Q&A with Aunt RuthieHowdy Sugar Pie Sistas! Welcome to the Farmhouse and to Part 2 of Aunt Ruthie’s Question and Answer time! Due to the wonderfully overwhelming amount of comments y’all bless me with, many of which include questions, I decided to have a Q&A to answer them in one fell swoop! So let’s get started!

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Q. I don’t know how you keep up with everything.
A. Oh honey, there are days when I don’t! I just take one day at a time. I have a Franklin Covey Planner/Calendar Notebook  and I plan and review a week ahead so I know what’s coming up,  what I need to do, and to make sure I don’t miss appointments. There are those days when unexpected things happen, or spur-of-the- moment changes (like almost everyday!) where I’ve learned to go with the flow. I start my day with prayer and have to keep reminding myself  this scripture… “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33.

Q. Is the white dish (w/the single piece of pie and scalloped edges) part of a set or did you find it by itself someplace special?
img_04131A. The white dish is one of four that I found at a gift shop, it comes in a set. On the back it says April Cornell for Sylvestri–Ceramic Bird Dessert Plates. (There is an embossed bird in the center of the plate).

Q. Where did you find your yellow polka dot bowls, and why doesn’t Ashley (daughter) have a blog??
img_0385A. I got the yellow polka dot bowl on a trip. It is made by Ronnie’s Terramoto Ceramics, you can click here to see other darling polka dot and striped bowls along with other adorable kitchenware. As for Ashley, she is busy working full time which does not leave room right now to do a blog, I will tell her you asked!

Q. How do you keep all of your decorations dust free? I dust everyday and am afraid to decorate too much for fear of collecting dust. (My daughter has allergies.) P.S. – I absolutely LOVE your website. I am in love with the “farmhouse” look.
2009-02-01-180A. I use an Ostrich feather duster to remove dust. I clean much more thoroughly when I change my decor, usually for the seasons or when I’m in the mood for  a new look.  The great thing about “farmhouse” decor is that you can keep it really simple, yet  beautiful.  Think about painting walls, cupboards or wood furnishings with a fresh wash of milk-white and add just a few homespun accents… for a splash of color, hang a quilt on the wall from a curtain rod or throw it over a chair……
a10cad7k1lcca2e0dq4cazvdazfca724hw2cab7ww1xcatd71nsca28ndu2cacxzcufca86qo1wca57er2eca4joxqqcatl32c5ca6z1mwvca57ly2ncanbecvccabmdn17ca6pdo3bcahyp4yvcaxk9i91…. line up old glass milk bottles filled with salt  on a shelf ….creamy-white pitchers looks simply beautiful gathered together….fill a white bowl with apples or lemons and set it on a vintage tablecloth on your kitchen table. Write a cute message on an old chalkboard with dust-free Chalk Ink Markers! I love the effect of  lots of  farm-fresh white, it’s so refreshing, crisp and clean looking. All of these things can be washed easily and frequently to keep them dust free. Here are some ideas from Country Living Magazine:
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Q. My family blessed me with a 5.5 qt. cast iron enamel covered pan w/lid (I think it is a dutch oven?) in my favorite red and I am wondering what kinds of recipes for summer time that I can cook in it.
beans60ford1A. One idea for you is to cook up a batch of Barbecue Beans to go with hamburgers, grilled chicken or sandwiches. I have used this super easy recipe for years and everyone loves it! It comes from my hubby’s Texas raised step-mama! (thanks Suey!)

Texas Sue’s Best Barbecue Beans

  • 1 large can Van Camps Beans
  • 5 strips bacon
  • 1 onion
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 cup brown sugar

Cook bacon and onions together, add to beans . Stir in brown sugar and ketchup. Heat until bubblin’, then eat’em up! (To cut down on the fat, you can microwave the bacon on paper towels, cook until crispy and crumble into pot of beans).

Q. I would love to know where you found your little stove and “PIE” letters on your Betty baking center?
the-farm-chicks-book1A. I’ve had the toy stove for about 20 years, I bought it at an antique store. You can find a similar one on Ebay, just type in the words  “vintage toy stove”. Sometimes you can find little refrigerators to match! I got the wooden “PIE” letters at an antique store in Ozark Mo. I purchased a whole jar full of random letters, I have no idea what they were originally used for…I love the font!

Q. I made a rhubarb crumb pie for the first time and it turned out really watery…I baked it for way longer than the recipe said because it was so wiggly…any suggestions?
dsc026911A. I don’t know what your recipe called for as a thickener, but whenever I make a fruit pie, I always put 2 tablespoons of Minute Tapioca and two tablespoons of cornstarch in a 6 cup fruit pie. I usually have to cook a fruit pie for an hour and sometimes for another 10 minutes. The juice needs to be bubbling as thick as honey.
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Q. Do you have a recipe for what my husbands grandma used to call “chicken and pastry?”2984439455_1d9ac41af71A.In different parts of the South they also call this dish Chicken and Dumplin’s. My favorite recipe comes from Cracker Barrel Restaurant. Click here for the recipe.

Q. Are you going to have a blog button?
A. Yes ma’am! Here it is! I would love it if you would add it to your blog, if you do, let me know and I will add your blog link to my Front Porch Friends page that we are working on! Thanks y’all soooooo much!

Sugar Pie Farmhouse
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Sugar Pie Farmhouse Blog Button Code (Copy & Paste code into your blog):

On my next post I will continue Part 3 of Aunt Ruthie’s Q and A time, so if you did not see your question answered, not to worry sugar it’s-a-comin’ !

Right now I want to give a shout out to my sister Sherry (Glamarella Junk) and congratulate her for being featured in Somerset Life Magazine, Belle Amorie and Porch Magazine!! Woo Hoo! Check out her line of sassy and adorable T-shirts…they are perfect to go “junk-tiquing” in!

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Sherry’s Blog is Glamarella Junk, she also designs cute charm necklaces with Vintage Glam images and hand dyed slips. Sherry sells her wares on her blog and at the  fabulous once a month  La Maison Rustique Barn Sales in Temecula California. She has an incredible eye for design. I call her style  Rustic-Romantic as she mixes vintage cottage furnishings with fresh botanicals,  crisp linens, and fragrant candles. It’s a  look that glows with  charm!

Have a blessed week my Sugar Pie Sistas You are always welcome at Aunt Ruthie’s Sugar Pie Farmhouse!!

Hugs Y’all!

Yee Haw!

Aunt Ruthie

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