I met this toad earlier today in my garden.
“What ‘cha doing just sitting there, Buddy?” I asked.
He said nothing.
He just sat there.
And waited.
For what I don’t know.
“What are you waiting for, Little Dude?” I asked him.
Nothing.
He seemed happy enough to just sit there.
I wish I could learn to wait like that toad.
Wait, wait, wait.
He was still there when I headed inside for a cup of tea.
“See ya later, Alligator…”
I never thought I’d have the joy of owning an old barn, much less several old barns.
When we moved here, the buildings were in various states of disrepair. I only saw their potential at that time, never thinking much about the actual process of them REACHING their potential.
Whew. It is a process, a definite process. We are tuckered-out with the process.
Brisja says: I can’t tell you how much old things thrill and excite me. We spent yesterday afternoon going through an antique shop that specializes in salvaged items from houses that are being torn down. I love the aged look and the history you know each piece contains! It is so good to see that someone else is fascinated by these things and wants to preserve them for use in current everyday life. Your old barn is a treasure!
Susan says: I think it would be hard to be a Farm Girl if you were not a preserver, a saver. Your barn is incredible. I wish 30 years ago when the barn was still standing at our place we had redone it. I wasn’t into the Farm Girl then – Now? Oh yes, I love being a Farm Girl. I wish I had been then. I’d be so much further along instead of now worrying about running out of time.
Adrienne says: Looks great so far and my fingers are crossed the weather holds for you until the hay is in, the barn is finished and the snakes are gone. Perhaps a prayer to St. Patrick to drive the snakes out? 😉
sue says: Cattle head holders are called stanchions and your barn is beautiful you are so blessed
Life is a Journey not a destination enjoy the journey
diana henretty says: Ahhhh, loved your barn story and your pictures to brighten my morning here in the Ozarks!
One of our most favorite things to do is to go for country drives and look at all the old barns in our area.
The old Route 66 is especially great, you can see every kind of barn imaginable.
Glad you didnt tear it down, glad you gave it a "heart flip" and a new life!
Sometimes thats all it takes, is recapturing the old and shining it up a little.
Blessings from the Ozarks on this hot summer morning! Diana
Joan says: Oh yeah love the barn!!! and the run-into!! Preserving and saving is number one when being a farm family, never know when that ???? will come in handy. Oh yes there are those that say farms are junky but it doesn’t have to be, there is always a corner somewhere where all the ‘lovelies’ can be stored and I know you will use them some day. AHH what to do in the loft of the barn – always wanted to preserve a barn and live in it – yes that was a dream that did not come to fruition so I am so happy that you get to live your dream and that you share all the words and pic’s of it. Thanks much. God Bless
Rene Foust says: Wow what a beautiful barn! I wouldn’t tear it down either you should see what mine looked before we started working on it!
It is going to be so amazing when it is complete
Looking good! I love to reuse old things too. Hubs is starting to move into the pole barn he built for a wood shop and I have to keep an eye on him. He likes to toss things that I think could be used for another purpose. But I also want to be able to park in the garage again, so things do have to be put back away. I could see the poles being used to make a tepee out of to grow beans on or gourds?
Pam deMarrais says: Hey Rebekah! I love your local country store! I miss having one nearby in our neighborhood. In addition to the cool things, you have the best information resource….the owners do know it all! [We go to our local water dept for important not so well known information.]
I haven’t counted all of the foggy mornings we had in August, so I also have no clue as to how many snows we’ll have, but I remember driving in the foggy mornings, so I will have my shovel ready to clear the mailbox. I try not to drive these Tennessee hills when the snow is on the roads, so I don’t try to shovel the driveway….I just wait until it melts! I guess I’d better get prepared too!
Deanna Taylor says: Rebekah..love the old barn pictures! Don’t you just feel like you are in a church when you stand in the hay mow with the sun shining in the windows? Doesn’t that barn just speak to your soul? As a life-long farm girl who grew up in the 40’s and 50’s with barns, thank you for preserving your beautiful old barn instead of tearing it down. I love barns so much that I have decorated with them including a stained glass cupboard door that is a replica of my grandpa’s prairie style barn. Bless you and keep going, girl!
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”.
Loved this :/)farm life is hard completely rewarding. Though I haven’t had the pleasure of trying farm life out for myself as yet. Love your attitude to life
For my chickens, every day is a new day. They STILL squawk when they lay an egg. I have seven Jersey calves coming, starting in February. It takes FOREVER, 9 months to be exact. Can’t say, "can’t wait," ’cause I have no choice. "Will wait, will wait, will wait."
Oh my, your blog "just hit the spot" for me again this morning, we too are waiting. Waiting to meet our #5 grandson, soon to arrive any day now, carried by a precious surrogate mama who offered so unselfishly herself these past 9 months.
Waiting to see our two oldest adopted grandsons again, waiting to celebrate the holidays with 5 grandsons in one year’s time.
Waiting for the Ozark leaves to change, for life to slow down, wintery snows to come again, waiting to sit by the fire and quilt.
Waiting…..it teaches us how to count our blessings while standing still!
Waiting, Wondering, and Watching for good things from the Ozarks with hugs, Diana
CONGRATULATIONS the 1st egg!!!! I know what you mean about saving the 1st, I saved more like the 1st 2 dozen from my son’s families chickens and I blew them. Very carefully poke a large needle in each end, use needle to stir/break the yoke and then pressure blow into one hole, with a dish under the other end to catch the egg. I have heard that someone sells and egg blower but for the life of me I haven’t found it. After the egg is out, slowly dribble it full of water and a drop of soap and shake, covering the holes, then uncover the holes and shake out water, more water to rinse, stand shell up in a small container so water can drain and air can go through. This may sound like a lot to do but oh so much of a reward. I happen to have a small wire chicken that I display the shells in, also the chickens that share with me lay colored eggs but your white will be beautiful too. Have fun. Thanks for the ‘day at the farm’. God Bless
Hi Rebekah! Congratulations:0) It’s so exciting when the first egg appears. Like the "firsts" of everything good in life! My flock numbers four Buff Orpingtons & my husband & I love them like pets too. We walk outside & they come running & crouch down to be petted. They have a cute coop & run & of course they free range the yard during the day. I saved the first egg too~~~marked the day on the calendar(Aug. 13th)& blew it out to save in a sweet little nest. Took pictures also next to an egg from the store~~~huge difference! I found out that the first eggs are small in the beginning & now we have an abundance of eggs to share the wealth. Have a wonderful week~~~XO!
Linda, Chino Valley, AZ.
Love your column! You made me laugh out loud several times reading this one. Congrats on your first egg, I’d be just as proud of it too! 🙂
Rebekah! You "crack" me up!! Could not resist the pun. You are the kind of farmer I would be. Naming my chickens and wait so expectantly. I love your references they make me chuckle. I’m happy for your dream come true farm. I’ve been a MJF subscriber since 2008. Hugs, Allison in Nirth Texas
Love your Chicken Story! I love chickens too! My first chickens were a small batch of exotics someone had left behind when they moved. I was so excited. Got my uncle and cousins to help be build a rather sad enclosure in an old machine shed. Hauled in straw bales, rounded up feeders, etc….. There was 1 rooster and 5 hens. But there was never more than 1 egg a day. And then I realized….. that it was
5 roosters and 1 hen. It’s hard to tell with those exotics. But the crowing is a dead give-away. Have fun! And enjoy all the double ‘yokers’.
Congrats on the first egg!! When we had chickens that was an "egg-citing" time for us,too! Then once we got past that, we waited in anticipation for a double yolker. My husband was the lucky recipient twice this week with the eggs we get from the local orchard. We miss "the girls"! Anyway, I want to leave you with these quotes:
The farmer has to be an optimist or he (or she) wouldn’t still be a farmer.
Farmers never have good years. Only some years that are less bad than others.
I hope you have many omelets to come!!
Rebekah,
I’m way late to this party, but I want to tell you something about eggs. You don’t have to blow out the insides. You can just leave them and the insides will eventually disintegrate. Just don’t ever crack one open: peeEuw! My mom has some quail eggs that she has had since I was about 10 and I’m 55 now. I always enjoy your blog and your column in the magazine. Happy Thanksgiving!
Carol