Hi Farmgirls!
In the Apr/May 2025 issue of MaryJanesFarm, “Spring Forward” (on newsstands March 18), we led you here for a chance to win one of three copies of Mildred Kalish’s book, Little Heathens. To enter our giveaway, just answer the question, “What is your reverie?” (as described in Mildred’s book). Then stay tuned; I’ll toss your name into a hat and draw three lucky winners on July 1.
If you’re not yet a subscriber to MaryJanesFarm, visit: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/Magazine to sign up for just $19.95/year.
Filled with ideas that are clever, inspiring, and both old-fashioned & new-fangled, paired with the prettiest photography and writing from the heart, it’s a magazine like no other.
Enjoy these February days, and see you shortly with more “tails” from the farm, Mary
My reverie – or lost in my pleasant thoughts – is in my garden and flower beds. Ahhh…I’m dreaming of the soon to come color and smells of spring (as we wait for a atmospheric river this weekend!).
It’ll be here before we know it, Sabrena! Don’t you just love the change of seasons?!
I love to quilt anywhere possible and love sewing 🧵 days with my friends.
Mary Ann, quilting is such a talent…what a great way to spend time with your friends!
My reverie is my rose arbor overflowing with roses and my garden and orchard abundant with fruit and vegetables. At my grandparents house I bought several years ago and I am trying to restore the property to the beauty it was in my youth. Waiting for spring to get outside and work the earth and watch everything grow.
Doreen, how wonderful that you live at your grandparents home…what a heartfelt way to remember all the happy times spent there.
One of my reveries is reading.
Me too Gloria, oh on a rainy day with my feet up – perfection!
A reverie I have is thinking about what kind of tomatoes to plant in the spring
Hi Jerry, I love a garden-fresh tomato! If you like cherry ones, I’d recommend a type named Black Cherry. They produce oodles of bite-size tomatoes and they even came back as volunteers in my garden last summer!
My reverie is remembering working beside my dad as a child pruning “moms” pink roses. As soon as I had my first home, I began raising roses. Today there are several roses I love to tend in my small yard, and I can’t wait until they bloom this year.
Margaret, that is such a sweet memory…how lovely that you’re carrying on the tradition of roses in your own garden.
My reverie is the first Spring breeze an just being still in the moment an all the wonders that await☀️🙏
Absolutely Valerie – after winter’s blast, a warm, Spring breeze is heavenly!
Oh…my…. one of the most difficult questions I’ve been asked to answer as I have many reveries…stitching, hooking, gardening, reading, etc. etc. Perhaps, however, one of my very favorites is wandering an antique store…letting my mind drift to who might have used the things I hold in my hands and what their lives were like…or pouring over the old, old, books only too realize far too much time has passed. That’s my answer (for now)…and I’m sticking to it. LOL. “Little Heathens” looks irresistible! ~Robin~
Robin, kindred spirits indeed! I love wandering antique stores and wishing those old items could talk. Last summer I found a slightly chipped yellowware mixing bowl that needed a home. When I got to the counter the saleslady asked me if I was really going to use it…absolutely! I’ll be gentle with it, but stirring up batter in it reminds me of the lovely ladies who used it before me.
My reverie is working in my garden and making herbal medicine. I also can get lost in a good book.
Hi Jennifer, gardening and reading… perfect pairing!
I just recently retired and I am enjoying doing whenevernI want whenever I want. So far I have crocheted a scarf and a sweater. With warming temperatures preparing garden beds is next, then who knows….
Christine, enjoy your days doing what makes you happy!
Recently retired, my reverie is spending time on my 45 acre farm. After working since I was 17(I’m 65 now) I am going back in time and re-enjoying the sounds associated with this piece of earth that has been in my family since 1938. Peeper frogs singing in the evening, bird songs, cows moo-ing etc. Working didn’t allow me to stop long enough to hear, even tho I listened. Those sounds were ingrained in me from my youth but overshadowed by the hustle and bustle of being in the work force.
Daleene, how lucky you are to have a family farm from 87 years ago, it sounds like you’re are loving every minute there! And it’s true, the seasons of our lives change and those busy years make it difficult to “stop and smell the roses”, but it sounds like you’re absolutely doing that now!
My reverie is reading and just holding books in my hands. I love the smell of old books and how beautiful they look as some of the many decorations in my home!
I so agree Cheryl, I found a tiny book in a little shop a couple of weeks ago, and it just called my name. It’s only 4×7 (I’ll need some spectacles for this one!) but holding a century old book in my hands is just amazing.
My reverie is genealogy research and the compilation of Family Group Sheets. I can spend hours searching the children, grandchildren, and greats right on down the line of my family surname Patriarchs and my Matriarchs. As I research, I review what was happening in their lives personally and in their communities, state, and the country. Family lore is incorporated, along with occupations, military service, and leadership roles. The joy I feel as I make connections makes me realize I am connecting spirit to spirit.
Judy, I work on my family history as well…it can be so fascinating! You are doing such a wonderful work to preserve those precious memories for future generations. I have to admit, I’ve hit some stumbling blocks, which make following the line difficult, but I keep hoping to get past them!
I love doing appliqué on wool in the Montana Winters while I reverie about have a small heard of goats one day. They will all have names and each will wear a bell.
It sounds perfect to me, Sandy! Yes, each goatie needs his or her own special name, and I love the idea of sweet bells for each one!
My reverie is putting a G2/07 pen to college-lined loose leaf note paper folded in half and just get into writing away! My current subjects are about my growing up years in my hometown, Philadelphia PA. Not exactly country by looking back on my childhood is my reverie. I hope to leave my writings to my kids and grandkids.
Margaret, passing on those memories will be wonderful for your family. And in your own handwriting, too…they will love it.
My reverie is pretending to read while I sit on my porch swing, while I’m actually listening to my kids run untamed in our creek. They are having the kind of wild, muddy, green childhood that I’d always wanted and I love to sit an imagine that I’m little with them.
I couldn’t agree more, Jennifer…the laughter of children has always been one of my very favorite sounds. And with room for them to run and explore…the best!
My reverie is preparing my great grandparents’ farm house every September for the fall festival — Greenridge Steam and Gas Antique Show — held on the farmstead. In the house we teach how to make pioneer dolls. We have ladies demonstrating quilting and weaving. There is an apron show and a doll show. In addition there are quilts displayed throughout. The farm located in Iowa between Irwin and Kirkman gets many visitors from all over. Join us this year September 20-21.
What a terrific way to share those old-fashioned ways (and on your great-grandparents farm!) It all sounds like such fun!
My reverie is knitting on the backporch listening to happy birds gossip and thank their Divine Maker for giving them a song
I love that happy chatter, too Becky, I put up more feeders this winter and it’s be oh-so lovely to see them all come to visit!
My reverie is sitting outside on the porch, with a hot cup of coffee. Listening to the breeze blowing through the trees, the birds waking up and singing their calling tweets to each other. Smelling the crisp freshness of the air mingled with my coffee and watching the tinted clouds from the sunrise floating leisurely in the sky. Wishing I could stay in that moment forever.
I’m an early-morning person, too Sherry…I just think the quiet, and then everything waking up, makes it the best part of the day.
I like go for a walk. There is a pond near my home where I watch the geese.
Hi Sarah, that sounds so nice…a delightful way to spend time and be out in nature.
My reverie is to watch how the birds behave while feeding outside my deck. Their colors. The radiance of their feathers. How they take turns or almost bump onto each other in the air while trying to get to the feeder. How they are all scared of the Blue Jays. I can spend a lot of time lost in my observations of these wonderful, flying animals.
There are so many pretty colors and such chatter at the bird feeders – I can see why you love it Micheline!
Many of my reveries revolve around the farms belonging to my family, one of which we have farmed 150 years. I wish I knew more about my ancestors, particularly the women. What were their favorite recipes? How much help did they have feeding the farm hands? Did they have time and energy to pursue their own interests?
This time of year I remember the farm belonging to another branch of the family, and my great-grandmother’s snowdrop bed. I wonder how many years the snowdrops had been spreading in this large bed. As a child I would pick a handful and put them in a small vase on her kitchen windowsill. Now wherever I live I plant snowdrop bulbs.
You think like I do, Jeanne – I wonder so much about how they filled their days, and wouldn’t it be amazing to have a handed down recipe book? Snowdrops are so beautiful – oh my, she must have loved your sweet bouquet!
My reverie is snuggled up in my hammock swing surrounded by flowers with the sun beaming from behind bright white clouds listening to the sounds of the ocean.
While I don’t have an ocean near me, I really think that a gently swinging hammock and the sound of the water would be so relaxing – it would have me sleeping in no time!
My reverie is to play hymns on my baby grand piano and sing aloud. (Poorly, I’m afraid!)
What a terrific talent, Shelly – to be able to make music! You made me smile – one of my favorite quotes is by Jessamyn West: “No human would enjoy my singing, only maybe an old house that can’t be choosy.” That rings true for me, but I’m certain not for you…what a delightful way to welcome Spring!
My reverie is the simple things of life. Hanging laundry outside, prayer walks, working in our yard – gardening, reading wholesome literature, learning about naturopathic medicine/remedies. My spirit is renewed each time I create/craft something old into something usable. Simple sewing projects. Little Heathens was a wonderful read. I try to live by the “waste not want not” adage Millie states in her book.
Cynthia, I agree – there is nothing like curling up under sheets that have been dried outside in the fresh air and sunshine! And yes, rescuing something old and giving it a brand new purpose brings out our creative side and is so fun!
My reverie is paper crafting! But now that I have a 7-week old puppy(a mini dash hound)it seems like I’m back in the days of my new-born babies. All those sharp little teeth and the playfulness is keeping me busy. It’s all wrapped up in love,, though. The paper crafting will be back…gotta go for some patience-building potty time!
To everything there is a season, paper crafting will return before you know it! Lots of hugs and snuggles to your puppy, Susan – what fun!
My reverie is taking care of the flowers growing in my yard and filling the bird feeders in my yard, and then watching the birds flock to the feeders.
I love the same things Merylyn – especially now, there are so many birds returning. I love to see their bright colors and hear the beautiful songs!
My reverie is in my garden planting or pulling weeds, which I had the pleasure of doing for many years with my dear mother. When I am moving rocks around, my thoughts turn to my dad, with whom I spent many hours picking rocks. I enjoyed that special time with my folks, and only wish I could have one more day with them.