“It’s better to give than to receive.” Have you ever found THE perfect, extra-special gift for someone? A gift you were so excited to give to that you could burst from anticipation? Last Christmas, I found such a gift- something special that truly made me feel like Santa Claus!
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”.
how very sweet, and fun!!
Hi Denise, thank you! Merry Christmas to you! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
That was such a beautiful and wonderful gift Nicole. You did a great job restoring it with patience and love.
Your mom will cherish it for the rest of her life, and now she will have two Toni Doll stories to tell!
Debbie F.
#1582
Thank you, Debbie! It was so much fun to bring those dolls back to life…you should have seen them “before”! Have a wonderful Holiday season. Thank you for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Awesome and so special
Hi Sylvia, Thank you so much. It was exciting to find for my mom. I won’t be able to top it! Have a wonderful holiday season! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Perfect and soooo thoughtful. Many Blessings.
Hi Maureen, Blessings to you, too! Thank you for reading and commenting! Happy Holidays, Nicole
What a beautiful thoughtful gift. I know your Mum will treasure it forever!!
Hi Andrea, thank you! I hope she does. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
What a lovely thing you did for your mother. You did a great job of restoring the Tonis’
My little sister had a Toni doll; she named it Toni Curtis 🙂
Hi Judith! How adorable- “Toni Curtis”! Love that. Thank you for reading and commenting. I wanted it to be special, and I will always have the memory of fixing the dolly up! So much fun. Have a happy holiday season! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
What a beautiful story. One of my special Christmas memories was when my identical twin sister, Marion and I received Ginny dolls. We also got a trunk full of clothes each and some furniture. I am happy to say that we still have those Ginny dolls.
Merry Christmas
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, thank you. I remember Ginny dolls! My mama got me one when I was little, with the little trunk of clothes. Unfortunately, all my dolls (and dollhouse) were lost in the move when I was teenager. That is good you have yours; what a treasure! Thanks for sharing. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
What nice comments you received! I feel the same and I will treasure her always and named her “Nicole”. I know you went to a lot of trouble finding the right doll, clothes, and making a new box. She is beautiful! Just like my Nicole! I love this doll and appreciate your tedious work. Pictures look great!
You also found a Coca Cola 1940’s ice chest music box like I had when I was a child.
Love always,
Mother
Hi Mama, I am so glad you love the doll. It was fun to do something so special for you. I still can’t believe it took me 46 years to see a Toni doll in person! They are just the cutest, and I am glad I got to do this for you. Love you so much! Nicole
Awww…how sweet! Love this story!
Hi Lisa, Thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoyed the Christmas blog. Happiest of holidays…Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole, such a lovely story and a wonderful gift for your mom. You are a special daughter also. It’s stories and actions like this that make for a great genealogy package; I hope you store them for your descendants to treasure for a long time to come. Our personal history is something we can leave for our children and children’s children etc. Not just the good and fun stories but also the ones that weren’t so good or didn’t turn out well as that is part of it and can be useful for future generations. God bless you and farm hugs for a job well done. Merry Christmas and may the New Year be as special as we all can make it.
Hi Sandi, thank you so very much for this comment. I agree with you wholeheartedly! Family history is so important. Your words here mean so much to me! Many blessings to you in the New Year. Thank you again. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
I loved your story. I know your aunt would have been overjoyed as well. You will treasure those memories.
Thank you, Diane. I wish I could have surprised my aunt with a doll. I did make her very happy on her birthday; I found a decorative plate of two twins girls, playing outside in a garden in the month of “June”, which was her birth month. It reminded me of my mom and aunt as little girls. I also sent in the box an antique candy dish filled with themed “1950s” candy. She loved both gifts. I did not know at the time I bought the plate (paid very little for it at a thrift store, just thought it was cute) that it was from a favorite artist of my aunt’s, and was signed! My aunt was so excited! I am glad she loved it. I love to give special presents. 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Oh Nicole.. what a sweet gift for your mama. You are ‘sew’ talented and creative…
Blessings to you and your family this and every Christmas season.
>^..^<
Hi Grace, thank you ever so much! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Your christmas story about the toni doll for your mom is precious. how lucky you could find the doll and repair it. that is a wonderful gift for your mom. I love the photo of your dollhouse. I still have the tin dollhouse I received as a child. The furniture has disappeared so I look at thrift sales to see if I can find any to replace what was with the doll house. When we bought the farmstead my husband was moving an old shed and under it we found doll dishes from my childhood. I was so excited to see them. I think the shed might have been a temporary play house for my siblings and I. Thank you for the lovely christmas card and letter. I need your house number to reply. the envelope was torn a little. Wishing you a Happy New Year. Marlene
Hi Marlene, How lovely to hear from you! Thank you for the nice comment. I love the story of how you found your childhood doll dishes under the play house/shed! I bet that was so exciting- finding a treasure such as that. I will pm you my address. Happy New Year, Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole