About Nicole Christensen
Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen calls herself a “vintage enthusiast”. Born and raised in Texas, she has lived most of her life in the picturesque New England suburbs of Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York State. An Advanced Master Gardener, she has gardened since childhood, in several states and across numerous planting zones. In addition, she teaches knitting classes, loves to preserve, and raises backyard chickens.
Married over thirty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields, been a world-traveler, an entrepreneur and a homemaker, but considers being mom to her now-adult daughter her greatest accomplishment. Loving all things creative, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted”.
Are you passionate about a hobby or activity? One of my favorite hobbies is knitting, an activity that keeps my hands busy and my mind relaxed. I love teaching knitting classes for my town, and knitted items are one of my favorite gifts to give. I really got the “hang” of knitting when I was expecting my daughter, and had complications that required bedrest…torture for someone like me who has to always be doing something! Knitting makes me happy and centered…it’s my “yoga”. Picking out yarn…the textures, the colors, the smell of the fibers, makes me giddy! I love to head to my favorite yarn store, located in one of the most beautiful places in Connecticut…the historical and quaint town of Kent. Come visit this gem of a town with me!
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When grocery shopping, I’ve gotten into the habit of bringing in my “green” shopping bags. I originally started using reusable ones when I first joined the Sisterhood, earning my first Merit badge by collecting the bags to go green. Easier to carry groceries in, the bags act as coupons as well, as the store deducts five cents off my total for each one. I’d amassed a collection of about twenty the past year. Most of them were “freebies” I received with purchases, or that I had paid a dollar or two for; none were homemade or that pretty. Imagine my surprise several weeks ago when someone stole them! What happened afterwards, surprised me even more.
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Summer’s here…time to whip out the grill, dust off the patio furniture, and have some fun! Ready to hostess another Farmgirl Sisterhood get-together, I wanted to do something easy and fun, an activity that wouldn’t take too much time, considering in New England this time of year is hectic, and not yet quite the lazy days of summer. The Farmgirls and I decided to have a “Tag Making Party”. Come on over… relax, and share a cup of coffee!
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I love imagining farm life and livin’ on a farm, (however, I’m in the Suburbs). I dream of having chickens. Backyard chickens are gaining in popularity, but I’ve gotten no further than ordering hatchery catalogs and having a chicken motif in the kitchen. Having read up on the subject, raising poultry is one of those things I need first-hand experience on, to be shown what is involved. Come with me as I visit my friend Susan and her family, and meet a real “Chicken Whisperer”.
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My in-laws were visiting the last few weeks from Denmark. They’ve been here many times, visiting New York City more times than we can count. So, last weekend, I decided to head the other direction to one of my favorite places, a true taste of New England…Old Sturbridge Village, in Massachusetts. Farmgirl road trip!
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I could fill a phone book listin’ all the ways that MaryJane Butters has influenced my life! The biggest change has to be my family going organic in the foods we eat. But, in these tough times, how does a typical Suburban family go organic yet stick to a budget? I’ll tell you how…
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Spring’s here! I want to scream it from the rafters! It’s like the whole world’s awake! In Connecticut, we can actually store away the snow shovels, bring out our sandals, and pull out the yard furniture! The season’s off to a busy and good start!
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I was little when Diana Spencer married Prince Charles, live on television. It was a record-breaking event, watched worldwide. Now Prince William is getting married, and there’s another beautiful princess-to-be walking down the aisle. Will it enlist the same magic in 2011, and why would a suburban American mom get so excited over a royal wedding a world away?
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Recently, I sat down with my box of seeds, and started dreamin’. It’s still chilly, but with seed packets poppin’ up in stores and catalogs brightening my mailbox, the promise of warmer weather beckons the gardener in me. More “suburbanites” are putting in backyard gardens. Perhaps it’s the economy, or perhaps folks want to slow down, take a break from technology, and grab the joy digging in the earth brings. Putting in a garden can get costly, but mine was done on a shoestring budget! I call it my “Repurposed Garden”.
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My friends Ken and Karen Mackenzie are busy these days, as the maple trees have been tapped, the sap has been flowing, and it’s time to fire up the evaporator and get those bottles filled! Nothing tastes like real, pure maple syrup!
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