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”.
When the queen summons, you put on your best dress, your best shoes, (your best everything!!!) and you jump in the carriage and go!!!
How fun and exciting!!!
The pillars on the front (or back) porch look amazing, I can only imagine how the whole house looks….
Wow, a regular Lady-in-Waiting! How lovely for you. From reading your lovely blog posts I can see why she wanted you to have an audience with her. Good luck with your celebration, I know it will be a true success.
Sounds wonderful!
I love the way you describe the impact that other women can have in our lives. Sometimes that’s a hard thought to put to words and you did it well!
I choose ‘rose’ for the color of my lenses! 😉
Brings back memories Rene’…
I always notice when someone lives with Style and Grace…
While we never had a "mansion", my Mom and Pop were such people. I recall many Summer evenins spent with invited Friends on our back lawn, which was divided by a row of cherry trees into "the back yard" and "The Croquet Court". In the yard there was a barbeque going and tables loaded with Old Southern foods, and the ice cream churn cranking, and games of badmitton being played by us kids. After Supper, everyone went to the Croquet Court and my Pop turned on the floodlights and we played in teams until time for coffee and dessert. In Winter, Friends were invited for Dinner and games of canasta, while us kids played carom, hide and seek, and Chinese checkers. There was no tv… just people sharing stories and jokes and having fun.
You are correct Rene’… people who live with Style and Grace make an impression that is everlasting in the Joy it brings.
GodSpeed to Y’all…!
Gary
in Tampa
It seems when we are open to opportunities and possiblities they will come. Your story is a great illustration of this. The connections we make with others (in many cases great women) I believe can be inspiration to do and become more. I found your story just that sort of inspiration. It sounds like it will be a great experience.
Just like cinderella, for sure. It sounds like a divine house and wonderful company. I must say that some credit goes to you, as well. After all, you must have made a wonderful impression to be asked to come to tea. As you always do. You are a fun, creative, joyful person, who celebrates all people, who wouldn’t want more of you? 😀
K~
Thank you for such kind words… I am deeply touched. I have determined to see the brilliance in the world, and I am never dissapointed as it always shows up!!!!
Rene, You have such a way of writing that is with style and grace. I do so enjoy your blog. Thank you for sharing and teaching us to choose the type of lens that we want in our lives. You are so blessed to have met the Queen! I have met one in my life, and they do always seem to send the sun into our lives on a beam. My mother passed away early in my life and I was careful to guard my heart for any other to take her place. But when I met this lady that is like a queen with style and grace, I chose to call her "my second mom." What better mentor!! I can’t wait to hear more about your encounters.
Reba,
I will certainly share more in this adventure. As I have thought about this encounter, I have been mostly struck by the servanthood of the woman that I met. Pat. It is her simple elegance that raises her to Queen Status in my eyes…. Not as someone who "lords over" but rather as someone who has determined to serve. While her home is a beautiful Manor… I never felt more at home or welcomed anywhere. I feel honored to be in her court, so much so I asked her to adopt me 🙂 . Just like your story, life gives us what we need. If we will choose to be open to it.
Where is this lovely house and antique shop at? Sounds like something my sister and I would love to visit but we do live in Florida so it would have to be on one of our sister trips together.
They are located between Sunnyside/and Zillah WA. Although their address is Wapato, WA. and of course if you guys come out this way, let me know.. We will make sure that you get the farmgirl tour 🙂
oh Rene’,
thanx for sharing with us…I feel like I was there….hugz
>^..^<
hi Rene,Good for you,it will be fun…I had an aunt that lived in a fabulous victorian as a child I felt just like Polyanna in the Walt Disney movie.I helped polish her large collection of silver,while she tryed to teach me manners.She slept with her rare silver teaspoons of the apostles under her pillow at night…Have fun,and enjoy!carol branum,themofarmersdaughter@blogspot.com
Wow, how lucky of a lady are you? What a wonderful opportunity and experience to get to be apart of. Can’t wait to see and hear how it goes.
Rene,
Your story has inspired me! I will be helping with a tea May 8th; the theme is Honor Your Mother. We will be bringing aid to a local agency who’s focus is to help low income pregnant women. I love the themed idea and the selling of products that you mention. Please let us know how this celebration unfolds as I might be able to implement some of the ideas.
Rene, What a wonderful story! I look forward to hearing about the event and seeing more pictures. You will have such a great time!
Often we are surprised when someone requests our insight, talents, knowledge, creativity, to be of help to them. Take the gifts that you have been given, be yourself. After all was it not another Queen that Pat met?!
Thank you, what a kind thought!
The way you wrote this blog, I felt as though I was there with you. Thank you for inspiring me to see the beauty in the women that are in my life. They each have a gift that makes me want to be a better me. Thank you so much for sharing this story. have fun and let your creativity flow
Oh Rene`, what beautiful visuals — your writing put me right there (virtually that is). I wish I could have tagged along.
You can tag along anytime Shery!!!!
Happy Heart Day, Rene; and thank you for another inspiring blog post. I love what Marcia had to say:
"After all was it not another Queen that Pat met?!"
It takes one (brilliantologist) to know one, methinks.
Hope to see you and the other farmgirls again soon, and here’s to a perfectly wonderful centennial celebration at Sawyer Mansion!
V
Thanks!!!!!
Rene, the house looks and sounds lovely. Hope to read more about your adventure for the May 15, event. Made me feel elegant reading your discription of the house. Hope your having fun in the planning. Edie
Your site is like a blonde with a brain. I love it. Jokes apart, very informative post and equally impressive design.
Thanks for this useful article.
Some time before, I really needed to buy a house for my business but I didn’t earn enough cash and could not order something. Thank goodness my father suggested to try to take the personal loans from reliable creditors. So, I did that and was happy with my car loan.