Red Brick Ranch

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  • Halloween-Eve

    Happy Halloween…Eve!

    Oh, man, I remember when the kids were little and every single holiday had an Eve attached somehow. It made sense to them that if Christmas had Christmas Eve then there must be an Eve to every celebration. Alas, the kids are grown and it’s been years now since I’ve heard an excited exclamation of, “Happy Halloween Eve, mom!”

    I started this week strong and intended to start this post on Monday, but, as life goes… soon the week got to going and it wasn’t long before this fell onto my “to-do” list and other items took priority.

    So, here we are, chatting over coffee next to a blazing woodstove…let’s get caught up!

    Nothing beats the warmth of an old-fashioned fire 🔥

    What’s been happening…

    1) The Big-Kid custom quilt reveal….it is SO cute!!! I think the recipient will be very pleased with the results! This particular quilt measures a generously-sized 50×60 and should grow well with this kiddo for the next several years. The back is done in a luxurious grey minky that has added a particularly soft cuddliness.

    His name fit rather well on the lower righthand corner, but this was not without it’s struggles. The process of embroidery can be challenging when it comes to coordinating the right color of thread with the correct background fabric. I had originally used the main print fabric in that space, however no matter what thread I used, it just blended in. Finally; on attempt three, I just went ahead and subbed a whole new block.  The result is beautiful and well worth the extra effort!

    Heirloom quality means comfort for years to come, ❤️.

    2)  Updated listings are on their way to our shop…specifically Bowl Covers…Last week I gifted a complete set of these (size small – XL) and a travel mug to a new home owner. They made the perfect gift and she was super excited to receive them before holiday parties!

    Complete sets are available for purchase here!

    I’m personally excited to use them here on the farm for our annual Friendsgiving coming up next month. These covers are perfect for protecting those carry-in dishes that can sit out for leftovers throughout the day, but need a little something to keep undesirable things out. They pull back easily for a second….or third helping…no judgment here…and then slip easily back over the bowl.

    The thing I really love about this design versus the other options available is the fact that they are completely adjustable. The 1/4″ elastic cord provides a nice, snug fit, however the true star is the sliding silicone cord lock. These cord locks secure the covers against the sides of your container, creating secure seal until loosened.

    The original intention for these covers was just to have a simple, frilly touch to my counter on the days I had bread rising or a bowl of something set out. However, I love them so much that I find myself using them often!

    In fact,  just a few weeks ago, I grabbed one and tossed it on a bowl of scrambled eggs in an attempt to keep them somewhat warm as the bacon finished frying. I’ll be honest, I didn’t have high hopes simply because eggs cool so incredibly fast. Yet, about 10 minutes later, once the bacon and biscuits were done we uncovered the bowl of eggs and were pleased to see steam wafting up.

    Check out our shop!

    3) Winter prep for the chicken coop…and our coop

    Sorry, ladies! The days of warm summer breezes coming across the fields are over, which means the coop windows will need some covering. We use the same coop that has been used for generations on this old farm and it’s an absolute fabulous structure…but it’s large and drafty with windows on all sides. So, in an attempt to keep the  girls from sqwauking too loud  I cover the windows with removable insulation and add a light. Most days they won’t need this light for warmth as chickens regulate cold well, but let’s be honest, on the days when they will need it….like -10° days in January….I dont want to be down there messing with it. So, now is the time to conquer this chore.

    I kicked around the idea of adding the coop to my chore list for this week, but in all honesty, I’d rather focus on finishing up the house windows first.

    The Brick House was built in 1856 and originally had tall single-paned windows. Thankfully, through the mid-1990’s these windows were replaced with double-paned, energy-efficient windows. These windows are much preferable to the original and serve their purpose, but they have lost their caulking over the years and thus are very drafty. So, during these mild autumn days, before it gets too much cooler, I’ve been caulking and sealing each window. The hope is that this winter will not feel quite as drafty, but we shall see. Some would say that drafty rooms and old Indiana farmhouses simply go hand-in-hand, to which I would tell them that they are not wrong…but I can still dream and keep caulking.

  • Winter Prep

    This week on the farm…


    Yesterday we headed over to Thystle Byre Farm and did some winter prep as well as passed on new skills to the youngest member of our family. 

    This wood was is so wet that it was literally shooting out little squirts of water when they tried to split it with the maul. It will hang out in the back pasture for the next couple of years as the seasons age it and dry it out. Then we will haul it in and use it for heat!

    Heat has been the name of the game this month, specifically trying to keep the outside out and the inside in as the weather changes and the temps drop.

    A little history about the Brick House…

    The Brick House is said to have been built in 1856, however based on previous land records and building reports of the time, it’s likely her construction started around 1851-1853. She stands on the edge of the Wabash Valley like a grand old dame, a testament of seasons gone past, but like all old houses, we knew there were going to be some things that need attention and suspected that keeping heat in would be at the top of the list.

    In the early 1850’s the main source of heat for all homes came in the form of coal or wood. Thus, the Brick House was built with 4 large, elaborate fireplaces; three of which are spread throughout the first floor.

    Two of these fireplaces have since been refurbished with alternative heating sources (one has a wood stove in the firebox, one has a gas unit connected to the old chimney), and two of the chimneys have been capped. I think often, especially on the cold, drafty days of winter about what this grand old lady would have looked like and felt like with those generously-sized fireboxes blazing full force. I also wonder, often, if back then, as a new brick home, all tightly and freshly built, if she held heat. I’m tempted to say no…very tempted.

    The reason being, wood heat in fireplaces is one of the least efficient ways we have to heat a space. In fact, approximately 85% of the heat generated by a traditional wood fireplace is lost up the chimney. This doesn’t even take into account yet all of the original, single-pane, wood windows and doors that would have been tasked with keeping the 15% worth of remaining heat inside. Yikes!

    I’m confident in saying, especially after talking to other previous inhabitants, that staying warm in the winter is not a unique challenge to the Frost family’s experience with the Brick House. However, we accept that which we refuse to acknowledge and change and this is something that has been at the top of my list to change!

    So, this month I have gone through a ridiculous amount of expanding insulation foam, caulk, and paint. I have successfully caulked each of the downstairs windows, all of which were replaced at some point between now and 1856 with nice, double-paned, energy-efficient windows. They don’t set as snuggly in their brick and limestone window casings as one would hope, so each one was shored up, sealed, and then refreshed with a coat of white paint. So far, even though the temps have been in the 40’s overnight outside, the house has maintained in the mid-60’s inside, even without the furnace running.

    This gives me hope that maybe…possibly…January won’t feel so drafty…maybe.

    This week I will finish painting the porch, we went back to all-white as Mr. Frost was not a fan of the idea of bringing out the details with darker accent colors. Then, once the porch is officially done, the goal is to finish painting the downstairs windows and then heading upstairs armed with my caulk gun, insulation, and paint.

    It’s fun to see this old brick lady come back to life as I pour time and attention into the parts that have needed a little bit of love.

    Paint here…insulation there, a touch of this…a tad of that…it all goes into creating a truly loved home that will stand for many more seasons to come.

    In Other Farm News…

    Staying warm has been on everyone’s minds in more ways than one,  which means the renewable textile side of Red Brick Ranch has picked up via quilt orders.

    Currently under the needle…

    Big-Kid sized toddler quilt that will be personalized with his name.
    The back will be grey minky which will provide cuddly closeness for little arms to snuggle.
    Adjustable, reusable jar covers…
    I also have been working on bowl covers all the way up to XXL (18-inch diameter). These will be posted in the shop next week.
    We had our first out of state starter order this week, yay!
    I packaged it up with a free jar cover and dropped it on the mail!
    Carroll County Quilt of Valor – This is something I have been working on in-between orders and other things that need my attention. We are very blessed to have a local Quilts of Valor Guild.