We lost a member of the household today – the pet fish. Dealing with the loss of a pet is a rite of passage for a parent, unfortunately. It’s when your heart tugs at you, but you realize, “Yikes! I’m the adult here… I have to keep it together.” What do you do when your child’s heart is breaking?
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Have you ever entered a baking contest? I hadn’t, until recently. Grab some coffee (and maybe a slice of pie…you’ll crave it soon, for sure), and I’ll tell you about my recent pie-baking adventure.
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Congratulations! That looked like such fun.
By the way, I love reading your blog, it is so interesting.
Thank you, Rebecca! -Nicole
Jeanne says: Congratulations..I love cherry pie. It has been my favorite since I was a little girl. I loved my mother’s cherry pie. She made it with tart cherries and sometimes mixed in sweet cherries with the tart. When my children were small we visited my mother at her house in Palm Springs. It was 117 degrees. That afternoon she came home from work early and decided to take us to a little town called Beaumont in California. Up in the mountains where the temperature was much cooler and they had a petting zoo for the children. But best of all they were getting ready for their annual cherry festival that weekend. They had cherry orchards in their town. I had cherry pie which was delicious and bought some cherry jam. It was a glorious day. One of the best days ever. Thank you for the reminding me of this memory.
Jeanne, what a lovely memory to share! Thank you. Hmmm….cherry jam..I should try to make some of that. You just reminded me of going to my grandmother’s and having some cherry jam! I’d forgotten about that. Thank you for reading and commenting! -Nicole
Joan says: CONGRATULATIONS Nicole!!!!! I was always told -‘one never fails – unless one does not try.’ You make this old saying proof. Tart/sour cherry pie is my favorite too. When I was a child I lived with my Grandparents on a FARM/ORCHARD/GARDEN – yes all in caps because it was huge – one year my Grandfather said ‘doesn’t seem anyone really likes the cherries so let’s make room for something else’ – WHAT ‘I love cherries!!!! – I will take care of the trees’ and that I did – my Grandma was not well but she would come out to the orchard with me – I’d carry her a chair to sit on – and she would point out the ripest cherries – as I was up in the tree. Oh my, see the tears of joyful memories you have brought to me – THANKS and do TRY!!!!
Joan, sounds like the time you had with your grandparents was such a blessing! I bet that orchard was beautiful. Thank you so very much for sharing. – Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Janice K. says: Congratulations! The best cherry pie that I ever had was made by my mom. Back in those days we even had a pie cherry tree…Mom taught me to pinch around the edge of my pie crust. She trimmed the pie crust to the same size (maybe an inch and a half larger than pie plate), rolled the bottom over the top and then it was my job to pinch the edges all the way around with my ‘pinchy’ fingers.
My claim to fame is my apple pie. I always brush the top crust with a little milk or buttermilk (also a trick of my mom!) when it is toward the end of baking and then sprinkle it with sugar and cinnamon. It comes out so yummy..
Your pie was beautiful. I am glad that you overcame your fears!
Janice, thank you! I love your tip about your apple pie. It’s apple picking season here in New England, I’ll be making apple pie soon. Can’t wait to try your buttermilk/cinnamon/sugar trick for the top of the crust! -Nicole
ella says: Good for you, Nicole! Taking that step and winning that prize must give you extra confidence to do some other things you’ve only dreamed of. Blessed journey!
Thank you, Ella! It was fun, too, because it was such a "vintage" type of thing to do, right up my alley! -Nicole
donna says: Hurray for you!!!! This seems to be pie baking time of the year..Cherry Pie is my favorite too…my g-ma worked at a day & night restaurant in her working days..and everything was homemade..maybe that is why making pies is my favorite..to carry on the family tradition. Lancaster, Pa. is probably most famous for their shoo-fly pie..and your best chance of getting homemade..I live close.
Donna, you lucky girl! I also had several slices of shoo-fly pie on our last visit there several years ago. Good stuff! -Nicole
How exciting!! I too have always wanted to enter a contest but have always shied away. Now I think I will go for it. It will be fun to just participate. And a ribbon would be even more exciting.
Congratulations! And I am glad your husband took a chance as well and took a bite of pie. HA!
Ms Scarlette
Yes, and it only took a roomful of people and twenty years to get DH to taste what he’s been missing, ha ha. Now I’m being asked to bake more cherry pies! -Nicole
bonnie ellis says: Way to go farmgirl! You showed them. My favorite is cherry pie also. Keep on entering. Your farmgirl friend Bonnie
Hi Bonnie! Thank you! -Nicole
Well, I applaud you for taking the leap of faith and trust in yourself to enter the contest. I did the same last year at our rural farm areas Potato Festival with an apron I made. I won first prize also! I too had never entered anything where everyone would be looking at it.. YIKES. My prize…. a sense of pride and $3.00 ! Deborah Rutledge
Deborah, congratulations! I bet it is a beautiful apron. Did you post a pic of it on the Farmgirl Connection? -Nicole
Laurie Dimino says: Yay Nicole!!! Congrats on winning your first Pie contest! I love the moral of your story-so very true, and this just proves it!
Keep on blogging….I love to read what’s happening in your neck of the woods!
Farmgirl Smiles,
Laurie
Hi Laurie, thank you so much for reading and commenting. It means so much to me! – Nicole
Ali - Farmgirl 12 says: Congrats! I’ve been meaning to ask you what kind of pie you entered in the contest! Thanks for posting.
Ali
Thank you Ali. Maybe I’ll make one for our next Sisterhood Chapter Get-Together! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Terri says: Congratulations! You are an inspiration – and I love reading your blogs. I enjoy your outlook on Life, including the simple things that come up everyday. Cherry pie is one of my favorites, too, but my specialty in making pies is probably rhubarb (my husband’s favorite.) I had a similar experience with the "I don’t like those". I’d made a rhubarb pie shortly before our friend Dana stopped by. We offered him a slice. He started on it slowly, then finished it up quickly, set his fork down and said, "That was some of the best pie I’ve ever had … and I don’t even like rhubarb!"
Thank you, Terri! Funny story! Rhubarb is a pie I have always liked but never made myself. -Nicole
Shery says: Look at all those lucious pies!! My favorite sweet treat. Congratulations on your big win. You looks SO cute and so farmgirlish :o)
Thank you Shery!:) Pie is my favorite treat, too..I truly believe pie can fix any bad day! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Marlene Stearns says: Hi Nicole,
I loved your article about cherry pie. I could almost taste it. In fact, I just might make one tomorrow, it is my husbands favorite.
God Bless,
Marlene
Thanks, Marlene! Enjoy! -Nicole
As a mom, my year isn’t a calendar year, but one that ends when lazy days of summer bid farewell. A new year starts with the return of fall. Even when my daughter grows up, I bet I’ll still feel that way. I still love the smell of new pencils, a fresh box of crayons, and the scent of new leather shoes! Back-to-school means a fresh start, more hectic schedules, and saying goodbye to long summer days of fun. Having grown up in a climate that is hot most of the time, I really appreciate the four seasons we have in Connecticut, savoring every minute of our short but beautiful summers. My daughter doesn’t attend camp, but has plenty to write about when her teacher asks “What did you do all summer?” Come sit a spell with me while I reminisce about what we did and share some fun ideas for entertaining young’uns.
Charles LaGroue says: Keep it up- each one is better then the last . So much of what you write brings memories of when you were little running wild at the ranch.
Love,
Dad
Thank you, Daddy! Love you! -Nicole
meredith says: Hi Nicole! Thank you SO much for this post- I grew up in Ridgefield, Ct. and have such fond memories of the beautiful summers there. Your photo of the walking trail really reminded me of how beautiful my hometown is. Thanks for the walk down memory lane! Meredith
Hi Meredith! Thank you so much for reading. I was just in Ridgefield recently, another lovely town. I was happy to see Main Street hasn’t changed too much in the past years. -Nicole
Hi Nicole,
Loved your artwork with the sunscreens. Another idea to try is to buy a blank canvas bag or apron and pick colorful flowers or ferns and arrange them on the canvas and cover with a piece of wax paper and then hit with a hammer and it transfers to the canvas. I think then you have to soak in salt water to set the colors so that they will not wash out. (It has been a long time since I made one) Just thought it might be something you and your daughter would enjoy doing.
love reading your blogs
Be Blessed
Ms Scarlette
Oh that sounds fun! What a neat idea! Thank you so much for sharing! -Nicole
kelly says: Thank you for great ideas! I can use them
next summer when the grand kids come by. We are big bird and butterfly watchers here and the books are a great gift idea for them also when the holidays come by.
Kelly, thank you for reading. The books have proven to be something my whole family enjoys and my daughter does not grow out of. Enjoy! – Nicole
Hi Nicole,
You’re right–even though my kids are grown, to me the new year begins in late August/early September. I don’t think that will ever change! Fall is such a good time for a new fresh start. Thanks for sharing this fun nature craft. Such pretty results!
Betsy
Thank you, Betsy! -Nicole
Another great post. Thank you Nicole. We are just starting over with grand children and you have opened new ideas for educating them to their surroundings.You are definitely an inspiration.
Thank you so much Denise! Congratulations on your grandchildren! -Nicole
Theresa says: Love the Blog. Summer is a wonderful time with your children. Mine are grown now, still I hold those days close to my heart. Too many parents forget to take that time with their children. My son, now 30, can not wait to show me a new plant he is growing. My daughter has grown into 110% tree hugger. I smile and know there is a lot of my teaching and my father’s in me there. I could not of spent my life doing any thing to make me happier.
Theresa, what a sweet, wonderful comment to the blog. Thank you. I feel the same way…my daughter is my greatest gift and nothing I’ve done or could do could make me as happy as being her mom. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. – Nicole
Kirsten says: Love the blog Nicole! In the past 2 years I have really found my inner farm girl, and have loved sharing my farm girl-ness with my daughter Hannah(age 14). We’ve made jams together and just this summer sewed matching sun dresses, which turned out to be more like night gowns…We had fun learning to sew and laughing at the baggy results. Time with our young-ons is so precious and we should never pass up the chance to give to them the gifts that we have been given.Thanks for the listen and keep up the great work!
Kirsten, thank you for sharing! I bet those sundresses are adorable – and something your daughter will never forget. Keep making those wonderful memories with your girl! -Nicole
I had planned on writing on a different topic today, but life took a turn that inspired me elsewhere. Are you a plan-ahead type of person? I would say I’m notorious at planning-ahead. Maybe it’s just my personality, or the fact I was a young Girl Scout, and the motto “Be Prepared” stuck. In any case, when we heard unwanted guest Hurricane Irene was heading our way, I got busy. But no matter how much preparation or weather reports you keep updated on, when it comes to Mother Nature, sometimes you don’t know what’s in store for you, and she reminds you of the most important life lesson.
Brenda says: Glad you are okay. Sometimes with out electricity it can be fun. Makes you think about what is really important. And sometimes those well made plans just go up in smoke,or down with the rain or something but the sun did come out,and again thank God you are okay.
Brenda, thank you for commenting. We are so thankful – it could have been so much worse! -Nicole
bonnie ellis says: We are glad you and your family are ok. We have been praying for the many affected by any parts of the hurricane. We have tornadoes in Minnesota so I know of the devastation. Thanks to your farmgirl spirit, you were prepared. Good luck and keep on writing. Bonnie
Thank you, Bonnie! -Nicole
So happy no one was hurt at your house!We certainly learn how to function quickly when disaster strikes, don’t we? Still praying for everyone in Irene’s path.
Sue says: We were hit hard here in NJ too. Lots of trees down and no power for 7 days. A generator comes in real handy.
Sue, hope all is well with you and yours in New Jersey. These rains aren’t helping the floods, either, I bet. -Nicole
Janice K. says: Gosh, Nicole! I am relieved that you and your family weathered this storm and will continue to weather many others (just maybe not this type!)….You did great planning for your basement retreat.
I have never lived in an area prone to this type of weather activity. The closest we got here in eastern Washington state is something we locals call ‘ice storm’. I remember I was working that particular day and my mom and dad called me to tell me that everything was covered with ice and to NOT take the freeway. I dashed out to my car and started down the hill to the main street when I realized that I couldn’t see through the ice shell covering my car. When I got out to work on my windshield my hair froze automatically, sticking out on one side of my head. We also were without power and I thanked God that my husband was an electrician and had installed a generator! My folks used their motor home alot that year and when we came over for Thanksgiving, mom had cooked the turkey and side dishes, promptly finishing when the power went out again.
I think back on this part of my life, being thankful that I had wonderful parents and a husband to help me through. As mom would say, ‘It was a tough row to hoe..’…..
I’m sending you some positive energy! Hang in there, sweetie!
Wow Janice, what a story! Thank you for sharing. We get blizzards here, but with those, we know in advance, and honestly the roads are cleared the next day. With ice, there’s a higher chance of losing power. What made last winter so hard was the ice and snow piled up so high, you couldn’t see the oncoming traffic when you pulled out or could walk anywhere. Thank you for your wishes. We are well, power here is back. Certainly makes you appreciate it, though, when it is out for long periods! -Nicole
Joeby says: I am glad that you are okay. I live in Houston, north of Houston, and we were affected by Ike – 2 weeks without electricity. It was kinda fun the first week, and not so much the 2nd week. We have our 72 hour kits ready at all times – just in case. And now there are fires near by in Magnolia!
Your chickpea and veggie salad that you made to "prepare" sounds yummy…would you be willing to share!
Joeby – Texas is certainly being hit hard with the drought and those horrible fires! Wish we could send our rain down to you!
For the chickpea salad, in a large bowl, I mix two cans of Organic Garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed, 2 large chopped tomatoes or a large handful of cherry tomatoes, 2 medium cucumbers, chopped, 1/2 cup feta cheese, 10 – 12 fresh leaves of basil, 6 – 8 leaves of fresh mint, and mix it with 1/3 cup White Wine vinegar and 1/4 cup Organic Olive Oil. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour or two before serving. Enjoy! -Nicole
Mousam says: I am from the quiet corner of CT and there isn’t anything more intimidating then facing such storms and the aftermath of doing without a lot of things we take for granted till we don’t have them. We made it through and I am glad you and your family also. I like the laundry idea.
Glad to hear you are doing well, too. It was something, that storm, wasn’t it? Thank you for reading! -Nicole
Patricia Strain says: I’ve posted comments to you several times now and almost feel like we’re friends, so as one friend to another, thank goodness you and your family are okay, God Bless.
Hi Patricia, We are both farmgirls, so that makes us friends! Thank you so much for reading and commenting on the blog. It means alot. -Nicole
jeannie pierce says: Been there, done it. Cooked on a camp stove…..windows open all around. Hanging clothes out to dry…..by the way, the washboard idea was a good one! After five days without power, we got in a groove, and then when the lights came on, we were sort of bummed!!! But only for a few minutes! What I missed most when the lights came on was the quiet.
Jeannie, I know what you mean. We enjoyed "hunkering down" each night before it got dark in our basement (the generator powers a part of it). We had more family time without t.v. than we have had in ages. I also am looking into getting a "real" clothesline. I was inspired to do it when I read MaryJane’s book, but now really want one. The clothes smell so fresh! Thanks for reading. -Nicole
Rachelle says: So glad you and your family are ok. I live here in Texas north of Houston. We are currently facing wildfires in our neck of the woods and many of our friends are evacuated and some have lost their homes. Floods, Fires and Tornados are all devestating. We are thankful that we are out of harms way at this time. Take Care we will be praying for all of you. Could you send us some rain?
Rachelle, my prayers are there with you! I have family where you are and have heard of some of their friends who have lost everything to those fires. Stay safe! Wish we could send some of the rain to you. Watching Texas on the news is just heartbreaking (my homestate). -Nicole
I am glad you are OK and hope this next storm is nice to you too! How convenient to have that washboard! And I am lovin’ your clothesline. Don’t you wish for one up all the time?
Blessings to you as you clean up!
Cyndi
Totally! My daughter wanted her swingset back, so I am looking into a "real" clothesline. I have to say washing with the washboard and hanging it up to dry was actually quite relaxing! My daughter says we should get a wringer, too! We’ll see… Thanks for reading and commenting! -Nicole
Mary Murphy says: Your farmgirl spirit is inspiring (and a great example to your daughter). My grown children still remember a tornado that hit here in Akron/Canton, Ohio, when they were young. It sheered the tops off seven pine trees and put the top of a huge silver maple tree in our above ground pool. It only broke a gutter on the house four feet away from the pool. We have pictures of the kids standing on huge tree trunks taken down by the storm. I’ll never forget that steam engine sound. Time to check on my emergency supplies in the basement!
Mary, we have an above-ground pool, too. Not too far from our huge downed trees sat the pool, and would you believe that the pool floats were still in it! I was shocked! They were the one thing I forgot to take in. Thanks for the comment! Stay safe! -Nicole
Rose says: Nicole,
Another great story and great advice about being prepared for a potential storm. So many people do not heed storm warnings and get caught with no food or water and an empty tank of gas.
I love the vintage washboard! And it is a practical item to have on hand.
Thanks, Rose! Thank you for reading, too. -Nicole
Isn’t everything better when homemade? I think so. Some foods, I won’t even eat unless it’s homemade. Especially jam. Are you a regular “Jammer”, or is it something you’ve thought of, but never attempted? Well, come on in to my kitchen, as I make a batch!
Rose says: Interesting comment about not reusing the jar lids. Is it because they don’t form a tight seal the second time? My parents made jam and would cover the jam with wax instead of a lid. How safe was this to keep jam fresh and good to eat?
By the way, your homemade jam is wonderful! It is worth all the hard work you put into it!
Thank you, Rose. Yes, with the lids they do not form the tight seal if reused, but they are so inexpensive it certainly is not worth the chance. The rings and jars are reusable, as long as there are no cracks in the glass. Hugs, Nicole
How long will the jam last unopened? I am wondering if I can make jam now with the fresh fruit available, but then save to give as Christmas gifts.
Hi Megan! Make your jam now, of course! Unopened, jam can last for eighteen months if stored in a cool, dry place. Once opened, in the fridge it can last up to two weeks for best taste. Enjoy! -Nicole
Hello Nicole, I am amazed at how canning is taking off this year. Or is it that, now that I am canning too I just notice it more? I started canning for our churchs christmas boutique this Nov. I was kind of shanghied into it actually and now love it. I have about 100 jars so far of jams and relishes. My fave to make was "plum rum walnut conserve". It made me think, how about strawberry dacquire jam for the adults? I had so many organic fruits donated to me that I had to freeze them until I had time to can them all. I have, even now, strawberries and grapes (for jelly) still in the freezer, waiting. I loved your post, very encouraging. Keep up the good work. Linda
Hi Linda! Wow! Those recipes sound great! I love to try different ones! I’ve got a few I want to give a whirl that I haven’t tried yet. Thanks so much for reading, Linda! Happy Jammin’! -Nicole
Terri Sue says: You can use wax for jams. You go through the same steps of sterilizing your jars. Fill them a good inch of space at the topsmoothing the top as well as you can. make sure that inch of space is completely clean. Then pour hot parrafin, (you can get this at the grocery store in the canning aisle), to 1/2-3/4 inch thick over it. Carefully look completely around your jar to make sure the parrafin is touching the jam completely. If you see any airholes, use a toothpick to pop them and get the wax down on the jam. This is not my preferred method. I use rings and lids, but at one time I had a stove that was so wimpy it couldn’t bring my canner to a boil so i had to do it this way. It works and is safe if all precautions are taken, but you also have to deal with bits of wax in your jam. The only way to get the wax off is to break it. You usually get big pieces of wax, but that first two or three pieces of toast are likely to have little wax shards in the jam. There is one advantage to this method. You can use whatever glass jars you want, so you can reuse old jars that had something else in them, if you are only putting up a small batch and don’t want to invest in mason jars.
Thanks for the tip, Terri Sue. I’ve never done that, although I did see the supplies in our local hardware store. -Nicole
Debra says: I love to make jam. I love to see and how it all tastes. This was fun to read. Thanks
Thank you for reading, Debra! -Nicole
Joy Howard says: I was determined to learn how to can this year. A co-worker volunteered his wife. She taught us how to make raspberry-fig, and blueberry jams, plus sweet pepper relish. I then made a batch of strawberry-fig jam on my own. My batch didn’t gel as well. I think the figs were too ripe. But it tastes good so I’m happy.
Joy, it sounds delicious! Thanks for reading! -Nicole
Janice K. says: Thanks for reminding me of the fact that I actually went to the local Mary Jane’s store and purchased Chill-Over powder awhile back! I thought that you could use it for jam…The last raspberry freezer jam that I did was sweetened with stevia. It turned out more like a fruit spread (not as sweet as most jams) and good.
My mother-in-law does a plum jam. She starts by washing and pitting her plums and putting them in the oven in a turkey roaster with some water. She cooks them down and sweetens them with a little sugar. She even places the jars in the oven in a pan of water to start the sealing process. I researched this part and read that it was not safe, though I won’t tell her! She’s been doing it for years….
Next I will try your version!!
Good ideas and lots of fun!
Janice, my sisterhood chapter and I took a canning class last year at our local extension. I agree with them, safety must be the first precaution, and using the boiling method for jam, I don’t worry, as that is the preferred method. If canning low-acid foods, (green beans, etc.) then a pressure canner must be used. I haven’t tried Stevia, but sure was happy with MaryJane’s Chillover Powder. Have fun! -Nicole
Kathy says: Yummy! Strawberry is my favorite!! Have some on an english muffin with a little melted butter. A cup of tea or coffee…the perfect snack when watching the snow fall.
My daughter and I canned our very first time this summer. Tomatoes. It should make for a good base to a winter stew this year.
take care
Hi Kathy! Isn’t a little jam in the winter like a mouthful of summer sun? I think so… big hugs to you! -Nicole
Mary Murphy says: I like making jam and make apple butter every fall with crate-priced apples from the local apple orchard. I was glad to see you working on a smooth-top stove. When I got mine (I love it) I was told by someone that "you can’t can on a smooth-top stove." That made me move to freezing my jams and butters (not as nice to give as gifts). Your article here made me pull out my Use and Care Guide and finally read up on "Home Canning Tips." Whadda ya know? I can can as long as I use a flat bottom pan. Off to can some blackberry jam!
Thanks for writing, Mary. Blackberry jam – yummy! That’s one of my favorites. I used to have a gas stove, and was talked into the smooth top by the salesperson years ago, but I have to admit the only issue I have with it when canning is that it is easier to scorch the bottom of the pan if you aren’t careful, as the heat doesn’t turn down as quickly as with gas. Just keep stirring and watching, and you will be fine! Have fun! -Nicole
Nancy Buchanan says: Have made jam, jelly and conserve for 40 years and like you I was hooked from the first batch. It is the best anti-depression "medication" there is. I can really clear my head, forget work and praise the Lord and have a great gift at the end of the day. Keep on cooking Ladies.
Nancy, Amen to that! Thanks so much for reading! -Nicole
patricia says: Hi Nicole,
It’s me Patricia, I’m addicted to reading your posts! This past weekend, I had a "canning party", we canned strawberry jam, spiced onions, pickles, applesauce and apple butter. I LOVE to can, it gives me such a sense of accomplishment, please keep up the wonderful posts, really makes my day!
Patricia, oh my goodness, you are so sweet! What a nice thing to say! Your canning party sounds like a blast…would make a great Sisterhood Chapter activity! Thank you again, you made MY day! -Nicole
Jeanne says: I can’t wait to start canning. Peaches are a big thing here this month. I live in Colorado and the peaches are incredible this year. I walked into the neighborhood fruit and veggie warehouse and the smell of peaches was overwhelming. Delicious.
However, I looked on the internet for some clarity to as boiling the jars for the 20 minutes you suggested and the site I read said if you live at high altitude, which I do, you need to increase your boiling time an extra 10 minutes. I am so excited, I can’t wait for the little lady around the corner to open her veggie stand this morning.
Most of the canning supplies I bought years ago from an antique auction in Kansas just because I thought it was neat old stuff, but now it will be useful.I just need to check it out for safety. Thank you for giving me the push to try something new.
Jeanne, I love to make peach jam! Thanks for adding the tip for those with high altitude. Good luck! -Nicole
Tess Sole says: Nicole- Love, love, love your posts!! I’ve been making jam for several years and I, too, love it! I’ve used regular and low sugar pectin but never MaryJane’s Chillover Powder. I’m looking forward to ordering some and trying it! We live in Oregon and get fresh strawberries in our garden, pick organic blueberries and sometimes, organic peaches. It really does give you such a rich sense of accomplishment and the flavors are unsurpassed. Giving it as a gift brings sunny smiles from the recipients and a warm feeling for me inside. Thank you for your encouragement.
Hi Tess! Thank you for the nice comment! How fun to do the picking yourself! We usually go peach and apple picking every year, and there are farms to pick strawberries and blueberries as well. (It always seems to rain the day we want to go)! Your garden sounds wonderful. Thanks again for reading. -Nicole
Nella Spencer says: Hi Nicole, Loved your blog and the photos. I’ve been thinking about trying my hand at canning. Thought I could find a little class here in Chicago, but no luck. After reading your instructions, I’m inspired to try on my own. Thanks for boosting my confidence!
Nella, Thanks for reading. I’m glad you are inspired. It is such a fun thing to do! Good luck, I’m sure it will turn out great! -Nicole
suzanne Treloar says: Hi Nicole,
Loved reading your jam blog as I LOVE jamming and am trying some new stuff this year like Jalapeno and Red Bell Pepper Jam for a great Christmas look.
Question:
How did you make that Mason Jar soap container. Where did you get the dispenser part and how to make the hole fit just right? It’s SO cute.
Thank you.
Suzie Treloar
Hi Suzie, Thank you for saying such nice things! For my soap dispenser, I took a regular mason canning jar, lid, and ring. I tapped a hole in the top with a hammer and nail. The dispenser part came from an old dispenser, so I just re-purposed it. I have only had to replace the lid part one time in two years at it got a bit rusty. I saw in Lehman’s catalog (www.lehmans.com) that they also sell that part now, as well. You would just need the jar. -Nicole
Suzanne Steinhiser says: Hi Nicole,
I certainly enjoy all the blogs on MaryJane’s site,but I particularly liked your "jammin" post. It reminds me of when my children were young and I was full of domestic curiosity. It made me want to repurpose my life, not just my Ball jars. Thanks so much for the inspiration. Your daughter by the way is beautiful. How lucky are the both of you! Suzanne
Oh, Suzanne, thank you so much! It makes me happy to know I’ve inspired you with my post. Enjoy all that you do! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Monique says: I haven’t tried canning yet, but I am working my way up to it! How long do you boil the jars and lids to sterilize before filling? How do you dry them before filling?
Thank you for your inspirational post.
Thanks for reading Monique! When I do mine, I keep my jars boiling in the hot water for a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes before taking them out.
-Nicole
Caroline says: I made jam for the first time this past summer. We woke up early, headed to the farm, picked raspberries, and were turning them into jam within an hour. The mom of a dear friend of mine, who has been canning and preserving forever, hosted me for a hands-on canning 101 session. I am hooked! Cannot wait until next year!!
For those who are nervous, it is so much easier than you think! Just do it!
Amie says: Hi, I found your site by mistake when i was searching yahoo. I have to say your content is helpful. I also love the theme, its amazing!. I don’t have that much time to read all your post at the moment but I have bookmarked it. I will be back in a day or two. Thanks for a great website.
Summer’s midway! While we’ve been busy doing some favorite summer activities, sometimes things don’t turn out as planned. Stopped at a light the other day, I noticed a bumper sticker, about the sport of golf. It read, “I hate golf, I hate golf, nice shot… I love golf!” Gardening can kinda be that way sometimes, too.
Janice K. says: Here’s an idea that I caught on a cooking show a few days back! Slice summer squash and/or zuc in thin slices and toss in a bag with flour. Brown on each side in oil. Cook some pasta reserving some of the cooking water. Toss together pasta, romano (or similar cheese), grated garlic, fried squash, some cooking water, season to tast. Yummo…Thanks for the veggie packet idea!
By the way, my garden eater is a small baby rabbit that lives adjacent to my beans. One row gone down to the stems but I retaliated by starting some seeds in a raised bed, complete with plastic screening material..I just love my rabbits…
Janice, that recipe sounds delish! Thanks for sharing! Good luck with your raised bed. Yesterday I had a small bird in my garden, as well. She slipped through the fencing. I was able to free her unharmed. Thanks for reading! -Nicole
Joan says: Thanks for the wonderful visit – love the bumper sticker – will use it as a fun thing at our upcoming Garden Club brunch – it really speaks to most in our area this year – we had late freeze and then hail. Today it is only 55,foggy,cloudy,breezy and unless this all goes away – to ripening today. Still oh how beautiful the flower gardens look swaying in the breeze,with droplets of fog dripping from them – something different – something beautiful.
Joan, wow, 55 degrees! Today we are at 80 but have gotten so much rain this week. Then down in Texas is a drought! What a strange summer it is! I was at the Organic Farmers Market here in town yesterday. They said they are all having late ripening veggies too – made me feel somewhat better! Enjoy your Garden Club brunch – sounds fun! -Nicole
Patricia says: Nicole,
I’m really getting the "hang" of this! Let me say that your site inspires me, I get done reading & get off my "duff" and get busy doing SOMETHING. I appreciate you, please keep up the excellent posts…
Wow! Patricia, thank you so very much! It means a lot to me! -Nicole
Susan says: Thanks for all the ideas. I guess it just takes something simple and you can relax, eat and be happy. By the way,, I can’t wait to try that casserole.
Farmgirl Sister #2555
Let me know what you think when you make it! I just picked up some more squash myself….-Nicole
Ali says: Great post, Nicole. I can’t wait to have my own backyard someday so I can have a veggie garden and flowers. Thanks for the recipe, too – looking forward to trying it, as well as Janice’s recipe!
Jeannie says: Strange gardening season all across the country it seems. We are just now getting ripe tomatos which is a bit late for our Soutwest Colorado climate. My pests in the garden have been squash bugs. Bad as I hate to I grab those buggers and squash em. My gourds are absoultely beautiful?? Go figure.
Will try your recipe too. Thanks for sharing.
Laurie Dimino says: Nicole- As always your blog is a pleasure to read…I look forward to reading it just as much as I look forward to receiving my latest issue of MJF! Thank you for sharing a glimpse into your "suburban" farmgirl life. Living in suburbia across the sound on Long Island I can totally relate to your stories. Enjoy the rest of your summer my friend!
Smiles,
Laurie
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Thank you, Laurie, enjoy your summer, too! -Nicole
Sarah says: Nicole –
Love your posts! It’s so great knowing that I’m not the only one with an abundance of green tomatoes :/ But I’m learning so much in this, my first, year of gardening. I have used your recipe for treating powdery mildew on my plants, and it saved our summer squash (yay!) but I think we may have gotten to the pumpkin and spaghetti squash too late (boo!).
Great to see your little porch-sanctuary 🙂 I have a back porch area that helps wash all my gardening woes away (or at least relax while I plan my attack for next year…like planting my first cut-flower garden:)
Thanks again – Blessings to you and your garden!
China says: Great stuff, you helped me out so much!
Congratulations on the little corner of heaven that you have there! I really enjoyed your post!
Have you tried tomato leaf tea? Soak tomato leaves in water over night, drain out leaves, use as spray on garden. It is good for most soft bodied bugs like afids. Diatrimatious Earth, made of powdered sea creature skeletons, found in the pool section. Lightly puff on vegetable garden for most exoskeleton bugs, like ants, fire-ants, and crickets. Gets in their joints and dehydrates them to death. Must reapply after rain. Completely harmless for humans and pets to touch, although avoid inhaling the dust. I did notice the application on the plants needs to be a dust, if you apply to heavily, it seemed to dehydrate the plants.Great Blog. Thanks.
Hi Barry,
I have only recently heard of the tomato leaf tea, but have not tried it, and have never heard of the other method. Thanks so much for the recommendation – I will keep it for next year and try. Always good to get new suggestions. Thanks for reading and commenting. -Nicole
Are you passionate about a hobby or activity? One of my favorite hobbies is knitting, an activity that keeps my hands busy and my mind relaxed. I love teaching knitting classes for my town, and knitted items are one of my favorite gifts to give. I really got the “hang” of knitting when I was expecting my daughter, and had complications that required bedrest…torture for someone like me who has to always be doing something! Knitting makes me happy and centered…it’s my “yoga”. Picking out yarn…the textures, the colors, the smell of the fibers, makes me giddy! I love to head to my favorite yarn store, located in one of the most beautiful places in Connecticut…the historical and quaint town of Kent. Come visit this gem of a town with me!
Susan says: Love Kent and meeting you at Black Sheep Yarns. I agree, choosing the yarn, reveling in the color, texture and hand is almost as fun as the knitting!
Happy Trails,
Susan
Susan, it was lovely to meet you, too. Hope to see you again – I know I’ll be at Open Knitting again sometime! -Nicole
Rose says: I love that scarf! The changing colors and dropped stitches make it more unique. Thanks for a great article on the town. I may have passed through the town on a hiking trip. Connecticut is very scenic, I appreciate it more now that I am living elsewhere. I will have to budget sometime next trip home for you to take me on a road trip to somewhere in Connecticut!
Louise Marie says: I loved your article today. Small town America is where I want to be! The people and their shops each have their own special personality. I like to stay long enough in each town to get to know at least one personality. The town of Kent sounds wonderful. Oh, how I would love to visit.
-Each town has it’s own special traits, too. Thanks so much for reading. -Nicole
meredith says: What a treat! I grew up in Ridgefield, CT and spent time in Kent for a variety of activities! Last time I visited was about 10 years ago and we had a lovely time visiting with old and dear friends. Thanks for the memories!
Meredith, thank you for reading! -Nicole
What a gem of a town! Very lovely. I love taking day trips to special places too. 🙂
The first time I found it, we drove "through" it on the way to somewhere else. I had my nose literally pressed to the glass! Thanks for reading! -Nicole
Reba says: Hi, I live about 2 hrs east of Atlanta. When you visited Madison, GA did you have a chance of visiting Blue Willow Inn in historical Social Circle, GA? It is a lovely place to peruse and have lunch. Here is the website if anyone is interested: http://www.bluewillowinn.com/ I enjoyed the "tour" of Kent, CT. I love road trips. I also understand the excitement about smelling the fabric and planning a project. I don’t knit (wish I could) but I do love smocking garments. And I begin to get giddy also when creating a project. Happy Knitting as well as sight-seeing, Reba
Reba, thank you for the website link! My mom and I plan to visit there next time I see her…she’s been there and loved the Blue Willow Inn. I can’t wait. Your smocking sounds interesting. I would love to learn how to do smocking! Thank you for sharing! -Nicole
Patricia says: Nicole,
I only crochet, knitting is on my "list" to learn. I live in Indiana and my town to visit is Nashville IN, very quaint, very scenic. My husband is an over the road trucker and I home schooled our children while traveling in the truck with him, we saw some of this BEAUTIFUL country, there are many, many small towns with charm and character…My best to you and yours.
Patricia, how cool is that…traveling all over with your family seeing the country. There are so many states I want to visit someday! Thank you for reading! -Nicole
donna says: My husband and I do volkswalking with our local club…White Rose Wanderers from York, Pa. We walk many small towns..you can drive through any town, USA and never know what you are missing until you walk..One quaint town we visited this year was Jim Thorpe, Pa. The day we were there wasn’t a good day..most of the shops were closed..but we visited enough places to know the people are friendly and the shops are unique..
Donna, Fun! I used to live in Pennsylvania! I never got to Jim Thorpe, PA, though. Will have to look it up. I have wonderful memories of going off the beaten path and visiting the Amish in Lancaster. Take care, Nicole
Aloka says: Nicole,
I used to knit a lot in the past. The baby gifts that I gave were always knitted by me. I even created my own designs. But because of arthritis in my fingers of both hands, I find I cannot knit much these days. But I do crochet every day still. I live in a small town in Kentucky and am always seaching for interesting yarns. So, thanks for giving the link to the store in Kent.All the best, Aloka
Thanks so much for reading, Aloka. Have you ever tried the gloves that are for knitters to help with arthritis? It’s good you are still able to crochet. Wishing you the best, Nicole
Jeanne says: I live in Colorado and my favorite little mountain town and shops is Georgetown. It is an hour west of Denver. The shops are lovely and the people are so friendly. A couple of my favorite shops are gone…the kitchen store (we use to huddle in the winter around the wood burning stove) and the used bookstore. They celebrate an old fashioned Christmas with hay rides, children caroling and the town square with fresh homemade goodies and a fire pit to stand around to keep warm. Craft booths and even plays and skits in the upstairs town hall.
In the summer, it is cooler in the mountains so why not have lunch and sit amongst the locals and enjoy the river and the wild flowers. The houses are painted lovely colors and most built in 1800’s. It is one my favorite places.
-Ooooh, sounds so lovely! I can just visualize Georgetown! Thank you so much for sharing! -Nicole
Great post, and what a great day! The yarn shop sounds amazing and if it wasn’t across the country from me, I think I’d be there as often as I could. 🙂 Thanks for taking us along on your day. 🙂
Susan says: Nicole,
Thanks for taking us on a journey to Kent, Connecticut. We live in California, but my father went to Kent Prep School in the 40’s. He took us there for his 30th High School Reunion back in ’79. I remember it being such a memorable place back then. I look forward to showing your pictures to him. It will bring back fond memories!
Susan, thank you for reading! How neat that your dad went to school there! I wonder how much Kent has or has not changed since then? I hope he enjoys the pictures. Tell him hello from Connecticut! -Nicole
Ali says: I just got around to reading this blog about Kent – it’s wonderful. I have yet to check out the yarn store (one of these days), but I love Foreign Cargo and have gotten some unique and lovely clothing from there. I think Olga is one of the most lovely women I have ever met! And you already know how much I love Belgique! Next on my to-do list: visit Black Sheep Yarn store!
Farmgirl Chapter Roadtrip??? -Nicole
Kathy says: Nicole,
Kent sound wonderful. And its really not that far of a drive for me. Just about 2 1/2 hours. Maybe its time for a road trip of my own this Autumn. I bet its even more beautiful in the Fall. I am sure there are a few bed and breadkfast places to stay.
Thank you for the virtual tour!
Hey Kathy! If you do make the roadtrip, make sure you email me! I’d love to meet up with you and meet you in person! Hugs! Nicole
Linda Rozen says: Nicole,
Loved the tour I just took of Kent. Now I know where I can get a delicious box of Belgian chocolate for my husband. He always gets a box at a small shop in Antwerp when he is there but now…
Thanks for the lovely tour of Kent and taking me back in time when for a year of my life. I lived near Lancaster, PA. I loved everything about it. It was so different from Memphis where I was born, raised and here still after 62 years.
Thanks again,
Linda
Wow, Linda…thank you so much for your wonderful comment. It makes me so happy to hear that others enjoy what I write. Enjoy those chocolates! -Nicole
belgique.com says: I really like reading news about Belgique, Kent Ct. Thanks for that informative post! Best wishes, Stefanie.
Thank you to all at Belgique, too, for taking the time to talk to me for this article. Love your shop, it’s just wonderful. -Nicole
Hier says: Dear webmaster, thank you for writing that article on Belgique kent ct. I had a good time while reading this. I wish you all the best, Claudia!
Thank you for reading! -Nicole
When grocery shopping, I’ve gotten into the habit of bringing in my “green” shopping bags. I originally started using reusable ones when I first joined the Sisterhood, earning my first Merit badge by collecting the bags to go green. Easier to carry groceries in, the bags act as coupons as well, as the store deducts five cents off my total for each one. I’d amassed a collection of about twenty the past year. Most of them were “freebies” I received with purchases, or that I had paid a dollar or two for; none were homemade or that pretty. Imagine my surprise several weeks ago when someone stole them! What happened afterwards, surprised me even more.
Joan says: Oh my goodness my sister and I can relate to your reusable bags – we had gone shopping – she had the bags in her cart – she too turned to look at something – turned around and GONE were the bags – thankfully years ago we learned to attach our purse either by the child restraint strap or by a quick click clip – so her purse was not taken. We too would have shared if the person had just asked – we don’t always shop where one gets money for using the reusables – so it wasn’t like they were worth anything at that store. Anyway now we attach our bags as we do our purses. Also thanks for the reminder to be a FRIEND – I’m getting into making more cards and I will for sure use the verse you found on a card. Thank you ‘friend’ you joyed my week.
Joan, Thank you so much for reading! Wow – you had your bags stolen, too! Just never know what is going on in someone’s life to make them do what they do. I love to make homemade cards, too. Isn’t that just such a lovely verse? -Nicole
shawna says: This is such a heartening story! Thank you for sharing it. I am going to make sure all my friends know how much I appreciate them this week!
Diana says: I, too had bags stolen out of my grocery cart. Luckily, they only took half. I thought, at least they won’t be using those icky plastic bags!
Joy Howard says: Today, my youngest daughter and two young women from work and I went out to lunch. Afterwards, we sat in rocking chairs outside the restaurant and just talked. I was thinking to myself that everyone is always so busy that we don’t just sit and talk with each other enough. I’m in my fifties but these young women are all just starting out. So I told them that I’m going to invite them over just to sit on my porch for lemonade, cookies and rocking.
Joy, isn’t it so true? If you lived in Connecticut, I’d come! I love to sit on my porch with ice tea or lemonade and cookies, rocking! Such a simple joy! -Nicole
Tauna says: Those plastic bags can be valuable…lol. I have made rugs, or better yet, large bags that are wonderful for carrying wet bathing suits or other things. Durable, strong, washable, but it takes many of them to make one item. Bet that is why you lost yours to someone…..now that is recycling at its best…:)..Tauna
Great post, Nicole! And I’m glad that the farmgirls all pulled through for you. 🙂 Friends are fabulous and its so nice to see the farmgirl connection helping like minded ladies connect!!
Rose says: Sorry about your bags getting taken! I have some favorite bags I used all the time when I go shopping. I will keep a close eye on them in my cart. I will send you some more animal related ones. Thanks for the column. Thanks for keeping in touch even if it is a quick text message.
Miss you! Rose
-Miss you, too, Rose! Hugs! -Nicole
jennifer says: It is truly amazing- both the badness of people in the world in general and yet the goodness of a few can truly turn around the bad feelings and help us to put on our "thinking caps" and learn from it. I was sorting out a bunch of things that were passed on to me and found a couple nice bags-one canvas and another leather-like. I decided that I would use the leather like one to store my shopping bags in and when I go to the store, toss in my small purse and just carry the whole thing as my purse (attaching it to the buggy of course!. Perhaps it won’t be so obvious until after I get to my turn at the check out line. I too often try to think that if I loose something in a public place, the person who found it and kept it must have needed it much worse than I did. It helps the frustration levels to go down considerably!!!
Jennifer, thanks for reading. I believe there is still so much more good in the world than bad. It’s hard times that bring out the worst in people, but also bring out the best. -Nicole
charles lagroue says: Nicole you hit it again always true and interesting.Dad
Elizabeth says: Since you’re a knitter, here’s a way to turn lemons into lemonade: Take your plastic (ugh) bags, cut them into strips and make ‘plarn’ by joining the loops together (the way you’d join two rubber bands together), then knit (there are also crocheted bags) the ‘plarn’ into re-usable bags. Here’s a website that has instructions: Vhttp://www.allfreecrafts.com/knitting/bag.shtml
Elizabeth, what a great way to use up those bags! Love it! Thanks for sharing! Will try it. -Nicole
Pam says: This was such an inspirational story, I quickly sent 5 emails (sorry, at work) to friends that I think of and just don’t get to tell them … thanks!
Rangle says: The forum is a brighter place thanks to your posts. Thanks!
Summer’s here…time to whip out the grill, dust off the patio furniture, and have some fun! Ready to hostess another Farmgirl Sisterhood get-together, I wanted to do something easy and fun, an activity that wouldn’t take too much time, considering in New England this time of year is hectic, and not yet quite the lazy days of summer. The Farmgirls and I decided to have a “Tag Making Party”. Come on over… relax, and share a cup of coffee!
gloria says: I just loved your crafting idea, I so miss my ladies groups I’ve been in over the years, crafting moms, book group, and Bible study…the fellowship of women is a good thing, any one out there near Makaha Hawaii ? I would like to find a group again.
Gloria, thank you for reading! Have you thought about starting your own Sisterhood chapter? -Nicole
Hi Nicole!
Great idea for a chapter meeting! My chapter is going jamming tomorrow evening… I’ve never made jam so it will be a new experience! I love homemade tags for homemade items too. When I used to do craft fairs I did just what you did.. with stamps and oak tags… Very fun and easy too!
Happy Fourth and keep having fun!
Deb ( your mjfblogging sister from the beach)
Joan says: Happy 4th to you too!!! and thanks for the stamping fun –
Kathy says: What a wonderful idea! Looks like everyone had lots of fun.
And what a great personal touch to any gift or package.
I also love the scrap book you make for your daughter. That is something she can share with her kids one day.
Take care
I love tags. So "instant gratification".
Thanks for a lovely post!
Cynthia
Georgia Farmgirl
Mary Ann says: I love your ideas, and you just reminded me how fun stamping can be. I am definitely going to use your idea for homemade gift tags!
Rose says: Another great columm with a great idea. Homemade items are so much better! I love the cow gift tag!
I couldn’t help but notice the ‘view’ outside your kitchen windows! At first I thought that you had photos stuck up on the wall, then looked more closely….wow! So beautiful! Keep livin life to your fullest potential!
Thanks, Lisa! -Nicole
I love imagining farm life and livin’ on a farm, (however, I’m in the Suburbs). I dream of having chickens. Backyard chickens are gaining in popularity, but I’ve gotten no further than ordering hatchery catalogs and having a chicken motif in the kitchen. Having read up on the subject, raising poultry is one of those things I need first-hand experience on, to be shown what is involved. Come with me as I visit my friend Susan and her family, and meet a real “Chicken Whisperer”.
Jean Weeks says: Nicole, you will love having chickens. We have had our 7 ladies for a year now and they are just fun. Neither my husband nor I have been around chickens since we were kids and it has been a learning experience for sure, but a relatively easy one. We live in an older subdivision but have almost an acre lots. My husband made a storage shed into a hen house with a nice run. Our back yard is large and the girls have pretty much free range there. They are a bit destructive with their digging, but a bit of fence around flower beds you care about takes care of that. They are great company when doing yard work or hanging out . They are anxious to ‘help’ with any little thing you are doing. Our neighbors all find them interesting and entertaining and we all love the eggs. It has been a great experience and one I would recommend to anyone. It is so peaceful/comforting to look out and see them pecking their way around the yard.
Jean, your comment makes me want to get chickens even more! Thank you for sharing. -Nicole
Loved reading your post! We just had our first shipment of baby chicks arrive yesterday and our world has changed! We live in suburbia as well and while my husband is a few weeks away from completing our backyard coop, the six little puffballs are doing fine in their brooder box for now. Basically, it’s an extra large borrowed dog crate with an inner shell of cardboard and a hanging red heat lamp. We have a 16 foot chicken run attached to the coop to protect from the hawks and owls that frequent the trees around here. http://www.mypetchicken.com was WONDERFUL and they only have a 3 chick minimum, allowing you to mix different breeds within your order to create a beautiful varied flock. Go for it! Believe me, you need chickens 🙂
-Thank you for the website! Enjoy your "little puffballs"! -Nicole
Jenn says: As a child growing up, I learned so much from my grandmother about chickens. She had many mysterious talents with all animals, feathered and furry and human! I used to watch her with her flock of hens and listened very hard to all she had to say. Much was learned simply by watching her, for as she always said, "I can show you, honey, easier than telling you!"
It’s so very neat to see other children living and learning all about chickens. I finally have a garden of my own and hope to either get our "three non-crowing" chickens the town allows or move further out and raise eggs and chickens just like my grandmother did. It was not uncommon for me to bring back forty or fifty eggs in a morning for breakfast and with all the farm workers and family, they went fast!
Love love this article!
Jenn
Christina says: WoW! I hear you. I too want to raise some chickens and have lovely fresh eggs. Hope it will become reality soon. We’d like to move more toward the country to do this, but this crazy RE market is not allowing the house to sell fast. So guess it will be more ‘chicks’ in town!!
Good luck to you too.
Christina
Joan says: Great article – Yea for chickens in the burbs – I too wanted some chickens and fortunately my son lives just a few miles away on 5 acres – so ‘we’ now have 20 chickens – yeah the first 3 grew to 20 – love the benefits (superb eggs) and oh what great knowledge for children.
Great article.Positive insight into a subject most people need to see to believe. Perhaps your journey into raising chickens will encourage many to follow your lead.
This is timely for us – we’re working with the city of Billings, Montana to get them to join the almost 70% of American cities who allow a limited number of backyard hens! We had to sell our beautiful Buff Orpingtons, which really REALLY upset my kids, when the city decided they needed to enforce the previously unenforced ordinance… after our article went in the paper about many of us wanting to change things. AUGH!
Backyard hens are THE BOMB!!! 🙂
Laurie Dimino says: Oh Nicole-
You simply MUST get chickens- you will be so positively happy with them. I have had my hens for 3 years (Yesterday was our 3rd Anniversary- Flag day- hence the names Star and Liberty).They are a Rhode Island Red and a Black Australope We also ordered chicks from mypetchicken.com which we received on May 24th so our newest girls are now 3 1/2 weeks old. We ordered 4 girls- 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 1 Black Australope, and 2 Easter Eggers- which are going to lay pretty colored eggs (possibly blue/green or pink- hence the name Easter Eggers)
We named our new girls Nina, Lila, Einsteine, and of course Henrietta!
We are in the process of builing them their own enclosure right next to our other 2 girls and they have their own brand new coop. I am hoping to be able to "mix" my old gals in with the youngin’s once they are a little bit older. Its just so exciting, the eggs are great- soon I will have enough to share with my neighbors even more! Once you have chickens you will be amazed at how smart they are! You will also feel even that much more like a farmgirl! I love to wash my dishes and look out the kitchen window and see my girls…just makes me smile!
Good luck on your quest!
Smiles,
Laurie
Farmgirl Sister#1403
I live in a sub-division with an acre lot and can’t wait to start! I have been dreaming chickens for years!!! Thank you for the great and helpful article and the comments…now I know where to order them! Happy ‘farming’!
-Paula, you, too! -Nicole
Ginger Cobl says: Chickens are great! You won’t believe how much fun they are!
Hi Nicole!
Oh, I hope you are encouraged by all these great comments to go ahead and get your chickens! We’ve been keeping backyard chickens for 5 years and it truly does this farm-girls heart good to have them tucked into the rear of the yard in the midst of the garden. We love the fresh eggs, and the companionship too. Ours keep me company while I garden…Your kids will love it too! Great post
Deb ( mjfbeachfarmgirlblogger)
Thank you, Debbie. Yes, it is definitely something I can see doing…I love the idea of them out keeping company in the garden! The fresh eggs are so tasty (and huge)! -Nicole
Tess Sole says: Nicole- I, too, have "chicken envy"! My backyard is just way too small for chickens even though Portland, OR supports having them. We’re planning a move to Albuquerque, NM and when we do, the only home I’ll accept MUST have room for chickens. My friends that have them wouldn’t have it any other way and, ooh, I’m sooooo envious. I can hardly wait! Good luck to you! Tess
Tess, good luck with your move! Hope you get your chickens! -Nicole
aurelie says: For over a year I had two muskovy ducks in my back yard. A few weeks ago a racoon got into their yard and killed both of them. They were pets that came when I called them and sat in my lap to be pet. I cannot tell you how sad I was and cried for two days. Yes, I am that sentimental. Now my daughter who has a hobby farm a couple of hours from here just got 61 new baby chickens. (she already had 30) Some of her chickens are destined for the freezer and new ones are replacing them for egg production. She gave me three of the cutest little chickens you can imagine. Since I have an amish made duck coup it will not be my new chicken coup. I live in a residential area with very close neighbors and the first one that complains will be reported for their very noisy barking dogs that bark all day. I am sure that my little pets will be quieter. My daughter says that if one turns out to be a rooster she will exchange it for a hen so the neighbors will not complain. I look forward to at least three eggs a day by fall. Yes may be a maverick in my town!!! Lee
Lee, I would have cried, too, over those ducks. I’m so sorry! -Nicole
Lora says: If the chickens have "the run of the yard" how do you keep them out of your vegetable gardens? Do you have to fence the gardens in? I have six raised beds so I’m not sure I could just let them run all over.
– My vegie garden is fenced in. My cutting garden and hosta beds are not. I wouldn’t let the chickens run loose unless I was watching anyway. Susan’s did not seem hard at all to corral when we wanted to go inside. -Nicole
Rose says: Can you have chickens were you live? Check with your town. They even allow goats in city limits now.
Shannon says: I live in Louisiana 🙂 I woke up this morning and decided I wanted chickens and BAM here is your blog, newly discovered today. B/c it’s how I roll, I’ve decided it’s a sign from God. You rock!
Hi Nicole, I am new to Farmgirl but not new to chickens. I have been raising chickens for years. I love my chickens and missed them when I lived where I wasn’t able to have them. I wish I knew how to send pics on here… I would send you some pics of my coop and run and girls and guys. They all have names and are very sweet. I have about 14 different breeds. I have 28 laying hens and 4 roosters. 3 of which I just acquired in the last bunch of peeps I raised. I will have to see how they get along with each other and with Big Sam my main rooster who is a Black Jersey Giant. I hope you get to have some chickens as they are so therapeutic. Or at least I think so. They are alot of fun to watch. Be Blessed and go ahead and get you some yard birds.
Ms. Scarlette
Ms. Scarlette, thank you for such a nice comment…makes me want chickens even more! I can just envision you out with your chickens running around! I am working on getting some real soon! Thank you for reading!
-Nicole
love this post! we also have chickens in the burbs and have lots of fun doing it!! love your post!!!
is a certified farmgirl at heart. She’s happily married to her beach bum Yankee husband of 20 years. She went from career gal to being a creative homeschooling mom for two of her biggest blessings and hasn’t looked back since. Debbie left her lifelong home in the high desert of Northern Nevada 10 years ago and washed up on the shore of America’s hometown, Plymouth, MA, where she and her family are now firmly planted. They spend part of each summer in a tiny, off–grid beach cottage named “The Sea Horse.”
“I found a piece of my farmgirl heart when I discovered MaryJanesFarm. Suddenly, everything I loved just made more sense! I enjoy unwinding at the beach, writing, gardening, and turning yard-sale furniture into ‘Painted Ladies’ I’m passionate about living a creative life and encouraging others to ‘make each day their masterpiece.’”
is a “MaryJane Farmgirl” who lives in a large metropolitan area. She is a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution. She has been a judge, a business woman and a stay-at-home mom. In addition to her law degree, she has a Masters of Theological Studies.
“Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about,” she says, “is the essence of being a MaryJane Farmgirl.” Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit. She finds strength and encouragement through MaryJane’s writings, life, and products. And MaryJane’s Farmgirl Connection provides her a wealth of knowledge from true-blue farmgirls.
an old-fashioned farmgirl with a pioneer spirit, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner” in the “Live-Free-or-Die” state, she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. Married to her childhood sweetheart of 40+ years (a few of them “uphill climbs”), she’s had plenty of time to reinvent herself. From museum curator, restaurant owner, homeschool mom/conference speaker, to post-and-beam house builder and entrepreneur, she’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. Her specialty has evolved to include “hermit hospitality” at her rustic cabin in the mountains, where she offers weekend workshops of special interest to women.
“Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage. I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing. Living in the mountains has its own particular challenges, but I delight in turning them into opportunities from which we can all learn and grow.”
Dori Troutman is the daughter of second generation cattle ranchers in New Mexico. She grew up working and playing on the ranch that her grandparents homesteaded in 1928. That ranch, with the old adobe home, is still in the family today. Dori and her husband always yearned for a ranch of their own. That dream came true when they retired to the beautiful green rolling hills of Tennessee. Truly a cattleman’s paradise!
Dori loves all things farmgirl and actually has known no other life but that. She loves to cook, craft, garden, and help with any and all things on their cattle farm.
describes herself as a goat charmer, chicken whisperer, bee maven, and farmers’ market baker renovating an 1864 farmhouse on an Ohio farm. With a degree in Design, Mary says small-town auctions and country road barn sales "always make my heart skip a beat thinking about what I could create or design out of what I’ve seen.”
Rooted in the countryside, she likes simple things and old ways … gardening, preserving the harvest, cooking, baking, and all things home. While you might find her selling baked goods from the farm’s milkhouse, teaching herself to play the fiddle, or sprucing up a vintage camper named Maizy, you will always find her in an apron!
Mary says, “I’m happiest with the simple country pleasures … an old farmhouse, too many animals, a crackling fire, books to read, and the sound of laughter … these make life just perfect.”
is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She lives and works on the university’s 700 acre environmental education center, Spring Creek Farm. When Alex has time outside of school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with new-fangled ingredients.
Alex grew up near the Twin Cities and went to college in Madison, Wisconsin—both places where perfectly painted barns and rolling green farmland are just a short drive away. After college, she taught at a rural middle school in South Korea where she biked past verdant rice paddies and old women selling home-grown produce from sidewalk stoops. She was introduced to MaryJanesFarm after returning, and found in it what she’d been searching for—a group of incredible women living their lives in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and the greater environment. What an amazing group of farmgirls to be a part of!
Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen calls herself a “vintage enthusiast”. Born and raised in Texas, she has lived most of her life in the picturesque New England suburbs of Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York State. An Advanced Master Gardener, she has gardened since childhood, in several states and across numerous planting zones. In addition, she teaches knitting classes, loves to preserve, and raises backyard chickens.
Married over thirty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields, been a world-traveler, an entrepreneur and a homemaker, but considers being mom to her now-adult daughter her greatest accomplishment. Loving all things creative, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted”.
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Hi Nicole,
This is a (bitter)sweet story. We can relate…Our first pet passing was a beta fish too, but the kids were very small then and not too attatched… The hard blow came later on with the passing of their first guinea pig, Pedro (named after Pedro Martinez when he was with the Red Sox).
he was the alpha of our four guinea pigs and, our sons favorite. There were many tears when he left us and we too had a " funeral " in our back yard for him. Thank you for sharing your story and good luck with " Pumpkin ". Cute!
Deb, your Beach Blogging sister!
Deb, It’s so hard not to get attached to your pets, no matter how small, right? I love the name of your guinea pig. We have a neighbor around the corner who has an elderly dog named Jeter, after Derek Jeter. When he was young, he used to always come visit us. Now that he’s older, he doesn’t come around anymore. Keep your fingers crossed for us with the new fish! Thanks for commenting! -Nicole
How sweet. I am sure that you remember the quote, "It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all." I am so pleased that you allow your daughter to love a pet, then to be there to soften the blow when that pet dies. You taught her how to love and care for the pets in her life. She even knows how to say goodbye in her own appropriate way. No ceramic sea funeral for this baby fish. So, I am commending you for being a loving and thoughtful mother of a child with pets. God bless you.
Wow, Louise Marie, thank you so much for such a wonderful compliment! It means so much. -Nicole
This brings back memories! I have four children, ages 22 on down to 15. My 18 year old has always been a particularly sensitive child (as well as so strong-willed, her nick-name was Taz when she was a toddler). She is a gifted artist, and was mystical from the time she could talk. When she was about four she was so distressed over a dying bug in the garage that I ended up making it disappear and then buried it (she said, "a man with wings reached down and took it to heaven!) Right now we have several frozen fish in baggies that were waiting for a spring burial and need to get rounded up and buried before the snow falls again! No flushing here either! The best and worst of times was when I was grandma to two hamsters in succession, Nadia and Cinnamon. They only live about two years and the depth of grief at our house(yes, I cried too) was so much that we decided not to get any more pets that have such short life-spans and are prone to many illnesses(why they have been used as lab animals in the past). Still, our lives have been enriched by pets–furry and finned alike. I am proud that the two youngest, still at home, insist on going to the vets whenever a pet has to be euthanized and give TLC to them as they quietly pass. Death is a part of life and my children have learned to celebrate life even in sorrow.
So sorry to hear about the fish. Understand fish funerals, and mice funerals (had many of those) and dogs, and kitties. Our last little dog had to be put to sleep on September 19th. Only 4 1/2. Enlarged heart. So sad! We did doggie day care for the rescue person that we had gotten our other dog from the following week-end. We made a decision to keep this one. Too hard not having one. This one is 6 but our vet says she is healthy. May we have her much longer than 4 years in our care. May your next fish last much longer. Our daughter has had one for years. It even jumped from the bowl at least once but survived. Even in a house with cats.
Thank you, Joann. May you have your pup a long, long time! -Nicole
You daughter is a child after my own heart…I have always been one to care deeply about animals in any form. Heck, I even take spiders that I find in the house outside!
I think that teaching your child to be a warm and caring person is simply wonderful. I can imagine that she (and you!) treat people in the same manner. We need more kind and compassionate people on this earth…
Greetings to beautiful Pumpkin!
Janice, thank you. Yes, my daughter is a really sweet, sensitive little girl, and my best friend. I’m a lucky mom! She really likes your comment. Thanks so much for reading. -Nicole
What a great memorial set up for a beloved part of your family! That’s the difference with some people, viewing pets as material possessions which can be given away or tossed in the trash as opposed to including them as part of the family.
We’ve always included them as part of ours (for better or worse!!). Pets have a way of teaching us so much and are always such a blessing!! Here’s to a long beta life for Pumpkin!!
Now we know who the sensible one is here. Great post!