Our most recent visit from Old Man Winter arrived so swiftly, that in no time at all every surface was snow-covered. As each snowflake fell, it swirled in a twisting motion that made seeing anything nearly impossible…the chicken coop, barns, and milk house soon disappeared. To be honest though, the clusters of ice crystals were so beautiful, it was impossible to wish them away. Soon I was outdoors snapping some photos…each one almost looking as if it had been painted with watercolors.
There are wind gusts of 30 mph circling the old farmhouse today, and even so, I’m certain a blue sky is hiding behind the gray clouds that are promising a bit more snow. Like so many of you, we’ve had February settle in with an icy blast. A neighbor told me she recorded the temperature at her home of -20°F a couple of nights ago…actual temperature, not wind chill!
Even on days when the sun shines brightly, it does very little to chase away the bitter cold. Ice covers the wind chimes that sound so cheery in the spring breezes, and icicles form over the barn doors. On days like these, the best thing to do is just shrug our shoulders, it is, after all, Winter!
Heading outdoors in the early morning, the blasts of frosty air not only wake me up, but also make me keenly aware of the beauty of the season. There are winter birds chatting away, and the snow glistens almost like diamonds that have been scattered about. As I’ve heard it said, yes, life is good.
However, at -10°F it’s time to move quickly, while perhaps not the most stylish, a heavy canvas coat, sturdy boots, and pair of woolen mittens make visits to the goat barn and chicken coop warm enough to be easy tasks. Passing by the stack of firewood reminds me that the wood bin in the kitchen needs refilling…best to get that done now. Toting armloads of wood certainly makes for rosy cheeks, but when it’s all stacked close at hand, there’s nothing like setting in beside a cozy fire after coming in from the cold.
So how are you spending these days; making Valentines, baking bread, or curled up by the fire? Maybe you’re finishing a sewing or rug hooking project that was set off to the side during the busy months of summer. Even though it’s a short month, February still gives us plenty of time to enjoy the simple pleasures of Home, Sweet Home.
Valentine’s Day is coming, and as it’s said, the best gifts are tied with heartstrings – no worries, there’s still plenty of time to whip up some gifts from the heart.
A whimsical garland is quickly made by cutting strips of red and white felt. Begin with a simple straight stitch connecting two strips that become the bottom of the heart. Then, by turning the remaining two ends inward, stitched together they become the top of the heart. Slipping a threaded needle through the hearts, along with fluffy pompoms, it becomes a sweet greeting across a door, mantel, or as a runner down the center of a table.
The heart-shaped pockets are super-simple as well. I made them when I was first learning to blanket stitch, so don’t look too closely! Cut out two matching hearts of any size from red felt, choosing one heart to be the front. With a few dots of fabric or craft glue, add bits of rick-rack, buttons, snippets of eyelet, or ribbon…anything you can find in your sewing or button box. You can even hand-stitch a few X’s and O’s on the front.
Almost done…lay your masterpiece on top of the second heart, and blanket or whipstitch stitch around the edges, keeping the top open That’s it! Filled with candy or a Valentine, these are fun surprises for friends & family, neighbors, or teachers. (I tucked one in the mailbox for my mail-lady whose name is Betsy Ross, how cute is that?)
Pieces of cutter quilts can often be found at thrift stores, and while they have become tattered over time, they’re just begging to become something new. That’s how these hearts began…the quilt fabric was cut into heart shapes, then blanket stitched along the edges (leaving just enough open room along the side to stuff the heart with quilt batting). Add a simple blanket stitch to close them up, and a little button in the center…just because!
No old cutter quilt pieces? No problem…any fabric can be made into hearts. Just tie with a scrap of fabric and add a little hand-lettered shipping tag.
It’ll be quite awhile before we’re enjoying colorful spring and summertime blooms, but now’s the perfect time to force bulbs. Paper White or Amaryllis bulbs are the easiest to grow, and bring a much-needed pop of color to these wintry days, plus it’s a snap to do.
1 – choose a shallow container with drainage holes; fill halfway with potting mix
2 – place the Paper White bulbs closely together, point-side up
(Amaryllis bulbs are quite large, so you’ll only need one per container)
3 – add more soil around the bulbs for support, but keep the top 1/3 of each bulb uncovered
4 – water well and then place in a cool, dark place
5 – once the bulbs begin to sprout, move the container to a spot with bright light
6 – you should have beautiful blooms in 4 to 6 weeks!
Long winter days are also a time meant for keeping in touch with friends…ask your girlfriends to stop by for a cup of tea and some chit-chat, or bundle up and wander together through favorite small-town shops. It only takes a few minutes to drop a card in the mail or deliver some flowers to a gal who’s feeling under the weather. How about a good, old-fashioned phone call?
While thinking all this over, I decided it was high time to start a Farmgirl Chapter. In this fast-paced world, isn’t it nice to have a little spot where friends, old & new, can get together? A place to enjoy one another’s company, share ideas, and just unwind a bit. Kindred spirits indeed!
As MaryJane says:
“A farmgirl believes in the strong arms of friendship, community, and the just plain fun of being together. Farmgirls love to get together to share their ideas.
She can be with or without fields and stock. Farmgirl is a condition of the heart.”
(If you’re looking for more details, just click here!)
And so, on these ice-cold winter days, it’s been fun to dabble with designs and toss around names for a Chapter of girlfriends, think about how to begin, and brainstorm all that we might do – so many possibilities! The Chapter should be easy-going, not something that would be stressed over, or seen as one more thing to try and fit into everyone’s already full schedules. It would be perfectly fine for friends to come when they could, and not worry about it when they couldn’t.
Working toward Farmgirl Merit Badges (info here) would be a part of our get-togethers, and so would simple things like chatting around a bonfire, exploring a walking trail, or even watching a movie on the side of the barn. Once I finished tinkering with the layout, I felt a tagline should be added to help remind us that these gatherings will be as carefree as possible…so it’s all about:
small talk, table talk, happy talk
natter, chatter, & chin-wag
chit-chat, about this & that!
Once the weather turns warmer, we’ll put the call out for friends & neighbors to join us, then give the old milk house a little spring cleaning before our first get-together. We can talk about what we’d like to do or learn, maybe even plan a day trip adventure to go on, or simply just visit, laugh, and of course, eat!
For those of you already in a Chapter, please share your ideas…we’d love to know what you’re doing and any tips on what works best for you. I know you’ll have great suggestions!
There are endless ways to enjoy winter; simply jot down a list of possibilities, then jump right in!
You could…
Make snow ice cream
Go for a wintry walk
Build a snowman, make snow angels
Ask the neighbors over for a warming soup supper
Start a book club (or knitting club, rug hooking club, sewing circle!)
Plan a scavenger hunt
Shovel the sidewalk or driveway for a neighbor
Enjoy a movie marathon
Host a chili cook-off
Invite girlfriends for a fancy afternoon tea or set up a hot chocolate station
Share a loaf of bread or sweet treat with a friend
And these February holidays are just too good to pass up!
February 4 – National Homemade Soup Day
February 5 – National Chocolate Fondue Day
February 20 – National Cherry Pie Day
February 28 – National Pancake Day
You can even do a little indoor (or outdoor) camping! If you have room, little ones will love a tent set up indoors, or even easier, just toss a blanket over the dining room table. Tell stories, sing songs, play games…sweet memories in the making.
Depending on just how cold it is, you could also bundle up for a backyard Klondike camp out! You’ll need winter camping gear, so plan ahead and be prepared. Sleeping bags are rated by overnight low temperatures, and a sleeping pad is great insulation from the ground. You’ll need to dress warmly in layers, have a winter-specific tent, along with a hat and pair of gloves. Let the fun begin! Roast hot dogs and marshmallows, make s’mores, sip cocoa, pop popcorn…and well, if it gets just a bit too chilly, head back indoors!
What about a backyard “glamp-out?” I do love (and I mean LOVE) my vintage camper; meet Maizy, she’s a 1963 Yellowstone Cab-over that’s 13′ long and 6’6″ wide. I laugh every time I read her owners manual that says she “will sleep 4 to 8 comfortably (I’ll give her 2 comfortably, and maybe a kiddo in the cab-over!) Tiny but still just right for some backyard winter camping. There’s no heater in Maizy, so it’s bundle up time and lots of hot cocoa while playing games or watching a move. But, that’s okay…after all, those are the best memories. And when I see the glow of lamplight inside or the twinkle of fairy lights in the windows, it always makes my heart happy. Oh and absolutely, you’ll find me going inside the house if those winter winds howl just a little too much!
So here’s what’s important…spend the month doing what makes you happy. It’s a fine time to try a new recipe, re-read a favorite book, and to plan & dream. Sure, February is the shortest month, but still, a month that can be so full of fun!
See you in March, with more “tails” from the farm!
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