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Do you feel happy, sad or somewhere in between this time of year? Does the thought of sunset by 4:30 every day for the next several weeks have you pouring over travel brochures looking for a sunny, warm escape from dark, cold, and wet weather ahead? Maybe you’d rather just pull the covers over your head and not come out until Groundhog Day. Take comfort! You’re not alone! Help is on the way!
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 feel the same about the time change it really throws me for a loop. I do suffer from S A D ! I am a sunshine lover but I dont go away for it to sunny destination I love my country home and do the best I can and muddle through it ! Love your post and photos, I didnt realise you had this blog as well. Have a wonderful day !
Well, thanks for coming by Country Gal! I guess it’s a litttle like jet lag without leaving the house! Yep, I’ve been writing here since Feburary and loving it. I’ve been to your country cove ( in blog land ) and it would be hard to leave ! Deb
Same here. Tired this week, out of sorts and I have a cold from who know where. I am blaming it on the time change. Today is hubs and my anniversary. He bought me a Keurig so I am having an afternoon cup of coffee to hopefully perk me up. I moved to Michigan from Indiana when I was just 19 years old. Left all my family behind and moved with a not so great husband, did not know that then though. I have been here since, but with a much more wonderful husband. It is about a 7 hour trip to go visit my family, I do not drive it as often as I use to and I do miss them often. Thanks for the wonderful crafty idea!
Happy Anniversery Brenda and hubs too! Glad you finally got a good one! Thanks for your note today! Deb
Such lovely pictures. They made my day!
Though never diagnosed, I think my hubby suffered from that. Having been a southern boy, he never adjusted to the weather of the Pacific NW.
Hi Julia! Glad I got a smile out of ya! sorry to hear about your hubby’s SAD. It’s not easy making the transition from so much sunshine to much less. Thanks so much for your note today! Deb
Who could be droopy after all that?! I so want to find some Bittersweet soon. Love your corgi’s furry bloomers :o) While I don’t like it getting dark sooner, I do like that it is light sooner. Just part of the seasonal changes. Love the article…and all the pics!
Shery, Bittersweet grows in abuncance here but, is not a favorite of many because it really takes over and causes problems especially if it’s close to the house, but this batch grows wild at the beach. We look forward to it every year. I use it inside for decorating but never out…! It’s so pretty as a wreath though. I like the lighter mornings too, but I feel like I’ve been up the whole day by noon! Thanks for payin’ me a visit today! Bum Bump, Deb
Wow! I have been struggling for a couple of weeks and though I am very familiar with SAD, I just kept thinking that it was something else. The fall always makes me miss my folks, even though I am a very mature (?) woman…I am so happy puttering about in the sun in the garden and doing creative projects and then ‘BAM!’ the warm sunny days are gone and I look around and get overwhelmed with putting my outdoor work to bed…
For now, I am doing a structured exercise routine two days a week with a trainer, and every Wednesday is my yoga class. I ALWAYS feel wonderful after raising my heart rate. I also take lots of vitamin D3 and fish oil, which I swear is a mood enhancer!! Last night made a healthy squash soup!
Thank you for reminding me that I am normal (!?!?)…Loved your pictures and projects.
Jan
My dear Jan, Of course you’re normal! ( smile ). Sounds like you are doing the right thing by taking good care of YOU! I had to start a prescription vitamin D in the spring. I could not get out of my own way! I should have included that in my entry..FARMGIRLS… IF YOU’RE DROOPIN’ HAVE YOUR D LEVELS CHECKED! It’s made a world of difference. I can stay awake the WHOLE DAY NOW!
As always, thanks so much for your note Jan. Love hearing from you! Deb
Dear Deb,
Thank you for this post. I am pretty sure my hubby has SAD too. A decade ago we moved to the foggy Northern California coastal town of Crescent City where we didn’t see the sun for 7 months straight. (It was a record) He was a bear to live with and we were all miserable. A few years later we came back home to sunny Southern California and his symptoms improved dramatically. However, he does get the symptoms each Fall though much less severe than before. I used to call it Cabin Fever. He gets irritable, no activity pleases him, he’s anxious, and grouchy etc. I am going to talk to him and see if he’s ready to deal with it. I am so happy your hubby and family are doing well.
Hi Heidi! You’re welcome 🙂 My husband suffered from much more mild symptoms when we were in Nevada, even so, Septmeber was always tough on him. We’ve learned as we age our bodies don’t make as much seratonin and combined with less ‘ natural daylight " it’s not a healthy combination! Keep us posted on his progress. Tell him, its’ very common and with the slightest bit of medication therapy/and or lights, diet etc.. he will be feeling so much better… I’m happy to hear you are in California… that helps! Thanks for visiting with me here today! Loved it! Deb
Oh, been to Cresent City.. pretty, but gray! ( kind of like here ) lol!
HI Deb! Great article. I have experienced various symptoms of SAD over the years, but mostly it causes insomnia for me. Starting this time of year the ‘witching hour’ is always about 3 a.m. and by late afternoon I am dragging and need a power nap! I find that consistent exercise helps a lot, even though I never feel like doing it this time of year. But making myself stick to a physical routine like a daily walk is worth it, although takes more effort on my part. I have come to enjoy the ‘dark days’ by thinking of them instead as ‘safe’ and ‘comforting’, almost like going into hibernation mode. Its a good time to do cozy projects in front of the woodstove, such as knitting and reading … things I would almost feel guilty doing on warm sunny days when I want to be outside. I love your tree idea … such nice scrapbooking-type ornaments you made of your family. My family is all "away" too, and I should do something like that to put a smile on my face when I walk by … You are right though, that modern communication methods have definitely shrunk the miles between us all. Thanks once again for a really interesting and uplifting article. –cathi
Hi Cathi!
Thanks so much! I really need to get off my rear and add the exercise into my daily routine! Like you, I have begun to embrace winter for going into creative hibernation mode. It’s nice to switch gears, slow down and do different things and let new ideas germinate until spring! Glad you enjoyed! Deb
I feel bad for all of you that suffer from SAD. I’ve never experienced such a thing. I love the seasonal changes. Each season is an adventure for me. The coming of fall & winter is exciting. It’s a break from the busy summer, a time to settle back keep the wood fires going, read, do puzzles, and work on my family geneaology. The holidays are family time, even tho we’ve lost many members over the years, but is also a time for remembrance. My time to try new soups, sliding with grandchildren. I wish there was a way to help everyone enjoy the season changes theway I do. I’d hate to do without them. Love your beach stories. I live in Maine. And luckily, I’m a few hours from the really big mountains, and in the middle of smaller ones, and one hour from the ocean….and I LOVE it!!!
Dear Donna, Thanks for empathizing with the SAD sufferer’s. Like you, I adore Fall and feel as if I’ve been give an extra shot of spinach juice or something to that effect when it arrives. Our loved ones with SAD need love, patience, support and the right treatment program then everyone can go back to being happy and healthy! Sounds as if you have a good grasp on what Fall and Winter are meant for! Lucky you to be so close to mountains and the beach… Thanks so much for reading today! Deb
Great article but the true highlight, of course, is Max’s cute little corgi bum. Give him a little love spank for me!
Will do Elizebeth! Thanks < grin ) Deb
Ok…I’m gonna break away from the crowd and comment on Max’s cute little heinie. Seeing that made me long for my precious, tiny (five pound) Jack Russell baby girl that I lost this past June. She left me with a broken heart that will never mend. Midge had short, little legs, just like your Max and so many memories and tears came flooding back when I saw that picture. I was blessed to have her for 13 years and can’t wait to be reunited…..sorry…need to run and grab a tissue!!!!!
Oh, Victoria! I’m so sorry to hear that your lost your baby girl so recently… Hugs!
Our animals add so much to our lives don’t they? He does have the cutest heinie ever though doesn’t he? LOL! I’ll let him know you thought so! Thanks for your note and for reading! Deb
Hi Debbie and everybody!!!
I just signed up yesterday and I’m searching the website to see where I might settle in..I consider myself a beach farmgirl since I grew up in south Florida.
Tropical living was definitely for me. I moved "north" to Orlando (LOL) that was north enough for me..but since then…. I got married and the gypsy living began:
We’ve lived in VA, NC, AL, TX, NV and now we’re in OH.
Icy, snowy winters are a treat for me since I grew up where 70 was "sweater weather"…. Happy to be where I am…but my soul still yearns for the salt water…
Enjoyed your article, photos and the 3-D family tree.
Welcome Gypsy Farmgirl! Glad you are here… You really get around! LOL
Best to you in Ohio! Thanks for reading today! Deb
Very thoughtful of you to share this information~ I do feel like hybernating and staying wrapped up in quilts… but mine isn’t S.A.D…. or even just plain old "sad"… mine is more of an "enjoyable" peaceful snuggle-up cozy feel :)I like slowing down and having more of a quiet (and sometimes more "secluded") exsistance for awhile. I guess I’m not the "norm"! 😀 But I’m glad there’s help for those who don’t take it very well. I re4ally enjoy reading your blogs*
Hi JOY! ,
Sounds like you’ve got the right idea for this time of year! Thanks so much for coming by and leaving us a note today! Deb
Hey Debbie. It is interesting that your article is about being homesick this time of year. Your photos reinforced my longing for home…you see, I was born in Plymouth MA. I spent lots of days and evenings at Duxbury Beach, and had many a drive over the Powder Point Bridge. [I understand that it is no longer drivable.] I miss New England so much this time of year, and I look forward to your year round stories about living at the beach.
By the way, my home has been Tennessee since 1993, at the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains. It has it’s own beauty, and I feel blessed to live here with my kids and grand kids, surrounded by bluegrass music and the mountains.
Dear Pam, So, we are beach sisters? How cool is that? And, you recognize the bridge too? Powder Point Bridge is very much drivable…It gets repaired as needed and over the last two years, sani huts and new signs have been placed all along Duxbury Beach Road. I love the mountains too as I grew up in the high desert of Northern Nevada just less than an hour from Lake Tahoe and many other recreational lakes and campgrounds. We can’t live in both places at once, but we can carry them in our hearts when we are away! So nice of you to leave a note today and I do hope your homesickness subsides soon! Do you come back to the area very often? Deb