Anticipating Autumn

There’s nothing like the beginning of the school year to send young mothers dancing in the streets – or at least planning what they will do with a few hours to call their own. One mom told me that she can now have two or three connected thoughts without being interrupted!

If you need a break now that Fall is finally here, why not plan a little day trip to Amish Country with some of your friends. The weather is cooler, the colors are beginning to change, and all the shops – including ours – are loaded with all kinds of unique items to use in transforming your home décor from summer to the fall season. We have lots of boxes, crocks, jars, enamel ware, all of which can be used with golden rod, leaves, cat tails – all of nature’s bounty that is quite plentiful and just yours for the taking along many country roads. You could even take the kids along on a nature hike and enjoy the beautiful weather. The lower humidity of crisp, fall days is a welcome treat after the long, hot summer that we’ve had.

In addition to being open on the weekends from Thursday through Saturday, we’ve expanded our hours to include Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. since many travelers come to Amish Country when the shops are not as crowded. If you happen to pick up some cider and want to make it extra tasty, try this recipe for…

Hot Mulled Cider

Combine 16 whole cloves – 2 sticks (broken) cinnamon – 1 teaspoon whole allspice in cloth bag and tie it shut

Put 2 quarts Apple Cider into large kettle and add – ½ Cup Brown Sugar

Bring to boil – add Spice Bag and simmer for 15 Minutes

Remove spices

Keep lot in Crock Pot, Serve hot garnished with orange slices

Time On My Hands

Do any of you have a lot of “time on your hands”? If you are like most people these days, probably not. Even though some of you are retired, you may be busier now than when you were working a regular job. It seems everything we do is related in some way to “time” and that’s one reason why we switched the to daylight savings time, so that we have extra “time” to enjoy more outside activities as the weather gets warmer.
Here at Spies Farm Antiques we have been surrounded by that white stuff called snow and Grandpa Spies, the guy in charge of our furniture inventory, has been spending a lot of time in his workshop making corn-hole games and some unique benches. These items are on display now that we are open every weekend. We’ve also acquired several oak sideboards with mirrors from the 1920’s which are very popular right now.
I’ve been putting in my time by sorting through a mountain of recipes I’ve collected for a few to use in the family cookbook I’m compiling. Here’s one that takes a lot of time since it cooks all night.......

Slo-Good Roast Beef

Buy a 10-pound beef roast when it’s on sale – here that’s usually around $2.00 per pound. Rub the top and sides of the roast with one Tablespoon Lemon and Pepper Seasoning.
Place in large Dutch Oven deep enough so that the roast is lower than the top of the pan. Pour in water to a depth of ½ inch in the bottom of the pan.
Using heavy-duty foil, cover and tightly seal the top of the pan. Place the lid on top of the foil. Put in the oven on the lowest rack and cook all night at 250° degrees for 10 – 12 hours. Check only if your smoke alarm goes off! When done, the pan will have lots of broth. Chill this liquid to remove the fat easily.
Chop or shred the meat, add broth and freeze in containers for quick and easy meals when you’re short on “time”.

We’d love to have you take some time and plan a trip to Amish country. Be sure to stop by and check out what‘s new in our “Antiques and Stuff” barns. If you have questions concerning the times we’ll be open, just give us a call at 330-343-8358. We look forward to seeing you in the near future.

Winter-The Pause That Refreshes

As I sit in my kitchen on this typical winter day and gaze on the surrounding picturesque rolling hills covered with glistening snow, I can readily understand why so many people come to this part of Ohio to visit. Those of us who live here often take the beauty of the landscape for granted, but we certainly are blessed, no matter what the season. Each presents its own unique gifts for us to enjoy.
Although there are no “roses to smell” as yet, the aroma of wood burning in the fireplace brings to mind scenes of olden times gone by, at least for me. What is your favorite part of the winter season? Pause and be refreshed by the smell of freshly baked bread, the laughter of children playing in the snow, or dozens of other treasures right at our doorsteps.
As winter days lengthen and spring beckons, the doors of our “Antique Barn” will once again be open for you to stop by and see what’s new. We are always out and about looking for gems that our customers are delighted to find here. If there is something in particular that you are looking for, just give us a call. If we don’t have it, we will try to find it for you. Pictured at the left are some items which are available now. Just contact us via e-mail or give us a call at 330-343-8358.

Sample September

If your summer has been as busy as mine has, then we’re all ready to bid summer good-bye and welcome September, with its cooler, less humid weather, a tapering off of garden produce to put up, marching bands, football, and new programs on TV.
Here at the Antique Barn we have been traveling many miles to find unique items for our customers.
Pictured at the left are several new purchases which include a Weber Box Wagon, a one-horse open sleigh, and a buckboard. We also have an ample supply of tables and chairs, benches, dressers, crocks, wooden boxes, trunks; and affordable furniture for that college student. In fact, our shop has the look and feel of an old “General Store” with its one-of-a-kind items from yesteryear. Stop by and see us soon – we are open Thursday thru Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and other times by appointment. In October we will be open every day except Sunday for all who may be out enjoying the fall foliage here in beautiful Ohio!

Spring Fever

The sun is shining, the birds are singing and SPRING is finally here; and at Spies Farms Antiques, the doors are open again. It’s hard to believe that this is our 8th season! There’s nothing like a few warm spring days, blue skies, and some sunshine to really inspire us to get out there and find something unique with which to spruce up our homes or gardens. We now have a large assortment of items on hand to use for planters and decorating – enamel pots, clay containers, galvanized tubs and buckets, sprinkling cans, etc. We also have items such as wooden gates, porch railings, old chairs and garden implements to use as accent pieces for lawns and flower gardens.
Pictured at the left is one of our pieces that could be used as a potting table – just the ticket if you have a green thumb. And you’ll notice that our auxiliary building next to the main barn has been painted “green” which is easy to spot as you travel past our farm. Did you know that if you have some plates or dishes that are cracked and no longer usable for eating, they can be “planted” in your flower beds to use as accent pieces until those flowers start to grow? Just turn them on edge and bury them into the ground at a right angle. And all it will cost you is a little time and effort. While you’re here, check out our wide variety of furniture at very affordable prices – a must in these tough economic times. Our hours are Thursday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (or later). We are also available at other times for appointments – just give us a call at 330-343-8358. We’d love to show you our “antiques and stuff!”

For Everthing There is a Season

Winter is one of my favorite times of the year. Here in the Midwest, it’s usually cold, snowy, and a great time to bring out all those “catsup” projects that seem to get put on the back burner during the busier months of the year. These projects might include reading, sewing, cleaning out drawers and cupboards that really need attention – jobs that always wait until we get a “round tuit.”
One of my on-going projects is a “Family Cookbook” – a collection of recipes with stories relating to that particular recipe so that future generations will be able to enjoy some of our great food and memories. Being of Swiss heritage, my cousins and I all remember going to Grandma’s house on Christmas Day and eating Swiss Pretzels – a rich cookie made with lots of butter and cream and baked on a special iron brought over from Switzerland.
Winter time is also a great time to try some new recipes that your family might enjoy. Potato soup has long been a staple in our household and remains high on the list of “comfort foods,” especially during cold weather. If you’re looking for something quick and easy to fix while you’re watching the Inauguration or the Super Bowl Game, give this a try. It keeps for hours in the crock pot:

Creamy Potato Soup

4 cups thick sliced potatoes
2 cups water
1 tsp. minced dried onion
½ tsp. dried parsley flakes
2 Tablespoons oleo or butter
¼ cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup cubed cheese (I use Velveeta)

Peel, quarter and slice potatoes into thick slices. Put into large saucepan and add water and dried onion. Do not salt. Bring to boil and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes. Pour into crock pot and turn on “Low.” In smaller saucepan, melt oleo or butter. Make chicken broth using 2 cups boiling water and 1 Tablespoon chicken soup base. Add to flour mixture heat, stirring so it doesn’t scorch. Cook for 5 minutes. Add to crock pot and mix with cooked potatoes. Stir in dried parsley and cubed cheese. Stir occasionally to blend melted cheese. Soup will thicken as it rests in crock pot. If it gets to thick, add more broth. Bits of ham may be added to make a heartier soup.
Makes 4 ample servings.

And remember, it there is something you would like to see in our antique shop, even though we may be closed due to cold and snowy weather, just give us a call to make an appointment and we will open for you.

Spice Up Your Holiday

You’ve probably heard that old saying “sugar and spice and everything nice.” Well, as we journey through November and approach the Thanksgiving holiday, our thoughts turn to family and food and blessings untold. Here at Spies Farms “Antiques and Stuff,” we have much to be thankful for. Over the past year we’ve met hundreds of wonderful folks from all across this great country of ours. They like to chat and are especially interested in Grandpa’s restored log cabin. The one-on-one dialogue with our customers is one reason why our shop is different than most. If we don’t have the specific item that you’re looking for, we try to direct you to some one who might have it.
Right now we have a great selection of tables and chairs should you need extra accommodations for those holiday guests. Crocks and wooden boxes are also in demand for decoration with evergreen and holly. Our unique yet affordable gifts are especially popular during the current economic situation. When taken care of properly, antiques in general will increase in value.
Here’s a family favorite recipe for “Grandma’s Baked Apples” that is sure to fill your kitchen with the inviting “sugar and spice” smell of comfort food:

9-12 baking apples
2 T. cornstarch
1 C. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. salt
2 C. boiling water
2 T. butter
1 tsp. vanilla

In a medium saucepan combine granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and salt. Use whisk to smash any lumps of cornstarch. Add boiling water. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Peel, halve and core apples and place in a 9x13-inch glass baking dish. Spoon sauce over apples, covering each. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

During the winter months we will be open on weekends as weather permits. On extremely cold or snowy days, we will be closed. However you may call us at any time to set up an appointment to check out our “stuff.”