Happy October to all my Farmgirl Friends!
This post is the second half of a story I began two weeks ago. So…. if you haven’t read the first half, you will want to read it first by going to that post here.
Six week old Belle in the front yard at our previous house… trying to keep her out of the horse corral, only to have Promise come find her when we let her out for her evening run!
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”.
Bless her little horse heart… She must have been so homesick and fearful of her new surroundings… Imagine what she was thinking? What’s all this green stuff, and wide open space to run in, and why is my water so far away? She is the best horse a dog ( and a family) could ever have. Love , love , love, this! Thank you, Dori! Happy Fall!
hugs, Deb ( beach farmgirl)
Dear Deb – Thank you for reading and commenting! And yes, she is the best horse for our family! Hugs to you my friend. – Dori –
Hi Dori! Thank you for sharing such a sweet story! I needed a little something to touch my heart today & this is the cherry on top of the cake.
Have a lovely weekend 🙂 .
Linda – Thank you so much for your comment, I’m so glad this was a “cherry on top” kind of story! – Dori –
Just read your blog for the first time and loved it! So happy that Promise is happy again! What a special, loving relationship her and Belle have, beautiful!
Jan – Thank you for reading! Hope you’ll come back again! – Dori –
Hi Dori,
Love your story with Promise and Belle! I too have Aussies, and they are the best dogs ever! be it ranch, farm or urban living. I don’t know what I would do without mine. Your Tennessee ranch looks beautiful. Look forward to more of your stories 🙂
Bambi
Bambi – I think Aussie’s are one of the most amazing dogs. They do adapt so well to any lifestyle… I always say as long as they have a job to do, they are happy! – Dori –
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. Blessings on your family both human and animal.
Natalie – Aren’t we lucky to have animals that are part of our family too?! Thank you for reading! – Dori –
Beautiful
Sandy – thank you for reading and commenting! – Dori –
this is the sweetest “feel-good” story ever – those two are just adoreable – thanks for sharing 🙂
Jacque – I’m happy the story brought that “feel-good” feeling! We all need that sometimes don’t we?! 🙂 – Dori –
Lovely story! It’s always amazing to see how certain animals bond with each other.
Bonnie – Animals are pretty amazing how accepting they are of each other. We could learn a lot from them! – Dori –
What a wonderful ending to a truly inspiring story. Belle is one of those animals that is instinctlvely in tune with her friend. A good lesson for all of use to seek. Happy trails.
Hugs,
Kay
Kay – There was a time when we were afraid there wouldn’t be a happy ending! It makes us tremendously thankful. – Dori –
Dori,
I already replied to the story and yet I see there might be more to it. Is it possible in you very busy schedule for a book about Promise and Belle? Even if you told it to a person who could co-write it with you?
I would buy the book in a minute and I bet most of those who replied to your story would also. Most people love a good animal story.
Hugs
Kay
Kay – I sent you an email! Thanks so much for your kind comment. – Dori –
What a heartwarming story Dori. The bond between Promise and Belle is amazing!! Oh by the way I LOVE the scenery surrounding your home. A little bit of heaven on earth. I hope you’ll post some photos of your beautiful home and surrounding scenery. Hugs!!!
Beverly – Thank you. Yes, I hope to write in more detail about our home and farm. We are so very thankful to live here! Thanks for reading and commenting. – Dori –
Great story!! I know that everybody has their own dog story, but I am going to put mine out there anyways. I have two dogs. One is a blue heeler and the other is a shih tzu. The shih tzu is scared to death of thunder. One day while we were sitting on the front porch (we live in the country) a loud clap of thunder hit overhead and it started raining. The shih tzu took off down the road. I watched and called her for a bit thinking she would turn around and come back but she did not. It was just about to get into the truck and go get her when the blue heeler took off down the road. She caught up with the little dog, barked at her a couple of times and then headed back to the house with the shih tzu following. Somehow they just know what is going on.
Cindy, – Oh, I love that story. And yes, you are right. Everyone has their own dog story – in some ways I was hesitant to write about Promise and Belle because I know there are stories out there that are just as special as ours. However, I was hoping that it would do just this… encourage others to talk about their special stories! Thank you for sharing. – Dori –
Such a sweet story! Your hillside is stunning!!!
Jodie – Thank you. We do love our hilltop. I hope to write about it in a future post! – Dori –
What a wonderful story! I especially love the relationship that Belle and Promise have formed. Animals teaching humans about patience and encouragement…Sweet!
Jan – We could learn a lot about that unconditional love that animals have couldn’t we? As well as other things! – Dori –
Oh Dori, what a beautiful story of a dog and her friend, Promise. I know you all are so glad she adjusted to her new home. I love seeing both of them together. You can tell they love each other. Thank you for sharing their story.
Take care.
Emily
Emily – We honestly felt we were going to lose her. It was a sad and scary time. A lot of things I didn’t write about because I didn’t have room! Thanks for reading! – Dori –
Hello from the Ozarks,
Beautiful story and pictures, love your farm and your Belle.
Have a cat named Izza-Bella on our place.
The Ozarks are cold tonight, 35, some freezing spots!!
Just lost our 18 yr. old Australian Sheep dog, how I miss him in every corner of our house and place, the best a friend could be!!
Happy Fall To You All, Diana, Noel, Mo
Diana – Oh, I’m so sorry you have lost such a faithful companion. I have never had the privilege of having a dog for 18 years. I cannot imagine how sad you must feel. (Time for a new puppy?!) – Dori –
Loved this story! We have horses, so I can relate. Now I want an Australian Shepherd, too! Also love The Red Feedsack blog and Keeping it Cozy.
Peggy – Australian Shepherds are amazing dogs (as they all are!!) – but they do love to keep busy and have a “job” to do. I think that is one of the things that Belle thrives on here at the farm… she takes care of so many things! – Dori –
Yes, we have a Australian Cattle Dog/JRT mix now. She’s getting older (16), but in her younger days she always needed to be busy, working, herding horses, children, among other things. A tired dog is a good dog!
Hi again, Peggy. I loved that: “A tired dog is a good dog”!!! SO TRUE!! – Dori –
Dori, I loved reading about Promise’s transition from UT to TN! What an experience! I’m glad she got through it and can be there for your grandgirls! The picture of them with her is priceless!
Marsha – I too love the picture of the grand-girls with Promise! One of my favorites! – Dori –
What a wonderful sweet and heartfelt story. Isn’t it amazing how animals can communicate with each other. Only God could have created that.
Lyn, I think we could learn a lot about communication from animals… oftentimes it doesn’t take “words”, just “deeds”! – Dori –
Welcome Dori Animals are no different than people. Love your story. Great outcome. Had a doberman that attached to a cat in the same way,
Donna, Yes… I agree. Animals are very much life people! – Dori –
I have loved horses since before I can remember. Never having had the opportunity to have one of my own, I was thrilled to read your lovely story about Promise. Thank you and keep us updated about her adventures.
Betty, I’m sure there will be more to come as she is always up to something! – Dori –
That was great reading and made my day! Thanks for writing and sharing a wonderful story. I’ve always had a special “spot” in my heart for animals. Sometimes that is not all that good but most of the the time I’m rewarded with something special. Have a wonderful Fall!
Colleen – thank you for reading! I have a soft spot for animals too. Could never live without them! – Dori –
Oh Dori,
This is the sweetest story! I was just on the edge of my seat, worrying about Promise and her outcome. Such a sweet bond between the two of them. Belle looks like a wise, sweet girl. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story. Animal friendships are amazing. Farmgirl hugs, Nicole (Suburban Farmgirl Blogger)
Nicole – You are so right… animal friendships are incredibly amazing. I watch even the deer and our cattle and sometimes I could swear they are friends! – Dori –
There used to be a “whisper” button for communicating with the farmgirl without showing the post online, but I guess that is gone.
I certainly did enjoy your article about moving to TN. I, too, was transplanted here, but it took me much longer than Promise to become native. I don’t know where you are in TN, but I’d like to. We are a family farm in southern TN, north of Huntsville, AL. We raise vegetables and strawberries, not livestock. We are on Facebook at: Dennison’s Family Farm.
Enjoy the beautiful hills!
Wayve, I buy strawberries from your farm stand in Fayetteville every week during strawberry season!!! I also think I sat across from you at the Farmers Market Bootcamp class last spring. I’m going to send you an email with our address so you can stop in and visit sometime! Merry Christmas to all of you at Dennison’s Family Farm! – Dori –