One of my all-time favorite songs (from one of my most favorite movies) is played frequently during the holidays: “My Favorite Things”. It always brings to mind a long list of personal “favorite things”. Some are seasonal, such as seashells, pumpkins, and snowmen. Others are functional like teapots, and cake plates. When I see a cookie, it’s a cookie, but put it on a footed cake plate and my heart skips a beat! Often, we women find we need to have more than one of our “favorite things”. A girlfriend once told me that if you have two of something, it’s a “couple”, but if you have three, it’s a “collection”. Aprons are another favorite for me. They make me happy. When I’m home, I’m wearing one, especially since my favorite place is the kitchen. I knew the Farmgirl Sisterhood was for me as soon as I saw the Henrietta logo of a chicken with her apron! I can never have too many aprons! I guess that makes me a collector…
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“
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
”
~ Mark TwainDebbie Bosworth
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.’”
Column contents © Deb Bosworth. All rights reserved.
Being a farmgirl is not
about where you live,
but how you live.Rebekah Teal
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.
Column contents © Rebekah Teal. All rights reserved.
“
Keep close to Nature’s heart … and break clear away once in awhile to climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods, to wash your spirit clean.
”
~ John MuirCathi Belcher
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.”
Column contents © Cathi Belcher. All rights reserved.
“
Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your own sunshine.
”
~ Anthony J. D’AngeloDori Troutman
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.
Column contents © Dori Troutman. All rights reserved.
Shery Jespersen
Previous Ranch Farmgirl,
Oct 2009 – Nov 2013Wyoming cattle rancher and outpost writer (rider), shares the “view from her saddle.” Shery is a leather and lace cowgirl-farmgirl who’s been horse-crazy all of her life. Her other interests include “junktiques,” arts and crafts, glamping, collecting antique china, and cultivating mirth.
Mary Murray
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.”
Column contents © Mary Murray. All rights reserved.
Farmgirl
is a condition
of the heart.Alexandra Wilson
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!
Column contents © Alexandra Wilson. All rights reserved.
Libbie Zenger
Previous Rural Farmgirl,
June 2010 – Jan 2012Libbie’s a small town farmgirl who lives in the high-desert Sevier Valley of Central Utah on a 140-year-old farm with her husband and two darling little farmboys—as well as 30 ewes; 60 new little lambs; a handful of rams; a lovely milk cow, Evelynn; an old horse, Doc; two dogs; a bunch o’ chickens; and two kitties.
René Groom
Previous Rural Farmgirl,
April 2009 – May 2010René lives in Washington state’s wine country. She grew up in the dry-land wheat fields of E. Washington, where learning to drive the family truck and tractors, and “snipe hunting,” were rites of passage. She has dirt under her nails and in her veins. In true farmgirl fashion, there is no place on Earth she would rather be than on the farm.
Farmgirl spirit can take root anywhere—dirt or no dirt.
Nicole Christensen
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”.
Column contents © Nicole Christensen. All rights reserved.
Paula Spencer
Previous Suburban Farmgirl,
October 2009 – October 2010Paula is a mom of four and a journalist who’s partial to writing about common sense and women’s interests. She’s lived in five great farm states (Michigan, Iowa, New York, Tennessee, and now North Carolina), though never on a farm. She’s nevertheless inordinately fond of heirloom tomatoes, fine stitching, early mornings, and making pies. And sock monkeys.
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Archives
What a surprise to see my mom’s apron pictured here! I am glad that you like and use the apron and now it is famous! My mom will be thrilled to hear about her apron that she wore in the 1950’s.
I enjoyed this blog, Nicole. You are a talented writer! I am looking forward to more installments.
Nicole, I’ve heard talk about you and all your talents. I love the idea of the towel sewn into the apron. I have a weird habit of always cooking/baking with a towel over my shoulder. You wash your hands or something a million times. What a good idea. Isn’t Rose a gem? Happy New Year.
Thanks, Gail! What a nice compliment! Rose is a very dear friend, indeed. I’m lucky to know her. Happy New Year!!
-Nicole
Hi! I love aprons, too. We live in Rhode Island, and have been to Sturbridge Village a couple of times–I’ve thought longingly of going again, especially during harvest time, since we’ve never seen it then.
I really enjoy reading about (and seeing) your aprons! I have a collection of some of my Grandma’s aprons, as well as
a few I’ve bought from second-hand stores. In Grandma’s collection is one of those "dishtowel aprons". Now I’m inspired to get it out and use it! Also thinking about making patterns from some of them for new aprons. My favorite second-hand-store apron is from Denmark and has a colorful print of some happy people – one playing a horn, one fiddling, and 2 women doing a clap-dance. And every Christmas season, while making cookies and breads, I wear the Christmas apron that Mom made me. There’s so much history in aprons. Thanks for sharing yours!
– Thanks so much for sharing, too!
-Nicole
Hi there, I too am a New Englander, CT is where I reside. I am a farm girl raising wool producing animals, a spinner and knitter an I have an attraction to vintage aprons and crochet pot holders. I thought I’d say "hey". Maybe we will cross paths some day here in beautiful CT. Respectfully yours Pam
Your thoughts are lovely! Aprons are a favorite of mine also and I am in the process of making different ones for my daughter and other members of my family! Aprons are a page in our history and each one can tell many stories! Keep the old values! They are timeless!
I love it! My favorite part? The coordinating detail on the pocket! Who knew?!?! it is just too cute. I am an apron lover, too. When my grandmother moved, my aunts threw away all my great grandmother’s aprons. She had TONS. I was so sad I actually cried. Happy New Year!
Nicole, I am enjoying your blogs and seem to have a lot in common with you. I LOVE APRONS! Love the pic of you in your sweet apron in you very pretty kitchen…looks so warm and inviting. Looking forward to reading more about you while sitting in my Oklahoma log home:)…………Raynita
Thank you so very much, Raynita!
I saved a few of my mother’s dressier or unique aprons when we cleaned out her home. Hers are half aprons. One has a sleeve at the top instead of ties, the sleeve holds a very heavy plastic piece, like boning that fits around the wearers waist. Another looks like it may have been made from handtowels, and is trimmed along the edges so that it protects the wearers clothing while seated.
I like full aprons and so these are set aside to make patterns from for my use.
Hello Nicole,
Some years ago I sold a few aprons with towels that were buttoned on them. I too, like you, liked to cook then, and was able to do that. And like you I washed my hands frequently and wished I had a hand towel sewn onto my apron. So I made a few. When friends saw those they suggested I sell them in the local consignment craft store.So it was a surprise to read about the same idea in your blog. Aloka
Nicole, I, too, love aprons! Really enjoyed your decriptions of your collection and each’s use. I have one large cobbler’s style apron that I LOVE to wear when I’m cleaning. It has huge pockets that hold lots of the odds and ends that one finds when working her way from room to room. At the end of the day "treasures" can be easily sorted and distributed or trashed!! My mom always wore an apron. I guess I learned my appreciation of aprons from her.
Greetings Nicole,
I just finished reading your blog and had to respond.
I collect and sell vintage clothing and aprons are my very favorite.
I must have a few hundred on hand at anyone time.
It a funny thing that I have so many and never remember to wear them when I am in the kitchen.
I have many that are very elaborate and some that are very simple.
When I was a Girl scout Leader that is the first sewing project we did. It was a gift for their mom’s on Mother’s Day.
Thank you so much for the knowledge that I am not the only collector of many things that have no dollar value.
Take Care and keep the writing coming.
Melissa
Melissa, Your collection sounds like a true treasure trove to me!
-Nicole
I love aprons too. I am interested in buying some if anyone has any to sell. I would like to see some pictures of them and have the price of them. So please if you know anyone who has any aprons for sale I am interest in the full body aprons. Thank you everyone and Have A Blessed Day. Barbara
Barbara, have you tried Ebay? It’s a great place to go for aprons, even vintage ones, reasonably priced.
–Nicole
I love aprons too. I am interested in buying some if anyone has any to sell. I would like to see some pictures of them and have the price of them. So please if you know anyone who has any aprons for sale I am interest in the full body aprons. Thank you everyone and Have A Blessed Day. Barbara
Barbara, have you tried Ebay? It’s a great place to go for aprons, even vintage ones, reasonably priced.
–Nicole
Nicole-
I loved your blog about collections and aprons. I received 2 handmade aprons from my Mom recently and just love them. They are the full body style and very pretty yet practical. I also have some family heirlooms that she handed down to me. My husband even has his own "fly fishing" apron that he wears when he cooks! I also collect teapots among other things. Collectibles in many forms are my "treasures". Thank you for your lovely blog.
Thank you for reading! Your mom’s aprons sound so very special.
-Nicole
I too LOVVVEEE aprons! I remember when I was just a wee little girl, opening my mama’s big wooden chest and trying on her aprons that she made as a wee little girl herself! They were so good looking with all their colors… I still have my hand on some of them…But I must take the time to make some! And why not, give some to my friends! I dont know if it’s because I’m almost 40, but I feel much need each year to go back to my roots…Brigitte
I hear, ya, Brigitte! Thanks for reading!
-Nicole
Hi Nicole, & all you fun ladies that respond here,
Last year I made vintage full body aprons for my three girls, and a mommy & me matching ones for my daughter in law and grand daughter who is turning three, she calls them "cooking dresses" and wears hers when she plays mommy with her little cousin… I have a picture of my grand mother wearing hers to gather eggs , she just held up the skirt and filled it up, also one where she is feeding the lambs a bottle. I too love aprons.
Hi Nicole, & all you fun ladies that respond here,
Last year I made vintage full body aprons for my three girls, and a mommy & me matching ones for my daughter in law and grand daughter who is turning three, she calls them "cooking dresses" and wears hers when she plays mommy with her little cousin… I have a picture of my grand mother wearing hers to gather eggs , she just held up the skirt and filled it up, also one where she is feeding the lambs a bottle. I too love aprons.
I was lucky to find this website. You definitely can write and teach and inspire. Keep writing – I’ll keep reading.