Happy Summer, farmgirls! I’m enjoying a morning cup of coffee in my favorite Wonder Woman mug, in my vintage camper, my chihuahua in my lap. I had a post idea all ready to write for June, but that changed when, a few weeks ago, something unimaginable happened here in New England!
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”.
Oh my goodness! I’m so thankful y’all are ok and doing well. It will take time, GOD is with you, I will pray for your family and little dog. May the blessings be ❤
Hi Ramona, thank you so much! Just came from the vet again to check up on lil’ Pip…so far, so good with his recovery. My daughter was a bit shell-shocked over the storm; I’ve had to reassure her that it won’t be like that every time we get a storm. Driving through town today I noticed so many tree stumps everywhere. There’s a lot of historic places like barns and houses lost, too. It was certainly a “doozy” of a storm! Thank you for the prayers! We define had guardian angels watching over us! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Yes, Nicole Hero’s are found in the most unlikely places. Our lives are so much better because of them all. How happy I am you, your family and animals are alright and Little Pip, so sweet.
How wonderful the fleet was in and your family was able to experience it.
Happy summer Nichole, enjoy it with your beautiful family,
I really enjoy your blog and reading about your life.
Farmgirl Hugs,
Debbie
Hi Debbie! It’s good to hear from you, farmgirl! Thank you for your kind words. I am looking forward to a quiet, relaxing (hopefully) summer with my family and pups, doing “farmgirl” types of things like gardening and crafting. Hope you all have a wonderful summer in Colorado, as well. Much love! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
I loved the way you told your story. In the end, it is about all the loving people who come in and help. In a time, when everything seems so difficult, it was wonderful to hear your story and all the wonderful people who helped.
Hi Linda, Thank you so very much! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Wow…we live in the northeast corner of the state, but were watching the news follow-ups about the tornadoes and microbursts on the opposite corner. Yes, many inconveniences, but I’m so glad you’re all okay. Events like this really make one stop and think about what’s really important.
Dot
Hi Dot, Yes, don’t they? Growing up in Texas, I saw my share of large, scary thunderstorms, but this was something else! The trees here are so tall and make things quite frightening. I am so glad your area was not hit like ours was. Hope we have a beautiful summer in Connecticut! Thanks for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
OMG, I am so sorry for all your problems. What crazy weather we have been having everywhere. So very glad you and your family and pets are all safe and sound. You are right, things can be lost and and replaced but family and loved ones cannot. The true spirit of America comes out when there is a crisis and your neighbors are proof of that. I hope that things get repaired quickly for you and life can go on for you. God Bless!
Hi Ruth, Thank you! Yes, we are okay. It’s more of an irritation now. My little dog is on the right track to feeling better and the driveway is pretty much cleaned up. We will have to get the house repaired, but at least the house is there to repair! I certainly have a renewed respect for Mother Nature! This storm was a reminder to count my blessings! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
So Sorry that “the storm” happened to you all…glad you’re bouncing back…Your experience sounds scary, interesting and enlightening…thank you, for sharing it with us…
Hi Julie, Thank you! It is amazing how long a short time can seem when it is the middle of a big storm! The garden is replanted and the driveway clear. Looking forward to a more relaxing summer! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
I am so glad you are alright and the family as well. Anything can happen to anyone at anytime. God is with you and yours!
Hi Rhoda, thank you, you are so right! Every breath we take is a blessing! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole, this is a beautiful blog to read and it brought tears to my eyes. You told everything so well and your house is very well built! You were all very lucky and prayers were answered. We see God when people are trying to help others in distress. It is so nice to hear of people who re not in their own little world today. Proud of your writing!
Love picture of the American flag and the little dog mascaot.
Mother
Thank you, Mama. Love you, Nicole
Oh my, now that’s enough troubles for a long while. I was raised in tornado alley in Nebraska, so I appreciate how y’all were shaken. Isn’t it wonderful how neighbors and friends come together at these times. Hope puppy is well and the rest of your summer goes well. God bless.
Hi Joan! I have always wondered how those that live in “tornado alley” handle it. Those states have such beauty. Being from Texas, of course, we did see our storms, too! I guess everywhere has something once in awhile. It is lovely to see how people come together, though. You never know what little bit you may think you do is something very big, giving much comfort to others. Blessings to you, too! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Thank God you and your husband and daughter were not hurt. Sorry about the damage to your house and car. You are blessed with great friends and neighbors. Hope things are getting back to normal in your neighborhood.
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, Thank you. Yes, we are very blessed! It’s a big reminder to make every day count! Things are starting to feel a bit more normal, which is very nice. Thank you for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Loved the blog. We lucked out when the storm did not take your family from us. It could have been a lot worse.
Valerie, we were blessed when you made it safely into the Walgreens just in time, too! Love you and your wonderful family! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Happy everything turned out for you. As you said things can always be worse.
Hi Beverley, thank you. We are getting back to normal and looking forward to a better summer. Sometimes thinking “it can always be worse” is a big help to keep life in perspective. We were so lucky. My heart goes out to the people who weren’t so lucky and true tragedy hit. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Prayers go out still today Nicole for your family of loved ones and a great big Thank You God for sparing your lives and prayers for the families of those who were lost in this horrific storm. Nature can be beautiful and horrifyingly brutal at times. We can not answer the ‘why did this happen’, but maybe it is to remind us all that there is good in this world in the people around us who are there to help us when it is needed. Your story was so authentic in its writing that I could almost be there experiencing it with you. Happy that little Pip is on the mend. I know our animals are scared silly of any loud noises and even rain on the roof scares my Allie cat. I am so glad that you had a place to get into like your basement and you made it in time. Maybe you can post your blog in July that you had for June before this storm. God bless all.
Thank you, Sandi! Pip had his “check up” with the vet yesterday and so far he is on the mend. Thankfully, we don’t get a lot of storms here, but when we do we will be babying him even more! 😉
Check back to the blog in July for that post I didn’t use for June. Thanks for reading and commenting. Big farmgirl hugs, Nicole
Nicole, so glad everyone made it through the storm. I know the clean up will take a while but as you said, things can be fixed and replaced. It is so important to look at the bright side. I love your quote from Mr. Rogers and thankfully you had some real helpers. Hope you get everything cleaned up soon.
Hi Nancy, thank you. The clean up is frustrating and very time consuming, but it will eventually all get done. I’m just so thankful it wasn’t worse. This entire year has shown us crazy weather! Thanks for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole