At last count, we have nine newborn calves. We’re just entering calving season and pretty soon, there will be baby beefs snuggled under every sagebrush at the ranch. When we ride to check on the mother cows and their babies, the latter can be hard to find. Just yesterday, I had a heck of a time finding a new calf here at home where we keep the first-calf heifers. But, while I was looking for the little dickens, I did find something else … a treasure!
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Curse not the month of bluster and tumbling bonnets, for it takes a blast of many trumpets to loosen winter’s claws of ice. Ancient Jews held a festival in March in which trumpets owned the air. A jubilant chorus of brass marked the end of a season and the beginning of a new one. Indeed, there is something victorious sounding in the blowing of a horn!
Nicole Christensen says: Hi Shery,
I’m not big on windy days, either. Here in Connecticut, a big wind could mean serious injury from a big snapped tree branch.
I love the way you displayed your vintage postcard collection – very clever.
By the way, how is your little dog – the one the deer injured a few posts back?
Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole (Suburban Farmgirl Blogger)
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Hi Nicole! Thank you :o) My little Dotty is just fine…she has a scar, but the injuray area is now haired over. She’s wised up and decided that barking at the deer is only safe up on the deck. Hugs back at ya. shery
Nancy says: I Love your Featherweight! I have one that looks like it. The Most Wonderful "Romantical" 🙂 gift my sweet husband ever gave me, was finding one at an antique mall while he was driving home from a business trip. It was in the case and looking loved, but in Very Good Condition. He came home, went and bought wrapping paper and a card, and brought it around the corner to surprise me when I got home from work. I had been looking for one for quite a while, and it was an especially Wonderful Treat. I’m with you, sew ahead and back, that’s all I need. Thanks for the post.
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Nancy, To get such a gift from your husband is soooo sweet and thoughtful. I bet your little heart went bumpitybump instead of pitterpatter :o) shery
Jan says: We also have a WIND problem here in the lovely Spokane Valley (AKA Greenacres). Supposedly has something to do with the currents involved from the Rathdrum prairie sort of east of us. My dad even built walls around the swimming pool area so that that *!*#** wind wouldn’t bother him so much. Long after dad passed and we moved into my folks old home we still comment on the scarey nature of those wind currents. One beautiful summer day, my hubby and I went shopping. I had forgotten to put down my umbrella covering the table in the corner of the HIGH walls out back. We found the umbrella about 150 feet away in my mom’s backyard next door. All this and on a perfectly quiet beautiful summer day! It always makes me laugh to say my dad’s quote: "This wind won’t blow in my whiskers much longer!".
Love your little sewing machine and your blue box. After you paint and sand, what type of product do use as a glaze and how do you apply it? The ‘glazing’ part of this technique has me a little confused (I’ll just blame it on the WIND..) I read the article that you wrote regarding the couple that repurposed furniture in MJF magazine. Just haven’t used a glaze before…I have two pieces to work on in my sunporch.
Happy spring!
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Hi Jan, I just used Old English scratch cover to darken the box, rubbed off the excess, let it dry and then prayed it with Deft spray varnish – satin or semi-gloss. shery
Diann says: Shery,
I laughed out loud with your "fence episode". Not laughin’ at you but with you. I live in a plains area where the wind is pretty consistent. Come March, it kicks up a notch, but all that darn work outside still has to be done. I am reminded of chasing a feed bucket clean across the pasture and trust me I was mighty thankful no one was close to hear what I was saying as I stomped after it! Wonderful spring days to you and yours!
Colleen says: I’m with you, Shery. HATE the wind. I live in "Simi Valley", which is a Chumash Indian word for "windy". Yep, hate it.
Loved the "furry accordian" cat metaphor, sounds about right!
This "winter" in Southern Cal I’ve had flowers outside my window all season- we haven’t had much of a winter. But I lived in the midwest for 10 years and I sympathize with everyone who is having spring fever right about now.
Hope your winds let up and the cats can go out!
Sure enjoy your blog. Thanks so much…
cg
Yes, the seed catalogs are worn out and I’ve already got some of the seeds – love Heirloom Seeds. Starting seeds is on my list for this weekend. I’m also working on finishing a playhouse/shade house we started building last year – time to get it painted and finished. Big veggie garden plans this year. My dogs won’t tolerate chicks – my mom raises those! 🙂
Terry says: Hey there Shery girl, pull up those big girl panties and blow caution to the wind!! You know I love ya 🙂
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My big girl panties are bigger’n you remember ’em! ;o) shery
Marcia says: Shery,
Living in mid Florida I envy what you and others are experiencing. Must admit also that the wind we have been having just enhances the "laundry on the line" freshness I love.
You have whett my desire to search for my basic sewing machine, and perhaps make that quilt from favorite old clothing!
Thank you
Hi Sherry,
I love reading your articles!!! I so love the photos you use also. Like you I don’t like the wind that much either. It chaps my face, makes working outside so much harder than it has to be. Everywhere I live is out in the open just enough to be constantly windy…..
Dolly
Debbie says: Hi Shery!
Oh, I just love your posts! You always take me someplace I like to be, but, like you I prefer a place minus the wind.
I remember March being our windy month in Nevada too. Now that I think about it, August and September could be windy as well…Here on the shorelnes, the wind is fierce and feared especially in October during hurricane season. These last few days have been like late spring with record high’s in the 70’s three days in a row…However, I understand its’ about to come to an end..we might be back in the low 40’s by Monday. I HAVE worn out my seed catalogs and purchased the first cut flower seeds for the season. I’ve vacillated between a green house and a hoop house for extending my growing season. But the best part of these last few days is that my Backyard Flower Farm is underway! Two 4×12 raised beds are completed ( only 6 more to go )! I am more than excited about this new farmgirl adventure! My hubby and son were in hysterics’ listening to me babble on about how wonderful it’s going to be while they worked away.
We share another thing in common. I too am a bit of a technophobe. I don’t want or need most of what is offered today in the world of electronics and I adore your sewing machine. What could be better than that? Sorry about that bump on your head… the best thing to do on a day like that is try again tomorrow! Some days it’s just not worth it to force the issue what ever it is! LOL
Love ya sister! Hold on to your hat ( visor )
xo Deb
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Thanks D-Boz! Can’t wait to see your garden project later on when you have plants coming up. I opted out of the Govt greenhouse option as it is a hoop-house and I had severe doubts as to the wind-hardiness of it. shery
Lacey says: Hey Shery!! Another amazing write up, I totally feel your pain when it comes to WIND, I live in Saskatchewan, Canada where the weather changes every time you blink!! This past Monday we had a huge storm with freezing rain and up to 90km/Hr wind, Tuesday and Wednesday were well above 0 degrees and this morning the snow started and it has been for about 12 hours now!! Calving is proving to be a bit of a challenge as well, today we lost a set of twins because the mama took off to a far corner of the pasture and with a white out blizzard we didn’t know she was there, when we found her it was too late 🙁 Not sure when you guys calve there but GOOD LUCK with it!! :). P.S Glad to hear your little pup is doing better!! Lacey
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Hi Lacey, Awww, sorry about your losses. I hate that and we, too, have had spring squalls that take a toll in that regard. I loathe the waiting game you play until you can go out and see if there is any damage control you can do…or just cound the losses :o( We don’t start calving until mid-April. The weather can still pose a threat, but you don’t get the long-term frigid temps. We don’t have barns at the ranch, so we HAVE to work with nature. There is no real profit in pushing time. Thanks for the well wishes…right back at ya girl. shery
Sometimes I think the wind is Mother Nature’s Puck–tweaking us humans who try to outwit her with gardens and fences and outdoor things. During the summer, though, it is Mother Nature’s balm, taking the sting out of the summer sun.
I love your sewing machine! It’s just occurred to me that I have a collection of old machines. Hmm.
Thank you for such a great start to my day!
Hang on to your hat!
Nancy
liveasavorylife.com
Suse says: I am still sewing on the sewing machine my father gave my mother as a wedding present back in 1954! Several years back my husband got me a brand-new machine with stitches galore, but the time-tested Singer 301A is my machine for anything from upholstery to mending, to quilting and clothing construction.
Always enjoy a visit to your corner of paradise out West. As a transplanted Indiana farm girl here in New Jersey who grew up with a horse and cows, I look forward to all of your posts and pictures of life out on the range. Thank you for sharing and I only wish I was a little closer to Wyoming so I could stop by and swap howdys with you!
Susem
cora jo says: Shery, you reminded me I have my Mom’s Feather Weight. Nice machine. Also have and use a treadle. Ok, also have a plane White and a fancy Janome…hmmm Well, I do sew a lot. My fav is the treadle. Go figure.
Spring sprung too early here and now is soooo cold. Daffodils were fooled. Hope the apple trees make it to apples in the fall. But, the seasons changing is a major reason we live here in the north, right?
Greetings farmgirls! Spring hasn’t sprung in our part of the country yet and I have a raging case of spring fever (an annual occurrence). I have pansies on the brain … among other things. This time of year, I always wonder if perhaps the greenhouses have any in stock yet. I should know better by now, but that doesn’t stop feverish visions. I’m afflicted with both spring fever and cabin fever, so, I’ve been trying to maintain a good mindset by doing a variety of indoor things. If you’re a feverish farmgirl too, c’mon in, have a spot of tea & sit a spell.
cora jo ciampi says: Shery, Yes, the re-do is an on-going, eternal (so it feels) project. We laid a "tile" (read that peel and stick) floor in the kitchen. Looks great. After reading comments left by other sisters last blog, I realize one of us needs to write a book about transforming trailers. Hmmm! Since we got snow here in the White Mountains of New Hampshire last night, I too am ever so ready for Spring. I saw my Daffodils were attempting to stick there little noses out of the dirt and I begged them to wait! sigh. Life is good, none the less. enjoy!
Hyacinths are in bloom here in Tennessee so I’ll take a nice whiff for you! they are the best. I always love your posts, keep up the great work!
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Thanks Denise! Just knowing that SOMEone is enjoying hyacinths makes me feel closer to spring. Shery
Carol says: What a great blog today! I absolutely love the baby shoe pincushions! Oh my, I can’t wait to see the other versions!
Your new quilts are lovely – plain and simple! You find great things and have wonderful taste. I thoroughly enjoyed everything you talked about today. I, too, cannot wait to finally see some color. Spring, in Pennsylvania, is right around the corner, I think. This morning I saw our neighbors daffodils and they are blooming! Yippie!
Whew! Decorating can be both tiring and invigorating! What a great find in your quilt!
It’s greening up here in Tennessee with a few tiny blossoms on the blueberries. I hope you see a little color soon!
Oh Shery,
I too find my self gravitating to warm sunny spots (like your hens do, lol!) and to bold colors,,, I am sooo over ‘white’ everywhere I look or go! Not to mention Cold!
I grow violets in my home because they bloom for me even in the dead of Winter…. I bring in potted geraniums & azaleas for the Winter, and mine have been blooming for the past 3 weeks! :>)
Hang in there, have fun & keep us informed as to the goings on at the Jespersen Ranchero ( & your wee trailer too!).
>^..^<
Howdy Shery!
I can tell by your post, you are in a fever alright…Spring is a time of awakening and I’d say you are bright eyed and bushy tailed! You are so talented with your sewing projects! Looking at all you do with needle and thread, ( and baby shoes ) makes me yearn for the hum of my machine purring along… but like you, so many other things are calling me right now! I just love your new/old quilts for decorating your newly designed spaces. Bright, cheery colors sure to ease next winters blahs! Your swan story brought a tear to my eye. You had patience and you found " the one "! Yay! You asked if there was something I had been yearning for that has found me. I’d say my china cabinet is right up there. But, there’s still something I pine away for! My very own HORSE! Someday!!!:) As always, I so enjoy your words, images and the way you live from your heart and so easily share it with us.
Much love,
Your Beachy Sister in the East!
Deb
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Some people are gifted with saying the nicest things…and you’re one of ’em. I’ll help you hold on to the dream of having your own hayburner. I know what it is to wait for that specific dream too. I began riding at age 3 and from then on I was in the saddle more than not until I was about 13. We moved due to Dad’s career and for many years afterward I waited … through my teen years and then the years of being a young adult unable to afford owning a horse. Eventually, the good Lord worked with the winds of change in my life and finally He was in a position to answer a threadbare heart-prayer. He does work in mysterious ways and bringing ‘the desires of your heart’ to fruition pleases Him. If it were not so, He wouldn’t have said so in His word. Hang on to your heart-prayer with both reins :o) Be assured, He hears. Love you my too far away kindred spirit farmgirl pal. Shery
Deb Esposito says: I too have been on the hunt for some pansies to sit on the windowsill and just smile! I guess we’ll have to wait a few more weeks 🙁
bonnie ellis says: Minnesota is having record warm weather (for winter). For St. Patrick’s Day they are predicting 60’s and 70s. Say Happy Birthday to your friend. Our 50th wedding anniversary is that day too. Everyone can celebrate with us. Green is the color of spring and I too am really needing it to be here. Easter colors are my favorites and that comes so early this year. To us 40 is warm and we can’t wait to be outside. Warm weather is coming soon. I don’t know if I can wait! Love your blogs sister farmgirl.
Jan says: Hi Sheri, What a great find you got with your quilts, they are really pretty! Are you going to hang them for decoration? Your babyshoe pinkeeps are adorable, you are sooo talented with your sewing!! You have a great eye for color and fabrics and putting things together!! I love the picture of your Ribbon, she is beautiful!! My golden boy isn’t very golden right now, he has been enjoying rolling in the mud!! The swan is very pretty, so glad that you were able to find just what you had been wanting. Well worth the wait. Sounds like your remodeling is coming along nicely, love that you chose barn red for your porch. That is one of my favorite colors too. Well, the crocus & hyacinths are blooming here in KS and my daffodils are up and getting nice big buds on them. With the warmer temps, hopefully they will bloom this next week. Yay! I am decorated for St Patty’s Day, all in Kelly Green – love that rich green color. I do have something on my bucket list that has been there for a long time and that is to have a few chickens….hopefuly someday. 🙂 Happy Spring to you Shery
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Jan, Thank you so much for the friendly feedback :o) Yes, the red patchwork quilt is hanging my hallway where the sun cannot reach it. I’m shamrock green with envy that your spring flowers are springing. Everything here is still fast asleep with no real thaw yet. I’ll help you hold onto your dream having some hens and fresh eggs to gather. I do love them so. shery
Jan says: Thank you! Thank you! I have always been saddened when I run across little worn baby shoes at estate sales. Now I know that I can re-purpose them and they will have a loving home. My mom saved my brother’s ‘PF CANBUS’ (that was what he called them – so cute – also know as PF Fliers canvas)shoes and also a couple of pairs of my baby slippers. Now I just have to do something with them!
My hubby just brought home a darling Singer sewing machine and it’s frame from a junk pile on a job site. He is making me a table for our dutch oven cooking (when you do it outside with charcoal )out of the frame. The sewing machine has the most wonderful green and orange patterns. I will be using it in my sun room as part of my green accents, perhaps. Sometimes I just can’t believe what people throw away!!!
I feel so blessed that I have came in contact with all of the MaryJane gang and their abilities to creatively re-purpose and re-use older treasures. Can’t wait for your pics of the finished projects!
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Jan, what a lucky goil you are. One woman’s junk is another woman’s treasure! shery
Terry Harp says: I so enjoy your posts. Your ideas inspire me and I just love your down to earth attitude. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us each month.
My husband and I began our own ‘flip this house’ project over a year ago. Needless to say, the flip hasn’t hasn’t happened yet. “Flip” is a cute, quick word. We need a different word for what we’re doing to transform our house. A slower word. But, it is going to happen. When you’ve lived in a place for awhile, there comes a time when not just one thing needs attention, but nearly everything you look at either needs to be freshened in some manner, replaced or repaired. We Are There. So, over the past year, I’ve been idea idea hunting and planning. C’mon in and let me bounce some ideas off of you. I’d sure appreciate it.
Wow! What great ideas. It sounds like you’ll nearly be building from scratch! It’s always fun to see house all those ideas coalesce into reality. You must post pictures of your progress!
Lacey says: Shery, Pinterest has also given me many great ideas….it’s so addicting! Right now we live on a small ranch that we are renting, and renting is alright, but can be a pain! We have been searching for our own ranch for over a year now…..and we are beginning to get impaitent as our rental is older and has many problems like flooding, broken taps and pipes and doors that will not stay shut! Anyway….I have been collecting my stash of "someday" items for over a year and I, like you can’t wait to put them out where they should be!! There is also NO GARDEN area here so I’ve been growing almost everything in pots which we store in the garage for the winter…what a pain it is to have to haul them back and forth all the time and my truck can’t wait to have a garage for the witer!! Thanks for another GREAT post, I can’t wait to see your end product!! Good Luck!! 🙂
Oh wow Shery, I love the pics you have pinned! I could live in any of those rooms! Especially love the top two kitchen pics. When we bought this property a few years ago I would not have picked this house at all. Hubs wanted this 10 acres all woods surrounding some really nice lawns and a couple of ponds also. But the house is a Modular. Brought in three pieces and set upon a basement. The previous owners tastes were not anything like ours. The cabinets and fixtures are low end and I have slowly been trying to make it ours. Some painting of cabinets in a bath and some in the kitchen. It is a lot of work but you will be so happy when you have made it over. The front of our house just has a deck like step up to the front door, I so want a porch…one day. Hubs is like your man, he wants to do it all himself so it goes slow. I think I need to let him have his pole barn first though because he built my hen house for me first. This past week he pulled up carpet squares from my work area "studio" in the the basement and has laid black and white stick down tiles. It has brightened my area up so much. I have been painting an old dresser to store some fabrics in and the man has also taken an old upright gun cabinet and added shelves that I am going to paint to store fat 1/4’s in. He built himself some beautiful new wall cabinets for his hunting rifles last year. I keep forgetting to share them on my blog. He is a self taught wood worker and does it for a hobby. Now plumbing, I do wish we would hire someone. My kitchen sink has had a leak every six months since we move in four years ago….. Looking forward to all your reveals as they get finished!
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Hi Brenda, Ya know one thing I learned when writing the furntiure refinishing article about Norma Ploog (in the current issue of MaryJanesFarm) is that making do for the common man was the norm <with furntiure>. A lot of coveted antiques today are piece-meal examples. I have one. Buying lumber was a luxury, so often a discarded piece was recycled piece by piece. Your gun cabinet turned into a quilters fabric shelf fits right into that idea. Norma is refinishing a really ratty old shelf – tall, shallow – just right for folded fabric too. It is structurally ok, but needs paint and she’s going to add a beadboard door to it. Your checkerboard floor sounds really cheery. My mama’s kitchen floor is similar – red and cream. Thanks for stopping by! shery
Joan says: Oh Shery, I thought I was a BUSY lady but wheweee you do have it going. There is nothing like projects to keep one ALIVE. Your ideas are smashingly wonderful – I can see them now – very good. And the green house – oh yes you must – it will be a great happening at your ranch – wish I was close enough to be an ‘elf’ for you. I too am in a PROJECT – 6 yrs. ago after having disabling back surgeries my sister and I moved from the suburb to the plains – albeit we do live in a housing area. Our other home was 50 yrs. old and this one is 6 – new/new/new. So for 6 yrs. we (mostly me – I’m the crazy one) have been trying to make our new home look/feel like our old home – with all our old family antiques/hand me downs, new old finds and much sewing, refinishing and still more to do but you have encouraged me to pick myself up and get busy so here’s a CHEER for you and your projects and can hardly wait to see them come to fruition. P.S. thanks for the pic’s – got some ideas from them.
Karin says: WOW!! I am so impressed. WE bought an old log (hand hewn) cabin 5 years ago. I have lived in it about 8 months total straight, other times it was visiting since I travel when I work. I loved your ideas. I have a terrible time trying to find soemthing that would work with the log walls. At first I thought it would be great but everywhere I look there is wood and logs. Being hand hewn there is nothing flat or level. This has inspired me to "try again". Now where do I start. I am finally getting a garden space (you would think with 200 acres I would at least have that. It has been cleared as of yesterday and they removed the old double decker outhouse that was someones idea of a joke. My husband sealed it off so no one would get on it and fall and that was as far as it got. (He travels also for work) I am finding that I can do just about anything (well almost). All I can say is THANK YOU… Keep us posted…
Oooooo, a log home. Now there is a dream. I do know from others I’ve met over the years that log wall interiors are a challenge in ways unique to log surfaces. I bet you’ll get it all figured out. A little encouragement goes a long way…and thank you for that. You hang in there too…it’ll be so worth it in the end. Thats what I keep looking at. Shery
Margaret Taffi says: Wow! I also live in a trailer or modular. I call it my cardboard house! I plan on painting and replace all that faux stuff bit by bit! My goal is to get another place with land. I moved to 1/3 acre after hubby died and left 13 acres. I have been un happy ever since! I will make this home a real home this spring! Thanks for the ideas and motivation! Good luck on your projects!
Terry wright says: Shery, as I read your blog, it occurred to me; ‘have you and Lynn ever thought about buying an old house somewhere and moving it to your place?’ It would be alot of work, but it might be more of what you want?! Home prices are good now, so maybe it could be profitable?
Hi Terry, Yes, we’d considered it, but we decided that it was more of a task than either of us were up for. Moving such a structure is a monumental undertaking and in our location, such a house would have to be moved from quite a distance. So, we just decided to ‘make do’ with what we have :o) Shery
Sandy says: Our entire married life of 40 years has been a looooong DIY project in one way or another! The computer engineer can also do anything and so we have never hired. Until last year. Our 35 year old DIY cabin at the lake had to be expanded to fit our growing family. It would have cost too much to fix everything and then add on so we rebuilt, hired the entire thing! Have exactly what we wanted. Inside is all pine and alder not stained, and dark wood floors. It is so nice to come here and have everything we ever wanted. At 66 years old we think we were too old to start over again from scratch.
I think you will love cabinets of two different colors. The red is so warm and folksy! I love old stuff remade into something new and useful. You are so inspirational and have so many great ideas. I look forward to seeing your work in progress.
Claudia says: Oh do I know what you mean. My house was built in 1875 and I love it, but it is my work in progress. I love pinterest too! I think Home is Home and I love making it warm and cozy! Love your blog!
Dear Claudia, WOW…1875 IS an old house. I bet it has so much character and charm. That is what I miss and hope to recreate in some fashion. Shery
Oh, wow, I LOVE all these ideas. You should do them all, when time permits, of course 🙂 🙂 Whatever you do in the kitchen, make sure the sink is one of those deep, old-fashioned porcelain sinks…that’s like one giant sink..nothing divided into two compartments, just the single large one. Those are cool, vintage chic and will make washing large, awkward objects so much easier 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
Michele says: Oooooh, ooooh, oooh. I told you we were sisters. I, too, live in a trailer after recently losing my condo to foreclosure. But, like you, I have decided that this sweet little place can be the farmgirl home I have always wanted. I want to put in a footed vintage tub in my bathroom and am working on putting lots of beadboard in the kitchen. I actually have that cute flowered bread box and almost bought the red phone at the antiques mall yesterday. And the tile backsplash, yep, doin’ that too.
Love your posts
bonnie ellis says: Sheri: Your house trailer sounds like the size of our house. We have lived here 48 years. We have it mostly as we want it but the thing that happened is the wonderful decor began to fill the house to overflowing. I have rid myself of many things and kept the best. I like it here. We have a pantry. We have no basement but the pantry is where it’s fun to decorate. My kitchen is white. This way, whatever colors you want will show up and be accents. My next project is to build a barn in my garden area. Not much room here either but I am determined. Good luck with your project. I know what it is like to live in a space while remodeling. The first project my husband tried I had plaster on the counter and in every crevice of the house. Of course he never covered up any where! Bonnie
Hi Bonnie! The barn-shed for your garden sounds great. I see on off in the distance here too, but with everthing else going on it is for sure a’ways off :o) Thanks for writing. shery
You have some great ideas! And I like that your plan to put them to work in your mobile home.
june says: Shery,
Rancher, electrician, they’re both the same. " NEVER hire anyone to do something when I can do that." The problem with that is the hired someone has a crew, we only have a crew of one or 2. So the list grows. Oh well, when it’s done it will be perfect! Plus the cheaper cost gives you more money to go farther down the list. Lower costs/more patience.
Your ideas and plans are wonderful, please keep us posted with more pictures. I love seeing your progress.
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Hi June! Thanks so much for the shot of encouragement!! You’re right too. When ‘admiration day’ comes (the day when you stand back and enjoy the end result), it will be great…..if we ever get there :o))))) Shery
Christine says: Great ideas! It will be beautiful when you’re done! Love the kitchen with the red cabinets! Keep thinking and dreaming on, and it will be done soon. Please post pictures as you get things done. Wishing you the best and God Bless.
Treese says: Sheri
You and I have a lot in common! We moved from a beautiful 5000 square foot Victorian home in another state to a small 3 bedroom modular home back in Colorado. We too thought of building a “dream home”, but are not sure we want to stay in this part of Colorado. So, every day I try to decide if we should improve this home or even bother because we may move. However, I find it depressing sometimes as it is a sad little house to me. We have put up a huge beautiful new barn and a huge hay barn, plus shelters for the horses, cattle and bucking bulls we raise. We built a beautiful heated chicken house I wouldn’t mind living in! LOL. I often say our critters live better than us!
We have had to store all are beautiful antiques including furniture in a storage which to me is like throwing money away every month.
I have always felt home is where you hang your hat, but I have never seemed to warm to this house, maybe because I have always thought of it as “temporary”. Good luck in your project. You are a creative person. I can ride, rope, shoot a gun better than most men, but the creative gene past me by. I can’t cook, sew, darn or do any of the artsy projects you and your friends do. I admire your talents. I am a pretty good oil painter of county scenes though.
Treese/Colorado Cowgirl
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Dear Treese, You’re absolutely right about the temporary notion. I’ve been living in this house for many years without having married it. I finally decided to make this space MINE and make it look that way. I wish I could blink and make it done!
If you get to where you can smoke a peacepipe with your home, I bet some sprucing up and all those lovely antiques would finally make your home your own. I think some of us girls are funny that way. Female animals are VERY fussy as to where they finally decide to make their ‘nest’ :o)
I would love to see your paintings. Hey, I’m only good at a fractional spec of all there is to do on this planet. We can’t do it all and I don’t rope either. I can dally to help Lynn with a sick cow or calf, but I just never friendly’d up to a rope. Shery
Deena says: Shery, Pintrest has been a great inspiration for me too. I have been living out of boxes waiting to move for 20 years. I had decided to get out of "box mode" and started making a "nest" out of what I have. A trip to WalMart for a few detail items and it is looking very homey. When my daughter’s friend walked into the new area I redecorated she said, "Wow, I feel like I could just come in her and sit down." From a 17 year old it just doesn’t get much better than that.
Thanks for the reinforcement and I look forward to more pictures.
I love all the things you have incorporated on this project. The colors are wonderful! Great job! My husband and I are just about to embark on a journey of building our new house called an earthship, out of old and recycled material. I love using Pinerest too as a sounding board to add just the right things to my taste and recreating it. Thanks for sharing!
Marcie says: Hi Shery,
I love all your ideas and the photos too. Yes, you are right about making your house your home with personal touches and nice comfortable things.
This is our first home of our own. We are retired and have always rented and the last place we were in over a decade but managed so it wasn’t a rental but we did not own it so we really could not put down roots. Now, we can… we own this place. Our home is a mobile home and like you, we decided to make it look and feel like a house. We tore out the garden tub that was in the master bedroom and tiled the floor and made the room larger and re-did the master bath. We replaced all the cheap fixtures and re-tiled the second bathroom. We added a handmade wooden mantle to a wall in the living room and each room was painted a different color. We got rid of all the mobile home mirrors that were on the walls. We added a metal roof to make the place more secure.
We landscaped the entire yard with native plants that attracts a lot of birds and butterflies and added a seating area for us… all in all the place looks so different from what it did when we arrived three years ago. This place does not feel like a mobile home anymore but feels like our home now.
Yes, make your house your castle. I love all your ideas.
Denise says: Hi I too buy things and wait for the item to show me where it wants to live. People are like that too. We get our homes but we have to live in them sometimes for years before they show us what they want to look like. Our home use to belong to my parents. We bought it 8 yrs ago. It has taken me that long to feel like it’s my home to change.My mom lives next door and doesn’t like some of the new decorating ideas that are out there. So I hesitated changing anything. Now like you said things need work and attention. I’m going my way!. I have always loved the look of painted stairs, I’ve got them now. The old carpet became dangerous. Now I have nice paint and cushy step pads. Sweet and cheap. Gotta love carpet remenants. My mom did help me make new curtains for the dining area and valence for my bay window in the kitchen. We too have a long list and my husband won’t hire it done. There are days I wish it was all done, but I guess that’s how life works. You have to have a list to function. Enjoy your list, I’ll enjoy mine and we’ll both get beautiful time together with our husbands, sawdust, paint, sore muscles, etc..
Jan says: Hi Shery, Wow, what an undertaking you are doing! I love all of your ideas, especially the kitchen. Would love to see a picture of your mantle. I have been looking for one for years, just haven’t found the ‘right’ one in my price range yet. I love to decorate, but with a move facing me, soon, don’t know what I will have in store for the future. I am still working on trying to get that little place in the country that I wrote to you about a month or so ago. It is very small so I will really have to get creative with my decorating if I get it! Best of luck on getting the grant for the greenhouse. That would be awsome!! Will be looking forward to your progress reports. Thanks!
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Thank you Jan. When I saw the mantel, I thought about it for a month. I knew it was what I wanted … but …. it kept nagging me and it will fit into the scheme of things. So, even thought the room isn’t done yet, I went and bought it. I think it will had the OLD feel to the room as much asnything else. shery
Sherri Hazelton says: Looks awesome. I am currently living in a mobile home,also, with another large one just feet away. Torn about setting up the second one, needs a lot of work, but may be moving in three or four years. Wondering about the grant for the greenhouse. Could you give me some info on that since I live in the beautiful state of Wyoming also? Straight across, a bit more than half way to the other side. : )even if I couldn’t have it here, my parents have 10 acres on the other side of Basin where it could be set up. Thanks much. Another Sherri.
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Hi Shery, Go to your County Extension office and they can give you the specs. I don’t know that much about it yet, but the structure is a frame with a ‘tarp’ over it. I may opt out if it doesn’t look wind worthy. As you know, we get REAL wind in this state. shery
Becky says: thank you so much for this. I also live in a modular home and have wanted to do some redecorateing but didn’t think it possible for such a home. You have given me inspiration and the desire to do something.
Love your ideas and think it would be a good idea for me to make a trip to Idaho also.
Thanks
Reba says: Hey Shery,
In 2010 I painted my kitchen cabinets cherry red on the bottom, and left the top white (they were all white). Most everyone thought I was crazy then! At age 55, I thought, why not??? Since then I have enjoyed my kitchen so much!! It is so bright and cheer-y. My house was built in 1973, a tri-level, look-alike to many in the neighborhood. But now, my neighbors, friends, and family are always looking to see what is "new" and interesting. I have found that the colors and style that usually catches your eye are what you should use. I was surprised at how it all came together. I have had so much fun with my home, even while I’m waiting for my "dream" home. I have a sign on my cabinet that says "Home is where your story begins." That is so true!!
cora jo says: Shery, Welcome to "trailerhood". We also bought an old mobile…1978 model. Paint goes a long way, so does redoing. We added a room where the screened porch was…my sewing room. I love it here. We have nearly 2 acres on the river so our back yard is huge and private. Thanks for all the ideas, you really pick me up when I need it most!
Lilli says: Hi, Shery…
I am going to retire to a 30-year old modular (it’s paid for!) and have been contemplating many re-decorating tasks. I like the look of an "old" house too. Many times I have longed to be able to find a decorating book or magazine that would address the needs of those of us living in mobile homes…but to no avail. If anyone else has seen one, let me know. I am not "handy" or especially creative, so I usually have to see someone else’s ideas before making them my own. Sooo, when you are done with this project, how about publishing a picture diary of your journey? (Don’t forget to include how to paint mobile home paneling!)
And by the way, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your blog. You are the bright spot in LOTS of my days!!
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Hi Lilli! You made MY day Lilli…with your kind words of affirmation.
I’ve seen a couple articles in magazines about mobole home make-overs – interiors. Only two. You’re right, there is precious little out there that would offer good tutoring on the subject of specific helps. Mobiles homes do pose challenges not seen in stick-built home…well, in the general sense. And, furthermore, there are a lot of people who live in them. A LOT. One could argue that what works in the way of ‘re-do’ in a ‘real’ house applies in a mobile. Well, anyone who says that hasn’t lived in one. Granted, some of it is true, but I know that so much of my discouragement happens when I stand back and look at something nice that I’ve done and the ‘it’ looks nice but ‘it’ is in a ‘trailer house’ room and looks it. Many folks don’t care. For those of us that do, the challenge makes us wrinkle our nose often. In my worst mood, I once said to my husband, "Dressing up a trailer is like polishing a terd". ;o) I was so aggravated with the cheap walls and FAUX wood trim…emphasis on cheap…as in crap. There, I said it. But, I’ve since combed the hair down on my neck and have simply committed myself to making changes that will make me smile. I will take photos and share of them, of course! Thank you for the vote of confidence. Shery
Barbara says: Hi Shery,
Glad to know there is another 50 something remodeler of manufactured housing. We are enjoying making our new one even better on our 5 acres of prime California desert. My favorite room so far is the Victorian Library/one room school house living room. Will enjoy watching your progress. Maybe we can swap some ideas, too. I’ve been trying to convince my husband that a ranch in Wyoming would be even better than this place in So.Cal
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The winters here keep the cattle population larger than the human population. From May until November it is God’s Country!! But, the winter…well, it sure ain’t for weather sissies and I AM one. I’m like a cooped up housecat that pokes her nose out the door into the frigid breeze and/or driving snow and decides cooped up is not so bad after all. Winter is no friend of mine anymore. BahHumbug ;~[ shery
“A good heart is better than all the heads in the world.” ~ Edward Bulwer Lytton
I really did try to write about something other than “lovey-dovey” (what with Valentine’s Day right around the corner), but the 1965 hit song by Jackie DeShannon was right. It was right back then and acutely true today … “What the world needs now is love … lovesweet love.”
Love your hearts. Feel so bad for your little terrier. Cut n Heal works wonders for healing wounds like this. A vet used it on one of my horses years ago that had a wide open gash in her chest when she went through a wire fence. In a couple days you couldn’t even hardly tell. I love your blog, makes me dream of younger years.
bonnie ellis says: Shery: What a delightful blog. Your hearts are beautiful. A new horse is fantastic. Almost better than the 50th wedding we have coming March 17. Congratulations on your new pet (I mean that literally). Happy trails. Bonnie
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Thanks Bonnie…and congrats on 50 years of marriage. Young people need to see more of that!! Have fun on your anniversary. That is a BIG milestone that many of us will never reach. shery
Jan says: Hi Shery, Love your herd of hearts, beautiful!! You are a very talented lady.
Oh, your poor doggie!! What a terrible thing to happen, especially to an older pooch. So glad to hear that she is healing and getting along OK. My corgi is my constant companion. I know that love you are talking about.
Congratulations on your new horse, Apple (love the name). Can’t wait to see pictures. Like you I have a love of horses in my blood and heart. My Dad told me that soon after I had learned to walk, I went right up to the horses at a place called Joyland, wasn’t afraid at all, and wanted to ride them over and over. After almost 40 years, I now have two horses! Yeah!! 🙂
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Yep, Jan…I know your ‘affliction’ well and we don’t want the cure !! :o)
shery
Lots of good thoughts and memories here. I enjoyed your words and related to the memories of when you were a little girl and Valentines. I enjoyed hearing about your new horse and your sweet little dog…hope she is doing better. The Valentine hearts that you made are beautiful and inspiring. Thanks for being open and friendly, sharing your thoughts and heart. Have a cozy Valentine’s Day!
Right back at you Waynetta. Thank you for your kind comments. You made my heart smile … and then it worked its way out to my face ;o) shery
Jan says: Shery,
Again this was a wonderful post. I always look forward to them. BTW thanks for the songs and poems.
Happy Valentines Day to You!!
I hope your dog Dotty has a speedy recovery!!! She looks like a true trooper in the picture. I guess even old dear Deer have their days!
Liz Syverson says: Your writing validates the lifestyle of so many of us, thank you. I’m going to go look at my scraps and hang a homemade heart on all the horses stalls. I sure hope that good little terrier heals up. Older dogs are so wise and kind; they are to be cherished.
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Dear Liz, What a thoughtful response…….thank you so very much.
shery
Treese says: Thank you for the early Valentine! The hearts are very nice. I never got handy with a needle and thread, but like the end product.
Hope, your little terrier heals up as good as new. The cut looks painful, but she has trust in her eyes. So, let’s hope she will be 100% soon.
I too was a girl who grew up and stayed mad for horses. I have had a horse since the day I was born (that was a few years back!) and still have 28 head of them. My old war horse is 26 this year and slowing down a bit, but still as beautiful as the day he was born.
Treese/Colorado Cowgirl
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Well, Treese, you’re a girl who has chores! I know what having that many horses requires!! 20+ head of horses is a 4 letter word: WORK. :o) Buuut, when you love something, it is love-work. Thank you EVERYONE on Dotty’s behalf for the well-wishes! shery
I am so happy your dog is doing OK! I love your posts and always pick them from all the sisters to read first and all of it!
Smiles, Cyndi
such fun reading. It reminded me that it has been way too long since I have done Valentines. With 6 kids there were a lot of them. Glad to hear they are still doing it somewhere. Happy Trails to you and yours!!!
meredith (hereford girl) says: Shery, Thanks once again for being such a gift! Your writing is amazing and always touches my heart. I am so glad to know little Dotty is ok- Vetericyn is an amazing product and she will be healed in no time!
A few years back our Jack Russell (Buzz) took an very unusual trip to the neighbors and found their Doberman very unhappy at his presence. Buzz had never, in 14 years, left home, and how he got back is a mystery- his front end and back end were only attached by his spinal cord. 600 stitches and one very talented vet later, he was back in one piece and lived another two years to a ripe old 16. SO I am sure Dotty will be fine! I know how heart wrenching an experience like that is, and how worrisome. Love is a wonderful thing! I love your herd of hearts and plan to try a few myself- thanks for the inspiration! Happy Valentines Day!
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HoleyMoley, 600 stitches on a little dog?! Sounds like he was held together by thread. WOW. Jack Russells are as tough as Blue Heelers. shery
meredith (hereford girl) says: Shery, Thanks once again for being such a gift! Your writing is amazing and always touches my heart. I am so glad to know little Dotty is ok- Vetericyn is an amazing product and she will be healed in no time!
A few years back our Jack Russell (Buzz) took an very unusual trip to the neighbors and found their Doberman very unhappy at his presence. Buzz had never, in 14 years, left home, and how he got back is a mystery- his front end and back end were only attached by his spinal cord. 600 stitches and one very talented vet later, he was back in one piece and lived another two years to a ripe old 16. SO I am sure Dotty will be fine! I know how heart wrenching an experience like that is, and how worrisome. Love is a wonderful thing! I love your herd of hearts and plan to try a few myself- thanks for the inspiration! Happy Valentines Day!
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HoleyMoley, 600 stitches on a little dog?! Sounds like he was held together by thread. WOW. Jack Russells are as tough as Blue Heelers. shery
I love all the projects in maryJane’s Cluck. It helps fill the void in between the issues I receive in the mail 🙂 🙂 🙂 The heart project is really cute. You can make them all so different, and they’ll all turn out lovely 🙂 🙂 I’m farmgirl sisterhood member #2176 🙂 🙂
Oh, that Jack Johnson song is really sweet 🙂 Thanks for sharing 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
Vi says: Sending healing vibes to your lil Dotty!
jonna says: Thank you SO much for this writting – it is exactly what I need. I was diagnosed with breast cancer & getting ready for treatments; trying to get out of myself & use the experience as a tool to be more giving; recently started making cards to send for those ‘in need’. Your blog is quite an inspiration! love ya girl, jonna from tn.
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Oh Jonna, you have some challenges ahead. I pray that when you’re on the other side of all of it that you’ll have accumulated many POSitive experiences via caring hearts like your own. Best wishes to you for complete healing and all the strength necessary for the journey ahead. Thank YOU for writing. shery
Lacey says: This post tugged on my heart strings, your writing is just wonderful! I too have always been passionate about horses and loved being around them, until I was thrown off one at the age of 9 and broke my wrist and cracked ribs, after that I was terrified to ride….until 3 years ago when my wonderful Man, helped me to get back on….I cried the whole time as he led me around the yard….trying not to laugh…When we returned to the corral he told me how proud he was of me and then I told him I didn’t think I could get down, I was still shaking pretty bad, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful Diamond engagement ring and said "Will this help?" I laughed and cried and jumped down to hug him!! Since then we have taken many rides and I am slowly getting over my fears, this past summer I even took by beautiful boy BUCK out into the pasture to help my hubby check the cows!! My son, who has just turned 6, is already starting that stage of being "to cool" for Valentines, so I reminded him that even if he puts a smile on 1 persons face, it will be worth all the work we put in….since then we have finished the paper Valentines, made cupcakes and cinnamon sented playdough for his Kindergarten class!! Happy Valentine’s Day, and I sure hope your Pooch gets better quick! 🙂
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WOWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!! WHAT a proposal story!! So romantic and so emotional all the way around. How could he wait through all of that and not let on what he was up to?? :o) AMAZING. SO happy for you that you got over your fear…AND…lived happily ever after. Now that’s a valentine story. Shery
Hi Shery. I have read your blog for some time now and today I thank you for such wonderful, loving, and comforting words. Yesterday, my family laid my dearly loved father-in-law to rest and ushered him into the heavenlies. It was most difficult for me to watch my five twenty-something grown children grieve their beloved "Pa.." Today is the first day in the past six weeks since his sudden stroke that I have taken to sit and reflect. Thanks again from one farmgirl to another.
Dear Terri, My condolences to your family. I know it is a comfort that a loved one suffers no more and resides now in a wonderful place, but they do leave a gaping hole. That is real love. Other lost things leave no hole. Your kids are lucky to have had someone who left them with such a hole and a lot of memories of their Grandpa to fill it :o) I think that is their last gift to us. Love to you. Shery
Michele says: Oh, Sherry, I always love your blog posts. I am sure hoping yo ==ur little pooch heals fast. I am not a horse girl but I still think we might be sisters from another mother, I so identify with so many of the things that you write about.
I do have a Problem, though. I have discovered that I am somewhat of a rebel when it comes to deadlines. For instance, I didn’t get hardly a thing made for Valentines Day But this week I am making hearts like crazy. Paper hearts, cards, fabric hearts, etc. I think there is something seroiusly wrong with me. All I can say is I’ll be ahead of the curve for next Valentine’s
I fear that one of America’s oldest forms of social recreation may be fading into the mist of history. I hope I’m wrong. In winter, fresh air is just as important to the body & mind as it is at any other time of the year. And, in this farmgirl’s opinion, we need to get out and breathe it in deeply … skates or no skates.
Joyce Wiley says: I remember Ice Skating on the ranch in Wyoming, my big sisters leaving me behind as they skated on Rock Creek all the way to the bridge, and of course I was usually the one who fell through the thin ice!
Karin says: Love this. Our weather in Missouri has been really mild unlike last year but I work from my home and sometimes feel trapped in my office. I love getting out and getting the "stink off". My Grandfather used to say that (We stayed with my grandparents when growing up). I go out every morning and feed dogs cats horses and donkeys but there is a need to sometimes just get out…. to get out of the routine truly getting the stink off. Of course those urges hit me when it is coldest outside. I love skating but our ranch only has creeks that are spring fed and do not freeze but sometimes the ground thaws enough it is slippery. Does that count? I have a healthy respect for the ice and need to work on that also. I prefer staying on my feet and last year spent enough time like an unpside down turtle in 2 feet of snow. (My bottom was my center of gravity if you can imagine, just arms and feet sticking out the snow). I thought I was a goner several times but that ol faithful dog was there for me to hold on to and get myself out. Thank you for such a great article.
Debbie says: Hahahahah! Love your dad’s saying! I’ve never been good on roller skates, ice skates or skies. But, this post reminded me of the fresh air of the Sierra during our cross country skiing days! Now, that was fun and definitely created some giggling! I did used to fall quite a bit, but at least I wasn’t going too fast when I did it! Great images and I love the one of Ribbon wearing skates.. Perhaps it’s time for a long walk in the winter air!
Thanks for another ( gem ) Shery!
Stay warm!
love and hugs,
your beach blogging sister- friend!
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Thanks Deb :o) I hafta tell you though that the horse in that photoshop pic isn’t mine. I found it on the http://www. ~ shery j
Oh Shery,
as a child I to would go with my girlfriends and skate (at skate parks where you had to pay) what fun we had. Then somewhere along the way, I grew up,,,,and had not been on a pair of skates for 10+ years…. After all my bragging my hubby brought me & another couple to a Indoor Skate Park… Ummmm well, let’s just say, my skating memories were a lot better then my actual skating abilities! lol!
I do have a pair of ice skates that hang by the entrance door of our home (year round) and with each season I replace the flowers to reflect the season. I also have a pair of wood/metal ice skates that lay by the fireplace.
I am a true believer that one does not have to limit ones self to only the current seasonal decorations… so yes in Summer I have ice skates hanging with flowers and in Winter I have have bird houses & sunflowers & flamingos!…. I am just quirkey that way!
Speaking of bird houses, I just acquired a new bird house that looks like a trailer (on my blog)…. I am so ready for Summer & Glamping,,,how about you? Happy Trails!
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Oooooooooooo, a birdy trailer ? :o) Cuuuuuute! I’m gonna try and twist my farmgirl pal, Michele, into creating a junky trailer birdhouse. I can do the graph paper part…and hopefully she’ll agree to do the woodworkin’. Got your ears on Michele? shery
Ruth says: What wonderful memories this evoked! As I young person, I remember ‘living’ outdoors in the winter; skating, sledding, snowmobiling….anything just to be outside in the snow and cold!
My uncle had a pond that became the neighborhood gathering spot for kids and adults (summer and winter). Many a game of ice hockey was played there as well as just plain zooming around like crazy people on the ice just for the fun of it!
My uncle had built a cabin adjacent to the pond, complete with a big pot-belly, wood-burning stove. If we weren’t outside on the ice, we were inside warming our fingers and toes, guzzling hot chocolate, hot cider and every sweet treat imaginable from my Grandma who was a wonderful cook and loved feeding us!
Thanks for allowing me a few moments to ‘be’ in that place again. Like you, I ‘observe’ more than I ‘do’ lately, but I still enjoy!
Oh, how I miss those days….
April says: This was a great post! I loved all the pictures too! We havent been skating this year as the temps have been so all over the place. It’s snowing today, so it definitely puts me in the mood to skate or sled!
OH, I love to watch people ice skate. I’ve tried it myself and it’s always ended in failure…so far…but I still love it 😉 🙂 It’s fun to watch people glide on the ice. It’s like they’re flying and for a moment you aren’t bound by gravity 🙂 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
KimberlyD says: I use to ice skate till I had my first back surgery for scoliosis when I was a 11 years old, my parents wouldn’t let me after that. I did continue to go sledding up till about 9 years ago I was still sliding down the hills on a sled! But not now, my back can’t take it anymore. In Michigan we haven’t had much snow, it comes and melts the same day or in a day or two. Which is fine for me for that means the roads aren’t messy and I hate driving in it. But loved it as a kid, playing in it and making forts and tunnels and snow angels, now if I make a snow angel it isn’t because I wanted to its because I fell…LOL!!!!
Treese says: I grew up on a ranch in Colorado. We did a lot of snow skiing and roller skating, but no ice skating. I went to Harvard for my education. Boy, did I learn to ice skate! There are ice-rinks everywhere. I crashed and burned too many times to count, but finally got the hang of it.
I am back on our cattle ranch in Colorado after many years of being away; and once again no ice skating rinks anywhere near where I live. I do miss the fun I had with my friends.
We have had very little snow this year so far and a growing fear we are headed for another drought just like last year.
Treese
Lacey says: We live in Saskatchewan and we have many Ice Rinks indoor and out, Plus we usually like to build one on the front lawn in the winter months. However this year has been unusually warm, so the ice has seemed to melt away 🙁 Some of the best times I had as a child were spent doing winter activities and I am truly enjoying teaching my son that winter can be just as fun as summer, when it comes to playing outdoors! This year we started working on an Igloo…contrary to popular belief we Canadians Do Not live in them! We used a plastic swimming pool as the roof and propped it up with a few pieces of scrap wood with a fabric curtain doorway, So even though we only have a few inches of snow we can still have a true winter hide out! And our dogs have been occupying it at night! Everyone is Happy! Enjoy your winter activities, for soon it will be Caving season….and we will be too busy to fully enjoy the snow! 🙂
Sharon says: Great post Shery! Fun, inspirational pictures too!! I love ice skating and I am not the most active of adults. I really miss it this year. Our winter has been so mild in Maine that lakes and ponds haven’t frozen over enough yet. Just last week the state had to cancel it’s biggest ice fishing competition for safety reasons. Granted there are still ice rinks open, but if I’m going to make the effort I prefer to be outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine. Here’s hoping it’s cold enough some where for people to enjoy the sport the way it was meant to be.
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“If I ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to paying attention, than to any other talent.” ~ Isaac Newton
Some words are little and don’t have much personality. Other words may be of medium character and they too need the assist of words with more dimension if they hope to amount to anything. Then, there are words that need a lot of room. They are the giants. Words that can change the landscape, change lives, change borders, medicine, books, culture, the way we look at things and even at ourselves. “Discover” is such a word.
Oh Shery,,, you made me giggle this morning, reading your blog… and never were truer words spoken… especially "Menopause poaches your Brain"! OMG! now I know what happened to mine! Thanx for that clarification!
Oh & I uber luv the cute ‘trailer pot holder’…
Happy Trailes to you & yours!
Kristy says: My daughter taught me to put new, unused, and unfluffed out (flat) garbage bags in the bottom of the garbage can, under the bag that I’m currently filling. They take up almost no space and and are even handier than than they would be in a cupboard or the top suitcase, in a pile of old suitcases. I use the same size can liners in both the laundry, and the kitchen so I’m not trying to stuff a whole box of them in one location. Now you can save something else or more frivolous in that old train case. My vote is for frivolous.
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OhMyGosh….eXXXcellent idea! Thanks for taking the time to share it :o)
Loved this piece! The word moxxiest really made me giggle, so my moxxiest thoughts are coming your way! Lois
Treese says: I’ve always figured some of the good things in life were free. Sometimes you have to slow down a little bit and enjoy seeing what life has to offer. I took my horse out for a ride on Monday night in the full-Wolf Moon. The moon looked so close I thought I could touch it. The trail thanks to the moon was so bright it looked like I was riding with a spot light in front of me. I live on the front range of the Colorado Rockies and the mountains sparkled like they were covered in fairy dust. I saw something shine on the ground. Normally, I would have ridden on, but I stopped and found a little brass pot. I took it home and since then have had a good time trying to figure its history. Where did it come from? Who did it belong to? Ah, discovery stimulates the mind.
Treese/Colorado Cowgirl
Linda says: I don’t think I’ve left a comment to you before, but I have been enjoying all your articles and photography.
I can’t believe you live in a mobile home! From your pictures, I don’t know how it all would fit!!
Possible solution for transforming your workroom-Michele??
A discovery- frame and sell your photography??
Love your blog!!
Linda
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Linda, How nice of you to take the time and leave kind words :o) thankyouthankyou. Ya, know I’ve thought about selling photo, but *I* don’t buy photos or decorate with them. So, its kinda hard to imagine other folks being that impressed with my pics when I haven’t even had very many of them developed…much less framed. ‘And thats the truth’ said Edith Ann. I really do appreciate the encouragement though. That means more to me than anything. shery
nameTerry wright says: I’d wondered if you were going to do Pinterest. I too feel like I’ve come out of hibernation and I can’t seem to get enough of Pinterest and the ideas. Now, as you say, I’ve got to look for more time and energies.
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Hi Ms Terry!! Sometimes all we need is a nudge of inspiration and it starts a ball rolling. Yea, Pinterest is doing that for a lot of folks I think. shery
Jan says: Hi Shery, Another wonderful post! I love this topic because I have been in the process of discovering myself for the past year and a half. In the past I was so busy with children, family and work that I kind of lost myself. This happen to anybody else? So now in my 60’s, me, myself and I are getting reaquainted. 🙂
Hugs,
Jan
Nella Spencer says: Shery, you have a way with words! I love how you said you’ve "become slower and easier to find" being the same age as you, I am finding this true for myself also. I was just thinking today about needing more energy to do all the things I want to do and your blog was just what I needed–perfect! Thanks
Reba says: This article was so funny. And it encouraged me to write about the discovery I made this year about myself. I had always considered my sisters (6 of them!) as the "organizers" of big events. However, I wanted to do something that was considered unheard of and unusual. What a way to find out that you really like this sort of thing! My great-nephew (and he really is!!!) was diagnosed at 2 yrs old with T-cell Lymphoma. Now he is 4 yrs old and finished chemotherapy. He is in remission!! The idea occurred to me that we needed to celebrate in a BIG way. We weren’t having a funeral…we were given life! Well, my "junk", as some have called it, came in handy at this event. We did a "farmstyle" Celebration of Life, inviting 50-60 people who had been a part of his healing and recovery. William craved farm fresh eggs while he was taking those awful steroids. There is no telling how many he ate. So this got me to thinking about how to celebrate. We live in the city, but I thought, we can have a farm celebration! Mary Jane has taught me that much! So-o-o, I pulled out all my "junk" and all the stops! We had dancing (hokey pokey, limbo, some modern stuff :o), country (natural and organic) cooking, apple-bobbing, sack races, and decorated my very small backyard like a farm! It was described by my nephew as "the perfect party." I had the best time! I never dreamed that I would do something like this! But we are so thankful! He is so full of life and has really taught us. Mary Jane has a saying in her book, "while we try to teach our children all about life, they teach us what life is all about." Amen, amen.
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And, amen that your family’s dear little boy is healthy. He’ll remember that party all the days of his life. shery
Shery, How about using your photos to make note cards to sell? I’m thinking that your actual photos would be inserted into a "frame" (of sorts)on one side of folded card stock (large sheet folded twice). Each card might be enclosed in a cellophane sleeve to keep it fresh until sold. Just putting the idea out there for you to consider.
I really LOVE your blog and photos! Keep sharing with us.
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Maybe cards, hmmm. Thank you. Love hearing from everyone. That is the best part of this process. Everyone else loves the feedback, ideas & comments too! shery
A good post as always. Love your thoughts and that you share them. Your hens look happy. I hope they are providing you with a lot of eggs. And Pinterest, Oh how I love it. Hope to find your boards and see what we have in common!
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Brenda, my hens are on winter rest. I did get one egg the other day tho. I don’t have a light on for them. But, its ok. They’ll go back to work in the spring. Fortunately, our local grocer offers organic eggs from folks around here. Eating ‘production’ eggs after having the real thing is just not something I can do anymore. I’d rather go without. shery
Lacey says: Hi Shery! I purchased my very first copy of MaryJanesFarm about a month ago and this lead me to find your Blog…I just LOVE it!! I have read many of them aloud to my husband, and we have to agree that it’s nice to read about others that have a similar lifestyle to ours!! Thanks for all your amazing stories, insight and the great recipes! Can’t wait to see what you discover next!! Lacey (Saskatchewan, Canada)
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Folks hearing about MJF publications (hard copy & online) just keeps getting bigger. In a ‘down’ economy, that is really something. Uncertain times remind people to think long and hard about being more self reliant. It is how things ought to be ANYway. I’m so proud of the young adults in this era, those who boldly look at a future that isn’t painted as bright for them as it was for us. They forge ahead, determined to be good stewards of their world and live a highly responsible, creative, grateful and compassionate lifestyle. This world has become a place of polar contrasts. Where darkness seems to be on the rise, light even more so. Hope doesn’t surrender easily. Have you noticed the abundance of COLOR in the arts & crafts so popular with younger women now? Now, maybe I’m making too much of it, but I do believe it is indicative of younger folks looking at the age old promise of a rainbow and there is nothing worng with that. shery
Colleen says: Your pictures are wonderful, you have no idea how much I enjoy them. I have downloaded a few onto my "work" laptop to take along with me "on the road", particularly anything red and anything with a horse (I miss my horse…)I love your photography. Thanks for a beautiful, inspirational blog. I read it faithfully.
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Ohhh, Colleen. You made my day. Thank you. shery
Hi Shery, me again. I did not put a light on our hens this year either. Planned on letting them rest also. But in the last 2 weeks they just started laying everyday again. Sometimes I get 4 the next day 8. We have 10 hens at this time. We have had to add the red heater lamp at night because it is getting so cold here in the last couple of weeks. I keep it on when the temp dips down in the 20’s or lower. Do not know if it that or the fact that they were not laying much from early fall until now. But we are in eggs again and I feel the same as you about the store bought eggs. I had bought some eggs from the grocer for some baking over Christmas when I could not get enough from our girls and had a dozen left that I decided to make some egg salad from. Just could not believe how un-flavorful it was for us.
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Hens stop laying in the early winter due mostly to short days (less light). But, when it is really cold…like -minus temps, they’ll stop too. I used to keep a light on, but I stopped. If it gets frigid like that though, I can always string a cord over to the coop. shery
Marcie says: Hello Shery,
I love your stories and your photos that tell stories. When I open my email and see a MaryJaneFarm email and see that it is from you… well I get another cup of coffee and settle in for a treat. It is like a visit from an old friend. Actually, you remind me of a long ago friend from West TX whose name is Sher (she is a hoot)! I have two chickens (one is going into the molting stage… poor baby), but they are still laying their one egg a day.
Keep up the good work lady … we appreciate you, and your fans will continue to look forward to your great stories…and stay warm Shery,
Your fan from the Tennessee Smoky Mountains,
Marcie
Debra says: I am auctioneer’s daughter and my two boys are auctioneers. So I do know about junk and what you can do with. How fun it is to see what you do with it. I like your blog real well. Thanks have a blessed day.
I hope that my next statement is as true for you as it has been for our family: Blessings in 2011 far outnumbered the trials. We also have two new family members. In fact, when I was looking around at our growing clan while at my sister’s home on Christmas day, I marveled at that fact. We were all there, no one missing and with two new additions (and rumor has it, another on the horizon). My sister told me that Dad got a little misty over it; that and the fact that all of his loved ones are happy. Years in the past haven’t always read that way and I know the future won’t either … but … as for Christmas 2011, it was one of the very best. 2011 was indeed a good one in many ways. I can’t help but look back over my shoulder before moving on toward 2012. Care to join me for a farmgirl year in review? At the end, please offer up the highlights of your year in the comments section.
Dear Sister Shery,
Happy New and Old Year! It does my heart good to know your 2011 was a happy one. We all know life has it’s ups and downs and that’s just the way it is. So, to relish in the years with more happy than sad is a must! You did just that here today. I would say you had a beautiful year, one of quiet reflection, many blessings and a heap of faith to go with it. New ( like/love ) is a blessing in every family! Congrats to Beth and her new man! Our highlights this year were good health all around. My hubby’s SAD, wasn’t so bad, both or our mothers were healthy, our children continue to grown and surprise us with their interests and talents. We too brought home some early spring life in our latest flock of young cottage hens. One might not think this is a blessing, but my husband was let go just before Christmas…No worries here though! We were preparing for such a time and are very excited about what HE has in store for us. It was time for a change and we are ready! 🙂
One of my biggest highlights of 2011 is sharing the farmgirl blogging lime light with you and our other sisters and getting to know our readers better!
God Bless you Shery. See you in 2012!!!
Hugs from your beach/farmgirl sister…
Deb
This year’s highlights:
Got laid off (boo)
Got a new job (yay)
New job meant moving across the country away from family/friends in Missouri (boo)
Moving meant moving to Colorado within the shadow of the Rockies, a place I have always wanted to be (yay)
Sold half of what we owned to afford the move (boo)
Everything we brought with us survived the trip (yay)
Family is somewhat homesick (boo)
I’m happier than I’ve ever been (yay)
It isn’t perfect, we are renting a house that has now gone into foreclosure, but we are protected by the law, and we’ll find another more appropriate place. My job is awesome, my husband was able to find work when he got here, as was my 18 year old daughter, my 9 year old daughter is doing great in her new school, we live in an wonderful small-town-style city after coming from a big metro area, we are getting a real winter, my asthma is gone, my knees don’t hurt anymore, we know all of our neighbors by their first names, and I’m looking forward to this next chapter of my life.
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Sounds like more yays than nays :o) Best wishes for a lot more yays all the way around in your new life by the Rockies!
nameTerry says: Happy New Year dear Shery. This was the best year in awhile for me, for various reasons. One being reconnecting with you, moving close to Grandkids and family, and priming the pump for the creative juices to begin flowing once again. Despite the 2 1/2 yrs of joblessness, we are SO BLESSED! Love, Terry
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Oh Terry, I know it is has been a tuff pull for ya’all. I hope 2012 is a reap year for you … in which case, the blessings should be a mile high for you. xo, shery
Dear Shery, You have indeed had a colorful year! As always, I LOVE your photographs, and you have inspired me to take a photography course and one on Photoshop this semester to better acquaint myself with the digital photography world. Can’t wait for it to start in a couple of weeks. What a beautiful year you have had. Congratulations, and thanks so much for sharing it with us … as usual, I have savored every part of your post. Our family can likewise look back on 2011 with gratitude. Our country inn business is hanging in there despite the sluggish economy; our oldest son Christopher married a smart and beautiful woman named Elizabeth in June, and it was one of the most beautiful and thoughtfully planned weddings the world has ever seen! Our second son Noah got engaged and we have his wedding to look forward to in 2012. Our daughter spread her wings and started college at the Maine College of Art in Portland in September, and is thriving there. We now have lots of undivided time with our remaining (homeschooled) son Joshua as he adjusts to being an ‘only’ child! I made a precious new friend/kindred spirit this fall, and we were also able to buy a little peninsula on the coast of Maine for my slaty dog hubby to dream about! It has been a year full of blessings. I wish you a very happy new year full of the same, and look forward to every one of your posts. Much love and hugs from your Mountain Farmgirl Sister, Cathi
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Sister Cathi, I was awed at the wedding photos you shared on your blog. Beauty-full !!! I dream about a New England trip in which I visit both the beach farmgirl blogger and YOU. Ya just never know, MAYbe it can happen one fine day. As for photography, I need to take a class. The new ‘idiot proof’ cameras make it easy to skip that part, but I really ought to do that. I could do a much better job if I actually knew what I was doing rather than let the camera do all my thinking :o) I hope your new year is everything you hope for and full of surprises too…of the blessed sort…like your new kindred spirit friend! A hug right back atchya, shery
Joan says: Thank you Dear Sister Shery for the wonderful look back. Your every word brought a thought of my year to mind and yes I too was well blessed. I’m going to try do some picture taking of life this next year to help me remember at the end just how wonderful it was – yes I am looking forward to another blest year and all you Sisterhood bloggers help make it a time to live for. Happy New Year to you and yours – congratulations to your sis and her mate.
God Bless,
Jan says: Hi Shery, What a lovely blog to finish out the year 2011. Congrats to your sister and the new "like" in her life! It was so nice to see that you and your family had such a happy Christmas, and wonderful year with many blessings.
The biggest highlight of the year for me was the purchase of my palamino boy, Jasper. He is a delight and him and my mare are now best friends. So glad that worked out! Another blessing was having my brother home for Christmas this year. It has been many years since we have been together at this time.
I am looking forward to 2012 and praying it will be the year that I get my place in the country. Have been trying to settle with seller on a little place, but haven’t been able to get the deal closed yet. Being alone makes things a bit more difficult.
Many blessings to you and your family this new year!!
Hugs,
Jan in KS
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Dear Jan, Thank you kindly for the good wishes and kind words. I’m seeing you lope along a dirt road back home to your new digs in the country…and hoping that is just what happens.
Janice K. says: Wow, Shery! Such a perfect end to a wonderful year..Now I know where you and your sister get you beautiful genes, as your folks are both so attractive! Yes, you are blessed to still have both of them and I know that you appreciate their presence…Your sister and her honey just GLOW with happiness…
Happy new year to all!
meredith says: Oh Shery! I am happy for you that 2011 was such a good year for you and your family! What a great way to enter 2012! This year has been full of blessings for our family, some really tough times that have proved blessings in the long run. HE knows what we need and when we need it! Happy New Year and cant wait to read more from you in the new year!
Diann says: Well, as most of you, there have been good and bad. I still work in a stressful job (law enforcement) but I have a job! I need a new roof on my 113 year house, but I still have a roof over my head! My hog population exploded, got four little calves, my chickens and doves are happily producing and the garden was doubled this year. I am presently sitting at my desk looking out over the plains and into the Sierra Nevada Mtns. at Yosemite Natl. Park….sigh….life is okay even with the negatives. My grown children experienced very positive job changes this year after a couple of really rough years and my granddaughters are thriving. I am finding it hard to remember the lows of this past year as those I love are well and thriving. So! A roof over my head, clothes on my back, food on my table…all is well with the universe. Y’all have a blessed new year. I can truly say it has been a blessing and inspiration for me to read this blog. Thanks!
bonnie ellis says: You rock! I LOVE your pictures and words. I love seeing life as it is in your world. I am counting only the blessings this year. We are healthy and heading into our 50th year of marriage March 17.Our town in Minnesota has disappointed us with no snow this year. some think it is great but I am sure tired of looking at brown. I got the new pocket Goosebery Patch calendar and in the front it says: "This year belongs to you". Happy New Year to all our farmgirls. Bonnie
Terry says: How could I forget? Mom and Dad look GREAT!!
Brenda says: thank you so much shery for the look back. Love the pictures. I do hope that 2012 is a blessing for all the farmgirls. I too am blessed to have my parents at the age of 84 and 86 I know to enjoy them as much as I can. I hope that I can connect with the farmgirls for a long time reading what you and the others write seems to bless me everytime. And I do get MaryJane magazine and look forward to it so much. I don’t have any farmgirls around me that I know of but am blessed with some dear friends and family. Happy New to you May 2012 be all you want it to be.
Linda says: I loved your pictures! I live out here in the flinthills and plains of Kansas.
You look alot like your mother. Two cute gals.
Now what I really want to know is what was in Beth’s celluloid box? It sounded like it was full already! I love the idea.
Read you and all the gals each time.
Or should I say read and look? Great photographer, too!
Happy New Year!
Linda
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Hi Linda…and thank you – thank you.
I made my sister a necklace and bracelet set. shery
Becky says: What a wonderful, magical blog. . .thanks for sharing your beautiful part of the world with us and the pictures of a lovely country Christmas
Lisa Taylor says: Happy New Year Shery
As I sit here reading this month’s blog, it’s early morning and I’m looking out the window at a nearly full moon. It promises to be another beautiful Colorado day.
I want to thank you for sharing your Jeweled Chutney receipt with us. My 10-year-old niece, Brianna, and I made it to give as Christmas gifts and was it ever a hit! We did however change the name to Lisa and Brianna’s Jeweled Chutney. She made labels (in her own sweet handwriting) and tied them on with raffia. It was wonderful bonding in the kitchen with my sweet girl.
Love, love, love the blog.
Stay warm in Wyoming and thanks for all you do.
Lisa
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Please tell Brianna that I’m so tickled that HER batch of chutney was so well received :o) Making gifts as children is a golden life-long lesson. Thank you for the kind words. shery
Put on your mittens & cloak because we’re going to go for a lengthy farmgirl sleighride … of sorts. There’s a party to go to and many stops to make along the way. Eventually, we’ll wind it up with an old-time Christmas story. Hop in, snuggle up together under the sleigh blanket and ‘kiss’ Dolly into a nice road-trot…Jing Jing Jing. “Can you see the road before us and sing a chorus or two?”
Jillian says: Shery,
I’m a 23 year old farmgirl-at-heart in Wisconsin and I love following your blog. This is by far the best blog post about Christmas I have ever read. It made me tear up, smile, and it rejuvenated me. Thank you for spreading Jesus’ message in such a beautiful way! I love all of your Christmas decorations… you are so talented. Also, White Christmas is one of my favorites as well… I just watched it several days ago. And yes, cried when Bing sang to the soldiers. Have a Merry Christmas!
Thank you Shery for yet another inspiring story and shared experience with you.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
The Christmas rose story is such a great reminder.
Karin says: Shery, thank you for sharing your beautiful stories with us. Like you I love all the old Christmas movies (White Christmas; It’s a Wonderful Life; Miracle on 34th Street; Holiday Inn) and must watch them every year. And I listen to my Christmas CDs from Thanksgiving on. Thank you for being willing to remind us of the real reason for Christmas. I’m so tired of the politically correct "Happy Holidays". It is Christmas!
The pictures are beautiful, Emmy Lou looks delightful, and I wish I could spend a day with you.
Have a wonderful, beautiful Christmas and a blessed New Year.
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I’ve never seen ‘Holiday Inn’…I’ll have to check into it! Thank you for the kind words :o) Be Ye Merry!
Deb says: BEAUTIFUL… INSPIRING… CHARMING…. OLD FASHIONED… SPIRITUAL….HEARTWARMING… CREATIVE… GENIUS…LOVELY…TOUCHING…FUN…PEACE… JOY… LOVE… CHERISH… DREAM….BELIEVE… MIRACLES…
Scooch over so I can sit for a spell and take it all in! YOU MOST CERTAINLY ARE hip deep in blessings; and so are we for knowing you!
Happy Holy Days to you too Shery! Pat the horses for me..
Much love and a big ole’ farmgirl hug from your " mushy " beach farmgirl sister in the East!
Deb
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Awwwwww, you say the nicest things girlfriend. One holiday hug comin’ right up (((())))) :o)
judy says: Your blogs are always beautiful and well done. This one was especially so– thank you for this lovely christmas gift.
L A Brown says: Thank you SO much for sharing this beautiful story of the Christmas rose and your inspiring thoughts. Happy Holy Days to you 🙂
Margaret says: Shery, I have never heard this story before of the Christmas Rose and so glad I can now pass it on to others, and I was born back in the 40’s. Thank you for it and those Christmas lights in EmmyLou are just fantastic.
Merry Christmas!!
nameTerry wright says: Merry Christmas Shery. 40 years ago, when we were newly married, on Christmas morning, Hubby and I were supposed to go to his Grandmas for Christmas breakfast along with all the aunts, uncles and cousins. But hubby woke up sick, so we stayed home. I was having my own little party, a pity party. I’d asked for a bird book for Christmas, and received one of those little Golden Press books for beginners. As hubby slept, I heard a rapping outside. I looked and saw a golden-shafted flicker in our front yard Silver maple. I like you knew it was absolutely a divine appointment. That Flicker lifted my spirits for the rest of the day, to be sure.
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SO good to hear from you my dear old friend! Just when you need it the most a kind little blessing can fall into your lap. I believe there are superstitions that suggest that birds are often used to deliver such messages. A few years back when we were riding during calving season, I was feeling sorry for myself and I was weary. I just happened to be riding through thick sagebrush and I spied a Golden eagle’s primary wing feather sitting right on top the brush. The chances that I rode by and found it when I so needed such a thing has gotta be a million to one. The feather fell from high in the sky and landed in such a way that it didn’t fall down into the thick brush. Eagles shed feathers like all other birds do. The feather was laying on a particularly tall sagebrush – I didn’t even have to dismount to fetch it. Now, that is key in all of this because the reason I was feeling down was due to the rather sudden onset of arthritis. It hurt to get on and off my horse. The moment I laid my hand on the feather, the scripture verse about relief for the weary came to mind: "Those that trust in the Lord will be strong again, they will rise up like the eagle, they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not tire." Isaiah 40:31 I wept with gratitude and felt humbley grateful for that much needed cheery-upper. You see, I pick up found feathers with the excitement of a child ANYway, but to find an EAGLE feather was a real & true endorphin rush. I’ll remember that moment all the days of my life. shery
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Joan says: Thank you Shery, for another of your ‘best ever’ blogs. You made me tear up, with happy tears, smile and helped me remember my Christmas’s of long ago and of the ones not so far gone. Memories — aren’t they the best — they are what we give to ourselves after having lived in the moment. I have the English 12 days of Christmas figures and LOVED seeing the Partridge – oh what a wonderful experience you had. And the Rose – your Christmas dishes are so very special. And Emmy Lou what a wonderful happening she is. Have your self a Merry little Christmas and a wonderful New year. God Bless
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Thank you, Joan. The dishes aren’t mine…but they fit into the rose Christmas theme :o) I believe they’re a Royal Albert pattern … and very expen$ive!
bonnie ellis says: Sheri: You have the gift of writing from the heart and also the gift of photography. Merry Christmas to you and keep on giving the gift of your blog. I wish you could be with us at one of our meetings. Farmgirls meet at my house on Saturday. Blessings to your group from ours. Bonnie
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Hi Bonnie! Thank you for the kind words and for the In-vite…I’d love to meet you and your farmgirl pals. Please wish them all a Merry Christmas from me.
KimberlyD says: Merry Christmas to you and your family and all your farmgirl friends! I enjoy your blogs and your photos, you are a very good photographer and when I read your blogs its feels like I’m there to! I enjoyed the story about the Legend of the Christmas Rose. It was my first time hearing.
Karen says: Hi Shery,
I hope this finds you well. I would like to thank you, SO much for sharing your gift of words. I love your writings. This one touches the heart so deeply. I would love to visit you and your farmgirl friends in Emmylou. : )
I have never heard the Christmas Rose story before. It is truly beautiful. Again, thank you for sharing this. I will reread it over and over.
I hope you and your loved ones have a beautiful, blessed, happy, Merry Christmas.
Take care.
Peace & Love,
Karen
Cathi Belcher (The Mountain Farmgirl) says: Sheri, When I was growing up, a lone solitary Hungarian Partridge found its way to our house out in the middle of practically nowhere. Every day for an entire season it would appear and come within yards of our house, looking in the sliding back doors. It was such a friendly little creature, totally curious and wanting to make friends! At the end of the year he vanished, never to be heard from again, but over the many intervening years I have thought of him often. Thanks for another wonderful post, and for reminding me once again of my long lost feathered friend!
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Thanks for stopping by Sister Cathi :o) I haven’t checked into it yet, but I’d like to raise some partridges if the eggs/chicks are available…ya know, like some other game birds. I’m smitten. Lots of merry to you & yours in my 2nd favorite state. Theres gotta be a corner of Heaven that Vermont was modeled after ;o) shery j
yvonne says: i just want to say that if life could just be the way you have it for me i would never want any thing again. i love the simple life but dont have it.. i am sure GOD has a plan for me. but i love the way you write and the picture you post thank you for being who you are and writeing how you do.. yvonne
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Dear Yvonne, Few of us have ‘simple’. Finding quiet in the middle of a noisy life is possible…but not always easy or simple. Hang in there, my friend…because the plan for you is ‘a future of hope’. There was a time in my life that I couldn’t feature hope, much less a future with hope. And then, there it was…enough light to show me the way and always enough hope to keep me going. ‘The way I write’ is the result of hope that I have to lay claim to every day….every day. You go get it girl :o) shery
cora jo says: Shery, A blessed and Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thank you for making my afternoon perk up a bit with Christmas spirit. What a great reminder to us all that we are about to celebrate a birthday of epic size. EmmyLou (also my fav) looks wonder-full! thanks for sharing her with us. cora jo
Brenda says: Thank you, it is blessing to read you articles. They always make me feel good. It is also a blessing in the world today that there are people that still praise God. That is one thing about the Farmgirls. I love the simple things in life and I am a farmgirl in my heart all the way.
Cindy Lou Hou says: Hi there!I am new to your website!I found it through Sugarpiefarmhouse!Love to read your beautiful message!I too am a farmgirl at heart and will be living the dream on my 26 acres in Idaho!The farmhouse will be built this coming year!A very long time in the making!!!Lots of planning and hard work!Thanks for all the inspirational words of goodness and love. God Bless,Cindy
‘Clan Plaids & Plaid Cans’. Try saying that fast three times. I can barely get it out once. However, a pattern (literally) has been more prominent in and around my life of late. Plaids. Firstly, my ‘new’ 1958 farmgirl Glamping trailer has become my playhouse. She has a name now: EmmyLou (after my fave country songbird). Anyway, EmmyLou loves vintage plaid goodies and I’ve managed to collect some 50s plaid accessories for her. And, now that Christmas is nigh, plaids are back on the scene – wrap, ribbons, table clothes etc. Ever wonder why tartan plaids play a signifigant role in holiday decor? Me neither, but my curiosity woke up.
Happy Holidays Shery! It’s safe to say you are in a very festive mood by the sound of things here! Looks like it too!
Emmylou looks adorable all dolled up in her Christmas Garb! I’m on my way over!!! Thanks for all the wonderful info on Tartan too! My curiosity hadn’t led me there but I’m glad yours did. We love our holiday music around here! It’s tradition to start listening right after Thanksgiving. Plus, this year our daughter has been working on another composition and it’s a Christmas tune! Her first! We’ve had a house full of music already! Love your gift wrap idea. I like brown paper too. One year I did brown paper with red and green raffia and pinecones.
Bum bump and have fun at your " farmgirl " gathering…
love,
Deb
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We might pass each other about Iowa since I’m headed your way for a taste of Christmasy salt air ;o)
CJ Armstrong says: How fun, Shery! Love your tartan information, much of it I had studied because of my own Scottish heritage and travels to the land of the tartan. My own family is part of the Gordon clan, a Highland clan and my hubby is an Armstrong. The Armstrongs are a Border Clan and were known to be rascally "reivers". So I have a collection of tartans and clan jewelry for both. Tradition states, however, that if your husband is Scottish and has a tartan, a women wears that one. AND, tradition states that women do NOT wear the kilt . . the tartan fashioned into other garments, but not the kilt. Thanks for sharing the info!
AND, I think "EmmyLou" is just FABULOUS! I’m SOOOOOOO totally jealous . . . have fun with her.
By the way, you are RIGHT ON with Sean! I’ve always thought in one handsome Scottish hunk!!!
Merry Christmas!
CJ
Isn’t it wonderful how our ‘trailers’ speak to us…. and tell us their personality….
I had posted the other day about how I came about nameing my ’59 Aljo….. it all started with a Junkshop find…and the rest is "Herstory" as we say! lol!
I absolutly love EmmyLou’s Tartan theme! With so many colors, reds,greens, blues, yellows, browns,,, you can change her "outfits" according to the seasons if you so desire…. and now I have even seen Pendleton Woolin Mills put out Spring (pinks/lt.greens, etc.) colors of plaids… I mean Tartans. Check out their catalog for some cute sewing/deco ideas… old wool blankets/throws make great deco pillows.
And don’t toss away those old westerny blingy t-shirts,,, they too make great deco pillos.
Happy Trails…….
>^..^<
hereford girl says: Hey Sherri! I think Sean Connery is the BEST POSSIBLE model you cold have chosen, and I am a mere 45. What a hottie!
EmmyLou is the perfect name for your "glamper" – would you believe the human EmmyLou is my uncles first cousin? We are practically related! HA! Your EmmyLou looks positively welcoming and warm-what a great job you have done with her! Merry Christmas!
linda says: Love your Emmylou! But my husband wants to know how in the world you get any people inside?
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People? :o) Well, there is room…for a couple farmgirls on the fly! shery
Karin says: Shery, EmmyLou looks absolutely adorable. You are so lucky to have found her. I have always loved tartan (when I was in high school tartan kilts, and matching sweaters and knee socks were the thing to wear)and I absolutely agree with you about Sean Connery! Oh my, that voice!
As always thanks for letting us live vicariously through your blog. What a wonderful life you have.
Karin
Farmgirl #2708
Ruth says: I never tire of reading your words and descriptions of the ‘simple’ things of life and your pictures always add so much! It transports me to a most wonderful place every time, no matter the subject. Love it all! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sheri! Hope you have a peaceful, joy-filled Christmas season! Enjoy every moment!
Ruth
P.S. Your side-note about John and his misguided attempt at apparel for the portly gave me a great laugh, too!! HA! Indeed!
Carol Norwood says: Hi Shery … I love how you have EmmyLou decorated for the winter! I’m so happy for you! I also love all the tartan "stuff" you have collected – it’s so festive. Thanks, too, for sharing the wonderful photo of Sean Connery … Whew! I’m fanning myself … as I type. Have a wonderful holiday season!
Kathie says: I too have a tartan passion. Clan kilts are very expensive. I was delighted to find a pre-owned kilt on my clan’s web site. It was a very large kilt so I sized it down and was able to make a matching kilt for my scottish terrier. Hamish Macbeth and I attend the Door County Scottie Rally every May and volunteer at The Midwest Pet Expo. We help raise funds for puppy mill education, rescue and canine health research. Not only does Hamish wear a Grant Clan kilt but he wears dog sized bagpipes ( with prerecorded bagpipe music) He favors the Red Hot Chili Pipers cd! Slainte!!!
Kimberly Diener says: Merry Christmas Shery! I too have Scottish ancestory, Irish, English, Danish, German, Swedish, French, Native American…Anyways I too love tartan! And EmmyLou looks pretty, I wouldn’t paint that lovely maple wood either!
hi Shery, I am so jelous of the camper,I have wanted one for years.You have decorated her wonderfully,Stay warm this winter.Intresting about the plaids,my dads family is from Scotland originally,so,I will have to look that up.Moma sewed me several little plaid church dresses as a child,with smocking,I always loved.Stay warm this winter!Merry Xmas!Carol Branum
Laura says: Interesting^^
is a certified farmgirl at heart. She’s happily married to her beach bum Yankee husband of 20 years. She went from career gal to being a creative homeschooling mom for two of her biggest blessings and hasn’t looked back since. Debbie left her lifelong home in the high desert of Northern Nevada 10 years ago and washed up on the shore of America’s hometown, Plymouth, MA, where she and her family are now firmly planted. They spend part of each summer in a tiny, off–grid beach cottage named “The Sea Horse.”
“I found a piece of my farmgirl heart when I discovered MaryJanesFarm. Suddenly, everything I loved just made more sense! I enjoy unwinding at the beach, writing, gardening, and turning yard-sale furniture into ‘Painted Ladies’ I’m passionate about living a creative life and encouraging others to ‘make each day their masterpiece.’”
is a “MaryJane Farmgirl” who lives in a large metropolitan area. She is a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution. She has been a judge, a business woman and a stay-at-home mom. In addition to her law degree, she has a Masters of Theological Studies.
“Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about,” she says, “is the essence of being a MaryJane Farmgirl.” Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit. She finds strength and encouragement through MaryJane’s writings, life, and products. And MaryJane’s Farmgirl Connection provides her a wealth of knowledge from true-blue farmgirls.
an old-fashioned farmgirl with a pioneer spirit, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner” in the “Live-Free-or-Die” state, she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. Married to her childhood sweetheart of 40+ years (a few of them “uphill climbs”), she’s had plenty of time to reinvent herself. From museum curator, restaurant owner, homeschool mom/conference speaker, to post-and-beam house builder and entrepreneur, she’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. Her specialty has evolved to include “hermit hospitality” at her rustic cabin in the mountains, where she offers weekend workshops of special interest to women.
“Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage. I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing. Living in the mountains has its own particular challenges, but I delight in turning them into opportunities from which we can all learn and grow.”
Dori Troutman is the daughter of second generation cattle ranchers in New Mexico. She grew up working and playing on the ranch that her grandparents homesteaded in 1928. That ranch, with the old adobe home, is still in the family today. Dori and her husband always yearned for a ranch of their own. That dream came true when they retired to the beautiful green rolling hills of Tennessee. Truly a cattleman’s paradise!
Dori loves all things farmgirl and actually has known no other life but that. She loves to cook, craft, garden, and help with any and all things on their cattle farm.
describes herself as a goat charmer, chicken whisperer, bee maven, and farmers’ market baker renovating an 1864 farmhouse on an Ohio farm. With a degree in Design, Mary says small-town auctions and country road barn sales "always make my heart skip a beat thinking about what I could create or design out of what I’ve seen.”
Rooted in the countryside, she likes simple things and old ways … gardening, preserving the harvest, cooking, baking, and all things home. While you might find her selling baked goods from the farm’s milkhouse, teaching herself to play the fiddle, or sprucing up a vintage camper named Maizy, you will always find her in an apron!
Mary says, “I’m happiest with the simple country pleasures … an old farmhouse, too many animals, a crackling fire, books to read, and the sound of laughter … these make life just perfect.”
is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She lives and works on the university’s 700 acre environmental education center, Spring Creek Farm. When Alex has time outside of school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with new-fangled ingredients.
Alex grew up near the Twin Cities and went to college in Madison, Wisconsin—both places where perfectly painted barns and rolling green farmland are just a short drive away. After college, she taught at a rural middle school in South Korea where she biked past verdant rice paddies and old women selling home-grown produce from sidewalk stoops. She was introduced to MaryJanesFarm after returning, and found in it what she’d been searching for—a group of incredible women living their lives in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and the greater environment. What an amazing group of farmgirls to be a part of!
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”.
Shery Another GREAT read!!! I love the sink project, and I’m surprised my Pinterest addiction hasn’t lead me to find that particular project yet, it is an amazing thing to have as a DIY guide!! Also I Love the weather vane it’s a real beauty! Glad to hear that calving season is off to a good start for you, and I hope the weather cooperates better for you than it has for us. We just finishing making some comfy straw beds for our herd as the weather man says we’re in for a few more blizzard like days! Sending Blessings to you for Easter and Calving too!
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Thanks Lacey! Yes, finding Pinterest happened for me via my sister. It has been especially timely since we are doing so much to the house this year. Going idea hunting there has been a lot of fun and it inspires you to get it done! shery
Ahhh another wonderful trip with Shery – what great fun y’all have – sure worth the drive. Wheweee a real good look’n horse weathervane and you didn’t have to mortgage the ranch – now that’s a great find and the sink for free – I’d say you are on a roll. The porch and your yard are going to be spiffy for sure. And then calving – oh how I feel the love – there is nothing like babies on the ranch – they make life anew. Thanks again for such a fun read and Happy Easter to you and yours.
I luv the "work in progress" on the Ranch….
and fyi, I nearly spewed coffee out my nostrils when reading your comment: They’re (horses)also shedding big-time now which for a ranchy farmgirl means no lipstick or lip balm unless you like furry lips, "
lolol!
>^..^<
Good Morning Shery! Just had to let you know that you gave me the laugh of the day with the comment about no lipstick or lipbalm unless you like furry lips- only a farmgirl can understand that!!!! Good luck with your calving- we are about halfway finished and the babies look good. We are so blessed to do what we do…..
Have a great day! Meredith
Good Morning Shery! Just had to let you know that you gave me the laugh of the day with the comment about no lipstick or lipbalm unless you like furry lips- only a farmgirl can understand that!!!! Good luck with your calving- we are about halfway finished and the babies look good. We are so blessed to do what we do…..
Have a great day! Meredith
Well, our critters aren’t roaming like the cattle but they certainly are producing this time of year. Sixteen piglets in three days…imagine we started out with only one two-day old wild boar..Butch…and now a mere 18 months later, have well over sixty hogs…..whoa. Our biggest concern is the mamas rollin’ over on the piglets. We check often. And like your little calf, we have lost a few piglets. The brighter side to this, my daughter and granddaughter were here this week and were able to see the process and care for a runt piglet that is needing a little extra care. They did "good" for city slickers! My little ranch is alive with piglets, puppies, kittens, birds, chicks….oh my! It makes me more alive too. Next! Just waitin’ for those fresh onions and garlic to be ready….yuuummm! Have a glorious Easter y’all….the sun (son) is rising!
Hi Shery, Happy Spring and Easter to you too. What a find with your horse weathervane!!!! It is really good looking and in such good shape. I also love the sink garden project, what fun. I have my pansies and violas planted in pots out on my front porch now. Oh, how I love flowers!
I loved seeing the pictures of some of your new babies, sooooo cute!! My Dad raised Black Angus for a few years and I always loved the new babies.
It got warm, actually hot here the first of April so the horses started shedding really early. With the rain and the shedding they have been quite a mess. Worked on them a few days ago, but they still need more grooming.
Love seeing your progress pictures of your house project, it looks great!
Always look forward to your posts.
Until next time.
Jan in KS
I kinda figured you were out playing around…not on Pinterest as much. Forgot to tell you that there is a Morgan Horse Farm about 1/4 of a mile up the road from us. Have a good one Miss Shery. He is Risen!
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Hi Terry! Remember when Dad couldn’t remember your name and he called you Twyla? :o) He told me the other day to say HEY to ‘Twyla’ and he was happy to know you are well. Ok, you must tell me what the name of the Morgan farm that is near you! I bred them and was very involved in the Morgan community for many years. I may know them. shery
Love this post! You so artfully tie together all the elements of spring. I miss being on the ranch at this time of year, but sometimes paths change. It is also wonderful to hear the love and devotion you have for the wondrous things in your life. Thanks for sharing so eloquently!
Happy Easter! Happy Spring! Happy Rejuvenation!
Know all about that waiting to get your projects done. We moved into our "fixer" 6 months ago. Progress is slow we got a new roof, need a foundation on the back side but the garden is beckoning. Still no heat except for little floor heaters and d*#% those things run up the bill.
I have been riding a litle more lately though we are now having a cold snap again in Northern California. My horse Lee looks like I could pluck her like a chicken.
And yes you are right Spring reminds us how beautiful our world is. I try to remember what a gift it is to us.
Yes, He has risen!!! Loved the lesson! What sweet faces, male or female. Cannot wait to see your sink planter. I am now a certified Farmgirl #4048. Badge and certificate came in today’s mail. Have a wonderful Easter Sunday! Blessings from our home in the woods.
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Dear Brenda, Welcome to the sisterhood! It is fun to get that much more MJF in your farmgirl life. Congrats to another Clucker! :o) shery
Shery…I remember those baby days before I had to move south and give up all my farmgirlin’. What amazed me was something my Jersey milkcow used to do. When she was in labor and about to calve, she would turn her head around to her rear, (where the baby was coming out), and make the most lovely, soft moo sounds. She was lovin’ that baby before it was even born. It just about made my heart burst! A few humans on this earth could take lessons from mama cows! I love your Wyoming blog. My daughter used to live in Cheyenne. Beautiful country! That and Montana!!!!!!
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Victoria, Yes, you are so right about mama cows having an entirely different kind of voice when they talk to their babies…especially the newborn. It is a very soft, melodic moo-coo. When we witness such things, it is pure love and love is food for the soul. shery
I would be interested in seeing what you do with the galvanized tubs. . .love the sink.
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Hi Ann, I think they will have either flowers or veggies in them. I found another one today at the ranch near the site of an old homestead. I DO want to make a fairy garden. I don’t know why it appeals to me, but I saw one in an old tub and it just looks like something I would have played with for hours as a little girl. I guess I still like to ‘play’. Thanks for stopping in! shery
Aaaawww I want one of the babies!!! They are so cute! Just tonight I was looking at my neighbor’s paint, I know its spring when they open up the back pasture for their horses! Also watching all the traffic which is the tractors driving up and down my road means spring. Time for me to clean out my garden and get it ready…love the dirt in between my fingers!
Happy Easter!
Yep, it is calving season. I had a little catastrophe yesterday here on our ranch. We had a still born calf with a first time mother cow. She was beside herself. Well, as luck would have it there was an older cow that had a healthy baby but she did not want her. The poor little creature got a kick every time she tried to nurse. I tried to put her on the mom that was crying for her dead baby, but she would smell it and then turn away. Well, my grandfather taught me a trick. I skinned the hide off the dead baby and made a little jacket for the healthy baby. I took the calf over and the mother smelled the jacket which had the smell of her baby and hot damn she let the little heifer go to nursing. By late afternoon I took the hide off and there was a happy mom and baby in the pasture. Ah, life on the ranch-there is nothing better.
Now, listen Shery! You got me hooked on this Pinterest site. I LOVE it, but spend way too much time there. LOL! I never knew there was such a site with everything in one place to spend hours gathering so much information. I have to set a time limit or I could be there all night!
Happy Easter and Happy Spring!
Treese/Colorado Cowgirl
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Hi Treese, I think we should blame my sister! She told me about it! I just started a ‘ranch’ board; it really is a great place to store info online.
Yeppers, that is also how we graft calves. It has never failed us. It is a little graphic for the faint of heart, but the dead calf can save another in need of a mama. The ‘cape’ tied on with baling twine fore & aft works like a charm. Pouring old perfume and other so-called scent helps to accomplish a successful draft RARELY work unless you have a granny kind of a cow that will take anything. That just doesn’t happen with range cattle. If it isn’t HER calf, you can FirGET it! The smell of her calf and the graft calf mingle and then become one. Everybody is a winner! Hope the rest of your calving goes well for you! shery
Hi Shery! I’m glad to see things are thawing and greening up in your neck of the " high plains".
I love the little sink you found, and the way you got to find it too! Lucky farmgirl you are out on horseback doing your "junkin"! Thanks for sharing the images of the baby calves… so cute… I bet those Bull’s grow out of that phase in a hurry though! Is that red room your porch? I love the red walls and yellow chest together… so bright and cheery! And, the weather-vane is a precious find too! I sea you are off to a great start this spring. Happy Easter and happy ridin’ my dear!
Love,
Deb
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Hi D-Boz!! Thanks for the kudos, sista. Yes, the red room is the porch…going with barn colors inside and out — saves on paint color choices around here :o) I giggled at your possible spelling booboo: sea instead of see, but in YOUR case it fits!!! ha. ~ shery
Shery: I am re-living my farm and ranch days through you. You are such a good writer and photographer and I just can hardly wait until your next blog. Your home project will enhance your life and the sink will be perfect. Happy spring!
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Oh Bonnie, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind encouragement!!! shery
Oh geeze! That was a spelling error!!! But, you are right. It fits! hahah!!! Your porch is going to be farmgirl fab a licious! Happy spring my dear!
Thank you for sharing. Not too many people in your position are so gracious. Your article was very poignant and understandable. It helped me to understand very clearly.
Hi Shery,
A quick question, our Dexter had her first bull calf this past December. I milk the momma and love it! Now we are choosing the future of the calf, of course we are a bit attached! Do you sell most bull calves at auction? Or raise for beef yourselves? Thanks Terces
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Hi Terces! Yes, we sell ALL of our bull calves which are steers by the time they’re 2 months old (castrated). Like you, it is really easy for me to get attached to animals and so I do NOT go there with the cattle. I do have some favorite gentle cows that will eat treats from my hand, but they’re not really pets. We haven’t raised a beef to butcher. Sometimes there is a dry cow, but we haven’t done that either for several years . We’ve never held a steer back. Friends of our’s always butcher a beef and we buy from them. I help them cut & package and go home with full coolers. A whole beef is just WAY too much for my husband and I. We do not eat beef all the time. My husband could, but I have to have a more varied diet! Confession: venison is my favorite meat. And, I don’t eat meat everyday either. I love vegetables better than anything else. shery