Hey Farmgirls,
I have a confession.
I’ve been a bad Farmgirl.
It is Dec. 14 (when I began writing this post) and I JUST put up our Christmas tree and Christmas decorations (of which we have three…two stockings and a felted mounted Rudolph head; stocking three is in the making).
Popcorn garland and God’s eye ornament on the tree.
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”.
I really enjoyed your blog today. Made me smile and even laugh (not AT you, WITH you!) I have to say yours is one of the only blogs that I try to read religiously when it comes in my email box. You brightened my day today. Thanks!
I think your project looks great – and what little girl wouldn’t be inspired to help around the house if she gets to wear something this cute made for her with love! Way to go! so much better than “plastic crud” ; )
Way to go, Alex!!! with all the sewing. Merry Christmas to y’all. God Bless.
Love the apron. Great color. Congratulations on making your gifts. The stories you share are very refreshing.
What wonderful precious memories you are making with your family. That is the heart of the farmgal. After 49 years I still make a snafu every year in someway. As the Amish say “it keeps me humble and thankful”. Merry Christmas and God Bless you three.
Love the tree and who cares if its wonkey….its Christmas… love the baby quilt with the OWL on u, Neat . Lovely!! Susana
This was a perfectly charming and uplifting post. I meant to start my day with some Advent reading from the Scriptures, but checked my e-mail first and found this gem. We’ve been putting Christmas trees up for 36 years and this year one of ours fell over as we tried to adjust it. The water was already in the stand and it spilled all over our floor. It was quite a job trying to scoot this giant balsam (I misjudged the size also) around so as to dry the wood floor underneath. It did dawn on me that maybe we are getting too old for these live trees, but now that they are up and looking beautiful, maybe not.
God bless you and your family.
Oh, would Grandma Ruth be proud of Evan and your improving skills,too. Merry Christmas and we cant wait to celebrate with you and Ava. Gail
Alex, I love your honesty and humor and I laughed through your post. You did a wonderful job on the aprons and I’m so glad you did not burn down the yurt in the process. Always enjoy your writings (I can sew, but do not have the knack at writing that you do – see we all have our gifts!).
Enjoy all the wrappings with your little family (pun intended) and safe travels.
Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Homemade Christmas’s are the very best!!
Right now I’m sewing homemade kitty beds, with fabric I’ve had for years and
baskets from the thrift stores!!
Merry Christmas from the Christmas City, Noel, Mo…….Hugs, Diana
Actually to be able to take an object (such as a book or another apron) is very talented when it comes to sewing. You have a good eye!! And a beautiful baby!!! I imagine that grandparents are excited about little Ava coming to visit!!! Happy Holidays!
Alex, can I just say that I think you are a very talented Farmgirl? I do a lot of sewing and mostly feel like I can sew anything…. BUT, I do not ever have the courage to sew without a pattern. So to take an existing apron and use for a pattern, scale it down to the size you want, cut your fabric and sew it and have it turn out so amazing? THAT is talent!!! Good job, you can be really proud of yourself! I hope your trip “outside” (as my Alaska family calls it when they leave the state) is fantastic! – Dori, the Ranch Farmgirl –
P.S. Little Ava has the sweetest little chubby cheeks!
Alex, This post was a delight…I giggled ( along with you ) through most of it until I got the part where you caught the bag on fire… Then I got worried! LOL! You can blame that on the fuzzy brain you acquired after Ava was born. As a mother your intuition will bloom and grow but darned if you won’t lose your common sense from time to time! I think your Christmas is perfectly Wilder! You’ve got it right and you are TOO crafty! Your aprons are fantastic and ORIGINAL. Don’t be so hard on yourself girl! It’s great Evan is so helpful and knowledgeable. Blessings to you and your sweet little family…
Love your posts!
Deb ( Beach Farmgirl )
Enjoyed your blog! The aprons are lovely and I’m sure the recipients will agree! Celebrating Christmas with a baby in the home makes the holiday feel so fresh and new all over again. Seeing the wonderment in your child’s eyes as she beholds the singular charm of cheery Christmas tree lights, her mounting curiosity about the bright little changes all happening in and around her home, and enjoying with your little girl her first experience with age-old traditions, is God’s precious gift in itself to you. Merry Christmas!
Your apron looks great!! High five 🙂
Alex, I am so proud of you for taking up sewing! Home made gifts are the best. Love the apron and I am sure that the girls will too. Merry Christmas and safe travels to you!
You did a great job. Seeing without a pattern sounds like something I’d do. I’ve sewn lots of things that way and they always turn out just fine lol. Well done. Love your tree, Ava sure looks a cutie, and the aprons. Sewing by headlamp is pretty cool 🙂
Happy new year
Denise
Australia
Thanks, Denise! It is fun sewing without a pattern, I need to pick up some real patterns and see which I prefer. At least I know I can sew without if necessary. Happy New Year to you, as well!