Happy and safe holidays to you and yours.

Hi Nicole! Your favorite Holiday things are my favorites too. But remember, Jesus is the reason we celebrate! No one can cancel His birthday!! ❤️❤️

Thank you so much for all the love and cheer! 5:32 am on December 23rd looks a lot brighter for me!

Nicole, thank you for such a fun and uplifting post. Even tho I’m not hosting my family this year we’re making the best of it and praying for better days ahead. Decorating the house helped and music and cookies make everything better. Every year I decorate with vintage family Christmas cards and postcards. My favorite is one my mom sent to one of her brothers in WWII with a little envelope taped to it that contains a lock of my hair. He mentioned in later correspondence that the guys all gathered around to look at it and touch it. I guess they were all homesick for their own families. My cards bring such comfort to my heart because they remind me of my warm and loving heritage. Hopefully some day we will look back at this season and be thankful for our many blessings in spite of the circumstances. I am wishing a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Thank you so much for this blog Nicole! You are a modern day Gladys Taber who wrote about her experiences on the Still Meadow Farm in Southbury, CT back in the 40’s. The most wonderful thing about you is that everything you have written in your blogs over the years brings the generous spirit of Christmas to everyone all year round. You are authentic and beautiful in all ways as expressed by your crafts, gardening, vintage collections, and love of traditional community values. Your blogs are reading materials of tremendous value for young and old alike… By the way, thank you for the “Farm Girl Hug” on the high meadow last summer! You know I needed that encouragement!

Nicole, one of our favotite Christmas movies is Babettes Feast. Its a Danish film with English subtitles. Have you sern it? We watch it every year.

This story touched my heart. As a retired nurse and craft person I am now going to reach out to a dear friend and make her a bear from a shirt or pj pant of her recently deceased husband. Thank you so much for sharing!

Wow.

My condolences on the loss of Cindy. I’m glad she had someone with her who cared, and had the best of friends all her life. You’ll always have the memories.

What a beautiful heartwarming story Nicole of your Sweet Friend Cindy. Thank you for sharing her and April with us.
Hugs,
Debbie

What a wonderful tribute. I love the concept of “first birthday in heaven”. How blessed you are for old and new dear friends.

What a beautiful tribute to the most important things in life, love for one another. Thank you for sharing. Such an inspiring story in these hard times. God Bless~

Thank you for sharing that(beary)wonderful, warm story!
Such a Ca-ute bear. I noticed his legs right away… and am
glad you didn’t correct them. A pigeon-toed bear is adorably unique!
Lucky you to have such a great friend who knew how to give
‘Love’ her whole life, and even after!
Hugs&Squeezles

Hi Nicole, this story reminded me to let my close friends know how much they mean to me. Your story really touched my heart! It touched me so much so that I wanted to forward your post to a couple of my close friends. Thank you for a sweet post in such a hard time!

❤️

I appreciate seeing your vintage home decor! Reminds me of my mom and gramma’s homes. Thank you!

Your home is wonderful and your words very descriptive. I can hear the music. Like you , I like to be surrounded by things that remind me of my family and our history. Happy Halloween! Farmgirl Hugs from high desert, red rock Western Colorado!

Nicole, we must be kindred spirits. I would do all vintage if my husband liked it. Alas, I don’t have a lot but love what I have. My husband says I was born with an old soul and I think he is right. Ella is a favorite. I think my favorites are The Very Thought of You and I’m Old Fashioned. I have many records from grandparents that had bought many collections from the Readers Digest record Catalog. One of my favorite things is the original Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band record collection. Do you like the Rod Stewart Song Book collection? I have them all and LOVE them.

If only everyone still dressed like the 40’s and had the grace. I’m not too keen on the music but the fashions were fabulous (as well as the styles of those radios))

I have my grandma’s old zenith brown plastic of some sort..her first radio was repossessed during the depression. This radio was always her prized possession.

What a perfect post! Kindred spirits…I love music from the 1940’s and the old radio shows as well. With our satellite radio I can listen anytime…something about that time period just makes me happy. And what a great idea tucking Alexa away where it can’t be seen, but will seem like the old radio works…and, by the way, it’s beautiful, what a great find! You inspired me…an vintage radio came with our 1963 Yellowstone camper, but I put it away because it didn’t work…I’ll hide a little bluetooth speaker behind it so it “works” as well; thanks for the inspiration! Mary

We love vintage. We have our house decorated with mostly vintage Halloween decorations. They just do not make decorations like the vintage ones any more. Your records are great. We also have a lot of oldies records. Thank You for sharing your vintage things.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Joan,Marion and Marilyn

I love your blog! I adore the 1940’s music! Your home is so cozy! I love your vintage treasures!!!

Lately, I have been listening to some of the music my mother used to listen to, like Andy Williams, Rosemary Clooney, etc. I have also thrown in some of the old/classic jazz. I hav some of my father’s radios that I had no idea what to do with them. Thank you the ideas!! Now I can enjoy the radios and my music.

I’m a New Englander and fall is my favorite season. Loved looking at all your great items. They brought back a lot of fun memories of my grandmother’s home. Great tips that will be put into good use.

Love your decorating style and hints for those of us ‘still’ trying to find a style. (I prefer British cozy & my husband thinks the 50’s are the latest & best!) Wonderful idea about the Alexa and using the speakers in old radios. I love 40’s music myself. Love to read your column!

Hi Nicole, Thanks for sharing your ideas and your antiques.
We had a big old radio when I was little too. I’m not sure what brand it was.
I do remember the same fabric behind the speaker, the dark plastic knobs,
and the fact that it had an arched, pointed(cathedral window style?) top on it.
I was always wanting to play it whenever we went to the basement during
a tornado or ate in the basement on super hot summer days. It hissed and
faded in and out… but I didn’t care. I enjoyed it anyhow. I was always
amazed by the fabric covered/wrapped cords and wires in those old radios.
Thanks again Nicole for dusting off my memories as well as your great finds!
Hugs&Squeezles! Stay safe!

I love this blog. I was a baby during the war but mid to late forties loved plaing with my paperdolls! My next door friend and I would play for hours with our paperdolls underneath
her mom’s grand piano. I had Piper Laurie, Betty Grable, June Allyson among movie stars. I planned to grow up and be a dress designer. Love, Mother

I enjoyed this SO much…as a little girl, I loved playing with paper dolls almost, as much as playing with my Barbie dolls. SO FUN…It was imaginative and creative and a good way of expressing each, of our “little girl’s” style/taste. We’d name our paper dolls too.
Later they would have a magnetic type doll with clothes. The paper with the little tabs were great…
Thank you for providing this “happy” peek, back in time when things were more simple…

Yes! I had paper dolls galore! Shirley Temple, was my favorite with all of her frilly dresses and cute country overalls. There was also a set based on the old Revlon Dolls of that time, all fashion dolls and clothes. I also used to make my own clothes to put on them. It was hours and hours of fun using my imagination, a talent that I fear our youngsters today lack.

What a fantastic find you have there and of an earlier time period too! My first time playing with paper dolls were during the 50’s and the Betsy McCall dolls. I couldn’t wait till the next magazine came along for my mother. You brought back the memory of being a “Candy Striper” volunteer at a hospital and I did grow up to become a nurse. Thanks for this walk down memory lane. Ellen

Oh my goodness, what a neat find!! I haven’t seen any that cool. I played with paper dolls and mine are from the 60’s and early 70’s. I have some that were given to me from cousins. I have all of mine in a shoe box. I did throw out the ones I had cut out of catalogs. I posted all of them on facebook last year when I found them in my closet. I haven’t done anything with them but I like your ideas. that was a very fond part of my childhood. I can’t imagine that now kids will only think of what type of phone, ipad or laptop they had as a child. I’m thankful for the memories I had from my childhood, paperdolls, barbies and dolls with all their clothes! Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed your post!

I was in the hospital alot as a child and had many paper dolls. Oh how I wish I still had them your find is so beautiful. I don’t have any ideas on how to display them, other than maybe start with children going on up to adulthood, like the story of our lives. Your story has me crying and longing for the simpler, kinder times of my childhood, growing up in late 50’s and 60’s. Thank you so very much for this wonderful trip down memory lane

Wow, I hadnt thought about paper dolls in eons! Thank you for sharing.
Yes I had paper dolls. Loved them. Collected them, imagined they were my friends. We had to use our imaginations back then.
I think someone tried to re-intoduce them in the last couple of years. I saw a box in the store…more like card board than paper.
Thanks for the memories!

Oh man! This brings back all kinds of memories! I LOVED my paper dolls. They would have been from the 50’s-early sixties. Favorites were the Lennon Sisters and the Betsy McCall that cam I McCalls magazine every month. My paper dolls mostly came in cardboard folders that had slits to keep them tidy. My stack of paper doll folders were over 3 feet high in the bottom of my closet. I still have quite a few Betsy McCall dolls. Later, Mary Engelbreit had a paper doll every month in her magazine. I kept them and am now cutting them out for my granddaughters to play with.

OH, this was wonderful to read and look at! Do you remember Mary Engelbreit Home Companion magazine? I saved all the “Anne Estelle” paper doll pages that came with each issue. (I’m hoping they’re still in my attic; my granddaughter might love them!)

Oh Nicole, what a lovely and welcome blog piece! I think one of the most comforting things today is cherishing and learning about past times. I, too, loved playing with paper dolls. I remember each month in the McCall’s magazine there were always a page or two dedicated to Betsy McCall. You could cut out the paper doll and some clothing. I think there was also a little story that went with it and the paper clothing was related to the story. I remember sitting in my grandmother’s sitting room (she subscribed to the magazine) and once she was done reading it (and yes I nagged her “Are you done yet, Nana?”) she’d help me cut out Betsy and her clothing. I loved all my paper dolls. And also loved a later invention – colorforms – where the clothing would stick to the doll form ‘magically’ without paper tabs to hold them on the shoulders and waist. Thank you for the smiles and memories you brought to us with your post. Truly a blessing today 🙂

I really enjoyed your blog this time. and obviously it brought back memories to a lot of farmgirls. How fun to actually find some paper dolls in a store. I imagine it was something donated by a younger generation from someone’s estate. One of my requests
always for birthday or Christmas was paper dolls. I remember Betsy McCall ones also.
It is a fun memory of many hours spent playing and creating stories in our imaginations for the dolls. Thank you for sharing.

Jealous!!! I loved my paper dolls. I would cut out the Betsy McCall dolls. I also had Barbie and Tammy paper dolls. But my very favorite, which I still have, are Jacqueline and Caroline Kennedy.

What a joyful blog. Thank you for sharing your find. I love paper dolls. I have a collection,mostly bought years ago. When I was a child my twin sister[Marion] and I would cut out pictures of children[mostly child models]. We would play school with the paper dolls. We would line them up in rows in a pretend school desks.
Marilyn

This post brought back a lot of memories for me. I always enjoyed playing with paper dolls. I had a lot of the movie stars,Betty Grable and her two daughters are one example. My cousin and I would cut out our own drawings and color the dolls. We would play for hours.
Joan

What a lovely post. My first memory of paper dolls was the year I was 6. I was on strict bed rest for a year due to rheumatic fever This was 1955 protocol. One of my favorite past times was to cut out and play with my “friends” One of my favorites was a Golden Book about a wedding. And yes, I loved Betsy McCall. Thank you for triggering a happy memory.

Lauri

Wonderful post bringing back forgotten memories. You juiced a dormant yen to create. Thank you for the time you took with this. The pictures are fantastic, and I remember these colors I was surrounded with in 1956. I wonder what makes them so rich.

Nicole, what great information. Living in western North Carolina, I fortunately have not so far discovered any of these miserable little creatures, although some “invisible” worms are making a buffet out of my tomato plants at this time. Like you, I love my hostas. In my case, so do the local deer, who graze freely on my 25 + acres. So why, oh why, do they insist on coming up to the absolute edge of my driveway and deck to lunch on my favorite specimens? But hey, I do love my deer as well, and the hostas always come back, so I get to enjoy them briefly every spring.

Thanks so much for this valuable information! I will be very diligent in watching out for these buggers.

How interesting,
I though all earthworms were “good and helpful”
Those snake worms are gross. Thanks for vinegar and water information to dispose of them…

Hi, Nicole. Very interesting post. I haven’t heard of these worms but will definitely be on the lookout for them. I live in Lansing in the upper mountains of North Carolina. We garden a little. We have lots of hostas, but the deer eat them, even close to the house. We are trying to plant things that the deer won’t eat….lol. I enjoyed your post and will be reading some of your older posts. Stay safe and take care. jmp

Hi Nicole;

Ugh, I hope I never have these creatures in my yard. I like earthworms and nightcrawlers; good for garden and for fishing. Thanks for posting about these though, in case they show up somewhere close by, I can tell people what they are. Too bad there is no easy way to get rid of them. The frost this spring hurt most of my garden plants, the hostas, the tree lily’s and the iris’ were really hurt as they came up and were budding before the frost hit. Hopefully after this fall’s redo, we will have better luck in the spring.

So might we be able to rid them of peppermint oil? Peppermint oil kills roaches,spiders, and many more even ants.
Are they in Florida yet? Great content. Right now we have a ton of months. Walk and they are by the thousands cutting the pastures.
Thanks for your answers ahead.
Debra J Price

Good information thanks for sharing

Thank you for this information!!
I have seen these granule hills all over my yards from East Ga. to South West Ga & Then Coastal Carolina but had no idea an invasive worm was leaving the “pile”. Now I will be destroying them. I’ve been laying down weed block fabric topped with cypress mulch to form paths for two days i our 92-95 degree days. I have seen these jumpers as I’ve dug out the dreaded Smilax! The heat index has been 100 to 105 & even 108 lately.

Wow, Nicole! Thank you for warning me about the Jumping Snake Worm! My husband and I retired 9 yrs ago and built a house on a country lot that I have been “building” a yard, flower beds, and raised gardens on here in Iowa. A couple yrs ago I was so delighted to see my composting and hard work landscaping paying off by seeing earth worms!
This year, I could not get heirloom tomato transplants or any good tomato transplants so my crop has done poorly. I also ordered special buttercup seeds and the plants were doing so well. But – while gone a week camping (yes, we can camp in Iowa!), cut worms invaded! I was able to slit the stems, remove what worms I could, and buried the stems. So far it has worked! No need for Sevin! Do you know a natural way to help?
We are in desperate need of rain here. My son is a farmer and our corn and soybeans really need the moisture now!
So nice to catch your blog, Nicole! Your photos are beautiful and your advice! Thank you!

Well, I can honestly say I learn something new everyday now that I have read this narrative. Thank you. I had no idea anything of this sort existed. I’ll bet people who don’t garden have never heard of it either. I do garden, but am clueless about this species of critter. lol Thank you. I enjoyed this and will definitely keep an eye open.

Awesome post! I, too, live in CT, and will be on the lookout. I’ll look around my yard and hope I don’t find evidence of their being here. Thanks so much. I never knew about theses worms and like others, thought great! Worms are good. But apparently not all.
Thanks for an awesome blog and lesson 🙂

I did not know this about those worms but I’ll pay attention to my flower beds a little closer now. Thanks!

Before you were born I went fishing in Texas and put worms on my fish hook! Very slimy and gross. I am impressed with so much information about worms! Liked the pretty pictures. Love,
Mother

Thanks for the info…I don’t think that I have these in my yard…yet. Because of your info I will be on the lookout. I live in a very, very sandy area of Auburn, ME. The ground is similar to that soil in the Desert of Maine in Freeport…same vein of sand/dirt left by the glaciers.

Sweet

What a beautiful and uplifting post! Thank you! Congratulations to your daughter. We, as well, have cancelled our camping plans this summer, but continue to enjoy our campfires. As much as I love evening campfires, my absolute favorite campfire time is early in the morning, before most of the other campers are awake – sitting by the fire with a cup of coffee and some inspirational reading :-). It’s a lovely time to connect with God at the beginning of each day. And the flowers are gorgeous. Another way in this turmoil that God is letting us know He’s still here 🙂

Congratulations to your daughter!! Love all your pictures of flowers, birds & animals! I did not buy one plant this year. All the flowers that came back I am enjoying even more this year.

What a sweet treat this has been! First of Congratulations on your daughter graduating! Second… Ah, I am a college student all the way from Mexico who actually learned English from this very same blog! (the pictures always drew me here) Back when I was a little boy no more than 10. I always had the farm blog on the back of my head but I could never pinpoint the name. I’m happy to be able to find it again and it seems I have a lot of catching up to. Here’s to living a farm life with a pastel palette!! Thanks for the kind wishes uwu

How wonderful to get the close-up pictures of baby robins and watching them grow – like you, staying around home is easy, especially with my gardens and chickens !

Nice blog. Great pictures! I am impressed you had a comment from Pablo!
Love,
Mother

So enjoyed reading this. Congratulations to your graduate. I feel the same about how covid has slowed world down and time to reevaluate our lives.

You stay safe…

Congratulations ! I got emotional reading about this! Thank y’all for doing this for your graduates!

Thank you so much for the post. This is a very hard time but, like you, I believe we will come out of this stronger and more grateful than ever before. God bless you and your family.

Planting “seeds of hope” too! This will be a first year garden on our new to us 10 acres: God Given Acres.

Hi Nicole, This is such an unusual time! We thought we were totally settled moving out to MT to be near our daughter, but her job took a turn (before the pandemic). Then she took a new job in NC in February. So during the pandemic we are having to move across country! It isn’t hard to social distance while driving a 26′ UHaul and Truck with Trailer in tow! We packed our own food, cooler, and only stopped for gas! We each had gloves, mask, and GermX in our cabs. So, like I believe true farmgirls know to do, we were prepared! We arrived on time, unloaded into a storage unit, then came to our rented, furnished, vacation home secured by our daughter. What a blessing!! We will be looking for a new home to buy (that has to have room for my beloved Hoosier cabinet), but for now, we NEEDED the time to rest! I am so thankful that all have stayed well, and that we could truly see the “supply chain” moving across the country with all the truckers out there! My family is excited that we are back “home” in the East, but we can only visit by phone so it still feels we are in MT. This time that we’ve been given is not one we would have chosen but knowing how farmgirls “make-do” helps get one through the tough times!! I am excited to hear of all the “new” farmgirls that are learning about gardening and canning since the pandemic! Many are making comments about doing things “like in the 40’s and 50’s” which I am so excited to hear! My Mom lived during those times, and she was my #1 Mentor as a true farmgirl…teaching me to make-do! Now I will have many “young” farmgirls to gaggle with! Stay well, farmgirl sisters!!

Thank you for your uplifting blog. Keep up the good work.

Thank you for sharing the journey! Your kitchen is adorable. Good to hear we are all experiencing some of the same feelings. See you on the other side of this, stronger and ready to go!

Thank you for your article and pictures. So cheerful!!!# Much needed right now. Linda

Very nice up-lifting post!! Such a wonderful attitude at this hard time. I am a 74 yr old Farmgirl at heart and am sometimes truly amazed at the insight and common sense you younger ladies have!! Great job!! And by the way lovely kitchen and laundry room paint job!!

Thanks, Nicole. You hit “home” on a lot of points with me. I had just texted the “Groundhog Day” thought to my family before I read it in yours! My son asked me to make some face masks so I used up all the scraps I had and had to get innovative for materials. So although they’re not surgical grade, should cover if they implement the requirement for going out. I’m alone in senior housing apartment so do my visiting through the door. I still feel I’m in a sci-fi movie. Thankful for what I have and praying for those who don’t. Stay well, everyone.

Nicole, Love your kitchen: my favorite color and design/decor. THANKS for such an up-lifting post. So enjoyable to share your family including the adorable pets, experiences and hope for our future. These are CRAZY times indeed. Glad to hear all the ingenuity Farmgirls are using to get through these times. Very glad that Reba made it safely to the East. My Mom grew up during the Depression and being the oldest I was strongly influenced by her values. I am delighted that I have been able to pare down my stockpile in my regular pantry! I hear her voice every day with her infamous saying that I remember from my traumatic issues in the 50s until today: “This too will pass”. Stay safe everyone and sending love from rural Kansas. Pamela

Richard read your blog and liked it this evening. Thanks for mentioning him and I. I am proud of your writing. Beautiful pictures and great comments that you received.
Love,
Mother

Thanks for sending! Enjoyed reading so much! Love to go antique hunting!

Just lovely, thank you for sharing.

I love your decor……… I am Irish, and German and probably some Scot too. Love your farmgirl posts.. I so enjoy each one

Happy St. Patrick’s Day and First day of Spring tomorrow! Spreading a little green and cheer is so important in these uncertain times. Wishing you health and happiness.
My daughter had a wonderful idea for her boys, who are at home with school closed. To keep them busy and let them show their Irish pride she had them make signs with shamrocks that said, “Honk if you are Irish”. They live on a busy street and stood outside showing the signs to passing cars. They were so excited when passing cars honked! Of course, almost everyone feels a little bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!

Nicole,
What a fun and uplifting post! We need those thoughts during this crazy time in our lives especially for those of us who have to self isolate because of the virus, age or health issues. THANK YOU! In Kansas our Governor closed all schools until the end of the year (mid May) so we also need to keep parents in our prayers. My son & wife are still trying to process managing 4 children at home for 5 months and Grandma cannot help yet…crazy!!
On a happier note, your decorations are delightful, your husband is a hunk (60s slang for very handsome), your “finds” beautiful, and you will look gorgeous in that dress! Hailing from New England and a “wee bit Irish”, my tradition is N.E. boiled corned beef & cabbage dinner – yum! Want to explore more recipes but have too many fond mem-ories of that meal cooking at my home. Everyone stay healthy as we welcome Spring.

As always, love your blog! Keep them coming please

Thanks for sharing your recipe, although no one in my family will eat pea soup but myself. Also , I love the green Hoosier glass that you have!

Wonderful post Nicole!! I always read and enjoy your cheerful stories. We have been married just under 60 yrs and also love each others company and going junking. Of course there’s nothing we need, but it’s still fun. Congrats on finding the green jar, I love it. Living in Wash, now is not a good time to go out, so we are just staying home and staying well, hopfully. Best wishes to you and your families and stay well also. Laurel

Hi Nicole– Always enjoy your posts. And loved your photo of 1930’s green jar. I have one just like it that I rescued from my mother in laws cupboard many years ago. I use it as a vase often and it has a lovely home in our china cabinet. Wish I had a Hoosier. Stay well and thanks for bringing a smile.

Oh how I love the way you decorate! Also so many memories you just brought back, I too read 17 magazine and made many of the recipes, I too had the exact same leprechauns visit while I was growing up and when my littles were growing up. 🙂

My husband hates these animals and he swears that they will kill chickens. I truly don’t know, but they are interesting animals.

Loved the article on opossums! I always say “It’s a good day when you learn something new”. 🙂

I absolutely adored this blog, especially the pictures.

What a great story! Loved reading ! I had heard that they were great “ tick eliminators “ and I am delighted to read that. Protect our wildlife!
Thanks!

Enjoyable article about opossums. Local rehabbers can be found at:
animalhelpnow.org.

I want to knit wee sweaters for your visiting friend!

Thank you Nicole for this article on opossums. It is good to know as much as we can about our fellow earthlings who we share a world with; and does everyone know that God created the animals first, and Adam last to take care of them? I am glad to know all this about opossums and I feel sorry for those I see that get hit by cars. I didn’t know they mostly have a short life span. Could be why the female has so many babies at once. I haven’t seen any around my area lately, but if I do, I will be happy to leave food for them. I did know they are a great tick terminator, deer probably appreciate that fact too. It is just great to know that there is a reason for every insect and animal on earth, even if we don’t know the reason for them. A perfect plan.

Very interesting and informative. They are so cute. Wonderful there is help for them. Thank you for sharing!
Happy valentines Day.❤

Thank you for addressing this! So many misinformed people that refuse to educate themselves about these beautiful creatures. I have a heated shelter set up for them and feed them year round. They have issues with calcium. They love cooked chicken, yogurt, cheese, and fruit, and a few other things. I can’t get the ones that I feed to eat vegetables! I had chickens and grew up on a farm, not once did we lose a chicken to a opossum, maybe a few eggs, but not enough to break the bank. I am so grateful that there are rehabbers for opossums, I am no longer in a position because of my health to rehab, I rehabbed birds years ago though, maybe my health will improve and I can do the schooling, etc. required to rehab these beautiful babies. Again, it is a breath of fresh air that you posted this to educate and bring attention to the opossums.