What's New on the Horizon

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Rural Farmgirl René Groom
[Previous Rural Farmgirl, April 2009 – May 2010]
I think that it is true that no matter what state—or for that matter country—you call home, the horizon has been changed to include that of wind turbines. As I recently drove down the highway en route to my grandparents’ home some 100 miles away, I couldn’t help but think of how far I have come in the debate.
In 2005, when I first noticed the turbines going up along this road, I found myself irritated by those “eyesores” disrupting my daydreams, and wondering why they couldn’t find somewhere less visible to place them. I hated having my scenic views disrupted by “progress.” I liked being able to look out the car window and envision the buffalo running wild, mustangs running free and Indians sitting up on the cliff line. I could see them there, in my mind’s eye, and be lost in the stories they told. But it was a little harder with those turbines standing there shouting, “Hey, there is something new on the horizon.”

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  1. Noeletta says:
    June 1, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    I have always like to watch wind turbines from the first time I saw them. It amazes me how people come up with such wonderful ideas and are able to make them come alive. I think they are beautiful when they are all turning in unison in the wind. They remind me of the little pin wheels I would hold while riding my bike down through the field headed to school so many years ago. My husband and I have often thought it would be an awesome idea to have one of our own to supplement our own electricity.

    Nicely written!
    Noeletta

    Reply
  2. Gary says:
    June 4, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    Good Bloggie Rene’…
    I saw some in California, and when I was in College, we went to Boone, N.C. where they were testing one with a span equal to a 747 plane… it made a BIG "WOOOSH" when it swung ’round…
    You’re right, there are pros and cons, but I’d whole heck of a lot see them on the horizion than a clear-cut strip mined Mountain, or God forbid… yet another nuclear abomination.
    Yep… I’ll go with Wind.
    GodSpeed to Y’all…!
    Gary
    in Tampa

    Reply
  3. Nancy Landrum says:
    June 5, 2009 at 4:01 am

    I was in Holland a few years ago and saw my first "wind farm". It was by the sea. I thought it was beautiful like some exotic field of flowers or an art installation. I was told that the people of the area were unhappy with it because it was ugly. I guess it is all in the eye of the beholder. However, in today,s world, ugly or not we should be thrilled to find new and better ways to harvest energy.
    Be good to yourself.

    Reply
  4. Peg says:
    June 7, 2009 at 3:03 am

    Here in Maine wind turbines are a hotly debated topic also. I cringe to think of them on our pretty hills and in our treelines but I feel as you do…on the fence. Turbines mean jobs , clean energy, cleaner world. It seems as though everytime the prospect of planting a few comes up there is a group of people up in arms against them doing it. Many of these people are retired folks who moved in from other places and paid for their view dearly. Even though I cannot blame them for complaining and fighting progress in their area I also have to wonder if they would be so against them if they were being planted in their old home state.
    We were in Aroostook county (The County it is so big)recently and there a few farms there that have put up one or two for personal use.In a way they were restful to watch and the skyline in The County is a lot like the skylines in parts of the West. Long and clean and goes on forever.
    We desperately need to become independent of foreign oil/energy so I guess I am going to bite the bullet on this one. Like everything else that has changed in Maine I will get used to seeing them I am sure. Hopefully they will add to our lovely state and not detract from its beauty.

    I am far more upset with the logging practices here than I am a wind turbine farm.

    Reply
  5. GarykPatton says:
    June 15, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    Hello, can you please post some more information on this topic? I would like to read more.

    Reply
  6. Sherry says:
    June 16, 2009 at 2:21 pm

    You have all spoken so eloquently–about a topic so very important. Here in VT the governor is largely opposed as they disrupt the views. Yet he totally supports extending VT Yankee and not requiring the owner to put any more money into the decommissioning fund in spite of there being not nearly enough money in it. As it stands Entergy will be shutting down and leaving the state with a horrible mess to deal with. I would far and away rather see wind turbines than know I am polluting the environment into eternity, never mind into the next generation! Nuclear is NOT green and I am sick of the hype saying it is!

    I have loved gazing at wind turbines. There is something awesome about knowing they are entirely independent of foreign oil and are not leaving anything lethal in their wake.

    Thanks to all of the above people for some thoughtful reading.

    Reply
  7. Barb says:
    June 26, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    My hubby & I have just come back from a great vacation to South Dakota and Minnesota. We stayed off the interstates and took back roads all the way from Colorado. Coming up over the hill to see windmills as far as the horizon almost took my breath away. they are so huge it’s kind of creepy, but awsome at the same time. Much better than all those gravel pits we drove by.

    Reply
  8. Alyssa says:
    June 27, 2009 at 1:23 pm

    Unfortunately, people aren’t being told the whole truth about these monstrosities. In my home state of NY, they have a few but a lot of communities have banned them, mainly because there is such a downside to them. How much energy do they REALLY produce? It costs a fortune to get their energy on the grid, so until they establish a new one, I think the cost benefits are negligible. Also, they touted a lot of local, green jobs but in reality, the companies looking to set up in the state were all european, and had their own contractors,etc. the amount of jobs created, again, was negligible. Have you all thought of the destruction erecting these behemoths does to the land? It can never be re-claimed, not for generations, if these things become obsolete. who’s going to dismantle them and haul the away? Or will they someday fall into disuse and disrepair, rusting and broken on our mountain rides and hillsides? the trouble is, people have bought into the clean energy/green thing so much so that they don’t think things through, along with future consequences. all we are doing is making somebody else rich, namely these green energy companies,and their CEO’s. For instance, I will no longer buy those twisty, green lightbulbs and am now stocking up on the old-fashioned incandescent kind. Why? Because the new kinds are much more hazardous to people, animals, and the environment. They’re toxic! Did you know you cannot dispose of these things in the regular manner? you pratically have to call the hazmat team to get rid of them! I had a couple I wanted to dispose of, and I even brought them to our city’s "green" energy exploration center, and they wouldn’t take them, and told me I had to call a special truck to pick them up! Because they contain mercury, they said in case they broke, the area has to be cleared the fire dept. has to be called – ridiculous! Like ethanol, maybe we will soon find out there are unintented consequences to everything, even these Green energy "solutions".

    Reply

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Transplants

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Rural Farmgirl René Groom
[Previous Rural Farmgirl, April 2009 – May 2010]
In the 25 years that my husband and I have been married, we have moved several times. I, being the more adventurous one, wasn’t as stressed by the changes as he was. I saw each adventure as an opportunity to usher in new things, new people and new experiences…blooming where I was planted. I could always hit the ground running, embracing the new venue in which to learn and laugh and love. My husband, on the other hand, warms up more slowly to change, to new people and new experiences. His family roots are dug in deep and uprooting them in any way always brought a time of adjustment for him. I have stated many times in our life together that he is my roots and I am his wings.

  1. Noeletta says:
    May 27, 2009 at 2:31 pm

    This is a wonderful piece. I love the photos to go with it to. I think you should think about altering it slightly to make a childrens book about moving and change. Such a good message! Thanks for sharing.
    Noeletta

    Noeletta,

    Thank You, what a great Idea!

    Reply
  2. Heather (Pickles) says:
    May 28, 2009 at 9:28 am

    Rene – thanks for sharing your comparison!! Such a wonderful way to think of it. You rock! 🙂

    "Pickles" 🙂

    Reply
  3. Lorene says:
    May 28, 2009 at 9:33 am

    I agree…a lovely piece and very wise as well. May your berries be as sweet as you writing. Thank you so much.

    Reply
  4. Florence says:
    May 28, 2009 at 9:35 am

    I love your story, we too planted some new raspberry starts last fall, they came through our snowy winter and we have lots of blossoms on them.

    Reply
  5. Blair says:
    May 28, 2009 at 9:54 am

    I totally relate to to you and your husband’s reactions to moving. My fiance and I recently had a very similar experience when we bought our first place. As excited as I was about all the projects and possibilites, he was just as nervous. But like your raspberries, we have both become comfortable in our new spot and have begun to grow in so many ways…we’ve planted our first garden using the knowledge his mother and father passed on to him as a child and look forward to everything we will learn and experience together. I will have to pass on the "roots and wings" idea. That is exactly how we compliment each other. Thanks for that wonderful blog!

    Blair~ There is no better feeling than when we realize that the roots have taken hold. Pass on the Roots and wings…. I am glad that can "claim it" as well.

    Reply
  6. Wendy Zenor says:
    May 28, 2009 at 9:56 am

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. I understand the moving and adjusting to new places. I was a military "brat" and then a military wife. Finally we have been in the same area for 12 years since my husband is now retired from the military. We did buy an acreage in this area last August and I have been putting in my first garden this spring, so I also understood about how transplants sometimes do and sometimes don’t take root. :-)It’s cool to see my little plants that I grew from seed take hold in the ground when I transplanted them. 🙂 It’s also cool to see how our family has learned about how to put down their roots when they were "transplanted". Thanks for sharing! It was nice to read this and understand!! 🙂

    WOW.. a military Kid and wife, that is amazing. My two oldest are in the Military., so I get a little of what that is all about. Thank you for sharing with me.

    Reply
  7. Reba says:
    May 28, 2009 at 10:11 am

    This is a thought-provoking piece, especially since my husband and I both are transplants. We are grateful that we did because we have bloomed here. My mother-in-law told me that I would "never get Kenneth to leave here" meaning the life-time of living in her small town (except for the Military years). Needless to say, almost 17 years later, we are growing and thriving well, and we are so thankful for the many experiences and new friends. Now, we are thinking of moving into the mountains and a more rural setting. There again is the time of adjustment for my husband. I could be "ready" in a week or so. But we’ll change a bit slower since we’re older "transplants" to give him time to adjust. I surely don’t want to lose this "plant"(my husband)!

    Reply
  8. the hobbit says:
    May 28, 2009 at 10:26 am

    Before we settled down we moved from N.H.to Louisiana up to Maine then down to Florida. I felt like a yoyo.My husbands Co. transfered him wherever he was needed.We then had the chance to come back to N.H.I adjusted to all new places,my husband was slow to come around and make new friends but, we are back where we belong with many stories to tell.Being near the land is what is most important.Recently transplanted rhubarb and blueberries(2 different varieties)and know that the watching and waiting is a work in progress.Do enjoy your blog however can’t always get to it with all the chores that need to be addressed at planting time.Keep up the good work!

    Reply
  9. Debbie Shue says:
    May 28, 2009 at 10:45 am

    Being a "transplant" from Texas to the state of Washington I can so relate to the raspberries. Thanks for the great article.

    Reply
  10. Rebekka says:
    May 28, 2009 at 11:37 am

    Rene- I agree, what a wonderful book you have there. I can see a whole series of lessons learned at Rene’s Homestead;)
    And on a selfish note, we will get to try some of the berries right!
    Rebekka

     

    I will put you down for some of the "harvest" LOL

    Reply
  11. Sue says:
    May 28, 2009 at 12:45 pm

    I too was one of those who moved often when we were still at home with the folks. Now after 35 years in the same house in town, my husband and I will move to a country house 30 miles away this summer. How different it will be as the closest neighbor is a mile away. We can hardly wait to be transplanted to the country. And we plan on taking some of our rasberry bushes with us! So, your thoughts certainly hit home with me. Thank you for this lovely article.

    Sue

    Reply
  12. Brenda says:
    May 28, 2009 at 1:09 pm

    We also were transplanting raspberries this year. We already had plenty but my husbands grandfather passed away last year and he had the best raspberries when we would visit. So my husband and other cousins are taking some of his grandfathers plants hoping to have the same results. We will see. We have different soil and not as far north in Michigan as they came from so the end result may not be the same. But my husband says no matter, it is like having some of grandpa right here with us. If you do write a childrens book as the previous blogger suggested, I have a daughter that is an illustrator. That is her dream to illustrate childrens books.

    Hey, I love the idea of a farmgirl illustrator….I will totally save your email address 🙂

    Reply
  13. Michele says:
    May 28, 2009 at 1:19 pm

    Rene’,
    I have always embraced the "bloom where you are planted" philosophy. It isn’t always easy; like when you live in a condo and want to be on a farm; but you are so on target
    Michele

    Reply
  14. Diana says:
    May 28, 2009 at 2:10 pm

    Wow Rene’,

    This was an amazing piece! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.

    May your day be blessed,

    Diana

    Thank You so very much for your kindness. I am truly blessed!

    Reply
  15. Gary says:
    May 28, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    Great Bloggie Rene’…!
    I can really relate to being "used" to relocating, as my Life sometimes seems like one long relocation. Now, I am preparing to move back to my native Smokey Mountains, having finished a long journey of career. This will be a very Happy move.
    I love that boxed garden Y’all made… that is a very cool idea, and I’m gonna try that.
    Thank You for the idea, and…
    GodSpeed to Y’all…!
    Gary
    in Tampa

    Reply
  16. Wendie says:
    May 28, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    This is the first time I have read your blog. I too am a transplant. My parents moved from Ohio to Fla when I was six and since he worked for a department store we transferred almost every two years. I went to 9 schools in 12 years. Then I moved to Tennessee when I was 30 and have been in the same town for 29 years. We are planning on moving south about an hour and half away to Chattanooga to be near the grandkids who moved there 3 years ago. I look at all of my plants starting to bloom now, the bradford pear trees have grown so big and I have a lovely view of the mountains I will miss but 3 years away from the grandkids is too long. Luckily I work from home and also take care of my husband who had a stroke 3 years ago so this will be a good transplant for us. Thanks for sharing. I loved your story.
    Wendie in Maryville, TN

    Reply
  17. Pam says:
    May 29, 2009 at 6:10 am

    Rene’, it is clear that God led you on a special path, and you were keen to all of life’s lessons. You are a gifted writer, and you share from your heart. This path has allowed you to touch others’ hearts.
    I have moved several times, but I too have been in this one home for 9 years. As I get older, my desire is to deepen my roots, and enjoy the bloom [my 6 precious grandkids!].
    I look forward to each of your stories. I agree with the other comments…I see a book in your future, or at least I hope for one!

    Thank You Pam. How honoring! Your words are so up-lifting and make me that much more grateful for the oppertunity to write. Blessings!

    Reply
  18. SuzieQ says:
    May 29, 2009 at 6:25 am

    Sometimes God sends us very positive messages. My husband has been hinting that we would prob. have to move from central Tx to Dallas area. Last night he confirmed no more hinting. I have been in my house 25 years and all my family including grandkids live within 30min drive. After having leaking eyes for a while I went and looked at my flower garden and then started gathering the larkspur seeds, hibicus, and amarylis seeds. We have started looking at houses in the Dallas area on the computer. To be close to my husbands job I get a very small yard and from what I have seen no landscape done. So long story short your message came right in time. Thank you.

    Suzie~

    Good-Byes are always so hard, even for us adventurous types. And when your roots are dug in, all the harder I suppose. I hope that it wont take long for you to "bloom" in your new location. It isnt true, you know, you can always go home again!  Otherwise it wasn’t really "home".  Best of all to you!  I look forward to hear about your adventure.

    Reply
  19. Kathy Aubrey says:
    May 29, 2009 at 9:54 am

    Rene,
    You are amazing but I knew that when I first met you. You have such a way with words. Even though I have been back to my roots for 6 years. The 35 that I was gone was 35 years to long. Your Rasberry story says it all. Keep up that great writing I love your articles and can hardly wait to pick up your pieces of writing
    Love ya girl
    Kathy in Prosser

    Reply
  20. Margie Smith says:
    May 29, 2009 at 4:57 pm

    Rene, I loved your account of being transplanted. I was transplanted 36 years ago from a small town in MD to a very very small town in WV. When I husband died 6 years ago, all thought I would go back to MD. Not!!! I transplanted and grew well. The comment about making your account in a childs book is great. I work in a public library and a book like that would be great. We have a federal prison here and many familys with young children move here for a short time. I am sure they could relate to you and your story. I am a farmgirl wannabe. I don’t have the energy that it would take to do all the things required for a farm to be sucessfull. Keep up the good work.

    Reply
  21. Debbie says:
    May 29, 2009 at 6:51 pm

    I love your blog! I look forward to each and every one. I just transplanted my herbs. Sometimes, transplanting is for their or even your own good. Right away they looked happier in their new home. It doesn’t always happen that way but sometimes being transplanted is just what the heart needs. Thank you for sharing your insights with us. Blessings to you and all your transplants.

    Reply
  22. katie says:
    June 4, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    I grew up in Spokane, my husband and I and our children transplanted to western Washington for many years. Upon retiring, it was good to come back home to eastern Washington. We have a few acres with a great big veggie and flower garden with lots of raspberries that a friend was kind enough to share with us. Some chickens and our cat Daisy… clothes hanging on the line and grandkids to pull carrots in the summer and go sledding in the winter,life is good. Thank you for reminding me how blessed I am…

    Welcome back to Eastern WA. Sounds like you are back to "blooming where you are planted….Great JOB!

    Reply
  23. alaina sato says:
    June 18, 2009 at 1:56 am

    I have just started to read bits of this homepage and to be honest this peice is the first one I stumbled into. Funny, I almost chose the ID name "transplant" for myself! I am an Eastern Washington farmers daughter, transplanted to a country with the highest rate of foreign imported food in the world. Yet I live in an area with the potential to be 100% self sufficient and variety that may even surpass Italy. Got you curious? Hokkaido, Japan..right across from
    Russia. I enjoyed your article immensly! I could go on and on about the transplanting process but I have friends coming with new raspberry plants for my garden on Sunday and I have to go dig some holes.

    Alaina Rae

    Reply

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Chores!

Posted on May 26, 2009 by Rural Farmgirl René Groom
[Previous Rural Farmgirl, April 2009 – May 2010]
Chores
Why is getting to the post office such a chore? I hate it. I would rather do almost any other chore then go to the post office. I would rather do the dishes, mop the floor, and even scrub the toilets before making my way to that building. The one thing that I miss the most about working in a downtown office is being able to put the envelope in the outgoing mail bin and knowing it would magically leave. Poof, gone. I loved that!
It isn’t that I don’t like the people there—I do. We have the nicest folks that work in our local post office. They are fun, funny, and witty. And I always seem to run into someone from the community that I haven’t seen in awhile and have a lovely conversation that enriches my day. The building itself is quite lovely and historical, too. I rarely have to wait in line for too long. So what is the deal?

Continue reading →

  1. Noeletta says:
    May 26, 2009 at 5:16 pm

    Rene’, One of my least favorite chores is sorting socks! I hate it. I fill a basket full and run out of matched socks before I have to do it. It is not a hard task, you could say it is even mindless work. However, I don’t like to do it.

    Keep up the good work.
    Noeletta

    Ha-ha.. I got rid of that chore a while back, by only buying one style for the boys all white.. they all match.

    My mom use to make us saftey pin ours together before they hit the laundry basket…. Brilliant!

    Reply
  2. Gary says:
    May 28, 2009 at 2:55 pm

    Good Bloggie Rene’…
    We all have our least favorite chore ‘eh…mine is "dusting"… grrr arrgh… yet I do it regularly, because I cannot stand it if I "know" my Home isn’t clean… never mind no-one else can see it. Oh dear, we do grow up to be our Parents don’t we.
    As for the Post, you are right, and I found a little contract Post Office at the nearby College, so I rented a box there. It’s very handy, because contract P.O’s can accept UPS and FedEx, and nooo junk mail, so I walk there once a week and collect all the mail. It’s a nice 3 mile walk, and my life just isn’t complicated enough to need my mail daily.
    I really like your Bloggies, because they’re about Life, and we all share it, or sometimes just bear it.
    GodSpeed to Y’all…!
    Gary
    in Tampa

    Reply
  3. carol branum says:
    May 29, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    hi rene,i have a few, cleaning the barn, cleaning the kitty litter box are a couple of my worst,i also love getting hand wirtten letters,and recieving them, i always try to include a couple of different tea bags,to make it even more special.,oh my friend kelly are on out way out to daddys coz kelly wants some manure for her garden,she is making garden tea in a hudge barrel,should be intresting coz kellys a city girl.blessed be carol branum,the mo farmers daughter lamar mo

    Reply
  4. carolyn johnson says:
    June 18, 2009 at 9:26 am

    I will drive around for *months* with boxes or envelopes on my carseat– I haaate the post office. Every time I walk out of there, relieved, I think "what was so bad about that?? why do I build it up in my mind to be so terrible?"
    I don’t mind cleaning toilet bowls–there’s a special brush, there’s a toxic cleaner–but cleaning the outside of the bowl is awful especially if you have 3 little boys and a husband. I am silently cursing them in my mind which is not a good feeling. I am such a germaphobe that I can’t bear the thought of my boys cleaning it up–at least I know I get everything clean. Oh, I also hate cleaning the fridge which is on The List for today. I don’t let it get nasty but I still hate it, I feel like gagging.
    Thanks for letting me vent! 🙂

    Hahah!  The word "chore" seems to lend itself to venting 🙂 Happy cleaning!

    Reply
  5. Linda says:
    June 23, 2009 at 3:13 pm

    I’m no fan of the post office, I can assure you, but our local ones have a self-serve kiosk for weighing and mailing, so I use that. Saves me the "pain"!!
    What do I hate doing? DUSTING. The rest of it I can cope with, or actually like!

    Reply
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Country Roads

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Rural Farmgirl René Groom
[Previous Rural Farmgirl, April 2009 – May 2010]
Traveling down old country roads is magical. It has been a favorite past time of mine for as long as I can recall. I have discovered some of the most beautiful, fun and wacky things down those country roads, most of which I have returned to time and time again.

Continue reading →

  1. Gary says:
    May 20, 2009 at 1:56 pm

    Brings back memories Rene’…
    I remember a spot on the unlined, partly gravel road to my Ganny’s Home in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains.
    We would urge my Mom to ‘Go Faster’ over that raised spot, and squeal with delight at the sensation of butterflies in our tummies.
    Thanks for the Memory jog, and…
    GodSpeed to Y’all…!
    Gary
    in Tampa

    Gary,

    A farmboy after my own heart. We had a stretch of road outside my hometown that was "wavy" and my uncles would "punch it" and we felt airborn. To this day I cant travel that road and not hear the devil in my ear telling me to "punch it" although the affect isnt the same in a mini van 🙂

    Reply
  2. Grace~katmom says:
    May 21, 2009 at 9:24 am

    hey rene’
    luv ur photos….the one w/the pink & blue sky looks like a water color…awesome!
    >^..^<

    Thanks so much. I love to take pictures, they are such a great way to tell the complete story!

    Reply
  3. Florence says:
    May 21, 2009 at 9:35 am

    I love the country roads too. I will go off the beaten path to get some where just to follow the country road. Thanks for sharing your story

    Florence~

    Yah! a fellow traveler! Thanks for taking the time to read them.

    Reply
  4. Brandy says:
    May 21, 2009 at 9:46 am

    Yes, yes, memories! My Uncle was a long haul truck driver & we never went the freeways or turnpikes when traveling w/ him. It was always those beautiful backroads, the fresh fruitstands, homemade honey & ice cream, Mom & Pop diners….Americana at it’s best!
    Prayers & Blessings,
    Brandy

    MMMM! Sounds delightful! There is just something so magical about them.We have found some of the best pies down those roads and old diners…

    Reply
  5. Sandra says:
    May 21, 2009 at 10:26 am

    Good times, good places, good memories. As to "replacing what you find on a country road" [sic], it’s like love…we never divide our love, we multiply it, thus ensuring there’s enough, more than enough, to go ’round.
    I’ve been to some of those fabulous sights – worked with farmers in Romania, Russia, Armenia and other far flung places. Farmers are farmers all over the world. We love the land and grow roots deep enough to give us wings.

    Reply
  6. Reba says:
    May 21, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    Rene, Great comments today. They especially reminded me of the trip several years ago when we came out to the Northwest (I live in Georgia-thanks to Ray Charles, now some know where that is). My husband and I traveled on all backroads, camping all the way out. It was sooo beautiful, and the nights were cool in July. And the smells are awesome!! On one trip, we came by a farmer plowing with a mule! You could smell the Earth. I hate Interstates! They make us live life too fast and miss the deer, sunsets, and the like. We are heading that way in another week. Can’t wait. And we are coming on backroads. We hope to stop by MaryJane’s store, but can’t stay for the Farm Fair. So-o-o excited.

    Reba, Make sure to tell the girls at the store who you are…I will be up in Coeur d alene June 4th for our Laid back Applique class at the store – if you are still around then, pop in!  Travel safe and take some deep breath of fresh air for me 🙂

    Reply
  7. Brenda says:
    May 21, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    We also have a gravity hill in Michigan. My husband and I like to go to the Upper Peninsula and drive the backroads and visit the sites also. We have found our favorite diners and stops along the way. Thanks for your blog, really enjoy reading it weekly.

    WOW Brenda, how great is that? Thank you for being a faithful reader and letting me know that you are "out there".

    Reply
  8. Diana says:
    May 21, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    Rene,

    Thank you for sharing! The pictures are beautiful and I know what I will be doing the next time I go thru Prosser.

    Diana

    Ha, Make sure to let me know when you are in town! And if you need a map…..

    Reply
  9. carol branum says:
    May 22, 2009 at 2:52 pm

    Hi Rene,this is bueatiful I would love to see in person. I would love to come to the farm fair,but I just don’t know yet if I can aford it,us single girls are on a budjet,so I am trying to work as hard as I can,will there be any last min places to stay i wonder?blessed be carol branum,the mo farmers daughter,lamar mo.

    Hi Carol,

    Single moms are no doubt the hardest working people that I know. Bless you!  I hope that you will be able to come, email me if you decide you can, I know there are farmgirls camping out and what not, we can send you some ideas on inexpensive places to stay!  It is going to be a great weekend, for sure.

    Reply
  10. Kim D says:
    May 23, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    I live out in the county of Michigan and we grow wheat around here and I love the wheat field before harvest and the wind ripples threw it, I think is most lovely. And I love the country sunsets also with the lovely colors only God could paint.

    Kim,

    I am with you on that… Love those wheat fields…..

    Reply
  11. Charlotte says:
    May 24, 2009 at 8:11 am

    I live in Upstate NY and my company is based out of NYC. Whenever I go to the office in the city folks ask me why I still live in Upstate and wouldn’t I love to be in the city? The truth is, I love my Upstate NY area, and all of the country back roads that go along with it. I very rarely have to take a major highway to get somewhere, I face very little congestion and there is an adventure around every turn. Travel these country back roads in the summer and oh the adventure you will have. Thanks for reminding everyone how lucky we truly are to still have those uncluttered, unhurried areas that remain close to all of our hearts!

    Charlotte,

    I am so with you! I wil take the adventures on the back road to the hustle and bustle anyday!

    Reply
  12. Johanna says:
    May 25, 2009 at 6:07 pm

    Hi, Rene! We just returned from exploring the beautiful back roads of Columbia County, Washington. Had a great visit with your dear hubby and youngest son. Missed YOU! Tom clued me in to your blog, and I just read every entry and every comment. What a gifted writer you are! I will definitely be a regular visitor to your site. Much love to you and your precious family. ~ Jo

    Jo~ Thank you so much for your kind words, it means so much! I was sorry that I missed the weekend, but I was having so much fun traveling down the back roads of Ohio meeting and visiting with farmgirls along the way. It was beautiful!

    Reply
  13. Zoloft says:
    August 5, 2009 at 1:50 pm

    hey that was a great read . Thanks for the great post .Loved every part of it.

    Reply

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When We Know Better

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Rural Farmgirl René Groom
[Previous Rural Farmgirl, April 2009 – May 2010]
When we know better, we do better. Or do we? That statement is often true in my life, yet sometimes when I know better, I just know better. My knowing doesn’t always lead to immediate action. Sometimes, everything in me applauds the newly adopted philosophy, but it’s as if tie-downs keep me from jumping into action.

Continue reading →

  1. Green Me Alison says:
    May 14, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    I am not sure if what I feel and know inside will come across in words, but I’ve found that the entire way we tend to look at food and diet and nutrition to be off base.

    I had the opportunity to attend a meditation retreat led by Thich Nhat Hanh in 2004 and before eating we said or read the following: This food is the gift of the whole universe – the earth, the sky, and much hard work. May we live in a way that makes us worthy to receive it. May we transform our unskillful states of mind, and learn to eat in moderation. May we take only foods that nourish us and prevent illness. We accept this food so that we may realize the path of understanding and love.

    Key points: food is a gift; eat in moderation (don’t be wasteful of your food or harmful to yourself); eat food that nourishes us (I loosely interpret this to be the body, the soul and or the mind); accept the food with compassion (be kind to yourself).

    Often times we know what we ought to eat for optimum health, but eating purely for health is not necessarily fun. We also eat socially or we eat for piece of mind or because of a memory of what a certain food (experience) tastes like.

    For me, being able to cross over, and understand, really understand in my core, that eating foods that make me feel bad later (whether that be mentally, physically, biologically) is just not worth it…food is nourishment for our soul. And so, I take the time to appreciate a fresh sweet carrot, savor its crunchy nature, just as much as I might a piece of rich chocolate. And, when I am served (or serve myself) something that is not healthy (and that generally means also filled with unhealthy ingredients) I don’t eat it…

    As a caveat, when it comes eating sweets, occasional indulgence is healthy, especially if the sweets are made with whole, pure ingredients, just like grandma would have made them!

    Reply
  2. The Funky Junk Sisters says:
    May 14, 2009 at 9:57 pm

    Just discovered your blog today. Love it. We also grew up on a farm in Eastern Washington, now we are in Puyallup, WA. You know home of the Puyallup Fair, last time we checked it was the 7th largest in the nation! Anyway, life on the west side of the mountains is different than the east side. We are trying to bring a bit of the country life to Puyallup on June 13 &14. We are putting on a big antique show and flea market full of awesome cool junk. We love to repurpose things and have found alot of other people do to. Go to our blog to check it out http://www.funkyjunksister.blogspot.com. We will check back to your blog often!

    Take care,
    Linda & Dixie
    The Funky Junk Sisters

    Hey girls,

    Thanks for the info… I marked it on the calender. We have our 2009 Farm Fair July 3-5th Farmgirls come in from all over the US… Come on over, we’d love  to meet you in person!  got to our website and click on the farm fair button… http://www.maryjanesfarm.org

    Again thanks for the info

    Reply
  3. rene says:
    May 14, 2009 at 10:30 pm

    SharleyAnn,
    Beautiful post, thank you. I think there is a lot of value in your words…conecting with eating as a "re-fueling process" is key~ Any chance you could just be a "bug in my ear" until I know it by heart? 🙂

    Reply
  4. Aunt Jenny says:
    May 15, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    Wow…we must be long lost sisters!! I am the same way….love to study nutrition, and am really valiant when it comes to my kids, especially eating right..but I tend to fall off the wagon myself (due to the devil bread and cheese mostly..haha) and this weight problem is always still just that…a problem. I know what is right and good and mean well, and eat the right things, and then …well…don’t again. sigh. I AM glad I am not the only one. I feel in good company.

    A little birdie tells me that there is "farmgirl" help on the way in the way of a new book… I dont know all the details but I for one CANT wait

    Reply
  5. Gary says:
    May 20, 2009 at 1:49 pm

    Your Bloggie on food is head-on Cool Rene’…!
    The experience you describe of connection between organic vegetarian based diet, with some free range dairy, is exactly what I have experienced since making the changes.
    I am vegetarian and also eat free range organic dairy and eggs, and I buy free range meats to prepare meals for my Cat and Doggie, because they cannot metabolize plant protein and need meat.
    The benefits go beyond just a feeling, as I have been taken off two medications since I made all these changes, and like you said… I feel Great now…!
    Thank You and…
    GodSpeed to Y’all…!
    Gary
    in Tampa

     

    Gary,

    Apparently Hippocrates had it right, "let thy food be they medicine". Seems so simple, why do we fight it?

    Reply
  6. LillySue says:
    May 21, 2009 at 12:37 pm

    Hey, that’s me too. I have a huge interest in nutrition and holistic medicine. I have lots of books and read a lot of info online. I started a blog this year and this month started a feature called "LillySue’s Health Tip Tuesday". You can read what I have posted on health and fitness if you hit those subjects in my post list. I actually got serious with myself last year and am doing sooo much better. I have now finally got into the habit of thinking about each thing I put in my mouth….will this benefit my body or will my body have to compromise other systems to deal with this. I would love to have you pop over for a visit. apeaceofbliss.blogspot.com Also, are you going to be at the FarmChicks sale June 6th? We will probably be moving over 4th of July and most likely will not be able to attend MaryJanes shindig.
    Blessings~LillySue

    Lilly Sue,

    I can’t wait to check out your blog, thanks for the address, I am heading there now. I doubt that I will make the farmchick event as my head is buried in the "details" of FarmFair July3-5, as well as classes we are hosting at the MaryJanesFarm Store June 4th ~ But I hear it is a great event and I hope you all have a blast. And really, farmgirls getting together, how can you go wrong. Thanks again!

    Reply
  7. Dalyn says:
    May 21, 2009 at 12:43 pm

    love the new blog Renee! I’ll put it on my blog’s roll *U*

    Reply
  8. Judy says:
    May 22, 2009 at 5:41 am

    I love reading your blog. This is a subject close to my heart too. I too have a load of books on nutrition and natural healing, as well as practical knowledge on the subject. I like to keep up on the the newest trends in nutrition but try to find the middle road in following them. Preachers of all nutrition ilks, really bother me…maybe because I have that tendency too. We just need to decide what we want to do ourselves and I get nervous about getting caught into a way of eating that is "correct". Being in my mid fifties now, I can see the same pattern of being on track, and being off. I guess that’s just the way of life…how quick can we get back on when an event, or thought, knocks us off. So, eat and be happy!

    Judy,

    Ya, my grandpa ( who is so wise) said, "anything will work if YOU work it".. hahahah.. hate it when it comes down to being that simple :)… Instead of complicated like I think it is…..:)

    Reply
  9. MichaellaS says:
    July 21, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    tks for the effort you put in here I appreciate it!

    Reply
  10. weinyPeenigap says:
    August 21, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    I am new and wanted to make a my very first thread to acquaint myself. My name is Maryann and I stumbled here by a quick search and wanted to just say hello. I would like to participate in future discussions and look forward to talking with everyone.

    Please also check out the farmgirl connection at http://www.maryjanesfarm.org click on "chat with other farmgirls.

    Reply
  11. kickJohn says:
    September 17, 2009 at 7:48 pm

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    Reply
  12. drycleanersr says:
    July 15, 2010 at 8:20 am

    Sweet site, I hadn’t noticed http://www.maryjanesfarm.org before in my searches!

    Organic Dry Cleaning Dryclean PosLaundromat Sale Bds Laundry

    Reply
  13. finance personal software says:
    August 10, 2010 at 10:28 am

    Thank you for sharing I wish I could go somwhere.

    Reply
  14. AnnmarieBarry22 says:
    August 21, 2010 at 3:38 am

    I opine that to get the credit loans from banks you should present a firm reason. Nevertheless, one time I’ve received a secured loan, because I was willing to buy a building.

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I Was Country, When Country Wasn't Cool

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Rural Farmgirl René Groom
[Previous Rural Farmgirl, April 2009 – May 2010]

I was country…when country wasn’t cool…

If I had to choose one song that epitomizes me this would have to be it. Barbara Mandrel’s, “I was country”. (That or “Redneck Woman,” but that’s another post.) I wasn’t really one of the cool kids during high school, although since there were a total of 100 kids in K-12, I don’t know that we really had such a distinction. I had then, like I have now, a very eclectic group of friends, as eclectic as you can get in a small Eastern Washington town in the 1970s (late ’70s), when half the town was family.

Continue reading →

  1. Brandy says:
    May 13, 2009 at 11:19 am

    I love Barbara! Yes, I too am glad that I "stuck to my roots" I have sewed all my life & my 2 girls would have been naked if they had not worn clothes that I made for them.
    My husband & I just planted our first garden in years & even if we only get 1 thing out of it, it was worth all the pain (2 over 50’s on hands & knees…you get the picture:-)!
    Can’t wait to meet you at Farm Fair!
    Brandy

    Brandy,

    FarmFair is the place to be, for sure. Make sure to come find me, we will swap farmgirl stories!

    Reply
  2. Marie Theriot says:
    May 13, 2009 at 11:30 am

    I love all that you said. We do need to pay more attention to what we eat and support those around us. I am still looking for someone who grows peas and beans in my area. I remember shelling them as a young girl and complaining but what I would give to have some of those fresh veggies now. I love reading the Mary Jane Blogs and this is the first time that I post something. From Redd in Louisiana

     

    Marie,

    What an honor for me, to be the first time you posted. Thank-you. I think things like shucking corn and snapping peas on the porch is a great way to spend time. I think some of the best conversations come out of those moments.

    Reply
  3. Hobbit says:
    May 13, 2009 at 11:39 am

    Amen to that.I work at the oldest farm in America still owned by the same family since 1632.We have seen the wheel come around many times.This time I hope it isn’t given up in the name of progress.

    WOW, talk about roots!  That is so great! 1632 that’s a story worth telling!  I know what you mean, giving up never seems to be the best road to "progress" where the family farm is concerned. Thanks for posting I greatly appreciate it!

    Reply
  4. Anna Wight (SweetMissDaisy) says:
    May 13, 2009 at 11:58 am

    oooooh, I was raised in Eastern Washington, too! I’m in Texas now, but long for the days when we’ll be back up north. I look forward to reading more on your blog. From one farm girl to another, -Anna.

    Anna,

    I just know we will be friends. With a name like sweetmissdaisy, how could I go wrong? Thanks for reading the post and I hope that you come back often.. your little "mental trip" to Washington State.

    Reply
  5. Shron says:
    May 13, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    Rene – I was just thinking about this song the past week and thought to myself that it pertains to me and I’m happy that it pertains to you also. I’ve always been country. My husband says that I was born at least 100 years too late! It’s good to get back to your roots and remember how you were brought up. You know they say that you will never forget what you were taught as a child, you might stray from it, but eventually it will all come back to you. I’m happy that my Grandparents, both paternal and maternal, were hard working farm people in one way or another. I will never forget wading the creek to get to the garden and sitting in the middle of the tomato patch and munching tomatoes straight from the vine or the apple mud pies that I use to make under the apple tree in my Grandma’s back yard – they didn’t taste quite like hers but it was good practise. A few years ago I made an apple pie for a family get together and my Mom made the statement that it was as good as my Grandmas. What a compliment! Stick to your roots and keep up the good work.

     

    Thank you! I think that this song is one that plays in the minds of many of us farmgirls… an anthem of sorts. Your memories are so sweet, I feel like I was there too. I spent many an hour on the tire swing at my grandparents place, just watching the world pass by….. Love those old memories! Thank you for sharing yours with me!

    Reply
  6. Reba says:
    May 13, 2009 at 12:05 pm

    Hello Rene, It is good to receive your blog as well as the City Farmgirls’. I have been a farmgirl at heart all my life, regardless of not having land to farm. I made all my daughters’ clothes (down to her underwear-that’s how serious about sewing that I was), curtains and crafts for my home (even smocked bedspread and curtains), and just generally had the mindset that I needed to make something. It was more about feeling that sense of accomplishment and having something different. My oldest sisters wanted to get away from homemade with "ready made" things and the latest craze. So I was called "old fashioned" (which I am very proud of too). Now reading Mary Janes’ magazines and your blogs, I realize there are "farmgirls" all across this land. And it is like meeting a new friend with a kindred spirit. My Mom was my No. 1 farmgirl. She quilted, embroidered, sewed, cooked, prepared food during the harvest to make sure that a family of 12 children had plenty to wear, eat, and things to do. We camped at the lake during one summer and actually my Mom canned green beans over an open fire in a washtub. Now that’s Country and Farmgirl to the max!! But I absolutely love it!! Always have. Thanks for taking time to write. It is fun to read.

    Reba,

    WOW, you are right, your mom is a farmgirls/farmgirl! I am with you, I love reading and "meeting" all the other farmgirls at MaryJanes as we somehow strengthen each other. I think canning green beans over the wash tub is brilliant, may need to try that one 🙂

    Reply
  7. Gary says:
    May 13, 2009 at 12:12 pm

    Great Bloggie Rene’…!
    and very True…
    I grew up in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains, and am eager to return Home there, as my "Journey" of career is over. Life close to the land and shared daily with a variety of Critters, both domestic and wild, is a Good Life.
    Oh… a common expression arose from the ‘prank’ of Snipe Hunting": "Left holding the bag." Yep, I think everyone’s first "hunt" involves being left in the woods with a bag.
    GodSpeed to Y’all…!
    Gary
    in Tampa

    Gary, "Welcome" and thanks for taking the time to pass that little pebble down. I want aware that "left holding the bag" had originated from such a deed.. but,I can certainly see how one would get that! as left holding the bag, I was….Guess I should be happy they didnt choose a gag that would be followed by "tarred and feathered" LOL  Thanks!  I can just picture you back in the Great Smokies.. what a great goal!

    Reply
  8. BamaSuzy says:
    May 13, 2009 at 1:19 pm

    For some reason that very song was running around in my head and I was singing it as I fed and watered the goats, chickens, bunnies and ducks earlier this week! You may be several states away (I’m in north central Alabama) but we country girls have the same SOUL! Really enjoyed your blog!

     

    Thanks Suzy – I think that is the farmgirl anthem of sorts!  Love that song!

    Reply
  9. Juliespins says:
    May 13, 2009 at 1:19 pm

    Hi Rene- I really enjoyed reading all about your background and "roots". I live in a small city but there’s this persistent little streak in me that joyfully springs to life at the sight of rolling fields and the smell of manure (I’m not kidding). I come from farm folks; I figure it’s literally in my blood. I especially liked the ‘money follows your heart’ passage… and when I do it’s a roadmap to self sufficiency; wool fleeces for spinning, supplies for soapmaking, and most recently new varieties of tomato seeds.

    Please keep writing, I know I’ll enjoy reading!!

    Julie,

    I will keep writing if you’ll keep reading 🙂

    There is truth that it is in "our blood" some how… I say that "dirt is in my veins".

    Reply
  10. Frstyfrolk says:
    May 14, 2009 at 4:01 am

    I am a wanna be farm girl! I did play with my friend on her farm when growing up and her family taught me a lot about being on a farm.

    Music is so imporatnt to me! It reinvents the happenings in my life as I remember where or what was happening when songs were popular.

    I love rock-a-billy, country and anything with good lyrics!
    I grew up in the Ozarks of Missouri, the Brenda Lee capitol and Ozark Mountain Daredevils much later.

    Thanks for the many reminders of songs that play in my heart. I recently lost my brother and the music is what helps remind me. Its memories help me so much day to day now.
    Smiles, Cyndi

    Cyndi,

    We are kindred spirits for use. I love Brenda Lee – How did such beautiful music come out of such a tiny instrument?  I would love to know. I am a HUGE rock-a-billy fan as well. The loss of a love one is hard, but music is a dear friend in those times as well!  Thanks again!

    Reply
  11. Michele Kirkman says:
    May 14, 2009 at 7:19 am

    Wow Rene’,
    I,m with you. I just feel disconnected if I go to the mall.
    I much prefer buying hand crafted from people I know or from Etsy.

    Reply
  12. Florence says:
    May 14, 2009 at 8:21 am

    My farm girl roots started when I was a little girl. My family were migrants in that we traveled from farm to farm to make a living. As I grew older things changed in my family dynamics and I went to live with a foster family in the country that had a pear orchard. With their family nurturing I have become the person I am today. I respect the earth and all she has to offer and have instilled that in my daughters, and my prayer is that they will pass it on to their children. So yes I was country when country was not necessarily cool.

    Florence,

    Thank You so much for sharing a little of your story with me. I too was a foster kid who’s life was changed.. here to those of us that have always thought Country was cool!

    Reply
  13. Jamie Mercer says:
    May 14, 2009 at 10:55 am

    I went to a school that had 32 students (9-12) and I had always wore wranglers and they teased me so bad. What gets me now is I am 43 and those guys now are wearing wranglers. What is up with that!! Love your blog and I can relate!! Jamie

    I know what you mean I think many of the pictures I have from back in the day were 501 button-up levi’s and white ts.. I was "styling".  Great to hear from you!  You set the "fashion" way back then.. you must have looked so great, it converted the rest of your classmates 🙂

    Reply
  14. Susan says:
    May 14, 2009 at 7:54 pm

    Thank you for writing your blogs. They really hit home. We just moved to a smaller town with a really small yard and for the first time in years we’ve had a garden. It only took me 3 days to figure out why my shoulder and arms are sore. Thank goodness for farmer’s markets — aspargus and morel mushrooms. no room for chickens though. Keep writing and I’ll keep reading. (Growing up I learned to sew for 4-H and used my skills for years…when my son was small I made all our clothes except for workpants and bras…most of my family thought I was going overboard but it satisfied something.)

    Susan,

    I know what you mean, sore muscles… but boy it "hurts" good, right?  I just love our local farmers market here, too. I am growing a lot of stuff this year, but there is always something I "need" at the market…… thanks for posting!

    Reply
  15. Claire says:
    May 15, 2009 at 3:21 am

    Thanks so much for such a great blog! I look forward to hearing more in the months to come. I think you’re right on too about the "rural revival" that’s coming into fashion now. I long to connect back to my early years on big tabacco farm in Havana, Florida. Every wonderful memory and strong instinctual thing I feel centers in those years and experiences, however young I was. I’m on my way with my little mini farm now and I can’t wait for what the next day will bring in my farm girl life.

    Take care. Keep writing.

    Claire,

    Thank you so much! I love the concept of "rural revival" dont you? It gives me the mental pictures of community and folks sitting on their front porches sipping tea and chatting with neighbors. Taking strolls down the tree lined dirt roads and  really reconnecting with life and love and laughter….. sounds like a worth while revival to me…. Keep me updated on your mini farm… so cool!

    Reply
  16. carol branum says:
    May 18, 2009 at 4:26 pm

    hi rene,I also was country before country was cool,and i agree with everyone on here,i could write and write,but i wont today, i just wanted to say,since no one commented yet, on how cute you were,that is you isnt it?Is that your husband?he is cute too.blessed be,the mo farmers daughter,carol branum

    Carol,

    Thank You!  That is me, "back in the day" and my best friend from HS. I feel blessed we have managed to be friends for a whole lot of years, but I am married to another cutie pie, I am sure he will get his mug on here sooner or later, but I will let my friend know 🙂

    Reply

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Life's Soundtrack

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Rural Farmgirl René Groom
[Previous Rural Farmgirl, April 2009 – May 2010]

Where does the music come from?

As you walk down memory’s trail?

Each word, each phrase, the melody,

Comes clearly without fail.

Place yourself upon the path,

You’ll know right from the start . . .

The music and the memories

Are found within your heart.

~ Sarah Hastings ~

Is it just me, or does everyone hear a soundtrack of their lives in their head? I remember events based on the song that I associate with them. My husband on the other hand, can recall the songs based on the year in which it was a hit. For me, the song doesn’t have to be from the era the event took place, it’s just a song that I heard in my head either at the time of the event or at a later recalling of the event.

Continue reading →

  1. nameSheri says:
    May 8, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    No you are not alone. Not only do I define my life with it’s own musical soundtrack, I quote song lyrics to suit every occasion and am constantly quizzing my kids (grown ups now) on who the band/performer is when a song is played in a movie, commercial, TV show or on the radio. I guess I’m like living with the old show "Name that Tune". Music has always been so important to me – I know my life would be hollow without it.

     

    Hey Sheri,

    How perfect, makes me feel "normal" (which is all relative, I know).  I am with you, who wants a silent movie.

    Reply
  2. Aunt Jenny says:
    May 8, 2009 at 9:47 pm

    No! You are SO not alone. I mortify my children (apparently) with my "sound track" all the time. I have so many songs associated with so many memories….even one Christmas as a kid when my family traveled from Idaho to Calif to spend it with relatives and back to Idaho (Glen Campbell’s "Lineman" of all things) and many more. I drive my family (especially 12 year old son) crazy with it.
    I am glad to not be alone.

    It reminds me of being in the movies with my 11 year old… The Bee movie and Fly me to the moon… LOVED the sound track to both those childrens movies.. Matthew too was MORTIFIED as I broke out in song to a packed room….. of course I busted a move or two as well…..

    LOVE Glen Campbell… get your hair brush "girlfriend" we have some singing to do!

    Reply
  3. carol branum says:
    May 18, 2009 at 4:46 pm

    hi rene,one of my all time favorites,is julie andrews singing favorite things,brown paper packages tied up in bows,lets see how does that go,when then dawn breaks,when the birds sing,these are a few of my favorite things…in the sound of music,i havent heard it for years,so,i think i will rent that movie at the libary tonight just so i can see it again,the year it came out,in the early 60s,my great aunt florence,a very cultured spanish professer at mssu in springfield mo, she decided,that,mom and i were too country,and that we needed culture,so she took me to a theater in springfield to see it,i loved it,She took mom,to ST.Louis to Yule Brenner on stage,in the on stage proformance of the The King and I,But i didnt get to go coz i got the measles,…yea,your right,lots of music talks to you….blessed be…the mo farmers daughter,carol branum

    Carol,

    How great to have an auntie that wanted you to experience the finer things. I have found that you can take the farmgirl out of the country, but you cant take the country out of the farmgirl 🙂

    Reply
  4. Nora says:
    May 21, 2009 at 9:37 am

    Yes! What a Day for a Daydream, by the Lovin Spoonful, especially. This was playing on the radio as I was en route to the hospital to deliver my first daughter. I often find myself bursting into song at the drop of a phrase, or singing along in public, much to the chagrin of my children.

    I’m a Wisconsin farmgirl at heart, raised in the minor metropolis of Madison, spent a few years dairy farming and lots of years with small flocks of poultry. Looking forward to retiring into the North Woods (God’s Country) in just a few months.

    Wow Nora, retiring in God’s Country? What could be better? Well other than having it all done to music. You are a girl after my own heart. By the way, I love that song. So happy and brings a smile. Of course I think every day is a day for a daydream, but…………….Make sure to let me know how retirment life is. I know some great activities you can plug into in the sisterhood program at the farm. Here is the link: http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/farmgirl-sisterhood/

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Snipe Hunting ANYONE?

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Rural Farmgirl René Groom
[Previous Rural Farmgirl, April 2009 – May 2010]
My dad’s side of the family has a “take no hostage” kind of humor. It isn’t for wimps. I have developed a cynical kind of humor because of them, the kind of humor that not everyone “gets.” . I don’t say that in a bragging kind of way, I say it in an I-have-laid-on-the-shrink’s- sofa-and-evaluated-myself-and-came to-terms-with-it kind of way.
Case and Point: According to Wikipedia the snipe (a family of shorebirds) is difficult to catch for even the most experienced hunters, so much so that the word “sniper” is derived from it to refer to anyone skilled enough to shoot one.

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  1. Ronda says:
    May 4, 2009 at 1:58 pm

    Because I have never experienced a Snipe Hunt personally – this story has truly opened my eyes. However, not in a surprising sort of way. You see, I’ve been married to the Mark of the story for 32 years and understand that there is definately a reason that Rene and I stay on the same side of things. Having a support group is invaluable! Thank you Rene for giving me the first hand version of this story! Aunt Ronda 🙂

    Reply
  2. Terra says:
    May 4, 2009 at 3:10 pm

    I loved this article..it reminded me of the tricks my cousins played on me when we were kids…

    Reply
  3. Russ says:
    May 4, 2009 at 5:16 pm

    A well-written story, if not objective, but I wonder if Ronda perhaps should have written about "a first-hand version", rather than "the first-hand version". It would seem reasonable not to form an opinion and/or lend one’s support based on just one person’s account. Hmm!

    Reply
  4. *Mark* says:
    May 4, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    This "story" (and some of the comments after it) seems to have a lot of questionable material following a statement such as "if memory serves". I am really hesitant to point out that as one of the accused I am over 50 years old and my memory may not be quite as sharp as it could be, but not quite as hesitant to point out that the "victim" is not too many years younger (as pointed out in the article), which could affect her memory. Obviously she is not all wrong, because her description of her "way too cool" and "smart" uncles is very easy to believe!!!

    Reply
  5. Green Me Alison says:
    May 5, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    I’m not sure what put the bee in my bonnet (perhaps relatives akin to yours), but this reminds me of the time that I convinced my high school boyfriend that minces (as in mincemeat pie) were an animal similar to a rabbit, but more long like a weasel, common to the west (he’d recently moved to CO from NY) and without a lot of meat on them, so best cooked in a pie!

    Reply
  6. rene says:
    May 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    Thanks for the comments everyone. I love hearing from you all. Well that is, except Mark who it saddens me to think that senility has taken its toll on some one so young……

    GreenMeAllison,
    Your "tale" is priceless I can see that you would have fit right into the Knopp family.

    Reply
  7. Aunt Jenny says:
    May 6, 2009 at 8:57 pm

    Snipe hunts!! A rite of passage when I was a kid and now my own kids are going through that stage too. I grew up in rural Calif and our snipe hunts were loud and long..lots of older cousins. Since I am the oldest of my own siblings I loved my chance to take my brother and sister and younger cousins on a snipe hunt. My oldest kids (now grown) were taken by my younger brother and my youngest kids..still home….have been on snipe hunts all but the youngest two..who are both 12 and will surely go on their first hunt this summer at scout camp and girls church camp. They do it a little different here in Utah..but it is basically all the same…good clean fun. My older two kids at home can hardly wait to take their younger sibs and have kept it quiet now so they don’t suspect a thing. I love it. Thanks for the memory!

    Reply
  8. Jan says:
    May 10, 2009 at 8:04 am

    I grew up in Eastern WA too. I am still here actually. I so relate to this snipe hunt thing. Yes yes yes. They tricked me so good.

    I grew up weeding beets, rolling hay, milking cows and so forth. Loved it so much. Great blog.

    Jan

     

    Hey Jan,

    Thanks for the compliment. Beets, hay, cows……. are you in the Basin?

    Reply
  9. Dawn says:
    May 11, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    I rememer those "rites of passage" well. Grandpa telling us to pick a long piece of grass and touch it to the electric fence….we "wouldn’t get shocked"!! Yeah right!

    My favorite memory is turning 16 and driving. I was sent to town to get "axle grease". I was told to not come home without it as it was needed on the farm. I must’ve stopped at a dozen garages and gas stations inquiring about ‘axle grease’ to no avail. I vividly remember my grandfather, uncle and some farm buddies standing outside the house grinning from ear to ear as I pleaded my case as to why I didn’t have any. That’s when I learned, there IS NO SUCH THING AS AXLE GREASE! I had to drive to another town for months to get fuel to avoid embaressment!

     

    Ha-ha-ha!  Love that! As I was reading your story, I thought, hmmmm!  Why are all the shananigans at the hands of our "FarmBOY" family members….Guess they thought they had better get us while we were young, as no doubt they’d never get us…. don’t cha think?  Just once i’d like to send one of them into the fabric store………………………

    Reply
  10. Elaine says:
    May 12, 2009 at 1:41 pm

    Ha-ha-ha!!Loved the blog, seems like Snipe hunting was an International sport! Had the same experience up here in Canada,but I’m a bit surprised that no-one ever sent you to find a left-handed monkey wrench!!

    Ha-ha back!  "left-handed monkey wrench"?  How long were you out looking for that one?  LOL

    Reply
  11. carol branum says:
    May 12, 2009 at 5:09 pm

    hi rene, I ejoyed this very much ,have a geat day good blog,blessed be the mo farmers daughter,carol branum

    Thanks Carol.. I hope you will "come back often" as farmgirls, I am sure we will have "like" stories to share.

    Reply
  12. Elaine says:
    May 13, 2009 at 11:53 am

    longer than I like to admit!

    Reply
  13. Brenda says:
    May 13, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    I remember snipe hunts as a kid…

    But I was AMAZED to find out when I looked up a bird I found in our farm orchard in a birding book, that it was a SNIPE.

    I found one without looking!!!

     

    Brenda,

    Ha-ha, where was that little birdie when I needed him?

    Reply
  14. Marsha says:
    May 19, 2009 at 5:13 pm

    Just today I received a noticed about the MaryJanes Farm magazine in the mail and naturally I looked up the web site. I’m a country girl from central Texas and grew up on a peanut farm in the late 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. Now I live "in town" with a population of 2000. I also remember the snipe hunting but since I was a tomboy and lived in the country, I was the one that helped take the "city girls and boys" snipe hunting. I lived so far out in the country on dirt roads that when I was dating, if my date go stuck in the mud bringing me home, I would walk barefoot to the house, get the tractor and pull him out, send him home and then I would go home on the tractor.

    Marsha,

    (ok I had to fight the urge to say that three times).

    Ha-ha! I can so picture  you hoisting a truck out of the mud with the tractor, been there. I have never been a city girl, but apparently a little nieve’ when it came to my knowledge of birds. The town I grew up in was 300 when everyone was home and we were an hour from any real "shopping". I am thrilled that you found the magazine and the blog. I hope you will also check out our farmgirl connection and our sisterhood program. If you go to http://www.maryjanesfarm.org then click on either Join our farmgirl chatroom or Join the Farmgirl Sisterhood you will find the info you need.

    So very glad that you found us…Welcome!

    Reply
  15. Lynette says:
    June 4, 2009 at 11:44 pm

    HA Snipe hunting! Thanks for the memory Rene. I remember well going snipe hunting with the youth group and after we had all fallen for it, hearing Pastor Wes up on the porch laughing…..(probably near the same field you were "snookered" at. Thanks for the memories, I think I have a snipe hunt to plan for my two young children..

     

    Ha-ha~ Yes Wes had that same mischievous "bent"…Although, I do love knowing that I wasnt the only one that fell for that…

    Reply
  16. KattyBlackyard says:
    June 14, 2009 at 6:53 pm

    I really like your post. Is it copyright protected?

    My work is copyright protected. If you check the front page of my blog, just below my bio. Thank you so much for the complement.

    Reply

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Spring Is Spelled A-S-P-E-R-G-U-S

Posted on April 29, 2009 by Rural Farmgirl René Groom
[Previous Rural Farmgirl, April 2009 – May 2010]
I think there is an invisible official standing out in a field somewhere, waiting to usher in spring. With cap gun in hand, it awaits the first spear of asparagus to shoot out of the ground, at which time it fires off the gun notifying all citizens that spring has officially sprung. Then, because we all know there is just a short asparagus season ahead, we cook it, dice it, pickle it, deep fry it, and find a million more ways to add it to every meal until we are practically green.
Usually, by the time the last handful is sold and a collective sigh of relief heard I swear that I will never touch another plate of it. Yet every spring there I am, the first in line, standing on the roadside and buying it by the box loads out of back of some farmer’s truck.

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  1. Hanni says:
    May 1, 2009 at 11:09 pm

    Yum Yum Yum, I just picked up my first spring load and my mouth still waters as I read about Grandma Doris’ picked delicacies!

    Reply
  2. Teresa Sue Hoke-House says:
    May 2, 2009 at 7:34 am

    Oh Rene’ I know what you mean. When we still lived in Wyoming every spring my sister in law and I would grab our toddlers, a sharp knife, and large plastic garbage bags and wander the countryside for asparagus. For you see, the entire area was farmed with canals and oh, could you hit the mother lode of asparagus along those canals. We would pick bag after bag of that green gold. I never tired of it, and I can hardly eat the store bought stuff, it’s so old and stringy. Mmmmm….makes me yearn for some fresh asparagus, thanks, for the memory jolt,:^)

    Reply
  3. Cheryl says:
    May 2, 2009 at 2:52 pm

    Rene,

    Love your blog!

    Would really enjoy if you would share your grandmother’s recipe for pickled asparagus.

    Look forward to reading more!

    Blessings,
    Cheryl

    Reply
  4. rene says:
    May 6, 2009 at 7:15 am

    Hey Cheryl,
    You got it! With Permission from my Grandma Doris, here it is~

    Aunt Shirley’s Pickled Asparagus—
    by Grandma Doris

    You’ll need:

    2 qts. Water
    2 qts white vinegar
    1/2 cup salt
    1 tbs. pickling spice [omit cloves]
    1 clove garlic per jar

    Instructions:
    1. Wash trimmed asparagus– blanch 2 min. in boiling water
    2. Cool in ice water. Drain on a towel on counter.
    3. Combine water, vinegar, salt, mixed spices [tied in white cloth]
    4. Heat to boiling. Remove bag containing spices.
    5. Cut ends of asparagus to fit jars.
    6. Put clove of garlic on top of each jar.
    7. Cover with brine to within 1/2 in. of top.
    8. Seal.
    The brine recipe will cover approx.4qrts. Or 8 pts.

    “It takes several weeks before they are at their best for eating.”
    Grandma Doris

    Reply
  5. Florence says:
    May 6, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    I love asparagus. I remember when I was in High School my sister Elizabeth and I would have to take turns going up to the orchard to cut the asparagus, it seemed like we went every day. It grew so fast. Thanks for the recipe from Grandma Doris.

    Reply
  6. Marilyn McDowell says:
    May 8, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    Hi Rene – Hello from Vermont! I’m so happy to be reading your blog. Maybe you can tell me all about backyard chickens because we’re getting our chicks in just a few weeks. I also wanted to share that we have a springtime ritual around asparagus too – wild asparagus that is. If we’re lucky we collect it around the back meadows. If we’re really, really lucky, we find morels too. It’s our completely foraged springtime meal. Mmmmm
    Marilyn

    Marilyn,

    YUM!  I have heard great stories about wild Asparagus but have to admit that I have never "sampled" any. MaryJane wrote in her Outpost Book about pickling cat tails, which I would bet that you’d love as well.  We have a cabin up in the Blue Mountains on the Washington Side and a couple years ago a HUGE fire went through. The following spring the morals were everywhere.

    I am so jealous that you live in Vermont… the Maple alone would get me… but wild Aspargus too… Oh my!

    You sound like you are the perfect Outpost farmgirl and I was wondering if you have checked out MaryJanes Outpost website…http://www.maryjanesoutpost.org/ there is so much info over there.  Also in the sisterhood you can earn badges for all that outposting http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/farmgirl-sisterhood/

    On the topic of the "girls"… wow, there is much to learn, but oh so much fun!  I use the website http://www.backYardChickens.com as a resource for all my questions, as well as our farmgirl connection forum. http://www.maryjanesfarm.org and just click on chat with other farmgirls you can ask anything and believe me there is a farmgirl who will have the answers…

    Great chatting with you…

     

    Reply
  7. Grace~katmom says:
    May 13, 2009 at 8:33 pm

    oh yummmy! hummm, fried Asperegus,,,,really sounds yummmm!
    Next to Chocolate, most everything fried tastes good!

    >^..^<

    Ha-ha… You always brighten my day.. Here at the local Burger Ranch they sell fried Aspergus, come on down for lunch!

    Reply
  8. Liz Bowling says:
    May 21, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    Wow! Really relate to your article. I’m a transplanted city gal to a small town in So Dakota and "walking the ditches" for this treasure is a wonderful experience. I write a small article in our local paper to encourage folks to put food up for themselves, may I have your ok and Grandma Doris’ to include this recipe. I know I’m going to try it. Let me know. Liz in South Dakota.

    Yes please do add the recipe, what an honor, thank you! It is the best, I promise you!

    Reply
  9. Kaye says:
    May 21, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    Asparagus! Oh, golly, do I love that stuff. I can’t believe you are only paying $.79 a pound for it. Around here, the homegrown stuff is going for at least $2.99 a pound, and we’re paying it, too. Of course, the spears are the diameter of your thumb and have that lovely purple tinge. A friend who owns some country acreage has been out and about looking for the wild stuff and has had some success, both with that and the fiddlehed ferns in the more swampy area of the woods. We love those, too, as well as the morels. Not so much luck with those, though. I don’t know why, but then, I’m not the wild mushroom collector she is. Another friend has been back in the meadow, far away from pesticides and automobile fumes, collecting dandelion greens for salads, and also the heads for his "killer" dandelion wine. Whew, that stuff can do you a mischief if you take in a little too much. Later in the season, we’ll be out in the fields and woods scrounging whatever is available. Looking forward to the wild strawberries, then the first crop of red raspberries, then the black raspberries, and, finally, the blackberries. My friends and I have a regular circuit we make for collecting the berries. I’m not the one with the in depth knowledge, except for the berries, but I can carry the basket, bucket, or box, so I earn my share of the swag. Mother nature can be a real "peach". Love your blog!

    Kaye,

    You certainly sound like a girl after my own heart. I would like to spend more time foraging. My hubby and I do like to go to the mountains and look for mushrooms and berries, and some years have better luck than others. I told myself this year I will make dandelion wine and watermellon wine, just to say I did it! I planted huckleberries, blackberries, raspberries and blue berries this year, so who knows the mischief I will get myself in with that, and my little apricot tree is loaded with fruit this year…  Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and sharing your story with me too.. Love that part of the blog the most!

    Reply
  10. KrisBelucci says:
    June 1, 2009 at 4:59 pm

    da best. Keep it going! Thank you

    Reply

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Small Wonders…

Posted on April 29, 2009 by Rural Farmgirl René Groom
[Previous Rural Farmgirl, April 2009 – May 2010]
There are seven wonders in the world that have earned the right to be called “Wonders,” with a capital “w.” They are the Big Ben clock tower, the Eiffel Tower, the Gateway Arch, the Aswan Dam, The Hoover Dam, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and the PETRONAS Twin Towers.
Then there are those wonderful life-changing wonders, like the birth of a baby, a rainbow, and seeing life through the eyes of a child.
But to me, there are also a million “lesser wonders,” those things that I call the lower-case “w” wonders. They are those things that you could sit in front of for hours and still not really grasp how they fit into the world. They are those things that cause you to pause and just say, “Huh.”

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  1. carol branum says:
    May 12, 2009 at 4:46 pm

    hi rene,Love the blog….the old forklifts are for scrap iorn,and i dont know what it is worth in your state but in missouri it is worth 1.25lb,i think but i havent called in a while, that is for short,last time i called was on earth day for my daddy,he deals in scrap now that he is 82 years old and has quite a business now just piddling with it,aluminium cans are down right now,just .45cents a lb.He regualrly goes to garage sales,and he buys old pots and pans ect that is aluminum.I got to go with him once to the sale and their were over 100 cars in line just waiting to sale scrap.I Think one of those fork lifts would be great to have on the farm,just to clean the barn out.thankx for a geat blog,and i am looking forward to reading more,blessed be,carol branum,the missouri farmers daughter,lamar mo.

    Thanks Carol… Sounds like your dad has found a great hobby!

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