I love the Little Free Library! And yours is so cute. The town I live in put out several of these at various places and they seem to generate a lot of traffic. I love reading and like you, I usually have a varied group of books by my chair. And I’m also known to have more than one book started at any time. When I finish a book or two, I make it a point to drop them off at one of the little libraries. I can only imagine what my life would have been like if I had had one of these close to where I lived growing up. I was an early reader but didn’t have easy access to new books, so I loved the school library and Bookmobiles.

What a wonderful idea! And i had no idea there was one almost right in my backyard! I will stop by and donate a few books tomorrow . I am always impressed but never surprised by your commitment to community and humanity. You are just a “giver” by nature Dori. Each blog post i read on Farmgirlbloggers always brings me back to center. In one way or another. Keep it up!!!
Hugs,
Kim

I just finished re-reading REDEEMING LOVE by Francine Rivers. It fills my heart every time I read it ❤️

Oh what a pleasant surprise to see your little library. I Want one so bad .
I love it tell your husband he did a wonderful job. Thank you for sharing.

Love this! I was surprised with an LFL for Christmas, and we had a grand opening in May. I love visiting other LFL’s, and am so happy to be a steward of a box in our small Iowa town. Happy reading and book swapping!

I had known about the Little Free Library and am sure you will continue to enjoy having made one. It was such a great idea from whomever started it! I am re-reading Susan Branch’s Fairytale Girl, Martha’s Vinyard, Isle of Dreams, and A Fine Romance. Loved them the first time around and I notice lots of things I missed this time. True stories of her life and travels, hand written and filled with pictures and her own illustrations. I think you would enjoy them.

What a cute idea! Your husband did a great job and I can see I’ve read some of the books you have in your little library. Wish I could do the same but there’s only 3 families on our Lane … so there would be hardly any traffic. I am reading “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” by Rachel Joyce. I’ve never read a book like it. The reviews on amazon were very good. If you like different kinds of books look this one up and see if it interests you–it did me!

What a sweet idea! I LOVE this and may have to steal your idea. 🙂

Probably the nicest gift she’ll ever get.

Happy Mother’s Day, Dori!
This letter to your mother explains a lot. A lot about who you are today. I can see where you get your creative talents. your patience, your passion for life and all things farmgirl, too. I can also see where you get your strength, perseverance and ability to devote yourself completely tho those who are in your care with joy, laughter and faith.
You are so very blessed! Now, I’m off to write my mom a letter too, but I’ll have to type it because my handwriting is awful! Love ya! Deb

You have a wonderful way with words!! A blessing for sure. I, for the last 60 years, wished my Momma a Happy Mother’s Day in heaven. I’m 73 now and have always wondered what it would be like,as an adult to have her around, so your writing and pictures give my heart joy. Happy Mother’s Day. God bless.

What a wonderful story Dori, thank you for sharing. <3 Happy Mother's Day to you and yours! Hugs.

This is so sweet. My mom’s been gone since 1999 and Ibhave those moments when I’d give anything just to hang out with her in her too-hot apartment and watching old movies that started her childhood crush: Gary Cooper.

You are truly blessed. Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mothers Day Dori! I believe that being a mother is the ultimate joy of any woman, to be the creator of a life, to cherish what we bring into this world. It is a miracle and it happens daily. A woman is blessed in many ways when she becomes a mother. Thank you for your letter to your mom.

What a lovely tribute to your Mother! I know her in my spirit! I know that as a woman of God her prayers are for me as well. I am so happy for the heritage your parents have given you and I am so happy to have had this email for encouragement even though I do not know you personally in this life. Thank you so much for this wonderful encouragement on Mother’s Day. May the heritage of your family last forever and on into eternity. God Bless!

Very pretty, love those clothes pins!

Wow Dori, you have certainly inspired me! How about sticking a lovely piece to your dog, or if your cat wears one, collar. Might as well dress up fidos leash while you’re at it. Could work for the show ring on livestock halters, too.

What a cute and easy idea. I would use it on a plain white shirt and change it out each time I wore it so I’d always have a different look.

That is such a wonderful idea. I send a lot of packages and I think that would be so cute! I love a personal touch! I can think of many ways to use the fabric in my little. Intake caper , Mary Jane. Thanks for the opportunity!!

I think this is the cutest idea. I have this giant clothes pin, the strips would be perfect for.
You could also put different edges on them and put them on doll skirts. like rick rack etc.
Thank you so much for sharing. I love this .

What a FANTASTIC idea! I am going to have fun with this. I also make homemade soaps and this will be a great way to dress up the packaging and kept closed!

what a great idea! I love it. I would never had known this great craft if it wasn’t for your site. I am always looking for new ways to use up a lot of my fabric scraps. I would love to be more creative.
You are a true blessing to all of us who read your site.
winnie J.

I see some really cute bookmarks, especially if they match a pair of pajama pants! Cute idea. Thanks!

I work with special needs children and would love to try a project using the fabric tape. I think the kids would be much inclined to create images or words with something colorful but easy.What a great idea!

What a great idea to use the smallest of fabric strips. I didn’t know about double sided duct tape. Thank you so much! Have a blessed day.

Beautiful! I think it would look beautiful to wrap around taper timer candles. Also, little girls could decorate flip flops!

I would use the tape with my Family Childcare children to make Mother’s Day gifts.

That is such a great idea, I would use the tape on my old wooden spools of days gone by.
I have been trying to think of ways to use and decorate them.
You always have such great ideas.
I love getting your letters, they are always inspiring.
Peggy

Oh, I also had another idea; for frayed or worn clothes that I hate to part with and love to wear, I could decorate them with this tape and cover up the worn and frayed parts, and just remove them before laundering. Save my clothes.

So many ideas in my head…im cant wait to do cards i mail!!! Bookmarks..n cards for christmas the grandchildren and i can make special cards for family members

First of all……I love your blog and have been following since you were building your beautiful home. I think this cute tape would be a great way to seal up those college care packages that I plan on sending to my granddaughter when she heads off to college in the fall.

Super cool!!! Besides fabric crafting I do paper crafting and use paper tapes, why hadn’t I thought of fabric tape – duh. Well my mind is going wild now, going to Walmart today and get the tape and away I go. I just put some chicken wire in an old picture frame to hang ideas etc. above my sewing machine and now I have the clothespins to do and hang this idea and some fabric tape from it. Oh gee on this cold/WINDY/snow on the ground day, this makes everything look brighter. You are a true inspiration. God bless.

Your beautiful fabric tape “recipe” looks easy. I would use this tape on the back of farmgirl mail I send out. A cute way to decorate the mail.

Love this idea. I am not an artist so I could use fabric tape on packages (saving money by buying white wrapping paper), cards, pots, etc. I also can use some shirts to cut up into strips. I am sure I will be sticking them on a lot of things. Thanks for the giveaway.

What a cute idea! I love your quick and easy projects. I am doing a Mother’s Day project with clay pots for my daughters and putting my grandkids’ pictures on the pots. I think I will used your fabric tape to accent the borders around the pictures. I am so excited! Thank you.
Joanne

what a clever idea! I make my own cards too so I loved that idea and would try that. I also like the long strips to use on wrapping gifts too. thanks for sharing that with us!

Wow I need some, and what a great way to use scraps, and also chic decorating idea.

I would use the fabric tape to trim my wallpaper.
Marilyn

What a charming craft idea! I use vintage clothes pins all over my house for a variety of things. They would look even cuter dressed up in these fabric tapes! Thanks for all of your terrific ideas!

Absolutely love this idea! This will be something to use at the Senior Center I volunteer at and a fun project for the Extension Homemaker Club to make and package for our yearly Country Store.

I’m so very happy for you, Dori! You look fantastic-fit and healthy- but also happy and proud, as you should! The head game is often the biggest hurdle, speaking from experience. Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

Your words & feelings about your fitness coach…I know EXACTLY how you feel. Years ago when I started my boot camp journey my coach was just like that. I never felt like she thought this dumpy, frumpy, out of shape gramma wouldn’t be able to do this!! You go girl!! Commit & follow through!

Great job!

Commit and follow through! Love it! I’m energized after reading your post…My daughter and I are starting a new program at her new gym Monday night! YIKES… I feel all the same trepidation you did! But i’m going for it! For her and for me!
Great job, Dori!
Keep at it… you are an inspiration!
xoxox Deb

Hello Dori,
I use to put a tea party on every year the day after Thanksgiving, because a lot of people had that day off. I have a lot of friends in the teaching field, so they couldn’t come during the week, and it was hard to give up their weekends to come for tea.
I did all the work, and told them to wear their favorite vintage or just wear black, (classy, but didn’t take away from the other outfits) and they loved seeing what people were wearing.
Thanks for sharing your tea party. Just love it, and setting the girls up to a life time of loving tea parties and going to tea!!!

Oh my goodness! How cute everything looks and the girls are adorable! I have grandsons so we don’t do the tea party but I do have girlfriends who would love a tea party, thank you for the pictures and the ideas!

Aw, Dori! Everything turned out so pretty! It is giving me some last-minute inspiration for the Valentine-making get together that my daughter (17) is having at our house with her friends!
Nicki @nicolecontent on IG

I love that you were honest about the hard things!! So often, we think that we should be able to do all things effortlessly, if we have the directions. 🙂

Love the purses!!! And, you decided to make them the night before. I can’t wait to read your tutorial.

What fun! Thank you for the delightful and inspiring post!

OOOOOooo such a pretty and inviting party!! Thanks for sharing it. What kind of tea did you serve? (Your cupcakes looked “divoon”) Maybe sometime you’d like to try my Zen Bear Honey Tea – possibly “Radiant Rose” or “Blue Moon” (blueberry, lavender, maca, nettle, red clover and red raspberry leaf) for an afternoon treat. Just let me know. Cheers, Lisa

What a lovely tea party. Everything is beautiful. Thank You for sharing. I look forward to seeing more of the pictures from the tea party.
HAPPY ST. VALENTINE’S DAY
Marilyn

Hello Dori,
I use to put a tea party on every year the day after Thanksgiving, because a lot of people had that day off. I have a lot of friends in the teaching field, so they couldn’t come during the week, and it was hard to give up their weekends to come for tea.
I did all the work, and told them to wear their favorite vintage or just wear black, (classy, but didn’t take away from the other outfits) and they loved seeing what people were wearing.
Thanks for sharing your tea party. Just love it, and setting the girls up to a life time of loving tea parties and going to tea!!!

Oh my goodness! How cute everything looks and the girls are adorable! I have grandsons so we don’t do the tea party but I do have girlfriends who would love a tea party, thank you for the pictures and the ideas!

Aw, Dori! Everything turned out so pretty! It is giving me some last-minute inspiration for the Valentine-making get together that my daughter (17) is having at our house with her friends!
Nicki @nicolecontent on IG

I love that you were honest about the hard things!! So often, we think that we should be able to do all things effortlessly, if we have the directions. 🙂

Love the purses!!! And, you decided to make them the night before. I can’t wait to read your tutorial.

What fun! Thank you for the delightful and inspiring post!

OOOOOooo such a pretty and inviting party!! Thanks for sharing it. What kind of tea did you serve? (Your cupcakes looked “divoon”) Maybe sometime you’d like to try my Zen Bear Honey Tea – possibly “Radiant Rose” or “Blue Moon” (blueberry, lavender, maca, nettle, red clover and red raspberry leaf) for an afternoon treat. Just let me know. Cheers, Lisa

What a lovely tea party. Everything is beautiful. Thank You for sharing. I look forward to seeing more of the pictures from the tea party.
HAPPY ST. VALENTINE’S DAY
Marilyn

I still cook w/ cast iron–someone gave me a skillet b/c she didn’t know what to do w/ it!

I finally learned how to cook with cast iron. My husband and 5 children have also learned the secret of non stick, baking, oven tested, used on the grill cast iron.
I have even learned how to bake a cake on the grill during the summer in cast iron to avoid heating my house!!!!

I love cast iron! I have a frying pan and a cast iron casserole dish that I bake my home made breads in. Nothing beats cast iron. I would to win this offer. Like everyone we all remember our family members cooking with cast iron and even on a wood stove. Bread is just wonderful in a cast iron dish. I hope others will be inspired to invest in cast iron. I am lucky that my pans are very old and treated with oil. thank you for letting us all have a memory to share with others. Winnie 🙂

I love this post!!! My comment about cast iron cookware is remembering my dad using the big cast iron skillet whenever he cooked!! Love that memory. When he passed away my second daughter said the one thing she would like to have was grampa’s cast iron skillet. She received it & uses it several times a week!! I may have to order this cookbook for her 😉 thanks much Dori!!!

NIce book, it is pretty!! I use my cast iron all the time, the light weight one daily!

Dori, I’m just starting to use my cast iron skillet and so far, I love it! The recipes in Mary Jane’s cookbook sound delicious!

I learned to cook using a cast iron skillet. I had to buy one of my own when I moved out! It is still used several times a week in my house, even all these years later. So much better than those awful teflon pans!

I love, love, love my Lodge cast iron! I use my 8″ skillet every morning to cook up a healthy breakfast for my parents and brother. Our 12″ skillet gets heavy use for dinner most nights (burgers, salmon, or steak on cast iron are wayyyy better than grilled or cooked on a different pan, in my opinion). I can’t imagine trying to cook without it!

My friends comment frequently that they use cast iron pans to cook their meals and I would love to try and learn new things. Using Mary Jane’s cookbook would be a wonderful way to experience the pleasures of cast iron cooking.

I have been using cast iron for 47 years, since my husband and I were married. Old cast iron is the best and I have a lot of it which we have collected through the years. My favorite piece is a Griswold Heart and Star Waffle Iron with the high base. Oh my, does it make the best waffles! I definitely am going to try Mary Jane’s Skillet S’Mores for my granddaughters!

I love my cast iron but certainly don’t use it as often as I would like. Thanks for this great giveaway!

I love your blog Dori, always so refreshing to read. Thank you.
I would love a copy of Mary Janes new Cast Iron Cookbook as I would love to gift it to a friend. I have a Beautiful Autographed Copy and I love it. It stays on my island so I remember to use it.
The biscuits are the best and now I will need to make the S’Mores, Dori got my mouth watering.
Thank you Mary Jane and Dori for the perfect giveaway!

I cook on my wood stove all winter long and only use cast iron pots!! Not only do they cook your meals wonderfully but they also add a shot of iron to all your meals!! Would love a cookbook!!!!

I have one cast iron skillet, and am still learning how to use it with many recipes. Hoping your cookbook will help me learn!!!

I love a blackberry cobbler made in a cast iron Dutch oven, the way my grandmother made them.

I own 4 sizes of cast iron frying pans. The 6 inch one was my Mothers. She would patiently stand and fry cornbread cakes for us. Her great grandchildren loved her cornbread. They also loved chicken tenders fried in the 12 inch pan I bought when got married 61 years ago. I have cooked thousands of tenders.

My Father in Law gave me a 9 inch when we got married. He said “Every bride needs a cast iron frying pan”. He was such a sweet man.

My 10 inch is the one I use for oven cornbread. Yum

My son loves and uses cast iron also. I gave him the 3 inch square pan that belonged to my Mother because he really liked the uniqueness of it.

I have got to get some cast iron pans and your cookbook! We have done Dutch oven cooking for years. We have cooked for family and catered for up to 450 people. I have never used any type of cast iron other than the Dutch oven. I can’t wait to order your cookbook and give cast iron a try. My father cooked with it i was growing up over the campfire. I can still remember those fresh caught fish sizzling over the campfire with my family gathered around. Add to the to Do list today… order a cookbook and find some cast iron pans. (If I am lucky, my dad’s old pans are in a box under the stairs!)

I told myself I did not need another cookbook–and then I saw this cast iron cookbook and knew I needed another cookbook! It looks like a book that would be used a lot!

I use my cast iron pan (my mother’s!) to make the most delicious frittatas with fresh eggs from my sweet chickens – there is nothing better.

I remember my mother’s cast iron pan; it was a little deeper than most and it followed her to every home and eventually ended up at her beach cottage where it was used for fish and shrimp and fried chicken and hush puppies. I have it now, 63 years later and it’s still going strong. I also have a quite a few more pieces that I buy whenever I see them unappreciated at sales and thrifts and find pleasure in bringing them back to their former glory and reseasoning them for use. It has only been in the past 2 years that I have started cooking with them again ( building up my wrists and arms ) and between the oven and stove top they are a constant. Your cookbook looks wonderful and I saw the flat cast iron pan pictured … I use mine for pancakes , but wonder now if you use yours for tortillas? Hope I win so I can try some new recipes and ideas in my cast iron !

I have just a few pieces. One small skillet we use to prep our tortillas for soft-shell tacos.
I’ve had it for 40 years now…love the silky smoothness of its seasoned insides!

I have definitely jumped on the home made gifts train. This year I have been working hard to make many of my gifts home made, but sadly I haven’t been able to do as much as I would like do to time restrictions. My goal for next year is to step it up and make many more things home made and plan a little better for the crazy busy time of the holiday season. Your home made items are beautiful and a huge inspiration to me. I hope to learn more sewing in the future so I can make some similar projects. I will join you for the new resolution for next year.

I, too, make it a point to make something every Christmas that is homemade. I have been doing this for decades and I often have friends say how much fun it is to put out all of the things I have made them over the years. I love getting homemade gifts too and you have a lot of great ideas on your list. Isn’t Pinterest a great place to get inspired? Merry Christmas, Dori, to you and yours!

Wonderful, inspiring ! I just love hand made gifts.

Wonderful, super ideas!! I too do the hand made gifting. One year I did purchased and welll, politely it was suggested that hand made items were expected. So that let me know what would be best BUT I was running out of really nice ideas until you posted and now next year will be started the first of the year. Again thank you so much for sharing your special ideas. God bless Merry Christmas.

Oh Dori — to be so talented, a gift from God. My mother did a lot of sewing and nearly all our gifts under the tree at Christmas were homemade, BUT, much as I loved her, she couldn’t hold a candlestick to your talents. God bless you more, sweet Dori . . .

Marvene

Thank you for such a beautiful writing! I absolutely ADORE Fall and Winter! Not that I don’t love Spring and Summer also, but Fall and Winter are my time of year. Crisp fresh air and brilliant sunshine, or cold and wet rainy, misty days — it does not matter. I love Rainy Days — soft and quiet or hard and stormy — either one is okay with me. But I seriously enjoyed your writing and photos and felt a sense of peace and comfort as I read. Thank you for sharing! 🙂

Love the gratitude in your post. Honoring the seasons is something i started to embrace with our cold Minnesota winters.

I love going to bed early in the winter and getting lost in sweaters and lots of layers. Lastly, the lack of bugs!

Thank you, Dori, for bringing to mind some of the wonders of Autumn and Winter. I retired Jan.1, 2016, but due to a small house fire, it has taken most of 2017 to finally experience the joys of being home. I still feel guilty when my husband goes out to work, but with all the cooking and reading I am doing, he is seeing how joyful I am.
I look forward to sewing again (and hubby looks forward to me using up some of the material I bought over the years).
Thank you again for sharing!
Laura

I hate winter time but you are right that it is truly a time for rest from farm work. I like your idea of sitting on the porch with a quilt as that is one of the things that I miss. This summer the mosquitos were so bad I did not get to sit out much. Hopefully, next summer. Until then I will read and work on my quilts, the same as you.

Dori, I could have written this myself! You and I are kindred spirits. Thank you so much for sharing you thoughts on this. Now I don’t feel like such an odd duck! P.S. I love what you write keep it up. Blessed fall and winter.

Dori, I never liked the fall when my kids were growing up. It meant the start of school and I missed having them around. Now I love the fall and winter. They are beautiful seasons. The crisp air and some snow. One of my favorite books is The Key Is Love by Marie Osmond. It’s a heartwarming story.

Dori, I don’t have a favorite book but I do read a lot. I also look at a lot of pictures of homes that are in the process or have been remodeled as we are still waiting on ours to be started on, the reason being—money. Soon I hope, soon it will begin. But I love fall with all the beautiful fall colors, the leaves on the ground (compost) and the last of the pesky bugs. I am hoping for a cold and long enough cold winter to get rid of some of the summer pests that we have. They are getting so bad it is hard to be outside to enjoy the summer. I love the photographs and your story. The walk in the woods and the trails are my favorite thing to do also in the Fall. I love to bundle up with hat, scarf, gloves and coat and breathe in the crisp cold air of an autumn walk in the evening. It is invigorating and to top it off with a cup of hot chocolate upon arriving back at the house. I also love winter and the snow that covers everything and makes it look so pretty and clean; at least until it is trampled by footprints and ridden on by snowmobiles and ski’s. There is a reason for every season and I try to enjoy every one of them. Happy Fall to you.

Have you ever used those little potpourri heaters to keep your favorite beverage warm? They’re safe, plentiful and cheap! I have one in the kitchen and one by my reading/craft/tv chair. In-line switch and “on” light make them convenient! Oh, and you can also use them to heat potpourri! Great year round.

I love Autumn and Winter. I feel the same way about Spring and Summer the way you feel about Fall and Winter. I like when it is cold and dark early so you can be cozy and curled up with a good book. I enjoy going back and rereading some of my favorite books from my youth. The “Honey Bunch”series,”The Bobbsey Twins”, all the Lucy Maud Montgomery series,”Little Women” etc.
Marilyn

Dori,
We had the exact same duck experience when we got ducklings for our kids 30 years ago! Later, we found that if we let them get to “teenager” stage, but not yet flying, they were more prone to stay at the pond when we took them down. That first bunch remained yard birds for years, though they would visit the pond by day.
Lovely memories!
Susan

Happy Birthday and thanks for the very funny story.

I think it’s adorable that your little duckies preferred their kiddie pool over the pond! It’s so funny how animals find things they like and stick with them just like us. Your floating duck house turned out so cute and hopefully your next set of ducks will decide to occupy it! In the mean time I bet the other animals enjoy it. Happy Birthday Dori! Enjoy your time with your family!

Oh, Dori. That was a fun read. I always wanted to raise ducks, geese, etc. for my children to experience a bit of farm life. Sadly, we sold our rural home before I got around to doing it.

Will the ducks stay the winter or fly south? Thanks for the post.

This is such a happy and fun duck story! Thank you for sharing it! Pam