Yes, Nicole Hero’s are found in the most unlikely places. Our lives are so much better because of them all. How happy I am you, your family and animals are alright and Little Pip, so sweet.
How wonderful the fleet was in and your family was able to experience it.
Happy summer Nichole, enjoy it with your beautiful family,
I really enjoy your blog and reading about your life.
Farmgirl Hugs,
Debbie

Wow…we live in the northeast corner of the state, but were watching the news follow-ups about the tornadoes and microbursts on the opposite corner. Yes, many inconveniences, but I’m so glad you’re all okay. Events like this really make one stop and think about what’s really important.

Dot

So Sorry that “the storm” happened to you all…glad you’re bouncing back…Your experience sounds scary, interesting and enlightening…thank you, for sharing it with us…

Nicole, this is a beautiful blog to read and it brought tears to my eyes. You told everything so well and your house is very well built! You were all very lucky and prayers were answered. We see God when people are trying to help others in distress. It is so nice to hear of people who re not in their own little world today. Proud of your writing!
Love picture of the American flag and the little dog mascaot.
Mother

Thank God you and your husband and daughter were not hurt. Sorry about the damage to your house and car. You are blessed with great friends and neighbors. Hope things are getting back to normal in your neighborhood.
Marilyn

Happy everything turned out for you. As you said things can always be worse.

Nicole, so glad everyone made it through the storm. I know the clean up will take a while but as you said, things can be fixed and replaced. It is so important to look at the bright side. I love your quote from Mr. Rogers and thankfully you had some real helpers. Hope you get everything cleaned up soon.

Great finds and a fun read. We all need a friend who gets it!

Thank you for sharing your heart! I love the “O’Mats”! You inspire so many!I love your posts.

I enjoyed your blog and I have had many kitcshy items but no o-matics. I think maybe Laundromats and those Vend-o-mat (restaurants with many cabinets of different foods that coins purchased your chosen meal. Likely started in the late 40’s or 50’s. Magazine fascinates me by the name. Keep up the fun blog. MJ

i love your many vintage kitchen ware. i too have some, but you sure do hold the record!
i always learn lots fromyourblog. i thank you for all your inspirations. hugs and happy spring.
winnie jackson

Now all of those were ‘back in my day’ normal everyday used items. Just recently, now that my old hands/arms are not working well, the juicer that has a fluted center and you put your fruit on it and turn the fruit around, isn’t doing the trick – so am going out looking for a usable Juice – O – Mat. We had red/white and turquoise/white so it won’t matter the color. This was a fun trip down memory lane. God bless.

What a wonderful post! I too love old hankies and linens. I have some hankies that I found in my great grandmother’s purse along with some old vintage greeting cards. I’ve gotten some great treasures at yard and church rummage sales. I live in Florida and love when I come across an old tablecloth with Florida decorations on it. You do have some beautiful linens!

I think your going to love your box of things I sent you! Loved your blog this month! ♥️

Someone once gave me a hankie box. It was beautiful but, alas, I was young and didn’t know what it was so I didn’t take care of it so now it’s gone. Kicked myself many a time over that. When I have a vintage dresser scarf or table topper that is so stained nothing works I tea dye it. Not too dark but it hides the stains and only slightly changes the colored thread.

as always I loved your blog today! I have a lot of old vintage linens that belonged to my Mom and Grandmother. I need to use them more, especially after seeing your pictures of how you used yours. I also have old quilts too!

Reading your blog today reminded me of a couple of my most favorite pieces (among many tablecloths, quilts, doilies, afghans, and old nightgowns from Germany). When I got married (41 years ago-doesn’t seem that long ago) my Mom gave me a hand-quilted and hand-embroidered Southern Belle quilt that she made for one of my gifts. Needless to say, that one stays on my bed! 🙂 Then I found a white crocheted doily in the shape of a Southern Belle (dress with umbrella) at an antique shop. I tacked it on top of a burlap pillow that adorns the bed! I love the old mixed with the new as well, such as burlap pillows. I haven’t ever seen another doily like this as I travel across the USA each year visiting unique shops or antique places! Both are true treasures!!

Thank You for your story on vintage linens…I have been collecting them for years…Have you ever seen Huck weaved towels? Or Swedish embroidery? The time and effort put in to create vintage linens was amazing…An elderly friend gave me the recipe for an “antique linen” soak, she called it I’ll share it with you.
1/2 gallon of warm water
1/2 c. Cascade dish washing soap
1/2 c. Biz powder
Soak as long as needed Repeat if needed.
A friend soaked a “dirty brown” quilt in a bathtub…it looked new after two ” soaks”

Hi Nicole, I have some of those calendar tea towels from my mother and also a suitcase toiletries case like the one shown from her and I am using it to store some things in. I also have doilies packed away that were hers and the Retro Clean may be what I get to clean them up if they need it when I find them. Thanks for a lovely blog and thanks to Binky Thorsson for the URL for Retro Clean.

Have you tried quilt soap or a degreaser with borax to remove the stain on the blanket? ..or even peroxide or a combination vinegar and baking soda…id try all those before I toss anything. As for the holes in the item …to do an embroidered flower around the hole makes it a conversation piece…I’ll add an arrangement of embroidered flowers around a hole first going around the hole with a blanket stitch then add a few tounds aroubd that round, then do some flowers and leaves. Can make a hole in my blanket look exquisitely pretty. You dont see the holes you see the beautiful flower arrangement. Just an idea. Susana

I use vintage embroidered napkins and cotton hand towels for bathroom hand towels. I keep a stack folded on the sink. They are pretty and everyone can dry their hands on a clean towel. I keep a vase or large jar on the counter to deposit used towels.

As always, I enjoy your posts. Stay warm until spring!

Beautiful spinning wheel! And I think I’ve actually been to Gillette Castle, long ago on a distant planet! Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I Ienjoy your visits.

Thank you for sharing your adventure. It is snowing here in New York.
Marilyn

Love this! Thanks for sharing your day with us.
And I’d love to tour that castle.

Nicole, I usually don’t miss a lot about Connecticut most days, I’ve lived in Virginia for the last 33 years! But your post made me remember some of the great things about my home state and I’m missing it now!! Thanks for the walk down memory lane❤️

What a great way to spend a rainy day! Love it all but that castle…be still my heart.

Wonderful post. I sometimes think those rainy foggy winter days are under rated. Beautiful photos taken by all. Thanks for sharing whaat looked like a picture perfect day.

Thank you for the great blog. I don’t have beautiful handwriting, as my mother had, but I still send birthday, Christmas, Valentine cards, thank you notes, and letters. Receiving these means so much to me, and I hope it does to others. It is sad that email, tweets, and FB pass for so many special occasions now.

I love the feeling of finding an envelope in my mailbox with a hand written address. I just know that it’s going to be something special. We have a lady’s Bible study group at church and our leader passes out note cards at the end of the evening to encourage each lady to pick a person from the group and write a little note. When I get a note from one of my friends from that group, it’s just a wonderful joy to know that someone has taken the time to write to me. I still enjoy writing letters (or in some cases, just a note) and we never know what a difference it can make in someone’s life. I have all the old letters that my dad wrote to my mom while he served in the Army during World War II, and it gives me a better understanding of who he was and the relationship of my parents when they were young.

What a wonderful blog on the ” lost art” of letter writing…I have letters that I have saved from my deceased grandmothers that are among my “prized possessions”. As you described, they are in their individual styles of handwriting…so it seems like they are still with us.
Thank You for reminding us of how special, a handwritten, letter can make us feel in this age of texts and emails…

Hi Nicole! Love this post. I grew up with a mother and father who both loved letter writing. They set a good example for their three daughters. I love the internet and I love staying in touch with friends and family near and far but I still love sending cards and notes. And, like Julie above, I have saved handwritten letters and cards from all of my grandparents and many other people. I treasure them. I actually write to my 88-year old mother once a month because she gets so excited getting mail! She lives 2 hours away. I write all kinds of newsy little things, include newspaper clippings I know she’ll enjoy and I always send her photographs. I send greeting cards and notes to my grandchildren, ages 13, 9, and 2 as well. I hope they keep them! Carol

Nicole, I love this. It is true we are getting so busy and trying to move our lives down the road so fast, we are missing out on so much. My daughter in love is the best at sending cards. Everytime they come for a visit (they just live an hour away) I usually have something to send back with them, or cook them lunch etc, she always sends back a cute little handwritten card thanking us. 🙂 She is so considerate that way. So usually at Christmas I will put a book of stamps in her stocking and once I got her a wax and Letter J sealer to seal her envelopes. She loved it. I love receiving cards in the mail. Be Blessed. Neta.

I love this blog. Your grandmother, my mother, had the most beautiful handwriting I ever saw. My friend, Mary Ammerman, also has a very beautiful and distinct handwriting. It tells a lot about a person. Mine was good when I had to make good grades in school, but later I was always in a hurry and got sloppy. Beautiful picture of you and Audrey and I am so proud of her.
I love you,
Mother

I really enjoyed your post. I have two pen pals from a FB page and it’s the coolest thing to be writing letters. My granddaughter who is 24 writes letters or cards to me a lot which is very surprising. She never learned cursive either but the last two cards had a few cursive words❣️

I love this post. I send cards for all occasions to relatives,friends and to children of friends. E- cards are not the same and you cannot keep them. My family has albums of cards sent to us over the many years. it is fun to reread them from time to time. it is a shame that the schools have forgone teaching cursive writing. I learned cursive writing in the third grade at a public school. My handwriting improved because of a sixth grade teacher, she was a stickler for perfect handwriting. We would have penmanship lessons every day. She taught us how to place the paper on the desk when writing. I am grateful for her lessons.
Marilyn

I so loved reading this blog on handwriting. I have a grandaughter who could not read my cards that I would send her. I wrote in cursive,unaware she read them. She is 13 and told me she never learned because they are no longer taught cursive. I taken back about that. How do you sign your name? PRINT! UNBELIEVABLE! I’m a firm believer in the handwritten notes/cards. Paula

Love this blog! I can relate to it all, but from a crochet point of view. What’s funny is about 10 minutes before I read this, I just got done telling my mom about a tiny little flaw on a pair of baby booties I’m making. She told me that the flaw isn’t even noticable and that I’m just dwelling on it. So it was nice to read your post and be reminded that I am human and not a machine so it won’t be perfect! I love to crochet. I love the quick whip up projects that make me feel like I can accomplish something fast and I love the large projects that give me the proudest feelings ever. Now I’m ready to sit down and take on the other pair of baby booties!

Hi Nicole,
I too, see what your saying from a person that crochets and quilts…I have been with people that have been, JUST devastated if their project isn’t PERFECT! My step-grandmother was like that,(Bless her heart) she must have been taught what she knew by a strict “task master”. I believe you should do your best, but we aren’t robots, nor should we be…The Amish when they make a quilt, will purposely, at times put in a very obvious mistake, to show that know one is perfect but GOD, so we as mere mortals, should just enjoy the process. Ironically, I just got back from the store and bought yarn for my next “winter afghan project”. IT IS relaxing to crochet, like knitting…I don’t do a challenging project, I really just like how the colors blend I don’t need any intricate counting, or I would end up with a triangle LOL.I enjoyed this blog…especially the yoga part, I can relate…Thanks, Nicole

Super start! My Grandmother was a fabulous knitter, she did the method where the yarn is not tossed but picked like in crocheting. Yes she tried to teach me but I work right handed and think left handed, yikes. I think beginner classes might be in my ‘bucket’, wish you were in my area. Hope you all stay safe as the big storm comes. God bless.

Dear Nicole.
You are so good to knit and teach the studens to knit. I have seen you teach.
I still remember when you first began to knit.
Pip is soo cute in his sweater.

Love Ulla

I am very proud to wear the scarves you have knit for me. I am very proud of your talents and that is a pretty picture of you knitting. It made me so sad when I lost one scarf you knit for me. A lot of wisdom in your comments. Love, Mother

Hi Nicole,

You are so right about knitting. My first attempt at a class many years ago, was an awful experience. I was so proud of the stockinet sweater back that I had completed and the instructor stated “It will do, it’s really sloppy, but it will do.”. I held it together for the rest of the class, but cried all the way home and never returned. Fast forward 10 years….I refused to give up on wanting to learn and found a wonderful, patient instructor. Now, I don’t think there’s too much I can’t knit. I am grateful every day that knitting soothes me and am happy to share my talents with anyone with the desire to learn….and I have some pretty awesome sweaters to prove it! Spinning my own yarn makes the process even sweeter. Big Hugs!

Hey, Nicole, when I first saw your post, I saved it so I could read it at a time when I could enjoy it more. As you know, I’ve been working on becoming a better knitter. And besides becoming familiar with new stitches and working with “sticks” instead of hooks I’ve been learning other things as well. Patience is one thing as I work backwards to correct a mistake I find, learning how to read my knitting, researching a new stitch and watching a youtube on it. I learned to knit at eight years old with my mother teaching me the very basics of casting on and working the garter stitch. I still have my #8 metal knitting needles that she bought for me and I’m sixty-five now. For years I had it in my head that I couldn’t do more than that basic garter stitch and so I avoided knitting and stayed in the crochet arena becoming a very proficient crocheter with designing my own patterns and teaching others. But I always loved the look of knitted items and how yarn behaved in a knitted stitch as opposed to a comparable crochet stitch. I’ll never give up crocheting; I’ve got way too many projects lined up but venturing forth into the world of the knitter has been an experience that I’m enjoying so much. Thanks for your encouragement. Have a blessed day.

What an up lifting blog. i do knit but only the basics. I do have some books I intend to read and learn more advanced knitting. Wishing you and yours a Blessed,Happy and healthy 2018.
Marilyn

This was such a needed help for me today. We tend to announce all the imperfections.

Thanks for reminding use all that “perfection” should never be our goal. It’s the creation that lifts our spirits and defines our character Spring yarn stash clean-out had begun at my house in preparation for some fun summer projects. Move them sticks girls! Bon

Oh my goodness! How pretty are your pictures! Thank you so much for sharing this! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I read a comment earlier this week that made me chuckle….”When you stop believing in Santa, you get underwear for Christmas.” I love your pictures and all the vintage decorations. And your little Gidget is adorable. I found an old sled at our local florist a few weeks ago and was so excited to be able to use it in my decorations. Merry Christmas!

Thanks for sharing your nostalgic Christmas. Loved it!

Nostalgia is one of my favorite things, this was great fun! Merry Christmas to y’all! God bless

I am so jealous right now! I love the Macey’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! We watch it on TV every year and I have for as long as I can remember. My oldest enjoyed watching the balloons, but really thought it was cool to see Santa. I would love to take a trip there in the future sometime, especially while my babies are still kids. All your Christmas decorations are perfect. I love the older style of Christmas decorations including the colors. All the new pinks, bright blues, non traditional Christmas colors just don’t work for me. I love sticking with the traditional dark red and greens. I even have a few decorations that use to belong to my grandmother. They add the perfect touch and sentiment to my holiday season. May you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Hi Nicole,

We battle the Lady Asian Beetle here in the Spring. They are similar in looks to a Lady Bug but absolutely NOT the same insect at all. I’ve done a study on them because they are so invasive that it is like a plague for about a month in early spring. This year we have had them in the Fall too. I think because it got very cold and we had a few freezing days and then warmed up to the high 70’s so the beetles must’ve thought it was spring and they came out in full force. It is hard to explain how severe they are. You basically can’t go outside without hundreds upon hundreds coming in the house. And literally there were millions on my porches.

I’m really tolerant of all things insect and actually love them. And a true Lady Bug? I will go to extreme lengths to save her. But these Lady Asian Beetles are horrid! 🙂

Happy Fall to you Nicole!

Hugs,

Dori, the Ranch Farmgirl!

Japanese beetles are beautiful but they destroyed our grape vines this year so I guess their beauty is only skin deep.

I love the pictures, too, Nicole. I am impressed with the boxes you made with all the bugs to exhibit. Very interesting things I did not know about insects and that they make up 90 percent of all living. I did not know about picture you took on my porch of the lizard.
Love, Mother

We have many wasps on our 1 acre farm every year, but unless their nests are extremely close to the entry ways of our house, or in the direct line of a walking path, I won’t kill or do away with them. When our kids were younger, we learned through their 4-H Entomology Projects that wasps are VERY beneficial in the natural world. They are a tremendous predator of small caterpillars on cabbage, broccoli, and greens, in our garden.
This summer, every time I watered my potted petunias, I was able to watch wasps very busily checking for the little caterpillars that usually do a lot of damage to the flowers. They sting the caterpillars and stuff them in the paper or mud cells for the hatching wasp young to eat. We have a blue/black wasp that digs it’s home underground and carries small spiders (also beneficial) into it. Another wasp burrows into our compost piles. These used to sting and bother our kid’s 4-H pigs. Some wasps also serve as pollinators. We all learned a great deal through our years in entomology, and still use the information daily.
Me in Idaho

Wow, makes me hungry for one, Nicole. Well, my favorite place is right here at home where my son grills hamburgers and hot dogs but for eating out, there was a family diner downtown Carrollton that had one of the best hamburgers and onion strings I ever tasted. What their secret was I don’t know but they were delicious. Used to go there with a friend at least once a month to treat ourselves to their fare. Their onion strings were also very tasty, not the traditional circle but long strings dipped in batter and deep fried. Yummy!

I love all your comments. I hope one day visiting this places and try this hamburgers. Mexican farmgirl

Nicole, I am so glad you were here in Georgia and we shared so many tasty foods. I especially loved the hamburger! Now I am hungry for a burger at Miss Dot’s again! Wish I had known about Tookie’s when living in Texas. Thanks for my picture at 16 years old and now and the compliments. I love you.
Mother

Love this farmgirl trip, Nicole! Like you I can’t pass up a good burger and it is often what we go out for when we dine out. Add a delicious craft beer and to me it’s the perfect meal. Being a ” Texican” like you as well, I’m a tried and true beef girl too! I love the older places with the vintage vibes and the down home menus. We have a few new burger joints in Plymouth, but they don’t compare with places like you visited on your road trip. My mom and I are headed to Vermont later this week. I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for a good ( local ) burger joint along the way. Thanks for taking us along! Loved it!
Farmgirl hugs! Deb

Oh my goodness! That looks like so much fun! And your trailer is adorable! Thank you so much for sharing this!

Sounds like such a fun and exciting adventure. I’m a bit jealous! We still haven’t made it out camping yet. My husbands job is too demanding to get away right now. Since we are still in the 90s here my hopes are still high for another chance.
I agree about the red and white trailer! It’s beautiful! Those would be the colors I would choose if I was painting my own. Or maybe even a turquoise color! Lol. Glad to see you had fun and met other likeminded people. Your dogs outfit is adorable.
I’m happy to hear your family is doing alright. Texas still remains in my thoughts.

Really cute!

You know, Gidget stood for “girl midget” so your name is perfect, “Glamping Midget”. I love her, and wish you many happy campfires!

I’m no longer a “camper” but love the idea of having a camper and the fun of decorating it. You have done a superb job, love everything. Thanks for sharing your wonderful time. God bless.

What great pictures! Your camper turned out fabulous :).

One word: FABULOUS!

Nicole, I love the name ‘Gidget” for your little camper! Beautiful pictures and great story.
Such fun! Love,
Mother

Hi Nicole loved reading your blog about the rally, even though I was there to it was great seeing thru your eyes. You know I’m still looking for a camper.

Hi Nicole –
I have to say that everything that you do you put all your Heart & Soul into it. I love the camper. Might get me back into the camping mood! What a great project. Enjoy it! Diane

How exciting to live your dream. Gidget is just perfect for your family. You did a super job inside and now you get to enjoy all the hard work. Congrats!

Hi Nicole! I lost track of you for sometime and I was thrilled to open this email! I, too, am looking for my camper….it’s out there somewhere waiting for me…..they sell so fast and so many are on the west coast. I’m in Michigan…..
Love your blogs and I was so happy to know that you are fine and with a little glamper too. Take care….