Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow! I miss the snow we used to get. Our Ohio River froze solid back in the 70’s I believe or maybe later. People walked across it. A barge was trapped in it. Anyway we haven’t had that kind of winter for a long, long, time. I always loved winter with snow, less rain, less ice, but now we get mostly rain, mostly warm temps. Like yesterday was 60 with warm balmy breezes. Not right for winter. Other states get lots of snow and keep it, we get a little snow and it doesn’t stay around long. Everything melts and turns to slush and mud. I would like to see a winter that stays white for at least two months again. Oh well, I will enjoy the warm temperatures while I get them.

Hi Alex,
Loved your post and photos, simply beautiful. There is a delicate beauty to frosted and icicles on branches. I love looking a these pictures and those cupcakes look so good! I bet they tasted yummy! Happy birthday to Opal. One already?! Goodness the time flies by so fast.
I love looking at winter land pictures because I’m in Australia and we swearing our butts off here. Yesterday was 40 deg C which is 104 F and its is horrible! Too hot to do anything! I can’t wait for winter to get here, to cool down a little. I love in a moderate temp climate so we don’t get snow here and the temps don’t usually drop below 0 deg C which I think is about 40F.
Enjoy your winter

In New York near Lake Ontario can bring lake effect snows and changing weather, so we never know what to expect. Right now warm and rainy with a little flooding going on. We did have a nice white Christmas and when it gets cold and snowy, we love clearing the path to the chickens and shop but then it is soup and knitting and Netflix for us. Good time to clean closets and small neglected jobs. Thanks for sharing that beautiful hoarfrost with us. Didn’t know it had a name. Love Nature’s art work. Love reading your stories. Keep it up! Your family sure looks cute all dressed warm and active. Even the dogs.

We have been having a pretty cold and snowy winter here as well. It is actually snowing outside as I write this. I love how beautiful the snow and frost make everything look but I am not a fan of the cold. You would think I should be since I’m a December baby but I’m always freezing! Your cupcakes look super yummy! Happy birthday Opal!

I always look forward to your post. So entertaining.
From a Texas ranch Farmgirl ,
Patsy
Dirtduchess

Ohhhh’s Ahhhh’s OhNo’s but all in all it was a great post! I hope y’all stay well and have a very Merry Christmas!!! God bless.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!! It does take some careful thinking when it comes to butchering. We raise and butcher our own beef and pork and venison- this year our oldest daughter is raising the beef (named Chuck). Our youngest daughter would rather eat broccoli soup! We butcher in February and I make sure I label the holiday meats- ham for Easter, pork roasts for pork and sauerkraut for New Years. We’ve been dealing with some colds, too, and always at the worst possible time! It is amazing how our daughter can manage to not cough or sneeze during her gymnastics routines at a meet- not sure if a sneeze would be a deduction or not! Isn’t it also amazing how something from MaryJane shows up at your door when it’s most needed? It happens to me a lot and I’m still not sure how she knows!!! Many blessings in the new year!

Kauai is my all time favorite place in Hawaii! It’s so beautiful and peaceful! Your adventure there sounds like so much fun. It’s really cool hearing that they have an organic farm but it’s crazy that they only have one. All the fruit looks so delicious and I can practically taste them just looking at the photos! Nice post. Thanks for sharing your grand adventure.

I live along the Front Range in northeast Colorado (east side of the Rockies). My eggplant routinely reach 3-4 feet in height and are massive producers. We have a short season, but not as short as yours in Alaska. But still, they are great producers and remarkable when you realize that enormous bush is an eggplant!

I have always considered Mary Jane’s Farm a refuge from the political turmoil going on in our country. Your left-handed reference to your political views are unwelcome, in my opinion. I am not talking about a for or against opinion of the outcome of the election but The fact that this space ought to be a politics free space. Let”s pay attention to our Farmgirl values and goals…please. There is a time and A PLACE for the sharing of politics. I did not think this is the place nor the time.

Living in the city too, I can relate. From my back porch I can see 3 different houses very clearly and have found myself making assumptions as well. One house in particular that I can see is across the street from my back door neighbors. When I started staying home I would notice many cars coming and going from this house all day, everyday. After much observation and many ideas later, I found out that this house has a daycare inside. I think it’s a natural human instinct to be curious and I wouldn’t be surprised if my neighbors have watched to see what we do over here. I honestly feel that it gives me a sense of security or reassurance knowing who my neighbors are and what they do, so if something is not normal or right I can react. I believe what your doing and feeling is perfectly normal.
Have fun in Hawaii with your family! I am jealous and in much need of a vacation. Hawaii is a wonderful place to travel to.

Oh I hope you had a wonderful time in Hawaii – I have so wanted to go there to see all the beautiful flowers!!! Thanks for the view into your suburban life – I can relate – it was touch moving off the farm. Love them babies. God bless.

Nice post, Alex. This is the perfect time for me to sit, relax, and reflect on the moments. Bringing summer to an end and starting up fall is a great time to let go of some stress, especially before the crazy of the soon to be here holidays hits. I will make sure to spend extra time with the special people in my life and share many emotions and experiences.

I just made zucchini chocolate bread with some of my zucchinis. wow, it tastes like brownies. Can’t tell zucchini is even in there. I cut into small chunks and froze it for a sweet snack. I will try your Caramelized Zucchini. I make lots of soups in the winter in the crock pot. That will blend in well. I just caught up on all your posts. I missed you, don’t know how I missed them. Keep up your good work. Joy

Hi there Alex! Love the pictures of the girls, the veggies, and the dirt! What a beautiful combo- I know that all too well! Right now in my area peaches are in but very sparse due to a late spring freeze that killed about 60% of the crop so we get what we can get. My girls and I could only pick one bushel and we canned them in apple juice instead of a sugar syrup. We will savor our few jars this winter! We will be putting up more applesauce instead to help keep enough jars of fruit on hand. Still waiting to see how the pears are doing(those are canned in white grape juice). We are also in the middle of putting up green beans and sweet corn and the tomatoes are FINALLY starting to ripen! Soup, sauce and salsa to can!! We don’t have the amount of zucchini that you do but I am always looking for new ways to eat it and yours sounds really good! We also put up jams and pickles (we NEED pickles!) and flavored vinegar. My girls are older now and are able to help out more (although there can be a good amount of whining involved some days!) but they have always loved to listen for the pop of the lids when they seal! I wish you and your family many happy lid pops too!!

I grew buckingham (yellow zuch) and cocozelle (striped zuch) this year. Two plants produce prolifically and I think I could give every family on my block enough to eat every single week. I’ve had to be creative with preserving! We are swimming in zuch! I’ve made zucchini “pickle” relish which turned out awesome (I canned it), shredded it up and put it in zip locks to freeze for use later to make squash croquettes, and of course we eat it ever stinkin’ day! 🙂 I had not ever considered blanching and freezing kale. I do eat kale every day in the summer, when production is high. I saute bacon and onion, add in the kale and water, simmer until done. REALLY great for breakfast – wakes you right up! I miss it in the winter when I don’t have it, so blanching and freezing will certainly help! Thanks for the tip!

I like that mindset. There are days that when I hear the news I am thankful that I am in my little spot in the country and feel at peace knowing that my kids are safe.

I loved the article. I am a mama of two little boys 3 years and 11 months. I can definitely relate to it. 🙂

Hi Alex, What a treat to read your blog – you have a earth centered gfamily – I am working hard to educate my community re the importance of community gardens to bring everyone together- keeping my fingers crossed in South Carolina

I am so jealous of your household with toddlers. Watching them grow and learn is so thrilling and remarkable.

On the other hand, my dear, I am so happy that you recognize and are taking advantage of their efforts.
Becky

Thank you, Alex. I agree that our responsibility to help make things better begins by being conscious of the energy we put into our very own spheres.

Love the “it’s okay”. So true. I really loved this post. Seeing life from a child’s perspective is very enriching and brings back life to it’s simplest things that are important to our lives. Glad you’re okay too. Have a very happy week. Til next time take care.
Denise
Australia

Nice…thank you.

I like that mindset. There are days that when I hear the news I am thankful that I am in my little spot in the country and feel at peace knowing that my kids are safe.

I loved the article. I am a mama of two little boys 3 years and 11 months. I can definitely relate to it. 🙂

Hi Alex, What a treat to read your blog – you have a earth centered gfamily – I am working hard to educate my community re the importance of community gardens to bring everyone together- keeping my fingers crossed in South Carolina

I am so jealous of your household with toddlers. Watching them grow and learn is so thrilling and remarkable.

On the other hand, my dear, I am so happy that you recognize and are taking advantage of their efforts.
Becky

Thank you, Alex. I agree that our responsibility to help make things better begins by being conscious of the energy we put into our very own spheres.

Love the “it’s okay”. So true. I really loved this post. Seeing life from a child’s perspective is very enriching and brings back life to it’s simplest things that are important to our lives. Glad you’re okay too. Have a very happy week. Til next time take care.
Denise
Australia

Nice…thank you.

Your children are adorable! Keep up the good work Alex. and yes, it is the garden of weedin”. Hi from Minnesota, where it is much hotter ( 90s).

Love the pictures. I am also a hot weather wimp, 60 degrees is warm enough for me.Your daughters are adorable. Have a safe and healthy summer and try to stay cool!
Marilyn

Thank you for sharing some nice pictures of spring and the great outdoors! Hopefully you will be able to continue finding ways to be outside and get back to your inner country. I bet it will be a lot of fun checking out all the parks. I wish we had that many parks here. I have been enjoying the outdoors myself. Twice a day I go out to check on my garden, to water some plants, and push my son in his swing. I can see a difference in both of us just getting out of these concrete walls. Amazing how that works!

I am a country girl stuck in the city also but I find ways to keep the country in my life ..I read blogs and country magazines ( I love Mary Jane’s farm ). I plant something every spring even tho I have to plant in pots..I look for good old country recipes like vinigar pie. I take drives in the country…one time I just HAD to see a cow so I loaded up my boys and we drove out to the country to find a pasture full of cows…I got to pet one..that was good therapy for a city girl missing the country life.

I always enjoy reading what you’re up to. In answer to your question, whenever I’m in a place with a lot of concrete like NYC, I go to great lengths to stay where there is at least one window I can open–hard to find actually. I love an open window because often there’s a breeze that will move the curtains ever so slightly, or perhaps a bird that will sing. It connects me somehow to home and instantly comforts me.

Very Cool Pics!

Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole