Author Archives: Nicole Christensen

Spring is in full force in New England. Everything is fresh and green, flowers are blooming, and migratory birds have returned. The winter, with its calm and quiet of snow and rest is gone, replaced by the happy sounds of movement and new life. 

One of my favorite towns in Connecticut is Southbury. With many restaurants, stores and various businesses, an antique district, and a population of around 20,000, Southbury is bustling. Nestled within the town is a special place, bursting with true natural beauty. 

While all four seasons are amazing, there’s many things to do in New England after winter’s thaw. Each Spring, I look forward to going to my hometown’s Earth Day celebration with my longtime dear friend and neighbor, Susan. This year, we stopped by the Audubon Society’s booth. There, we picked up some wonderful brochures, information on birds, and a colorful poster. One brochure we received was the trail map of the beautiful Audubon Center Bent of the River. Since it was a pretty, cool spring day, we decided to take a walk, and headed to the next town over – Southbury, to enjoy the scenery. 

Often referred to as a “hidden gem”, Bent of the River is breathtaking. When we arrived, we wondered how it was that we had both lived nearby with our families for so long (over 25 years) without knowing about this spectacular site! Part of the National Audubon Society, Bent of the River’s mission is to “conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats”. At 700 acres, the sanctuary’s acreage has increased over time. Different areas of the land boast various points of interest, including areas thriving with native and wild plants, a glacial rockslide, a seasonal waterfall, and several meadows – habitats that unfortunately are becoming more rare in Connecticut. Next to the parking lot is an area known as the Medici Wildflower Meadow.

Parts of the trail, such as this wooden bridge, looked like something out of a storybook.

Bent of the River feels like you are in another world, and time has stopped. It’s peaceful and quiet, while at the same time gifting visitors with the melodic sounds of singing birds. With 34 sanctuaries across the United States, the Audubon Society is only the fourth to inhabit the land in Connecticut at Bent of the River. 

Eleazer Mitchell purchased land that now includes the Audubon sanctuary land, from the last chief of the Pootatuck Native Americans in the 1750’s; Mitchell Family Farm is still an active part of Southbury today.

In 1934, Althea and Howard Clark purchased five hundred acres. Althea was very conservationist-minded, and upon her death in 1992 bequeathed the land, along with its house and barn, to the Audubon. In 1993, visitation at the time was private, by appointment only.

In 2001, the “red barn“ became what is now “The Center”. The Sanctuary, now always open to the public, 363 days a year until sunset – is closed to visitors on only two days in the late fall and winter. The house is now home to the live-on caretaker of the property, the Land and Facilities Manager. 

On our recent visit, the first birds we noticed were a beautiful pair of ducks swimming along the Pomperaug River, the sound of the flowing water adding to the peacefulness. 

Along our walk, we stopped many times to take in all of the various natural beauty around us, sustainably maintained. Senior Center Manager, Robin Ladouceur, says there are “550 acres of mixed forest, with over 153 species of birds”.  Through special habitat management, The Center tries to “diversify the species of trees and manage shrubby meadows to aid early successional birds such as the blue winged warbler, the prairie warbler, indigo bunting, and field sparrow, to support bird nesting.” They also strive to rejuvenate the natural understory, due to grazing deer that also call the area home. 

Creatures besides birds call the Bent of the River sanctuary home. Visitors may also see muskrat, beaver, and mink along the river. 

There are many educational, scouting and volunteer opportunities to be found at The Center, as well. On the day we visited, Boy Scouts were camping, working on a badge. There are also various adult classes, and summer day camps for kids. Information is available at the Center or on the website.

We passed several other groups of hikers and families. One woman we met was sitting on a picnic bench at the barn, taking photos of one of the nearby birdfeeders. She marveled at how she had “never seen so many beautiful cardinals at one place”. 

It was a lovely time spent with my friend. After a few hours, we headed back to the car, refreshed and rejuvenated from our visit. There is nothing as good for the soul as time spent in nature. I can’t wait to go back and bring my family to see what other birds, wildlife and flora are thriving, especially at various times of the year. The Audubon Center Bent of the River is truly a beautiful place!

I hope you enjoyed this visit! Wishing you all a beautiful Spring season! Remember to let me know that you were here by leaving me a comment below!

Hello, Suburban Farmgirl Friends! It’s officially “spring” now, and as the seasons change, I am reflecting on what a year it’s been…what a month it’s been…and what a WEEK it’s been! 

Since my last post just a month ago, so much has happened. In my neck of the woods, we have experienced two seasons’ weather, celebrated my birthday and Easter, and in just one week, we had sleet, snow, sun and 75 degrees, two Earthquakes and the Eclipse! How fast time flies, and things can change!

First off, congratulations to the winner of my drawing from last month’s blog post, Debbie. I hope you enjoy all the goodies heading your way!

As I write this, today marks one year to the day since our sweet chihuahua passed away at 15 years old (maybe older, we were never quite sure, as he was a rescue).

At only five pounds, he made up for his small stature with tons of personality. We have had pets “cross the rainbow bridge” before, but losing Pip was especially hard. Maybe it was because he was so small and delicate, or maybe because he was part of my daughter’s childhood. He was so deeply loved! His paws definitely left prints on our hearts, and we still feel his absence. I read recently that many companies are now adopting “pet bereavement”  policies for their employees, with a recent study finding that most of us who own pets consider them family. I think that’s wonderful! Our pets definitely are family!

On a happier note, the pup we adopted from our favorite rescue in fall of 2022 settled in well and stepped up to being the “baby” of the family! My daughter bought him an Easter basket this year from a local vet. Rescues really appreciate love and being spoiled! He was so happy, he “sang”!

It is said that if you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a moment and it will change. That certainly has rung true recently. It seems like we have had a year of continuous rain. We’ve had so many cold, wet, rainy and overcast days in Connecticut the last year, that I was feeling a bit salty – wondering why everyone was getting so excited over an Eclipse, when it seems like it’s already always so dark!

Then, we started feeling warm days and sunnier weather with blooms starting to show. One morning last week, we woke up to beautiful, perfect spring weather. 

Then, we had sleet and snow. 

A day or so later, it was up to 75 degrees! It felt like summer! My little pup and I were so happy to hit our favorite walking trails. He looked like the King of the World as we took a break from our exercise. 

By Friday, it was back to more seasonal weather, still pretty nice but not quite so warm. That morning, my daughter was home and in the back room enjoying a late morning cup of coffee. I was just finishing putting up the Easter decor. I keep my vintage glass bunnies in a curio cabinet, since they’re so delicate. Just as I was placing them in the cabinet, I heard what sounded like a very large dump truck go by the house, but then the sound did not pass, feeling like it was coming closer, like a rolling wave. 

Suddenly, the shelves of the curio rattled, the light fixture swung side to side, and the entire house shook with the sound of rattling glass! It took a minute for the shaking to subside, and it scared us all as we tried to register what had just happened. Thankfully, nothing was broken. 

We learned later that we experienced a 4.8 earthquake, something of that magnitude we don’t normally feel here in New England, felt from New Jersey and up. It was interesting that my chickens refused to come out of the coop that morning; I assumed they had heard a hawk or other predator. As soon as the quake subsided, they marched out of the coop, business as usual. A second quake of magnitude 4.0 (with a different epicenter, so it was not considered an aftershock) occurred at 6 PM, but none of us felt that one. Still, it was some excitement, though my West Coast friends were amused at how shaken we were, (wink wink).

That Monday, the big, historical Eclipse was to occur.

Our family was all home together, so we made an event out of the day! My daughter bought us all Eclipse glasses, I made us a playlist of eclipse-themed music, and my husband fired up the backyard firepit, the first time this year. 

Our dogs seemed normal except for our little one who was more clingy than usual. Still, we left them inside for the day, just to be safe.

Outside, we roasted Smørrebrød, a tradition from Denmark – hot dogs wrapped in bread dough, roasted over a fire, and for dessert, old fashioned s’mores! We had not done that in years!

As the eclipse began, the birds stopped chirping, and the sunlight dimmed.

All was quiet except for one lone wild turkey strolling through the woods. We only went inside to check on our dogs, and to watch the live coverage of the eclipse in Texas and Maine. 

A neighbor up the street gave my daughter a special filter for taking pics of the eclipse using a phone, as he had extras. We had so much fun outside, watching the eclipse change, and took some really amazing photos. 

We were in the path of 91 percent totality (even though in our photos it looks dark), so the afternoon light only got “dusky”, as opposed to areas of total darkness. I can’t remember when we last enjoyed such a relaxing day outside by the fire, and it was a memorable day at our house.

In all, the eclipse was wonderful to witness. There is so much currently dividing so many, and it was nice to see us all excited, together. It was also nice to see everyone “look up”  from their phones for a change! 

Life’s definitely been exciting, as of late. I’m also looking forward to warmer temperatures.

I’m also looking forward to all the good things that come with the warmer season’s arrival in New England – things such as gardening, farm stands, farmers markets and fairs. Inside, my seeds are started, ready for another season of fresh vegetables, straight from the garden. Outside, everyday something more pops alive with blooms, and we see more and more green – promises of another spring and summer! What a year it’s been!

Thanks for popping by the blog today! Hope you are enjoying your spring. Leave me a comment and let me know how things are going in your neck of the woods!

Spring has sprung for many of you, dear readers. However, in my part of the country, winter hasn’t quite let go just yet. Even if Mother Nature graces us with some early spring-like days, we usually get a cold snap around St. Patty’s Day, and nothing really starts blooming until April. I’m finding myself with a case of floral fever! 

I love flowers and floral patterns! Every room of my house has some nod to flowers and plants – be it a picture, a textile, or a plant. I think living in a cold climate makes me an even bigger fan of florals. I have lived most of my life in Connecticut, yet in my memories I can still clearly see the wildflowers in the Texas hill country from when I was small. A field of Texas wildflowers is a sight I will always miss. 

Living in New England, I appreciate blooming trees and plants now even more, and especially love flowers. I look forward to my favorite flowers blooming each spring, signaling the end of winter’s rest. 

While I love all flowers, my favorite flowers are peonies. I just love their big, fluffy blooms that remind me of an old-fashioned petticoat.

Blooming in cooler climates, peonies have a short bloom time, and can be delicate, losing their petals in a heavy rain. Even so, the scent of a peony is Heavenly! 

One event that we look forward to each year is the Connecticut Flower and Garden show. It’s usually at the end of February, and is a sign that the end of winter is near. There are vendors of all sorts, plants, and beautiful displays. Held at the Connecticut Convention Center, it is so exciting to go up the large stairway and into the doors where it is a gardener’s proverbial candy store! This year did not disappoint.

We had a wonderful time at the show this year, but my most favorite booth this year was that of a local artist from Westport, Connecticut, Kerstin Rao. Her booth was so bright and happy! My daughter bought me a beautiful tote bag, featuring a stunning bouquet of peonies, as an early birthday present.

Sketching all the time as a child, Kerstin Rao was known in school for her drawings. Originally from Minnesota, Kerstin moved to Kentucky when she was in the third grade, when her college-professor parents moved to the state for positions. An art major in college, when Kerstin moved to New York in the 1980’s, she realized at the time the New York City art trend was grunge and dark – the complete opposite of Kerstin, whose art was more delicate and cheerful. (Kerstin herself is a sunny breath of fresh air). Knowing she had to make a living, a sculptor friend suggested that Kerstin try teaching. She loved it from day one, and teaching became her calling. 

Using art as a way to engage and explain to her students, Kerstin was an educator for 34 years, teaching in inner-city schools, and eventually ending up in Westport, Connecticut in 1999. 

It was during the lockdown of March 2020 that Kerstin found her second calling, creating the art that now graces her beautiful totes, tea towels and note cards.

When the Westport Farmers’ Market carefully reopened, the first thing Kerstin bought was  a beautiful fresh flower bouquet from Kristin Burrello’s Muddy Feet Flower Farm. (Her bouquets and fresh flowers are amazing)!

Looking at that first purchased bouquet in the breezeway of her home, Kerstin pulled out her sketchpad. Kerstin began sketching bouquets she purchased each week from Kristin, loving the shapes and colors. She would lose herself in drawing, leaving behind the tension and worry of the Pandemic. Kerstin says she feels she “vanished into a world of natural beauty.”

After posting her sketches on Facebook, Kerstin received lots of encouragement and requests for items like greeting cards, and the rest is history! Kristin’s flowers inspired her, and she helped Kerstin as a sounding board, as Kerstin left teaching in her late 50’s to become a woman business owner of Vivid Cottage. Kerstin says “bouquets are a tiny world”, and “every bouquet is a fresh opportunity for adventure as an artist.”

To me, flowers are also medicine for the soul. I’m looking forward to spring, summer and fall blooms. 

Until then, I will enjoy my bag, my flowery dresses, and other florals. And to help YOU with floral fever, I put together a little floral-themed giveaway: flowery note cards, a cute little hanging sign, flower seed packets, floral emery boards, and beautiful floral seals. One reader this month will be randomly chosen from the comments, so don’t forget to let me know that you stopped by!

Happy New Year, farmgirl friends! I hope the new year is being kind to you so far! To me, January is “nesting season” –  a bit of a lull after the rush of the holidays, and a time to hunker down before the spring comes again. It’s time to step into 2024!

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Happy Holidays to you all, Farmgirl readers! I hope you are having a wonderful season, and that the New Year brings us all joy, good health, and happiness for 2024!

We were dealt with more than our share of not-so-jolly this year, and our holidays were almost ruined by something that could have been a tragedy, a cherry on top of the proverbial “bad sundae”. Instead, we received a true Christmas miracle, and we are so overjoyed! I hope this post puts a smile on your face!

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Hi Farmgirl friends! It’s hard to believe, but here we are at the tail-end of 2023! It doesn’t seem like we should be talking about the end of the year yet, preparing for another winter, and heading into the holidays. The year has sped by, and here we are!

2023 won’t go down in my books as my favorite year. Lately, everyone I know is going through something, it seems. My family has had some great times this year, but we have also had our fair share of disappointments and stress. To top it off, this Thanksgiving, we were supposed to have relatives visit, but now their trip has been postponed until spring. We are disappointed, but now we look forward to seeing them when winter leaves us again.

Thanksgiving. Giving Thanks. So much is going on in the world, it seems like a big ol’ mess. I think it is more important than ever to count our blessings, and embrace the coming holidays, even when things are less than “ideal”. I’m working extra hard to take my own advice! Count blessings; remember to look at the good – not the bad, sad, tedious or stressful things that come – things that are just part of life.

I’ve started my Christmas decorating, but am not doing it all at once – I’m “savoring” it. I am turning off the news more. I’m thankful for family, the wonderful friends I will be seeing during the holidays, and for farmgirl friends near and far. I am trying to be kinder to myself. Less pressure. More thankfulness. The holidays should be a time for joy, not a chore.

I’m thankful for little things. This fall, my daughter and I started doing a bi-weekly yoga class together. I really look forward to each class, and yoga is something I haven’t tried in decades, so it’s new to me. I also can’t wait to turn on Christmas lights, bake cookies, and see Christmas cards in the mailbox! Holidays are special because they give us something special to look forward to. I will keep that going all year – finding things to look forward to; it’s important and creates joy (even the littlest things, like an afternoon cup of coffee)!

This season, I’m making our traditional Thanksgiving meal, even though we are just the three of us. I am thankful that I will have my family at the table. We are also going to be taking dinner to another family, who could use a bit of extra joy this year… It’s not extra work for me to make more, it’s a blessing. Isn’t that what the holidays are about – spreading love and joy?

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Until Next Time…Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole

Hey there, farm-ghoul readers! Spooky season is upon us! Fall is one of my favorite times of the year, and New England certainly is the place to be! Grab a cup of pumpkin spice tea, and come visit with me as I haunt my house for Halloween!

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Happy Fall, Y’all! Where I originally grew up and lived over thirty plus years ago, the weather this time of year was still pretty much the same as it was in the middle of July. In New England, we have four distinct seasons, and each one brings on a different feel inside and out. September and early October often feel “in between”, with nods to both seasons, bringing cooler temperatures and waning sun. Even though it’s “between seasons”, there is still much to do, indoors and out!

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