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

What a great idea! I love everything about it! The photos alone make my heart happy.

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.

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.

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.

The first person I will write to using your beautiful notecards is an elderly aunt that I rarely get to visit in person! I have several friends that I have been corresponding with during the pandemic since handwritten notes are enjoyed far longer than phone calls or emails, and they will get notes, too!
I enjoy reading your posts and seeing photos of your lovely crafts! Inspiring, though I don’t have your talent.

I’ll send one to my best friend!

I send cards for each and every holiday all year round to all my friends .But this year I was not able to go the stores to get the cards I needed. I have a list of about 30 people so I think I’m good at letting people know I care and think about them.

People really seem to enjoy them and I try and pick out ones appropriate for each person. Some are the same cards to different people but you get the drift. I write something personal in each and the pets get their own cards if possible.
( try and find Easter cards with cats or dogs on them ! )

Its a great way to stay in touch and sure beats Texting and emailing for personal reaching out.

Dori,
Your idea is wonderful! My cousin Donna wrote me a long letter last year, which I treasure. It prompted me to mail Christmas cards in December, writing notes in each.

The first handwritten letter would be to cousin Donna. Close seconds would be to my sister and daughter.

Thanks for sharing your photos and ideas, Carole

Doris, I ❤ this!!! You are so creative and your binders turned out so pretty!!
This is a great idea. I still have little notes that I’ve saved through the years that mean so much to me…especially those from my grandma, who is no longer here. We never know how just a few encouraging words will make a person’s day.
It reminds me of the idea that to make change in the world, WE need to start with ourselves.
I’m not sure who I would write to first! Probably my friend, Jami.

I would send a card to my dear life-long friend who lives in Montana. We do write to each other (snail mail) about once every so often, not consistent! That would be perfect, just a sweet “Thinking of You” would mean a lot!

I love this! It’s simply beautiful! I love getting snail mail and hardly get any, I know because I don’t get myself to write it. I have a long time friend that sends hand written notes several times a year, and she is the first person I would respond to!

I have several friends at church that are needing prayers and I know they would enjoy a card letting them know I am praying and thinking of them daily

First card would go to my Mom. She is in assisted living, and I speak to her regularly, but I also send her a card once a week or so. I remember her sending me cards and letters when I was at Girl Scout camp and how much I loved getting them. ( I was very homesickJ I like to think that the cards I send her bring her as much joy.

I love that binder and immediately thought of the fabric scraps I have! I am a stamper so I love to make cards (with plenty of glitter) and send to special friends. I have a very special friend who lives in a nursing home in another city and because of covid we haven’t been able to visit-she is first in my list.

I love the idea of making a binder. My letter would be to my friend Elaine. We’ve been friends since the late 60’s. We been writing ever since I moved away.

Hi! I love to make cards out of photos I have taken. I love snailmail. My first card would be to an elderly lady I have kept in touch with for years after she moved.

I will write to my niece who is in a personal care home. She is only 40 years old & has many medical problems. She loves to receive cards from me. She will never be able to be on her own.

I would send my first note to my good friend and college roommate.
Her birthday is in the month of March and we have remained friends for almost 50!years!!

Hi Doris,
I have to say that you are so creative on so many levels. I’ve always loved your choice of fabrics…so cheerful and colorful. The fabric note cards and binders are adorable. And the flower photo note cards are glorious… I’m so ready to see some sign of spring and summer! So I’m hoping to have them appear in my mailbox.

My daughter is 18 and in college. She would be the first person that I would write to. I would love to send her notes throughout the year to remind her of how special she is and that she is a beautiful child of God!

I would definitely write to my mother first. She will be moving from the hospital to a rehab center this week. She would love to get some Mail. In fact, just thinking about this has inspired me. I’ll do that as soon as she moves. Thank you

I would send the first one to my daughter. We do not get to see her very much.

My best friend and gardening buddy comes to mind. We always swap seeds and talk about our (gardening and otherwise) successes and failures. She loves flowers just as much as I do.

I will send a card to my daughter who is in Portland while we are in San Diego. Because of covid we have not been able to visit her as much as we had planned. I send her a box of goodies from home every month including something homemade from the kitchen & something knit or crocheted & there is always a card with bits of news from home. We are so thankful for facetime & texts so we can keep in touch, but it is not the same as being able to hug her.

I’ve gathered together a group of friends who are all writing letters to the elderly for an organization that provides these letters to residents in area nursing homes and assisted living facilities. So far we have collected over 100 personal notes and thinking of you cards to send the Love for our Elders. I can’t think of a better way to brighten someone’s day than a personal note.

Beautiful work! I’ll write/send one to my best friend Marian!
Colorado Cowgirl.

Several years ago my parents had to make the tough decision to move to an assisted living complex. Mom had lost her ability to keep track of birthdays and anniversaries so it fell to Dad to continue sending their love and good wishes through greeting cards. To make it easy for him I put together a binder with monthly pockets, a calendar and the names and milestones. I tucked a card appropriate to each into the pockets with envelopes already stamped so all Dad had to do was write a note and drop the cards into the post box in the home’s office. It was a big job to set up for him the first year, but then each Christmas I would replenish a year’s worth of cards as a gift to him and Mom.
I love the idea of a quilted cover 3 ring binder! Yours looks beautiful. And I so enjoy reading about your flower business and your girls who work right along side you. Photo notecards from your farm would be a delight to receive and even more of a joy to send.
And thanks for the reminder that we all would enjoy receiving a bit of love in the mail.

The first person I plan to write to is my almost 100 year old Uncle, last of his generation who has been stuck in his Condo for over a year because of Covid.

The binder is such a nifty idea. My first note will be to my childhood friend.

I tried unsuccessfully to teach myself latch hook and I think that this is the year I need to take a lesson and really give it a go. I am knitting a throw for my chair right now and when it’s done I think I will find a teacher.

I look so forward to your blogs. I feel like I could sit down with you and a cup of tea and discuss quilting and grands and sewing and flowers. I love teaching my grands to sew. I have a cousins camp each year and the girls 6-13 stay all week with me. We sew, bake, do crafts, they all love it and count down the days till the next year.( the cousins live farther away but my grands live close). My grandson, Sawyer, wanted to make a Braves( baseball team) pillow. He was so proud of it, the big grin on his face was priceless. This last year he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer on my 60th birthday. He passed away into the arms of Jesus in Oct. I have that special memory of sewing with him. I don’t take for granted 1 min with my grandkids. I’ve learned the sad way, don’t put off and say we will do it later. Grab the moment.

Dori … I love that little cake. I need to get one! As you said, it’s THE perfect gift for a friend or for my two granddaughters! My hopes for the coming year are to reconnect with so many who I have been distanced from by the pandemic … in person! I’m also working on organizing my photographs! It’s something I love doing and it is ongoing! Happy New Year! Carol in Pennsylvania

This year was a hard year on so many levels, for so many people. I hope that 2021 knocks the socks off of 2020 (in a good way). I pray for health, joy, peace and sustainability for everyone. And, that cake looks awesome. Can’t wait to see the recipe… I don’t currently subscribe but would like to. Thanks for sharing!

Hi Doris, I hope to be a better friend. I hope to use many of the ideas found in your blog to share with friends. I am blessed and don’t ever want to take that for granted.
Thanks for your blog.

Looking forward to taking more time for myself this next year. Making healthy changes that will make it easier for me to continue providing for family and friends well into the future.

I plan on praying more, and reminding myself, at the beginning of each new day, to FEAR NOT ! Each day is sufficient unto itself ! And to Thank God for waking up each morning that I do !

2020 was a year filled with stress, fear and disappointment for so many. My goal for 2021 is to focus on the positive aspects of every day life; to find a bit of joy each day and continue to encourage others as we get through this pandemic together. Our mouths are covered with masks, our smiles do not show; we must smile with our eyes and speak kindness and understanding with our words.

This cake looks so yummy! While I have many goals for the coming year, my focus will be to become a better, and competent, weaver. The entire process is so delightfully encompassing. Running my fingers through different fibers whether animal or plant based thrills me. And the mechanics of the process are fascinating. Because completed pieces tend to pile up, I’m working on ideas to share the completed weavings with others. Thank you for your encouraging posts.

My hopes a goals for 2021 are to help guide my mom who had a tia in 2020 and my husband whom has had early on set Parkinson’s for 20 years . He is goin to have dibs (brain surgery) sometime this year as meds no longer help his Parkinson’s. So I will stand tall and strong this year to help them in 2021. Love to all this coming year. I am blessed.Want to try this cake out too.

A special joy in life is spending time with our grandkids. For the coming year hoping to do more of that. If this year has taught us anything it is how much we need those who add joy to our lives and wellness and how to be happy on our own as well.

I wish for peace and good health for All. My goals are to eat healthy and find a creative, productive hobby for myself. I love Cyndies goal of keeping in touch with the older grandkids. I am going to copy that goal. Thanks Cyndie.

The past year has been a strange one, but it has brought my family and friends closer. Helping each other with words of encouragement, grocery shopping, little gifts to lift someone’s spirit, just a simple call to let others know someone cares. I liked to continue throughout 2021 even when the pandemic is finally over. There is nothing so precious as family and friends. God has been very good to me through this difficult year. I’ve have wonderful friends and Farm Girl Sisters here at Mary Jane’s Farm. This last fall I purchased a spinning wheel and hope to fill up winter hours with it. Also, a Farm Girl Sister offered me a walking wheel. Hope it works out for me to get it. That would be so awesome!

I love chocolate cake. This one is perfect in size for my husband and me. Thank you for sharing your lovely gift with us Dori. Farm Girl Hugs!!

I am ‘retiring’ from one job and will start a new chapter in my life, so my hope is to do that with grace and joy.

What does that mean , exactly. My post is awaiting moderation ?

Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Howdy, Dori!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! I always love your posts and your dedication to running is inspiring. I’m so happy you found a healthy outlet during Covid times.
One that you can stick with too! We’re on a whole foods path at our house which is feeling pretty good!
Keep being wonderful you!
xoxoxo
Deb ( Beach Farmgirl forever )

I run 4 miles a day (and do 5-mile Friday) up and down the hallway of my apartment building. There are many virtual races to run and I just finished the 150-Mile Kaiser Permanente Around the Bay Challenge in San Francisco. I’m not fast but I’m consistent at 72. I’ll keep going as long as I can. Kudos to you for running in such a beautiful place!

Whoo hoo!!! Run, Mz Dori. Yep…I run on the ranch also but my paths have gotten overgrown due to lack of foot traffic. I MUST do better. I have taken a snap shot of your trails map and will have to implement that for my place. GOALS! I want to host a ranch run this year…maybe in the fall. One of my mottos is RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!. Hugs, Daizy in Alabama Farmgirl #1093

Wishing you and yours a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn

Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Howdy, Dori!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! I always love your posts and your dedication to running is inspiring. I’m so happy you found a healthy outlet during Covid times.
One that you can stick with too! We’re on a whole foods path at our house which is feeling pretty good!
Keep being wonderful you!
xoxoxo
Deb ( Beach Farmgirl forever )

I run 4 miles a day (and do 5-mile Friday) up and down the hallway of my apartment building. There are many virtual races to run and I just finished the 150-Mile Kaiser Permanente Around the Bay Challenge in San Francisco. I’m not fast but I’m consistent at 72. I’ll keep going as long as I can. Kudos to you for running in such a beautiful place!

Whoo hoo!!! Run, Mz Dori. Yep…I run on the ranch also but my paths have gotten overgrown due to lack of foot traffic. I MUST do better. I have taken a snap shot of your trails map and will have to implement that for my place. GOALS! I want to host a ranch run this year…maybe in the fall. One of my mottos is RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!. Hugs, Daizy in Alabama Farmgirl #1093

Wishing you and yours a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn

I love reading about your flower business and seeing your gorgeous pictures!

Your pictures are so beautiful! Thank you for sharing ❤️

The flower stand is awesome! Such a great idea to use an old truck bed. A friend and I stopped by a You Pick cut flower place on a weekend trip this year. It was their last weekend and the owner let us pick a huge bucket full. It was so much fun! Since then, all I can think about is flowers and how they made us so happy. At this time, I am researching ideas and plans and I am “really” contemplating the cut flower business. I have a ton of questions. Would you, have time to answer a few of them? Thanks in advance.

Lori

Always your beautiful flowers bring a smile to my face!

Thank you for sharing your beautiful story! Your flower gardens are amazing. The design of the boxes you carry the bouquets in…very clever. Sure wish I lived nearby. I’d be a loyal customer!

Good morning, Dori. This post was such a fun read. I love flowers too, but I only cut roses and leave the rest to enjoy as I walk thru my small gardens. Your “little” set up is an inspiration to me. I’m thinking of setting up a small veg. garden stand for garden overflow. We live on a busy road, and have pull off parking, so I thought people could help themselves on the honor system with proceeds going to the local Salvation Army. I volunteer at the S. A. thrift store here in Watertown, SD. Any thoughts or pointers you could give me would be appreciated! Thank you for the lovely photos on this cold snowy morning! Nanette

PS: I grew Zinnias this summer and the flowers last really long on the plants. How do you keep your plants from getting leaf mildew?

Those sunflowers!
I’ve always wanted a flower garden for cutting but no longer have my 36 acre home.
Any suggestions for doing it on less than an acre?

Love your blog. Just started following you. My mom raised perinnials and sold them for years to other garden centers so having flowers to cut and bring in the house has been in my life for as long as I can remember. We grow zinnias every year as I love them as well. Love the different colors and shapes of the blooms. I just grow the variety and never know what I’m getting but they make me happy. I also love sunflowers but don’t seem to get the small ones. HA I end up with HUGE blooms so not for a vase. Thank you for sharing your story. Maybe when I travel through your state I’ll have to stop by.

Beautiful! You inspire me to look for heirloom zinnias next year for my garden. Thanks for posting beautiful flower pictures, it snowed over 7 inches here (Minnesota) yesterday.

Beautiful photos, I totally love your flower stand.

These are such beautiful creations! I feel better just looking at the pictures. 🙂

Beautiful flowers. I especially love the Fourth Of July Bouquets. Thank You for sharing these lovely photos. Your granddaughters are getting so big.
Marilyn

Love the photos. Belle is adorable! I have a Maggie. She is a sweetheart and loves me the most. So fun!

How beautiful your flower gardens are. They are all worth your labor.

Dori, I have a quilting question for you.
I am saving almost all of my husbands shirts. He died 2 weeks ago an I am struggling with the loss. I have never made a quilt but I was thinking of using the fabrics from some of his shirt to make one.
Do you have any recommendations for a beginner? I have a sewing machine. I would love to honor my husband by making a small quilt – maybe lap size.
Thank you for your help.
God bless,
Elaine

That is fabulous. She’s going to cry.

So beautiful, thank you for sharing!

That is such a beautiful quilt!! It’s so full of joy and caring that you can see it pouring out even through a computer screen. She is going to treasure that for a long, long time.

Dori, I love your quilt. It is beautiful. Did you make your label or purchase it? I’ve finished a much of quilts since April and have been thinking about making a similar label. Love reading your posts!

I too have a quarantine quilt. I started and completed one during quarantine and finished another. It certainly helped get through the many weeks.

Love it! The vintage sheet backing is so complimentary. What a beautiful gift from the heart.

I love your quarantine quilt! Log cabin blocks have always been one of my favorites. Your coach will love it!

Where did you obtain your quilt label?

Oh Dori your quilt is absolutely Beautiful really truly it is! I know your friend Marci will love it.
One big log cabin pattern is fabulous, log cabin is my favorite quilt pattern. I have made only one and it was for our Son Kent.
Thank you for sharing with us the quilt and your story.
Take care and stay safe.
Farmgirl Hugs,
Debbie
#1582

Dori

What a lovely quilt! I am sure that Marcie will love it.

Good work and good words.

This is absolutely beautiful! And that you hand-quilted it makes it even more special. Is there a pattern/instructions for doing this (hope, hope)? I’ve never made a quilt but have been looking for a doable one for a full-size bed. My sister used to quilt, so I know a bit about Jelly Rolls. Great way to get this beauty started!
Glad things are improving in Tennessee. I’m in Western Oregon, so we’re really still going through some majorly dangerous and stressful times. But thankful for every small improvement we see!

So what size did the quilt end up being. It is very pretty

Hi Dori,
I love your blog and the quilt you’ve created is beautiful! What a talent to have especially during the times of a pandemic when the world around us shuts down. Your friend and trainer will love it and whatever you decide to put down on paper as a thank you. Your blog demonstrates that you also have the skills of being a good writer so the words will come. when you put the pen to paper. She must be awesome to have motivated you and the others in your class to continue with the fitness routine and maintain good health during these difficult days.

Take care and all the best to you and yours,
Kathi

Oh, Dori … I love your quilt! I, too, have found solace in quilting and other hobbies. I’m making a quilt for my 5-year old granddaughter as well as a matching one for her dolls. I feel that the pandemic has forced me to look in the house for fulfillment and I agree that I am thriving! Great post! Thank you for it! Carol

You are inspiring in both your words and how you spend your time. I too have made the decision to keep some of this down time as a permanent fixture in my life going forward. I’ve learned a lot about myself and what is really important to me and wouldn’t want to go back to life “before”.
The quilt is beautiful and the hand stitching very impressive.
Thank you for sharing your life with us.

What a beautiful gift! The hand quilting must have taken you hours! But there is nothing like hand made. Truly a gift from the heart <3

My next quilt will be a huge log cabin square! I love this quilt. I’m not actually a quilter, just 4 quilts in 20 years. But I’m inspired to finish my current quilt so I can start on this new one!

Would you be willing to e-mail a few directions on how you connected the strips? I would love to make one for myself. Thank you

Bette Axiak
betteaxiak@gmail.com

This pie looks fabulous. We’ve got tomatoes coming out of our ears (a good thing) so I’m going to try this immediately. Thank you. We have sweet 100’s on a bowl on the counter (the one’s that don’t get eaten right off the vine) and I think they’re so much better than cherry tomatoes. Different strokes and all that but when it says sweet it means sweet.

This is my first year gardening in many years. My corn and beans got eaten by local critters but my tomatoes did not disappoint. I can pick my cherry tomatoes twice a day! I’ve had enough to share with my friends! I too keep a bowl of cherry tomatoes on my counter as a quick snack throughout the day.

*seize the moment! I know it was just the best!♥️ And oh goodness, I could totally live in a place like that!!

I live in Denver and don’t recognize this place. If it’s a rental I’d love to know where it is and how to contact the owners.