Dear Sisters,
Our daughter came home from school one day last week, went right to her favorite landing spot ( the couch) and said, high-school is tough. She and a girl friend had been chatting on the bus ride home and both were having a particularly teenager-y sort of day. Do you remember those? Continue reading
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”.
Good morning Deb,
Oh my goodness!!! This was AWESOME!!! (Did you count how many you had?) I loved them all and honestly… I think we share about 99% of them. One of my favorites? “A bra that fits right”! 🙂 That was spectacular! This was a great read at the start of my day. I think I shall order that book too. Thank you!
– Dori, the Ranch Farmgirl –
P.S. Your daughter is absolutely lovely.
Hi Dori! I’m telling you by the end I was on a roll! Hahahah! So glad you enjoyed 🙂 Happy Day to you!
Hugs! Deb
I have many, many things to be happy about but added recently are I survived the second bout with cancer in three years with only a lumpectomy and a daily pill to keep me going. The elevator in my building has been completely rebuilt but it has been non-operational since January 20 so all residents have had to climb up and down the stairs. I’m healthy enough to do the stairs (woohoo!) and continue to do so until the final inspection on the 18th. I’m now vegan, have many recipes and much support. All parts of my body (OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer) work and I’m listening to a very happy bird singing on this sunny morning. Last night, I listened to an owl while falling asleep. Life is good and I wish the same for everyone!
Dear Adrienne, Health miracles are among the best things to be happy about. I am so happy for your good health today and pray for continued good reports for you! You are a tough two time survivor!
Thank you for sharing your good news with us and for commenting. It’s always great to hear from you! Hugs from the snowy East! Deb
Dear Deb and Adrienne – We have several birthdays coming up and I think this will be the perfect gift for several of them. In the last few years we have all gotten so busy and lost so many dear ones, we need to back up and remember the good times. Thank you for sharing!
Every thing you just said with a few minor adjustments. When you said Nevada and then wide open skies…. I love the blue of the sky out here when those huge fluffy clouds float around and the smell of sage after a rain storm.
I’m not sure if you mentioned ice cream but that is high on my list. Oh ! and sitting down after a long day of cleaning with most everything in it’s place and a roast or stew in the oven.
It has been unreasonably warm here the last week. I’m not bragging, I’m complaining because it is stealing my spring. I’ll never get caught up if this continues.
Hope all is well with you and your’s 🙂
Oh, yes Glenda! Those huge fluffy clouds that float around… I miss those too…I picked up a roast for the crock-pot today! I know its’ been UN-seasonably warm out west this winter. I hope you get a little winter weather, it’s at least good for snuggling in a bit and sorting through paperwork or reading a good book! xo Deb
You are so inspirational! I have been feeling blue…….and down a lil….just reading this inspired me to make my own list, and after reading all the wonderful things that make me happy, I am encouraged and revived! Thank you Deb!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs from one farm girl to another!!!!!! 🙂
Yay!!! Good for you, Susan! It happens to the best of us and sometimes all it takes is a little jolt of sunshine to snap us out of it! Glad it found you today! Farmgirl hugs!!!!!!! Deb
Well, I am looking at this post from my bed today. I have ‘The Bug’…totally un-invited…totally un-wanted! hahaha BUT…that said, it makes me TOTALLY appreciate all my MaryJanesFarm friends. YOU all make me happy. Did you notice that table that your dahlias are sitting on? I mean REALLY notice it? It’s smiling! THAT made me HAPPY today! Thank you for sharing that! Hugs&Squeezles-Judy
Oh dear, I’m sorry that dreaded bug came for a visit…I’m glad you mentioned my smiling table… It was one of my flea market tables that I painted… and when I put the hardware back on I noticed it too! I left it that way when I took it to my booth and it sold very quickly! I also had someone comment in an online photo that I posted that I should change the hardware BECAUSE it looked like a smile! I had to giggle at that one… Naturally I left it as is… what’s wrong with smiling tables, after all? Hugs to you too, Judy! Feel better soon! xo Deb
May God bless you Adrienne ! Laying her feeling sorry for myself and it’s people like YOU! That inspire and encourage us out there! Thanks for being so Awesome! You take care! Prayers,Cindy
I have so much joy in my life but your list is amazing,Deb!!some high on the list things that make me happy are picking the first fruits of my garden,seeing the Northern Flicker Woodpecker when he visits my yard,getting my good test results back which put me into the 7th year cancer free,hearing my husbands truck pull into the driveway after a day at work, watching my Shelltie puppy Jackson chase his tail and play because he enjoys life so much and new at the top of the list is knowing we will have our first grandchild this summer. Thanks for everyone who has shared and prompted me to assess how many blessings I have.
Hi Rebecca! Some of the things on your list are near and dear to me as well… Sound of my hubby pulling into the driveway is right up there with first fruits of the garden! Congratulations on your 7th year cancer free! That truly is a blessing and one I’m so glad you shared with all of us! May you continue to be blessed! Xo Deb
LOVE your blog! Such a perfect topic for V-day! I share your sentiments and as a “New” FarmGirl, I will have much to contribute from WI very soon!
Welcome Wendy! Look forward to getting to know you through the farmgirl blogs! You will love all of them to pieces! xo Deb
OMG. There were so many memories in just a few min. I am so with all this & loved it.Thanks!
Hi Pat, Glad we could sweep you into our happy-fest here! Thanks for the note! xo Deb
Thank you for sharing so many happy things! I have lots of things in my life to be happy about, but the best recently is that my husband and I adopted a rescue dog and every day we see her getting happier and more comfortable. She sits next to me now and every morning she jumps up on the bed to cuddle. It doesn’t get any better than this!
Hi Lorrie! Nothing better than cuddling with your pooch in bed… I do that every morning with our Max! So happy for your that your new dog is warming up to you and feeling at home. That’s some good happy right there! xo Deb
I can relate to quite a few on your list…but two I don’t thing you have….I will be glad when all my teeth will be pulled and no more toothaches, and that I can still enjoy ice cream and mash potatoes and gravy with fried fish, and sunshine, and the smell of rain and touch the dirt and gardening; and of course enjoying my kids and grandchikdren and my wee little chichichua dog! Had to have all those things which make me very Happy! I think of others but those are top on my list of immediate blessings that are me happy!
Hi Susana, I wish you well in your dental journey. My mom is going through similar times and it’s challenging for sure! Hold good thoughts! Thanks so much for commenting! xo Deb
Our lists are wonderful. I would add seeing the source of the Mississippi River at Itasca Park in Minnesota on a below zero day in the winter was awesome. Never seen it before in the winter. I’m happy about being almost married 53 years, sharing my life with a wonderful man and being warm inside my own house. Thanks for this post.
Well, congratulations on 53 years of marriage, Bonnie! That IS something to be happy about.. your are blessed! Thank you for joining in on this post! xo Deb
Oooo!!!! This is fun! I was giggling to no end when I read “hearing a baby cry and knowing it’s not mine.” I have a two year old and was thinking that today as a wee one was losing it in the grocery store and mine was happily riding in the cart. You have a fabulous list that I can agree, so to add my own…sunsets on my daddy’s pond bank, falling asleep in clean sheets, smelling winter daphne, seeing daffodils come alive, finishing a crochet/knit project, toes in the ocean, stellar viewpoint after a hard hike/climb up, my babe running naked with glee down the hallway because he “think’s he got away”, hearing my babe say I love you, holding hands with my husband, driving back roads, rain on a tin roof, driving with windows down on a summer night….I’ll stop there. I could go on. Thanks. That was fun! I’ll have to write them all out in my own little book to look back at. Happiness is…
Hi Jodi! I was wondering in anyone would catch ” Hearing a baby cry and knowing it’s not mine”…:) We have a reprieve until the grandchildren come along! I love your list… Rain on a tine roof, holding hands with hubby, two I could add to my happy list for sure! Thanks for joining in the fun!!! xo Deb
I’m happy just waking up in the morning. I have one more day and look forward to just about anything that happens.
Marlene, Just waking up in the morning is certainly something to be happy about! I wish you many more happy mornings!
Deb
Wow!! Your post is a huge gratitude heart filler. I think you’ve covered all mine. Health, love and a loving husband who is totally committed to our marriage, kids that stay out of trouble, that have goals and are learning what’s really priceless in life and my faith in God are things that I’m not sure if you had but they’re keepers for me.
I’ve been doing the blessing jar this year too, your idea, and sometimes my kids will put one In too.
Have a fabulous day. I loved all your photos too and your daughter is beautiful :).
Denise
Australia
Oh, I love your ” happy things”… heart fillers for sure! Thank you for reading and commenting, Denise! xo Deb
Oh, I need to sit and make a list like that. How wonderful, did that just flow out of your mind like it flowed in the words on this post? I can add the grands on to the list for myself since I know you do not have any yet. All 8 make me smile, the youngest turning one this week.
Hi Brenda! Oh, yes… how lovely to be able to add your 8 grands to your list… I hope and pray we get to do that one day too! Thanks so much for your note! xo Deb
That makes me HAPPY all over! My newest happy is 6 baby chicks and becoming a new backyard chicken chic!
Brenda G.
Salem Or
Congratulations, Brenda! Oh, you’ll have so much fun with them…xo Deb