Yes, sorry to admit. I’m a farmgirl with an artificial tree. Here in Florida where the temps are in the 80’s we learned our lesson long ago about live trees. There were more needles on the floor than the tree. We get live trees shippd from NC and TN early. Right after Thanksgiving. They are beautiful when purchased but then. I dream of the day I can go out in the snow and get a real beautiful smelling tree like my sister. My farm days are on hold for now. I admit to being envious of Mary Jane and other true farm girls. Merry Christmas to all

Hello, my name is Diane and I have an artificial Christmas tree. With 2 severly asthmatic children I have no choice. So, we put up 4 trees. The one in the bay window is decorated with all bird ornaments with a nest on top. the one in the family room is a tall skinny Alpine tree set in a basket and decorated with mostly hand made or country ornaments and a garland made from little fabric yo-yo’s. Each of the children have a small tree in their bedroom. Rachel(5) has a pink tree with sparkly-glittery ornaments, Luke (9) has a small green tree decorated with airplanes and helicopters. We don’t have the great smell of a real tree, but we do get to keep them up for several weeks.

I used to put up my tree on the 15th, because my sons b’day is the 12th of December.
love poinsettias, but only red. I remember when I was young, my mom would go into the forest and cut down a cedar on Christmas eve morning. We had so much fun decorating it and it scented the whole house, she would also put running cedar over pictures, in windows and anywhere else there was an empty spot. Your article took me back to some fond memories. We have an artificial tree now.
I may for old times sake go out in the backyard and cut my cedar down.

Betsy

I admit also, that we have an artificial tree. I am an empty nester,now.When our children were younger, we always went to a tree farm and tramped all over it looking for the perfect or almost perfect tree. Somehow it always leaned to one side or for it was fuller on one side, but once it was decorated it looked wonderful. Thanks for making me remember that!!

I, too, live in Florida and have an artificial tree. I always put mine up the Friday after Thanksgiving and keep it till the day after Christmas when I clean the house, put everything back in its place and spend time reading. We use to buy the real ones but again they make such a mess by Christmas. You can hear the needles and ornaments falling off the tree the closer to Christmas you get.
I, too, love this time of year and would love to be somewhere where you could take a sleigh ride thru the snow. Someday!!!

Well I’m surprised but you all make some good cases for artificial … it sounds like we all agree about the principle of the smells & general look of things, tho! How do you make gingerbread ornaments??

We use an artificial tree, always have, my mother had allergies and now my boys have them. Yes we may miss the smell, but isn’t that what they make candles for? I like to think of all the trees I may be saving. The ones that aren’t killed for just a few weeks pleasures. Does anyone sell a live tree in a ball that can then be planted in the spring?

I use artificial tree, because when I was 3, we had a real tree catch on fire, luckly my Dad and Mom was still awake and my dad dragged it out in time. And also my sister in law is allergic to pine trees.

This year I am planning on getting a real tree. My children are grown but will be home for Christmas. We haven’t had a tree for a couple of years as my husband and children work in a shipping store. This is their busy time of the year.
We lost all our original ornaments several years ago so using my father-in-laws little tree was at least a pleasant memory of family.
Now I have several ornaments again because a girlfriend and I have exchanged for a few years. So this year I want to see them up on a tree.
My only other problem is I am a messy so have major work before the tree comes in.
Thanks for the encouragement.

To the person who was wondering about saving a tree – Christmas trees are generally grown specifically for the holiday on farms and new ones are planted immediately following.

What a great article! And yes, i took up knitting late in life and am having a ball! My suggestion is to start with big needles and make small projects (hats, scarves)…love that instant gratification :)! MJF Hugs, Di

I never thought that I would end up thinking this….I really want to learn to knit! I grew up also around ladies that could knit with their eyes closed and every new baby had the sweetest sweater set to keep warm in. My Aunt even has angora rabbits and cashmere goats. Yes, She spins , dyes, then knits the most gorgeous hats. That’s is what I would like to do long term, but for now, my 11 daughter might just teach me!
Heather

I came into knitting late. My grandmother taught me to sew, crochet and many other handicrafts. Unfortunately she developed severe arthritis in her hands before she could teach me to knit. I let it ride for many years then decided out of the blue to teach myself, I wasn’t very successful. So again I put it aside. Then when I became a living history interpreter, I met a lovely older lady who had the patience and the kindness to show me how. Now when I knit I have lots of wonderful memories to associate with knitting. I think learning later gave me a true appreciation of the art.

Learn to crochet and knit! Then decide if you want to do only one. Personally, I do both, but I prefer to crochet. I am the world’s slowest knitter!

What wonderful things your mother made! I am so glad that yu treasure them.

What a fantastic article! Your mom was a knitting whiz! I started knitting a few years ago but haven’t gotten into really complicated items yet….but knitting….like quilting on baby quilts and things….is so soothing….who needs nerve pills when you can sit quietly and knit or sew a while! Thanks again for a great article and great photos!

My grandmother taught me to knit as a teen. I am not very good, would do better with someone to help. I taught my daughter to knit. She only knits with BIG needles. It goes fast. She does nothing complicated. We heard of a store that has a knitting class that is more like a group. They sit around and knit each helping those who want to learn a next step. We hope to get there after the holidays (busiest time of the year).
Go ahead and start to learn. Use big needles make a scarf, or use regular size needles and make a washcloth. You will be proud of your accomplishment.
One more thought take your daughter and this learning adventure. Maybe this will be her hidden talent.
Happy Thanksgiving, Laurel

I taught myself how to knit five years ago and I love it! (so do my kids!)
The nice thing about learning to knit now is that you have the internet at your fingertips! All you have to do is run a search for video tutorials on whatever technique you want to learn or practice and there it is at your fingertips! (I suggest Knity.com for a starting point)
I took on socks for the first time and I am loving it
Good Luck!

I would encourage all those who want to learn to knit to ask at your local private yarn shop about lessons. Once you know how to knit and purl, you can join a Knitting Guild or Club in your area. They promote a love of knitting with social gatherings (called meetings) usually with a featured guest speaker or demonstration, charitable projects for nursing homes, women’s shelters, hats for premies and chemo patients etc… Most groups have 15-30 members and meet once a month. Friendships are abundant.

Paula,
I am very sorry for your loss. I am a Hoosier at heart having grew up there as a child, although I have lived in Michigan for the last 30 years. My children’s great-grandparents were from the U.P. and my 2nd husbands family are from the Charlevoix area. Enjoy your memories they will always be there for you.

I am sorry for your loss.
Gentle hugs and healing prayers,
Sue

This was wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing the essence of this dear man. I know that I will think about this for a long time. What a gift he was to your whole family. I really appreciate what you wrote about state of mind – that’s something to keep in my heart. Thanks again. Bonnie

Paula, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I hope you can take comfort in your loving memories of your father.
Sincerely,
Marilyn and Family

What a beautiful tribute to your wonderful dad. Reading it made me think of my own father who passed away 8 years ago. We were both very lucky to have been given the gift of such special men in our lives. I’m very sorry for your loss. Sincerely, Susan

What a wonderful tribute to your father! He sounds like a real treasure, and I know you will miss him deeply. He reminds me of many of the men that lived in my little town where I grew up. They are the cornerstones that built this great country… that were part of their communities… that raised good families. How blessed you are to have the gift of those precious memories! Thank you for sharing him with us.

I’m in tears after reading this. First let me say that I’m so very sorry for your loss. I am truly happy, though, to know that there are other Dads out there with the same spirit as my Dad. We are lucky girls to have been blessed with such wonderful fathers.
Like your dad, I left the small town life as soon as I was 18. Now, being a mom and living in suburbia, I long for that lifestyle.
I just keep telling myself – someday.
Hang in there. As my little girl likes to say, "I’m hugging you with my heart."

I’ve only just starting catching up on my Farmgirl blog. Thanks so much for sharing the wonderful father that he was. I know what you are going through. I lost my father 15 yrs ago – although it doesn’t seem that long ago, in a tree felling accident. I miss him dearly but remind myself of having the gift of his life in mine.
Much love, hugs and prayers go out to you and your family. It is so wonderful to realise that we each carry a legacy of our parents into our own lives.
Take care and allow yourself to grieve it does you good as well as your family.
love Dee xx

I’m so sorry to hear about you losing your dad and enjoyed your wonderful memories you shared. My dad has been gone 5 yrs. this 17 of January. Yet it seems like just yesterday at times. But mom and I have come to talking about the great things he did and the fun we had with him. Keep those’s memories with you and share them. Daddy’s are special people. My heart and prayer’s are with you at this time. Brenda

I challenge not. All that you have written would be on my list. But I would add the fresh smell that comes in on my dog or grandchildren after running around in the crisp air. Odd I know but it is a smell I remember.

Wool…..I love the smell of wool (and a bit of cedar oil to keep the pesky moths away) as I unpack our blankets, shirts, pants, socks and sweaters. Winter is upon us up here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. After a little airing of their packed away arms, legs, toes and folds, I can’t wait to make up the beds in their winter garb. None of that light downy stuff for us. Then, we’re ready to snuggle under the weight of those warm wooly blankets with a steaming cup of tea or hot chocolate to hold and inhale for just a moment and a thick hardcover book. Ahhhhhhh……life is good.

I loved your article. There are so many great smells this time of year. Personally the smell of the leaves on the ground is wonderful and brings back warm memories of walking to school in the fall leaves. A delicious pot of simmering soup and a crackling fire in the fireplace are also favorite smells. This is the perfect time of year for little sparkling candles that have seasonal pumpkin fragrance. Of course the Thanksgiving turkey and the mellow smell of pumpkin pie are favorites. It is a deliously fragrant time of year. Thank YOU for sharing.

Mulled cider–the smell of cider and spice as they are being warmed on the gas stove is wonderful. Oh, and my mom’s Oatmeal Raisen cookies, fresh out of the oven–Yum!

hi,I always did say perm solution was just like manure,it smelt like money,I do love cinnimon and spice and try to smell my home up with it all over in the fall I usually purchase a cinnimon broom from the local dollor store also,with other fall smells.I had daddy saw me up a bunch of cedar limbs and I tied them up with sage green netting and ribbon to hang in the closet,we had a wonderful day,and I loved the smell of fresh cut hay and I love new baled hay.A real farmgirl,carol branum,lamar mo.

I raise angora goats and I love the smell of freshly shorn mohair. It ushers in the season of Spring and Fall for us. It is so warm, shiny and has an unmistakable smell of lanolin. It smells GREAT!!

My Michigan fall smell living in the "thumb" surronded by farms and Orchards I love the smell of mug of hot cider on a cool crisp fall day or hot chocolate. I have fall sounds too, the sounds of the tractors havesting sugar beets, or navy beans or corn makes one know it is fall as they rush to get it all harvested. Seeing the deer coats go from a reddish brown to the brown they are in the winter…and dodging them when they run out in front of your car…makes one heart beat real fast…lol

theyre rly good scones

We use the Cinderella pumpkins for our cooking needs. I clean the pumpkin, poke it a few times and put it into a pan to collect the juices. Depending on the amount of time I have I either roast it or microwave until the pumpkin is nicely cooked. I usually end up using the pumpkin meat for curried pumpkin soup, but I might just have to try your recipe for the scones.

Sure enjoyed reading your seasonal news! I have never made pumpkin puree either — and now that our kids are grown and there’s just the two of us, I’m not sure I will! I found several cans of pumpkin yesterday so am anxious to try out your recipe. My son & his wife live in Charlotte NC and we just visited them a few weeks ago. Such a beautiful state! Have a cozy fall day!

We had a very hard freeze in early October (in the teens) followed by temps in the 50’s which promptly ruined any pumpkins on the vine near us. We also lost any chance for real fall color. As Fall is my favorite season, I refer to it as the "Autumn of our discontent"! Can’t wait to try the scones. Perhaps they’ll restore my mood!

Keep these ideas & pumpkin tips coming! Very useful, thanks!! (Want to hear more about the whoopee pies…never even heard of those. Any more Pumpkin Greatest Hit recipes, anyone?)

I’ve fixed my pumpkin like Shirley does in the past. Canned is nice if you don’t have the time to do your own. Can’t wait to try the scones.

As a city/suburban girl, never on a farm, I’m surprised that all you farmgirls haven’t mentioned the most delicious part of Halloween-time pumpkins: the seeds. My mother was a terrible cook (don’t get me started on her version of Thanksgiving turkey–she cooked it in a covered roaster, which produced a pot of liquid with boiled turkey pieces settling at the bottom!),but someone, somehow had taught her that baking the pumpkin seeds produced a delicious fun-to-crack-the-shells-with-your-teeth snack. A fond memory.
True to the tradition of my Mom’s bad cooking, I also produced a pumpkin recipe disaster long ago. My husband (then, my fiance) asked if I could find him some pumpkin ice cream. I decided to make it myself. What I didn’t count on was the antiquated refrigerator at his apartment. After the mixture I prepared with canned pumpkin spent a full day in the so-called freezer compartment (remember the old-style frig with a square freezer door in the middle of the top shelf?), all I had produced was orange mush. It should still taste good, I thought. Wrong! Even a loving future husband had to admit that the grainy fast-melting glop in his bowl was inedible. As advertising warnings say, don’t try this one at home–unless you have a better recipe and good freezer.

After trying my hand at raising pumpkins and getting a small crop I wanted to learn how to make pumpkin pie from scratch (using fresh pumpkins). I found that the easiest way to cook your pumpkin with out having to do all the mashing and stuff that sounds so time consuming just use a pressure cooker. Cut your small pumpkin in half (do not use your large jack-O-Lanterns for they are stringy and watery) and take out the seeds and place on the rack inside your pressure cooker with a little water in the bottom. Cook for 8 minutes on high pressure comes out perfect every-time. All you need to make two eight inch pies is three cups of cooked pumpkin.
I use this websites pumpkin pie recipe changing it a little to suit my families taste. http://www.pickyourown.org/pumpkinpie.php
I use two teaspoons of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon of ginger. It is so good.

Love this, so true. Plugging you in to my google reader now. Looking forward to future Grace Notes!

Paula,
I was thrilled to see that you are the Suburban Farmgirl!
I love your writing and always get great insights from your Momfidence articles.
You reassure me that common sense in parenting is not dead!
Looking forward to seeing more of you here…
Blessings,
Staci

Welcome and I look forward to reading more Grace Note!

Paula, Thank you for your writing and joining "MaryJaneFarm" roster of writers. I love Rebekah’s blog also. I am a kindred spirit and writer too. My farm girl genes come from my great grandmother who lived and loved on a farm and raised 13 children who all grew up to become doctors, pharmacists, wives, mothers, daddy’s- people all who in their own way gave back to the world. Respect, morals, and God were just as much a part of farm life as chickens, clean sheets on a clothes line, and milking cows. In my city ways I have carried on farm life. Yet, even at 54 with four wonderful grown children and one grandson of my own, I still dream of living on a farm. Yet, pies bake in my urban kitchen as I dream, and I’m hoping next month when I add a few chickens to my back yard my neighbors will be too busy in their ‘city’ ways to care!! All my country best, Cate

Welcome, I can tell already that I will enjoy reading your notes- here it is a cool rainy sort of depressing day, but for a bit I was in the sun, picking herbs and goodies from my garden or the farmers’ market, riding my "pretend" horse (purple banana seated 20" wheel bike) or hanging clothes on my mom’s clothes line, or even better taking them down and burying my nose in the sheets. Yes the rain is needed, but the memory trip brought a happy smile to my heart. Thanks

Grace notes…aptly named. I love it! This rings true in my heart. I was born and raised in suburban Michigan. My parents grew up as farmers and became factory workers to support their family, back when that was "a really good job." My Dad grew enormous gardens in our yard and in the empty lots nearby. My Mom canned everything in sight in addition to working full time and had the basement pantry of colorful filled quart jars to prove it. Looking back, I don’t know how they did it. Dad hunted and we all fished; the bounty fed us. We picked blueberries in the woods for free and shucked bushels of peas on the back porch. Technically, I have never lived in the country but I am a farm girl at heart. I put myself through college and became a nurse, moved to Texas after college, where I spent over the next twenty years in the suburbs again. I have sewn most of my children’s clothing when they were small, been a single parent, cooked and baked from scratch, crocheted, knitted, gardened and canned a little bit. I have to buy the berries or pay to pick them but I still love making jam. It feeds my soul as much as my family. We moved to Oklahoma two years ago after the children were grown and I am blessed with grace notes more and more each day. We live in a neighborhood of lots just over a half acre in a rural area. I have learned to card fiber, spin my own yarn and weave in addition to my other loves. I see red tailed hawks and deer regularly. I dance with the Okie wind while I hang laundry on the line. I have found friends with whom I share my heart as well as our interests. Grace notes are like fireflies in the summer sky. My heart is full.

Welcome! It’s nice to meet another farmgirl at heart….as my husband and I just moved to North Carolina.

Hi
I’m glad you’re here. I live in suburban South Fla. but am a country farm girl at heart. Grew up in Ohio, learned to grow veggie and flowers there. Miss Fall with every fiber of my being, as well as all the aesthetics of the North. It’s been interesting these 40 years, trying to bring what I love to an area and climate which fights me all the way. But persist I have, and been succesful, some of the time. I have a maple tree in the back which gives us a modicum of fall color in January. It even loses it’s leaves, we rake them and lie in the pile. You do what you can.
I’m looking forward to meeting you and all the other suburban farmers.
Linda

Welcome! I love when people write (or speak for that matter) from the heart. I look forward to reading your future posts!

I loved this article! I am collecting not just Bonanza DVDs, but also "Petticoat Junction", "Bewitched", "Green Acres", "Rawhide", "Beverly Hillbillies" and the other fun, active, outdoorsy TV series of the 60’s. Instead of whiney people sitting on a couch in a living room (the recent sit-coms), the older shows showed people really moving around, and getting outside! I really appreciate your comment about Grace Notes – I am drawn to older linens, and dishes, pitchers with the lovely lines and textures of another time.
M. Cook

Welcome Paula! I fell in love with "Mary Jane’s Farm" fairly recently. I was so excited to see there are others out there like me. I too have always lived in the suburbs, but have lived my life with the heart of a farm girl. Growing up my favorite shows on TV were the Wilderness Family, Little House on the Prairie, How the West was won. I learned to crochet, cook, sew, can by the time I was 10. I started quilting at age 32. I was always the youngest in the classes and other people would comment about how young I was to be quilting. I shun modern conveniences. In quilting I’m looking forward this year to entering a Grandma’s Flower Garden sewn completely by hand. I don’t machine quilt. That just rushes things too much. I don’t own a microwave (to all my daughters friends amazement). I cook only from scratch and love every minute of it. I take great pride in providing my family with healthy and nutritious foods for every meal. To this day I still dream of having my own farm. It seems to logical progression. I still can, freeze and dry most of our food for the winter. I buy all our produce at the local farmers market. Thursdays are my favorite day of the week. That’s market day. I’ve learned all the names of those I purchase from. Not something often found in the city (or suburbs because we’re too busy).

I eagerly look forward to you future post! Welcome!

Thanks so much for your thoughts – I live in town, but I wear an apron, hang my clothes out when I can, do my dishes by hand sometimes, have lots of "old stuff" around…

Thank you for sharing your love of farm living in the cit. I too live in the city and try to bring as much farm into my life as I can.Behind my garage are five beautiful chickens. Every day I look forward to letting them out of their coupe so they can tell me the morning gossip! One by one they march out and start reporting about all the happenings that took place in the dark of night. There are tales of cats walking about the coup and other animals that they can’t quite make out in the shadows of the moon.And of course there is the tattle telling of who crowded who on the roost and who decided their not going to lay for a while.Later in the day if the weather is nice or even a little cool, you can find me in my plastic lawn chair just watching the girls go about their day. I find it very peaceful to watch their dirt bath. their feathers make such a lovely noise as they splash the dry dirt up over their bodies.Grazing for bugs and tender plants is another peaceful scene.They seem to not have a care in the world as they walk along singing and looking for the next bite.All of my cares and concerns melt away too!I have other stories of hanging out laundry on the clothes line and learning to make home made soap but the chickens are what I love best. Thanks for letting me share.
Denise Kilman

I grew up in a small town in Iowa, and I could hear the screen door close, and smell the freshly dried, clean sheets as I read your ‘Grace Notes.’ The feel of clover flowers between your toes and taking a strawberry from the patch also came to mind. Thanks for that moment on this rather deary rainy day(after a week with no sun)in the
middle of a city. I keep planting anywhere I can and did harvest an alley pumpkin this year-also tomatoes, green beans, and kale along the garage. I still use wooden clothes pins, and I have my grandma’s gardening bandanna-it is salmon and olive green.

Great blog, I also live in the burbs, but my brothers farm is just a few miles away, can get a fix pretty fast when needed, better than any medicine!

Thanks alot, I can not get the Bonanze theme out of my head, speaking of grace notes. Thanks for your words of wisdom

Very nice column! I too find myself in a North Carolina subdivision at the moment, and yet surrounding by tobacco farms, soybeans, cattle and horses. It’s lovely, and it’s nice to read about someone elses similar experiences. Looking forward to the next post!

Welcome Paula!

I recognize you from Women’s Day which is one of my favorite magazines. I’ve lived in NYC my whole life, but I have many suburban family and friends, so it will be nice to read your farmgirl perspectives in your grace notes.

Howdy & Welcome!! I had the crush on "little" Joe & carried a Bonanza lunch box for three years (new one each year, different design – I ran with the My Friend Flicka, Black Beauty lunch box crowd – Bonanza fit right in!)

A farmgirl heart starts early in life!

Welcome to the farm. I grew up in Michigan and we moved around from city to country to living in the village limits but had a farm field right across the street. Playing in the corn fields, running around in them, climbing trees, and watching all the 60’s sitcoms that was in the country. Helping my Mom, Aunt and my best friend’s mom can everything under the sun. I grew up surronded by farms but didn’t live on a farm. I still live in Michigan and live in the country in 4-plex apartment! I have a very small space to grow tomatoes and green peppers. Have a freezer full of farm growing meat, not the kind that is in the grocery stores. So welcome from one Michigander to another Michigander!

Thanks Paula.
Loved the column and look forward to reading more. Didn’t know there was a name for my leanings but now I know it is a perfect description. I receive so much satisfaction by simple things like doing the laundry and hanging it out to dry, baking – my altime favourite and creating a heart home for my family. Farm life in my book has meant honest hardworking simple loveable life and people. They are real people with no hidden agenda. I love to look out at the mountains and to walk along the beach. I love the countryside but live and work in Suburbia. The outdoors or my kitchen are my absolute favourite places to be.

I was raised and lived in the city for 27 years until I met and married my husband. When we got married we bought a house in a small town and at first I wondered "What am I doing out here?" I even made him promise that when something happened to my mom and dad, we would but their house in the city and move back. In the first year, my husband had me helping with the chores on the farm he worked and I learned so much about about farm life. Within three years we had a chance to buy 5 acres and build a house. We are 10 miles from town and I’m still not far enough away fron city life. I never did buy my folks house and ‘go home again’. I guess the farm girl was there all the time and I never knew. My life on the farm has been wonderful. My husband passed a year and a half ago and I miss him dearly, and am so greatful for all I learned from him. Keep the words coming and I’ll keep reading.

Hi Paula!!! What a great website! I was raised on a farm in Kentucky, but now call Los Angeles my home. I will always be a farmgirl at heart. I can’t wait to read more!
Jennifer

Wow, thanks, everyone, for the neighborly welcome!! I love hearing everyone’s personal variations on suburban farmgirlness… and who knew there were so many Bonanza lovers left and girls who fed carrots to their bicycles?! I’m very glad to "know" you all! Paula

My sister "Rodeo Rise’" wants to know if this rings a bell with you? Sung to the tune of the Bonanza theme song "here in the West we’re livin in the best…Bonanza Hoss and Joe and Adam know every rock and pine..Repeat…..
Thought you’d like that She says it’s on the Album Lorne Greene sings
You 2 are peas in a pod
Michele