I first met Cindy in my early 20’s. My husband and I were newlyweds, and had just moved to Pennsylvania from Texas. Working in a big office building, I would run into the same woman from another office often each day. One day, she said, “You won’t see me for a week – I’m going home on vacation.” When I inquired where “home” was, she enthusiastically replied, “Texas!” We were instant friends from that moment.
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”.
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!
Hi Debbie, thank you. That makes me happy, knowing that Cindy and April will inspire someone else. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Beautiful story. It brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you, Jackie. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
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.
Hi Amy, thank you so much. I do have a lot of great memories, for sure. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Thank you for the lovely story about your friend…we would all love a friend like Cindy. Precious friends are “gifts”
which make our lives Special…
As I kept reading I was drawn in, and wondered what Cindy’s special signature perfume was…to get an even better idea of her character…
We hope we’ll see that friend again in another life, waving and smiling, maybe getting a “heavenly hug”
Hi Julie, Yes, I agree – precious friends ARE gifts! To answer your question, Cindy’s perfume was Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. Whenever I catch a whiff, I will be reminded of her! I was thinking about perfume the other day, and how I remember my grandmother and other special people in my life from their perfume scent. So many people no longer wear perfume (and I understand why, allergies, etc.) but I was thinking it is kind of sad in a way, another thing the younger generations won’t have. I use organic and natural products, but still love “real” perfume – a bottle will last me forever, as I only use one quick spritz, and not directly on my skin. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
What a beautiful heartwarming story Nicole of your Sweet Friend Cindy. Thank you for sharing her and April with us.
Hugs,
Debbie
Thank you, Debbie. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
I’m so sorry for your loss. There is never enough time. Thank you for sharing. Hugs
Thank you, Brenda. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
What a wonderful tribute. I love the concept of “first birthday in heaven”. How blessed you are for old and new dear friends.
Hi Maureen, thank you. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
True friends are hard to come by , you were well blessed to have such a precious friend
Hi Connie, that is so true! Thank you so much. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
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 so much, Chris. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Loved this story. I have a few close friends, one way back from Kindergarten (and I am 62 years old). So this story had me in tears. True friendship is a very special gift from God. ❤️❤️❤️
Hi Diana, I am glad you liked this post. I agree with you…friendship is a gift from God. Much love your way. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
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 Judy, aren’t the legs cute? I love him that way…laughter through tears when I first saw him. April was so amazing to get everything done for Cindy, by her birthday, just so, for Cindy’s wishes. She is a true angel. I do feel blessed to have wonderful girlfriends in my life. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
So sorry for the loss of your dear friend Cindy. What a loving gift she sent to you and Audrey. I hope you can take comfort in your memories of Cindy and your friendship. I know what it is to lose a friend. My twin sister and me knew Marie from the 7th grade. She passed away 4 years ago. Marie’s birthday was the other day.We keep in touch with her daughter. May Cindy rest in peace.
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, thank you so much. I am so sorry to hear you lost your friend Marie. How wonderful that you keep in touch with her daughter. When we lose someone special, there is a hole that is left, but sweet memories help to bandage it. Much love to you and your twin. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
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!
Hi Reba, awww…thank you so very much. Your comment means a lot to me. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
The loss of a dear friend is always hard to bare. What a wonderful, creative, and thoughtful woman. I too, love the idea of a first birthday in heaven. The bear is just delightful and it’s legs are perfect.
Thank you, Donna. That’s what I think too. I love my lil’ backwards leg bear. Thank you for reading and commenting. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
❤️
Friends like Cindy are priceless. I know about that “hole” in your heart,
Hi Donna, I always think of that movie, with Brad Pitt, that was written as an adaptation of a work by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Benjamin Buttons. “…we’re meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?” Very fitting. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
A very nice tribute to your longtime, loyal friend, Cindy.
Love, Mother
Thank you, Mama. Love, N
What a lovely post. Thank you for sharing your friend with us.
Hugs from Virginia
Thank you so much, Gloria. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Cute bear. What a beautiful story. Friends are so precious. Sometimes we only have them a short time but they leave footprints on our hearts. I value my friendships as I have lost a couple and it is hard to experience.
Hi Marlene, thank you! I hear ya. I am so sorry you lost your friends this year. Unfortunately, I can now count 9 people I know this year who have died (none from Covid, some were acquaitances), but yuck! What a bad year! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Dear Nicole,I am so very sorry for your great loss of a wonderful friend. It sounds like she was a wonderful
human being. Sending you a big hug! Cindy is with you always ❤️❤️
Hi Meredith, thank you so very, very much. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole, what a blessing you have been given and shared with us, thank you. Lifetime friends are truly a blessing and long distance lifetime friends who you never meet in person are also a blessing. I have many who have blessed me over the years with their words and confidences. We met over 20 years ago through genealogy classes and we still keep in touch. It is a blessing to have such friends. Thanks for posting your story.
Hi Sandi, thank you so much. I too, feel that online long distance friends are also very important. One farmgirl friend I met here on the blog has become someone I feel is one of my best friends! I hope someday we get to meet in person. I am missing my friend a lot, but grateful for the friends I have still. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole, I feel like I know Cindy and April too. How close and precious real friends are, even if you are miles apart. How very thoughtful of both Cindy and April to make sure you got those gifts on her birthday. I am glad you have so many happy memories to comfort your heart and keep them close. SO sorry for your loss. Happy for your memories. Sending big hugs to you, Kim and Audrey. ❤️
Thank you so much, Joey. I do miss her a lot. I certainly thought of her on New Year’s – the first year she won’t see. A reminder that every moment we have is a gift. Much love to you and Rod. Catch up soon, I hope. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole