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Hello! Welcome to Patina Home & Garden, where we celebrate the beauty of living with patina and embrace the art of slow living. As the founders of this community, my husband Steve and I are passionate about helping you live your dreams where it matters most…at home. If you want to slow down and enjoy a peaceful home centered around the beauty of the natural world, then this is the place for you. Steve is an architect and I am an interior decorator, and we began designing homes together over 30 years ago. After over a decade in fast-paced Santa Monica, we felt a calling to slow down and live a simpler life more centered around the natural world. It was this idea that pushed us to create Patina Farm, our previous home on 5 acres in Ojai, California. For nearly 10 years we lived there, raising our animals (which includes 4 cows, 4 donkeys, 3 sheep, 4 goats, 3 pigs, 30 chickens & more), curating biodynamic gardens, and basking in the beauty of the Ojai Valley. You can see more images of our previous home in our books, Patina Farm & Patina Living. We thought we would grow old there, until another dream came to the forefront. After a design job brought Steve to Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee, he fell in love with the natural beauty of the rolling hills and the warm community, and after I visited, so did I. So, in October of last year we made the move across the country to begin a new journey on our new 100-acre property, Patina Meadow. We are still in the midst of constructing our dream property, so stay tuned to this blog and my Instagram, @velvetandlinen, for updates! Since the welcoming community was one of the motivating factors to move to Leiper's Fork, we were ecstatic when we were presented with the opportunity to open up a store in the heart of the village. And so Patina Home & Garden was born. At Patina Home & Garden, our core values revolve around three important pillars: History, Nature, and Community. We believe that each of these elements is essential to creating a home and life that not only looks beautiful but also nourishes the soul. Community is at the heart of what we do. We believe that the homes we create are not just for us, but for the people we love and the communities we belong to. We are passionate about supporting local artisans and businesses, and creating spaces that foster connection and conversation. The synergy between our lives and the cycles of nature inspires us each day. Because of this, we believe that the outdoors should be an extension of our homes, and that gardens should be designed to support local wildlife and promote sustainability. Our gardens are a sanctuary, a place to relax and connect with the natural world that supports us. History is the foundation of our designs. We celebrate the beauty of patina, and believe that every object in our homes should have a story to tell. Objects that tie us to our life stories are central to what Steve and I do. Whether it's a weathered door or a vintage rug, these pieces bring a sense of warmth and authenticity to our spaces. Through Patina Home & Garden, we hope to inspire you to embrace the beauty of imperfection and find joy in the process of curating a home and garden that reflects your unique personality and style. Thank you for joining our community, and we look forward to sharing our journey with you. xx Brooke

Those of you who have been following our journey since I started blogging back in 2009 or have read our first book, Patina Style, may remember that our foray into farm animals started when we lived in Santa Monica. It was during a morning walk around our suburban neighborhood that I heard the astonishing (for a city girl) sound of clucking hens and realized that I needed to have my own flock. It wasn’t long after that fateful morning that we turned our narrow side yard into a chicken haven for six small bantam chicks. Over the years, our avian family has grown and now includes over 30 chickens of various breeds and sizes. We built two different coops when we lived on Patina Farm Our first coop was featured in our book, Patina Farm. Situated just between our garage and a small “chicken garden", this hen house was purposely located so I could see my feathery ladies from my office window and enjoy their clucking serenade all day. When we added goats and sheep to our family, we turned our original coop into our small animal barn and built a new coop connected to our greenhouse on the lower level of our land. Several of our hens refused to relocate and became happy roommates with our ruminants. Before we moved our ladies across country to Patina Meadow, we built a new coop so our girls would be comfortable when they arrived. We constructed their new home on an old farm trailer chassis with the reclaimed wood from the old barn on our property. We placed the door on the wide side of the coop, making cleaning and egg gathering easier. A set of twelve nesting boxes on the back wall of the coop provides plenty of egg laying space, and two long roosting poles on either side of the coop give our ladies ample sleeping room. Steel mesh covered windows provides ventilation while still keeping our ladies safe at night. In spite of our best efforts to create an irresistible home for our girls, we still find a few of them curled up at night in the barn with the goats, sheep and pigs. Since our move to Patina Meadow, we’ve also added a couple dozen guinea fowl to our flock. These honking jowly girls are not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love them. Not only do they roam our land in search of ticks and other insects, they provide endless entertainment for our four shih tzus who love watching them at work. There have been many lessons learned and challenges faced over the years, but after all this time I can’t imagine a life without a gaggle of clucking ladies. Do you have chickens? What have they taught you? If you are thinking about introducing chickens to your family, I included some helpful tips in our book, Patina Living. For a limited time, you can get 10% off signed copies Patina Style, Patina Farm, and Patina Living, with our Patina Design Bundle. I hope they inspire you to design a life you love. xx Brooke

March is Women’s History Month and being a woman-owned business here at Patina Home & Garden, we especially want to thank all the other women-owned businesses we work with and offer in our online shop. From the amazing candles and scents at Linnea to the fragrances and oils at Ojai Wild, our list of carefully cultivated businesses celebrate the women who created them and continue to evolve and grow them every day. We would like to introduce you to some of the amazing women who inspire us with their vision, empower us with their strength and energy – and pamper us with their amazing products. We celebrate these amazing women, their businesses, and their commitment to operating organic, sustainable and eco-friendly businesses. So next time you need to honor a woman in your life, or just take a moment out of your day to treat yourself to a little indulgence, consider supporting one of these women-owned businesses we are proud to support at PatinaHomeAndGardenShop.com. For this week only, use code WOMENOFPATINA to receive 10% OFF all of these wonderful products. EARTHTONICS BOTANICAL SKINCARE - DARON HOPE Daron, the founder of Ojai, California-based EarthTonics and one of our dear friends, has created a line of holistic skin care made from flowers, mushrooms, roots, fruits, and leaves. A ‘holistic facialist’, Daron's curiosity of the earth and body has taught her to ‘read the skin’. “The skin, I’ve discovered, tells a story of our health— physical, mental, emotional, and beyond,” she says on her company’s web site. “It's a virtual feedback loop from which we can navigate the right relationship to the various inputs and outputs of life. It has so much wisdom to impart.” EarthTonics products are made from pure, plant-based ingredients and they don’t use any fragrance, fillers, or artificial ingredients,. In addition to making some amazing products, for every tonic purchased, EarthTonics plants a tree with Trees for the Future. Daron & her husband Brendan just welcomed a beautiful baby boy, Seamus, to the world. Sadly, a challenging birth led to complications for sweet baby Seamus and he is need of continued medical attention. Some of their loved ones have created a Go Fund Me page to help this beautiful new family pay for his medical bills. If you can, please consider donating. You can also support them by purchasing Earthtonics products, or visiting Brendan's website and purchasing some of his incredible music or prints of his photography. Thank you so much. CECILE PREZIOSA Ceramist Cécile Preziosa has a passion for ceramics that is evident in her creations. In 2009, she began to train in wheel throwing as an apprentice in a traditional pottery workshop in France's Alsace region. Only a few years into her art, she began creating delicate and even pieces, perfecting her shapes. Her scientific background helped her to develop a methodology for the formulation of glazes made from natural minerals. Her pieces showcase an exclusive palette of soft and natural shades and sensual textures. Each piece is made in Preziosa's studio. LINNEA - LAURA CLER LINNEA's® story is one of heritage, passion, and integrity. It began in 2009 when Lynn Manley created a company called Linnea’s Lights®. The identity pays homage to the family's Swedish heritage. In 2012, Lynn passed the torch to her daughter, Laura Cler, who evolved Linnea's Lights® into LINNEA® - a symbol of Swedish savoir-faire. From their fragrance oils and domestically grown soy wax, to their locally sourced packaging materials, all products are eco-friendly, cruelty-free, and feature ingredients free from harsh chemicals, endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, and phthalates. LINNEA's® represents four successive generations of inspiring women with a shared vision that continues to have respect for the past, present, and future. PEG & AWL - MARGAUX & WALTER KENT Margaux Kent considers herself a lover of what once was, and the effects time and stories have on materials and objects. And through that love, she and Walter repurpose and refashion items discovered in flea markets, shops, abandoned houses and torn-down buildings -- and give them new life. In their words, they begin with “treasures found and recovered from misfortune and neglect. Relics of the unusual, the confused and the macabre, cut and pulled and built into wearable curiosities, inscribable keepsakes and useable, long-lasting treasures.” The Peg & Awl treasures range from bags and jewelry to furniture and art. TOUPS & CO ORGANICS - EMILIE TOUPS Company founder Emilie Toups began crafting skincare and makeup from her farmhouse kitchen after discovering how organic tallow, high-quality cold-pressed olive oil and other quality, natural ingredients made a huge difference in her skin and her family’s wellness. From those initial experiments came a skincare line that uses simple, wholesome ingredients to make products that nourish and restore. Another husband-and-wife team, Toups & Co. supports small, family-owned farms that are sustainable, fair trade, transparent and ethical. GILMORE GOODS - SAMANTHA LEE Based here in Nashville, Samantha Lee created Gilmore Goods out of a passion for creating treats with better for you ingredients. She started her company with her delicious Cherry Pecan Granola, and quickly added more scrumptious options to her menu. All her granolas are made with all natural ingredients and without refined sugar. MILLSTREAM HOME - JANELLE STOLTFUTZ Stemming from Janelle's Amish roots, Millstream Home is a line of products made entirely by Amish artisans. From basket weavers and quilters, to potters, blacksmiths and leather makers, each product from Millstream Home is made in a craftsman or craftswoman’s home, craft space or shop. Janelle believes being American Made matters and supporting the local maker is always worth it. That’s why she started Millstream Home. From leather flyswatters to wooden spoons and pottery mixing bowls, each unique item was designed to be passed down through the generations. OJAI WILD - JANA SHEEHAN The Ojai Wild line of skincare, fragrance, and candles, focuses on clean beauty. Owner Jana set out to create a clean beauty line focused on quality, artistry, and environmental impact. The Ojai Wild clean beauty collection of botanical oils and fragrances were designed to harness the living, breathing life of plant power to infuse every day with “an indulgent and uplifting experience.” Ojai Wild is the grower, supplier, formulator, and manufacturer always surpassing the industry standard with an in-house distillery and raw materials extraction to create undiluted botanical ingredients with minimal waste. FOX + HOUND - KAREN DOSS Karen Doss believes our dogs are worth our time, care, love and attention and as dog owners, she spent years creating the perfect formulas that are safe for dogs and contain natural ingredients. The company has developed compounds for shampoos, flea and tick spray and paw pad salve. And the best part, aside from their actual products, is that proceeds from every product of Fox + Hound sold are donated back to K9 Units and The Fox + Hound K9 Foundation. Our favorite: Dog Shampoo & Conditioner – Lemongrass & Chamomile We are so grateful to be able to support so many wonderful women and their fantastic businesses. Don't forget, for this week only, use code WOMENOFPATINA to receive 10% all these wonderful products. xo, Brooke

When Steve and I are designing a home, our aim is to create a place that not only looks beautiful, but also evokes a certain emotion. At Patina Farm in California, from the minute you drove up to the house, you were welcomed by a fence covered with a profusion of white roses. We were very selective of the plants we chose so you felt serene and soothing when you arrived. Every decision we made was intentional to support that emotional response. We are doing the same with the design at Patina Meadow in Tennessee. The arrival experience starts at our front gate again. We designed this little gatehouse at the entrance of our property. Although it looks a bit like a fairy cottage, it's actually a place to drop off packages as well as the pedestrian entrance to our house. From the street, you will see this charming octagonal gatehouse, covered in weathered wood. It will set the tone for your experience at Patina Meadow. From the start of your visit to Patina Meadow, we want to transport you to a different place, to have you captured in this moment. When you walk through the gate, we want you to know that you are at Patina Meadow. FUNCTIONAL AND WHIMSICAL Our gatehouse is under construction now and is starting to take shape after a long, wet, Tennessee winter that caused some delays. It has a little pointed roof. We intentionally drooped the edges a little, so it feels old. We used reclaimed barn wood, making our gatehouse feel like it has been on the property forever. We had a version of the gate mocked up and I said to Steve, I didn’t think it was right. Even the shape has an emotional feeling attached to it. The original design had an arched gate and I thought it felt too formal. I wanted it to feel really simple. It’s a country farm gate, so I felt like it needed simple barnwood. The beauty of old wood is really all you need. We changed the arch to a straight-across gate, which really changed the formality to a more casual, welcoming feel. Rather than choosing to do square gatehouse, we chose to make it octagonal because we were able to take something that would have been more formal but doing it out of old wood and have it feel more rustic. It’s the whole velvet and linen idea. Steve is an architect, so it feels more architectural which I think is cool too. We used the same stone on the bottom of the gatehouse that is on the existing pillars, so it ties in with the history of the property. It’s all Tennessee stone. We like that it feels ‘of the place.’ Steve and I have two new animals at Patina Meadow I want to introduce you to. Our newest critters came from the Nashville Antique Show held here a few weeks ago. I think I came home from that show with everything that was made of cement and heavy! But my favorite find was a pair of cement pigs that now reside on the pedestals on either side of the little gate house we are building at Patina Meadow. They bring a whimsical quality to our entrance. Patina Meadow is a farm, but it is rustic and has a whimsical quality to it. The pigs kind of represent all the happy animals that live on our farm, and set a jolly tone. Another antique find was our vintage lighting rod. We have a lot of weather here in Tennessee, so I was looking for a weathervane, but found this lightning rod which has a turquoise glass rod. I thought it was cool to have an old lightning rod and I love when utilitarian objects are so pretty. It looks like a piece of art – and it works! LEARN TO LOVE A FLUID DESIGN PROCESS It is really neat to watch how things are developing at Patina Meadow. The finished cabin was the main inspiration for the final iteration of the gatehouse. Each piece informs the next. We started with an idea of how it was going to look. Originally we wanted it to be built out of stone, but as we finished the cabin construction, this kind-of design journey happened and we switched the facade to old barn wood. Nothing was set in stone. Learning to love the evolution of design can translate into life as unexpected things cause you to have to change directions or pivot unexpectedly. As we worked through the process of design, we realized the design had a life of its own. It was fluid. Loving the black or white options as a designer is not the best attribute to have. Learning to live with the gray area in the middle is a good thing. As the gatehouse becomes its own thing, it becomes connected to the property as a whole. The same thing is happening with Steve and me. As we have become part of this area of Tennessee, it has informed the designs we had in mind so much. How does the design of where you live evoke emotion? Has your design style changed as you’ve moved to a new state or even a new home? xo, Brooke

I get a lot of questions from visitors to our store and the blog about entertaining and how to entertain guests without it becoming such a monumental effort that you can’t enjoy hosting friends. One of my go-to plans when we entertain is to assemble some charcuterie boards. They sound fancy, look beautiful and taste even better. But this is something that doesn’t need to be overwhelming to you as a host. So here are some tips on my favorite ways to do charcuterie that are visually appealing and delicious at the same time. ASSEMBLING THE BOARD I often do more than one board and place them around our sitting area so that guests can have something to nibble on wherever they might be. This is also a great way to offer multiple choices such as one board with savory items and another with dark chocolates and nuts, for example. We have a selection of different sized boards at Patina Home & Garden and I like to do a few smaller ones, or one larger one to make a statement. Whenever I make a board, I don’t follow a strict plan and to me, that’s part of the beauty of it. I will start by placing some small bowls in different areas and put nuts and dried fruit in them. It’s good to think about how to add color to the boards and use whatever is in season. It’s fun to collect small bowls and different kinds of small knives so they aren’t all the same. I love small spoons, which add some flair to anything they are serving. ADDING LOCAL PROVISIONS Charcuterie boards are a great way to take advantage of things you can find at your local farmer’s market. We love the idea of starting local, and that’s how we began to stock our farm shop. We wanted as much of it as possible to be local. We have local cheeses from Noble Springs and work with different people who make delicious nuts such as bourbon pecans or spicy whiskey pecans. We have our line of honey with our friends from the Greenwood Honey Co. which you can check out here. We designed our bottle so that it would be beautiful enough to just pop on the board with a honey dipper for your guests to drizzle over a cracker with fresh goat cheese. We also have a honey jara available if you would like to add one of those to your board. Closer to the spring, it’s great to add in some spring vegetables and fruits to a board. I also love dried fruit when the fruit isn’t at peak season. Dried apricots or cranberries add some beautiful color and texture to a palate of cheeses. I think it’s a good idea to have some variety of cheeses, like mixing some hard cheeses and soft cheeses. For this board, I topped some Noble Springs Goat Cheese with a hot red pepper jam for a tasty pop of color & spice! Of course, sliced meats such as salami or pepperoni add a nice flavor to a board as well. We also carry flavored butters at our store that make a great combination to a crunchy baguette or sourdough loaf. DON'T OVERTHINK IT! Those are some of my tried-and-true tricks! Whatever you decide to assemble, have fun with it. Start with a board and some small bowls and just begin to add to it. As long as you have a little variety and enjoy the process, your charcuterie board will be amazing. There aren’t really any rules to follow. Just keep it fresh and simple. If you would like a little help getting started or learning what can elevate your creation from just cheese and crackers to a charcuterie masterpiece, I will be hosting a charcuterie board class at Patina Home & Garden in Leiper’s Fork on March 13th from 5-7 pm. For more information or to register, click here. I would love to meet you and would love to share photos of charcuterie boards you create after spending a little time learning the best tips and tricks to make them fabulous – and easy! Do you have any tips to make entertaining a little less overwhelming? I would love to hear them in the comments! xo Brooke

If you have followed my journey here for any length of time, you know that Steve, our daughter Leila, and I recently relocated to Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee, from Ojai, California. But we weren’t the only ones who made the big move. Our animal family, which includes 4 cows, 3 goats, 4 donkeys, 3 sheep, 3 pigs, 30 chickens, (and 4 shih tzus), also made the move across the country. And just like any parent, I leaned toward worrying about how the animals would fare in the journey to Tennessee. Many of you have asked how they are doing, so I thought I’d post a little update and admit that I learned so much from these animals from this move. I learned about resilience and adaptability. HELICOPTER PARENT NO MORE! Having this many animals is more like parenting than I initially realized. When you first become a parent you are apt to become a helicopter parent and feel like you need to do everything for your child. The reality of what I learned is that animals are so much more intuitive and connected to their environment than we are. It’s fascinating to me. We moved at the end of September last year and by October, they had grown these fuzzy, floofy coats they never had before. They just knew it. They have these amazing instincts of what they needed to do. It wasn’t even that cold yet. SOCIAL MEDIA FAMILY INSIGHT I am very blessed to have this wonderful Instagram and social media community full of people who have more experience with this than I do. We learned that even in colder places, people’s animals do fine. We had bought blankets to put on our donkeys and people explained to us that donkeys don’t need blankets because if the blankets get wet during the day, they can freeze at night. The blanket pushes down their fur. What you want is for them to be fluffy because it is more insulating. The blanket causes the donkey to not do what it does naturally. Really all they needed was a place to get out of the wind. Often the donkeys will just stand in the rain. They will go into their shelter if they need it. It faces south so the back of the shelter stops the wind from coming from the north side of the property. HAPPY HENS We learned a similar lesson with our chicken coup. It’s all about keeping your girls dry. They need to have a dry coup and a place to get out of the wind. The biggest challenge for us was keeping them watered. But even then, I saw a couple of them eating the ice where their water had frozen in the cold weather. But as long as they had some water a couple of times a day they were fine. What we learned is that everybody seems fine. We worried more than we had to. THE KITTIES We were really worried we would get our cats here and they would run away. But they didn’t. We got these cat houses for them to stay in. We have two black cats Bonnie and Clyde and also two orange tabbys, Sherlock and Watson and they do not get along too well! We kept them in separate kitty houses in different parts of the property so they would each have their own jurisdiction. We fed them and gave them time to adjust to their new location. They were scared at first, so it was nice for them to have their safe space. Little by little by the end of the third week, we were ready to let them explore their new home. They were more active when we would feed them and they wanted out. So after about three weeks, we let them out and they’ve never left the property. They are social with the other animals, so I think they realized this was now home. The transition was pretty easy. PASTURE ROTATION The animals are now on their second pasture that we set up so we can let the first one rest. It’s important to let the pasture rest for the health of the grass and to let the bacteria load dissipate. As it rests, everything gets a chance to recalibrate and get back to a healthy plot. We practice rotational grazing, where we take all the animals off of one pasture and move them to another one. It’s great for the land and ultimately better for the animals. When they come off of a pasture, we chain harrow it, which mixes up the soil, so the manure doesn’t just sit on top of the soil. It speeds up the process. The manure is good for the soil once it’s mixed in. We do our best to care for our animals holistically. We try to feed them well and avoid antibiotics as much as possible. And in the end, we have to step back and realize they know more about adjusting to new surroundings than we do. What elements of your life do you need to release control of and just let nature take its course? We learned a lot throughout this process, but most of all, we learned that our animals are going to love it here. Do you have any pets? If so, what lessons have they taught you? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear them. xo Brooke

If you follow me on social media, you may have seen my recent post where I did something some would consider out of character, especially for a Californian. I went for a walk in the snow we had here in Tennessee recently. It was just a dusting, but I took some time out of my morning to watch the feathery flakes float through the air as they made their journey to become part of the frosty blanket that covered my path. I listened to the sounds my footsteps made as the snow crackled under my boots in the quiet and stillness of the woods in wintertime. I gazed upward and opened my mouth to taste the chill on my tongue and I observed our forest and appreciated how Mother Nature redecorated for winter. All color was gone and replaced with only shades of gray. Instead of only noticing trees seemed dormant, I appreciated the sculptural beauty of the hibernating trees with their naked limbs raised to the sky and thought that humans should embrace this season as beautifully as the trees. WINTERTIME OFFERINGS Wintertime is a wonderful time to allow your body and mind to fall in line with nature and slow down. There is a new bloom looming, so as humans we need to take advantage of this time to prepare ourselves for spring. I don’t see this as a resolution as much as a practice we should put into place each year instead of dreading the shorter days and staying inside when it’s cold out. Steve and I lived in California and became accustomed to there being virtually no seasons. I believe our bodies crave seasons. Nature knows wintertime is a time for rest and slowing down in preparation for the next season which is full of life and rebirth and a new bloom. One of the reasons we moved here was to be more in sync with that natural clock that nature follows. We feel like we needed to as well. INTERESTING DISCOVERIES The forest in wintertime offers a completely different experience than other seasons. There are fewer birds and other wildlife, so it’s wonderfully quiet allowing you to hear things you might not be able to hear when the springtime forest is full of activity. Steve and I started taking forest walks in the colder weather and realized we could see vistas that aren’t visible when the tree canopies hide what’s behind them. We learned you can enjoy a cold-weather walk with all your senses. We listened to the creek water trickling over rocks and heard the leaves crunching under foot. And the mushrooms! We discovered all sorts of mushrooms growing. There aren’t many mushrooms in California because it’s too dry. Not only are mushrooms beautiful, so many of them are incredible for us. Mushrooms like Reishi & Lion's Mane are present in the forests here, and they feature immune boosting qualities and much more. The winter means that many of these healing mushrooms are laying dormant in the wild, but their powerful medicinal properties are still apart of my winter routine through our Cocoa Magic Mushroom Blend. It is the perfect companion (along with Steve ;) ) on these chilly morning walks! GOOD BACTERIA One thing we have begun to really explore after moving to Tennessee is the benefit of spending more time outside. It’s important for our bodies to interact with all the good bacteria that exists in the outdoors. Breathe it in. It’s a very healthy thing to do. Steve and I enjoy reading information from Dr. Zach Bush, who believes a diverse environment is good for your body’s microbiome. He is an internationally recognized educator and thought leader on the microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems. His passion for education includes topics such as the role of soil and water ecosystems in human genomics, immunity, and gut/brain health. BREATHE DEEP So the next time you look out your window and see what looks like dark, damp, cold outdoors, change your perspective to looking for the benefits the cold weather brings. The differences from warmer weather. They aren’t all bad. Find the quiet, seek out the sounds in the stillness and take a deep breath of nature’s cold air. Let us know how you like to get outside and take advantage of cold weather. We hope to hear you are getting out in the woods yourselves and seeing it for all the beauty it has to offer. xo Brooke

Among the history, pastoral landscapes and deep culture that is woven into the fabric of our new Leiper’s Fork home, the common thread connecting it all -- is music. The village and the people who live and visit here have been a curator of sorts to all kinds of music, from impromptu front porch picking sessions to A-list performers who frequent Fox & Locke, our local music venue. All of it being a catalyst that brings people together. So when we learned about the building that now houses our Patina Home & Garden, one element of the space that has transcended several owners is its Pickers’ Corner. From when it was Leiper’s Fork Antiques some 25 years ago, then owner Marty Hunt created a nook in her store that would invite shoppers to grab a guitar off the wall and, well, pick. Then Alex Cirimelli, who evolved the space into Serenite Maison continued what had become a staple in the village: the Pickers’ Corner. Steve playing in the old Pickers' Corner before we moved our shop in. The front corner of this amazing old building has always welcomed anyone with a desire to play to grab a guitar off the wall and noodle around. Steve and I felt a strong invitation to keep this tradition going as we became the newest purveyors of this storied space. Image by Meghan Aileen Our version of the Pickers’ Corner features two leather couches and is flanked by a beautiful old shiplap wall that holds several guitars from a 1944 Martin D28 and an Everly Brothers Gibson from the 1950s to a 1931 American Tricone. Behind the guitars is a map of the Americana Triangle which connects the musical roots from Nashville to Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Little did we expect the Pickers’ Corner would have such an effect on Steve and I personally. Steve used to play guitar during an earlier phase of life, has been reinspired to play again as he has watched people come into the store and connect over music. He’s rediscovering a connection to music and to the people who share his love for it. Aubrey Preston and Gina Pittman singing in the Pickers Corner before we opened. Although the Pickers’ Corner wasn’t something Steve and I planned as we moved our life and our business to Tennessee, it is something we are honored to be tasked with nurturing such a wonderful part of this community. We love hearing the sounds of the guitars drifting through the store. Sometimes it is one simple melody and other times it’s a chorus of guitars and voices working together. People will stop and listen and share an intangible moment in time. Alyssa Flaherty singing during our soft opening. Music not only reminds us to slow down and listen, it gives us a reason to. Whether we just stop to listen to others play, or we can sit down and make some music on a beautiful vintage instrument, it’s an invitation to stop and listen to the sounds that permeate this community we live in. The Deltaz and friends playing during our grand opening. What are some ways you love to let music into your life? How do you welcome music into your quiet spaces? Steve and I are loving learning more about the music that has come out of the Americana Music Triangle in the South and we always take time to appreciate anyone who plays one of our guitars in the store. Often, we find out they are legendary players having toured with Elvis or Willie Nelson. Other times it’s simply someone who appreciates the instrument and just loves to play. Enzo Patrick Cela and his dad pickin'. Either way, we feel like in our tiny little corner, we are helping keep music history and those who wrote it alive and well in Leiper’s Fork. xo Brooke

How are you feeling? To be completely honest, I am feeling a little stressed. With the beginning of the new year, I find myself feeling pressure to achieve, to be better than I was last year right off the bat. If you relate, this blog post is for you. If you have been following me for a little while, you'll know Daron Hope, the founder & formulator of my favorite skincare brand, Earthtonics Skincare (you can shop my favorite products here!) We first met when I moved to Ojai and I started going to her facial studio. As she pampered my skin with her potent plant potions, we would chat about a whole range of subjects, from the power of botanical skincare to the meaning of life. We found that we had a lot in common, including our inclination to live a life intertwined with the natural world. With all the talk of new year's resolutions and the stress that it brings, I found myself thinking about Daron and our philosophical chats where we would lambaste this societal mindset. So this week, I asked Daron to share some of her wisdom with all of us. I hope this inspires you to take some pressure off yourself. You're doing great. xo Brooke WISHING YOU A RESTFUL NEW YEAR by Daron Hope I've never been good at New Year's resolutions. Call me crazy, but the dead of Winter is not typically when I’ve felt most inspired to gather my energy and channel it into new habits, especially after a busy holiday season. Perhaps you can relate? The truth is, it's not our fault... our modern lifestyles are built around a faulty Gregorian calendar. What is December 31st, anyway? An arbitrary day that means nothing in relation to the stars or seasons. Sure, these dates can be great for party planning, but to our animal nature they tend to lead us astray. Luckily, there is a truer “felt” calendar by which we can create new habits, that honors the full, complete cycle of forward motion and rest. This natural rhythm lives deep in our bones, in the pulsing of our veins and the secretions of our hormonal glands. It flows in tandem with the seasons and the waxing and waning of the moon. When we live in sync with these cycles of Mother Earth, we free ourselves from the lie that rest has no value. On the contrary! Rest is, in fact, the birthplace of empowered, aligned action. It's where we gain clarity, find stability and gather strength. Winter is the season for rest. A time for gentle introspection, joyful home-tending, and cultivating warmth and nourishment in whatever ways feel good. As I write this, at the tail end of 2022, Winter has just begun! Are you resting? I hope so. This time of year, rather than intellectualizing, planning and initiating new ways of being, I love to spend time resting and practicing mindfulness with slow, body-focused rituals that nourish my skin, down-regulate my nervous system, and bolster my immunity. Supporting my body and tending to my soul in this way lays a foundation for wellness and regeneration in the seasons to come. There will be seasons for growth and change, but for now? Let us rest and allow our heart's desires to really percolate. Let us work with the energy of stillness and tap into the potent intuition available to us in this season. HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO HONOR THE POTENCY OF WINTERTIME & CENTER YOURSELF: Facial Massage Massage your face, neck and décolleté with a nourishing facial oil. (The face and neck are maps of your entire system. Tending to these areas have profound effects throughout the body.) Eat Easy-to-Digest Warm Soups, Stews & Broths Despite what you may have heard, now is not the best time for a juice cleanse (raw, cold foods and beverages in the Winter can dampen your digestive fires and be counter-productive to health goals). Wait 'til Spring! Dry Brushing Dry brush your whole body from your extremities toward your heart, to stimulate lymphatic flow and support your immune system. Journaling In lieu of resolutions, create a list of things you are grateful for! Take a Warm Bath Before climbing into bed early, allow yourself some time to decompress in the bath. Apply your favorite body butter after to help relieve winter dryness. If you’re like me, and not feeling quite ready to “tackle the New Year,” consider this your invitation to take it easy and rest your way into this new cycle. After all, we are each a garden… and nothing grows all year. About the Author: Daron Hope Daron Hope is an herbalist, writer, wholistic facialist and the founder/formulator of EarthTonics Botanical Skincare. Read more from her skincare journal here, and connect on Instagram @earthtonics.

During our early morning walks on Patina Farm, Steve and I would dream and make plans for Patina Meadow. All along, we envisioned living in the cabin for just a little while, during the building of our new home on the hill. Now that we’re here, we’re tempted by the simplicity of living in a small 1850s-era cabin. However things turn out, I thought you might enjoy an update to see how it looks and feels now. The timing of our move into the cabin on Patina Meadow couldn’t have been better. As it gets chilly outside, I feel so grateful for this charming space that keeps us cozy and warm. Decorating is one of the ways I like to settle in and make a new space feel like ours. This time of year, I love getting a little festive by using items from nature to decorate for the season. I try to keep things simple by bringing in some bulbs or other winter greenery. I also like to use gold decor pieces with a candle here and there to add some warmth. If you’d like to read more about how I decorate during the holiday season, read my recent design article in YOUR Williamson. I am currently burning, and loving, this Sacred Smoke candle. It's warm & cozy scent perfectly fits our log cabin. It is one of the many new items now available in our Patina Home & Garden online shop! Check out the rest of our new items here. THE PAST OF THE PATINA MEADOW LOG CABIN The cabin is over 150 years old and we wanted to honor its history during the remodel. The original log walls bring so much character to the entire space, so we knew they had to stay. We also kept the original mantel above the fireplace. When we needed a piece to fit into the character of the cabin, we opted for antiques, like this medicine cabinet from our friends at City Farmhouse. Our faucet and sink are from Atmosphyre. If you are looking to add some antique touches to your home, check out our selection of antiques on our Patina Home & Garden online shop. You may recognize a few of them from some images you'll see in this post! THE PRESENT OF THE PATINA MEADOW CABIN The old cabin was one of the main reasons we fell in love with the property in the first place, and we seem to love it more and more each day. I’m enjoying the simple living of the smaller space and trying to slow down and appreciate it as much as I can. Here are a few of the changes we’ve made around the cabin. By changing the windows just a bit, we now have so much natural light cascading into our living room. Even with the chill outside, I can feel the warmth of the sunlight when it shines directly in and warms my spot on the sofa — where I feel I could curl up for hours, like one of our cats. The backside of the cabin is lined with new windows that let even more light in, and our sunroom is a beautiful place to watch our animals. I love sitting in the comfort of the sunroom and watching Adelaide, Annabel, Beatrice, and Clementine graze close by. The kitchen is perfect for us, and will be a sweet place to bake with Leila over the holiday season. And I can’t wait to cook fresh meals here with produce from our gardens that will be right outside in the spring and summer. The bedroom has to be one of my favorite spots in the house. I love how the light comes in now that we have made the window larger. THE FUTURE OF THE PATINA MEADOW CABIN No one knows what the future holds, of course, and while we have certain ideas and plans for the cabin and the rest of Patina Meadow, we’re open to whatever feels right. We’re in no rush for answers and know they’ll reveal themselves in their own time. But I do hope that our appreciation of the history and beauty of Patina Meadow will help it sustain into the future, to be enjoyed by us and others as a cozy place to gather and feel peace. What are you doing around your home to settle in during the winter months? I’d love to hear about it, so tell me in the comments below. xo Brooke

With the reopening of our online store coinciding with the holiday season, I thought it was time for a Patina Home & Garden Gift Guide. Our stores, both online and in person, mean so much more to me than products on a shelf. There’s a story behind everything we choose to place in our shop, and the stories are usually connected to one of our three core tenets. I hope this list of some of our favorites helps you understand the inspiration behind Patina Home & Garden. APPAREL FROM PATINA HOME & GARDEN We started our apparel line with our son, Charlie, when I was looking for practical clothing I could wear in the farmyard, yet quality enough for me to wear into the city for client meetings. I also wanted items that were responsibly made here in the United States by workers who are treated well. Charlie’s LA factory sources everything and we couldn’t be more proud of the honorable work he’s doing for our family-run business. Our linens won’t droop or fade, because Charlie sources high-quality fabrics designed to last. For the holidays, all our apparel is 50% off! Giannetti Apparel Apron This apron is the original piece of Giannetti Apparel and one of my all-time favorites. Leila and I are constantly wearing it in and out of the house to protect our clothes while we tend the animals and gardens. HOME & DECOR ITEMS FROM PATINA HOME & GARDEN We believe that a house becomes a home from the stories and dreams of the people inside. Designing a home that incorporates those stories and dreams comes from the small details that together make up the whole. I always try to incorporate details that are meaningful. Patina Animal Portraits We treasure these incredible portraits of the Giannetti Animal Family. They’re perfect for the animal lover on your list and come in a variety of sizes. All portraits were taken by the talented Val Shaff. Linnea Scented Candles Our new Linnea 2-wick candles are responsibly made and add a gentle touch to any home. Handcrafted in small batches and available in three scents — lavender rosemary, sacred smoke, winter, and cashmere. Depression Glass Sugar Dish I love mixing history with modern design and decor, so when I saw this sweet depression-era sugar dish I knew it had to be in our shop. Brie Baker Elevate everyone's favorite hors d'oeuvre with this beautiful Brie Baker, complete with a spreader. BEAUTY AND BATH PRODUCTS FROM PATINA HOME & GARDEN As my appreciation for mother nature has grown over the years, I’ve become especially fond of natural botanicals for my skincare. I like to honor the wisdom of our ancestors, who cherished the healing properties the earth provides. That’s why I always choose products that are natural, good for the planet, and good for us as well. Patina Meadow Facial Oil Crafted especially for us by our friends at EarthTonics, this facial oil uses only the best ingredients to nourish and hydrate dry skin. Patina Meadow Facial Mist This mist feels like a walk through Patina Meadow in Spring and is a perfect gift for any Patina Farm fans on your list. A blend of rose and lavender will refresh the skin while lightening the mood. Toups & Co Tallow Balm Toups and Co uses ingredients in their whole form, to help rejuvenate skin without the chemicals. Tallow balm has been around for ages as a nourishing skin treatment that soothes and repairs. It is also available in a divine Vanilla + Almond scent! Toups & Co French Green Clay Soap Gently scented by pure essential oils, this French Green Clay Soap feels fresh, luxurious, and earthy at the same time. Body Brush for Dry Brushing Dry brushing is known for its healing properties as it stimulates the release of toxins as well as reduces muscle tension. The perfect gift for someone in your life who loves health and wellness. FOOD AT PATINA HOME & GARDEN “Let food be thy medicine.” - Hippocrates The healing properties of the earth astound me, and that’s why we try to offer nourishing food in the store. But for those of you a little further away, we have our new honey available online. Patina Meadow Honey Our bees at Patina Meadow graciously share their honey with us and we’re bringing it to you with the help of our friends at Greenwood Honey Co. Honey Jars I’ve always loved pottery, but as Leila has developed a passion for it I find I’m drawn to it even more. We thought these sweet little honey jars paired perfectly with our new Patina Meadow Honey. ______________________ I hope this Patina Home and Garden Gift Guide has been helpful. You can find these favorites and more in our Leipers Fork store, or you can shop our new online store to find the perfect gift for someone special — including yourself! xo Brooke

While gratitude is always in my thoughts, it’s only natural that we take special note of it this time of year. And though I have many things to be thankful for, the following are the three that remain near and dear to my heart. FAMILY With adult children, I’m often thankful for how much time I get to spend with Charlie, Nick, and Leila. It’s not lost on me that we have such a wonderful connection and that they were all here to support us in the opening of our new store at our housewarming party. And I’m forever grateful that I get to spend every day with Steve, my closest friend, and confidant. The family category of course includes the Giannetti Animal Family, who mean so much to us and have been adapting well to their new home. FRIENDS In a recent blog post, I explained the three core tenets that Steve and I have identified as our guiding principles. Community is one of those pillars and the driving force behind the opening of our new store, Patina Home and Garden. It’s also why I’ve continued the blog and started Letters From Brooke — to create a deeper connection with you even if we live far apart. I miss my dear friends in Ojai and California, and I’m enjoying the company of new ones here in Leipers Fork. I’m so grateful for the friends we’ve made over the years — old and new — who have allowed us to create such a vibrant gathering space online and in person. That includes you! I’m so thankful for you and your support. MOTHER NATURE If you’ve been here with me for a while, it probably comes as no surprise that Mother Nature makes the list. I’m constantly in awe of the natural beauty that surrounds us wherever we go, while still providing the literal source of life with which we could not live without. Nature has become such an important part of my life and I’m so grateful for the lessons it teaches me every day. ______ We’ve had an eventful year so far, and I could go on and on listing the things I’m grateful for, but I feel those are the three that capture the essence of why we do what we do here at Patina Home and Garden. What are you thankful for? Let me know in the comments below. Thank you again for being a part of our community. xo Brooke