So charming, Deb! Wish I could visit you at your cottage, walk the beach and get some sand between my toes!
Happy April to you!
CJ

Enjoyed the vicarious seaside visit and to your cottage! I love it when you share this place with us! I hope you will share the other rooms with us next time. HAPPY SPRING!

So nice to follow you to the beach, what a treat. I feel you are a long lost friend I am so happy to see each time you post. I am in the southern Nevada desert and I have to say I do envy you where you are. Be well, and thank you for your posts.

Love reading your stories.I don’t get to the sea much now, but oh how I miss it and the sound of the water.I enjoy ever bit you write.Thank you
Donna Shaw

Thank you for sharing your beachy cottage. How wonderful to own a piece of heaven. I am a “water girl” at heart which is challenging living in land locked North Dakota. I like to think we have a bit of heaven too in ND, it just looks a little different. When I saw the debris photos I did wonder who had the job of cleaning that up. Bonfires are the next best thing to a beach walk. I hope you have a wonderful summer season at the cottage. Oh, and I so love your posts, especially the beach ones.

Hey Deb! I love your charming cottage by the sea. How exciting it is that all of those magazine readers will get a taste of beach living!
I won’t probably get back to Boston and the South Shore this year, but I am heading east to Charleston, SC in a few weeks! The ocean calls!

Hi Deb,
Thanks for the peek inside your adorable beach home. I have a “Girl Genius” I’d love to introduce to you! Is there an email address where I can contact you directly?
Thanks and happy spring!

OMG Deb I can’t believe those 2 pictures are of the same spot. Wow. It is 90 here today can you believe it ? I’v noticed something else going on out here, a lot of wildlife in places where you never expect to see it. There was a pair of Mallard on the door step of Wal Mart today for example. We already have tomatoes ON ! This has got to be the weirdest weather ever. Look at how many records have been broken. Back there and here.
I think when the Big eath quake hit Japan a few years ago, you know the one that caused the sunami.(?) They said then that it was hard enogh to move the earth’s axsis. I don’t know if my wording is right but My concept is —that is what has changed so much.

That and just the fact that this old world keeps on changing no matter what we do. I hope you get to the garden soon. I luv your little Corgi figure (the real one also ) 🙂

Deb, Love the pics of the heirloom flower seed pkts. Like you I am chomping at the bit to get outside and get planting. I am really debating whether or not to plant a large veg. garden, I have plenty space it is just that I am really wanting to be moved back to La, close to my grandbaby this year. But you know the Lord tells us to be content where we are, so while waiting on that dream, I think I will make this a dream place. 🙂 Now just gotta find someone with a tractor to till me up. and then decide what I like best to plant. The note above about the pintos got me going. I LOVE fresh pintos. We always had them growing as kids. hmmmm, what is my next step. Love ya Be Blessed Neta

OMG Deb I can’t believe those 2 pictures are of the same spot. Wow. It is 90 here today can you believe it ? I’v noticed something else going on out here, a lot of wildlife in places where you never expect to see it. There was a pair of Mallard on the door step of Wal Mart today for example. We already have tomatoes ON ! This has got to be the weirdest weather ever. Look at how many records have been broken. Back there and here.
I think when the Big eath quake hit Japan a few years ago, you know the one that caused the sunami.(?) They said then that it was hard enogh to move the earth’s axsis. I don’t know if my wording is right but My concept is —that is what has changed so much.

That and just the fact that this old world keeps on changing no matter what we do. I hope you get to the garden soon. I luv your little Corgi figure (the real one also ) 🙂

Deb, Love the pics of the heirloom flower seed pkts. Like you I am chomping at the bit to get outside and get planting. I am really debating whether or not to plant a large veg. garden, I have plenty space it is just that I am really wanting to be moved back to La, close to my grandbaby this year. But you know the Lord tells us to be content where we are, so while waiting on that dream, I think I will make this a dream place. 🙂 Now just gotta find someone with a tractor to till me up. and then decide what I like best to plant. The note above about the pintos got me going. I LOVE fresh pintos. We always had them growing as kids. hmmmm, what is my next step. Love ya Be Blessed Neta

I live in N.E. Ohio and although we have had some serious snow this year, it’s nothing compared to yours. I, like yourself, like the slower pace of the ‘recoup and regroup’ season we call winter.
It’s a time of healing, I’ve heard some say. It’s said, ‘That’s what winter is for.’
After three busy seasons of do-do-do, we finally slow down and enjoy the slower pleasures of life. after all, animals hibernate, why shouldn’t we?
(and I do see your horsey face in that tree…plain as day) *giggle*
Enjoy the rest of your hibernation Deb! And when it gets here…”SPRING into Spring!”

Deb: you had our usual winter this year. We had lots of cold but not a lot of snow It’s been in the 60ies. We will have more cold weather but spring will come. Spring will come.

Thank you for sharing ! I LOVE winter. But I must confess spring is wonderful also. It is 80 here today a bit breezy. The sidewalks are covered with yellow pollen from the pine trees. I can hardley stay awake with my allergies.
The feed store has chicks and ducklings and all sorts of plant starts. I’v had tomato plants in the ground for 3 weeks.
It is funny how fast the pace changes because of a slight tilt in the earth. I dread saying good bye to winter. Summer will be here before you can blink. The temps are absolutly unbearable much like your winter blizzard’s. But that is a whole nuther story. (one of my favorite words )
Get you garden gloves ready !

The last fifty years for me, this was the worst winter, and two days in a row, we heard our roof ….Pop! Our neighbors house exploded at their bathroom wall, near the window as ice built up so bad that it pulled on the seams of their wall. Because the ice build up so much on roofs and runners that it push and pulled wooden beams apart. I’m still scared to go up in my attic to see if there was any damage. And shingles got blown off the roof, damaged by the 75 miles per hour winds! I don’t know wats
worst the snow or ice damage. The wind whipped up the snow so high we hit some mountains f snow that were over my head. I wish I had taken photos of it, but winter this year/depressed me do much that I only ventured out for food supplies and I only drove if the roads were plowed and dry to drive on. Just was one harsh winter for us. It was so bad that even an emergency wouldnt allow us to go to the hospital for two days. That was fearful as my husband refused to go out in that bad weather. I was glad when we got heat wave! Then the snow almost prevented me to visit him in the hospital. Very threatening weather. The worst in 50 years for us!

Thank you. In Washington we had no winter at all. I love the snow and to snow shoe, so I really missed it. I love to watch the snow swirl in the glow of our barn light and to take long chatty snow walks with my neighbor Betty. Your article helped me get through the no snow blues. On to Spring which has already sprung here unusually early and incredibly lovely. Sharlotte

I did see the horse head! Isn’t that clever, as my grandma would have said!

We didn’t get any snow at all here in west central Georgia – not a bit. That’s unusual for us. Usually we get about an inch and the state shuts down. Everyone rushes to the supermarket to stock up on bread and milk – now, what we’re going to do with all this bread and milk, who knows? Your pictures are beautiful and magickal, especially for this Southern girl!

Thank you for the inspiring post! You are living your dreams by the beach- growing flowers, living off the grid in the cottage. I would love to see inside your cottage and what you do in living in the off the grid manner.

In the interest and promotion of sisterhood, let me say that because of our drought and spring weather, we have been enjoying the flowers you’ve been waiting for. I always have a healthy prayer plant and some lovely orchids to appreciate indoors, and when I visit the farmers market, I think of you when I bring home fresh flowers to add to the dining table. Flowers also make everything I cook taste better!

Deb, I LOVE the drawing, I too love vintage flower and seed pkts. I love saving these type pics when I see them in magzines. I just scored a beautiful scrap book full of vintage greeting cards, valentine, easter, birthdays, etc from an estate sale. The lady saved everything. And now I will protect her treasures. 🙂 Can’t wait for the spring as well. I will have to send you the latest pic of my latest project of what I am thinking of selling at our farmers mkt. this year. Watch your email. Be Blessed. Neta

Thank you for sharing such beautiful picts and words! I did order a nice new chicken coop for spring! I am receiving some of my old flock back from a friend who has been watching over them while I was away. And, I intend to order a few more, as well as some turkeys in preparation for next November’s thanksgiving feast.
Take care, sister!
Diane

I ordered An Island Garden several years ago and refer to it often. We toured Tasha’s home and gardens for our 49th anniversary last year – these ladies are all about inspiration. We moved back to OH after 5 years in TN – how I miss the bulbs blooming in February and March and the long growing season. All farmgirls are anxiously waiting to play in the dirt, grow flowers and food – once again.

I love your new logo Deb! Very vintage. Not up to much as far as the garden season yet. I am having a hard time even thinking about it with all the snow that still surrounds us. And the below zero temps….brrr. We built a new fenced in raised garden area last year and am looking forward to working in it again this year. Since we do not have to do all the extra building work we did last year it will be a more relaxed start of the growing season for us this year. Cannot wait to see your bouquets that you sell at the farmers market. I have a favorite vendor at one of our local markets they always have beautiful bouquets or singles which I like so I can add to what I already grow.

I have many, many things to be happy about but added recently are I survived the second bout with cancer in three years with only a lumpectomy and a daily pill to keep me going. The elevator in my building has been completely rebuilt but it has been non-operational since January 20 so all residents have had to climb up and down the stairs. I’m healthy enough to do the stairs (woohoo!) and continue to do so until the final inspection on the 18th. I’m now vegan, have many recipes and much support. All parts of my body (OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer) work and I’m listening to a very happy bird singing on this sunny morning. Last night, I listened to an owl while falling asleep. Life is good and I wish the same for everyone!

LOVE your blog! Such a perfect topic for V-day! I share your sentiments and as a “New” FarmGirl, I will have much to contribute from WI very soon!

Thank you for sharing so many happy things! I have lots of things in my life to be happy about, but the best recently is that my husband and I adopted a rescue dog and every day we see her getting happier and more comfortable. She sits next to me now and every morning she jumps up on the bed to cuddle. It doesn’t get any better than this!

Our lists are wonderful. I would add seeing the source of the Mississippi River at Itasca Park in Minnesota on a below zero day in the winter was awesome. Never seen it before in the winter. I’m happy about being almost married 53 years, sharing my life with a wonderful man and being warm inside my own house. Thanks for this post.

I’m happy just waking up in the morning. I have one more day and look forward to just about anything that happens.

Oh, I need to sit and make a list like that. How wonderful, did that just flow out of your mind like it flowed in the words on this post? I can add the grands on to the list for myself since I know you do not have any yet. All 8 make me smile, the youngest turning one this week.

Sorry to hear of your dreadful weather….we usually get what you got…I’m thankful when I don’t have to shovel three feet of that nasty white fluff! But I’m grateful, that when it does get that high, my neighbor comes and blows the/snow away for us. I’m had you didnt lose your gardening ‘stuff’. It can get expensive replacing it. I’m fortunate, we only gt an inch of snow! But I did lose a few shingle off my tool she and hope t can wait at least until spring ‘ when it gets a little warmer before it as rains so I can replace those shingles.
As for…stocking up, I always have canned goods on hand acted up…plenty of canned fruit nand veggies on hand, and of course bread and peanut butter and eggs in the winter time…plus candles and matches. I have a generator, but I’m thankful I haven’t had to use it. I worry more about the spring thaw or a heat/wave/and we end up with water in our
/basement again. Or dealing with fungus again! Byt I hate winter the most because it keeps us indoors. I try and stay busy.
I love to see your chickens…I wouldn’t sorry about them as long as they have plenty if hay fir their besting area. I have never heard of any chickens/dying from snow. They are pretty girls! Its one thing I miss from my farming past…having fresh eggs every day! ( we do have a friend that/has chickens and when we visit him, he always sends us packing with a Couple dozen. There’s nothing like fresh eggs that have hard shells and a sweeter yolk than store bought eggs! ) Oh, for the good ole days of getting up at the/crack of dawn just to get those pearly white and corn fed eggs! Hunkering down….snow is coming, as were getting a few flurries…One inch so far….love it when I dont see the dirty trash cans on garbage/day…30 degrees here…. our heat wave as were generally in the single digits in January, but dont worry spring will vome early this year….been smelling the musky critters in the sewers….when we smell them, they are active….they only come UP when its warm or when we are going to get an early spring! Spring will definitely come early this year. Muskrats are MoRE precise about predicting spring than ground hogs!

Oh Deb. This was such a beautiful, lovely post. I was smiling all the way through. I love that you still have the letter you wrote to MaryJane in 2010. That’s awesome. I can’t remember when I read the first MJF magazine…. I do remember thinking, “This lady is amazing”! 🙂 What a privilege we have of being a part of the “family”!

I just read Mary Jane’s comment above and literally started crying when I read about her milk cow. Oh, it is so hard to lose an animal – and there is something about those cows that just get in our heart and soul.

Hugs to you, Deb. I genuinely loved this post. – Dori, the Ranch Farmgirl –

I read an article in the July 24, 2005 Chicago Tribune and bought her Ideabook, Cookbook, Lifebook on my next day off from work. I’m not sure why I found her life so interesting, but I’ve been a fan ever since. I didn’t see the magazine until I found it on a newsstand about five years ago. I’ve been reading the blogs for about four years.

The thing is that every Farmgirl has real values. We all see the importance of life itself. Despite our living in different parts of the country, things are much the same.

Furthermore, they really haven’t changed much since our grandmothers were farmgirls. Alexandra’s concerns about her daughter are just as real as my concerns about my daughter forty years ago. I get a kick out of your handsome Yankee because I was a Yankee who fell for a Chicagoan. Dori’s grandchildren are about the same age as my youngest grandchild. Rebekah is not the only person who is nervous about snakes. The thing is that in MaryJane’s world everyone’s a bit like me.

Oh Deb, You are right on. Let’s all cheer for Mary Jane’s farm! Another Cheer for Mary Jane, Meg, Carol, Brian and all the staff. THANK YOU!

I’ll take the scallops without Bacon, you can have the Lobster….and your smart to have gingerbread with your lobster as the lobsters are quite “fatty” diet, ginger will block the absorption of fats. Lovely pictures.,,, remind me of pictures I have seen of my cousin and grandfather with their lobster business-souvenir shop . Iive the buoy on the fence! And boy was that a HUGE lobster!
As fir our New Years….we always try to stay aware to see he all drop, but I get so tired of waiting….I fall asleep! The News. Years day….we spend time watching the parade on TV and football or visit with family. And try to eat up all the left overs n the refrigerator so we can Cosman the refrigerator fir a good fresh year. We put away any holiday decorations and start scoring cleaning…. it keeps us from depression bring inside in the winter. And I start. Planning next years garden….start ordering seeds and whatever, preparing for February plantings of seeds….indoors. happy farming preparation! Have a Happy New Year! Stay healthy, stay safe!

Hi Deb,
Happy New Year to you and yours. That lobster looks so good. Unfortunetly, I can not have any sort of fish both fresh water and sea or hard or soft shell. I became allergic to it gradually. One thing at a time. It started when I was in my 40’s and by the time I was 50 I could not eat any of all that that I grew up with. I live in Oregon and when I was young my family (lived in eastern Oregon) would go to the Coast and stay a few days with my Uncle then on to Depoe Bay for Dad to go out on the boat to fish. I got sea sick so could not go. My Mother and I would shop and then have a nice lunch while waiting for Dad. I just loved all that was caught. Even the fish from some of the lakes around out area that we lived was wonderful. Oh the memories. Yum!
Now all it can be is a memory.
Love, hugs, and best wishes,
Kay

Your dinner sounds wonderful. Nothing like shopping for fresh caught seafood. We make an annual trip to the Oregon coast. For us, the treat is dungeness crab. We buy it fresh caught and cooked. And, the fresh shrimp. Happy 2015!

Dear Deb,
Merry Christmas. May all of you have a dream that comes true. Mine is about to come true. Every year I used to get a tag or letter off the giving tree and fulfill some persons dream or what they wanted for Christmas. However, last year after my Husband past in 2012, I decided to contact a shelter for abused women and children and I buy things for children like cloths, party dresses, underthings for boys and girls, women and children socks, and other things like stuffed animals and necklaces and watches. I watch for sales and times that I can get off so much for clearance or items on sale. I also buy books, coloring books, and crayons. I put them in a box and this time of year I take them to a near buy town for Christmas. So many times they had to leave in a hurry and have nothing for themselves or the children. My children are grown and my Grandchildren get far to much. I do cook for them also. This year because the one daughter I will have some time with also works so I am making a casserole for her to take home for Christmas morning. Plus some other things. I am on Social Security and have to watch my pennies. This makes me happy Knowing I have helped someone else.
Hugs Kay (Karen)

Merry Christmas from the Missouri Ozarks Deb,
I love your blog, it reminds me so of growing up in San Diego by the beach!!
This year at our house its everything homemade, even the kitten beds!!
Sewed it up on the spare of the moment yesterday, and our two new kittens,
rolled the basket it sits in around the living room!! I dont know if they will ever sleep in it!!
I love my cookbook “Yankee Church Supper Cookbook”, it is wonderful for cooking for a crowd.
Greetings from Noel, Mo…………..Sending Holiday Hugs, Diana

Merry Christmas Deb, and a Blessed New Year to you and yours. I think I would like that grapenut pudding, I love Bread Pudding growing up in La. we always had bread pudding or rice pudding pretty much was the only dessert when I was little. One of my favorite memories of our travels in the East Vermont, New Hampshire was going to a Sugar Shack, and I bought some Maple flavored Tea. OMG I still love drinking it today and the smell of the Maple always brings me back to our travels Northeast. Be Blessed Neta 🙂

Your pudding looks yummy! Perhaps someday I can try it . . probably not this year!
Sending my thoughts, wishes, and prayers to you and your family for a Blessed and Merry Christmas!
CJ

Hi Cuz!

So fun to read your about your pudding making and seeing you and your handsome Yankee enjoying it! I will live vicariously through you, as I don’t think my three kiddos would try it! Much love to you all and all the best for a fabulous 2015!

Cousin Teri in Napa, CA