Everybody Needs A Pineapple

I'm sure you all know this already - to have a pineapple of some sort at your entry means welcome and hospitality. So for that reason alone - EVERYBODY needs a pineapple to welcome their guests - wouldn't you agree? Now there are just all sorts of ways to do this - you could paint a pineapple on a sign, place a pineapple on a wreath, or simply make it easy and buy a concrete one!!!

Shaun, my better half, is an agriculture teacher and just so happens to have a student who's family makes their living making and selling concrete!!! We love doing business with them and it allows us to have some nice garden accents to offer.

Now normally this picture would be just a bit to drab for me - but there was just something very striking that caught my attention with the tone on tone and the grouping of all different kinds of pineapples makes a neat statement.

So make your guests feel welcome and greet them with the symbol of hospitality - oh, and better yet, fresh from the oven homemade cookies probably wouldn't hurt!!

Happy Day! Cathy Cobblestone

Just a Lil' bit of Cobblestone Farms Greenhouse

Well, it is that time of year for Beautiful Flowers, Glorious Sunshine, and seeing lots of Friendly Faces - it is a time that we work really hard to get to but one that is rewarding in so many ways. It is fulfilling to see our hard work turn into beautiful flowers that brighten our days and the spirits of so many others.

We are just a small family operation but we take tremendous pride in providing our wonderful customers and friends with the best quality plants possible. Nearly 90% of everything we sell, we grow ourselves from seed starting in early January. Shaun and I, and even our sweet Casen, want nothing less than the best for the people that are kind enough to shop with us.

I just wanted to share with you a lil' bit about our place. This is just a small snippet of the plants and vegetables we have at Cobblestone Farms - but I hope you enjoy looking! If you are close enough or up for a drive - come visit us - we'd love to have you!

A great big "Thank You" ahead of time to all our wonderful local customers who have supported us over the years and who we look forward to seeing again real soon.

Happy Planting Friends!!!
Cathy Cobblestone

Lil' Wagon Load of Cheer!!!

I'm sending you a lil' wagon load of CHEER and hoping you all have a Happy, Healthy and Blessed weekend.

Blessings to you all! Cathy Cobblestone

The Joy of Helping Others

Sometimes it is just the lil' things that make some one's day - whether it is a smile, a good deed, a kind word. I have been on the receiving end of many of these things and my life has been richly blessed by kindness shown to me over the years. Being in business for several years now, I have learned so much more than "making a living" - I've experienced the true joy in "making a living loving what you do" and being blessed by those who keep you in business.


I've been able to come in contact with countless of kind and extremely gifted people over the years - many of which who do a lil' piddlin' on the sides in making their own treasures. Talented craftsman, seamstresses, painters, the list goes on and on. I just wanted to take the opportunity to recognize a couple of people who have touched my life in a positive way. I have been blessed in my lil' blogging venture to have some faithful readers and I just thought I'd share with you all their talent and bring attention to them as "artists" and as wonderful people. Please, take time to check them out - they are listed in my favorites: Ada's Adorable Aprons and Ribbons-n-Rags. Thank You!

"He who, forgetting self, makes the object of his life service, helpfulness and kindness to others, finds his whole nature growing and expanding, himself becoming large-hearted, magnanimous, kind, sympathetic, joyous, and happy; his life becoming rich and beautiful." - Ralph Waldo Trine

"Helping someone else is the secret of happiness." - Booker T. Washington

Have a blessed day & Scatter some Kindness,
Cathy Cobblestone

Making it Simple and Sweet

I'm just a simple painter - one who loves pretty polka dots and lots of whimsy. I always like to encourage anyone to pick up a paint brush and try it - you never know what you might be able to create if you have a lil' faith in yourself.

I love to paint for sweet lil' ones and this is one of the canvases I completed this morning at 2:30 AM - yes, you are reading that right - I do not sleep much!!!!! It is for a precious lil' girl to be born real soon and her nursery is in the "Clothesline" theme - I'm sure her room will be such a happy place.

My canvases tied up with pretty ribbons are something I do take custom orders for. This one has a monogram but I do lots of NAMES, and lots of COLORS, and lots of RIBBONS! It is so much fun!!! But never underestimate yourself - YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

So Happy Creating!!!
Cathy Cobblestone

My Lil' Trash to Treasure Project

I've always loved working with windows, doors or anything architectural for that matter. Sometimes, actually most times, its best not to alter them a bit - they make such a statement on their own. But every now and then, I just get the urge to "tweak" them a lil' bit. My Mom brought me this cabinet door front she found - it was brown, had a glass insert but no knob. It sit there in the closet for a while until I happened upon this old piece of quilt I had - just so happens - it was a perfect fit. I simply painted the wood in two colors that would compliment the material, sanded it, wrote "SIMPLIFY" on it and added some fun wooden buttons to cover up the holes where the knobs were suppose to be. Finished it off by hanging it with cream grosgrain ribbon. I was really happy with it and so was Ms. Betty - she snatched it up that very day!

Anyway, I thought I'd share with you this lil' idea. Next time you see an old door laying around - give it a lil' face lift and make it your own!!

Happy Creating!
Cathy Cobblestone

Wishing you a BEAUTIFUL Weekend!

Just wanted to wish you all an absolutely splendid weekend. Another gorgeous day here in Kentucky - hope it was that way at your home!!!

Back when I first started blogging in about,-- oh say --, mid February, I posted on the tulip bulbs I had planted in some good ole' boots I had. Well, one of them bloomed yesterday and I just had to share it with you. These boots just make me smile and happy - just a fun lil' twist on a planter.

Second picture was to welcome the guests I had yesterday at the farm. "The Leadership Green" group came to visit and tour Cobblestone Farms. They were also touring several other local farming operations - focusing on Agriculture in our community. This program is fantastic - luckily I was able to a part of it the first year it was in place back in, oh my goodness, 1999. Doesn't seem that long ago!! Anyway, it was a pleasure to have them, I hope they enjoyed their visit, and I love being able to help out when this county has been so incredibly amazing to us! So thank you Leadership Green!

Have a blessed weekend!
Cathy Cobblestone

Towers Of Flowers

Oh This Day was ABSOLUTELY Beautiful!!!!! Couldn't hardly go inside - and I didn't much - people are starting to get spring fever soooo they ventured out Cobblestone way to see what's in bloom and ready to plant. Flowers just put a "spring" in every one's step and it is amazing how excited they get and how a lil' color brings so much happiness.

Thought I'd give you a couple of quick ideas you might like to try in your garden. These lil' iron plant holders are easy to find at flea markets, yard sales, good ole' junk stores and they have a lot of great uses. Here you will see our cute black & white pots placed on it filled with some fresh asparagus fern. I used it in the fall with all types of beautiful gourds and pumpkins placed on it. You could epoxy clay pots to it and just change the flowers out for each season - so many possibilities.

Secondly, is an old ladder Mom was putting in the trash. Actually, this idea came from her 'cause last year she used it on her porch. She actually tied her ferns to it and had them all up and down the rungs - so cute and the height made a great statement. You could also place pots on each level, securing them, fill 'em with pretties, add a birdhouse and the list goes on. Just Imagine!!

Happy Creating!!!
Cathy Cobblestone

What happened to Spring? Bet this will cheer you up!

Oh my, my dear friends - I had to get my winter coat back out today - cold, windy and rainy all at the same time. And tonight, maybe even some snow flurries - now that's just mean if you ask me. But I do hate to complain, cause after we get through tomorrow we will back up in the 60's and 70's for the rest of the week. Now that's more like it!!!!

I'm gonna brighten your day with a picture of some pretty flowers AND I'm gonna give you a sneak peak at something you will be able to win in a few days. Since plantin' time is only about three weeks away here in the great state of Kentucky, it is getting hard to contain my excitement. Our greenhouse is BURSTING at the seams - those flowers are just itchin' to get in that dirt (me too). Here is a picture of some lovely flowers in a cute little "push cart" of some kind. I just love plantin' flowers in great old stuff - gives 'em so much more personality.

And in the spirit of Spring and Giving, I will be having a sign-up to win a hand painted monogrammed flower pot real soon. I can't do it just yet, 'cause I've got several people waiting on me to get their orders done - so it wouldn't be fair to not do theirs first. But you will have to keep checking back - and when it's time - I'll let you know to leave a comment. We'll draw a name and I'll monogram a pot especially for you, wrap her up and send her your way. Just in time for you to add your beautiful annuals to it. And if you let me know what colors you like, I'll paint it up just to your likin'. Sounds like fun, can't wait to see who wins!!!

So here is a lil' bit of spring cheer!! I do hope you have a beautiful week - Many blessings to you! Cathy Cobblestone

Love my New / Old Sink!

I don't know if you guys are like me, but I just LOOOOVVVVEEEE fun "old" stuff. My friend, Larraine, will be moving soon and she said she just didn't need this sink unit to tag along with her. I was HaPPy HaPPY to give it a new home. There was so many places I wanted to put it, on my back porch, down at the greenhouse for all our customers to wash up after they pilfer through the flowers, in the shop to make a display, but it ended up on the side porch of the shop. In time, I will paint the bottom a pretty color, but as for now it is perfect jus' like it is. It's a great work surface 'cause it is metal, and when you can reuse instead of buy new - that makes it all the better.

For all my wonderful readers out there, keep an eye out at salvage centers or old homes being torn down - many times they are free for the takin'. My other sink I rescued from a home being demolished is a beautiful large, cast iron one that must weigh at least 1,000 lbs. (exaggerating a tad) but it is heavy. It's also on the front porch at the shop, but one day it will have a proper home with some kind of neat surround built under it. Oh, if there were only enough hours in the day!! Anybody else out there love old sinks like I do? I know, an odd item to collect but I was jus' wondering.

Everybody have a Fantastic Day! And remember, find the beauty in things of yesterday! Cathy

Bragging on Daddy Today!

Well, I have to say it is a joy to be able to brag on my family all the time! I love them all so much and they are all so talented in their own way. But today, I'm bragging on Dad. I guess I've always been a Daddy's girl but the older I get I treasure him more and more. Ever since I was a lil' girl, he always taught us (Sis and I) to be able to do for ourselves. He would always try and fix something before he would have it hired done - and there wasn't much he couldn't do if he tried. He has always had a sincere appreciation for the simple things in life and he so enjoys the quiet and peaceful days of his recent retirement.

He has always been gifted with his hands - and later in life he became interested in blacksmithing and not to my surprise, he is mastering that as well. Unfortunately, shortly after retirement, he fell twice in the same week - tearing muscles in both shoulders - one on each fall. He is recovering from one surgery with another in the future - but as for now, he is slowly being able to do his favorite hobby again.

What you see in the pictures are his design and we call them the "flower pot lift". One is staked and goes directly into the ground and holds a bucket of your choice. I simply put a galvanized one in mine and change the flowers from season to season. They are also really neat if you fill the bucket with sand, place a candle and hurricane globe in sand and line a sidewalk or use to line an isle way at an outdoor wedding. So many possibilities!! The second one is for a planter which has a disc on the bottom and can easily fit into flower pots making it the perfect topiary stand. You can see I placed my ferns on top and planted my containers. The cutest thing though is putting a big pumpkin in the top during fall and filling in around the bottom with all kinds of gourds and harvest goods.

Well, I think I have gone on enough - just proud of him, that's all. Flower Lifts and Concrete Planters available at Cobblestone. Stop in and see us!

Happy Planting!! Cathy Cobblestone

Absolutely Beautiful Sunday Afternoon

Well, days don't get much better than today! Very welcome sunshine after all the rain we have been having - and around 72 degrees - PERFECT! After church today, my lil' boy and my sweet nephew and I went up to the walnut trees to help Shaun spread some fertilizer (don't tell anybody though, not suppose to do that on a Sunday, I know). We have over 1,000 walnut trees that we planted nearly 14 years ago - and slowly but surely, they are shooting on up there. Hopefully, they will be a lil' retirement bonus in say, oh, 35 more years!!!! Actually, Shaun takes fantastic care of the trees, he loves forestry, it is his favorite subject to teach.

So while he was working, we meandered off to the lil' stream and looked for fishing worms, we had so much fun. While the boys kept on looking for every kind o' critter, I found a big rock to sit on and started reading a book I picked up at the library. Meanwhile, I scraped some of that really bright green moss off the rock I was sitting on to bring back and put in the pots at the greenhouse. It is so pretty, covers the dirt until the plants grow in, and best thing about it, it was free. Do you all have any idea how expensive that stuff is at the craft store? Several dollars for a lil' bag - so I'll stick with the freebies.

Just sharing with you a lil' bit about our wonderful day together. It was a great FAMILY day - hope your Sunday was as blessed as mine.

Blessings to you,
Cathy Cobblestone

These Flowers are For You!

Well, actually these flowers are really for newlyweds to be, April and Cole, but I thought I'd share their beauty with you. We have had lots of rain 'round our neck of the woods lately - not much sunshine - so I thought these would brighten your day.

These beautiful gerbera daisies, forsythia, roses and asparagus fern will help make Cole & April's wedding shower a joyous occasion. Luckily, in our greenhouse where things are growing tremendously each day, I had some gorgeous white bacopa, chartreuse sweet potato vine and neon pink trailing verbena to make these fresh garden baskets for some of the tables. Working with flowers is an absolute joy for me - they are God's lil' masterpieces.

Enjoy Everyone and Best Wishes to the happy couple for a wonderful life together.
Have a Wonderful Saturday!
Cathy Cobblestone

I'm Black and Blue Today - But it's a Good Thing!!

Usually black and blue only means one thing - OUCH! Not the case today, I mean that pretty Robin's Egg Blue with black accents. Just in at the shop, are these Oh So Cute POLKA DOT and CHECK metal flower pots - (don't know if I'll be able to sell any of them - they are so ME!) Just had to give you a peek, 'cause they are just the cutest! Plus, the tall french blue buckets will be perfect for spring flowers. Can't wait to plant them up! My mom has a beautiful room done in these exact colors in her home. Blue walls, black and white accents, white ironstone, vintage linens, so Pretty. I'll show you pictures some time.

Happy Day! Cathy Cobblestone

Pretty Polka Dots and Patio Peach Trees

Just showing you some fun "Springy" things from the Shop today. You all know I LOOOOVVVVVEEEEE Polka Dots - so these black and white shallow bowls are right up my alley. Plus, I put them on a fun new plate rack that my dear friends, Wendell and Becky, made for me. This plate rack can be custom ordered in many colors and it is the perfect piece to show off your favorite dishes!!! Notice the March Lillies, Casen picked those for me - AAAWWW!
Yellow Plate Rack - Happily TAKEN! - More on the way!
In the garden, you will find our new Patio Peach Trees. They are in full bloom right now and they are gorgeous. They come in a beautiful, vibrant fuchsia and a pastel, candy pink. They are perfect for an accent planting - only reaching about 5 feet tall by about 5 feet wide. INSTANT BEAUTY! Happy Planting! Cathy Cobblestone

P.S. Happy Birthday to my SWEET, SWEET Mamaw, Ruby! I love you!