Hello Farmgirl Friends!
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I want to thank all of you so much for all your emails and comments to me after my post in October about losing my dear friend Patti. I can’t even describe how much they meant to me.
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In thinking about this blog post the last few days, I decided what I really wanted to write about is just a simple little post on how the last month has gone for me and the few things I’ve learned through it all.
Continue reading
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Hello farmgirl friends!
This is a hard post for me to write, but somehow I think it will be a post that we can all relate to… and encourage each other in.
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Ten days ago, I lost a very dear friend of mine to a tragic car accident. Death is something that we are never prepared for; but when it comes so suddenly in a sobbing phone call from her daughter, Sarah, then it is almost impossible to grasp. Today I’d like to tell you about my friend Patti.
Dear Dori I’m so very sorry for the loss of your friend! What a beautiful person she sounds like! It inspires greater things in us, doesn’t it! It’s so hard.. I know quite well! Such precious memories.
Big hugs your way!❤️
I
I am so sorry for the loss of Patti. What a lovely soul she was. The saying is true that tomorrow is not promised; it sounds like Patti lived each day to the fullest. I’m so sorry.
Ramona Puckett says: Oh my goodness!! I’m so sorry for your loss, thank you for sharing your friend with us, Patti is an inspiration for all of us to be a better person, friend and momma. Surrounding all of y’all with love and peace.
Diann says: Ya know what is truly remarkable? The legacy of love she instilled in all of you. The example of her life lives on in all that she touched. That, I believe, is what living a life to the fullest is all about. How blessed you have been and will be because of her. “It will be fine.”
Jeanne Ballestero says: So sorry for your loss. Cherish all these beautiful memories
Kathleen Skilling says: Dear Dori,
Thank you for sharing the gift of your friend Patti❤️ What a beautiful person she was, who continues to touch lives by your sharing of hers.
Wishing you comfort and eventually peace in your memories of Patti.
Kim Rice says: I’m so very sorry for your families loss of Patti. And all her family and friends far and wide. Sudden tragedy is the hardest I believe. No time to prepare, no last words. Patti’s spirit and friendship will be treasured for many many years to come. Her life is one to be celebrated!! Hugs to all,
Kim
Rhonda Cavaliere says: So sorry for your loss. Patti sounds like an incredible person. She sounds like a great friend.
Rhonda
Mary Frances Rauch says: Thank you Dori for sharing your very personal story of this blessed friendship. This is one of those “forever gifts” that all of us are not fortunate enough to experience.
I plan to keep this post so I can go back and read it later (and maybe forever). I plan to think of Patti as “A great friend I never met.”
So generous of you to send this.
Lori Fresina says: Thank you for telling us about Patti!!
Marlene says: You’re blessed to have had her in your life for as long as you did. May she be at peace.
Judy says: Oh Dori,
I’m saddened to hear this kind of news.
Hang on tight to all those wonderful
memories, the laughter and the fun.
She would like that as a Tribute to her,
I think. I read a quote awhile back
that’s fitting for this moment.
‘God gave us memories that we might
have roses in December!’
True isn’t it?
You’re in my heart and my Prayers
girl.
LoveHugs&Squeezles
Cyndie Gray says: Keeping you close in heart as you navigate a loss such as this one ♥️
Tammy L Thomson says: The bigger the blessing someone is, the harder it is to loose them. What a wonderful , gracious and giving soul was your dear friend Patti. I am so sorry…..
Sharon says: Will pray for you as you grieve this loss; it is evident that her absence leaves a huge hole in your life.
Carol says: Dori … I am so sorry for your loss of such a cherished friend. Just remember how lucky you are to have a friend like Patti. She’s gonna leave a hole in your heart but what a great example she was to all who knew her. God Bless you as you learn to move forward with Patti in your life. I’m sure there will be many, many times in the future that you will giggle over something wonderful the two of you shared. Hugs, Carol
I’m sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing Patti with us. It’s a beautiful tribute to your dear friend.
Marie
Thank you for sharing the beauty of your dear friend and for your vulnerability. C.S. Lewis said, “We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” I hope his words offer you comfort, as they have always comforted me. I wish you the very best in your journey.
Gael Orr
Once Again Nut Butter
Dianna says: Deepest love and prayers of comfort for you and her family and friends! Grief isn’t for the faint of heart for sure. Its deep, cutting and can even be debilitating. She sounds like an angel on earth. Her memories will live in the lives shes touched forever There! There IS consultation knowing you will see her again. Promises from the Father. Hugs and love from Al.
Mary L Stayner says: Dear Dori,
I am so sad for you! I, too, have lost a dear friend that has left a huge hole in my heart. My mother ~ although she has been gone now for over 16 years, I still want to call her every night as I did for years. No one has her old land line number, so sometimes I call and talk to her phone. I know it sounds sort of silly…but find a way…I also talk to her through my prayers and occasionally, I talk out loud to her as I am walking, etc. We want to hold on to our loved ones. But, we also know that one day we will see them again.
May our Lord hold you in the palm of His hands and wrap you in His loving arms of comfort. Take care and God bless you!
Love and hugs,
Mary
Dori, you’ve given me hope with some of my friends. And Patti is a true inspiration to me and should be to many. To have a friend like that has to have been remarkable. I have a friend, who for what ever reason cut me off a couple years ago and hurt me terribly. There’s hardly a day that goes by that I sit and wonder why. Cherish all those fabulous memories. A friend like that is one in a million. We need to all take a page of learn From her beautiful life. I pray for strength for you, her family and the most fondest of memories to get through it all. ❤️
Charles Delcambre says: Dori, I’m with you. Beautiful post. I want to be Patti to the world. Lord help me, and ease Dori’s grief with your comfort!
Rebecca Henry says: Patti sounds like an amazing person, and this is a beautiful tribute to her. I’m so sorry you lost your friend. ❤️
Grief is love with no where to go. You gave your grief a place to land…in memories and photos and in the lives of people you will never know….like me. Everybody needs a Patty. May her soul fill your heart until you meet again.
So sorry for your loss. Your friend seemed a genuine, loving person.. Where is her husband?
Dori Troutman says: Thank you! Patti’s husband is here… alone in their sweet barn house on the lake. But their daughter and her husband live close and they are spending all the necessary time with him! He is well-loved!!!
Deanna Taylor says: Dori, what a loss a good friend can be. She was a beautiful person and was such a huge part of your life so losing her is very painful. Just remember, she will always be a part of your life..that will never change. I lost my best friend of 52 years almost 12 years ago and I still long for her. Then I think “What would my life had been like without her” and I am thankful. God Bless as you go through this dark valley.
Darlene Ricotta says: My prayers go with you and Patti’s family! She was a real treasure!
Blessings
Darlene
Patti sounds like my grandson, Todd, who was killed in an automobile accident 1 1/2 yrars ago. He was 27. My sister, Lisa, died the same way at the age of 27 in 1982. Patti also sounds as if she, like Todd and Lisa, like them, had the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). They were dearly loved by all who knew them and they loved in return. For me, the grief is so hard to bear and it’s never ending. My heart hurt so much I didn’t want it to beat again and overwhelming saddness is always just a breath away. But comfort lies in knowing who they were and how happy I’ll be when I see them again. And I know ”
the Rose Still Grows Beyond the Wall”.
Michelle Reid says: ~Sending much love and prayers~What a Beautiful tribute you have written~thank you for sharing Patti with us~
Susanne says: Beautiful Tribute to your friend! So Sorry.
LINDA B. LOVE says: I’m very sorry for your loss of a dear friend. I experienced this loss August 10th when my friend Margaret passed away suddenly. She was always ready to have fun together and do things for me unselfishly like bringing me various items from Trader Joe’s because there was none close to me. We traveled together to quilt shops looking for that special piece of fabric, to quilt shows, and to the beach in Galveston to spend a week making quilts for veterans to eventually present them. She was always ready to help and be a dear friend. I’ll always miss her. I know I’ll see her again because she loved our lord Jesus and was faithful to him.
Valerie Sijan says: Dear Dori,
I too have known this pain recently and empathize what you are going through!
I lost my best friend, ex partner, and touchstone a few months ago after he endured throat cancer for many months. Death seemed to be merciful in that case, but the pain of his loss was no less.
I imagine losing someone so quickly the way you did is even more traumatic.
One thing we can be sure of though, is that love never dies! We will all be together again somewhere in Time.
Energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed.
Our loved ones live on in a frequency beyond our sensory range in the human body.
You have wonderful memories of a splendid friendship!
Blessings to you, and may the shock and pain you are feeling now pass quickly.
Sending you Love and Light,✨✨✨✨✨✨
Valerie
Tina says: I lost my dear friend, Cindi, 6 years ago, to cancer. I’ve never laughed with anyone else like we did, all the time. This morning I poured my coffee into my fancy mug I bought to remember her- she loved classy and pretty coffee cups. I sat down to read your email and your story about Patti made me immediately think about Cindi.
I understand your loss is deep and you’ll always miss her, but what a treasure to have had her in all your lives!!
Xxoo
Treese says: Dori know that Patti may have left this earthly plane but she will never leave you. I lost my best friend 3 years ago on my birthday. I was running a race across Mackinac Island. I placed better that day than I ever have in a race. After the race my friend called to tell me Chip had passed away (she wouldn’t tell me before the race). I realized Chip’s spirit was running the race with me. Pushing me along and encouraging me. I know he is with me everyday and I will see him again on the other side.
I pray that your heart will heal and you will be left with happy and joyous thoughts of Patti.
Treese
Marla Hanna says: Sending you light and love during this difficult time. I do relate and appreciate your post. It reminds me that we are not alone in the sad times too. Peace and comfort.
I’m so sorry!! I know I fill your pain, lost my best friend of 40 yrs!! It took me a yr. To recover!! Many hugs!!
jonibee says: She has left her mark on a lot of hearts..Please accept my sincere sympathy. Reach out and touch somebody…
Jeanie says: I am so sorry that your precious friend is gone. This is a beautiful and thought provoking tribute to her life. You have been truly blessed to have had her in your life, and I’m sure your life is much better because of her influence. ❤️
Magdalena Tabor says: First I want to express my very deepest condolences to you and to Patti’s family and friends. She sounds like she was an exceptional person with a pure spirit. I thank you for sharing in your grief.
I lost my best friend several years ago. We were friends since age 12. I think of her almost every day. Even though we lived miles apart later in life, she was as close to me as ever. I know I will see her one day again. Much love to you. ❤️
Beth Gowdy says: What a gem of a person! I feel for her husband and family and friends to have lost such a joy in your lives. How lucky you were to have had her in your life. I just lost a friend, Terry, and it was shocking and sad. He was the one who got us all together and made us laugh and sing and there was not another like him. Now he and your friend are in the arms of God who cares for them.
Diane Parkhouse says: I am so very sorry . the sudden, unexpected loss of someone we love is the deepest pain a heart can feel … so final and there is nothing – nothing we can do to bring them back – almost more than the heart can bear. What a blessing to have shared your life with Dori.
Victoria Barlow says: Dear Dori,
My love and prayers goes out to you. I lost my best friend in a car accident 2 years ago. Although I have had to pick myself up and teach myself to carry on, her sweet memory still blesses me today. It maybe a long road for a little while, but remember there are those who care and share your feelings. The beautiful thing about sweet people like our friends is they bless in life or in death.
Heaven bless you!
Bonnie Ellis says: Dori, Such an incredible person most of us won’t see in a lifetime, yet you knew her. Loss is unmeasurable but the gift of knowing her will sustain you. God bless you.
I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Grief at any stage is hard, but when it is so suddenly i think that is the worst. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, and thank you for sharing the story of this remarkable lady. She sounds like someone we all would have been lucky to call friend. Hugs to you!
Dear Dori,
Many, many blessing shower you and Patti! God knows and hears her laughter and sees your tears.
Thank you so much for opening your heart to all of us in your time of sadness.
There are many rainbows that you and Patti are still able to share…..softly, lovingly, now and till you meet again! All my love Karen
May the Unfathomable Divine Mercy of Jesus be upon Pattis soul, and those of her family and friends in their grief ! She is still praying for all of you ! Sympathy and peace…
Oh my heart breaks for you and for me again as the memories come flooding back of losing my dear friend in a car wreck a few years ago. It will get better. You will eventually think of her with more joy at having known her and less pain at having lost her. But when they are angels in this life, it takes a while. Keep your chin up and God Bless. You’ll meet again on the other side.
Colleen says: Dear Dori,
I am saddened by your hurting heart. What a beautiful tribute you have written. Clearly, Patti was blessed to have you as her friend. I hope, over time, you will share more about how friends love each other well. I’m sure I could learn ways to be a better friend myself, from your recollections. Already, I’m inspired. Thank you.
“The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm34:18
Jimi Paderick says: A beautiful testimonial for a beautiful soul! Thank you for sharing.
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Hello farmgirl friends!
This is a hard post for me to write, but somehow I think it will be a post that we can all relate to… and encourage each other in.
.
Ten days ago, I lost a very dear friend of mine to a tragic car accident. Death is something that we are never prepared for; but when it comes so suddenly in a sobbing phone call from her daughter, Sarah, then it is almost impossible to grasp. Today I’d like to tell you about my friend Patti.
Dear Dori I’m so very sorry for the loss of your friend! What a beautiful person she sounds like! It inspires greater things in us, doesn’t it! It’s so hard.. I know quite well! Such precious memories.
Big hugs your way!❤️
I
I am so sorry for the loss of Patti. What a lovely soul she was. The saying is true that tomorrow is not promised; it sounds like Patti lived each day to the fullest. I’m so sorry.
Ramona Puckett says: Oh my goodness!! I’m so sorry for your loss, thank you for sharing your friend with us, Patti is an inspiration for all of us to be a better person, friend and momma. Surrounding all of y’all with love and peace.
Diann says: Ya know what is truly remarkable? The legacy of love she instilled in all of you. The example of her life lives on in all that she touched. That, I believe, is what living a life to the fullest is all about. How blessed you have been and will be because of her. “It will be fine.”
Jeanne Ballestero says: So sorry for your loss. Cherish all these beautiful memories
Kathleen Skilling says: Dear Dori,
Thank you for sharing the gift of your friend Patti❤️ What a beautiful person she was, who continues to touch lives by your sharing of hers.
Wishing you comfort and eventually peace in your memories of Patti.
Kim Rice says: I’m so very sorry for your families loss of Patti. And all her family and friends far and wide. Sudden tragedy is the hardest I believe. No time to prepare, no last words. Patti’s spirit and friendship will be treasured for many many years to come. Her life is one to be celebrated!! Hugs to all,
Kim
Rhonda Cavaliere says: So sorry for your loss. Patti sounds like an incredible person. She sounds like a great friend.
Rhonda
Mary Frances Rauch says: Thank you Dori for sharing your very personal story of this blessed friendship. This is one of those “forever gifts” that all of us are not fortunate enough to experience.
I plan to keep this post so I can go back and read it later (and maybe forever). I plan to think of Patti as “A great friend I never met.”
So generous of you to send this.
Lori Fresina says: Thank you for telling us about Patti!!
Marlene says: You’re blessed to have had her in your life for as long as you did. May she be at peace.
Judy says: Oh Dori,
I’m saddened to hear this kind of news.
Hang on tight to all those wonderful
memories, the laughter and the fun.
She would like that as a Tribute to her,
I think. I read a quote awhile back
that’s fitting for this moment.
‘God gave us memories that we might
have roses in December!’
True isn’t it?
You’re in my heart and my Prayers
girl.
LoveHugs&Squeezles
Cyndie Gray says: Keeping you close in heart as you navigate a loss such as this one ♥️
Tammy L Thomson says: The bigger the blessing someone is, the harder it is to loose them. What a wonderful , gracious and giving soul was your dear friend Patti. I am so sorry…..
Sharon says: Will pray for you as you grieve this loss; it is evident that her absence leaves a huge hole in your life.
Carol says: Dori … I am so sorry for your loss of such a cherished friend. Just remember how lucky you are to have a friend like Patti. She’s gonna leave a hole in your heart but what a great example she was to all who knew her. God Bless you as you learn to move forward with Patti in your life. I’m sure there will be many, many times in the future that you will giggle over something wonderful the two of you shared. Hugs, Carol
I’m sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing Patti with us. It’s a beautiful tribute to your dear friend.
Marie
Thank you for sharing the beauty of your dear friend and for your vulnerability. C.S. Lewis said, “We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” I hope his words offer you comfort, as they have always comforted me. I wish you the very best in your journey.
Gael Orr
Once Again Nut Butter
Dianna says: Deepest love and prayers of comfort for you and her family and friends! Grief isn’t for the faint of heart for sure. Its deep, cutting and can even be debilitating. She sounds like an angel on earth. Her memories will live in the lives shes touched forever There! There IS consultation knowing you will see her again. Promises from the Father. Hugs and love from Al.
Mary L Stayner says: Dear Dori,
I am so sad for you! I, too, have lost a dear friend that has left a huge hole in my heart. My mother ~ although she has been gone now for over 16 years, I still want to call her every night as I did for years. No one has her old land line number, so sometimes I call and talk to her phone. I know it sounds sort of silly…but find a way…I also talk to her through my prayers and occasionally, I talk out loud to her as I am walking, etc. We want to hold on to our loved ones. But, we also know that one day we will see them again.
May our Lord hold you in the palm of His hands and wrap you in His loving arms of comfort. Take care and God bless you!
Love and hugs,
Mary
Dori, you’ve given me hope with some of my friends. And Patti is a true inspiration to me and should be to many. To have a friend like that has to have been remarkable. I have a friend, who for what ever reason cut me off a couple years ago and hurt me terribly. There’s hardly a day that goes by that I sit and wonder why. Cherish all those fabulous memories. A friend like that is one in a million. We need to all take a page of learn From her beautiful life. I pray for strength for you, her family and the most fondest of memories to get through it all. ❤️
Charles Delcambre says: Dori, I’m with you. Beautiful post. I want to be Patti to the world. Lord help me, and ease Dori’s grief with your comfort!
Rebecca Henry says: Patti sounds like an amazing person, and this is a beautiful tribute to her. I’m so sorry you lost your friend. ❤️
Grief is love with no where to go. You gave your grief a place to land…in memories and photos and in the lives of people you will never know….like me. Everybody needs a Patty. May her soul fill your heart until you meet again.
So sorry for your loss. Your friend seemed a genuine, loving person.. Where is her husband?
Dori Troutman says: Thank you! Patti’s husband is here… alone in their sweet barn house on the lake. But their daughter and her husband live close and they are spending all the necessary time with him! He is well-loved!!!
Deanna Taylor says: Dori, what a loss a good friend can be. She was a beautiful person and was such a huge part of your life so losing her is very painful. Just remember, she will always be a part of your life..that will never change. I lost my best friend of 52 years almost 12 years ago and I still long for her. Then I think “What would my life had been like without her” and I am thankful. God Bless as you go through this dark valley.
Darlene Ricotta says: My prayers go with you and Patti’s family! She was a real treasure!
Blessings
Darlene
Patti sounds like my grandson, Todd, who was killed in an automobile accident 1 1/2 yrars ago. He was 27. My sister, Lisa, died the same way at the age of 27 in 1982. Patti also sounds as if she, like Todd and Lisa, like them, had the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). They were dearly loved by all who knew them and they loved in return. For me, the grief is so hard to bear and it’s never ending. My heart hurt so much I didn’t want it to beat again and overwhelming saddness is always just a breath away. But comfort lies in knowing who they were and how happy I’ll be when I see them again. And I know ”
the Rose Still Grows Beyond the Wall”.
Michelle Reid says: ~Sending much love and prayers~What a Beautiful tribute you have written~thank you for sharing Patti with us~
Susanne says: Beautiful Tribute to your friend! So Sorry.
LINDA B. LOVE says: I’m very sorry for your loss of a dear friend. I experienced this loss August 10th when my friend Margaret passed away suddenly. She was always ready to have fun together and do things for me unselfishly like bringing me various items from Trader Joe’s because there was none close to me. We traveled together to quilt shops looking for that special piece of fabric, to quilt shows, and to the beach in Galveston to spend a week making quilts for veterans to eventually present them. She was always ready to help and be a dear friend. I’ll always miss her. I know I’ll see her again because she loved our lord Jesus and was faithful to him.
Valerie Sijan says: Dear Dori,
I too have known this pain recently and empathize what you are going through!
I lost my best friend, ex partner, and touchstone a few months ago after he endured throat cancer for many months. Death seemed to be merciful in that case, but the pain of his loss was no less.
I imagine losing someone so quickly the way you did is even more traumatic.
One thing we can be sure of though, is that love never dies! We will all be together again somewhere in Time.
Energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed.
Our loved ones live on in a frequency beyond our sensory range in the human body.
You have wonderful memories of a splendid friendship!
Blessings to you, and may the shock and pain you are feeling now pass quickly.
Sending you Love and Light,✨✨✨✨✨✨
Valerie
Tina says: I lost my dear friend, Cindi, 6 years ago, to cancer. I’ve never laughed with anyone else like we did, all the time. This morning I poured my coffee into my fancy mug I bought to remember her- she loved classy and pretty coffee cups. I sat down to read your email and your story about Patti made me immediately think about Cindi.
I understand your loss is deep and you’ll always miss her, but what a treasure to have had her in all your lives!!
Xxoo
Treese says: Dori know that Patti may have left this earthly plane but she will never leave you. I lost my best friend 3 years ago on my birthday. I was running a race across Mackinac Island. I placed better that day than I ever have in a race. After the race my friend called to tell me Chip had passed away (she wouldn’t tell me before the race). I realized Chip’s spirit was running the race with me. Pushing me along and encouraging me. I know he is with me everyday and I will see him again on the other side.
I pray that your heart will heal and you will be left with happy and joyous thoughts of Patti.
Treese
Marla Hanna says: Sending you light and love during this difficult time. I do relate and appreciate your post. It reminds me that we are not alone in the sad times too. Peace and comfort.
I’m so sorry!! I know I fill your pain, lost my best friend of 40 yrs!! It took me a yr. To recover!! Many hugs!!
jonibee says: She has left her mark on a lot of hearts..Please accept my sincere sympathy. Reach out and touch somebody…
Jeanie says: I am so sorry that your precious friend is gone. This is a beautiful and thought provoking tribute to her life. You have been truly blessed to have had her in your life, and I’m sure your life is much better because of her influence. ❤️
Magdalena Tabor says: First I want to express my very deepest condolences to you and to Patti’s family and friends. She sounds like she was an exceptional person with a pure spirit. I thank you for sharing in your grief.
I lost my best friend several years ago. We were friends since age 12. I think of her almost every day. Even though we lived miles apart later in life, she was as close to me as ever. I know I will see her one day again. Much love to you. ❤️
Beth Gowdy says: What a gem of a person! I feel for her husband and family and friends to have lost such a joy in your lives. How lucky you were to have had her in your life. I just lost a friend, Terry, and it was shocking and sad. He was the one who got us all together and made us laugh and sing and there was not another like him. Now he and your friend are in the arms of God who cares for them.
Diane Parkhouse says: I am so very sorry . the sudden, unexpected loss of someone we love is the deepest pain a heart can feel … so final and there is nothing – nothing we can do to bring them back – almost more than the heart can bear. What a blessing to have shared your life with Dori.
Victoria Barlow says: Dear Dori,
My love and prayers goes out to you. I lost my best friend in a car accident 2 years ago. Although I have had to pick myself up and teach myself to carry on, her sweet memory still blesses me today. It maybe a long road for a little while, but remember there are those who care and share your feelings. The beautiful thing about sweet people like our friends is they bless in life or in death.
Heaven bless you!
Bonnie Ellis says: Dori, Such an incredible person most of us won’t see in a lifetime, yet you knew her. Loss is unmeasurable but the gift of knowing her will sustain you. God bless you.
I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Grief at any stage is hard, but when it is so suddenly i think that is the worst. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, and thank you for sharing the story of this remarkable lady. She sounds like someone we all would have been lucky to call friend. Hugs to you!
Dear Dori,
Many, many blessing shower you and Patti! God knows and hears her laughter and sees your tears.
Thank you so much for opening your heart to all of us in your time of sadness.
There are many rainbows that you and Patti are still able to share…..softly, lovingly, now and till you meet again! All my love Karen
May the Unfathomable Divine Mercy of Jesus be upon Pattis soul, and those of her family and friends in their grief ! She is still praying for all of you ! Sympathy and peace…
Oh my heart breaks for you and for me again as the memories come flooding back of losing my dear friend in a car wreck a few years ago. It will get better. You will eventually think of her with more joy at having known her and less pain at having lost her. But when they are angels in this life, it takes a while. Keep your chin up and God Bless. You’ll meet again on the other side.
Colleen says: Dear Dori,
I am saddened by your hurting heart. What a beautiful tribute you have written. Clearly, Patti was blessed to have you as her friend. I hope, over time, you will share more about how friends love each other well. I’m sure I could learn ways to be a better friend myself, from your recollections. Already, I’m inspired. Thank you.
“The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm34:18
Jimi Paderick says: A beautiful testimonial for a beautiful soul! Thank you for sharing.
.
Hello friends!
We are heading into the end of our Summer season and usually I go into Fall kicking and screaming! But for some reason this year, I’m ready to slow down and enjoy some Fall days. Last week we took our yearly trip to Florida with our adult kids and our grand-girls and I enjoyed sewing up a super fun surprise for us girls!
Debbie Fischer says: Love the sweet robes you made, they are so darn cute!
Enjoy Fall
I would love a Serger for faster sewing projects. But I make sue with my old manual machine. I love this pattern and love the monograms even more! Fusable webbing is truly a gift from God! Lol My daughter is healing from pneumonia and strep . She has a long way to go for full health but your blog post and pictures give me hope for happier days ahead. Watching her sleep in the ICU in Mercy Hospital now as I type. Girls are also a true gift from God ❤️
Judith says: I’m amazed you made 5 robes with 12 yards of fabric.
Marilyn says: Those robes are lovely.
Marilyn
Sandi King says: Hi Dori; Gosh, those robes are wonderful looking and so easy to make. Hey congratulations to you all on a new grandbaby coming in the Spring. I know you will make a lot of really nice things for him/her. Please take care about all that is happening in our world today. We pray for all of you to be safe and healthy. Until we hear from you once more, God Bless.
Cindi J says: Those robes are adorable! What a brilliant idea, and a fantastic gift – from fabric to robes. You are such an inspiration to me that I find myself wishing for a weekly blog post from you, lol!
Dori, you amaze me constantly! I saw a bouquet in the bank last Friday and asked Ms Angie if she had grown the flowers. I suspected they were yours; when she said a lady out 64 grew them, and I knew immediately that, indeed, they were yours.
I couldn’t make a robe in 30 weeks, much less 30 minutes. They are wonderful! I have looked for this fabric and not found it. Our hotel in Milano had towels made of this, which I tried to buy, but couldn’t. That has been 21 years and I am still looking. I would love a source. I might be able to sew a towel. Teehee.
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Hello Farmgirl Friends! Last month I wrote about the quilted covers I made for binders and mentioned a tutorial! A lot of you jumped right on that and asked for one! Today is your lucky day!
I had written a tutorial several months ago and revamped it a few times for a blog post for Clover Sewing Notions… this month I made a few tiny revisions to that post and here is a tutorial for you!
Don’t be intimidated by the many steps in this tutorial. I really broke it down in order to simplify it, so just take your time and enjoy the process. Lets get started!
Margaret h Mitchell says: Your amazing, this is so nice. I plan to make a few of these for family and friends, great gift idea. They can keep them as a memory for a lifetime. Thank you so much fir sharing!
Sandi King says: Wow, Dori, those binder covers are so pretty. Are they also washable – I mean, can you take them off, wash and dry them and put them back on? You should have a giveaway post with one of these as the prize. They are a treasure. I have many binders as I have my family tree’s in them, each line. I think home made binder covers with a genealogy theme would be awesome and the surname of each line across the front and on the spine would be amazing. I will have to try to make at least one. I am not a good sewer as I have found out by trying to make other things. But I know it also takes practice to get good at anything worthwhile. Love this post, all your posts. I’ve heard of master gardeners, and I think you are a master seamstress.
Jacqueline Ferri says: Beautifully done! Years ago when covering everything with fabric was the rage , I had covered boxes and a photo album. I still have one of the albums. Now that one was completely adhered with glue. There’s padding too. And to cover the inside flap , we covered a heavy duty cardboard with fabric, then stuck it to the inside. I even added decorative trim for the edges.
But, your method is wonderful. One , it slips on like the books we had too cover with paper (bags). Two,
It can be washed if necessary. Third, it is very pretty.
Of course one needs a few sewing skills.
Can’t wait to make one!
Irene says: Hi Dori
I love your idea for binder covers. A few years ago when I was having chemo for my myeloma I started a journal with the help of my Pastor at the center. I am about finished with my third journal which I covered with fabric. I can’t wait to finish it and do one like yours. Thanks for the idea.
Irene
Debbie Klann says: Thank you, Dori, for doing this! This took a lot of time for you to put together. You have the cutest projects!
I’m thinking that I need to make a couple of these for presents….now I have real directions!
Judy Hammack says: Just found this and love it. Although I have sewn since I was 10 and am now 68, I just got into quilting about a year ago and am so very addicted!! I love crumb piecing and can see great potential for these binder covers. I actually have some recipe binders that could sure use some of these types of covers; and will be a project in the near future once I recover from a back surgery scheduled for 2 weeks from today. Thank you so very much for your talent and willingness to share with us!!! I will be reading more of your blogs for sure. May God continue to richly bless you in your everyday life of creativity. You are greatly appreciated!! 🩷
Judy Hammack says: Just found one of your postings on Pinterest and searched for this tutorial. I love this idea. I have some recipe binders that I plan on covering in the near future. I love to crumb piece. I have been sewing since I was 10 and am now 68, but just started quilting a year ago and am thoroughly and completely addicted and have become a true fabraholic!!!! LOL This will definitely be on my list of projects as soon as I recover from a back surgery scheduled in 2 weeks on March 26 (my 5th and hopefully my final ever back surgery). You have just gained a new fan; I will be reading your blogs with great enthusiasm, both past, present, and future. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. May God continue to richly bless you in your creative life. 🩷
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Hello Friends!
I realized I haven’t shared a sewing project here in a while and I have one that I’m super excited to share today!
The new fabric line I am sharing today is called… wait for it…
Farmgirls Unite
And oh my word, it is such darling fabric. It has everything Farmgirl that you could ever want: bandanna print, florals, gingham check, farm animals, rain boots, garden gloves, and strawberries! And all the perfect colors.
Cyndie Gray says: Those are the cutest binders!! I would love a tutorial to make one. That fabric is really cute, even if I am not a “farm girl” 🙂
Jeanne Ballestero says: Hello Dori. I started following you when a professing friend in Florida (Karen Byrd) bought me the subscription to Farm Girl magazine. We had been chatting about quilting and she said “you have to follow Dori”. So, I’m not a quilter but I love growing flowers, have two daughters, love the simple life and although I’m not a quilter, I do love to try simple projects. I would love a tutorial of the binder cover. That is something I can see in my house and something I think I could handle. Have a wonderful summer. I hope those zinnias and sunflowers are coming along wonderfully and maybe one day I’ll stop by and buy some.
Elisabeth Perkins says: So cute!!! Love the fabric and your patterns!!
Lori says: I love the cover and the case! I would definitely be interested in a tutorial. Also, where did you find the fabric in the states? They are delightful!
Joan Piercy says: Dori, I would love the pattern for your binder! They are so eye catching in that fabric! Thanks for sharing these ideas. I have to have some of that fabric…lol.
Kris Thompson says: Absolutely love your projects and the fabrics!
And, the wedding pictures from the last blog were wonderful!
Jacqueline says: Oh, they are just so lovely!!!!
Great job and thanks much for sharing.
CandyC says: Cute, cute, cute!! ❤
Bonnie says: The binder covers and pencil holders are awesome. I sure wish I had your talent. Yes, my summer has been wonderful. So glad your flower business is growing.
What pretty fabric and such clever projects…thanks for sharing! And what perfect timing…I just wrote a post about how I found a wonderful, FREE 1956 sewing machine (by the side of the road no less!) When I get her ready to go, I’ll definitely be whipping up something fun with this fabric, thanks again!
Donna Kozak says: Love all the fabrics and the wonderful things you have made with them! Your lucky friends will love them also.
Margaret King says: Dori, I love your blogs. This one really made me happy. Even though I’m not a quilter, your Farmgirl projects made me smile over and over. The fabrics are beautiful and you do such a wonderful job creating with them. Happy sewing and I look forward to viewing your next post.
Wanda Aldridge says: I am new to quilting and would love a tutorial or the pattern for covering the binders. That fabric is fabulous!! Thank you! Wanda Sue FS#3677
Cindy says: Your FARMGIRLS UNITE is so fun!! Beautiful and inspiring.
Sanne Harder says: Those are lovely and if you have the time to update the pattern and instructions for the binder cover, I am all in. Thank you for the link for the fabric – I love the idea of cute sayings on the selvedge!
Maureen says: What a fun and cheerful project, and yes, I would love the pattern, such a clever idea!
Melissa says: I would love to see an updated tutorial. I have thought of making my own binder cover pattern but have not invested the time in the trial & error phase. Oh.. And this fabric is just perfect
Theresa Fisher says: Yes please Dori rewrite your binder cover pattern so we can either purchase or use it. Thank you – you always have such fun stuff to share!!!
Gail says: Dori
You come up with the Most darling projects!!!
YES do what you do & get that pattern out there. It is a unique & personal gift idea!! Something that a graduate would love or a new bride or mom.
God Bless You! You encourage many!
Thank You
Gail
Matthew 6:33
Karen Kudla says: I love this! Yes, please share your pattern so we can purchase it! I will be making these for gifts as well. They are adorable, and the fabric…perfect! Thank you for sharing your talents with us.
Linda Pavey says: Cleaver, cleaver, cute!!! You are so cleaver to use such cute fabrics! Thanks for sharing how you used the colorful Farm Girls Unite fabrics.
And Yes! Please share your binder covers pattern. I actually have never thought about making those but now “want to”!
Gail Larson says: Sooo cute, clever, unique and special! Love the fabric and how you used it. Your friends are truely blessed to have a friend like you.
Jean Pici says: Your binder covers are fabulous. Definitely make and post a pattern PLEASE. I have “sew” many ideas for making them. Thank you. Thank you.
Farmgirl in Idaho, jean
Lotus says: Hello Dori.
I love, love, love these binder covers!!!
I would love the pattern and was hoping
that they would be in this article.
The fabric is also sweet!!
Thanks for sharing.
Lotus
Terry Steinmetz says: Love your sewing projects! I can’t wait until fall when I can get back to sewing projects….I keep a running list of projects I want to make to share with others…always fun! Now you gave me some more ideas…thanks for sharing!!! Until next time.
Ann says: Yes, please post a tutorial! I just saw this fabric line on my Fort Worth fabric email and immediately ordered the farmgirls unite panel. Your notebook covers and pencil cases are charming.
Rhonda Cavaliere says: So cute. Love this fabric line. So well suited for Farmgirls. Thanks for sharing!
Marilyn says: The fabric is lovely. Enjoy.
Marilyn
Grace Brown says: Whoot Whoot, I just learned that one of our local quilt shops,, “The Quilting Bee” in Spokane Valley, WA.. just started caring this sweet fabric… (by Poppy)
Anita Johnson says: I do enjoy each of your articles. They inspire me to try my hand at your projects. Thanks
Swan says: Yes! I would be so interested in an updated binder cover tutorial. I sewed one with handles long ago for my eldest daughter. It worked but needed some improvements. My ideal cover would incorporate a zipper, so if it were dropped, things wouldn’t fly everywhere. 🙂
Kathy Altieri Bucher says: Hi Dori. Im in the market for a new seeing machine Im checking out the one pictured in the Stitching with Dori -making an ironing board cover. What brand is this one pictured. And do you like it. Please email me. Thank you so very much . Sincerely Kathy
Marie E Listopad says: I would like to see a pattern. I know I could figure it out myself but I tend to be lazy. I will probably make one for the Recycled Denim Swap. I will cut the front and back pieces from ripped denim and patch the holes with sashiko or standard embroidered patches.
Deborah Davis says: Hi Dori, I loved what you made.Its so nice to see that people do love crafts.It looks easy to do..I am going to try this. I will let you know..
Kris Crawford says: Hi Dori- I feel like I know you already! I am reaching out to you for help. I have a perfect venue in a little tourist ghost town called Oatman Arizona. I have started an annual quilt show that has had trouble taking off due to Covid and it’s rural location.
I need help getting the word out and having quilters be involved (it does not take much work) to hang their quilts for a day & stay & tell stories of their inspiration & spread good will while they sell their wares if they want to. Basically I need people & quilts for a weekend In March!! I have a 6 spot campground & it’s on Route 66!!!!!
Please contact me!
Kris Crawford says: Hi Dori- I feel like I know you already! I am reaching out to you for help. I have a perfect venue in a little tourist ghost town called Oatman Arizona. I have started an annual quilt show that has had trouble taking off due to Covid and it’s rural location.
I need help getting the word out and having quilters be involved (it does not take much work) to hang their quilts for a day & stay & tell stories of their inspiration & spread good will while they sell their wares if they want to. Basically I need people & quilts for a weekend In March!! I have a 6 spot campground & it’s on Route 66!!!!!
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Hello friends!
I think I mentioned last month that our son was getting married on our hilltop in May. And it was absolutely spectacular! It was a very small intimate wedding with only 18 of us and it was so incredibly special.
Today’s blog post is simply pictures with a few descriptions! I hope it makes you feel like you were here! We are still waiting on the professional photographer to get the final wedding pictures to us, so you will be getting another post on the wedding in a couple months!
Marlene Capelle says: just beautiful. ya done yourself proud
Everything is gorgeous, and so simple! Especially love the cake–no overly frilly piping and just perfect. Great job, Mom!! 🙂
Disns says: Absolutely beautiful!! May God richly bless their marriage.
Maxine Jelinek says: Ohh, it just looks so absolutely lovely! The picture of your parents is an absolute treasure! I just love the simplicity of it all but totally stunning! Love, love! And your new DIL looks like she totally belongs with you all!
Patty Maiolo says: Beautiful family. Beautiful pictures.
Patty Maiolo says: Beautiful family and pictures. Congratulations!!!
Carolann Harris says: Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos; congratulations to the happy couple; best wishes to your entire family!
Ann says: Aww – makes my heart sing. Congratulations to the lovely couple. Well done!
Treese says: BEAUTIFUL! Everyone looked radiant and filled with you.
Treese/Colorado Cowgirl.
Beautiful…. So nice to start my day with happiness and obvious joy. Thanks, Donna B.
Cyndie Gray says: Absolutely stunning hilltop wedding‼️ Everything was simply gorgeous~The people, the setting, the flowers and most especially that sunset❣️❣️❣️
Pam says: Oh my gosh…how simply beautiful!! The flowers, the tables, the food, the bride & groom, the family…….and that sunset!! Wow how spectacular and sweet
Everything looked just perfect!! What a gorgeous table at the rehearsal; can’t wait to see more of the wedding reception, too. And wow, what a spectacular sunset! Wonderful times with so many memories for all of you…
I love Kayla’s sunflower dress and this was an absolutely beautiful wedding! I am so thrilled that you had the wedding on the hilltop as it is amazing. I also love the get away car.
My daughter and son just got married exactly one week apart. Weddings everywhere
Marilyn says: What a beautiful couple and wedding. Congratulations to Kayla and Logan. Your granddaughters look so lovely and grown up. Wishing Kayla and Logan a life of happiness, love and blessings. God Bless.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Linda says: Just so sweet. Told my husband it brought tears to my eyes. Just simple, homey, and doggone perfect.
Darlene Riboldi says: Absolutely stunning! Beautiful from beginning to end. Your family is gorgeous. Your farm is just breathtaking with the views. God Bless all of you.
Thank you for sharing pictures of this awesome wedding. Beautiful! Best wishes to the couple for a long and happy marriage.
Judy says: There is nothing better than a country wedding. I very much enjoyed your pictures.
You have a beautiful family.
Marlene Burns says: beautiful outdoor wedding and the sunset so pretty. great photos. great job mom.
I love outdoor weddings my second marriage was outdoors in a park. it was a little windy but a lovely June day. Thank you for sharing photos.
Danna Rodriguez says: Wonderful family wedding and a beautiful place to live. Just Beautiful!
Maureen says: You all made some beautiful memories to treasure.
Jim says: What a blessing to have accidentally had this show up this morning. Keep doing what you enjoy. Your environment is enough to make one thankful. Hope you don’t mind this 86 yr.old happily married, Texas man barging in to your life.
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Hello Farmgirl Friends.
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My blog post today is a little late. And its for a good reason! My son is getting married on our hilltop this weekend and I’ve been in pre-wedding prep for a month or so and frankly I forgot to write my blog post! HOWEVER, I had the project complete, photo’s taken and the post written in my head! Smile! Maybe next month I’ll write about our DIY wedding here on our farm! (The picture above is our little farmhouse today in a nice little rainy drizzle… it just made me so happy.)
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So, heres a little backstory on my project I’m sharing today. A couple of years ago I saved to my phone, that amazing photo of MaryJane’s that is all over Pinterest with the rolling pin apron pegs. (You’ve seen this picture too right?) And I’ve dreamed of making them for ages; I even had the vintage rolling pins.
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I have a wall where my kitchen joins the dining room that I felt really needed an update (circled in the picture above). I knew that this was exactly where I wanted my apron pegs to go. I put a plan in place and got my husband right on the job! Smile!
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But here’s a really funny thing! Because I didn’t really have instructions on how to do the project (just that amazing photo) I let my husband figure out the cutting of the rolling pens. But THEN!!!! The June-July issue of MaryJanesFarm magazine came in the mail and what should be in that issue? Yep… you got it. A step by step tutorial on making the rolling pen pegs!
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That magazine (cover above) is still on newsstands so be sure to get it because the tutorial is fantastic!!! No need for me to re-write it here!
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However, there is one thing my husband wanted me to mention. The really old rolling pens are solid wood and can be cut through easily; the newer ones have a small metal rod that runs in the middle of the rolling pen. You will need to unscrew the handles and remove that rod before cutting! (You can tell if your rolling pen has the rod by trying to unscrew the handle… the very old ones do not unscrew.) He then used a hacksaw to cut the rod to size so that I could screw the handle back on and place it on the rolling pen.
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I wanted to use what I had on hand for the “backsplash” for my rolling pen pegs so I did some digging in some of the old wood I have. I used this lid of an old wooden ammo box that I had saved. The wood was not quite the right look for the rolling pens, so I put a coat of white wash on it. (Latex paint mixed with water.)
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Once that dried, I used my mouse sander and sanded it to give the white wash a faded look. I love how it turned out!
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I measured out exactly where I wanted the pegs to go and my husband attached them. It wasn’t hard and certainly I could’ve done it. But it was really nice to hand that over to him!
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We hung it on the wall and I was instantly in love with it! I dug into my stash of vintage aprons and hung my three favorites. The few weeks I’ve had it on the wall I’ve had compliments from everyone who has come over!
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It fits perfectly in my kitchen decor and gives the vintage retro vibe that I was hoping for!
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I love the rustic wood that I was able to repurpose and it just makes me happy all over! MaryJane blew it out of the park again!
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And one last thing before I head to bed tonight… another reason to purchase the June-July issue! (Or better yet, subscribe to the magazine!) My daughter and I and our sweet little flower farm have a fun feature in the magazine along with numerous other amazing flower farmers! We were so excited to be featured alongside them.
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Good night friends! I’m off to toss and turn as I go over every detail in my head that we might’ve forgotten in our wedding prep! Our company (as well as my son and his precious fiancé – picture above taken in Arizona in October) begin arriving in two days!!!
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Until our gravel roads cross again… so long!
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Dori
Cyndie Gray says: Simply adorable rolling pin apron rack❣️❣️
Congrats on the upcoming wedding that will give you another sweet daughter♥️ Can’t wait to see photos of the hilltop farm wedding!!
Kim Rice says: Such a clever and functional way to display those aprons!! and good to know about those metal rods, i never thought about them going all the way through!!
and a wedding too?! What a wonderful way to welcome new family members! Weddings are such a beautiful celebration of live and life. Can’t wait to see the beauty you create for those kids!!!
Laurel Anne Pries says: How exciting!! A wedding in the family!! May you be blessed with Grandkids galore…..they are so precious!! Love your little farmhouse!! Congratulations!!!
This is perfect! I haven’t had time to enjoy my latest issue of Mary Janes Farm magazine, yet, but this morning as they pour our new driveway, ( Yes, we’re getting a cement driveway,even though we live on a gravel road Michigan.) I’m reading your blog and can’t wait to get started on my hunt for rolling pins. I make and sell aprons at vintage markets and this just may be a great way to display some of them in my booth! I’ll let you know. Congratulations on your son’s wedding.
Gabrielle says: I loved this idea and I obtained so many great ideas from only looking at your kitchen. I live in a small apartment but I try and my place looks pretty good
Ann says: Congratulations on your son’s wedding. Perfect spot – charming venue. Love your vintage rolling pin apron hangers.
Bonnie Ellis says: Your husband’s skills are amazing. That apron holder is perfect for your adorable kitchen. Have fun with the wedding…we’ll all be awaiting photos@
Sandi King says: Hey Dori, I saw that article in the magazine. Wonderful idea. I go to the thrift market and the rolling pins there are on the high side, but there is usually a lot of them. I may try making something similar for aprons, but it would have to be on the smaller side as I don’t have a wall with enough empty space for one this size. May even try a vertical one. Love your vintage aprons. Congratulations on having a wedding on the hill. Bet it will be really nice. Have fun.
Marilyn says: What a lovely sight those rolling pin pegs are. Your aprons are beautiful. Congratulations on your son’s upcoming wedding. God Bless.
Marilyn
Susie Heller says: Love your post. Nice looking son and his fiancée. Sigh…. young love!!!
Maxine Jelinek says: How cute and fun! And I think I’m going to have to subscribe, as I can’t readily find it out here!
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Hello Farmgirl Friends!
I’m excited to share my latest quilting project with you! I’ve had a thought in the back of my mind for a long time to sew a whole quilt using Sashiko hand-stitching. I have dabbled in the Japanese Sashiko stitching through the years and even wrote a blog post about it here. But I’ve never attempted a full quilt.
Joanna Ziolkowski says: Your quilt really is lovely. I haven’t tried quilting, working with double gauze, or sashiko. I just came across an article you wrote on a sashiko bag. I think I will start with trying the bag first and work my way up to a quilt. Thanks for the inspiration!
Marlene Capelle says: That turned out really great. I’m not much of a fan of Sashiko but that is a fabulous concept.
Phyllis Parrish says: I love your quilt!! I recently discovered sashiko myself and I love it too. I tried my hand with it on a pair of levis.
In your quilt, did you quilt the squares first then put them together or quilt it after it was pieced?
I do enjoy your articles. Thank you for sharing.
Maxine Jelinek says: This is just simply beautiful! I have scraps of this type of fabric from making baby clothes, and now I’m excited to see how I can use them up!
Sharon says: Love this post as I do all that you write! I am a “fellow” Farmgirl member!
Margaret h Mitchell says: Beautiful I’ve always wanted to hand stitch a quilt.
Pamela says: Loved seeing the gauze fabric and the shashiko stitch in action. Where might I obtain the fabric?
Rebecca says: Beautiful! You do such wonderful work. The last picture is perfect with those little fingers holding up the quilt. I have so many projects started and hope to finish some of them this summer. I planted lilies yesterday and woke to a dusting snow this morning.
Karen Kudla says: Your quilt is beautiful! You’ve inspired me to get back to my Sashiko project, a small table topper. I too, love working with double gauze fabric. How did you keep it from shrinking too much?
Linda Freeman says: How lovely! Thanks for sharing!
Joanne says: Love Love Love the quilt!! The simplicity and the beauty! I am a square and rectangle quilter! No fancy stuff for me and I also prefer to use material -old clothing and t-shirts that have memories for me or the person being gifted the quilt! By using the bits of fabric you have brought life to the quilt!!
Thank you for sharing it with us and now I have one more project idea to add to my brain— it is getting quite crowded in there!
Vicki8257 says: Absolutely love it. Beautiful.
Brenda Cervantes says: Lovely.
Colleen says: Absolutely beautiful and cuddly. From your description, I can just FEEL the softness. Thank you for sharing. I’m not quite ready to “put the sewing away” yet. Rainy days are coming here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Now, YOU get out and enjoy the garden.
Sarah B says: Absolutely beautiful! You are so talented with your crafting and quilting and I always enjoy reading your posts and seeing your latest project. I am loving this quilt! The stitching makes it so unique and all your patches add such color, thanks for sharing!
Binky Thorsson says: Love the p.s. Aren’t grandkids the best!!!
I will send you a photo of our Grandsons with their Tree / Boat House, my Husband Barry built a year ago at the beginning of the Pandemic.
Thanks Dori, Binky
Cindi Johnson says: I love this! As it happens, just last Tuesday, while searching online for quilt shops in my area, I finally found one tiny shop listed. GPS in hand, I headed out to happily find that it is close by. I was shocked when I entered this tiny store to find it creatively laid out top to bottom with fabrics, patterns, threads and kits in all sorts of beautiful sashiko styles.The owner is well versed, having attended high school in Japan where she learned this beautiful art. So I’m already set, with supplies right in front of me, to follow your lead using Shannon fabrics! I love love love your quilt!
Dori Troutman says: Oh my word Cindi!!!! I want to go to this shop!!! How amazing and exciting! Please keep me posted and how it goes – I’m so anxious to hear!
~ Dori ~
Joei Gifford says: I love your quilt! I started quilting at 4 yrs old. Grandma sat me under the quilting frame that Grandpa had hung from the trees overhanging the stone patio. She passed the needle down to me and I passed it back up to her. If she took out my stitches she never let me know.
I just finished a miniature potted plant tableau for my daughter. It’s 1/12 scale and now I’m making flowers for vases in my dollhouse. Soon I will be making the dolls…covid got me into crafting/sewing/creative projects every evening.
Great article. Thanks for sharing, Joei
Marilyn says: The quilt is lovely. Enjoy your gardening.
Marilyn
Denise says: That is a beautiful quilt! What a wonderful way to relax and use those creative juices. Handstitching and making your own stitching pattern makes it one of a kind!
Have a great day!
Carol says: Dori … I love your fabric and the stitching is amazing! I have to look further into sashiko stitching! Right now I have a finished quilt, ready to put the binding on for my granddaughter who will turn 6 on May 9. I better get it finished soon! I am also using light green chalk paint to paint an old treadle sewing machine I got from my Mom. Then when it gets hot I will do some scrapbooking for my granddaughters! Always something on my project table! Happy Spring, Carol
Kay Weseman says: What a great quilt AND…..inspiration! Sashiko was supposed to be my new project for 2020 but then a lot of “stuff” got in the way. It’s gonna have to roll over to 2021 now- also interested in “who” sells the double gauze fabric as well. (Will keep an eye out for it.) Your fabric on the backside goes really nice with the front fabrics. Seeing those little hands hold it up reminds me of the Amish saying “many hands make the work light”. Thanks for such an enjoyable read.
Debra Gilbert says: I love your Sashiko stitched quilt. I’ve done a little bit with my stitching meditations. Now that I’ve seen your beautiful work, it has inspired me to try a full quilt. I love the texture of the double gauze. Thank you for sharing and inspiring me. Happy Earth Day!!!!
Carol McGuire says: I would like to contact Dori from this article. I loved her quilt in a recent issue, however we look so much alike, we could be twins! I am also from TN.
Laurie Lasala-Tuttle says: Just reading this today, and it’s lovely Dori! Perhaps I’ll try double gauze in a quilt, I’ve only used it for a very comfy blouse. I love that your grandgirls have a treehouse. Such fun!!
judith yongue says: love to try . where do you get double gauze and tutorial on that Japanese type quilting
help?
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Hello Farmgirl Friends!
The weather here in Tennessee is so beautiful with Spring having finally arrived! All I could think of this winter was that when Spring arrived I wanted to celebrate with a tea party!
Carol says: Hi Dory … What a great tea party you had! I love the idea of having the grandgirls serve your guests. Your menu was great … everything looked so yummy. And the table was beautiful. You have the LILYBELL Noritake dinnerware! I found it on the Replacements, LTD website: https://www.replacements.com/china-noritake-lilybell/c/67094. It is beautiful!
I’m so jealous of all the flowers … we are not quite that far along in central Pennsylvania. Happy Spring! Carol
Dori Troutman says: Carol,
THANK YOU!!!! You were fast finding that china!!! Now I can do a little research on it!
~ Dori ~
Carol says: Enjoy, Dory! That’s a beautiful pattern … and to have 12 place settings … WOW!
Elisabeth Perkins says: Lovely tea party!!! It makes me want to have one!! Those little BLT sandwiches were the cutest idea!
Looks like everyone enjoyed the tea party, even the stink bug, haha!
Laura says: What a great idea! I love everything about it! The photos alone make my heart happy.
Treese Hellstrom says: I enjoyed the pictures. It is definitely looking like spring there. We are still getting hit here in Colorado by snow storms. All our flowers are still hiding from the snow and cold.
Treese/Colorado Cowgirl.
Cyndie Gray says: What a lovely “celebrate spring” gathering! Hosting a tea party is one my most favorite things to do. Your china is beautiful & the table looked gorgeous! I can just picture your grand girls’ joy in serving you & your guests~they are such sweet girls♥️
BTW…I have continued posting handwritten notes to my four young adult grands per my sharing last month, once a month I send a handmade card to them with a handwritten note.
donna herczeg says: Loved your post about your tea party! Everything looked lovely!
I am going to a tea party today and we are going to look at our hostesses collection of tea cups and she will tell us their story of where they came from.
I used to do alot of tea parties with my girlfriend Anne about 25 years ago. We even wore pretty hats and dressed up. We both collected vintage China, so it was fun to get a chance to use them. Whichever one of us hosted the party invited most of their friends and family, and then the other would help with baking and serving. They were quite memorable events and I think of them with nostalgia. It was a sweet time in our memories.
Colleen Maki-Varney says: What a wonderful gathering of ladies! Reminds me of how my Grandma Annie would set the table with all of her beautiful teacups and china, some from Finland (our ancestry). She served up a “feast” quite similar to yours. The granddaughters must feel very special.
Diane Loehr says: Love a good Tea Party. I miss the one that we have in the Fall due to Covid. There are about 10 tables and every table is a different theme. People get really creative. I host one of the tables and love having the ladies join me. Everything looks really good to eat. Wish I could have been invited, less the stink bug! 🙂 Have a great day – Diane
Joy says: I really enjoyed reading your post, because my grandmother had a set of that same china. My mother inherited it, and now my brother has it – but seeing it on your table brought back fond memories. Your tea party looks lovely, in spite of the stinkbug (oh, those engineers!). Thank you for sharing it.
Carmen Anderson says: Happy Spring to you…still awaiting for it to arrive in Eastern Idaho…lol…it might by October . Thank you for a lovely article
There is a very good site you might want to check out to locate if possible pieces for your china pattern I’ve used it for my retired Noritake pattern as well as other items over the years.
Here is the website:
http://www.replacements.com
Also look on ack of your pixels it might give you the name of pattern
Carmen Anderson says: Please excuse spelling and grammatical errors my phone changes words etc constantly
Look on back of china pieces for name of pattern
Eileen Prose says: The table was beautiful and the menu scrumptious!
Linda Marie Hilburger says: Beautiful Tea Party. Wonderful! Thank you for sharing.
Marilyn says: Thank You for sharing this lovely tea party. Enjoy the Spring weather.
HAPPY SPRING
HAPPY EASTER
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Everything looked delightful & yummy too! But that was hilarious about the stick bug!! I’m in Tennessee but I haven’t seen any stink bugs. Course now that I’ve said that I’ll probably see a lot! Enjoyed your post!!
Kristine Pope says: I love doing Tea Parties! I am so inspired by this blog..I think I’m going to start planning a Tea Party myself; quite soon!
Valerie Sijan says: You set a beautiful table, lady! The food looks fabulous as well!
Thanks for sharing an inspirational tea party!
is a certified farmgirl at heart. She’s happily married to her beach bum Yankee husband of 20 years. She went from career gal to being a creative homeschooling mom for two of her biggest blessings and hasn’t looked back since. Debbie left her lifelong home in the high desert of Northern Nevada 10 years ago and washed up on the shore of America’s hometown, Plymouth, MA, where she and her family are now firmly planted. They spend part of each summer in a tiny, off–grid beach cottage named “The Sea Horse.”
“I found a piece of my farmgirl heart when I discovered MaryJanesFarm. Suddenly, everything I loved just made more sense! I enjoy unwinding at the beach, writing, gardening, and turning yard-sale furniture into ‘Painted Ladies’ I’m passionate about living a creative life and encouraging others to ‘make each day their masterpiece.’”
is a “MaryJane Farmgirl” who lives in a large metropolitan area. She is a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution. She has been a judge, a business woman and a stay-at-home mom. In addition to her law degree, she has a Masters of Theological Studies.
“Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about,” she says, “is the essence of being a MaryJane Farmgirl.” Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit. She finds strength and encouragement through MaryJane’s writings, life, and products. And MaryJane’s Farmgirl Connection provides her a wealth of knowledge from true-blue farmgirls.
an old-fashioned farmgirl with a pioneer spirit, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner” in the “Live-Free-or-Die” state, she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. Married to her childhood sweetheart of 40+ years (a few of them “uphill climbs”), she’s had plenty of time to reinvent herself. From museum curator, restaurant owner, homeschool mom/conference speaker, to post-and-beam house builder and entrepreneur, she’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. Her specialty has evolved to include “hermit hospitality” at her rustic cabin in the mountains, where she offers weekend workshops of special interest to women.
“Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage. I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing. Living in the mountains has its own particular challenges, but I delight in turning them into opportunities from which we can all learn and grow.”
Dori Troutman is the daughter of second generation cattle ranchers in New Mexico. She grew up working and playing on the ranch that her grandparents homesteaded in 1928. That ranch, with the old adobe home, is still in the family today. Dori and her husband always yearned for a ranch of their own. That dream came true when they retired to the beautiful green rolling hills of Tennessee. Truly a cattleman’s paradise!
Dori loves all things farmgirl and actually has known no other life but that. She loves to cook, craft, garden, and help with any and all things on their cattle farm.
describes herself as a goat charmer, chicken whisperer, bee maven, and farmers’ market baker renovating an 1864 farmhouse on an Ohio farm. With a degree in Design, Mary says small-town auctions and country road barn sales "always make my heart skip a beat thinking about what I could create or design out of what I’ve seen.”
Rooted in the countryside, she likes simple things and old ways … gardening, preserving the harvest, cooking, baking, and all things home. While you might find her selling baked goods from the farm’s milkhouse, teaching herself to play the fiddle, or sprucing up a vintage camper named Maizy, you will always find her in an apron!
Mary says, “I’m happiest with the simple country pleasures … an old farmhouse, too many animals, a crackling fire, books to read, and the sound of laughter … these make life just perfect.”
is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She lives and works on the university’s 700 acre environmental education center, Spring Creek Farm. When Alex has time outside of school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with new-fangled ingredients.
Alex grew up near the Twin Cities and went to college in Madison, Wisconsin—both places where perfectly painted barns and rolling green farmland are just a short drive away. After college, she taught at a rural middle school in South Korea where she biked past verdant rice paddies and old women selling home-grown produce from sidewalk stoops. She was introduced to MaryJanesFarm after returning, and found in it what she’d been searching for—a group of incredible women living their lives in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and the greater environment. What an amazing group of farmgirls to be a part of!
Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen calls herself a “vintage enthusiast”. Born and raised in Texas, she has lived most of her life in the picturesque New England suburbs of Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York State. An Advanced Master Gardener, she has gardened since childhood, in several states and across numerous planting zones. In addition, she teaches knitting classes, loves to preserve, and raises backyard chickens.
Married over thirty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields, been a world-traveler, an entrepreneur and a homemaker, but considers being mom to her now-adult daughter her greatest accomplishment. Loving all things creative, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted”.
Oh Dori!
Thank you for sharing such wisdom and teaching some of us old dogs new tricks! Things are hard, but we can still smile after those much needed tears .
Hugs to you,
P.s., FPP still terrifies and mystifies my brain!
xoxo,
Kim
Dori, thank you so very very much for your post about your dearest friend and your wonderful folks. Your words brought tears from way down deep…. I miss my Mom and Dad so much. When Dad passed I convinced (it wasn’t easy) Mom to move from their home in Southern California to my place in Harpers Ferry, WV. Mom was with me for 8 years before she passed from heart failure and dementia. I was so blessed to be able to hold her in my arms as she passed. I’m sorry to be such a Debbie Downer but your words brought up these old feelings and you are right….Hard is not the same as bad.
Dear Dori: you share your heart feelings so eloquently. And I am grateful to you for having that ability. We can all do hard things with great love. And your heart is definitely full of love ❤️
I lost two of my best friends, mom and dad, in my twenties, so even now, at seventy, I wept as I read your blogs….but! A friend told me at the time, “It’s not good now, but it will get better.” And it did. So yes, there have been smiles put on and chins lifted and sweet memories and tears and life continues. I am deeply grateful.
Beautiful. Dori you have a way to comfort others with your words. Stay strong and keep on grabbing the joy out of life. Isn’t it wonderful when you realize you are so much more powerful and capable than you ever imagined? I know I do.
Treese/Colorado Cowgirl.
Dori! That was beautiful!
My Mama had a similar saying
after something sad.
You are such an encouragement to us all!
Thank you!
Dori, I love everything about this! Thank you for sharing with us ❤️ God bless you!
All I can say is thank you for the reminder, life is short, say yes!
Your words always bring tears and smiles. Thank you for your openness and honesty.
Such inspirational writing. And YES! I think we all need to learn to say yes more often. My mom passed a few years ago, and i often think about how i didn’t mind taking her to the store for just that one item that took hours. HAHA! As for foundation paper piecing, i am teaching myself English paper piecing. I have started with Hexies and I love it. It is so relaxing as i can sit and do that at night and not think about everything that needs done. In fact i have decided to make a hexie tree skirt, so i had better get busy. Sending big hugs to you!!
Your heartfelt advice just warmed my weary heart… thank you for sharing a part of yourself with so many. I personally am very grateful as my heart has a “crack” in it lately. Xoxo
Thank you for opening your heart & sharing with your readers … keep smiling
Dori,
Your post and sharing your experience is giving me another perspective on my own journey. Thank you for your beautiful spirit! Hard doesn’t have to be bad. Cry and then put on a smile. I was just telling my 33 year old daughter that I noticed I don’t smile like I use to… what a gentle reminder that maybe I need a good cry and then I need to straighten up and put a smile on my face. Many blessing to you. Thank you for the boost I need it!.
I have really enjoyed your blog, if that is what it is called, I am older and do not always understand the computer, but thanks for you heart felted thoughts. Death is hard, but is a part of life. We are still witnessing a lot of death from COVID here in California. Recently, a church member that I was just getting to know, died from COVID. Remember God is in control, and brings the bad and good to us. Love you
I’m so sorry for your loss. I too lost a dear friend to a horrendous car wreck a few years ago. It was tough. We used to meet at her little country store after I got off work several times a week and have pizza at least once. She sold this brand of Cherries and Cream Soda that I loved and always had some hidden in the refrigerator in the back just for me. (I wasn’t the only one who liked it. She was frequently sold out of it.) But there was always some nice and cold for me. We talked, laughed, and sometimes cried. No subject was off limits
Dori, you are such a strong and inspiration to all that follow your blog!!!l think we all need people, especially other women, in our lives and especially in this world of today!! Praying we can all be more like you and crying is good for the soul.
Love you girl, Rita
Thanks for sharing. Praying for comfort as you travel this journey of life.
Dori, My condolences on the loss of your dear friend. You were fortunate to have such a close friend. Yes, people need to appreciate their parents while they’re still her and enjoy their company. Everyone’s so disconnected these days. Grief doesn’t go away but becomes manageable. There will be days when it rises up and hits you head on. Other days, memories will bring smiles!
Take care and continue enjoying life to the fullest, which includes relaxing!
I’m so sorry for your loss. I too lost a dear friend to a horrendous car wreck a few years ago. It was tough. We used to meet at her little country store after I got off work several times a week and have pizza at least once. She sold this brand of Cherries and Cream Soda that I loved and always had some hidden in the refrigerator in the back just for me. (I wasn’t the only one who liked it. She was frequently sold out of it.) But there was always some nice and cold for me. We talked, laughed, and sometimes cried. No subject was off limits. I’ll never forget that phone call. I couldn’t believe she was gone. And for a while I was lost. Her husband sold the store and the house and moved to Florida with their daughter. I don’t even drive by the store anymore. I have to pass her house but I don’t look anymore. The pain of losing her is still breath taking after 11 years. But it’s better. It does get easier with the passing of each year. We’ll always love our dear friends but the pain and emptiness gets better. My problem is that I know a lot of people but have only 3 good friends. And she was a good friend. We are so blessed if we can have even one friend like that in our lives and I’ve had 3. I remind myself of that when I’m thinking about her and I smile.
Beautiful reminder that our lives are short…a vapor in the wind and that we need to take the time to smile and remember the good things, the precious family and dear friends and that God is good always.
Ah, Dori, I thought you outdid yourself with your last post–then you write this one and I have been in tears and smiling and laughing as I go through it. You have inspired me once again, dear lady. Thank you for the thoughtful lessons.
Barb
Thank you for your heartfelt words reminding us all to be mindful of the moments that bring clarity and meaning
Thank you… just, thank you.
❤️❤️
Wonderful sharing of your heartfelt experiences – we can all relate! Thank you. (Martha in North Idaho)
Bless you, Dori — such a heartfelt post to share with us all. Thanks so much from a small town on the Pacific NW!
Thank you!
This has truly been a God send. I had 3 funerals last week. Today a very dear friend who has had three surgeries in two months is critical & her son is being allowed to see her.
God is still Good & I’m so thankful He holds us!!
Blessings
Gail
Matthew 6:33
❤️
Thank You for this post. Losing a friend is an awful thing. We have lost a few friends over the years. It never gets an easier. We miss our parents every day. Glad that you had support from your husband. So happy that your parents are doing fine. Your granddaughters are quite the young ladies. Where did the time go? Blessings to you and your family. God Bless.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
I’ve not experienced the pain of death yet. Tears for you & what an inspiration you are helping people thru your honesty & transparency. Thank you.
Thank you for such a inspiring story, although very sad. Im sorry for losing your best friend. I love MaryJane’s farm house magazine.
That was beautiful…..:)
Thank you for sharing the joys and sorrows of what your life has led you through lately. All of us who have lost precious friends can relate and commiserate. And for those of us without, be envious and happy for you that you have parents and a sibling to be with when the need is greatest. I’ll toss in a hubby, too :>) Some of us, really old like I am, have been left without any of those wonderful people. Life is like that. Kind and harsh in turns. Can’t be any other way.
Again, just a thank you. You lift my day.
Patricia Murphy
Dear Dori, I have no idea what foundation paper is, but certainly understood and felt the rest of the story. I am so sorry for your loss of Patti, and thank you for reminding us to always say yes. How wonderful to appreciate what we have, while we still have them; you and your sweet family are blessed to have each other! Keep smiling, dear friend.
This!!❤❤❤