I love doing trips like this with my girlfriends. Sounds like you all had a great time. I loved the pumpkins that you made, but I didn’t see the pattern or how to make them. Can you please send this to me? I saw the dishcloths and that looks like another great, quick project for my train commute every day to the Big City of Manhattan! Have a great day!
Diane

I am an Administrative Assistant for a great Actuarial company here in midtown Manhattan. I work across the street from Madison Square Garden. OK – are you ready – my commute is 2.5 hours in the morning and the same at night (door to door). In the morning I usually sleep on the train and at night we have a group of ladies that either crochet, knit, cross stitch, beading, etc. We are all part of another group called Home Bureau and we love CRAFTS and to make things to give back to our community. If you can provide any more easy projects for the train – any would be welcome! Have a great day! Diane

It looks like a good time was had by all. Lovely exchange of gifts.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO LUANN,MICHELLE AND DORI
Marilyn

So happy you got to enjoy ‘my’ state – well it is where I live now. Love Estes – and the Peak is beautiful from my ‘ranch’ view – but going up there is not on my agenda – especially now that we have had 10″s of snow – BLOWING drifts to 6′ – so your pic’s are reminders of what was so recently. God Bless.

Dori

My mother and my aunt always ironed the sheets. It somehow makes them more comfortable and if they were washed and then hung on a line outside to dry and then ironed, the smell of them was heavenly, and the feel was crisp and clean when you crawled inside. Heavenly, just heavenly. I may start ironing my own now that I have been reminded of this special feeling. Thank you for bringing to mind wonderful memories.

Your guest bedroom is absolutely gorgeous! I am in love with your rug. I must admit that I fall into the category of younger people that hardly iron anything unless it’s absolutely necessary!! So I have never ironed sheets before. But, the way you girls explain how wonderful the sheets feel once they have been line dried and ironed sounds so inviting. I may just have to give this sheet ironing a shot. And in no way do I feel that you are crazy for doing it. Keep up your passion, its inspiring!

Your granddaughters are adorable and beautiful. They look so cute and contented snuggled in bed together.
Marilyn

You did great Dori with your first crochet efforts!! Your dishcloths turned out so pretty and bright. My first crocheted dishcloth pattern came from MaryJane’s Ideas book. Then, like you, I added some shell borders. Over at the Chatroom, I joined the monthly dishcloth swap for about two years. The, I got the idea from one of MJF magazines to have them made into an afghan. Last winter, I had someone, who can crochet way better than me, put them all together into an afghan. Now I have my Farmgirl dishcloth afghan to wrap around me any time I need a Farmgirl Hug. Crocheted or knitted dishcloths have so many uses!! I would love to toss my hat in the ring for the drawing of your dishcloths.

Dori,
thanks for the post. I too grew up never knowing how to crochet, my mom on several occasions tried to teach me, but the directions would never make me understand how to. I can do a basic stitch now by learning on my own and have tried a wash cloth pattern (which did not turn out like I like them). I plan on taking your directions and try again. They are so pretty in bright colors.
Thanks for sharing

I love these! I don’t have any crochet dish towels but would love to try them and I may try to learn how to make them too!!!! Thank you for sharing!

I love crocheted dishcloths. I’m so impressed that you taught yourself to crochet! Until she developed arthritis, my mother crocheted all sorts of wonderful items from sweaters to afghans. She was very talented. I enjoy all that she made but never picked up the needles myself. I might just try your pattern!

Dori: I think it so awesome that you taught yourself crochet. Those dish cloths are beautiful and so practical. They make really great gifts too. Congrats farmgirl!

Hi Dori – I love every thing you do! My grandma taught me to crochet when I was a little girl. I remember sitting with her and trying to crochet, and listening to her stories. Thank you for the memory. Wendy

Dori, I love the fact that you didn’t like the “plain old square” and added your own scalloped border. Lovely! I will be trying your pattern soon.
I have been making a really simple crocheted potholder for years that you might like to compliment your dishcloths. Here’s the link:

http://www.mielkesfiberarts.com/diagonal-hotpad

I usually use more than one color yarn to make it pop and I use Sugar ‘n Cream for them also. They wear like iron and wash up well. Hope you give them a try.

Bonnie

Thank you so much for sharing. Looks like you’ve learned to crochet beautifully.

I have not used them but I know a lot of people who do and love them. congrats on teaching yourself to crochet!! I used to a long time ago but haven’t not done so in years.

I’m anxious to see if I can learn to make these! I love these dishcloths…I try to find them every year at the bazaar’s in my hometown. By the end of the year, I’ve worn them out! Thanks for sharing the pattern. I enjoy your blog!

I learned to crochet the basic stitch when I was about twelve but that is all. I put down my needle and got about being a teenager. When my son was born, I was determined to make him a blanket. I was overwhelmed! So I decided that a little sweater would work better. I made one but the stitches were so tight that he couldn’t wear it. By accident, it got into the laundry basket. When I pulled it out of the dryer, it was the size of a Barbie sweater. My daughter who came next, played with that sweater for years with her dolls. I never did another stitch that didn’t end in disaster. I would love them! Thanks!

Oh, bless you, Dori! I am encouraged by this post! My favorite dishcloth is a crocheted one my aunt made, but I have been wanting to learn to crochet and make some dishcloths myself, plus other things! We have to remember that just because our mother or grandmother didn’t teach us these things, we CAN learn for ourselves, and it’s never too late to learn! Thank you!

This is for me, maybe. Since my philosophy is much like yours I tried learning to knit at a craft group that met at my local library. The first project was a cotton dishcloth. Well either there were too many enthusiasts there or I’m not very dexterous. It was an horrible experience.
I really want a couple of cotton dishcloths. The relative who used to keep me supplied is no longer available. You may feel I should have asked her to teach me when she was available, but at the time I wanted her to feel a vital part of my life.
So I promise to get back to learning. This time I’ll try crochet.

Hi, I just found your magazine within the last few months & joined your email. I enjoy reading your blog full of info. I’m an older lady & live in a fairly large city. I did start out living in the country. I crochet but not like I use to. My mother and I are left handed, so she taught me. It’s not fancy but nice. I think your dishcloths are pretty in design & color.

Hi Dori….I’m inspired that you are learning a new skill!! Maybe, just maybe, I can learn too!! As I come upon my retirement I’m looking for something new to try. I’m not a television watcher and I can only read so many books in a given week before my eyes glaze over :-). Keep inspiring me to get out of my comfort zone! Happy autumn!!

Those dishcloths are adorable. I would love to win them. Also, I am like you, even when I am relaxing I feel like I need to be doing something with my hands.

I have tried to knit and crochet several times. I am left-handed so I have a difficult time following patterns. You have inspired me to try again. You dish clothes look really pretty, so I am going to download your pattern and try again. Thanks.

I think these dish towels are so pretty. Thanks for the generous giveaway.
Marion

What a wonderful post, Dori. I have always wanted to learn how to crochet and your pattern looks great. I am going to try my hand at them…thank you.
My Aunt Helen used to make these for me and I really miss them as they were so useful. I can totally relate to Rosetta’s attraction to them. When my girls were young, they loved it when Aunt Helen gave me a new set and used to use them for doll blankets and tea parties. A few of mine were always in the toy box, too!

Hi Dori! I think I need to learn how to crochet these dishcloths, and since I knit only in squares and rectangles, they are right up my alley! I would love to win a dishcloth, but if I don’t I will learn how to make one! I love the colors you chose!

What lovely dish cloths!
I never was very good with a needle, but my bad wrists and hands have retired me from crocheting… Very pretty, though! (I will pass your beautiful pattern on to my niece). Thank you!

I love your crocheted dish cloths. Beautiful colors and I would love one or two of my own. I don’t crochet and miss having homemade ones like I’ve had in the past. All the best to you as you enjoy some down time.
Sherri

Dori, I really love your posts and I, too, am not a sitter, so I understand the need to make sitting time productive! I’m a recently retired teacher and one of my colleagues would buy yarn for her Mom, who has Alzheimer’s, and her Mom would knit dish clothes that were then donated to certain causes. This gave pleasure to many people as well as my friend and her Mom. Thank you for such constant inspiration and love of family!

Great job! Last fall, I took a class at a local church called ‘Arm Knitting’. Nope! I don’t knit OR crochet…I got so confused and mixed up, I think that my eyes were really crossed by the time I left! I came home and watched a YouTube video and started and stopped it MANY times. TaaaaDaaaa! I know know how to make an eternity scarf. I am now collecting simple projects involving crochet! Who knows?!? I might even try to make a dish cloth 🙂

Hi Dori, I am like you(were), I can’t crochet either. My sister is good at all that but I don’t seem to have that gift. I would love to win some of your dishcloths.
….an who knows…maybe I’ll check out YouTube and see if I can’t learn the craft too.
Just because I’m 60 doesn’t mean ALL the gray-matter is dead. Right?lol
Thanks for your encouragement Dori!

Love this post, those green fields of chilies are beautiful! We sometimes get them here, our supermarket roasts them on a big grill in the parking lot.

I would love a tasty, basic recipe for pork green chile that you eat with tortillas. A friend of mine used to make it and I forgot the recipe.

Oh Please….the recipe for Green Chile Enchiladas!!!!

I grew up eating Hatch green chiles before they were famous. Now they are everywhere. We eat the in everything. I find that the flavor gets hotter the longer you leave them in the freezer.

Dori, my husband and I returned recently from visiting New Mexico for the first time. Neither of us had ever been there, but we had seen photos of such amazing beauty. We spent the week going from one state/national park to another and enjoyed seeing so much diversity. What a beautiful and different landscape!! I think two of my favorite places were White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns. Amazing!! The green chili in lots of foods was new to me. It was way hotter than what I am used to. LOL!! But I am sure a person gets use to the heat and then looks forward to having it in recipes.

Ditto! About the only reason I miss Albuquerque is the food and the weather. If I miss NM at all it’s during the fall when the chiles are being roasted everywhere, and Christmas time when there are luminarias everywhere. We were there almost 8 years, and I learned to love green chile along with way too many other great New Mexican dishes, not to be confused with Mexican food for those who have never lived in NM. Even though we moved back to TN in 1995, we still tend to cook a lot of New Mexican cuisine. I find that interesting since I grew up in the south on beans, taters, and cornbread. I think including recipes in your posts is a wonderful idea! I vote YES!

It is so much fun. All the people rambling around. The excitement of the bidding. I don’t know where you live. In Texas there is always a big barbecue.

Thanks for the trip to the auction house. I could almost taste the hamburgers and smell the hay. You’re a great writer!

I enjoyed this story very much although I don’t know the first thing about cows. They sure are sweet looking. I cry when I sing the National anthem, too. Thanks for sharing your auction story.

Thanks for sharing this with us, Dori! I’ve never been to an auction, but fear I would want to bid on every animal (this is how I feel at the animal shelter, too). Those Herefords are smaller than I imagined (not a bad thing, I always imagine beef cattle to be giant for some reason). What beautiful animals! I love how you captured her sweet eye in the first photo. There aren’t many live animal auctions up here, but I’ll have to find one when I’m “outside” sometime–you’ve inspired me!

It is so much fun. All the people rambling around. The excitement of the bidding. I don’t know where you live. In Texas there is always a big barbecue.

Thanks for the trip to the auction house. I could almost taste the hamburgers and smell the hay. You’re a great writer!

I enjoyed this story very much although I don’t know the first thing about cows. They sure are sweet looking. I cry when I sing the National anthem, too. Thanks for sharing your auction story.

So fun, Dori! You sure do have a lot of green grass to mow… but what a neat thing that you can do it yourself! Farmgirl Alone Time… Ha!
Hugs,
Deb, the beach farmgirl

What a fun time you just gave me – ah yes we farm girls do a lot of problem solving on the mower. I don’t do riding mowers any more – moved to the burbs/small lot and actually where I live real grass is getting to be a thing of the past – the cost of watering is way high – so I have artificial turf – no mowing at all – so to do my problem solving I sit in my swing. Still have plenty of flower gardening to get into God’s earth and that does the ole farm girl good. Thanks for sharing and keep the tires on the ground. God bless.

I love your explanation about green grass and mowing! I have an Allis Chalmers mower and don’t mow as much as you do, but mowing day is the best. We have a 1 acre yard around the house and barn, with lots of things to mow around. Once that is done it’s my favorite place to be-out in the back 40 (really only 10), around the hay field, a picnic area right before the woods, around the pasture. By the time I am done everything is right in the world. Love your posts!!

Very nice mowing there, Dori. I like to mow too although my grass is on a small suburban block. It’s so calming just pushing and pulling with the sun on my face and the wind in my hair. I’d love a bigger yard, but will have to just enjoy what I have for the time being. Who knows what our Good Lord has for me in the future.

I took over my Dad’s cow/calf operation after his passing 7 years ago. Brush-hogging on the tractor was new to me, after a year or so of hiring some-one to do it I took it on. I had mowed my Dad’s rental properties for years, so to get over my phobia of power tools, I just called brush-hogging with the tractor; mowing. I probably cut the pasture too short that first year, but now have the hang of it. I too have lots of time to solve the world’s problems while circling the pasture!

Dori,
This is a very “epic”* idea! We live near a copy store and I think I’ll take a couple there and have them enlarged. This is one of the more unique ideas I’ve seen. I love your posts and hopefully the hubby gave you a big hug for his gift.
Living-in-the city-but-my-heart-is-in-the-country,
Farmgirl-at-heart,
Pat

(*The first word that popped into my mind was “cooool” but I realize that is pretty old, lol)

Get out! Dori, these projects are farm-tastic! I adore each one… I’ve always loved vintage botanical illustrations( surprise). I’m going on a hunt, right this second…
Thank you for the inspiration!
Deb

Super great job on the patent printing – I do some on greeting and gift cards, don’t have any on hand right now to do a picture but sure like your ideas. Thanks for sharing.
God bless.

My dear Dori, I share your love for children’s books. My favorite children’s book would be “How Fletcher Was Hatched” by Wende & Harry Devlin. When ours four were little ones reading was a favorite pastime. When they were young I spent many years as the local “story hour lady” at our library! They are all in their thirties and all still avid readers. Most of my grands are delighted with the world of books also. This look like a delightful book that my youngest grabs would thoroughly enjoy!!

To begin my day reading about children and books is beyond delightful! Growing up with books as constant companions, as well as a seemingly endless number of adults who enjoyed reading to me until I could read by myself, are focal points in my life that I would never change. Grandma’s house was a treasure trove of old books with exquisite illustrations that stimulated my imagination and took me places I could only dream about.

My boys’ favorite book was Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown. The boys are 23 and 26, yet I still have the book memorized, having read it to them so many times. (Sometimes when they come home to visit, we still snuggle and read it.) The illustrations are lovely and the soft, lilting rhythm of the prose is a nice way to learn about a day on the farm with many animals, then end on a sleepy note. A great tuck-in book!

My personal favorite is Charlotte’s Web. I loved reading about all the animals on the farm and their adventures.

The Dick and Jane books, great starter books. But would love to get Mary Jane’s book and add it to the collection.

My favorite book is Black Beauty. I had the book I read as a kid in my classroom. When I packed it to move classrooms (again) my old Betsy McCall naper doll. I dragged that book and paper doll all over.

My favorite stories are those in the Bible that show God’s love to us.
But they are not stories they are real for God’s love surpasses all love ❤️

I used to read “I’ll Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch to my son during a very difficult time in my life. I was going through a divorce. I didn’t realize how much the book impacted him until I received a Mother’s Day card a few years ago and on the inside of the card he quoted some lines from the book…I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, As long as I’m living, My baby you’ll be. Needless to say I was a mushy mess after that 🙂 I still have the book and I put the card inside it. I’ll keep it forever.

That is a darling book! Mary Jane sent one to April and I had a chance to read it. I love it too. But we know what talent comes from Mary Jane and Meg!

Wow, that’s a tough call as there are so many wonderful children’s books. However, Dr. Suess is great with his twisty, fun rhymes and quirky illustrations. His ABC book is my personal favorite and I read it frequently to my 5 yr. old granddaughter.

My favorite children’s book is “The Bobbsey Twins Series. It is for obvious reasons. I am a twin too. Therefore I could relate to the stories concernig the sets of twins!
Marion

Hi Dori, this is a great post! I, too, kept my girl’s books and my grandchildren have enjoyed reading them. There are 2 shelves in our bookcase with just their books, now available for any child who comes to visit. My husband was an English teacher, retiring with 30 years, so books have always been an important part of our life.
My personal favorite children’s books are the Little House series by Laura Ingles Wilder. I grew up reading them; we would read a chapter before bedtime when my girls were young and the grandkids have read them also. I recently purchased the annotated autobiography, Pioneer Girl, by Laura Ingles Wilder, for my winter project!

The Velveteen Rabbit was a favorite but, would read everything, even the cereal box.

My favorite children’s book was (and is) Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I was first introduced to it in fifth grade and in turn introduced my own children and my special education students. I look forward to introducing MOO-N Over Main Street Metropolis if I win your copy. Thank for this opportunity to share one of my favorite childhood memories.

Your grand girls are gorgeous, Dori. I was brought up to love books too. I’m working on bringing that. Love to my kids too. Beautiful way to live :). Have a fabulous weekend Dori.

What a sweet post! Your grand-girls are adorable. There is no substitute for learning to read and enjoying the pleasures of books – a lifelong gift. A women’s service organization to which I belong just gave away over 500 books to children at the community picnic hosted by our local homeless shelter. The looks of joy on the children’s and the adult faces were indescribable. Thank you for sharing this wonderful “book” story and reminding us of the gifts associated with reading and sharing.

MaryJane’s new children’s book is just the cutest ever! I wish I had some little ones to share it with as well. Your grandkids on the porch bed remind me of long ago when my girls would pile in the bed at night, especially in the summer months, when we read the Misty of Chincoteague series together. We read lots of chapter books in the summer months when there was plenty of unrushed reading time. They loved animals and I know they would have loved MaryJane’s book.

Hi Dori –
First of all how adorable are those 2 girls! My favorite book (which there are 2 as I could not decide on just one) is Little House on the Prairie or Little Women. Both great books! As for my daughter who is now 14 we just loved reading the “Pigeon” series when she was little, and our favorite was “Don’t let the Pigeon Stay Up Late” by Mo Williams. A great before bed book with all the great sounds to recreate as you a reading! Very funny and made us smile before we went to bed! Thanks for this article!
Diane

We had so many favorites when my three girls were growing up but my favorite to read was the Narnia series. My youngest daughter home schooled her two daughters for three years and their home was like walking into a library. Unfortunately my daughter has had to start to work outside of the home and the grands have to go back to public school. But books are still so special to them and I am sure they would love this book along with their two little brothers.

Dori, I enjoy reading your posts and seeing photos of your farm and family. I am going to date myself but my favorite story when I was a young girl was Heidi by Johanna Spyri. A story about a young girl in the care of her grandfather and takes place in the Swiss Alps. My great-grandmother read this book to my sisters and me when we were young and I loved the story as deeply as I loved my great-grandmother. Whenever I think of one I recall the other.

caroline and her kettle named Maude…

My favorite books were The Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew. I loved reading to my children when they were growing up and now I love reading to the grandchildren. My greatest joy is seeing my grandkids walking around with a book in their face. Just like some on my children. I still don’t leave the house without something to read, just in case I have a minute or two to read.

My favorite books as a child were Laura Ingalls Wilder series “little house in the big woods my fav.

Pretend Your A Cat is a great read for toddlers. They can act out each animal as you read to them. The Jolly Postman…little letters, notes are tucked in envelopes. I have many more, but these just popped into my mind because they are a little bit different. Love your posts. Jann

My daughters love Laura Ingalls Wilders’ Little House on the Prairie series. They enjoy reading about a different time in history. We’ve read them over and over!

Dori, you are so inspiring! I can’t stand the heat, so this gives me a better way of canning. Outside the heat doesn’t collect in the house as you mentioned. I do a bit of dehydrating, and fortunately once it is set up all I have to do is rotate the shelves periodically. No heat :0)
Our Master Sgt., Marine Corps daughter doesn’t have the time yet to do any canning, but she does a lot of dehydrating. She will be able to retire with 20 years in, next yr. and will only be 37. She looks forward to having the time to do some preserving at that time.

Thank you so so much for this tremendous idea! I am in a wheelchair now and canning my garden haul has been almost impossible. With a few adjustments, this idea is going to be perfect for me. Thank you for the huge impact to my life. I just read this to my husband and he is already working the set up out for me!

Not to mention that the outdoor “canning” (I’m from VA) keeps from heating up your house, and that is more eco-friendly as well. I did my fair share of indoor canning in younger kids-at-home days and now miss the good, home canned veggies and knowing that they were more healthy. Maybe the back porch canning is a take-off of olden days when they had “summer kitchens”, although I think that was as much to prevent burning down the entire house if you had an “accident”! The “good old days”? Love your blogs.

Great idea. My husband set up our canning kitchen on our screened in porch. Wouldn’t want to do it anywhere else. We’e done this the last couple of years.

Ok, Dori, this just may get me back into canning. I too do not like be confined inside. I love being on the back porch, so hmmmmm, think I will give it a try. Thanks for sharing a great idea and wonderful post. Be Blessed. (we say puttin up as well back home in La.) Neta

You have a wonderful setup. I would love a back porch to do that type of work. I have a small porch and would probably do. I do can inside and make jelly and it does get hot but I love canning. I also dehydrate a lot and I use my garage to do it especially onions that really stink up the house. I can’t wait till I retire in a few years and I want to can more for sure. Great idea about those camp burners. I have to try that. Also the beautiful enamel ware is awesome. I love vintage items. Thanks again!!

I love canning on my porch also. I have a three burner stove and use it for more than just canning in the summer. I cook on my wood cook stove in the winter inside and on the porch on my camp stove in the summer. There is 12 of us, so lots of canning and cooking.
Sharon

Dori; My husband and I recently moved into our new home in outside of Union, West Virginia and it is situated on 3.9 acres. The previous owner planted a huge garden and we get to reap the rewards. I am new to gardening and canning so all I know I have learned from reading. I just canned my first tomatoes and made juice out of them. I have a camp stove like yours except it is a three burner and I bought it through Sportsman’s Guide catalogue. I read in the canning book not to use it because of the high BTU’s, but I think I will try it on a lower setting like you said. Also I have a covered breezeway that I think will make a great canning area once I get everything out of it from the move. Do you have any suggestions for “putting up” zucchini squash. I have more than I know what to do with. I hope to have my “summer kitchen” ready for next year. Thanks