I wonder if the button collectors would mind discussing how they like to purchase buttons. Do like them offered in groups by color? By type/material? By style? By piece? By a group of matching, identical buttons?

I could use some input because I'd like to know the best way to offer them to you.

I am absolutely fascinated by the variety of designs, sizes and materials that buttons are made of. (I may become an avid, maybe rabid button collector myself... I love handling these little gems so much!)

Very soon we will be posting a variety of salt and pepper shakers, including many whimsical, animal-oriented pieces from Japan and Taiwan and parts unknown, all hailing from one collection.

Expect to see them peppering our listings very soon! (Yes, pun intended.)

We had the good fortune today to pick up several more vintage 1950s-1960s hats that we will soon be offering for sale--there are a few we think you will particularly like. A couple are absolutely striking. At least one is quite whimsical. (Of course, it's all in the eye of the beholder.)

I am always thrilled to handle vintage clothing and accessories, and a huge smile spreads across my face whenever one of our customers drags the hat boxes out of the attic. We may have some vintage 50's clothing available in a couple of weeks as well.

 Also, we will be selling 25+ Breyer horses that have been played with but are generally in very good condition, considering they were purchased in the 70s. They are not in their boxes but have been carefully stored. We'll start sorting through them tomorrow.

We hope to concurrently auction a number of older hardcover horse fiction books that seem to be in great shape. As always, we will give you all the details in the postings.

We may be offering in the near future a complete Avon nativity (vintage 1980s) in all white porcelain. They have been displayed in their owner's home annually, but have been stored carefully in their original boxes. We hope to be offering this beautiful collection within the next few weeks.

We also hope to soon be offering a Native American crafted Blackfoot rattle, all made of antique elements including the fabric (wool), beads, horsehair, rivets, a woven porcupine quill motif, etc. This item is not signed, but it was crafted in the 80's.

Additionally, we will be offering a Native American bone breastplate made by Coho that had been purchased as a wallhanging. The owner is currently searching for additional information about this item including an informal, signed certificate of authenticity she received at purchase. She does know it was crafted  from all real items (rather than plastic beads, fake bone, etc.). This was originally a very pricey item.

I almost forgot to mention that we'll be putting up another pair of Tabra earrings! We have a following that gets very excited about them, and I have to admit I like the style of Tabra earrings myself. A lot. (Yes, we'll be putting them up for auction. After they are pried from my clenched fingers!)

As a bit of an introduction, Lion's Pride Farm hopes to bring you the best in collectibles, vintage and sometimes contemporary clothing and accessories, books, jewelry, and any variety of items we hope will catch your eye.

That said, we are often asked if Lion's Pride Farm is an actual farm. We're happy to answer yes, we are! We pride ourselves on farming biodynamically--quite a few steps better than organic farming as we use absolutely no chemicals or pesticides. In this day and age where we all often worry about the quality and safety of the food we purchase for our families, we have chosen to feed our family and offer to the local community a healthier option. An example of one of our biodynamic choices is rather than apply pesticides to our produce, we control much of the insect population naturally with our free ranging guinea hens who do an excellent job (and are also very entertaining)!

*This is the other owner/farmer/nurturer of the land of Lion's Pride Farm adding a bit to the above description of  what was just stated by my lifemate as to our farming practices. In actuality, farming biodynamically in my practices has been to add absolutely nothing that the Mother (Mother Nature) has not used in the care of her land and her bounty. In other words, unlike most organic practices, in farming biodynamically, I add no synthetics or additives (even though the government has approved their use in certified organic farming). My land is nutured with only the things that would naturally be used by nature itself. I use animals and birds to control bugs as well as to fertilize the land. I hand pick, I hand weed, etc. I fool the deer and other animals with wind chimes, dog hair, chairs, whirl-a-gigs etc. I watch the moon, the sky and the weather. I curse at Fate when she plays her games and ask the Mother to please help me to get the fields producing.

Through the use of eBay sales, we are hoping to be able to help our little farm grow by enabling me to stay on the farm instead of leaving it to work a 40-hour a week job which also means a commute, and allows us little time to farm after caring for all the animals.

For example we have tried for over 2 years to put up a 100 foot greenhouse but have yet to get it up due to time. This spring we hope to be able to do it as I can always put up auction items late into the night. Next, I will be trying my hand at a new concept of year-round farming within an unheated greenhouse using hay bales & glass. This is being done by a man in England and now his daughter (she is in Maine), and having good results. Imagine being able to buy fresh, wholesome produce in mid-winter without it coming from another country or having to travel thousands of miles. Our philosophy here on the farm is to re-use, recycle and re-generate. We hope the items we offer allow others to in their own way continue our own philosophy by having forgotten items stay useful and be enjoyed and used for many more years to come.

One last thing, we have many rescued animals on the farm. Two horses were rescued from the kill pen a day before they would be killed for meat sales. We have NEVER killed or sold an animal for food. All the animals and birds here on the farm are productive in their bug eating, fertilizing and companionship and we care for them all. Many of the items we sell are/will be on consignment for clients, they are items that belong to others, not to the farm. We will stand behind all the items we sell though and make sure that the Buyer gets exactly what they feel they have paid for.

The farm is small and has a lot of growing to do, but we currently have a small supply of free range chicken eggs (with healthy, deep yellow beta-carotene filled yolks!), and in the summer we hope to cultivate a few vegetable crops. We have a number of young fruit trees that will soon be maturing, and we look forward to offering fresh pears, cherries, apples, peaches, grapes, and blueberries in the future.

We plan to erect the 100 foot greenhouse this year, which will extend our growing season and protect some of our crops from insects, rabbits and deer. In addition to fruit, vegetables, and eggs we are planning to offer a variety of cut flowers as well.

All in time.