Mason Jars {and a giveaway}

I have always had a fascination with the city. 
 New York City.  San Fransisco.  Rome.
 London. Paris.

Large bustling cities where people are 
hurrying around in every way possible,
always on the go.  Where restaurants stay
 open all night, and strangely - there seems
 to be no grocery store or Lowes or gas 
stations in sight.

(I always wondered if people who live in 
the city actually cook.)  LOL

I remember taking my sweet Mama to New 
York City for the first time in her life.  

It was the "first" of many things she had
 done on that trip.

My son and I had recently moved away from
 the family farm after being there for 27 years, after I remarried The Hubbs.

Looking back, I always thought that moving
 away was the hardest on me...but I realized 
soon after that it was hardest on my Mama.  
Her babygirl and grandson literally up and 
moved hundreds of miles away to a new life.

We would not have those Summer nights 
sitting out on the porch watching "lightening bugs" aka fireflies light up the yard at dusk.

She would not hear the back door slamming because we had walked in to eat some of her country ham biscuits after she called and 
told us to "come and eat."

But, on one fateful Saturday morning, my 
sweet Mama boarded her very first plane
 ever, and flew to Newport, Rhode Island
 so she could visit her babygirl and her 
grandson.

Her first plane ride ever!  And she did it 
all alone.  I am pretty sure I was more 
nervous for her than she was.  I chewed 
at least four nails while waiting on her 
plane to land, and until I saw her towards me.

She stayed with us for over a week.  It was
 just before Christmas.  We toured all of the Newport "Cottages," went antiquing in little
 out-of-the-way New England villages I had discovered...and had an idyllic time together. Sometimes as a family, but often it was just
 me and my Mama.

But, there was one more surprise I had in
 store for her.... New York City.

On a very cold Monday morning, me and
 Mama and my son loaded up into the van 
and headed to the Big Apple.  I was
 comfortable with the drive, having been
 there several times before.  

Mama - not so much.  

Less than an hour into the trip there, it 
starting snowing.  Not enough to make 
me turn around, but enough to make my
 Southern Mama worry to death we were
 gonna get caught in some horrible blizzard.

To make matters worse, I don't think she 
was prepared for NYC traffic.  Is anyone 
ever prepared for NYC traffic?  :)  70mph
 smack dab down the middle of New York
 City surrounded by yellow cabs and city
 buses and honking horns. Lots of honking
 horns.

I think she prayed and bargained with the 
Lord a whole lot that day. I can still hear 
her.  "Lord, just get me back home and I 
will (fill in the blank.)"  :-)

(Years later when driving through Rome, I realized that New York City traffic was nothing in comparison)  :-0

While there, we really saw the sights.  
We froze to death while doing it - but it is
 still something my Mama talks about today.
  She loved Ellis Island and looking up
 her family names.  But, she especially 
loved the Broadway show we took her to. 
We saw "Beauty and the Beast."  Fabulous!

Now you are probably wondering why 
I am talking about big cities and a trip 
to New York City while sharing pictures 
depicting the country?

Simple.  While I have a fascination with 
the city and love to visit there... I am a 
country girl at heart and always will be.

Barefoot.  Tobacco-field tomboy.  Peanuts in Coca-Cola.  That kind of gal.

So much so - when The Hubbs retired from 
the Corps, we moved back home.  Cause the country is where I was born and the country
 is where I will die.  I got country dirt in 
my blood.  :)

Whether you live in the country, love to 
visit the country, or one day want to move
 to the country - I wanted to give away a 
"Little Bit of Country."  It's part of my 
new line of "All Things Mason Jars" in my
 online shop, Farmhouse Decor.  Part of the American Farmhouse Collection.

I'm giving away one of these darling
 Pint-Jar Soap/Lotion Dispensers.

Is this country or what?  What a perfect 
way to add a "Little Bit of Country" to 
your home.

Look at some of the other items now 
available as part of this line...

Quart-Jar Candleholder...

Hanging candle chandelier...

Toothpick holders.  (cutest thing evah!)

A salt and pepper and toothpick caddy 
(jars included)

And if that isn't enough...a countertop 
drying rack for all of your jars and bottles
...or coffee cups.  ;-)

Winning is easy.  I am using Rafflecoptor 
and its so easy to use.  The drawing will be
 open for a week, and I will be announcing
 the lucky winner next Wednesday after 
verifying the winners entry.

Until then, if you just simply gotta have a 
"Little Bit of Country" right now, you 
can visit my shop at:

www.farmhousedecorshop.com

Good luck to everyone...and please feel
 free to share this contest.  Send me the link
 and if you are the winner, I'll throw in a 
bunch of REAL NC cotton.  :)  xxoo





a Rafflecopter giveaway