A GATHERING IN THE BARN . . . . .

It was an event that was a first for me and the creator, Amy Cox of Suburban Homestead, told me that it was one that was not to be missed.   Gayle Gand, chef and author of Brunch and a new book, Chocolate and Vanilla,would be the speaker.  The real treat was the venue, Cherry Lane Farms, Trudi Temples', home away from home.  As you may recall from a post late spring, Trudi is the creator of Market Day in the schools across the nation.  I have been to her wonderful home and garden in Hinsdale, but had only heard of what she always referred to as the farm, followed by, "you must come and visit sometime."  Now was my chance with lunch being served and prepared by Chef Gayle Gand in the barn at the farm!

THE BARN

THE FARMYARD TOUR INCLUDED SEEING SOME OF

THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT WERE BEING

GROWN.  THERE WAS AN ABUNDANCE OF RHUBARB

READY FOR HARVESTING.

ONE OF THE ELEVEN BUILDINGS ON THE FARM.

THERE SEEMED TO BE BIRDHOUSES EVERYWHERE.

I LOVED HOW THE SUN CAUGHT THE RED BARN SIDING

TRUDI ALLOWS NOTHING TO GO TO WASTE.  THESE BENCHES

WERE MADE FROM TREES THAT HAD TO BE CLEARED WHEN

ANOTHER BUILDING WOULD GO UP.  I LOVE THE STRIPPED, RAW

LOOK OF THE BLEACHED WOOD BENCHES.  THESE BENCHES SURROUND

A FIREPIT.

TRUDI HAS ALWAYS HAD A VISION AND SHE CONTINUES TO

KNOW AND BE ABLE TO CREATE HER VISIONS.  SHE COLLECTED WINDOWS FROM AUCTIONS, FLEA MARKETS AND ARCHITECTURAL VENUES.

ACTUALLY, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF A FEW HADN'T BEEN PICKED

OUT OF 'TRASH' PILES.  THIS BUILDING IS THE MOST RECENTLY BUILT.

THE BUILDER SKILLFULLY USED HER COLLECTION OF WINDOWS ON

EACH SIDE OF THIS TEACHING BUILDING.  TRUDI WILL HOLD 'HANDS ON'

EVENTS HERE.  ONE SCHEDULED FOR LATE NOVEMVER OR EARLY

DECEMBER ON MAKING A FRESH GREEN WREATH FOR YOUR HOLIDAY

HOME.

WHEEL BARRELS, FARM INSTRUMENTS AND WAGONS ARE

ALL OVER THE 'FARMYARD'

SOME ARE SMALL. . . . .

AND SOME ARE LARGE . . .

BECAUSE TRUDI COLLECTS BIRDHOUSES, YOU CAN ONLY

IMAGINE HOW OFTEN SHE IS GIFTED OR HOW MANY SHE

HAS COLLECTED. . . .

THE OLD SCHOOL BELL HOLDS GREAT SYMBOLISM AND ALMOST

HOLDS COURT OUTSIDE THE MAIN BARN.  A WONDERFUL CONIFER

SPECIMEN IN THE BACKGROUND.

TRUDI'S WAS BORN IN GERMANY AND HER HERITAGE

IS OFTEN FOUND AT THE WINDOWS THAT GRACE LACE

WINDOW TREATMENTS.  THE WINDOW BOX IS EXPLODING

WITH AN END OF THE SEASON ABUNDANCE.

AS WE ENTER THE BARN FOR LUNCH MANY BIRDHOUSES

GREET US. . . .

HANDMADE BY A FRIEND

HANDPAINTED

A WONDERFUL BASKET OF WILLOW UP IN THE RAFTERS

THE BARN WHERE LUNCH WAS SERVED.

THE CENTERPIECES RIGHT OFF THE FARM.

PRECIOUS TRUDI SHARING FRESHLY PICKED APPLES

OFF THE FARM WITH A FALL FRAGRANCE THAT TRAVELED

PAST OUR NOSES AND EMBRACED THE SEASON!

THE FAMOUS HAT. . . . .WHERE EVER THERE MAY BE AN EVENT,

THERE WILL BE TRUDI IN THIS HAT!

INSIDE, OUTSIDE, BIRDHOUSES AT HOME WHERE EVER

THEY MAY BE.

NATURALLY BLEACHED WAGON WHEELS WITH A POT OF

FRESH YELLOW MUMS.

SEVENTY ACRES OF PROPERTY AND TRUDI TAKES RESIDENCE

IN THIS DARLING LITTLE COTTAGE WITH THE BARE ESSENTIALS

WHEN SHE IS AT THE FARM.

HOW APPROPRIATE TO END OUR LITTLE FARM TOUR WITH ANOTHER

BUILDING. . . . . A BARN YARD BIRDHOUSE.

THERE WAS SO MUCH MORE TO SHARE, BUT THIS CRAZY BLOGGER LOST

CONTACT WITH REALITY WHEN MY CHARGER GAVE UP AND ALL WENT BLANK

BELIEVE ME, THIS IS THE LAST TIME THIS WILL EVER HAPPEN . I JUST

ORDERED ANOTHER  BATTERY PACK WHICH WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME, CHARGED

AND READY TO GO!

THANKS TO AMY COX, TRUDI TEMPLE AND GAYLE GAND FOR A DAY

ON THE FARM THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET.  FOR THE LATEST ON

EVENTS WITH AMY COX, YOU MAY GO TO HER WEBSITE: YOURsubURBANhomestead.com.