making this house a home and this farm a productive, God honoring place of sustenance and self-sufficiency.





     On our small farm supports a herd of dairy goats and meat goats protected and loved my Doc our “herd donkey”.  My sweet Lab, Hadassah, keeps watchful eye over our bountiful flock of poultry as well as a few barn cats. I have to say, my deep conviction in farm life: you can never have too many tomatoes in your garden or too many chicks in your flock. Rows and rows of countless tomatoes take up a good portion of my garden, alongside the corn field, cucumbers, peppers, squash, green beans, and a handful of other plants. I think this past year I started, babied, and planted over a hundred tomato plants….as well as a good fifty new laying hens.



     When I’m not cleaning coops or pulling weeds I can be found at the quilt frame. Whether piecing a new pattern, finishing a vintage treasure, or binding off a quilt for the shop, my frame is always full and my sewing table overflowing with wonderful colors and textures.  The joy of finding homes for these pieces of love and history fills my soul with deep satisfaction and absolute joy.



      Since my children are growing up and moving on with college and work schedules of their own, my heart has been filled with a desire to teach others how to quilt, can, preserve, bake bread, make pickles, culture yogurt and cheese-all those homesteading necessities they are eager to learn. It’s such a blessing to watch these young women get excited over their first batch of jelly, homemade and self-canned, or to see their smiling face when they produce a straight line of quilted stitches.



    The Lord has been so very good to us- blessings beyond measure. It is our desire to pass on the gifts of knowledge and grace on our farm, in our blog, and by our shop. Thank you for stopping by.


Visit Simply Scaife Family Farm

Simply Scaife Family Farm

and

Simply Scaife Handmade ETSY Shop


Michele thank you for sharing your wonderful story.






Jun 21, 2012

Spotlight CJ Armstrong

Hibiscus House is proud to present our
Spotlight of the Week
C.J. Armstrong


                                         photo credit C.J. Armstrong 
                                                                                 

Now In Her Own Words: 
                                                                          
My oldest brother, who is 13 years older than me, tells me how he remembers the day when the minister of the church brought my mom home from the hospital in his big black car, with baby sister in her arms...me, of course.  I was brought home to our family farm in southwest Colorado, where I spent my entire childhood, growing up as a true-blue farm kid.  I have two older brothers, two older sisters and one younger sister.  We raised cattle, sheep, and more laying hens than we could count.  We had a horse named Ginger, a Chestnut Bay Mare, that we rode bareback to school.  Of course there were always cats (my younger sister and I dressed them in doll clothes to play with them and, when they tired of it, they'd run off and hide under the grainery, still wearing the doll clothes) and dogs of every description.

photo credit C.J. Armstrong
The hay field is part of our family farm, I live just up the road from there a few hundred yards.
Even though our family no longer owns it, it is still "my Mountains";


My dad raised potatoes until the market deteriorated too badly it wasn't profitable.  He also raised all of the feed for our animals which included alfalfa, oats, and field corn (for silage for winter feed).  He was an expert orchard man and raised sought after apples, peaches, and cherries, and the best homemade apple cider ever (nope, not "hard").  There was other fruit such as apricots, pears, and plums but not in as large a bounty as the others.

My mother was the ultimate example of a farm wife, raising six children, teaching them everything they needed to know about gardening, sewing, cooking, baking, canning, everything possible....and practicing the piano.
She raised a HUGE garden every year and had the art of canning, freezing and preserving down to a science.  We as her children, were expected to work, do our chores and not complain about it, but be grateful we had a home, a loving family, and food to eat.  My mom was also instrumental in teaching her children about the Bible, loving the Lord and nurtured in us the desire to pursue a Christian life and walk and to serve the Lord.

photo credit C.J. Armstrong
My hubby and I just this past December, after our 43rd anniversary.

My husband, Bill who was born and raised in the mining communities of Arizona, and I have our house built on three acres of part of the farm that my dad deeded to us.  My parents have both gone to their heavenly home and the farm is no longer in our family, but I can look out my living room window and see the farmhouse that was my childhood home.  I can traipse around in the woods the same as when I was a kid. I can look at and still enjoy the very same mountain views on three sides.  I can look at the alfalfa fields, the fruit orchards and smile with incredible joy that I am here and I live right where I grew up and where I learned all about life, family, hard work and God's creation.

My "honey" and I will celebrate our 44th wedding anniversary this coming December.  We have a grown daughter, Robin, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, has a family and is a teacher...something she is passionate about and does with grace, beauty and tremendous talent.  She is also MY best friend, companion and ....well, "partner in crime".  We enjoy traveling together, working on projects together, going "tent glamping" together and working on breast cancer events together...but then I could go on and on about my relationship with her.  It is a priceless treasure and one that I thank the Lord for. 

We have a grown son, Jeremy, who was born with Down's Syndrome and lives with a 24/7 caregiver in a town just five miles from here.  He needed his own life and we made the decision to let him move into a residential program that also provides some day program activities.  We see him, at least every Sunday, and frequently other times.  He has been a true joy in our family.
   
photo credit C.J. Armstrong
 My children, Jeremy and Robin
I am currently semi-retired but have been a medical transcriptionist, college course instructor, piano/vocal/organ instructor, middle school registrar, medical supply customer service representative and caregiver for an individual with a traumatic brain injury...and that's just to name a few!  I enjoy photography, gardening, "glamping", camping and go on "power" walks every day.  Music is my heart, soul and passion and I play a "mean" piano!  I also sing, have played organ and directed numerous choirs and taught classes, private students.  The ONLY thing I've been doing longer than playing the piano is breathing...I started to learn the piano before I started school.

photo credit C.J. Armstrong
 My daughter, Robin and me, with my sweet dog, Bramble, an Australian cattle dog.  Robin is also on Farmgirl Connection and Sisterhood as "birdie71".

MaryJanes Farm

I have been a "sister" with MaryJanes Farm for three years and have enjoyed that more than I can describe.  I was honored to be chosen as FarmGirl of the Month for November 2009 and then totally honored, humbled and surprised when I was chosen as MaryJanes Farm Sister of the Year for 2010....what an awesome honor!!!

photo credit C.J. Armstrong 

My current goals are to slow down, enjoy life more, enjoy my family to the utmost, take more road trips and travel more, see and do things I've not been able to yet....cross things off my "bucket list".  But most of all I want to LOVE and SERVE the LORD and see Him manifest in my life!

. . . barefoot farmgirl from Southwest Colorado


Thank you so much for this wonderful story C.J.






Jun 17, 2012

A Worm in Every Ear


He was The Statue of Liberty

This past weekend was both busy and wonderful. My family spent it with me.  We had such a good time.  I had a bushel of Seneca Chief Corn and of Dixie Lee Peas to shuck and shell.  I was glad to have their help. This little one had never shucked corn nor shelled peas before so it was quite an experience. 

Jun 14, 2012

Spotlight Heather Hansen

Hibiscus House is proud to present the Spotlight of the Week
Heather is such a sweet person full of life and excitement.  Her enthusiasm is very contagious.
She has shared some of the most beautiful pictures in this post and please don't forget to check out the left sidebar for more.  It is a history lesson for those of us whom have never been to Monterey.  A thoroughly enjoyable story.
Heather tells me her favorite music is Big Band, so we will all step back in time and listen with her. She has a very fun blog called Heather's Blog-O-Rama, be sure to check that out.


Jun 11, 2012

South Carolina's Connection to the Gardenia




The Gardenia
Would you like to know our connection?

Jun 8, 2012

An Artist Shares His Work in Steps


I am beginning to find out that we have many talented artists in our local area.  Scott Harrell is a very talented man and uses many mediums and paints.  I thought that I would share some of his work before doing his Spotlight Story.  He has so many works of art and it is too hard for me to choose.  This one ladies will find to be a favorite. Scott has wonderful works that appeal to men as well.  
I must stop talking before I do his story ahead of time...
Enjoy this work of

Scott Harrell Art
Johnny Depp
Oil on watercolor paper using dry brush technique
Happy Birthday











I took the liberty of lightening the bottom sketch of his but in no way wanted to take away from his talent so the picture below is my lightened version





Another work in progress with this technique.
A technique which is only used in Russia
and to his knowledge no one in the US is doing it.
It gives the appearance of a pencil portrait without the pencil lines.


Stevie Ray Vaughan

Oil on watercolor paper using dry brush technique




orig


I took liberties with this sketch and lightened it forgive the awful tint I did it not artist
below:


I am placing some of his excellent artwork in the sidebar for you to enjoy.
The jerseys are hand painted acrylic straight on the jersey.
The canvas work is airbrushed acrylic.

Be sure to check out Scott's Website
Harrell Art Studio




Click this link below to meet the man behind the art


Scott Harrell
our 
Spotlight of the Week 7/13/12


Until next time
Have a great weekend,


   















Sharing with these fine blog parties:





Ivy and Elephants

Jun 4, 2012

The First Day for the Rest of Your Life
















We are all so lucky and blessed aren't we?  I didn't have any idea this morning what I would write about. I made a cup of coffee grabbed my camera and walked to the back door.  Oh my The Lord gave me something! Isn't this sunrise just absolutely beautiful?  I thought as I stood there for those few moments of how wondrous this world is that he has made for us.  Just look at that bird on the line it is one of our bluebirds. He flew to the line and with me we watched the sunrise.  He turns his head side to side and watches in amazement.  The rain is coming down softly, it is so quiet and peaceful.  
Today is the first day for the rest of our lives and I hope we will all not take it for granted.  To greet each other with love and kindness.  To be there for someone in need.   To comfort, those in sadness and to share our joy....maybe even spread a little of it around.
Thank you God for this and everyday. 


Until next year,



Jun 1, 2012

Spotlight: Cyrus Frakes

I am sitting here and thinking of this Spotlight person of the week. It brings to mind a little girl with long blonde curls. A girl as shy as could be, but left on her own she could dream.  She could dream that she was on a stage with a long flowing gown.  A gown that would most probably have been pink and so full and beautiful that it would put Cinderella to shame.  The best part of this dream would be the sparkly crown on top of her head and she would dance around floating in this imaginary fairytale land.  
Oh, alright, yes it was me...didn't every little girl dream of one day becoming Miss America? 
I had the pleasure of interviewing our next guest and would like to share that with you now.  For all of you girls young and old your dreams can come true no matter what they may be.


Hibiscus House is Proud to Present
Cyrus Frakes
Cover of Supermodels Featured with Amanda Pennekamp Bluestein (Miss Earth United States 2006), Margaret Ann Carter (America's Perfect Teen 2009) and Shannon Noel Ford (Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2012). Photo by Jeanna Beasley

Join me now as the I interview 'The King of the Crown'

HOUSE AND GARDENS