This month we find the days wavering somewhere between Summer and Fall; it’s time for a shift of seasons.
“We are in for a spell of perfect weather now,
every day luminous,
every night brimmed with stars.
Picnics at noon, supper by the applewood fire at night,
a walk in the cool moonlight before bed.”
-Gladys Taber
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”.
This are beautiful flowers. I love this time of the year. So many colors, The temperature
is just right. Thank you for sharing.
Jeretta-I agree, it’s my favorite season! Just as you said-the amazing colors and perfect weather – I’m ready for a bonfire and s’mores now! Thank you for stopping by this morning!
Fall time seems to bring everything alive…beautiful colors, cooler evenings, and a settling of nature. We are blessed with harvesting of our gardens and a time of reflection of the past summer and the future seasons to come. True enjoyment for our soul.
So true, Loretta – I love how you said it’s “true enjoyment for our soul.” When the winter winds blow, opening a jar of summer’s tomato sauce will bring back those warmer days. It’s a welcome time to “put by” but also to look forward to a settling – Mother Nature needs a rest and so do we!
Mary-
I also love Fall. I have pumpkins and orange cone flowers mixed together in the garden now. The baskets you have recently found, and are enjoying, look to be Longaberger. I have both and, as a quilter, I have fabric in my picnic basket! The chicken coop is beautiful. Always enjoy your posts.
Hi Gae, oh pumpkins and orange coneflowers paired together would be beautiful! And you’re absolutely right, they are Longaberger – good eye! I don’t know if you have ever seen their original office – it’s shaped like an enormous market basket – very clever. Thanks for your kind words, enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Yes Mary, I had visited Longaberger! It was a wonderful place, have the apple basket and also made a basket in the factory. Did you ever visit? My friend Diane had been a consultant. She and I are actually thinning our collections if you know anyone who may be interested, let me know.
Looking forward to your next post; your farmgirl life is so beautiful!
Gae
Oh wow – I didn’t know you could make a basket there…that would have been a great experience! No I’ve never visited, but have driven by on a day trip. Well, the word is out – anyone in the Farmgirl connection looking to add to (or start) their basket collection? Thanks Gae!
I love the mason jars for toting picnic fare! I used to pre-prep snacks for my kids/grandkids by using a pint mason jar and some individual applesauce cups that I had washed out. I put pretzels or fruit or veggies in the jar and then the “dip” went on the applesauce cups which fit right on top of the jars. Put a lid on it and put on the fridge! Great especially for snack items that would get soggy and also easy for the kids to dip without having to reach into the bottom of the jar. 😉
I love the mason jars for toting picnic fare! I used to pre-prep snacks for my kids/grandkids by using a wide mouth pint mason jar and some individual applesauce cups that I had washed out. I put pretzels or fruit or veggies in the jar and then the “dip” went in the applesauce cups which fit right on top of the jars. Put a lid on it and put in the fridge! Great especially for snack items that would get soggy and also easy for the kids to dip without having to reach into the bottom of the jar. 😉
Hi Dana – that’s a great idea! I can see the applesauce cup being just the right size to sit on top! Stacked in the fridge and the kids can grab a snack whenever they want one – terrific idea – thanks for sharing with us!
Hi Mary!
I love EVERYTHING about the blog post! I love to think of you and daughter and your little Sunday drives! And I love your picnic basket lunch and snack ideas!!!!
You are amazing, my Farmgirl friend!
Dori
Awww Dori – happy Monday – you made my morning! Thank you for all the sweet words.
What an enjoyable and calming post!! your pictures are so clear and bright! I love Longaberger baskets…..my best friend started me on a collection a couple years ago and I buy them whenever I see them!! In my sewing room filled w/ fabric, in the living room filled w/books, my bathroom filled w/ toiletries! Ha!! Always on the search….
Enjoy your wonderful drives and snacktime…..memories being made!
Thank you…..Gina
Gina – thanks for stopping by to say hi! Oh I love baskets, too. I have them filled with scrapbook supplies, fabric, special
letters/cards – you’re right, if you keep your eyes open, they pop up in unexpected places and sometimes for a song! And thank you – my daughter’s college age, and I’m so glad for this time to make these memories together. Enjoy your week Gina!
Hi Gina-
I’m also a Longaberger collector/lover and became friends with my Consultant. We are both thinning our collections. For me mostly my baskets in the brown stain and Diane has mentioned her consultant show kit and several pieces from her collection.
Perhaps we have something you would enjoy!
Gae, Farmgirl 7534
Hi Gae!!! I love them all….any pictures!?
I especially enjoy the smaller ones with plastic liners….so useful!! How fun to have been friends with the consultant. I’m afraid that would’ve enabled me even more. Like many years ago when I worked in a fabric store.Ha!!! Thank you for reaching out to me, and I would truly be interested in any. You may wish to thin!!
Thank you!!!!
Well, it took me a bit longer than anticipated to get here, but I’m here! Another lovely post filled with treats for the eye and the mind. We’ve had an odd summer here…late to come, very wet, then very dry. I think some of our “best” summer days were this past week. Highs in the upper 70’s to low 80’s, 50’s-60’s for nights. But that, too, now has ended. Your Sunday drives with your daughter sound wonderful. I can only imagine how beautiful they must be this time of year. Your “girls” are so fortunate to have such lovely “digs” and such a diligent cleaning lady. 😉 Had the “girls” on our farm known of the luxuries extended at your place, they surely would have gone on strike. Hope the roller coaster ride was fun! I’ve not been on one for years.
No worries Robin, the days get busy! Thank you – you always say the nicest things. Well, as far as the girls, I only do a “deep clean” in the spring and fall…they can kick up a fuss and make quite the mess in-between! Hmmm, luxuries you say…I found an old chandelier in the barn…maybe I should hang that in the coop for a little sparkle!
Oh, I adore your picnic basket and totable lunch ideas! No doubt you are making so many wonderful memories together.
Your coop cleaning routine sounds very efficient. We have Omlet coops, and they are very easy to clean, which is one of the reasons we decided on them in the first place. We also place organic straw bales around the run to keep the winter winds at bay. When the weather warms up in spring, they can be used in the outside run or for mulching beds.
I stand with you on my love for all things autumn. It is a magical time of year, before all the hubbub of the holiday season begins. Just enough time to slow down, take stock of all of our blessings, and remember to live in the moment.
Many well wishes to you and your readers.
Hi Daisy, thank you…I’m trying to make those memories. I remember reading ages ago, that the essence of parenting isn’t in the milestones, but in the everyday moments. That’s been my goal…I try hard to be careful, but it’s all so fast. And yes, “magical” is the perfect word for autumn-it’s in the 80’s today, but I can feel the humidity has dropped, yay!
Hello Mary, thank you for sharing your charming post! I love to hear how kindly and compassionately you take care of your chickens, as I am sure you do with the rest of those in your care. The world needs more devoted caretakers like you. Bless you! Tammy
Tammy, you’re words are so kind…thank you very much. Back in the day, I had teenage dreams of being a vet and living in the Yorkshire Dales (sigh…yes, I have read and re-read the James Herriot books dozens of times!) alas, I knew that college classes in biochemistry and physics were not going to be my forte, so I chose another path. Still, animals make my heart happy…what more can a girl ask for?!