Shery: When you’ve had enough of winter sometimes the only place to turn is inside. Had one of our worst rainstorms of the year last weekend. Since we are moving to a smaller house with more land, I don’t have a lot of choice but to eliminate "Stuff". I actually have a studio area which I will not have in the future so downsizing the saved materials is so necessary. It made me kind of sad though because I work so much now there is not much time for that any more. I used to do watercolors which is a great project for when you’re laid up maybe incorporate some into collages with your magazine cast offs.
Horse dethatching as I call it will have to wait. Mine is so bad I can literally pluck the hair off like a chicken.
Will think of you in the next few weeks.

Hi Shery! Great post, very motivating! I’m doing the spring cleaning/re-feathering the nest thing here too…sometimes exhausting and overwhelming, but worth it! The good news is once you have something organized really well, it tends to stay that way-at least somewhat, lol!
I love your house and all your "stuff". I’ve been separated from my stuff for over a year now, and I have to tell you that sometimes I miss it, but mostly I don’t – it’s nice to have a break from it for sure.
I sent you an email a couple weeks ago, did you ever get it? I just remarked on how much we have in common, I collect many of the same things you do, and am into arts and crafts as well. What kinds of crafts do you do? I’m into mixed media and scrapbooking, I’ve been featured in the Somerset Studios line of magazines several times, are you familiar with those?
Also, I wanted to ask you; I signed for the Farmgirl forum, and never got a response back so that I could start participating, do you know what I should do about that?
Also, where is your Farmgirl Handmade show going to be? I’d love to see it!
Good luck with your surgery, and
happytrails!
Carlene
http://www.carlenefederer.blogspot.com/
PS-your fuzzy pony looks like mine, only Flossie manages to tangle her mane up into dreadlocks, lol!

Thank you for asking about the show. It will be right here in Upton, Wyoming on April 16th. Carlene, I emailed you back. Hope you get it. I didn’t receive your previous emails though. Maybe we’ll have better luck this time. ??

Hey there…my friend
Your room looks great…I need to get to thinning my down too. I have to decide what craft is my fav and stick with it…to much going on in mine. I will see you soon:)…bring some pumpkin choc chip bread:)

Oh Shery!!! You always write in a way that makes me feel as though I’m right there with you! Of course, like many other readers of your blog, I am/was buried in the PhD ‘stuff’ myself. Be grateful that you tackled it with intention rather then being forced to do it.

Even though I’d begun the process last spring, and have managed to dig my way through our first floor, creating a lighter, cleaner, simpler, happier space there, I had not kept up the motivation to do the same in our basement, which was truly buried, not only in my family’s 25+ years of stuff, by my parents 62+ years of accumulated stuff, too!

All those months of procrastination finally caught up with me. Our basement flooded the end of February and, ready or not, willing or not, it suddenly became a project that HAD to be done, ASAP! Not fun. We lost so, so much. Unfortunately, some of what was lost were irreplaceable family ‘treasures’ and memorabilia. Shoulda, woulda, coulda…

I just keep reminding myself that it’s all just ‘stuff’. Amazing how attached we get to ‘stuff’, though…isn’t it?

Hope your surgery goes well and that you’re back in the saddle again soon. Enjoy your newly created space. Every woman needs a (room) space of her own.

Your posts are always a joy to read. Thanks for sharing your life with us.

-Ruth

Yes Mam…. you’ve been reading my mail! Got the same darn thing going on around here! It’s just so hard to let go of all that wonderful stuff that just has to be good for somethin… someday… I’m proud of you cowgirl…. now I need to do it. LOVE the idea of your Farmgirl Handmade Show… our farmgirls keep talkin about that TOO! See what an inspiration you are. Love your banners too! What a great fun idea and they look so pretty! Take care of that knee… you’ll be back on that trusty steed of yours in no time.

Hey Shery,
Last Spring I cleaned every nook and cranny of my home to be rid of items that I no longer felt attached to so that I could put out some of my "primitives" that I love. I had "saved" for a farmhouse later, but decided to enjoy them and "bloom where I’m planted." Now I love and enjoy those things each day that are in "their" place and are usable as well. Crocks are one of the great loves that I have and also use. I made homemade sauerkraut this past summer and it is great! I would love to have the soup recipe for sauerkraut that your farmgirls had at your meeting. If I were close by, I would give you all some sauerkraut…it makes great Reuben sandwiches, Turkey Pastrami is great with it as well. Also, it is as quoted in Mary Jane’s book, "the poor man’s physician."

Thank you for always writing such an interesting post and beautiful pictures!!

Reba

Shery,
I have so much enjoyed your blog postings over this long, cold winter in VT. This last post really hit me between the eyes…I can so relate: there’s a room upstairs that I can’t even get into it’s so full of excess stuff, and have been procrastinating, despite the books on organizing and de-cluttering I read to get me psyched up to do something about it. But your confessions of being a closet hoarder, pictures and wry humor may just be the impetus for me! One can only hope, and the good feeling you describe when you succeeded is very motivating! Thank you!!!

Thanks, Shery, once again for your inspirational words and what a fabulous and ambitious farmgirl chapter you have. I’m envious! I look forward to the April Cluck for the banner instructions. Good luck with your surgery – knee surgery is not for wimps of which you are assuredly not! Ann
P.S. I love your blue canning jar lamp. Did you make it? Very sweet.

Help! What if we need it later, because times are bad???

hi Shery, good luck with your surgery, I hope you have a quick and speedy recovery!
Hording is worse when you’re in town than when your in the country, you can hide it all better on the farm! blessed be! carol branum

Shery,
Your words and images brought me tears and joy today. I grew up with Washoe Indians, or Paiute as we knew them in the Great Basin. I remember vividly the Indiana Reservations and " sectioned housing" they lived on and wondering why they lived as they did. I have had the wondrous joy of experiencing a Pow Wow in Phoenix Arizona. I’ve hiked the mountains where the Hopi lived for thousands of years, touched the walls of their caves and tried to feel what it was like to have the entire world as their backyard. We’ve visited the Plymouth Plantation where we saw the Wampanoag Indians share some of their dances and stories.
As long as I can remember I have mourned what happened to our Native American people in this country. I know that not all tribes were perfect or harmless in their efforts to survive. It seems no MAN has been able to accomplish this great task, but their way of looking at the earth, our place in it and their great appreciation for art, nature and a spiritual guiding force is something we can all still learn from.
Your words today are good medicine!
Thanks for all the links too. I am off to have a look and a listen!
Sending good medicine back to you!
Deb

Just Beautiful! I have had little exposure to the kind of events/history you relay here; THAT’S A SHAME b/c My own heritage I have just discovered in the past 25 years is the CREEK INDIANS..w my grandmother Rachel Lee-Mobley of the LEES OF BILLY’S ISLAND in the Okeefenokee swamp region. How I wish we had been more connected to our past sooner, but thank God for this communication/via the internet that we can become more informed and educated re our history. Jonell Williams-Harrison from the James N Mobley line

That was lovely! Thank you for the tour! It was very spiritual!

This was such a beautiful and uplifting treat! Thank you so much for sharing all the photos and links. Many of them brought me to tears. ~~~

Shery…WOW! WOW! I witnessed these dances at the Native American Days celebration in Sheridan, WY…thank you for sharing these that brought back so many wonderful memories. You rock, as my granddaughter would say!

Shery, I love all your posts, but I think this is one of my favorites. It brought tears to my eyes over and over. Absolutely beautiful!

Karin Farmgirl #2708

Shery, This was one of your best blogs! I have always been facsinated and admired Native American Indian culture. Your pictures are beautiful and thank you for all of the wonderful links. I loved the Amazing Grace video and the Brule’N Airo "Spirit Horse". It all touched my heart!
Blessings to you for sharing this wonderful blog.

O.k! I’m ready to go! I’m always a fan of good old fashioned daydreaming… what else can you do when you’re looking at snow covered ground? We have been too! I grew up in the Great Basin of Northern Nevada and our family ( my dad mostly) loved to camp. So, that’s what we did for family vacations. As an adult I camped with my husband and our "pack" at the time before we all had kids and traded in our back packs and camp stoves for pack and plays and car seats.
Somehow we never made it back into the mountains camping… Our son has camped with the Boy Scouts and has learned some important skills. Hubs and I have camped all over the Sierra Mountains, Zion National Park and we spent one magical snowy night at the Grand Canyon in a tent. We loved it! I’m aching to spread my wings out west and Jackson Hole has been calling my name. Now that the kids are teens we would love to take them, go on some hikes, fish, and ride horses…right now, it’s a day dream but ya just never know! As always, you have a way of taking a farmgirl for a fun trail ride where ever you go and the scenery is always fabulous!
Thanks for the beauty and mini-adventure!
Beach Blessings,
Deb

Hey Shery,
Have you checked out what the FARMGIRLS ON THE LOOSE are doing this summer? "Kick Off" is in Baggs, WY on JUNE 28-29 . . . camping, horseback riding, hayride, all kinds of fun stuff on the WOMEN OF THE WILD WEST ROAD TRIP TOUR.
Ya’ outta come join us. Check it out at http://www.farmgirlsontheloose.blogspot.com
‘Twould be great to have you there!
CJ

I’m with you! I am so looking forward to Spring!! My husband and I are talking about our first camping trip this year. We are in Ohio and I’m looking out at snow right now but it wont be long and we will be getting out the tent and rest of our camping gear. Your pictures have made me long for it even more. Dreaming of a campfire, there’s nothing better.
Peace and Blessings to you.

LOVE THIS POST! All the picture montages and the day dreamin’ goin’ on is enough to get a girl into trouble! I loved every minute of this post! I’ve always wanted to ride horses on an adventure and not just a trail ride – nose to butt – style. You have inspired me to start planning some camping for our family this summer and fall. Thanks for your day dreamin’!

AMEN!!

Hi Shery!
Nice to meetcha, I’m a Wyoming cowgirl too! Just found your blog, it’s a lot of fun, I look forward to reading regularly! I’m itching for warmer weather so I can ride my little mare Flossie again, it’s been months! I’m also tired of breaking the ice on the critters water tanks every morning…come on spring!
Have a great weekend, and
happytrails!
Carlene
http://www.carlenefederer.blogspot.com

We camped off and on for three seasons while I was growing up. Depending on the weather sometimes as early as April and as late as October.
As I read the lines of Papa writing home from Yellowstone in 1908, I was thinking of what the Black Hills would look like in the early 1900’s and the trails available. Imagine my surprise when I read further of how close you live, and that you ride there. We were fortunate to visit off and on for 3 years while our son and his family was stationed at Ellsworth AFB outside of Rapid. We loved going there, so thank you for sharing the postcards from there, the photos of your rides, and geocaching rescue friends.
We have had over 6 inches of snow in the last 15 hours, and it was real pretty coming down, snow globe like. At Christmas this would be great, but that was 2 months ago…so ready for spring, the smell of dirt, and planting my vegetable garden, walking at the beach, the smell of a gentle rain.

Shery: You naughty girl…cabin fever is about 20 ft. of snow here in Minnesota and you’ve get me itchin to go up north. It’s hard to wait when you can’t get real warm weather until June. Ugh. But you’re right campin’s in my blood. Hope we’ll both be in the woods this summer. By the way, your blog is fantastic! Love the pictures. Thanks. Bonnie

Shery…I fished Emerald too! Love the Big Horns, course, I’m thinkin’ I’m biased having lived there for a while. Great job, as ever…you rock, as my granddaughter would say! Buck up, Spring IS coming.

LOVE YOUR SITE. YOU HAVE SO INSPIRED ME TO THINK ABOUT CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES THIS SUMMER.
MY HUSBAND AND I RECENTLY WENT TO THE ADIRONDACKS BACK IN OCTOBER. THIS WAS A LIFE LONG DREAM OF MINE, SO WE WENT ON AMTRACK FROM KANSAS. TOOK IN NIAGARA FALLS ON THE WAY AND EVEN SPENT A COUPLE OF DAYS TOURING THE BIG APPLE.
WE WENT HIKING IN THE ADIRONDACKS. FANTASTIC!!!! WONDERFUL, AND FULFILLED ONE OF MY DREAMS. DON’T MISS IT, IT IS SO WORTH THE TRIP. I THINK I WOULD GO IN THE FALL WHEN THE LEAVES ARE DOING AN AMAZING DISPLAY OF COLOR. I HEAR THAT SUMMERTIME YOU HAVE TO FIGHT THE BLACK FLIES.
WELL, BLESS YOU!

Oh Shery,
I just re-read your musings "rough & ready mountain goat girl" and quite frankly, (how did I miss it the 1st time?) I nearly spewed coffee through my nostrils! lol!

Like Mary R. I too often go back & re-read your posts and am amazed how much I miss the first time…
Thanx for the ‘visual’, mountain goat girl! lol!
As much as I luv Glamping in my lil vintage trailer, it’s always nice to get home to a real ‘potty & shower’…and not trying to get dressed in a space the size of a closet…but I always look forward to my camping trips with my gal pals and all the activities & mischief that we get into.
If Spokane were not so far(& gas prices so high) I would be knocking on your door saying, Take me with you on your horse packing trip….& do ya have a spare memory foam pad! lol!
Happy Trails & Wagons HO!

I would like to know how you manage your hectic lifestyle and still have time to produce the MOST WONDERFUL blogs! You are my absolute favorite. I envy your closeness with your farmgirl chapter and you’ve made a decision for me. Join, or create a farmgirl chapter!
Lovely pictures and sentiment, Shery.
Jan

There you go having a good time without me again. Love to see what you and your farm girls friends are doing at your gatherings. Afraid there is only about two foods I do not like and cherries are one of them. I do make hubs a cherry pie once in a while though because we have cherry trees on our property. We could substitute a different flavor of cake mix though and still try your recipe right? I painted one wall in my work room pink. I like pink but cannot wear it. It is just not one of my colors. I think I could drive a pink car though!

You and your friends have such a wonderful time together. You’re all so creative. I always look forward to your blog. I especially love that you share photos and instructions for us on how to do the crafts, recipes, etc. I would definitely want to join your lovely group if I lived near you. Keep up the good work and have fun.

Kathy Lee

This was a Valentine gift in itself…your fun blog! Thanks again for the beautiful words that go so well with your beautiful pictures.

When I worked in the ’70’s at Dwight D Eisenhower Army Medical Center, I remember one of the patient rooms was held special and reserved as the "Pink Room" and it belonged only to "Miss Mamie" Eisenhower when she came to GA. I loved the name and the thought of it then, especially when it was the years of gold, green, and "burnt" orange. My, my how the years have…oh well…they have been good!

I enjoy pink now even more than ever because of a beautiful daughter (30 years old now) that has always LOVED pink!!! And she still does!! So I make "spa" towels, kitchen towels, and even a "lipstick" towel that has pink somewhere on them. We both love it. (Red and green are my most favorite colors though.)

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Oh Shery,
Happy Valentines to you & your sweetheart.
Oh, and how sweet of you to let your 4-legged purrbaby join in the fun with you & your ‘sage hens’ friends.
>^..^<

Thanks for sharing your Valentine Tea with us, looks like a lot of fun.Sure wish I could have been there too. Your kitty is very pretty, looks like she was having fun too. I love pink and red, two of my favorite colors. Happy Valentines Day to you and yours.

You truly make life "delicious"Thanks!

Love your blog – all pink and filled with super ideas. I baked some Valentine cookies today, but used strawberry cake mix, with strawberry frosting, and red sprinkles. Thanks for the inspiration, as always. Happy Valentine’s Day, my friend.

Thanks for the great blog. I actually made the cookies for valentines day and brought them to work. Pink, so cute.

Pink, need you say more! Absolutley perfect 🙂

You need to be a part of a contest for one of the
best blogs on the web. I am going to recommend this website!

The poem is so lovely. The sentiment was just right. Home IS such an important part of my life, that this entry really touched my heart! Thanks for sharing. Pam

Shery: "Yer darn tootin’ home is where they love you" even when you share it with thousands of folks on line. You are blessed with many gifts – writing, photographing, decorating, crafting and caring for horses and people. Bless you for you. Bonnie

Dear Shery – Your poems, stories and pictures just speak to my heart! I soooo enjoy your blog! Thank you for taking the time to uplift us all. I’m in awe of your beautiful horses and miss that part of my life. Anyway, thank you so much for your inspiration.
God Bless!
Shannon

Hi Sheri,
I so love your writing and way of sharing, I look forward to your blog all the time. We are currently living out of doors mostly, we sleep in a yurt and have an outdoor kitchen and bath house, saving money for building a home on our 21 acre farm where we grow food for our restaurants. Some days I think I may never have a home, and others I think I don’t want to move inside … I so loved your sentiments about what makes a home a home. Thank you once again. Terces

Dear Shery…the sheer beauty in this poem is priceless! You are truly blessed! Your poem makes me yearn even more for the big sky country. THANKS AGAIN Happy Trails and lots of WAGS

Your poem says it all. Makes us appreciate what we have for sure. When I was young I was restless and probably didn’t appreciate what home was all about and now that I’m 63 I love what its all about. Peace, security, a haven from the world. Sitting on my front porch in my rocker looking out over the river below me and just losing myself in the beauty.

Shery,
Your blogs always give me joy; the photography and the sentiment are truly shared by me. Thanks for letting me know how many others feel like this. So many of us in our 50’s remember the joy of home and the good life of our moms as homemakers. I was blessed to be a homemaker for the whole of my daughter’s young life and school career. She is out of the house now, married and making a life of her own. But I would never trade those days for what would have been considered a "richer" life. Life has taken unexpected turns and now I work full time outside my home but coming home every day to the house and husband I love, is the true joy in my life. Thanks for sharing that love with me.
bobbie calgaro

I have been trying to decide whether to stay home or go out and get a job…thanks for reminding me that staying home is a legitimate option…and a blessed place to be.

Shery, but, of course, home is best. Having been a Foster kid, I spent so many years not daring to unpack, so to speak. Even after I was on my own. The good thing about this is that I have lived in so many beautiful places over the years…I can call up so much beauty to call "home". right now the White Mountains of New Hampshire is home to me. One of my favorite places so far, though, has been Dayton, Wyoming. Love that place. Love this place too… you can see my problem! Oh, boy. Home IS where we hang our hearts, for sure. Thanks for such a great blog.
Cora jo

We moved quite a bit growing up also. But we always had each other and our traditions. Mom always brought along sheets and blankets so she could make our beds as soon as they were off the moving van. This made it home sooner. We then found all the favorite things in new places, ice cream, parks etc. Our final family move brought us home to my parent’s hometown. And I got to bring my horse along. I had him for 18 years. Now my horses are in my backyard. Gotta love that. Being a quilter, scrap-booker,baker and well you name it- there are lots of pieces of your poem that ring true to me.

Thanks

Shery,

Just read your poem with my 8 year old farmgirl. We loved it! She hasn’t been feeling her best the last couple of days. Thanks for making her smile:) Love the statement about home being where you commit your heart. I am seeing my family’s future changing, possibly moving from the only home we have known. I needed to hear that it may not be about where we came from or a site, it’s where you commit to with hearts and souls together. Again, Thanks!…….Raynita & Kamryn

Shery,
Simply said, Thank you….
And may every moment be a new and beautiful memory…..
<><

My favorite "thing" is holding my four year old grandson’s hand when we go for a walk. You see, he thinks he is too big to hold my hand, so when he does, it is so precious!

My other treasured favorite is our north-woods cabin. We had to tear down the old one this year and are now building a new one. Bittersweet.

A few of my favorite things:
West wind in spring
The color red
My son snuggling in my lap
Reading aloud
Freshly baked bread
Starting seeds indoors in the middle of winter
The list could go on and on… 🙂

Shery, What can I say, I have tried to write and tell you, the words wouldn’t come. How wonderful you have put this into words. I like the Sound of Music too. Charlie and I watch it often, It is his favorite too. I have many favorite things and it would take a while to write, I love much of the same as you. Great reading, Thanks Farm sister.
Juanita farmsister #1020

Wow! I so love reading your blogs. You speak to my heart and inspire me. Thank you for sharing a part of yourself with us. You have made me smile and got me thinking about my favorite things. Spending time with my grandchildren is number one. Other things I love are beautiful gardens, the first fall rain, smell of fresh baked bread, wind blowing through the trees, birdsong, herbs, old things, old movies, the song of crickets and tree frogs, a lovely spring day, the sound of a bubbling creek or rain on a tin roof, bluegrass music, hanging sheets on the line and so much more. You are right, thinking of my favorite things has brought some sunshine to these dark winter days. Thank you. Blessings!

Wonderful post. Some of my favorite things are:

listening to our rooster crow
getting hair-do’s from my 9 year old
hearing my kids succeed in any adventure in their lives
surprises in the mail
enjoying the bounty from our gardens (flower, veggie, and herb)
listening to my father talk about our family history
reading family history e-mails from extended family members
the smell of laundry after it’s dried on the clothesline
the view from my front porch in the warmer weather months
the sight of the first snowfall
listening to Christian music
the smell of coffee brewing
the sound and smell of rain
the full length hippie skirt my mother surprised me with in the mail years ago
the sound and smell of fall leaves
camping with my family
cooking meals over the campfire
…………living simply.

Beautiful way to start my day….

Lovely article. Just a very few of my favorite things ~ the smell of baking, kittens, yarn, my favorite sherpa boots, wide open land interspersed with hills and trees and a creek, farm animals, a home of my own–no mortgage, healthy family, no neighbors, books…I could go on but I will stop here. Thanks for inspiring me to take a moment to reflect on the favorite things in my life.

Melissa
farmgirl #2143

Shery…WOW! And a few of MY favorite things are:
a cabin at the base of the Big Horn Mts. where I raised my children. Sitting at the table next to the east facing window in the very early morn…one at a time, they come out to join me quietly for hot chocolate…my quiet time replaced with the treasures of my heart. And, my grandmothers’ hands…thin-skinned and so soft to my little girl touch…now my grandson touches mine in the same way…gently. And, snowflakes on my tongue and sledding…even grandmas love sledding. And, spring, and summer, and fall and winter…and…life well lived, bumps and all. Thank you, dear friend, for this one. perfect.

I’m new to all of this,sure enjoy reading all of these:)
Rhonda

Happy New Year Shery!

In spite of cold and gray it looks like you’re all making the best of the mid winter blues, grays and whites! I’m not a huge fan of the bitter cold either but like you I’ll make the best of it! Your photos are beautiful as always, and I can just hear the jingling of those bells around Lynn’s horse’s neck ringing across the prairie… Love all your " ranchy" buildings too!
Stay warm…brighter days are comin’!
Love and BEACH blessings,
Deb

I so agree with Pam, your pictures made my heart swell and sing and brought a tear to my eye. What a wonderful way to celebrate mid winter! You have all made the best of the snow and the cold. Such a valuable lesson your sage advice. Cheer up indeed, to be happy is a choice. Even if you find a park in a city, with children sledding you can be a part of it if you choose.Thank you for the beautiful reminder, you made my day. I should have checked in sooner.
P.S.
Timmy is a stunner, and Dolly wears her bells and bows with great style.

I love these notes and pics. I want to refer to this many times.

Awesome, Thanks from Sunny Florida…Luv the Snow, though haven’t ever had to shovel, plow or endure! Luv your Life, keep lettin us have a peek…Hope to get out west this year, haven’t been in a while! Happy Merry 2011…

I live in an area where the change of seasons is not so blatantly obvious, so thank you for reminding me of the beauty of all the seasons!

Thank you for sharing your pictures and activities in your life. Although I dread the cold of winter, you have highlighted the beauty of winter. Love your pictures.

Always look forward to your blog. Your pictures are always so beautiful!

YUMMY!!! All of it!
Looks so warm and festive Shery! Thanks for sharing your little piece of Christmas from the Ranch.
Love and Beach Blessings,
Deb

Looks lovely! How can you leave a picture of a delectable treat like the coconut things and NOT include a recipe 😉 Come on, where’s the recipe?

Can’t wait to make that stuffed pumpkin with, be still my heart … bacon, cream, cheese AND cranberries. Yum. Thanks!

Shery,
As always, you inspire me….Thank you,
as for ‘kitty under the tree’,,,she is the purrrrfect tree skirt decoration! lol!
Every Christmas tree should have a furbaby resting contentedly under it.
Merry Christmas from our humble little farmette to your ranch.
hugz,
gracie
p.s.
every year at this time I make Lavender Macaroons,,,,,’cuz we too love all things ‘coconutty’…. : > )

Shery, I want to move near you. I think you have the best hen house of all! My mom died yesterday and the holidays don’t seem the same. Your house seems so warm and cheery, I wish I was there. God bless you for sharing yourself and ranch.

Wow! What a wonderful report. I’m jealous because I wasn’t at the "Hen Party"…Can I come next year….all the way from South Carolina?? I could bring some oysters, shrimp, crabs and other good ole Charleston dishes. Your articles are really heartwarming. Thank you and Merry Christmas. My best, Peggy

Shery,
I had a wonderful time @ our little get together. Laughter is the best medicine:) I always have a great time with all my farmgirl friends. I anticipate our next get together will be food for our souls…our progressive Xmas party and house tours will be delightfull…Can’t wait my friend:) Oh and your blog is fab! as usual:)

OK – you covered most of my bases too – love to quilt, tree and house decorated. My daughter helped me put lights on our pasture fence. No one would see lights out front of the house anyway. So we can enjoy the ones out back. Have used up over 20 pounds of flour and 21 pounds of butter this baking season. LOVED the pumpkin that is beautiful. You should try making marshmallows – VERY EASY and fantastic. Gifts bought and wrapped – but never done till it is all over. Merry Christmas, Cheri

Shery,
I wrote up a comment yesterday and when I hit submit it came back that I had an incorrect e-mail address and it was gone. Did not have time to re-type everything so I have came back to try again today. I’ll just sum it all up and say I love everything that you have pictured and would love to be one of your farm girl friends and be a part of your hen parties. Your baubles are beautiful! Have a Merry Christmas!

Love it! Thanks and merry Christmas!!

Merriest Christmas Shery! Enjoy each and every moment from the soft sound of the cattle, to the twinkling of lights and ornaments, to the incredibly scrumptious bite of fudge. The Blessed Savior delights in the fullness of your life!

Here in southern California on the high desert we have Juniper bushes, not trees – they grow huge and round, but not much taller than 7 feet and I love the blue berries and the green of the spikey leaves. I enjoy your blog so much – we grew up on a ranch and then my kids and my husband and I had horses for years. Sure miss ’em. Your pictures are gorgeous and I am grateful for your references, in this very commercial, and sometimes uninterested world, to the reason for Christmas, the King of Kings. Merry Christmas!

You just gave me a great idea. Thank you a lot. Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Shery!

I LOVE so many things about this post…Where to start?
Juniper trees… We have them on our property out west in the high desert of Northern Nevada… The blue birds love to build nests in them. I can smell those berries just thinking about it! I can also remember crunching along in the snow on a bright sunny afternoon surrounded by the smell of those tree’s and fresh wide-open space and air. Winter in the high desert is SWEET and quite a contrast to the beauty of more traditional Christmas scenes here in New England.
We are kindred spirits when it comes to themed trees… I ADORE looking at them but I don’t have the heart to trade in my tried and true decorations (or the new ones we give each other every year as a family tradition) for A themed one.

I love love love your natural table centerpieces for your farmgirl gathering… It’s so true that those things that please us gals are often lost on our men ( dears that they are)… That’s why our gal pal friendship’s mean so much! CHRISTmas magic is in the air and if we could all just be a little more open to it year round, we would be MUCH better for it!

Wishing you the best of all this season has to bring.
Beach Blessings from Americas hometown…
Deb

Once again, Shery, you have captured the true spirit of Christmas. I love your Juniper tree and wish we had them here. I look forward to your blog and stop what I am doing to read it the minute it’s printed.
Thank you and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours

I LOVE your post!! SO pretty and such great ideas as well. And YAY!! Wyoming!! My home! 🙂

I so love reading your posts. I have never been any further west than west virginia, and reading about your life and where you live is always refreshing. I hope you have a very merry Christmas.

farmgirl #2143

Shery:
What a great post. You are a wonderful writer and I enjoy reading each and every one of your stories. And your pictures are terrific. I only wish I lived closer so I could get to know you personally and share your love of antiques and horses. Have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Rusty

Agree – much ado- I love that a lot is expected of me – but i don’t expect it of others. The kids LOVE that I love the spirit of the season – but I am coming to really look forward to our church’s GIVING Tree delivery – where I load up not only the suburban, but also our 2 horse trailers full of gifts for 35 families. The high school youth group prays with the families and paints the kids faces. That is the truest meaning – the sharing of the REASON for the SEASON … and the giving. But, I did string lights along 400 ft of pasture fence – it is great. Have used 4 rolls of paper to wrap, 18 pounds of butter and 20 pounds of flour for baking and I will be cleaning as well – thanks for a great post.

I agree! Easing into winter is much better than being blown into it from all sides isn’t it? LOL " Winter on the ranch" sounds challenging and exciting all at the same time. Sorry to hear about your slip outside though! I would love to see the hat you were wearing! 🙂 I think my hubby has one like it. It’s the side flaps that make it!
As always the messages you weave in and out of your beautiful photography have me feeling grateful for you and this blog!
I want to reach out and hug Ribbon around her pretty neck and I’m sure we had your wild turkeys cousins here last week scratching in the leaves and the garden! I’m as ready for a long New England winter as I’m gonna be!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours and a BIG farmgirl hug too!
Love,
Deb

I found a photo of you at our Thanksgiving dinner table many years ago! Sweet memories, friend. I’m thankful for you!

Shery,

It is always such a joy to look at your pictures and poetry. I always have a smile on my face as I read.

Thank you and happy holidays to you and yours.