In two weeks my dh and I have been together for 31 years. What we have discovered over the years can be condensed into two statements. Look forward never back. Meaning that you don’t bring up anything in the past that was a mistake or wrong or hurtful. Start every day anew with the love shared between you. And the second item – THINGS are never more important that people.
I wish them all the best for a wonderful lifetime together.
janiee
farmgirl #390

We’ve been married 22 years now and my husband is so patient as he married a somewhat spoiled girl. One thing I learned was that if I did something hurtful, own up to it and take the responsibility for it and ask forgiveness. It’s not being weak to say you’re sorry. Don’t play the ‘blame game’. We’re in charge of our own actions. That’s probably been the first and foremost important success in our marriage.
I wish them the very best.
P S I wish you’d sent a picture of the silver shoes, ha!

I think the best advice for life comes from the Bible. In regards to any relationship I think
following Philippians 2:3-4 will take you a long way. "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility let each of you esteem others better than yourself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

Stick with it. Every relationship has ups and downs. Enjoy the ups and get through the downs. Just remember the promise of forever. Stick with it. It’s worked for me!

HiRebecca,I failed at love,so I can,t help you with that,but,I am very concerned about this loosing of your keys.This is a very big serious deal.I lost mine last year.Well, these new cars,new keys are not cheap,I couldn,t find my other key.so I had to call someone 100 miles away,ended up costing me 200 dollors.It was a nightmare.He did the job wrong,and I had to call him back the next day.So,he had to travel again,then he wanted 65 dollors for a second key,What a mess!It is because of the computer chip,and in these small farming towns nobody has had the training on them,and since I had lost the original keys,and had no keys at all,the entire car had to be reprogramed.I was just sick,and never did find the old keys,even if I had of,they were junk now.I learned my lesson.Not only that Rebecca,it is dangerous when your out running.Be careful!Wish I could help you with the love stuff,but,I need someone to help me with the love stuff.Ionly wish,I never would of signed divorce papers,I would have refused to sign,if I had known how lonely I would be divorced,Everyone thinks everyone elses grass is greener,its not.If your married,I sugest staying that way,and seeking counseling.Even if things are awful,it can be saved with work and forgiveness.People don,t work at marriage like our parents did.They need to work at it,and be comitted to agree to work on it constantly.Have a great day,blessed be.Carol Branum,Lamar Mo.themofarmersdaughter@blogspot.com

I am still single. I have never been married. It’s been really nice to read everyone’s comments 🙂 🙂 🙂 This is all being tucked away for future information 🙂 🙂
I have never lost car keys, thank goodness. I have almost lost my cell phone a couple times. That was pretty scary. Thank goodness for honest Good Samaritans 🙂 🙂

Do a budget together! It will cause you to focus on your dreams together. And you will be so totally amazed at what is important to each other. Then you can be supportive of doing the things that each of you enjoy. This will teach you both a little give and take, and mature the relationship into oneness very quickly. And contrary to popular beliefs, it can be exciting seeing the fruit of your labor on paper and give you peace. It will build both security and self-esteem in each of you working together as you build your future.

Marriages are not made in heaven, but love might be. They are made every day that you bite your tongue and take responsibility for your actions.

After 20 years, I also think that kindness is one of the most important traits in a mate and humor is a necessity.

And lastly, you can be right, or you can be happy. Choose happiness with someone you love. It is always better than being right and being alone.

Good luck to them, it sounds like they are a very solid couple. Thanks for sharing!

Keep your sense of humor and NEVER go to bed mad at each other! Been married 30+ years…has worked for us.

I really have to leave a comment on this one! It’s one of my pet peeves! Marriage works when both people commit to it. Putting the needs of the couple in front of the needs of the individuals. It’s harder to do than it sounds. Their wedding is beautiful and the story about the house and dogs brought a tear to my eye. Good luck and much happiness to them!

Make your spouse your best friend. Share everything with him and listen to everything he has to say, even if it’s not interesting to you. The sharing binds you together and helps you understand each other.

All I can say is this: stick with it. I once heard someone say their secret to being married so long is that neither fell out of love at the same time. There are ups and downs. I think another person already said that too. Just stick with it. Through thick and thin.

We just had our 34th wedding anniversary and I guess the secret to our long years is that we are still best friends. Is is not that we are not irritated with each other many times or that we do not treat each other the way that we always should, however when you’re best friends, you always forgive each other and that is the most important thing and that we love each other unconditionally.

Hi Rebekah!
I’m so glad the " magic" found you again…It’s not always easy being a " blue sky" thinker when snakes lerk at the water hole, and money sucking projects appear from every corner of your " dream home, farm, cottage" etc…
We have felt less than magical at our summer cottage at times, but somethimg always happens and quickly to change our way of thinking…Recently we lost my father in law of 88 years… The day after the service we decided to go to our magical place( our summer cottage) for some solice and restoration. Things were all magic when we arrived except for the fact that Dad wasn’t with us(or so we thought).
As we walked the beach ( the same one we have been walking together for 20 plus years) we talked as we walked along the waters edge, watched our dog play, and our daughter and a friend run on the beach…As we approached a favorite early morning fishing spot of my husbands I noticed tiny shells poking out of the mud… I am familiar with clam beds but hadn’t seen them in this area before…looking closer we discovered they were tiny Angel Wing shells, standing on end in the mud with just the tips poking out…but there was one off to the side fully exposed. A whole Angel Wing shell! …We both agreed that Dad must have gotten his angel wings that day! We knew he would!

Yeah, the taxes are too high, the cottage is small and the shower is outside and solar! But it’s all we really need and we love it more than any place in the world.

Keep up the wonderful " magical" thinking and writing…I always look so forward to it! If you’re up for a stroll on the beach, roll up your pants, kick off your shoes and come one over to Dandelion House~

Hi Everyone,

I so enjoy reading these blogs…I was born & raised in a very large city, but I am a true Farmgirl in my heart. And even though I know I am blessed to live so close to the Atlantic Ocean(bout 5 miles), I will always dream of having my own old farm house filled with my grandbabies, children & animals. I am truly happy… Then today I read this phrase that says it all…"Being happy doesn’t mean everything’s perfect… It means you decide to see beyond the imperfections."

Dear Rebekah, I for one would love to see photos of your magical sounding cottage. The countryside is like a storybook…and I bet the house is too. I hope you’ll take some pics of your cozy country home and share them with us. Thanks for the ‘virtual’ and magical farmgirl getaway.
shery jespersen

Wonderful post. I had tears in my eyes the last paragraph. Who would have known a quote on a tea bag would bring tears. Of coarse without the story leading up to it I would probably just said aww. I hope you have many, many more wonderful excursions at your farm.

I love the photos you enclose with your blog. I grew up on a farm near New Petersburg, Ohio and some of the pictures you present, I grew up with. The bubble picture ought to win an award. Beautiful. My eyes are going too, as I wear trifocals now. I’m hoping to go before my eyes do. Have a great day!

Just found these farmgirl blogs and have to say that I love ’em! 

Great blog. I found you through MaryJane Farm. Love the triple bubble and the reflection shot of the farm.

The Heirloom Tomato collection. I’m determined to have a better tomato crop this year and have everything ready to start my tomato seeds, except for the seeds!

I know just the kind of twinkling blue eyes your talking about Rebekah! My father in law has them, but they aren’t quite as sparkly as they once were… He will turn 89 in May(god willing). That color of blue is rare in eyes isn’t it? I guess those of us with blue/gray, brown, hazel and green eyes GLOW and that’s how folks can tell we have inner happiness too! I love all your " blue pix" … I’m craving the brightness of spring and color too…My favorite blues are… the Nevada blue sky any time of year, the blue waters of Cape Cod Bay, and Hawaii,the blue of our children’s deep, clear blue sparkly eyes. What farm girl doesn’t love denim blue? 🙂 I’m like you… I have steered away from decorating with blues for some years now…I’m more of an earthy girl with pops of bright reds,oranges and greens. Last summer our daughter wanted to change her wall color from " hot pink" to something more soothing.. (she said she couldn’t sleep anymore in that pink room). Anyway, she chose a lovely blue from the Ralph Lauren vintage collection. kind of a mid tone warm aqua blue… she was right… It’s very soothing and she sleeps much better now too! Musically speaking… The blues… Stevie Ray Vaughn Texas blues and Eric C too…garden blues. Summer Hydrangia, blue salvia, and morning glories!
My least favorite blue… The Winter Blues!!!
Thanks for another fun and thought provoking post!
Deb~

Sweetheart Seed Collection!! I’m all over it!!

I really enjoy your blogs. They’re fun to read and I always forward them on to friends.
I would like to put my name in the hat for the Sweetheart Seed Collection. They all look so good it’s hard to choose!
Thanks, Rebecca!

I agree that it was hard to choose but this collection touched my heart.
Cottage Garden Seed Collection
I’m determined to build an outhouse this year…a working one. :>
Ann Bliss
blissann@yahoo.com :>

I love your blog(s) and I am looking forward to beautiful blue spring/summer skies! I would love to plant the Cat Lover’s collection so when I pick out my new kitten, he/she I would have a special little garden treat. So hurry up spring so I can get out and check out the local human society for a new kitten and plant my flowers!!

Hmmm, blue. My sister and I have those blue/green eyes. Blue when we’re content, green when we’re irritated. Not sure how that’s physically possible, but even my kindergarteners say, "Now you done it, here cheeks are getting red and her eyes are getting green!"

Favorite blues…my 3 year old Sammy’s blue eyes behind his big round blue glasses. The color blue of those star shaped shaped flowers on borage is almost blinding in the summer sun. Forget-me-nots…I would never forget those!

My husband and I built our own house recently. By that I mean with our own four hands (two apiece) – not hire somebody to do it. We fashioned it after it old farmhouse with a variety of siding. Some is old barnwood and corregated tin that we got from an old barn that we tore down. My kitchen cupboards are blue. I have always wanted blue cupboards and now I have them. They are sort of a light colonial blue in color. Everybody that enters the house for the first time just stops in the kitchen and says how much they like them. They are soothing and since I spend alot of time in the kichen I love them.

I would like the Children’s Vegetable set if I should win. We have a four year old granddaughter and she would love to work with her Grandma and PopPop in the garden this summer with her own seeds.

I’ve seen these seeds before. They are absolutely beautiful. I would choose the cottage garden seed collection. I really enjoyed looking at your photos of blue. I am a lover of blue as well, especially blue candles and blue flowers. My husband has blue eyes and I always wanted a blue eyed baby. Never got one, but my grandaughter got them, just like Papa. I also love blue trucks. I would love to have a 1949 Blue Ford. I really like your pillow. Blue and brown are so beautiful together. I love your blogs. Thank you so much for sharing.

I love the Botanical Interests seeds. I have spent hours looking through the seed offerings at my local nursery and always come away with some of their seeds. I would probably choose the Container Vegetable Garden collection just because I have never grown vegetables in containers.

I think it is great that you have a favorite silo!! I do too! Except mine is in my backyard! Right now it is empty but I want to use it as a vegetable stand. We currently have a road side stand where we sell veggies in the summer. I think the silo would be so cool to set up shop. WE have a really cool barn as well. Oh, and my favorite color is BLUE! Thanks for a cute blog!

I love Botanical Interest seeds. I found them searching through organic, heiroom seeds on Amazon last year. Needless to say, I had a great garden. They have the best selection, an I agree with the packet art, it’s beautiful. I wonder if they will sell prints? I would choose the Cottage Garden collection, only because it reminds me of the Grandma’s Cut Flower seed pack. I order that one every year!

I live in California and my grand daughter lives in North Carolina, I would love to win the children garden seed collection and send it to her. I love gardening and I love her and want to share the love with her through gardening. What a great way to stay connected. We both share the same blue eyes so this seems only natural! Thank you for this oppurtunity

I love the cottage garden collection.

Thanks for a great article about blue. I love blue, it’s my favorite color!
If I were to win a seed collection, I’d choose the Container Vegetable Seed Collection.

I have not seen these seeds before, but looking at the packets, you are right, they are art! I would be tempted to slit the bottom of the packet very carefully and maybe frame 3 in a row! The cottage garden collection would have to be my choice, but so many sound wonderful. I visited the website and registered for their newsletter and if I don’t win I will be ordering – oh, I will probably order other seeds anyway!!Love your blog – although you have said it is harder to find a topic, you do a great job of being interesting and informative and we learn about you the person as well.

Blue is definitely my favorite color! Yes, we have painted our bedroom blue in more than one house…peaceful and calming! Bluebells are one of my favorite spring flowers. They make a lovely bouquet with (white) Stars of Bethlehem.
Please add my name into the hat (or your blue mug!) for the "seeds contest". I’d be so happy to receive any although the Cottage Garden Collection sounds so homey to me. Keep blogging…you touch my heart so often!

I love my dad’s blue eyes too. He’s more fair-skinned. he looks like he’s from Denmark although he has a lot of whie in his hair now. My mom is of Spanish/Irish origin. I inherited my mom’s Castillian brown eyes…although my favorite blue is my dad’s. I always thought my dad’s eyes were unusual too. His are a colonial blue color. I don’t see people with those eyes very often. Yep, his blue eyes are my favorite. They are blue eyes and eyes of a loving father.

I know what you mean when you say the "bluest eyes" like your dads. My brother has eyes like that. People are always asking him if he wears colored contacts and make me think of the water color in the Gulf on the brightest of days. My eyes are also "teal" and both my daughters inheritated them from me which i got them from my father. 🙂
I love the heirloom tomato collection. I am curretenly pouring over my seed catalogs for my garden and i think I will be getting my seeds from them this year! Love the organic and heirloom varieties; two words i look for! as always thank you for sharing your thoughts and dailylife with me. 🙂

Thank you, Rebekah, for your lovely posts – I’m always so excited when a new one arrives! And thank you for introducing me to the Botanical Interests seeds. They ARE beautiful. I would choose the gourmet greens collection. Last year I had rows of spinach and lettuce and this year I want to jazz it up a bit!

I would like to win the Chefs herb garden collection. I am putting in an extra herb garden this year and this would be a great way to get me started. Love your blog!

what great seed colletions! makes me really ready for spring. throwing my name in the hat, i’d love to try the Chef’s Herb Garden Collection. i’ve been taking cooking classes and would love to start my own herb garden.

and my favorite "blue" is the deep color of the sky right before it turns dark.

HiRebecca,In 1995 I got to go to Texas with momma and her 3 sisters,all elderly,they wanted me to babysit auntie Evie,coz she had diabetes and said she was going blind,and poor me poor me,well,as soon as we left the Ok border,she was healed,,,screamin with delight,you would of thought Oral Roberts had just had his hands on her,The Texas Blue Bonnets were wonderful,and are in bloom April 1 through15th if I am correct.Have a great day,blessed be,carol branum,themofarmersdaughter@blogspot.com

I’d pick the Cottage Garden collection if I won as it’s the look that I try to go for in my garden along a winding walk and under an arbor to my front door.

Sorry to be so late in commenting. I just discovered this blog. I love it! This is especially special to me. My husband has the bluest eyes. And how I love blue bells and blue waters. I had a blue guest bathroom that is such a calm color. Your dog reminds me of one I had as a child. But he didn’t have the blue eye. Just brown.

Oh my goodness that has to be the most precious thing I’ve ever seen. How sad that its mommy died but how lucky it was to have you and your hubby helping it. Who would ever think of a deer missing a jump over a fence…sigh. We had some criminal types run down several deer with snow mobiles this past spring which has caused an absolute uproar here. The one bozo got out of animal cruelty charges by saying he was "hunting" the deer. People are just outraged and the woman who allowed the snowmobile users to ride on her property is closing the trail because of this cruelty. I don’t think I could ever hunt deer. I just think they are some of God’s most beautiful creatures.

Oh, my gosh, there should be a tissue warning on the header of this posting. Thank goodness there was a box near my chair. I had no idea how small those babies are!
So sorry to hear about the momma, and how sad to think that we encroach into the habitat of these poor creatures without considering the impact that we have. Thanks for the reminder!

What an incredible story. I am crying too. How sad and joyous all at once.~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

Oh, what a wonderful story. Reminds me of all the animals we cared for as kids. My Dad found baby sparrow hawks and we raised all 5 and set them free! Then there was the lamb, racoon, hamsters, fish, dogs, cats, and he even raised pigeons (the kinds you attach notes to, send out and they return). I loved all the animals we had as kids and now we found an abandoned kitten that I am keeping!!

your story truely touched my heart. I’m still crying. I love all god’s creatures and I believe we all have the responsibilty to take care of them and our mother earth. Now I’ll go back outside and make sure the baby screech owls and humingbirds and squirrels are alright. God bless you everyone who loves animals and values them as gifts to make this a better world.

I am so touched by this…typing thorough tears

Well done Rebekah…!
Animals deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and you and your Family rose to the occasion in an exempleary manner.
You touch on a topic, which, as a member of The Humane Society, I feel quite strongly about. It is a sad comment on our cultural conditioning that it would even occur to us to "put ‘it’ out of misery". Animals are someone’s Family somewhere, and they feel fear, love, and the whole range of emotions, and they have, albeit different from ours, thoughts and hopes. It seems ridiculous to think of putting a Human child "out of misery" because of a injured leg, but it has been done… in Ancient Rome, on East Indian slave ships, and in Nazi Germany. The ethics of "less than" are exactly the same.
Y’all rose above that and acted with Love and compassion, and those traits are fundamental to civilization.
GodSpeed…!
Gary
in Tampa

That was a great story, sounds if you were related to my sister she is always helping some poor animal out of trouble.As you were teling the story I could feel all of the emotions you were having what a farmgirl experince!!

I am crying as I read this. So touching.
A shame about the momma deer. But I am glad you and your family were given the blessing of that experience.

WOW!! What a story. TISSUES Galore. We had a baby deer that laid by our pump this spring and I almost steeped on it. I immediately called my brother who instructed me that the momma would come back. I put an umbrella over (my husband’s good golf one) to keep it out of the sun. Sure enough about three hours later the momma came back and picked up her charge… Needless to say several chores did not get done in the cool of the day as I sat and watched from the kitchen…….. But who cares…

What a precious story. I’ve joined the others in crying about it. It reminded me of a video I saw once on youtube. It is of a baby deer and a kitten. The song playing is What A Wonderful World. A quick search should find it. Thanks for sharing your life with us. Janie

What a tender story, one that many of us have repeated. Being raised on a farm, we were always tending babies and orphans, that is most what I remember. After fifty years, I am still taking care of our animals, someone elses animals, and raising horses, dogs, cats and birds. I always have to say "thanks Dad" he got me started!

This is one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever read. Like everyone else, I’m moved to tears. You saved a life that day.

You go girl! I so hear what you are about. I no longer live on my own land but I am still there in my heart. It’s not just a place it’s a feeling and once you find it…bliss! May we all be farmgals and guys!

Rebekah, Wow I am so inspired by your words. Being a Bank Manager a single mother a United Way vice president a christian that ministers to others I love the way you encourage all of us to be humane and loving in all we do and say. I live in Moscow Idaho and have had the rare opportunity to go to Mary Jane’s Farm once and was so at peace and felt the inner farm girl in me. We can experience this through anything that inspires us to live with our heart us as the guide. Thanks for the blog and God Bless You and your family. Chantel Alfrey

I have always known I was a farmgirl. It showed in me since I can remember, in too many ways to mention. Before moving from the city to my official farm house I found Mary Jane’s book and finally felt like there were others out there like me! (my city friends think I’m a bit strange) Thank you to all the other farmgirls out there!

I have had the privilege of having a true blue farmgirl for my mentor, my Mom. She lived as a way of life everything "farmgirl." She taught me how to make-do, refurbish, and re-use all during my life, and especially after I married. I took her to a dress shop once to show her a dress that I would like to have. She went home, made a pattern on newspaper, then made the dress. When teaching me how to sew, she saved every little piece of scap fabric. These would be pieces for a quilt later. While camping one summer, she canned green beans over an open fire in a washtub while we swam in the lake. The garden "was coming in" and we could not let it waste while we were on vacation. She learned how to cook while she was a young girl, standing in a chair to make "homemade" biscuits. Once a gentleman from Florida was visiting his daughter in Germany. He heard of my Mom’s biscuits, came to our home in Georgia, knocked on the door, and introduced himself. My Mom got up and made a fresh pan of biscuits for him and his wife. She was always so hospitable. She taught me how to endure through tough times, such as when my brother was captured in Viet Nam. She held her peace and quietly prayed, as she continued to provide for her family. She instintively knew flowers or anything that grew. Roses would root when she would lay a brick on a shoot, then transplant it for a new bush. There was not anything that I can think of that she could not do. I have been most blessed, living and learning about life as a farmgirl, and by having been raised by the best farmgirl!!

Is there anything about being a Farmgirl that isn’t appealing? From gazing out through a rusty window screen at the Colorado prairie to the smell of begonias on the back porch to listening to the hens clucking away contentedly before they fall asleep at night… the whole way of life lends a happy *sigh* to every single day.

Farmgirl: The ability to breathe; the desire to simplify; the love of nature and animals; finding joy in simple things such as a baby bird–spring flowers–a warm sunshiny day.

hi rebecca, very well said.Last week my daddy took me to the local REA meeting, i got to hear Duke Mason sing and they served chichen annies chicken,it was a nice evening,but…everyone was so so old,over 200 old people,well i am not no spring chicken, but…it was a very nice evening, we prayed we said the pledge of alegience to the USA flag…we watched a short film of the war,and sang God bless Amercia….the boy scout color gard was there…i thought in ten years will this happen, in twenty years will this happen…just a thought, and i believe it will,hopefully with the return of the farmgirl…blessed be,The Mo.Farmers Daughter,Carol Branum,Lamar Mo.

Great commentary! And the Farmgirl identity is so much a journey, as we dig deeper in the soil and our mindsets and plant stronger roots in our own communities and form relationships with others doing the same. There’s not like one instant where all of a sudden, hey, you’re a Farmgirl now! It’s the process of simplifying and getting closer to real dirt and real food and real people and real work and real meaning in what you do and make that counts in this movement and the good it brings to your life and those around you. Plus, it’s just fun!

I can always count on an interesting and entertaining post from you. I especially like this one! Because I feel the same way!

City Farmgirl,
Yes, it was a very touching week-end. My dad served in WWII,
he will turn 90 in October. He still can’t talk of the war without a tear in his eyes. My niece once commented, that if Grandpa hadn’t made it home; all of us wouldn’t have been given life. He has always been my hero and to many more.
God’s blessings to our Service men, and please come home for your family.
lyn

Good comments, Rebekah. We are so blessed to have the privileges that we have. My brother (a Marine) spent three tours in Viet Nam some in captivity, and my husband is an Air Force veteran (he was called up for the draft). Their choices were taken in that war so that we could have choices now. I try to remember to thank them as much possible. I can only imagine what ran through that small boy’s mind. Many thanks to you for reminded us.

My cousin spent three tours in Viet Nam (Army) I wasn’t even born when he went the first time. It is hard to get him to talk about it even after all these years. I have two brothers who were in the Army during the 1980’s, even though it was peace time it didn’t stop our Mom from worrying about them. A friend of mine’s husband in the Army went to Dessert Storm in the 1990’s than went again for this war. He didn’t make it home, leaving behind a wife and two children. We are from a small farming village in Michigan, the whole town showed up and the next town also. For his funneral. When he wasn’t in the Army he drove truck for a farmer, they had his truck in the funneral prosecession. The wife had to go to the closest city to fine a church big enough to hold everyone for his funeral, and it wasn’t big enough. The longest prosecession I have ever seen. He died from a roadside bomb, he was 40, just weeks away from being 41 this was in 2003. Being a small town I knew him and his brother, and cousins growing up with them. Get teary eyed typing this.
I also have a cousin in the Army, he been to Iraq got hurt, not bad thank the Lord. But he soon leaves for Afganastan. He has a wife and a young daughter. And a cousin in the Navy been to Iraq also.
War don’t seem so far away when someone you know dies. I will always be thankful for our troops.

Thanks so much for your great magazine! I ordered a subscription for both my daughter in Alaska, and myself after purchasing two of your magazines at my local quilt shop. My daughter moved to Alaska last summer, lives on a farm there and lived on a farm here in Upper Michigan. She also thinks your magazine is tremendous and awaits the arrival of her first issues (I sent her the ones I had purchased). I ordered several books from you and they are marvelous! Now if I just had one of your "Tear Drop Trailers" I would motor off to Alaska!! I think my foal should be to purchase a Tear Drop and then my sister and I could drive the Alkan Highway in 2010 to celebrate my 75th birthday—sound good!! You bet! Have a great day and thanks again for youquality magazine and products! Bonnie Joyal

Thank You Rebekah…!
I did not know the garlic scapes are tasty, and we always nipped them off before they could flower, and drain the garlic’s nutrients. That Recipe sounds yummy, and I am eager to try it.
Oh… btw… the little community of Cosby used to Crown a "Ramps Queen" each year… you should enter next year, if they still do that.
Thanks again, and…
GodSpeed…
Gary
in Tampa

Love the article on scapes! I always let my garlic bloom. They are in full bloom now! I wish I had known this a few weeks ago!

Another excellent Bloggie Rebekah…!
I’m not handy with "everything" either, just some things, and for the rest… I found a REALLY good DIY book by Reader’s Digest, and highly recommend it.
Awww… that Cat was a Good sign… he was waiting for you to come so he could Welcome you. Cats have facial expressions that most city folk (even "Cat Lovers") don’t read well… when a Cat squints, well that is their Smile… when their eyes are wide with pupils dialated they are ready to fight. Yes Rebekah… before he got startled, he was indeed greeting Y’all with a kitty Smile, and the twitching tail shows emotion with the Smile. He was Happy to see you.
Y’all may have a new Friend there.
GodSpeed Y’all…!

Weeks go by sometimes where I look at my hands and sigh. Especially those weeks when I’m into serious artwork and crafting or projects. You never know what color paint will be stuck on my hands. Then every blue moon I say ‘enough!’ and pamper my hands back to normal. But they never stay that way. Years ago a friend of mine and I decided to take a plumbing course at a local high school when our kids were babies. I remember being terrified to use the torch and the teacher saw that and picked me to go first, the creep. I know how to cut tiles and sweat a pipe if I had to. But I still call the plumber because I’m chicken. 🙂 Have a happy weekend! ^..^ -C

I have been reading your blog for several weeks and had begun to think…Aw, just another city girl trying to fool someone. But your story about the weekend on your farm convinced me otherwise. If you’re willing to work like that with your hands, then you’re OK. Once upon a time, I worried about the appearance of my hands,because they were work-worn and rough. Then one day my Mom took my hands in hers and said, You know, your hands look just like your Granny’s…they are honest hands. What a reward that was! I have never been ashamed on them again. The REAL life is there on the land…not in the office. Thomas Berry put into words what my heart has always felt…"In the end, it is the land that is the most sacred element of our lives."
Blessed Be.

New to your blog,but,not to farming.Sounds like the kind of journey I enjoy.A lesson at every turn.Reader’s Digest is good.Also helpful a how-to book with Rosie the Riverter on the cover.It’s always available at Barnes and Noble.I often turn to the web for how-to info.If the water came up when you turned the main on perhaps there was just air in the pipes from being off for so long.Can’t wait for the next trip.

Some things aren’t as hard as you may think, however, I’ve not tackled a faucet myself…I have several handy fellas around here. You can learn alot by watching DIY programs or reading books…and they do give "classes" at places like Home Depot or Lowes.
I hope you get to spend more time at your farm this year. John and I were both raised on farms and when we sold our home a few years back, we moved to the Hess Family farm…we love it!

hi rebecca,…i had to chuckle,i dont wear acrilic nails either and i own a shop,my hands look awful right now too,you need a parifin dip,and a good regular manicure,go natural for a while,with a french polish.you blog just reminded me,i need to get off this and go out to daddys and work on his sink,uguh,one time years ago i had this boyfriend that could fix anything,but he drank too much,so i broke up with him,i miss that guy,when i am in a jam,but not so much as to go call him for help,have a great day,blessed be,The Missouri Farmers Daughter,Carol Branum,Lamar MO.

This story more to me than I can tell you. Thank you!

Ahhhhh…spring…animals abound:)

I had a feeling a twist was coming. Not sure why, but I knew it wasn’t going to be a tadpole. (Certainly didn’t see a mosquito coming though, very funny story to tell when she grows up (get to embarrass her in front of her friends 😉

Awww. Love your "tadpole tale!" So sweet.

I am an animal person as well. I have a cat that we rescued from our alley.

As for the red stuff, looks like your spring cleaning a bit…maybe? Who knows I only know we are in for a good yarn about it all. I can hardly wait!!!

How funny! I wonder how many mosquitos MY girls have saved? I am an animal person too. I draw the line at snakes, and snails, but just about anything else is "save-able" for sure. They may not be able to come inside the house..but our mudroom is fair game.
I have 3 cats. Only one is allowed inside.(Alice, a very snooty himalayan rescue cat we got as a kitten about 5 years ago) Our male cat, Pumpkin has lost his indoor rights..over and over again. He is 13 and has been with us since his kittenhood. He has a friend for outside….Fiona just showed up winter before last and made herself to home. I had her fixed after she had a litter of kittens under a tarp in our barbque area (I didn’t think she was old enough to have kittens and only 2 lived..and I really hadn’t accepted that she was our cat at that point)She is here to stay but is pumpkin’s shadow..never lets him get out of her sight. She is a big fluffy calico.
Dogs are my favorite pets for sure (well, besides Mona..and I would have done the same thing about that cow!!) we have 3…two bassets and a mini weiner dog.
We have a refuge meat hen, 2 bunnies and 6 baby bunnies, 2 sheep and an angora goat and alot of chickens (chicks coming too) and of course Mona the milk cow. My kids know I am a sucker for pets. If it has fur I am very likely to say yes when they ask.
Your little girl is adorable!

Don’t worry about the cow incident….I would have done the same thing! There are too many who don’t take care of their animals be it cat,dog or cow and it is so heartbreaking! A friend once told me that you can tell a lot about a person by how they treat their pets (or livestock). If they neglect their pets what are they doing to their children or the rest of their family?
If I had the room I would probably have my own animal managerie…for now my black lab Maggie and my chocolate lab Doc are my babies. Watch out once I finally get my 100 acres!
I hope you and your beautiful daughter continue to save the tadpole mosquitos!
Looking forward to the story about cinderella and the red carpet!

I actually think that was a dragon fly larvea. Mosquito larvea is much smaller.

So many times I have clicked on this website and saw the lovely lady sitting with her toes turned in and thought, "she doesn’t look at all like a farm girl" and wondered why you were on there. Today I decided to read your blog out of curiosity of what a perfectly coiffed blond with black high heels could possibly know about the farm. There I discovered that you actually own a farm that you visit, have a daughter in private school who takes piano lessons, you helped a "dazed and confused" dog who was most likely dumped onto a country road, starving and had no water, to go into the woods to survive in the wild instead of getting plowed over by a tractor, you don’t know a mosquito from a firefly, nor do you not know that mud turns into concrete, oh and that you wear Sketchers. Being a retired court reporter and having worked in criminal courts, I would probably not post a photo of my child on a public website these days but each to his own. You do have a knack for writing. I found your post quite humorous and was glad that I had an opportunity to read it. Love visiting the MJ store in my little town. Judith

Never enough kindness, compassion or love. Always too much "stuff". Never enough memory making or time with children and grandchildren. Oh gosh, and certainly never enough garden space. My daughter and I were discussing this subject yesterday and decided that IF we had a 20 acre farm (actual number) we might have enough to plant all the things we want from fruit trees down to an acre of peonies. Thanks for the thoughts and I’m going to see if I can find that book on e-bay. It is right up my alley. If you have not read the books by Gladys Taber you might enjoy those, too. Just super simple writing about a woman and her farm. Oh, and BTW, probably never, ever enough books!

Love your stories! Enjoy that lovely 20 acres!

As suggested by another commenter here, YES, you would love Gladys Tabor ! I have several of her books. It’s time again, for me to reread them. They remind me of you, your experiences, your way of writing about the experiences, your love of the country ~~ on and on. Gladys would have loved to read what you write, she would Love you magazine too (As do I !!)
Thanks for all about the Easter eggs,your daugher, your animals, Winnie the pooh, etc, I just loved it all. Many Blessings to you and your whole family ~~~~

I think out of all of your wonderful blogs, this is my favorite one yet! I love how your intellect and spirit glorify God and His world. I love the farm-girl in you! Thank you for loving your family, nature, Easter eggs, and shoes!, to name only a few….You are a gift to all of your readers…
I am going to link your blog to my new one…..Blessings, Cate

Love your blog – especially the animal pictures. I have seven cats and one big lab-mix dog who doesn’t like cats. Doesn’t that figure? All of my kittlebugs were rescued. I hope you’ll add the link to my blog so others might visit there. I have stories, pictures, games, music, recipes, etc. Thanks and keep up the good work.

Kady from Miamisburg Ohio

Hi Rebekah, I sure can relate to the "Easter Egg Dump", my grand daughter was involved in one from church. They stuffed 8000 plastic eggs with candy at her Wednesday night youth group and dumped them the following Saturday at the nearby elementary school field. When I dropped her off on Saturday to be the Easterbunny, I was surprised to see all those eggs just lie in the field, it looked like confetti and I had to laugh. "That’s not a hunt", I said, you could hardly walk on that field without stepping on an egg. But the kids seem to have fun. We did an Easter egg hunt at home too, that was a real hunt, we are still missing an egg, luckly a plastic one, we ate all the boiled ones. No odor.

LOL!!! My kitten is also called ELVIS!! After the KING himself, since I have been a big fan of his music since I was a little girl. My big brother was a BIG fan and has given me the Elvis bug, lol. SO when I got my kitty almost one year ago, naming him was very easy :0) 🙂

I would love for you to link my blog to yours, some way or other.
Here is my addy:

http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/

Hugs from Marian/dutchy on MJF

Rebekah
I enjoying reading your blog. We have 6 acres, and have just finished plowing our vegetable garden. Chickens are on the agenda in a couple of weeks, just need a coop built.
Please add my blog to your site
http://www.gardenchick.com/garden-blog

Just wanted to leave my favorite blog spot to share with you and add to your site!

http://www.melodynotes-melodynotes.blogspot.com

http://www.bythebayhandcraftedsoap.com
http://www.lemonverbenasoap.etsy.com
http://www.andsewitgoes.etsy.com

Thanks Rebekah !

LOVE….your blog too!!

My husband would agree 100 acres would be better, but I am very content with our 10. Hoping to get the chicken coop built this spring before starting our planting. We don’t really get to start vegetable garden until late May here in Michigan, too many frosty nights. Bought a book by Judy Pangman called Chicken Coops 45 Building Plans for Housing your Flock. I have one in mind, hoping its not too cute for husband to agree to. Never enough books, favorite magazines, flowers, grandchildren, family gatherings, I’m afraid my list could get rather long. I have a new blog site myself. Not a lot there yet, but I am having fun learning the ropes. brtowsleyblogs.blogspot.com

Please add our blog http://www.funkyjunksisters.blogspot.com

Beautiful. What else can I say? Simply beautiful. Thanks for writing.