Spring, the color yellow and coffee

Thoughts on spring and some brew tips from our favorite food truck owner - Chef Cher & The Cowbell Kitchen!

Ok really……snow? All I can think of is spring! I don’t want to wish days away but I am obsessed with the thoughts of spring. Monday morning I was snooping around the gardens looking for tiny buds,
signs of new growth, checking to see if life was starting to pop up from the earth, then I had the thought of the impending winter storm brewing, stay asleep my lovelies.

Patience, I must take a deep breath and wait. Wait I will, all the while going over in my busy head planning what I will dig up and move, what new vines, I’m vine crazed, to plant,  how I will ask so nicely for Ken to build me another raised bed promising it will be the last…..haha!  When Mother Nature brings us piles of snow this week I will only think of the happy color yellow……I'm envisioning me watering my flower garden this way...

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COFFEE TALK: How do you perk?

No fail, I start each day with coffee. The art of brewing a fine cup of joe is a beautiful thing. Let me count the ways how to achieve the perfect cup. My favorite and the purest form is called the pour over. I use a small Bee House Dripper for my ultimate cup and I need Trickling Springs half & half to finish it off with, heavenly, good morning day!


Bee House Design
The Bee House Dripper employs a wedge design with two bottom drain holes. The dripper also features slightly raised edges along each side of the wedge. In order to help avoid overflowing the cup or decanter being brewed into, Bee House has provided two openings on either side of the base to allow the person brewing to see the brewed coffee level. The two drip holes means the coffee is extracted neither too fast nor slow.

Technique & Brewing Parameters
Pour just enough water to wet the coffee grounds and let it sit for 30-45 seconds or until the coffee bloom deflates. At this point begin pouring slowly in concentric circles until the water volume is near the top, slow the pour rate and keep the dripper full until the desired water volume has been poured. For beginning brewing parameters we recommend 36-42 grams of coffee (medium grind), 600-700 mL of water, 200-205° F water , and a 3:00-3:30 total brew time.

The design of the Bee House dripper is quite forgiving and allows for a tasty, properly-extracted cup without an exceedingly refined pouring technique. Give it a whirl!

Try This!
From my current revolving cookbook reading stack,  Homemade by Yvette Van Boven 

Also read about the coffee I use for the Cowbell,  www.counterculture.com. Super cool company very innovative and forward thinking. I receive tons of complements about the coffee. When you need a break in the shopping action come try a cup and tell me what you think!

This weekend's soups are:
-   onion wild rice topped with garlicky croutons
-   lentil local sausage and chard

Spring is around the corner!
See ya this weekend,
Cher

Check out these great pictures of Cher and her food truck, courtesy of professional photographer Michelle VanTine!

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Big Ole Nut Shell

I have seriously disappointed this blog.  Before Facebook, it was my go-to place to write about all things Mod Mom related...or just mom related.  I kinda miss it, I do. But life and work have been so busy that simply updating via Facebook and Twitter seems the easiest way to pass along Mod Mom news.

But you're writing, Kiersten??!?!  Yup.  I am.  Thought I'd do a speed round of what has been happening around these parts.   And take this opportunity to thank you again for coming around this blog and for supporting Mod Mom.  Still blows my mind that this all started back in 2006 when I was trying to figure out how to measure wood and join one side of a toy box to the other without driving a nail through my finger.  Which did happen on occasion.

So to catch you up...

• Last year, a true ANGEL investor came into my life via a form email.  We spoke a few times by phone and his over all message to me was that he believed in me and the Mod Mom brand.  We never met in person.  He literally mailed a check for a huge amount of money with no royalties, etc attached. I am forever grateful for his faith and generosity.  Like I said, a true Angel.
• Since then, we've hired part-time staff to help take the day-to-day workload off my back and give me time to develop new lines and partnerships.  My amazingly talented husband has been helping me on weekends and during his off-work hours to do just that.  He's been essential to the growth we're now seeing with our company and I'm so thankful for him.
• I launched The Little Light Project, a non-profit organization helping families whose children have passed in addition to helping children and their parents understand how to manage and grow intuition. It's amazing the reach this little organization has!  We've been getting emails from all over the world without doing any advertising.  If you build it, they will come! 
• Mod Mom partnered with Safe Horizon, the nations largest organization based in NYC that helps families who have suffered violence.  When you purchase items on our website, 5% of the sale price goes to Safe Horizon!  We're thrilled to be able to help!
• We have officially partnered with Columbia Forest Products (and their formaldehyde-free wood that is made here in the States) and are in the process of designing multiple lines of storage furniture (not just kids!) for major national retailers.  It's all still in the works but more detail to come on this, for sure!!
• We are in the design/prototype/negotiation stage with the FANTASTIC well-known kids furniture/goods retailer.  Designing exclusive Mod Mom pieces for them.  YAY!
• We've partnered with Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band -- they are HUGE in the kid music world -- to create a line of storage based off of their award winning songs. 
• And we're going to launch a Woodland Mod collection that skews a little more traditional in design taste.  Fine, hardwood, Amish-craftsmanship will still be at the heart of Woodland Mod!

In a nutshell, that's what's happening on this end.  Look for new products, a revamped website, new partnerships and new wood! 

As always, thank you for supporting us through the years.  Now, I'm off to pick up Noah from school!

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The big counter move & a giveaway

We have an update on one of our most noticeable shop change today --- the lobby has been rearranged!

If you stick through this post about the lobby update, we also are doing our Giveaway Monday feature.  We've picked a few happy spring items from our online store and we're ready to give one away. 

Entering is easy-peasy...

A few weeks of planning & a few months of waiting, and the giant counter is now moved!  Here is a before picture of the counter move.  The space to the left of the old counter was cleared out & Anne moved to the main lobby area.  The empty area in this picture is where the counter needed to move.

The counter was moved over, giving shoppers more room to enter the shop.

We now have a larger area for customers to check out.

Scanning around....the area where the old counter was, is now replaced by our snack & coffee station.  Our wildebeest still greets everyone.  We may have to move him up a little more after he took a bite out of a tall man's head this weekend.

Anne is filling her new lobby space with lots of treasures...

A neat factory cart with antique books in Anne's new space. 

Anne added a home made garden pergola to her space and draped these lovely curtains on the wall.  Anne has started to bring in some of her garden items to the shop.  Some new finds include these giant urn planters.

Thanks for bearing with us through the lobby update.  It really is exciting {for us at least}.

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Giveaway Monday Time!

Yup, we're giving away another item from our online store.  We are getting ready for a huge snowstorm here in Virginia, so we decided to pick four springy and happy items for you to choose from for this giveaway. 

Which is your fave?  

1.  Charming Vase Set     2.  Pretty Petals Placemats       3.  Bunny Placements      4.  Petite Fleurs Vase Set

All our choices this week are items under $25; we actually have an entire collection of inexpensive gift ideas $25 or less to look through online.

Here's how you enter the giveaway:

1. Select one of the four springtime items we've selected above from our online store, Shop Lucketts
2. Leave a comment on this blog post telling us (1) what springtime item you like the most and (2) where or how you would use it this spring
3. Check the blog next Monday to see if you won! 

{Please note:  we use a random number generator to choose the winner.}

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Gentleman's Chest Makeover

We have a new before and after for you this week....our gentleman's chest makeover. 

No we are not talking about manscaping, we're talking paint today! 

Today we are using La Craie paint in Franciscan Grey.   

Supplies List

Supplies list:  primer (optional; we used Kilz), La Craie paint in Franciscan Grey, Annie Sloan clear wax, 220 grit sandpaper, and one gentleman's chest that needs a makeover!  

The Process
Gentleman's chests offer both drawer and shelves for storage.  Heather wanted to paint this piece a manly grey.  She decided on Franciscan Grey La Craie paint from Maison Blanche Paint, which is a calcium carbonate-based paint.

1.  Clean your piece of dirt and debris.  Lightly sand the piece all over.

2.  OPTIONAL:  Apply a quick coat of primer (we used Kilz) - this should take about 10 minutes.  The reason Heather says 10 minutes is not because she's a super-fast painter.  It's because she wants to stress not spending a huge amount of time on this step.  A quick thin coat that does not have to be on every inch of the piece.  Another reason she does this step even though the product doesn't require a primer, is she loves the look of the white showing through when she distresses it.

3. After the primer dries, apply one coat of Maison Blanche paint in Franciscan Grey.

4.  Let the piece dry fully (about an hour) and give it a light sanding with 220 grit sandpaper all over to bring out the woodwork and to achieve a worn, lived-in look.

5.   Apply Annie Sloan clear wax all over with a rag. 

Here are a few pics of the chest (sorry about the quality, these were taken with a phone) snapped in the shop.  It's now for sale for $359.

Thanks Heather, for sharing your before and after with us!

Our next project is a nightstand. This piece needs some help....it has scratches & the remnants of stickers stuck to the top of the finish.  We are thinking about doing something two-toned or going a little bolder. What would you do with this one?

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What's new this week....

We just wanted to quickly let you know what new items we have around here.

We've been blessed with warmer weather (not warm enough though!) for the weekend so we are all getting in to the mood for spring.


New online this week are the following items.  They are also available in limited quantities at The Design House this weekend only.

1.  Distressed finish clock
2.  Vintage art pillow
3.  Botanique Jardin pillow
4.  Luncheon wall cabinet
5.  Bunny place mats
6.  Fabulous woven throw 

The Design House is open this weekend only.  We posted several pictures on our website, if you'd like to take a sneak peek of what's in the house.  If something sells, Amy, Suzanne & crew quickly fill in the bare spots so there are always new things coming in.

Online, the following favorites came back in stock this week:

1.  8" moss balls (set of 2)
2.  Petite Fleurs vase set (we've waited almost 3 months to get this back!)
3.  Mini chalkboard
4.  Wicker wine bottle holder


Stop by Chef Cher's food truck this weekend at the shop and pick up one of her soups or pastries.  Her ham & cheese biscuit sandwiches are to die for!

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Design House Weekend!

All new colors, furniture & art at The Design House, this weekend only (Fri., Sat. & Sun. 10am-5pm; same property as The Old Lucketts Store).  The Lucketts Store is stocked too; new things come in weekly!   Our resident food truck has a truckload of locally sourced goodies, so stop by this weekend!

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On the road with the Cowbell Kitchen

On the road with the Cowbell Kitchen.  Where does Chef Cher get her goodies?

Follow her this week on a trip as she buys ingredients for her food truck.  She will be serving up tasty, locally-sourced foods at this weekend's Design House open house.

Every week leading up to Friday morning I spend my days lovingly traveling, schlepping, and filling up my Mini's backside with local treasures! One of my favorite stops is Tudor Hall Farm.

Tudor Hall Farm has been a Grantham family farm since 1763, amazing huh? In 1989 Bill and Phyllis Grantham diversified and started Tudor Hall Farm Market. They produce a list of fine products from free range eggs, anti-biotic free beef, a variety of produce and to the delicious sugar cured ham I use on our biscuit sandwich.

Great combination of flavors to bake the ham with, yummy! Simple, season the ham S&P, fill the bottom with cider then cover with foil and bake 20 minutes per pound or until internal temperature reaches 170 degrees. If needed add more hard cider, hopefully you didn't drink it all. Slice and enjoy.

It's all good at Tudor Hall, picking up a meat order via the honor system, ole fashion leave the check in a peanut butter jar method, giant smile!
 

The honor system

Oh my gosh, do I see sunshine? yeah!!!! gotta run, I mean drive to Chambersburg, PA for our dairy products. To be continued.....

Come visit me this weekend. I will be serving up delish food Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm. Looking forward to the Design House extravaganza!

Love my job,
Cher

PS - I also can take orders for fresh Easter ham.  Stop by the food truck & let me know.

This weekend's featured soup will be Roasted Tomato.  I'll be serving a hot pot sandwich of pulled local pork sandwich with a side of coleslaw.

Pastries & Treats for the weekend will be:
mini red velvet cupcakes
chocolate chip biscotti
rustic apple tarts
almond coffee cake

Cher's Ham & Biscuit Sandwich

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