New England has been hit with one of the worst winters anyone can remember. Sure, we are used to snow and ice, but not THIS much at one time! We’ve been hit with five storms the last four weeks, with more to come. Schools have been closed, roads are challenging, and everyone’s getting tired of the cold (even though it is only January). How do you keep a sunny disposition when winter is being so wicked?
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 the caption under the picture! Wonderful idea for a special breakfast..something your daughter will always remember. I lived in Florida for 40 yrs..and now live in Ohio..winters are hard to get use to..but spring and summers are amazing!
Nicole. I share your cabin fever. We live in Minnesota where the winter weather is often just like yours. We’ve had so much snow there isn’t any more place to put it and it is hard to see around corners. The bright side is fires in the fireplace, lots of time to quilt or do crafts ( I’m making home-made valentines this year). We are lucky to have lots of plants inside plus large windows. It’s a great time to sort photographs, draw and read through recipes.
Love the idea of homemade Valentines! Thanks for reading.
-Nicole
Ah yes, long winter days, – but they make spring just that much sweeter. I have always felt sad for those in the southern parts; they never get to experience the true changes of season. Blessings, and stay warm!
H
This installment made me smile. I remember those nasty, never ending winters. Blessings on all the indoor activities. What quality time to share.
Just back in from the enter-from-the-outside-only, snowed-in cellar. One more unpredictable consequence of this extra deep winter freeze is a frozen pipe. I am so fortunate to have caring and helpful family to unfreeze this potential disaster.
I really do love winter, but this year is a test of how much winter can I love. It’s the very best time to see animal tracks in my yard. The river otters are bold enough to let me watch them at play. The grey squirrels have come very close to be fed (not out of hand, but close). When deer, foxes and coyotes cross through my yard in daylight, I can enjoy their presence and admire their grace. I don’t have to rake any more leaves for a while. Running the snowblower gives me a great sense of POWER!
There! I feel better about this winter already. Thanks for brightening up this chilly winter day. Rosalie
Rosalie, you go, farmgirl! Hope your frozen pipe doesn’t create too much of a headache for you!
-Nicole
The photos are lovely and anything nature inspired helps me with cabin fever.
Thank you, and thanks for reading!
-Nicole
Ahhh…I too can relate, Nicole! I live just across the sound from you on Long Island. It seems like everytime we turn around there is more….snow! It is absolutely beautiful to look at, yet not so beautiful to shovel as we know all too well.
I agree with your sentiment…Bloom where you are planted. As the snow is falling our family enjoys watching the gorgeous red cardinals at the feeders right outside the winter. Here in the NorthEast, we may have to "deal" with winters wrath, but we also get to enjoy all of its splendours!
That’s the spirit! I haven’t seen any cardinals lately, but I did see a beautiful, large red-headed woodpecker today.
-Nicole
This is a great reminder to enjoy the "extra" time we are given and spend it making special memories with our famiies.
I love the idea of a special breakfast to get the day started on a positive note!
Beautiful pictures too!
Bloom where you are planted is biblical. I don’t know the chapter and verse, but it’s in reference to the Israelites thriving when they are in exile. Just so you know. 🙂
Thank you, I didn’t know that. Would love the chapter and verse if anyone knows it.
-Nicole
While we have winter in Colorado, eastern Slopes are usually pretty mild. I don’t envy you all the snow and cold, but your attitude is wonderful. Enjoy your little girl, they grow up so fast.
I enjoyed your "Wicked Winter" blog. I LOVE the snow. I’m born and raised in New England (RI) and think this is one the best winters we’ve had since I was a child. It was always like this then….snow on the ground all winter long and up to your thighs. If you live here, you need to learn to enjoy ALL of the seasons. That’s what New England is all about! I don’t think anyone enjoys driving in it; it is dangerous; however, we live here and we can’t change it. Too bad it can’t snow just on the weekends! It is beautiful, though, isn’t it? Where is the Sisterhood Chapter? Is there one in RI?
Susan, my Sisterhood Chapter meets here in Connecticut, but you can search for one near you here: http://maryjanesfarm.org/Chapters/Search.asp
-Nicole
Sounds like you have been keeping busy. Winter is beautiful the first couple of weeks then it is get it over with. But everything has it’s own time and spring will be here. Don’t forget to make some snow cream for the children what ever the age we (I) love as much as my kids and grandchildren. So enjoy the winter wonder land today, I’m sure in a few days being stuck in it will become the Wicked Winter of 2011!
Great column, Nicole. I loved the idea of a fancy breakfast with candles! Stay warm!
I’m in central Minnesota and this winter has been one of the worst, mostly because of the cold. I can’t even get myself to shovel anymore (thanks son-in-law and neighbors). The worse is my cat, at least 3 times a day he has me open the door to see if he can go out (fenced yard). I had to put down his sister a few days ago and he keeps looking for her. (I thought she had something similar to alzheimer’s, turned out cats do get it. She purred until the last second. I’ll always miss her but I’m not sad. Horrible was seeing such an independant kitty deteriorate.)
Carmen, so sorry to hear about your little kitty. Stay warm.
-Nicole
Hi Nicole, being your close neighbor over here in Brookfield,
I hear ya! I LOVE snow, being born and raised in Ca.I didn’t see much growing up. But this is crazy!
I keep busy organizing everything in my house, like a little squirrel rearranging the nuts over and over.
So, I’m really looking forward to our meeting. When is it going to be, again? Take care and be safe! Sue
Hi, Sue! Hopefully we will be able to have a Sisterhood chapter meeting very soon! I’m so looking forward to meeting you!
-Nicole
Coming from India living with snow was a big adjustment for my husband and me. But after the ‘newness’of icing on the landscape wears off- I repeat to myself ‘If Winter is here,Spring is right around the corner’ like a mantra several times during the day, make pots of soups with a touch of Indian spices, and crochet scarves for people who have to go out and work.
Aloka
Sounds like you have the right attitude, Aloka! Spring is going to be extra-sweet this year, for sure!
-Nicole
Nicole, I think the Bible verses Sarah had reference to for "Bloom where you are planted" are Jeremiah 29:1-14, where Jeremiah tells the exiles to build houses, raise families, and be good citizens where they are living, even though it’s not their homeland. Possibly the same idea could be found in I Corinthians 7:17–"Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him…" Also, Esther definitely bloomed where she was planted. Thanks to Sarah for pointing this out!
Winter Wonderland definitely! I’m right there with ya Nicole. We are south of Boston and still have over a foot of snow on the ground! I have to say though, it’s beautiful! I’ve spent my fair share of time in front of the stove too and just being close together inside is worth being a little cold!
Thanks for the winter lift!
Your New England sister in Plymouth,MA.
Beach Blessings,
Deb
Many would think I’m crazy…but being keep at home for a few days under a lot of snow…seems to me like Heaven! Each November I make sure that we all have what it takes if winter decided to be bad…So, being with my love dones…surrounded by snow…Hey…That’s me! Love to read you…Brigitte