The Late-Summer Cupboard with a French Country Flair

One of my favorite decor themes for mid to late summer is "chickens". I've never raised chickens or been around them except for a short time when I was a kid and an odd motley group of wild/escaped chickens found our farmhouse. That's where the collection "seed" was planted. Most of my chicken figurines are not worth much, but fun to collect and display throughout the summer months. Back in the 60's one of the decor themes was "Early American" and with that, accessories took on a slightly "farmy" style. Chicken decor sprouted up everywhere, but of course mainly in the kitchen and dining room. (Think chickens and coffee grinders themed wallpaper...)

Sunflowers on the Summer Farm Table

Last week when I shared the Entry hall console with the seashell birdcages I mentioned that it was time to bring out the sunflowers, and other summertime florals for a update of the flower arrangement. The next day I took the plunge (literally) in my faux floral tubs and emerged with some pieces to change up my summer containers. 

Sunflowers Bucket on the Farmtable

Hi Friends, August is zipping by and decor is changing as fast as a chicken can peck a bug. Okay, I'm no chicken lady, but I bet it's fast! My momma and baby vintage chalk chickens have been out here in the Garden Room since mid July and I'm just getting around to sharing the farm table for Late Summer.

Farm Animals in French Country Decor

Somewhere deep in my DNA I have the Farmer/Shepherd gene that has been dormant for many years. When I was growing up my dad always kept a few beef cattle at the farmhouse, but we weren't allowed to name them or pet them because well, you know why...  So, next best thing is to just collect cows and sheep to decorate with in my vintage Cottage, Farmhouse, and French Country decor.

Late Summer in the Cookbook Cupboard

It seems like August brings all the chickens out to gather in the kitchen and Garden Room. I think of them "down on the farm" hunting and pecking in the barnyard; waiting around for a sprinkle of feed then heading to cooler shady spots for a siesta. So here we are on the Cookbook Cupboard now in late Summer with a few of my vintage flock...

Summertime Snippets from the Cookbook Cupboard

Hello my friends, now that we're past the July 4th holiday I think we can safely say we're in to mid-summer. That's when I bring out a few tried and true vintage pieces that I just associate with "summer". One of my fun spots to decorate with seasonal vintage pieces is on top of the "Cookbook Cupboard" that's here in the hearth room. It's easy to reach and even though my large scroll-y blackboard and monogram is a fixture here, it gives a fun background to show off some larger vintage elements.

I've had this little twiggy summertime wreath for quite a few years, and usually end up tweaking it each year. It's loaded with summertime florals in bright color. Lillies, roses, raniculus, and zinnias all work together with some faux Creeping Charlie to make it a summertime favorite. It's a little fragile, so it's not something I want to use outdoors. Plus, the birds love to break off the twigs and fly off with nest fodder.

August in the Cookbook Cupboard

I don't change up the "cookbook nook" cupboard as much as some of my other spots, but I do like to keep it seasonal. Lately I've been sharing some of my vintage chick-a-doodles that are meandering around the house. Last year they liked this spot, so I thought I'd bring a few back and share it's late-summer look.

Garden Room in August Color

Hey friends, can you believe it's August?
In some ways this year has seemed like forever,
and in other ways it's flying by.

Time for some late Summer color here in the Garden Room.

The Chickens Have Come Home to Roost

Late Summer, (anytime after the 4th), has always been a time for the vintage chickens to come out and strut their stuff. I've been playing with all the chicks here on the old cupboard in the Hearth Room. I've had them in several different places on the shelves and think I finally came up with a good placement... for now. You just never know where a chicken will turn up around here.

(a small chicken bud vase in the Garden Room, where it's light and bright)

"Blooming 'Brella" and Friends

I've been bringing out some "Spring" around here this last week. It will be "Spring" until the end of March and then I'll get together some Easter decor. I really prefer Easter being in April, otherwise it's just too chilly and I like being able to enjoy both early Spring and then Easter. I know there's a fine line, but rabbits and bunnies, chickens, eggs and nests can do double duty... do I sound like a crazy old woman who doesn't have anything else to do except chit chat about seasonal decor items? please don't answer that.

  

Late Summer Kitchen Sitting Area

I've piddled around with this kitchen sitting area post so long,

 that if I don't show you all soon, 

I'm going to be ready to change it up to be the 

"Early Fall Kitchen Sitting Area".

Henpecked...

Hey Everyone, hope you're having a great weekend! We just got home from another doctor's check-up trip to St. Louis. Great progress on my husband's inner ear surgery, and we always have a wonderful visit with the kids and grandpuppy.

I mentioned last week that I had "recycled" my white wheelbarrow with the veggies and rabbit tureen after they made their appearance as a tablescape. I was still lovin' the garden veggie theme, so I made a place for the wheelbarrow on the sideboard in the kitchen hallway.

But I wanted to bring out the hens and chicks for summer, so I changed out the rabbit tureen for a "chicken" tureen. Both of them white ceramic, that usually live in my kitchen china cabinet along with their sister tureen, a duck.

I found the vintage chalkware momma and baby chicken years ago at the flea,

and they are always part of my "Summer" decor.

Here's the "Veggie Garden-Vintage French Seed Packet Label-Flowerpot Wreath".

Try saying that 3 times fast...

I found these order forms in the little seed catalog that I'm sharing here too.

So naturally, they had to be showing garden seeds!

Each time my husband walks by the sideboard

 he's attacked by crazed carrots grabbing onto him.

so sorry...

not.

fine...I'll tuck them in a little better.

Be careful, you might get pecked.

Like I always tell my hubby,

 "Don't mess with my livestock!" 

...or the decor.

(Just being silly)

close quarters and bad lighting.

but I just love this spot.

You wanna know where all the roosters might be?

I have them all corralled downstairs.

And remember to check back Monday morning for

and link up all your Etsy and Online Boutique items.

joining in for these parties:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch

Inspire Me at A Stroll Thru Life

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Savvy Southern Style

From My Front Porch to Yours

Have a great "rest of the weekend"!

xoxo,

A good hare day on the sunporch...

I don't want to talk about what's outside at the moment, except to say there's nothing Spring-y about it. These last few days have been gray and snowy and altogether yucky. I bought some tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths last week that I was wanting to get planted, but forget it...they will have to wait until the snow goes away. So I'm choosing to boost my Springtime thoughts with what's going on out here on the sunporch.

 Yep, it's definitely Spring on the Sunporch!

Decorating out here always starts with different seasonal quilts.

Changing them out gets me in the mood for whatever the season may be.

 Then layering on the pillows, and bringing out the fun vintage goodies...

I'm not really a "blue" person, 

but this wonderful floral quilt has me almost there.

It was from my mother-in-law's stash

 that I think was from her mom back in the 40's.

I have the tail end of the paperwhites in that little USA yellow planter

and I've been browsing through my vintage Better Homes and Garden binder.

I can always count on it looking warm and Spring-like out here,

even if the outside temps don't agree.

This is another favorite quilt of mine in the Tumbling Block pattern.

My white paper mache buns is sitting 

on the little green chair from when I was a baby.

We won't talk about how old that rickety little chair actually is...

Vintage pink rabbit planter, birdie tin, and seed packets...

Hey, an old chalkware chicken is even roosting out here.

One more chance for snow this evening,

and then I hope we're done!

Just a housekeeping note...

I've just added the Bloglovin' follow option to my sidebar. If you haven't tried it yet, let me say it's my new favorite. It's so super easy and you can import all your favorite blogs that you follow from Google Reader at one click, not individually. I've actually been using it this week, and it's better than the old method. So if you're a follower, I'd love you to click and follow me there. You can get set up in half a minute! 

 joining in for these parties this week:

The Dedicated House for Make it Pretty Monday

TTT at A Stroll Thru Life

Between Naps on the Porch
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend,

Somethin' to crow about...

Which came first...

the Chicken, or the Egg...

or the Rooster?

Well, if we know Roosters, we'd know they think it's all about them!

Here's a vintage group from my kitchen counter,

raising a ruckus.

Roosters fit right in whether you're decor is French Country,

Farmhouse,

or "French Farmhouse"!!

A little box I found a few years ago,

and look it has an "egg" in it.

Hmm... a rooster with an egg?

My sunroom baker's rack has a summer farmhouse theme going

Here is another fella sort of "chalky"

and very colorful.

And a teensy chalk hen on a nest

This cutie little vintage planter definitely needs some ivy on it's backside

 

And this mom and baby are another vintage set

 that is hollow on the inside

some sort of chalk, cement-y mixture.

Love them!

Shelia is having one of her "Heart of the Home" parties

be sure and join in the fun at Note Songs

and I'm joining in with these other great parties,

links on the sidebar buttons.

Be sure and come back tomorrow for

love ya,