enjoyed your simpler joys in life! I’m always looking for new antique places to visit in TN, what area were you referring to for your home town, if you don’t mind me asking. I’m in the middle TN area. thanks!

Hi Dori,
Not much to say but a heartfelt echo of all you just shared. Your posts make me smile every time.
Happy summer!
Colleen

Hi Dori,
My fav’s are: Sunrise over a hay or wheat field in the Summer, Sunsets at the Ocean and New Mexico, the red rock in Bryce cannon. The smell of new mown hay or grass, homemade bread just out of the oven, books that not only hold my attention but also make me laugh out loud, fresh juicy Tomato, peony’s in bloom, roses that still smell wonderful, my dog Sophie giving me her “I love you” soft eyes, the smell of puppies, the smell of horses that have been running free and come in for grain, and friends like you.
Hugs and blessings
Karen

Thanks for the email today! I used to paint furniture and fun signs like yours, but in 12/13 I was with my 91 year old Mom….she was very active …she tripped on a curb and fractured her skull and died 12 days later. I suddenly had three extra homes plus 4 more vehicles and a lot of responsibilities . I was overwhelmed…,put away my knitting and my art toys and gave myself to shock, grief and responsibility . The first year was hell and I missed my craft, but the inspirations were gone. Now after a year and a half, I am starting to “come back’….,life is hectic, but we are in a new home, a new lifestyle ( living in the country and growing grapes for wineries) and still trying to part with several houses’ worth of treasures ( you will not see me on hoarders).
I have been reading your blogs and it is as if I am hanging out with a good friend. The signs and your favorite things today…I feel as if I have turned a corner and creativity was awaken. Now making plans for a studio !!!
Thank you for inspiring me.
I’m baaaaack
Love to you
Kate

enjoyed your simpler joys in life! I’m always looking for new antique places to visit in TN, what area were you referring to for your home town, if you don’t mind me asking. I’m in the middle TN area. thanks!

Hi Dori,
Not much to say but a heartfelt echo of all you just shared. Your posts make me smile every time.
Happy summer!
Colleen

Hi Dori,
My fav’s are: Sunrise over a hay or wheat field in the Summer, Sunsets at the Ocean and New Mexico, the red rock in Bryce cannon. The smell of new mown hay or grass, homemade bread just out of the oven, books that not only hold my attention but also make me laugh out loud, fresh juicy Tomato, peony’s in bloom, roses that still smell wonderful, my dog Sophie giving me her “I love you” soft eyes, the smell of puppies, the smell of horses that have been running free and come in for grain, and friends like you.
Hugs and blessings
Karen

Thanks for the email today! I used to paint furniture and fun signs like yours, but in 12/13 I was with my 91 year old Mom….she was very active …she tripped on a curb and fractured her skull and died 12 days later. I suddenly had three extra homes plus 4 more vehicles and a lot of responsibilities . I was overwhelmed…,put away my knitting and my art toys and gave myself to shock, grief and responsibility . The first year was hell and I missed my craft, but the inspirations were gone. Now after a year and a half, I am starting to “come back’….,life is hectic, but we are in a new home, a new lifestyle ( living in the country and growing grapes for wineries) and still trying to part with several houses’ worth of treasures ( you will not see me on hoarders).
I have been reading your blogs and it is as if I am hanging out with a good friend. The signs and your favorite things today…I feel as if I have turned a corner and creativity was awaken. Now making plans for a studio !!!
Thank you for inspiring me.
I’m baaaaack
Love to you
Kate

My dear “sister” 😉 you are a delightful gal and so very much like me it is crazy!! Why do we do this to ourselves? So thankful for wise words out of the mouths of babes and your dear daughter. What a fun flower-filled summer you will have! 🙂 so wish I was close enough to stop by your stand!

My dear Dori,
I so loved this post! You ARE a flower farmer! With all it’s ups and downs and worries too, you and your flower farm will continue to bloom. Aren’t daughters just the best?
They always know how to bring us back to center when we start spinning, Don’t they?
Love and hugs!
Fom your flower farming and farmgirl blogging sister,
Deb

Dori,
I once read a saying that “out of the worst of situations a rose grows and blooms”.
Think of the Dust Bowl tragedy, the beetles, Hurricanes, floods, drenching rain that tears up the soil and all that is planted there.
You see dear Dori life can be so unexpected that we need to enjoy it while we can and not worry about all the things that befall those who choose to toil in the soil.
I love roses and I have planted many (now even through all the trackters and all the machinery- they are still blooming even with the tall weeds). But I was worned not to plant them because of all the things that go wrong. Well, even through some rust, bad bugs and all, they bloomed and smell so good. I just did not worry about it and they knew and responded for me. You see ? Just go with what ever is given you and you will be rewarded even though sometime it may be so hard to do.
Love and Hugs,
Kay

I love this post, but if your little cart goes missing, don’t come looking at my farm, as I will have it well hidden! Of course you cried; Nature can be a beast! If you didn’t understand that, you wouldn’t be a real farmer. But, as these things go, you will also have flowers. I’d love to see this patch of Wonderful, and I may come visit some day soon, if you’ll have me. The most beautiful flowers in your garden are your family!

Sorry to hear of your bad luck….the first time I grew zinnias they were plentiful, but then the next season they got root ROT and I got nil. I find its best to wait til after fathers day or plant the seeds at the top of a hill for the firstnplanting. Saves. And have better luck, as the hill will melt , if we get too much rain but the seedlings wont drown. Hopefully your next week plantings will come up. Its one good thing about zinnias, you can plant them every week. And cut them and more grow up.

I love seeing & hearing about your flowers. It’s always hard to have something we put alot of effort into not turn out just right tho, isn’t it! Even if it’s “just flowers” (which are not “just” at all) You have put so much time and effort into your business, and brought so much happiness to others, I can see. Even those of us who can only view them on-line. Everything takes time to learn & work out the quirks, and in nature, so much is out of our control even then! Happy farming!

Dori I too love zinnias. I live in Virginia on the Eastern Shore. I have grown zinnias and they grow well here sometimes. I have the most luck with cosmos, but they aren’t good for cut flowers. But when I look at the little barn, when I am coming up our lane It Is pretty and this is a welcoming sight for visitors to see. these cosmos come back every year and reseed. they are orange and yellow. A good ray of sunshine to see. Love your cart and you always have a great blog. Hugs Juanita

Great post, Dori! Your as normal as any other farmgirl who loves hay and is curious about all things FARM! Great shot of your grand girls ‘ jumping the bales” and I have to agree… the hay rake looks like a beautiful piece of sculpture. Thanks for sharing your fun farmgirl life with us from the ranch!
Hugs,
Deb

Very interesting I love learning how it is accomplished, even though I see it here in our neck of the woods all the time; Ive never understood the entire process. Thanks for sharing. Oh and the grandkids jumping the bales, looks like fun! Best, Kim

I started growing hay on a small 5 acre borrowed piece of land here in California three years ago. I love everything about the process. On the good years, I sell extra bales I don’t need for the year and use the money to buy my own haying equipment. I am now up to 4 implements that I bought from farm auctions and local farmers that have upgraded to newer pieces. I love learning how to fix them up and paint them in my signature colors of turquoise and grey. (Thats the farm girly side of me)!!

Maybe it would interest you that here “out west,” I get to watch the haying process too, and it is done MUCH more quickly than the midwest. I live in a somewhat rural town just east of the Rockies in northern Colorado (40 miles from Denver). They cut, toss, push into rows, and scoop up for bailing oftentimes all in one day! It is so dry here generally (although not this year) that they can do it this fast. It is rare that you see a field that has been cut and tossed and left for days to dry. They can cut the same field four or five times in a season if there is enough heat. We mostly see the rectangular hay bales being done here, although some do the round ones as well!

Thanks so much for sharing the pics, explanations and video of making hay. I’ve never known how it’s all done before, i find it all very interesting. The photos of your grand girls playing in the bales with mid flight photos are fantastic. Thanks so much. 🙂

Ah, that is truly wonderful and I’m so glad you can live your dream. But in all the posts I was looking for someone to say something about: the fragrance of newly mown hay.
When I was in high school we lived near a farm that would cut its hay and then put it into the rectangle-bales. As soon as I got off the school bus to walk home (yes, we were not deposited at our door! lol) I could breathe in the wonderful, sweet, sweet aroma of that newly mown hay. There is nothing like it…
And how wonderful you can have your grand babies there to share this.
My own grandparents were “poor dirt farmers” on both sides and I will never forget going to their farms and loving it! : ) I never wanted to back to town!! They didn’t have hay but the farms around them did. I can remember walking to a friend’s house and being surrounded by that utter lovely fragrance.

My beloved aunt’s name was Dori… ( full name was Deloria)

When I see a field of baled hay it makes me want to stop and take a picture, I can’t think of anything more “country”! I’m wondering, where do you store your hay bales during the winter? Your grand girls are having so much fun and Belle is loving it too!

Great post! Loving the farm life too! Can’t imagine how hard the old time farmers had to work! Soo country! Love the large bales! Your granddaughters look like their having a ball ! And your dog too! We have a alfalfa damn too! In Idaho! This will be our very first cut next month! We are so excited! Take care,Cindy

I love Dennison’s strawberries!!!!!!!! We live close to them too!!!
I really enjoy your post in the Farmgirl blog and can’t wait to visit your little wagon for Fresh Flowers this summer. I planted Zinnia’s this year too in our garden!!

Hi Dori,
I finally have the time to read your blog again. I have finally moved in to the rental. I worked for 15 years in the office of NORPAC FOODS in Stayton Oregon. Right about now they are getting ready for our strawberries season also. I do not know if you ever saw it in the market but their frozen foods are under the Flavor-Foods label and the canned foods are under the Santiam label. When I buy Strawberries I go to the little stands like you. For a lot of years I made freezer jam with them. Even in winter you would get a taste of the strawberries out in the fields. You are making my mouth water. For the past 2 1/2 weeks it has been raining or cold. Not good strawberry growing or picking weather.
Hugs Kay

I have been communicating with Wayve Dennison by email for several years now, starting when she inquired about real estate in my western North Carolina area. Her beautiful daughter, Nettie Grace, spends as much time as she can at our local John C. Campbell Folk School, and Wayve would dearly love to purchase a getaway cabin nearby–not that she has much spare time, as you found out! Last year I finally got to meet her in person, and she brought me some of her fresh strawberries. With a doubt, they are the best that I have ever tasted, and Wayve is just an amazing person!

I love Dennison’s strawberries!!!!!!!! We live close to them too!!!
I really enjoy your post in the Farmgirl blog and can’t wait to visit your little wagon for Fresh Flowers this summer. I planted Zinnia’s this year too in our garden!!

Hi Dori,
I finally have the time to read your blog again. I have finally moved in to the rental. I worked for 15 years in the office of NORPAC FOODS in Stayton Oregon. Right about now they are getting ready for our strawberries season also. I do not know if you ever saw it in the market but their frozen foods are under the Flavor-Foods label and the canned foods are under the Santiam label. When I buy Strawberries I go to the little stands like you. For a lot of years I made freezer jam with them. Even in winter you would get a taste of the strawberries out in the fields. You are making my mouth water. For the past 2 1/2 weeks it has been raining or cold. Not good strawberry growing or picking weather.
Hugs Kay

I have been communicating with Wayve Dennison by email for several years now, starting when she inquired about real estate in my western North Carolina area. Her beautiful daughter, Nettie Grace, spends as much time as she can at our local John C. Campbell Folk School, and Wayve would dearly love to purchase a getaway cabin nearby–not that she has much spare time, as you found out! Last year I finally got to meet her in person, and she brought me some of her fresh strawberries. With a doubt, they are the best that I have ever tasted, and Wayve is just an amazing person!

I don’t have any vintage pyrex but I have been slowly replacing all plastic containers after I realize plastic containers hold not only smells but mold. Pyrex is all I use on a regular basis.
I wish I kept my mothers as she had quite a few pyrex. I loved the contemporary variety and sizes. I just love the custard dishes for puddings. I wish we had a pyrex outlet store near me. The only place I can find pyrex is at Walmart. They had a black friday sale at Christmas time and I bought quite a few
sets. Gave them as gifts too, as I want my kids to be healthier and not use plastic. I love pyrex! I been sold on it fir sometime. If only people would realize the danger f using plastic, they’d stop using it.

I learned that mold and mildew grow in plastic and it also gets ingrained into the plastic so its never really clean. The fungus and mold survives in minuscule amounts. I first notice it in a water container. It appeared as a crack at first’ then it grew. You could literarily see the verbs of the fungus on the container. It was then I vowed I would get rid of all plastic cobtainers as they are unhealthy vessels for microbes to grow as it eats into the plastic. No more plastic for me! Only pyrex!

i had the colored nesting bowls-unfortunately my red one broke….do you know of a good source for replacements?!

Thank you,
Raymie

Congratulations!!!! What a great encouragement you are to me!

My husband and I finished right behind you all!
I was just happy to finish. I didn’t train as well as I should have for this race but hoping to run another one in October in Winchester!

Congratulations! That’s quite an accomplishment. My latest is teaching a semi-monthly chair yoga class to the folks in my senior apartment building. On Saturday the 25th, I will be the keynote speaker at the Relay for Life (my 8th) and leading the Survivors Lap before staffing the survivors tent. The Relay begins at 2 on Saturday and ends at 2 on Sunday. Teams take turns on the track for the 24-hour event to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. And this year, I will be a two-time cancer survivor (liposarcoma and breast cancer). It will be such fun and I’m so very happy to help.

Dori, that’s incredible! Such an achievement! Good for you!

Tomorrow is my very first 5K, Dori! Thank you so much for your blog and encouragement- I am 48 years old and this is the first athletic activity I have trained for other than riding ( dressage horses)- fingers crossed I don’t get trampled! LOL!

My husband and myself were near the 6 mile Mark standing beside the road cheering ya’ll on. I had a sign made for a family friend, Janice. Our Chickens were cheering yo on as our chicken house is near the Lois Ridge Rd. We cheer the runners and walkers on every year. Congrqts on your finish time.

I have never done an official marathon, but have run-walk many K5`s, but have walked many a mikes and many times further. As a teenage I have walked from Niagara Falls, Ontario to St Catherine’s , Ontario..,.quite a walk and then swam at a Prudhomes swimming resort.I miss those days…had MORE energy in my younger years.
Haven’t run in a while as my running mate is no longer able to walk let alone run.hate doing anything alone.
As long as you can do the walking-running, do it! But don’t wear brand new sneakers the day of the/race.
Your sneakers look neat. What brand are they? They look comfortable. Congratulations on your time! Its about my time for a 13.5 walk….. I did that the last time I walked to Walmart. Now I just have to drive, they moved the store….its further away and I’m not walking another hour just to go to Walmart! But IRS a good incentive…. to walk. Keep up the good work….and I know what you mean about rolling hills. They give you a work out.,..used to go…cross country skiing, now that’s a great leg workout! If people walked more, we wouldn’t have so many obese people in America.

Woot! Woot! Great job, Dori! I’m so proud of you and your husband. We ( my hubs and I ) are not runners but we love walking. Our weather is finally cooperating for more outside time… I need to grab my handsome Yankee and get going! Thanks for the inspiration! Deb ( Beach Farmgirl )

Thanks so much for this! I haven’t had decent biscuits since my grandmother went to the nursing home.

Biscuits not just for breakfast, they go so well in a saddle bag/back pack/shoulder bag – all for taking care of the range, going for a slow n easy ride, taking a hike, a short walk down a new path – ahhh just good to have. I love them any way I can get them. Thanks for the reminder – haven’t done them in a while – will this week. God bless.

OH MY! I have made biscuits for years sometimes tweaking the ingredients, but now I must try your method of rolling and folding the dough! Thanks for the tips! Always love your postings!

Thank you so much for the tip of the frozen butter and the folding four times. I have the same recipe, but I am sure they will be much better now!!!

Yes to homemade Biscuits! They are the ultimate comfort food… My Dad’s side of the family are Texans.. I was raised on biscuits and gravy and while I don’t indulge in it too often I do enjoy biscuits and butter and jelly with fresh eggs, home fries and bacon… We love that breakfast! I’m trying your recipe.. better yet, move over and make room for me at your farm kitchen counter! I’m drooling over here! Thanks for the memories, Dori! Hugs and Happy Easter! Deb the Beach Farmgirl

I always enjoy your posts, and your biscuits look so, so good. I have to eat gluten free and have found great alternate flours for most things, but have not found anything that can compare with a good homemade biscuit. I can almost taste that biscuit and ham. If anyone has a good gluten free biscuit recipe, please share.

Hi Dori,
It’s the middle of the afternoon but biscuits sound good! Biscuits are one of the “go-to” foods to add to any meal for us. I often think of the times clear back when I was learning to cook and biscuits were always a staple growing up. There were many batches that were utter failures before I got the hang of it. (pie crust was another one) My brother and I would take the biscuits down to the duck pond in our little town, and even the ducks/geese had to dunk them under the water several times before they could consume them! I’m thankful my mom let me keep trying and my dad and brother kept eating. Because now cooking/baking is one of my favorite things to do. As my girls take turns in the kitchen off and on it’s fun to see them finally mastering certain things…each one has a “type” of cooking they like better, so that makes it even more “interesting” for the rest of us. 🙂 I’m so glad your writing and its fun keeping in touch this way. Have a great weekend!

Genius!! Thank you for sharing.
My favorite comfort food is Earl Grey tea with hot cream, sugar and a splash of vanilla, and warm, buttered, wheat toast. 🙂

I will definitely give this recipe a try they are Ray’s favorite with gravy for breakfast. I cook mine close together so will have to try it with these!

Ya making he hungry! Love biscuits or my mothers freshly bake bread…..they were my comfort foods growing up, but I guess smelling and testing fresh baked goods draws me backward and I get depressed more than comforted., so I graduated to consuming ice cream or popsicles.,..I feel the Need for some thing cool to comfort my tense belly. I get belly aches from too much sweet stuff so sugar free popsicles is my downfall.I eat two a night, double/studied popsicles. Or Hello cups or whoppers if I’m drawn yo having something that doesn’t melt….the only sweets I can get away with because they have ..,..lecithin in it and don’t bother my stomach as much..,.I ave a thing about chocolate…. if I can eat it, I drink it…..Nestles in almond milk with a slice if fresh Italian bread with apricot jam on it….only one slice mind you, as I can’t tolerate too much sweetness….my husband says I’m sweet enough for both of
us…

Must try your Mom’s biscuits, they look and sound delicious, Hope they freeze well. I’m often out of buttermilk, wonder how the vinegar buttermilk works with your recipe. Thanks for good eating.

Oh my! Dori, You have been one of my life’s greatest blessings. This is beautifully written, a lovely tribute to a amazing friendship. I laughed reading it..thankful again for all the laughter we’ve shared! I choked up too,.. remembering. Thanks a million thanks..big tight hugs to girlfriends everywhere. I love you

Thanks for posting. Looks like to had a fun visit. My three closest friends live in Pittsburg PA, St. Louis MO and Paris France. At one time they all lived close by. I miss that but you are right you don’t have to live close to stay close. I think I’ll go give one a call now. 🙂

I love how you have put down in words the feelings of my heart! You’ve described our incredible friendship perfectly! I count my self blessed to have 2 best friends!

What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing.

Great blog, Dori! Truer words were never spoken. My mama has always told me how having true, deep friendships with girlfriends is very important in life. I am lucky to say I have some really, really amazing friends, and am blessed to say there are a close few that I know I could call for anything, day or night. They are the ones that laughs come easy with, tears aren’t afraid to be shed in front of, and who know me so well it’s sometimes scary!

Love the pictures…looks like y’all are some beautiful ladies, inside and out.

Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole (Suburban Farmgirl)

Dori,

First of all, I want to say I have followed you and your daughter for some time now and I just truly love both of your posts. Such serenity and peace with each post!! I keep wanting to start a blog, but just haven’t done it yet. 🙂

What a beautiful post!!! Nearly brought me to tears. Good friends are truly priceless. I am a 22+ year cancer survivor (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) and I lost my best friend to cancer about 10 years ago. She was the friend that we finished each other’s sentences and could tell what the other was thinking just by a look. 🙂 We had numerous occassions where people would ask if we were sisters. After several times of explaining we were really good friends, Linda looked at me one day after receiving the “sister” question, smiled and said “yes, we are sisters”. From that moment on, when asked if we were sisters, we just smiled, gave each other that look and one of us would respond “yes, we are sisters”. To this day I can hear her voice and cry talking about her. I miss her tremendously but know she is with me every day! The beautiful thing is that I keep in touch with her sons periodically. She made me promise to keep an eye on them as they were not out of high school when she passed. God truly is amazing!!