Aren’t porches the best part of country homes? Your porches are awesome! Our western Montana home has huge porches facing east and west with a window wall on west with mountain view and French doors on east but I still have to spend a few moments (at least!) of every day hanging out on one or both of our porches! We also have minimal furniture, and like you a porch swing was an absolute! Enjoy

Thank you for the tour of your beautiful porches! At the moment our house has a very small front porch and an alright sized back porch. There is only room to lounge on the back porch but we avoid it most days due to the super hot sun and absolutely no shade. We talk about building a house in the future and I know a large porch is in my dream house. I want one where I can relax and watch the sun set in a rocking chair. I also want to make sure it has plenty of shade. We will see what happens! Thanks for the tip about heavy furniture. I would much rather not chase around furniture when a storm comes through! Enjoy your porching weather!

Oh ! So enjoyed the tour of your farmhouse porches. One thing I wondered about was not seeing any cats. I also live on a farm and find it so hard to keep it clean and tidy. Between the muddy boots and fly stains, I find it hard to keep up. Of course we use fly spray…but kitties are always on my chairs and table. Love some of your other ideas..like oil cloth on the picnic table top. But life on the farm is forever changing…mainly because of the weather. So thanks for the tour and great ideas…u have a beautiful place to call home.

Love your porches… To the best Grammy ever!

Got a question for you Dori. According to my theory (and a few things I’ve studied), I wonder if you have mosquitoes up there? Probably not, right?…I’m so curious.

Dori, you are blessed to be able to enjoy your home and “porches” at a younger age. They are truly beautiful. You are both are very talented!!

Aren’t porches the best part of country homes? Your porches are awesome! Our western Montana home has huge porches facing east and west with a window wall on west with mountain view and French doors on east but I still have to spend a few moments (at least!) of every day hanging out on one or both of our porches! We also have minimal furniture, and like you a porch swing was an absolute! Enjoy

Thank you for the tour of your beautiful porches! At the moment our house has a very small front porch and an alright sized back porch. There is only room to lounge on the back porch but we avoid it most days due to the super hot sun and absolutely no shade. We talk about building a house in the future and I know a large porch is in my dream house. I want one where I can relax and watch the sun set in a rocking chair. I also want to make sure it has plenty of shade. We will see what happens! Thanks for the tip about heavy furniture. I would much rather not chase around furniture when a storm comes through! Enjoy your porching weather!

Oh ! So enjoyed the tour of your farmhouse porches. One thing I wondered about was not seeing any cats. I also live on a farm and find it so hard to keep it clean and tidy. Between the muddy boots and fly stains, I find it hard to keep up. Of course we use fly spray…but kitties are always on my chairs and table. Love some of your other ideas..like oil cloth on the picnic table top. But life on the farm is forever changing…mainly because of the weather. So thanks for the tour and great ideas…u have a beautiful place to call home.

Love your porches… To the best Grammy ever!

Got a question for you Dori. According to my theory (and a few things I’ve studied), I wonder if you have mosquitoes up there? Probably not, right?…I’m so curious.

Dori, you are blessed to be able to enjoy your home and “porches” at a younger age. They are truly beautiful. You are both are very talented!!

Aw, Dori, love seeing these snapshots of your life on your farm…they tell a perfect story without words 🙂

Your pictures are fascinating and definitely tell a story without words! I would love to relax on the bed on the porch. It sounds so peaceful and calming. It’s calling my name! I would have to say my favorite picture is the one of the bird nest with eggs inside your husband’s boot. That is a crazy place for a nest but I would enjoy being able to look in and see how they are doing. Hopefully your husband was okay with sharing and had another pair to wear! Also, the picture of your puppy just melts my heart and your granddaughters are just simply adorable.

Congratulations to Judy on winning the potholder!

Oh Dori….Sometimes words are not needed to share the joy and happiness of a life well lived. To be thankful for the abundance in our lives are cherished with a grateful heart and passed along to those who need encouragement during times of struggle when there seems to be no hope. You are a blessing, to not only me, but many others who find the simply things in life the most rewarding. Your beautiful photos have said it all 🙂

Thank you for sharing so much of your life. The reminder about giving Thanks really struck home this morning! )

Oh yeah!!! a wonderful posting!!! I so miss seeing these times on the farm so you sharing is a real joy. I must remember to do the Give Thanks banner for my front porch and you have given me another idea to use some of my MANY antique buttons – Grandma’s button box, I will try to make up a bunch for my cousins – a memory and a fun item too. Thanks again for you. God bless.

Pictures are worth a thousand words! What a beautiful life you portray in your photos and captions. Thank you for sharing.

The photos are wonderful. My favorite is Belle, she reminds me of the best dog I ever had. Her name was Patches and she was always at my side. I am so glad you and your family have this opportunity to enjoy the country life. I now live in a city (Memphis) and miss the country so much. Have a wonderful summer.

Pictures say a thousand words, and yours are beautiful! Your farm and family give you joy and that is expressed in your pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Jillian’s story is my favorite. I will never forget my own grandmother sharing her talents with me. Today, as I pick up a needle or rug hook, I think of her and am grateful for the gift of creativity which she shared so freely with me.

Oh my this post just thrilled me! So many bonified quilters, real quilters! I loved Jaime’s comments, LOVED Jillian’s comments and her quilt, and fell in love with you and your Momma’s picture!

I just love all the pictures and descriptions of why people love to quilt. The fabric is what draws me in. My favorite quilt was done by my best friend who died of cancer several years ago. I draw inspiration from her talent and vision.

Dori, this is a fabulous post. I love seeing everyone’s pictures and reading their stories. Every single one of these quilts are absolutely beautiful, but if I have to pick one I would say Jamie’s purple quilt. I love the colors and design on the fabric. It reminds me of a purple quilt my grandma made me. This really encourages me to make my own quilt some day.

I don’t know which story I like the best either. I love the picture of Lisa tho!! I have inherited some old parts of quilts from my grandmother also. They are very imperfect but I have learned just to love them in all their imperfection because they are from her. I am making one of them into a wall hanging now.

I absolutely LOVED all of your winter quilts. Such an inspiration! But Jillian’s quilt and memory was my favorite! Makes me want to make time this summer to sew some up with our girls. 🙂

Dori, I enjoyed this blog post. I have been quilting for over 25 years. It is just a part of who I am. I loved Jaime’s comments. All of the ladies made beautiful quilts. After reading Maxine’s post it makes me want to pull out the partial finished quilt that I have that belonged to my husband’s mother. It is a Grandmother’s Flower Garden pattern. I’ve only hand quilted one large quilt. Maybe this is be my next winter’s project – finish the top and hand quilt. Thanks for your blog.

Loved all the quilts, I enjoy seeing what others do with fabric. There are no quilters in my family other than me, so for me the creative process is most important. I connect with Lisa the most. Thanks for posting the pictures.

All of these stories were near. I have & use my grandmothers quilts and look at the fabrics and wonder if it was a dress she wore or a shirt my grandfather wore. I’ve never made a quilt but I remember watching my mom & grandmother make one. I want to make one someday. I liked Kathleen’s story of how a friend helped her after a surgery. What a nice gift to get someone started as they recover and also maybe help take their mind off of recovery. I also liked the colors of her quilt. Very pretty!

You so inspire me! Thank you! Love all quilts! It is like covering family and friends with love So many beautiful unique ones to choose from- just can’t decide. Have a happy blessed day1

I Love quilts and make a lot of quilts too, so I love quilt stories too.

Wanda’s story touched my heart! I have 2 very dear friends whom I have known for nearly 32 years. I have been working 2-3 jobs for the last few years and have been able to do any kind of craft. I have dabbled in quilting in the past, but never finished a quilt. My grandmother was an avid quilter and made some beautiful quilts from only scraps. She would gasp at actually buying material to make one! I think I am going to try to make a quilt for my friends similar to Wanda’s.
Thanks for the inspiration.

Totally enjoyed this posting and all these wonderful pictures! I bet it was a treat for you when it all came together?…Thanks so much for all your work!
Keep me in mind for your quilted drawing please.

I connected with Luanne’s post the most. I often think about the women in the 17 and 1800s who stitched, cut, pressed, quilted etc. without electricity, a sewing machine (sometimes) fabric stores, cutting mats and rotary cutters, myriads of thread choices and I am in awe of them. What a labor of necessity yes but also love. So I am very much attracted to the old classic patterns and reproduction fabric. Quilting is timeless.

I feel so bad I didnt get to make one as I had accepted the challenge then we decided we were going to move so my entire house is packed up, but now we are not moving yet, so I will have to get out my sewing machine and dig around my tubs and boxes for material and make me a quilt. I loved every story especially the one the lady made of her three friends, and my favorite was the pic of you and your mom at the end, it brought a big smile to my face when I saw yall’s smiles. Hope I win some potholders, maybe then I will be inspired to at least try my hand at those. Be BLessed and thanks for sharing all of the beautiful quits and stories. Neta

The last photo of you and your mother brought tears to my eyes. My mother made many of those same blocks. I have one quilt top she made with them. Several years ago my mother and I spent time just like that embroidering quilt blocks. A memory I cherish now. Thanks for sharing.

I loved all the quilting stories. My Great Grandmother quilted all winter long beside the little ‘olé pot-belly stove. I’d sit there reading some book or other watching her knarled fingers pushing that needle in and out, in and out. I hated it when she disappeared into the bedroom to spread it out on her spare bed to do the batting and backing. I wanted to see what she was doing. I didn’t want to miss anything.* giggle* That sweet lady made so many quilts to warm my sister and I, relatives, neighbors and friends. All were done my hand in the “scrappy” style. They were so colorful and thick. I still have a couple of her quilts. Everybody who got one of Grams quilts really got a treasure to keep, a memory of a hard-working lady who gave so much of herself to others for their comfort and happiness. I have a bit of an itch to try to quilt too. I just need to start and to not be afraid. I think I’ll start something small. It’s in my blood right? *giggle* BTW, I love that picture of your and your sweet momma! That IS a keeper.

I think Jillian story is my favorite. Doing this with her grandma is a memory I’m sure she will never forget. For either of you. And she has something to show for it. Building such precious memories.

I loved all of the stories, but I think that Maxine’s story really touched me the most. Finding the quilt tops from her grandmother and finally finishing them is something that I will never experience. My grandmother did quilt a little, but she mainly done crochet and knit work along with many other crafts. She was very talented and I never really took up any of the crafts from her. Now that I am older, I wish I would have.

Bonnie’s quilt was my favorite. I love anything to do with history. Thank you for all the photos and stories of the various quilts.
Joan

The quilts you do are very beautiful and inspiring. Keep up the good work.

I can relate to Maxine’s more because I have quilt top that was pieced by my grandma… I think…lol. It could have been by my mother. Neither one of them were quilters that I know of, but this top showed up at my grandma’s house somehow. I had to find fabrics that blended and colors that matched to make it large enough, and that took me forever. I will start hand quilting it soon for my grand daughter. My own daughter will be helping me quilt it… That is truly a multi-generation project. I love the picture of you and yr mother too. That is a wonderful memory!

Loved all the stories. I have been a quilter for 30 years plus and can relate to each story, collectively they have inspired me to find and finish a pile of blocks my mom started about 20 years ago. I know I still have tucked away in my stash, and I know I can finish it and then give it to her in time for her 84th birthday. Thanks to you all for the inspiration.

I really really LOVE your kitchen! I could “live in it” easily! Thanks for the tour!

Dori!!! Oh what a breath of fresh air your post is today. I felt like I was right there with you. It’s raining in New England and dreary out. You and Eldon did a fantastic job designing your kitchen. ( look out Chip and Jo )! I love your colorful accents, and farmgirl details. Every little thing is thought out to perfection. I dream of an open, inviting floor-plan in our next home where our adult children and grandchildren can gather together without feeling cramped. I love how you say, the love flows into the other rooms. What a warm thought. I bet it does and then some!
You are blessed and it’s well deserved. Farmgirl hugs!
I’ll miss your twice monthly postings… 🙁
They are always a mood lifter!
Hugs,
Deb

I love your kitchen! I hate my kitchen and I am constantly just thinking how nice it would be if I could remodel it. The other day my husband actually said he might do it this summer. That would make me a happy farm wife. Thanks for sharing yours with me and my glass of sweet iced tea!

Oh Dori, Love your kitchen. Again, you and I are so similar in our tastes. I also, have an antique enamelware basin in my sink, lol! Your kitchen is beautiful and so bright and happy. Love, love, love everything about it! Wish I could have a cup of coffee and pie with you! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole (Suburban Farmgirl)

It’s pouring rain here in Petaluma, Ca and we need it so much with our 4 years of drought, so I took you up on your offer and made a hot cup of chai tea.

Loved your share of this is the house that Dori and _____________ built.

If you ever make it out our way or to the S.F. Bay Area (we are an hour north of S.F.) come visit. You and your family have a place to stay, and we could share our build with you!

Binky, Petaluma

Oh Doris….I want a kitchen like that!!! It is -soooo- perfect! Thank you for the tour, story and the coffee! I thoroughly enjoyed my Farm-girl visit!

Love your kitchen

Yes, I love to send home-made cards. And guess who gave me the ideas I use—You!

Thanks for all the great tips you give us.

Take care.

Emily

And it was so much fun! And delicious! Used a handmade card this week to send my sil a Thank you note. It’s so fun to have a stack on hand.

I WANT to but seem like I need a shot of creativeness in the card area:)

Sadly, I don’t make them (that’s gonna change now!), but I do love sending them. It’s a lost art. I love finding pretty vintage postcards with sweet sentiments written on them from way back when, especially holiday ones.

I have making cards for about 20 years now. A friend and I used to go to large stamping conventions and glean wonderful ideas and of course BUY. Consequently I have 3 large vintage picnic baskets full of stamps and a rolling set of craft drawers with all the papers, stamp pads and accessories. And shame on me – lately I have been buying cards! Perhaps with the inspiration you have provided I will get back to making!!

I do send notes of encouragement cards but never have made my own. This is something I do believe that I would enjoy doing and may have a night of crafting with my mentor ladies! Thank you for sharing!❤️

Yes, I make cards. I love making them. I made 16 Valentine’s cards and sent them to friends. My grandson had to make Valentine cards for his classmates, it was a fun day together creating cards.
Marie

I use to make cards with my 2nd graders but haven’t done the creative ones you do. Need to come see you!

We do make cards, especially for Valentine’s. I think handmade Valentines are much more special than ones you find at the store. I will be teaching a class to our homeschool group this spring on how to make your own cards. I think it will be a lot of fun!

Hi Dori, this post really hit home for me. I spend most of my free time making and sending homemade cards. I believe you even received one from me. This is such a rewarding as well as super fun hobby. You always need cards, so why not enjoy making them yourself. I also agree that collecting card making supplies is part of the fun and so easy to get carried away with…but you can never have enough and there is always going to be that really cute stack of paper that you MUST have! Thanks for sharing your party….it looks like it was so much fun!

my sister and I enjoy getting together to make cards – the laughter and time together is as important as the cards we end up making!

Love your party ideas! Homemade cards are the best & I try to make them as often as possible.

Yes, I love sending cards in the mail!! Mostly birthdays, and thank you cards! Cute giveaway!

Such a fun post!! Thank you for sharing….what a neat idea for a gathering!! I have raised all my girls that a simple Thank You note or Birthday note is very important and I have pointed out that the recipient appreciates the time and effort put into to it. I love the handmade cards and you have given us such great fun ideas. We have a Hobby Lobby close and I need to remember to get in for the 50% sale! Thanks for the info and thank you for sharing your excitement!!

I love to send cards, although they aren’t always homemade, I try to write a note in each card I send.

I adore the personal touch of handmade cards (and any item handmade honestly) I firmly believe in writing letters & cards. I think everyone should open their mailbox and find a smile on a regular basis (not just bills & junk mail) I have collected quotes for years that I use to add a personal touch when sending a card, gift or letter

I must do like you have and get all my supplies collected into one container! Loved this post–a great ladies get-together idea!

Homemade cards are so much nicer than store bought cards. Thanks for the giveaway.
Joan

I have been scrapbooking for years & just started making my own cards. So much fun! I love sending them to my kids who are away in college. I am actually going to a card making party this weekend.

Oh what fun! Would love to be your neighbor and friend! I enjoy making and sending homemade cards. It’s my winter project to brighten up the dreary weather and long nights in the hills of Idaho. Thanks for the giveaway! Blessings!

Looks like a ton of creative fun! Love the idea and I just might copy it someday!
I have been a papercrafter for years, making cards, tags, journals and whatever else I could come up with. I have sold many of the papercraft things I make, have gifted them and use them myself.
I take great pride in sending my own cards! But I love to use other handmade cards too!
I’d like to enter your giveaway and thank you for the opportunity!
CJ

Oh my, Dori! You are truly inspiring! You have the BEST ideas. Love everything that you put together. Wish that I was there! 🙂 You know that I loved your original posts and that I started to make our own and sent them to family and friends during my cancer battle last year. Thanks so much for sharing your heart, sweet friend.

I love sending cards! I used to buy store bought until two years ago when I realized I had paid $4.99 for ONE card! Mama on a budget started making her own! It’s been fun. And now my babe is 3, so he “helps” with the art and decorating. Too fun. Love the look of your cards and LOVE the idea of a card making party! Too fun. I’ll have to gather my girlfriends for a day of fun like this! Thanks for the inspiration!

I think we should re-introduce card sending. It is so special to receive one in the mail from someone you know in the midst of all that impersonal junk mail. And when it is hand crafted it is over the moon. I don’t make many cards. Wish I did. They are lovely. I do send some handmade thank-you cards after our clown troupe has performed for a group. I hand-craft a simple envelope in a bright colored paper and put a clown sticker on the back. I think that sets our brand as special. Please keep up all your good work and inspiration.

I love it. Looks like so much fun. I love geting cards in the mail and sending. They just mean so much more than an email or electronic card. 🙂 Great job! Neta

I’m up for the challenge and have many yards of fabric just waiting to be used!

Your blog is just right up my alley. I love making quilts. I am going to start on Lori Holt’s vintage farmgirl designs. I am also designing and will be making the 125th Anniversary quilt for the Minnesota State Parks and Trails. I’ll keep you posted.

I like this challenge! Thank you.

Good luck with your quit. I would love to learn to make a quilt. Jillian is a talented young lady. Her quilt is lovely. Thanks for this post. I will be looking forward to your future posts and your progress.

I’ve made a couple of simple baby quilts but not having a clue what I was doing, I didn’t consider myself a “quilter”. Then I finished my first full sized, start to finish quilt at Christmas – made for a dear friend as a thank you gift. It took much longer than anticipated, I am easily distracted, but I put the sewing machine pedal to the floor and did it. Thankfully, in one of the many quilting tutorials I watched, the host said something that became my mantra: “It’s better finished than perfect”. Yep. I’m gonna pull that out again and take this challenge. Ha! There are going to be a few imperfect (but finished) quilts out there before long… I hope.

Sounds like fun. Count me in. May not be as fast as you though.

Typo error in my email. I corrected. Thank you.

I want to become a Ranch Farm girl at Mary Hanes Farmz.

Dori, this blog is fascinating! But I must say I now know more about calving than I previously thought I wanted to know. After all, I am – or was a city girl. Thank you for my education!!!

Loving country life!
Kris

Here I am in Anchorage, AK wishing I cd see the new baby…really enjoyed the blog, Dori!! I’ll bet Jillian and Rosetta love it!! Thanks for sharing with us city girls who have country hearts!!

Dori, I remember calving season while growing up. First of all, as a girl, I could not go in the barn if a cow was calving – really?! It was sex ed on the farm, but my Dad sheltered me from it! But oh, I got to clean up all the shi#??. Poopy rugs to shake, coveralls that smell like they’ve been walked and pooped on by the cows themselves, etc. Would I change those experiences? Not for a million bucks. Seeing the calves’ cute faces and antics on a sunny day were so much fun. Enjoy!

Aww, this city girl has only seen lambs, pigs and a lot of puppies born. So, i too, would be pretty anxious to witness a calf. On a side note, i delivered each baby with a storm.

Hi Dori! We were waiting for our “CC” (Christmas Carol) to calf earlier this week and I was so worried she would wait for this blizzard! She was born on Christmas Day herself several years ago, and has had her calf every January since since she turned two! What a good cow! Anyway, she was wise and calved on Thursday morning, and has kept her baby bull in the run in shed since the snow started! Smart girl since we are expecting over two feet of snow! So I totally understand your stress! So glad your 88 did her job well too and has a lovely baby to show for it! Stay safe in this awful weather! ❤️

Dori, thank you for sharing. I have never seen any animals being born. This was very interesting to learn. My husband helps out on his uncle’s farm so I quizzed him on your signs! I asked if he knew how to tell when a mamma cow was going to have her baby and he listed them all! Looks like I need to take a field trip out to the farm and see some mamma cows!
I hope baby gets here soon and safe!

Yep, I’m certain of it ~ if I had the good fortune to live the true farm life, I would be just like you. Worry, stalk, worry some more, stalk some more. Hope, hope, hoping that the storm doesn’t stop you from being able to personally welcome little #88.1!

Oh Dori, does this bring back memories. Several years ago I lived on a little farm in Idaho. Had my darling, precious Jersey milk cow, Nancee. What a sweet, gentle spirit she was. I obsessed over that cow consistently. Yes…especially when she was getting ready to calve. I had forgotten how nutty I was and all the “signs” I would look for. Thanks for bringing those precious memories back to me. Yep..like trudging out to our little barn to milk at 5:00 a.m. and it’s -15. Wouldn’t change it for the world!!

You have no idea how much joy you bring me. I look forward to your blog posts, and I am continuously inspired by your creativity. Thank you!

How delightfully creative! You are blessed with talent and the time to be creative. Thank you for sharing your wonderful work.

I’m with you! Everyone got super warm slipper sox from me this year. We sure need them, the snow and cold have been relentless here in Colorado. I love your posts! Thanks for sharing with us!

Dori,
It is I who thanks you for blogging. You are always an inspiration. I must admit I’ve borrowed many of your ideas and this blog has a couple I will also borrow. Thanks for your creativity. God bless.

Love to read your blog Dori. It’s always informative and well written. I love hand made gifts also. Something doesn’t have to be elaborate to be from the heart. Love the picture of you two. It’s always fun to make new friends. Happy New Year.

I love this post as I do all of yours in the past. It is such a joy and treat. One of my goals in 2016 is to try to learn to sew. i admire your talent and ingenuity. Thank you for the posts you put on this blog. Wishing you and yours a Happy,Healthy New Year full of blessings.
Marilyn

Dori, I totally agree that handmade gifts are truly gifts from the heart. I was fortunate enough to receive your handmade dish cloths and think of you each time I use them. My gifts are almost always handmade or homemade and most everyone is so appreciative.

The towels you made for your grand-girls are absolutely adorable! Thank you for sharing so much of your talents and creativity with your readers…it is almost as good as a handmade gift!

Yesterday, my husband asked for my ‘Mexican Lasagne’ which I haven’t made for a couple of years – very similar to yours … and I must try the springform pan. We’re all craving comfort food at this time of year !

Happy Holidays, Dori, to your family from ours!
Probably one of our favorite comfort foods is Shepherds Pie, topped with cheese and a layer of ketchup. 🙂
Take care and stay warm!
Love,
Colleen

I will definitely try this recipe…we love Mexican!
Susana

We had ham and turkey for our Xmas meat. My sons wife and grandsons wife brought the rest of the food. I did bake 2 pumpkin and 1 pecan pie for dessert

Her Dori, my best friends mom was from Mexico, and she taught me a lot about cooking, so I too like mexican for my go to whenver I am sick or just get home from vacations, I always go to my mexican food. I make my own tortillas, and tamales. Growing up, we always had pinto beans and cornbread like Deb, so I turn to that alot. Raising my boys their early years as a single mom, we turned to those beans and cornbread a whole lot. 🙂 My boys are not so crazy about them anymore but I still love them they give me comfort knowing that they were something I could always afford to feed my boys. Hope you had a Merry Christmas and now I gotta try your recipe. Be Blessed. Neta

looks so good, I’m going to give it a try soon! thanks!