Whew! If you aren’t currently experiencing a heatwave, you’ve no doubt heard of the dangerous one we’re dealing with here on the East Coast. Waking up to a scorching, humid day, we decided to hit the coast and go North. When it’s too toasty to do much, it’s always a few degrees cooler near the ocean. Come take a farmgirl road trip with me to beautiful Newport, Rhode Island, one of my family’s favorite relaxing places!
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”.
Nicole,
Thanks for the mini tour. New England is definitely on my bucket list! We recently toured Custer’s battlefield, the Little Big Horn. What a beautiful, yet sobering place. So much history in our area of the west. Fort Laramie is very interesting too and they are working hard to restore and maintain it.
Stay cool!
Maureen, Colorado
Hi Maureen! I’ve not been to your area, either, but that sounds like another interesting tour. One historic area, yet sobering like you describe, that I would like to re-visit would be Gettysburg. We went there when my daughter was only three or four, but I’d like to visit it again. It’s good that restoration has started on Ft. Laramie, as well. It was mentioned on the tour of Ft. Adams, too. Thanks for reading and commenting, and enjoy the rest of your summer! -Nicole
It sounds like you had a terrific day and Fort Adams reminds me of Fort Point here at the entrance to San Francisco Bay. I don’t know if our temps will make you feel cooler but since it’s July, the average high is 67 with foggy mornings. We’ll have our "heat wave" of 85-degree sunny days in September and October. You’ll be heading into fall and winter. I go by the ant philosophy: think winter all summer and prepare; think summer all winter and dream.
Adrienne, I love your ant philosophy! That’s adorable. Your temps sound really nice. I’ve not been to California or that area of the USA yet…yet! Someday. On the up-side, we’ve been able to enjoy swimming and our raspberries are very, very abundant this year! Thanks for reading and commenting! Farmgirl hugs, Nicole
yes, that was very interesting to see and learn about it.
thanks!
Thanks, Denise! I thought it was a really interesting place to visit, and was glad my husband came up with the idea to tour it. Also, it wasn’t expensive to get in to Fort Adams and our tour guide was so interesting. -Nicole
Hello Nicole, Another great article from you. Thanks for taking us all on your mini road trip. I have never been to RI, it is on my list of places to see. As you know all three of my kids are homeschooled and what better way to learn history than getting out and about in this beautiful country we live in. I have decided last year that this year all 3 ages 16, 15 and 10 will do American History being we are surrounded by history.
On another note-you better have Bonnie guard those raspberries because they look yummy.
Farmgirl hugs to you my friend.
Barb
Thanks, Barb! Since Audrey is an only child, I did not homeschool her (though I really thought about it) but I love teaching her still at home, things like history especially. I’ve been some great places if you need any ideas. Hopefully we will see you all here soon!
As for our raspberries, it wasn’t Bonnie who stole some already… it was Mittens! That cat climbed up on the counter and was noshing away! I was afraid what the litter box situation would be in the coming days, happy to report it was fine. But boy was I mad at that naughty kitty! -Nicole
We just got back from a 3 week vacation in the northeast. We spent the 4th of July in Newport and just loved it. I recognize some of the places in your pictures. I live in Arizona, so the seafood was a special treat for me. I also drove on highway 15 in Connecticut. What a pretty highway!
Hi Mindy! I am so glad you enjoyed your vacation in my neck of the woods! I do love it here, especially this time of year. Isn’t Newport a neat place? We love it. Another great stop is Mystic, CT; it’s not too far from Newport.
Merritt Parkway, or Route 15 is really pretty, and is famous for its scenery. Did you know that no commercial vehicles are allowed to drive there? I still love driving on back roads the best, though.
I have been in Arizona, and loved it. We have good friends that used to live behind us. They went on vacation there, fell in love with the state, and soon moved there permanently. I thought it was a great state to visit. Very scenic, too, just a different kind of scenery. I really loved seeing the tall cacti everywhere.
If you ever get a chance, visit New England again in the fall. The folliage is breathtaking. Happy Summer, Nicole
Nicole, Thank you for a wonderful respite. Am at work and decided to check my email, your pictures and descriptions are certainly appreciated. Live in central Florida and there is a thunderstorm out there right now…am happy to be enjoying your article!
Thank you
Marcia
Hi Marcia! I’m glad you enjoyed our "visit". We’ve had some thunderstorms the last few days, too, but it’s been mostly hot and humid, with nice sun. Hope your storm is just a passing one! Have a great summer! Thanks for the comment. -Nicole
Thank you so much for the day trip, so very interesting and beautiful even with the decay and yes saving our history is so very important. Thanks for showing your daughter such history and all the other wonderful things you did. God Bless
Hi Joan! Thank you! I agree, I think preserving our history is very important, and it really saddens me when I see museums closing…even little ones. History was always my favorite subject in school. Thank you for your comment! Farmgirl hugs, Nicole
I lived in Newport for a couple of years during the mid-sixties. Unfortunately I haven’t been back, so it was nice to see your photos. My thing, when I lived there was the Cliff Walk, which I probably did every week, rain or shine, except when it was icy. It was reputed to be six miles long, but I never had any way to verify that. The Cliff Walk wasn’t the only thing I loved. I loved the beaches, the architecture, several of the churches, and the US Navy, (including several O.C.s, one of whom I married).
Thank you so much.
Kristy, How cool that you lived there. It would be interesting to see if you think it has changed a whole lot. In the last decade-plus that we have been going, I think it did get busier and a lot of big "commercial" stores opened like Gap, Yankee Candle, etc., but it has always retained its charm. I feel so lucky that it is within distance to be a "day trip" for us. Haven’t done the Cliff Walk yet…thanks so much for the suggestion! Farmgirl hugs, Nicole
Thanks for the informative blog on Newport! I toured the mansions many times, but never knew about Fort Adams. I miss the charm, history, and beaches of the New England states. I love to visit local museums and tourist attractions while on vacation. I love history and learning!
I finally saw "The Bean" and "Buckingham Fountain" in my hometown of Chicago. You inspired me to research the history of fountain.
Looks like you had a nice visit and day with your family!
Hi Rose! Glad you enjoyed our "tour"! I’d love to visit Chicago, as well, as see the sites you mentioned! Big hugs, Nicole
I think your blog is my favorite of all of them through MaryJane’s farm because I love your pictures and stories. It’s like looking through a scrap book. I’ve always wanted to get into scrap booking, but have not invested in the materials yet. Your blog has inspired me to take a scrap booking class and get started with something I would love to do. Ft Pickens is 40 minutes from my home and I visit it and the seashore as much as I can. I have lots of fun pictures and memories to get started with. Cheers to you and yours and thanks for the inspiration!
Tina, thank you, what a nice compliment! I’m so happy that I have inspired you! Please check back and let us know how your class and new hobby is going! Good luck! I’m sure it will be great! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole,
I grew up in Western MA and I remember going to most of the places you visited as a little girl.It sure is beautiful there. Thanks for bringing back memories 🙂
Sharon, I’m so glad I stirred up happy memories for you. It is such a beautiful area. Thank you for commenting. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole