Is it possible for me to love a picture any more than I love this one? I really don’t think so. I took it when my daughter blew a triple bubble. I didn’t have my reading glasses. And when I downloaded the photos this morning, I couldn’t believe it.
There’s my magical farm reflected in the bubble….
And so I sang, “….wohoho, it’s magic, you know….never believe it’s not so…”
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”.
Thanks REBEKAH,
I so enjoy the way you write on the blog and in MaryJanes magazine. It’s magical! What a delightful time on your farm through the eyes of your nine year old! We need to be reminded often that life is MAGICAL whether good, bad or ugly! My hubby and I have lived on our own hill in Idaho for 6 years. It’s not really a farm but close. My favorite things include swinging in the porch swing, walking in the woods for treasures, growig a garden and just basking in the glory GOD has lavished on us! OH yes, delight in bubbles and buying a kite the next time I’m in town! Thanks again for a wonderful taste of magical! Cathy in Idaho
Hi Rebekah!
I’m so glad the " magic" found you again…It’s not always easy being a " blue sky" thinker when snakes lerk at the water hole, and money sucking projects appear from every corner of your " dream home, farm, cottage" etc…
We have felt less than magical at our summer cottage at times, but somethimg always happens and quickly to change our way of thinking…Recently we lost my father in law of 88 years… The day after the service we decided to go to our magical place( our summer cottage) for some solice and restoration. Things were all magic when we arrived except for the fact that Dad wasn’t with us(or so we thought).
As we walked the beach ( the same one we have been walking together for 20 plus years) we talked as we walked along the waters edge, watched our dog play, and our daughter and a friend run on the beach…As we approached a favorite early morning fishing spot of my husbands I noticed tiny shells poking out of the mud… I am familiar with clam beds but hadn’t seen them in this area before…looking closer we discovered they were tiny Angel Wing shells, standing on end in the mud with just the tips poking out…but there was one off to the side fully exposed. A whole Angel Wing shell! …We both agreed that Dad must have gotten his angel wings that day! We knew he would!
Yeah, the taxes are too high, the cottage is small and the shower is outside and solar! But it’s all we really need and we love it more than any place in the world.
Keep up the wonderful " magical" thinking and writing…I always look so forward to it! If you’re up for a stroll on the beach, roll up your pants, kick off your shoes and come one over to Dandelion House~
I know what you mean when you say that is where your heart is, I grew in Madison County, on a mountain farm on the TN state line very close to hot springs, NC. I now live in the city, and when ever I get home sick or need to get away, I get in the car and drive to that mountain farm, it is no longer mine, but just looking at it, and riding, and smelling the fresh air, takes me home, where my heart is, and I always feel better and magical in that place!
Hi Everyone,
I so enjoy reading these blogs…I was born & raised in a very large city, but I am a true Farmgirl in my heart. And even though I know I am blessed to live so close to the Atlantic Ocean(bout 5 miles), I will always dream of having my own old farm house filled with my grandbabies, children & animals. I am truly happy… Then today I read this phrase that says it all…"Being happy doesn’t mean everything’s perfect… It means you decide to see beyond the imperfections."
HiRebecca,I want to thank you for being so positive.I get negative about my farm project sometimes,and its so hard for me to stay positive.I have so much work to do,that it seems overwhelming at times.Did you know,that If I put on a metal roof,instead of regular singles,my personal property taxes will go up to a higher bracket?I am learning lots of intresting new facts.All worth it,The new spring sprouts,and new shoots coming up,all makes the work worth it,and yes,that makes it truely magical.Daddy and I are going to try to go mushroom hunting this week.Last week we sold scrap iron.There is always so much work to do.Thanks again for helping me stay positive.Blessed be,Carol Branum,Lamar Mo.
Dear Rebekah, I for one would love to see photos of your magical sounding cottage. The countryside is like a storybook…and I bet the house is too. I hope you’ll take some pics of your cozy country home and share them with us. Thanks for the ‘virtual’ and magical farmgirl getaway.
shery jespersen
I feel so good to come when I come here. What a wonderful post! You didn’t need glasses afterall. The pictures are beautiful. Or a potty either! See there?
Wonderful post. I had tears in my eyes the last paragraph. Who would have known a quote on a tea bag would bring tears. Of coarse without the story leading up to it I would probably just said aww. I hope you have many, many more wonderful excursions at your farm.
Hi Rebekah – and all the fellow farm gals here on Mary Jane’s Farm. I first discovered the magazine a couple of years ago when my husband and I bought, and moved into, a 100 year old plantation home in the "country". I’ve just discovered the chat/blog section of the website and this is the first post I’ve read. I wanted you to know how much it "hit home" with me. Lately, I too find myself reaching that "too tired to be appreciative" point. After all, I bought an old farm house that had been neglected for many years and immediately began hatching and raising chickens, ducks, peacocks, geese and guineas. Followed quickly by goats, sheep and six livestock guard dogs. I’m attempting to raise our own food totally organic. While we plan to open soon to the public for weekend farm tours, we are constantly escorting around all those who stop and ask to see the place and tell us that it "called to them" from the road. During our two years here we have also been trying to restore the exterior’s rotted wood and porches but for every board they pull off there are at least two more behind it, also rotten. It has been a daunting task.
I have started a website for our farm and am attempting to start a blog. Blogging will be one more thing added to the long list of things I fomerly had no idea how to do.
I want to thank you for this particular story. I especially loved the tea bag quote. It brought tears to my eyes as well because I too know that this is "home" and that someday, God willing, it will be a restored, grand old dame, surround by our animals and filled with friends, children, grandchildren and visitors.
I hope to join the Mary Jane Sisterhood and stay in touch with everyone. I need all the inspiration I can get.
Monique
I love the photos you enclose with your blog. I grew up on a farm near New Petersburg, Ohio and some of the pictures you present, I grew up with. The bubble picture ought to win an award. Beautiful. My eyes are going too, as I wear trifocals now. I’m hoping to go before my eyes do. Have a great day!
great post as usual!
Just found these farmgirl blogs and have to say that I love ’em!
Just want to say what a great blog you got here!
I’ve been around for quite a lot of time, but finally decided to comment! I love your writing!
Thumbs up, and keep it going!
Great blog. I found you through MaryJane Farm. Love the triple bubble and the reflection shot of the farm.
Hi Colten! I’m glad you like it! Yes, I took the picture and no, it’s not in the public domain. But I really don’t mind if you use it as long as you attribute it to me, send me a link, and don’t sell it or anything like that. Thanks!