great inspiration during these cold months of "hibernation"…Keep the dream alive ; )

Thanks for reading Laura, and keep dreamin’! Deb

i am only too happy to once again have dreams. Yesterday i received shots in my back to relieve pain. So far, it is working! I can have dreams again! i dream of veggie gardening starting with potatoes, then flower gardening, then starting an Etsy shop to sell my accumulation of vintage and antique wares,also sewing, crocheting, and recycling, and CLEANING my 101 year old home! So many dreams, so little time!

Dear Louise, I know what you go through with your back. My mom has done shots and two surgeries. She loves being creative too, but the pain stops her so often. Yesterday we rearranged her bedroom to give her a new perspective! We had fun and she loved it! Thanks so much for reading and take good care! Enjoy your dreams! Love, Deb

Winter is a time for rejuvenation! I am a perennial grower at a local nursery so I look forward to all the wonderful new things we will start to grow in the spring of 2012…In the meantime, I recently visited my grandmother who is turning 97 this month. She graduated from RISD in the 30’s and asked me if I have done any painting lately…it was something we did together often when I was a child. I have started to paint again thanks to gram!
As for my garden, I am appreciating the hardy agave, sempervivum and opuntia, the pink twigs of the lowbush blueberry and the hoary, glaucus foliage of the sea poppy (glaucium flavum) and Scottish thistle (onopordum), the Black Magic violas are still blooming and I look forward to the hellebores in a couple of months.
Happy Winter everyone and pray for snow!

Heather, good for you for getting back to your painting! Flowers inspire us to do much more than dig in the dirt don’t they?  Your grandmother sounds like a peach! We had our second dusting this morning but it’s gone already! Happy Creative Winter! xo Deb

Hey! Oh what an exciting adventure you’re embarking on!!!
There are a few more must have resources to complete your flower farmer library. Sarah Raven’s two fabulous books: Grow Your Own Cut Flowers and The Cutting Garden as well as Eliot Coleman’s fantastic organic farming manual, The New Organic Grower.Lastly a subscription to Growing For Market Magazine which is chocked full of such helpful information on everything related to small scale farming including a monthly flower column which I write.
I can’t wait to watch your beautiful journey!! ~Erin

Hello Erin! How fun to find your words here today! Thanks so much for the additional resources as well. I’ve looked at Elliot’s book online. Looks great! And, yes a subscription to Growing for Market is a must as well! Thanks for reading and I’ll be watching you too! ~ Farmgirl Hugs, Deb

Thank you for planting seeds in our minds for our winter dreams. It’s been a really tough year for us (like many) and dreams have been a little battered and sometimes hard to come by. It’s good to remember dreams are free and lead to magic. Thank you! I’ll be watching as your flower business blooms!

Dear Nora, Some years it’s harder than other’s to scatter dream seeds, but you are so right. Dreaming is free and leads to magic even in the smallest of forms! Hugs! Deb

Dear Deb,
This is one of my favorite posts ever … very inspirational! Just getting around to reading it now, as I was in your neck of the woods this weekend on a very spur of the moment visit to see friends down on the Cape (Barnstable). It was 51 degrees and made me start to think about gardening; it felt like spring. Next time I will plan ahead and definitely look you up. Thanks for this wonderful post, and I loved your hubby’s patio, too. Much love, from your Mountain Farmgirl friend

Hi Cathi!

What? You were here and I didn’t see you??? NEXT TIME FOR SURE!

Thanks so much for stopping by to read today! Our weather has been just wonderful… not winter like at all.. but I hear it’s a comin’! Sending a big farmgirl hug up your way!!! Deb

Good blogging!

thanks for reading ! 🙂

I am so happy to hear about "dream seed planting". I spend a lot of hours planning my flower garden and then hoping the weather cooperates. Usually I fight the battle of too much chickweed and red backed voles. But when the first blossom blooms my heart sings. I hope you have great success with your garden.

Hi Marji! All  great gardens begin with a little magical dream seed planting!I’ll be singing right along with you when the first blossoms bloom this spring! Thank so much for reading and the good wishes too!  xo Deb

Howdy! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the fantastic work!

Your lighthouse ornament is adorable! The saltine toffee cookies look yummy. Is that what they eat out at sea? 😉 Wishing you the happiest of holidays~

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you, and to all the Farm Girls, Ranch Girls, Country Girls, Prairie Girls, and Cowgirls that make up the sisterhood of rural women. Your beach house is so warm and welcoming! Christmas on a snowy beach sounds heavenly — and cold — but with warm hearts!

Dear Sister Deb, You stoked the Christmas fire within. Loved the open house tour. Just an hour ago, I made a similar cracker cookie. Only 20 more things to make in preparation for both get togethers! But, its all in good fun. I have one more gift to make and wrap. This farmgirl bought her hubby a hay-rake for Xmas. Romantic aren’t I? From the plains of Wyo to the eastern shores and all other locales in this great CHRISTmas loving country…Much merry to all. shery j

Merry Christmas to all from North Carolina! We’ve got country barbeque ribs simming in the crock pot and a cranberry-walnut cake in the oven. Can hardly wait til Christmas eve supper with neighbors!

Blessings…..

This is absolutely beautiful!

WHERE did you get the adorable scallop shell lites? SO PRETTY!

We have a store called Christmas Tree Shops that sells them…Here’s the link!

http://www.christmastreeshops.com/

Thank you so much for sharing your Christmas.
Thank you for the reminder as well.

Gwen

I really like this. Every time I visit your posts it makes me feel like I am on vacation. So beautiful. Thank you for this mini vacation. Love the lights on the water.

Thank you Dolly! Glad you like…. 🙂 and thanks so much for reading and leaving me a note today! Deb

I just recently started reading your posts and really enjoy them. The tour of your town was absolutely charming. I don’t get to the East Coast very often so it was a delightful visit. I loved the opening photo with the boat and tree. Very creative. Happy holidays to you and yours.

Hello Jean and welcome!  So glad you stopped by and thank you so much for reading! Holiday Blessings ~ Deb

Hi Deb, I always look forward to your articles. Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures and experiences with us – you transport me in to another world which I very much enjoy. Wishing you and your family a Blessed Christmas, and a Happy New Year!!

Hi Patricia! Thank you so much! Blessings for a wonderful Christmas to you and yours too! Deb

Loved the holiday tour and am very interested in the Beach Farmgirl Gathering in 2012. My beach place is in Cape May, NJ – another wonderful beach town that goes all out for Christmas – and every other holiday, including the annual Lima Bean Festival! Betcha don’t have that one in N.E.
Holiday Blessings, Joan Marie

Hi Joan! Wonderful!  I am working on putting together some ideas and a time frame for The Beach Farmgirl Gathering When things are firmed up, I’ll post details…  Coastal Blessings to you and yours! Deb

I needed to go for a walk in an entirely different place. The song, ‘Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas’ is one of my VERY favorites, but the verses ‘look’ nothing like out here on the range in Wyoming. So, I took my walk down the sidewalk of your blog and then I had the perfect visual aids. Then, the lit tree on the dock was a perfect ending. Thank you for the virtual visit to a place that made the song real for me again. :o) your farmgirl friend, shery j

Hi Shery! I was hoping you’d get by for a stroll with me in Plymouth! I keep thinking about your Emmy Lou and how cute she is! How I would love a " real " visit in Wyoming! (((  ))) Deb

I am so grateful for my dear friend that is an inspiration in my life every day!
Thanks for a beautiful post, it made my day!

awe… Thanks Pat… Time for Tea soon! xo Deb

thank you.
what a great gift,sending out these titles by S>B>B<
along with some thoughtful words from yourself.
just found you. cant wait to read your past blogs and the future ones.mary

Welcome Mary!  Thank you so much for reading and commenting~ Have a great day! Deb

This one’s a keeper!! I won’t delete this one because I know I’ll want (need!) to re-read it – especially during the dark rainy winter here in Seattle. Your photos are so beautiful and your spirit full of sunshine. It’s 2am and I am wide awake (thank you menopause!) so I am very grateful for your good thoughts.

sleepily,

ellen

Dear Ellen, WONDERFUL! I’m glad " this one " will come in handy as winter progresses… I plan to post lots more sunshine and BEACH amongst the snow as we get further into winter here in New England. Today, how ever it’s sunny and warm. 60 degrees! Thanks for reading! Deb

This was precisely the answers I¡¯d been searching for. Amazing blog. Incredibly inspirational! Your posts are so helpful and detailed. The links you feature are also very useful too. Thanks a lot 🙂

You are most welcome! Glad you enjoyed! Deb

Another absolutely wonderful blog…of course, you know I get so much inspiration from you!
Love,
Aunt Nan

Ditto Aunt Nan! Lots of love, Deb

GRRrrrreat blog. LOVE the photo of you and your hubby on the boat; and the door latch…and and and. visual feast top to bottom…oh, and ‘reach for the stars’ – DARling. Thanks for the fun and feastful pit stop :o) my farmgirlfriend.

Aww, thanks Shery! You are most welcome! I knew you’d love the photo of the door latch! I always think of you when I have rustique things to photograph! So glad you made it by! xo Deb

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I listened to your daughter’s music while reading the blog :o) Impressive enough is her skill at playing, but I was really wowed to know she WROTE the piece! You must be very proud. Loved the colorful flurry of leaves and fall scenes — it matched the music. Ok, I’ve got a nice fall fix…Thank You.

Thank you for sharing your fall tour. Beautiful pictures! My favorite thing about fall. Back into the house, crocheting, sewing, gift making, spending more time out and about with my friends. The respite before winter. I am not a winter person. Would stay in the whole winter if I did not have to take care of my chickens and go to work each day.

Ah! Would have loved driving around to look at ole silly leaves with you! And Walden Pond!?!?!
Tried to listen to your daughters song, but it said it was unavailable…will try again. A blessed and happy Autumn to you!

Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but after looking at a few of the articles I realized it’s new to
me. Nonetheless, I’m certainly delighted I stumbled upon it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back regularly!

I love this. Makes me wish I could have gone with you.

I am a true LOVER of autumn, also! There is something wonderful about pumpkins and squash. This year my husband harvested his pumpkins and gave the largest two to our little neighbor friends. It took two men and boys to load them into the back of their van!! They have promised me a photo of the boys in their halloween outfits, plus the giant pumpkins. It was so cute to see the excitement of the kids, giggling and saying ‘We’re going to have the biggest pumpkins!’. I will forward the pics when I get them..
I have so much respect for Pete and Lynn and their farm. We know how much effort that is involved in growing crops. The fact that their farm has been in the family for such a long time makes it just that more special! Heaven on earth..
Nice to visit with you today!

Deb, I love your "Fall Fodder Road Trip" and I’m pleased to have recently spent an actual "day trip" with you. The click of your camera, the delightful smile on your face…knowing you’ve captured the perfect picture to share with your loyal readers. Such a lovely time I had in New England with you and your charming family. Also love all the links and "traveling around" to more wonderful places. Great blog!
ILY, Aunt Nan

I love the ‘kids’ in the pumpkin patch! And FYI…..I have one, yes ONE decorative squash this year! It’s a rogue! I’ll be sure to give you seeds, he’s a hearty one ;o)

God Bless!

Once again, beautiful pictures and what a fun craft idea. It will be great for my beach themed bath!
A blessed autumn to you my friend!!

Those tomatoes are so lovely..gee, I could l/2 bu. right now..have a recipe a friend gave me they call chili..never saw anything like it..I call it my 3 day relish..that is how long it took to put together..all hand chopping so everything is in hunks..something like a salsa..this is when I miss my mom most..cooking & canning together. the porch..what imagination..very cozy!!

I enjoyed that! very inspiring for creativity and also for living the life you love!

Can you believe that my husband lifted and hauled a cast iron double bowl kitchen sink all the way from NC to KS? The sink was in my aunt’s kitchen. I used to lie on the drainboard and get my Toni permanent when I was a little girl. I just could not bear to part with it when we renovated the house after she passed away.
We are planning on using the sink the same way that you have.
I’m hoping to become a part-time FL beachgirl very soon!

Linda, YES ,  I can believe it!!! We’ve done the same thing! Be sure to share your sink with us when it’s finished! Many New Englanders " head  south " to Florida to soak up the sun. Not a bad idea AT ALL! Good luck! Thanks for reading too!

Deb

Oh man, did I EVER enjoy your posting. I want to come hang with your and your farmgirl sisters…and sit in Jan’s womderful porch!!!!! You made my day. What dreamy photos of a place so far from and different than this landlubber’s digs! Sommmmeday I just gotta visit New England again. Now I actually know some people to visit…and they are all farmgirls!

I’m ready when you are Shery! 🙂

Beautiful birds and hen house. What kind of chicken is Gladys? I have one that looks almost exactly like her and have no idea what she is.

Hi Aria, Gladys is an Ameraucana chicken. We have 7 of them and two Golden Lace Wyandotte’s.  Thanks for reading and enjoy your girls!

Deb

Delightful! I agree ~ the boys have their place, but not in my hen house!

EXACTLY!!!

Hi Debbie,
I myself am struggling with the idea of getting rid of my roosters. I had one, Big Sam and beautiful black jersy giant, and he is a giant. he was such a gentleman and such a great protector over my flock but now he is getting too aggressive with my hens and they are really showing signs of wear and tear of their feathers from him. Then I had 7 chicks hatched out Easter Sunday and given to me from a friend, out of the seven are 2 roosters. these are little bantams and they are beautiful but very determined to bother my hens. The only problem is my hens are so much bigger than they are and they can not hang on, so they are pulling feathers as well. I hope to find a good home this week, if not then I may be having some fresh chicken in my freezer as well.
As always enjoyed your post. Be Blessed.
Ms. Scarlette

You put our story in words exactly – yupper George has to go!! We have 24 lovely ladies – just finished making a bigger/better ‘hen house’ so no big bad boys allowed. I say ‘we’ actually the ‘ladies’ are on my sons hobby farm but he lets me help with them – I live where we can’t have chickens – I know it’s crazy – one can up to 5 dogs – but no chickens. So I enjoy Bobbett, Lucy – must be a common name for the pretties, Georgette – oh just too many to think of right now. But once again ‘farm girl’ you have helped me to enjoy your life too. Happy Fall – y’all!

I love this story and the way you told it! Cute.

When I had chickens the gents all got names like "Stew" and "Dinner". We had Domineque chickens. They were beautiful birds, but the roosters earned the name of ninja chicken because they would sneak up behind you, jump at you and flog you with their wings. The only thing they were afraid of were aprons. I actually had one faint when I flipped my apron in his face. I thought I had killed him. So if I get the chance for chickens again its A Girls club for me.

Hi Deb! I loved this post, and the photos too! After reading your post and the comments so far, I’m starting to feel more convinced that our rooster’s days are numbered. I was just getting used to having a sweet (more or less) flock of hens, when we were crazy enough to add a rooster –aka "Doodle" (dd’s name for him), aka Mr. _________ blanklety- blank ( what refer to him as), aka possible "Dinner." Since our coop is in the woods, we figured we’d need a rooster to protect the flock (plus maybe hatch out some Aracauna chicks someday – yeah, right). Well, ever since he’s been here, going down to the chicken yard just isn’t fun for me anymore! From the day we first brought him home (and btw, he sure is pretty), he’s been so dang bossy! Yeah, I know, he’s just "doing his job," but gee whiz! Ever since we got our first egg (2 weeks ago), and he started charging after me (to protect the nest, I guess?) it’s been even more of a challenge for me to want to hang out with the chickens. I miss our peaceful little girls club!

Hi Nicki! Yep, those boys really stir things up in the hen house! You’ll be amazed at how the " mood " changes after he’s gone…. I love his name…. It’s a nickname in our household too!

Oh my. I know what you, er the girls mean, about the roosters causing trouble in the hen house. My poor old hens have been to hell with the "accidential" roosters they have to live with. The first two my son bought as chicks from a Amishman who assured him they were hens. Well they weren’t but their names have stuck, Babs and Buffy. The next were all hatched by one of our hens. She so wanted to sit and being a dope from the burbs roosters hadn’t crossed my mind when I pictured baby chicks in the yard. Well 99% turned out to be roosters. That truly was hell for the hens. Plucked…oh plucked and some even bleeding from day to day. Four made the trip to Dinky’s auction house. I cried, I felt guilt and still do feel guilt months later. It wasn’t their fault they were born roosters and they weren’t doing anything a rooster wasn’t naturally suppose to do, but they had to go. I prayed they’d be adopted to homes for their crow and beauty and not their meat but around here they likely were all purchased for meat. They were beautiful boys. Their departure left me with a New Hampshire Red, the only chick I actually ordered as a rooster, at the time we didn’t know Babs and Buffy were boys. And we also have Funny Looking (one of the "female" chicks I ordered and Speckes, one of the Speckled Sussex female chicks I ordered). So five boys and about 30 girls and as long as I keep Babs & Buff and their girlfriends in one hen house and the rest in the second house…life is good and reasonably peaceful and very crowfull all day long. We have 15 acres so they have their bug hunt space during the day which I think really helps their ability to get along. It is a dusty, loud, fluttering life I hope I never have to give up. 15 acres in the dust or in the snow has turned out to be heaven for me.

Ah Lobster! We stayed with my uncle for 6 weeks once, who lived in Florida. It was during Lobster season. He’s a diver, so we would go out in the boat, watch him go under, and come back up with dinner! We had it just about every night, along with Hog fish. Yum! Good eating that!
Your summer sounds like it has been divine. Thanks for sharing it with us!

Ahhhhh . . . I’d love to join you on the beach! But, alas, I live so very far away here in southwest Colorado the land the Rocky Mountains!
Thanks for the "invitation"!

Much appreciated for the information and share!
Nancy

I wanted to spend a minute to thank you for this.