Have you heard the buzz? The Downton Abbey MOVIE is going to be released in theaters in one month, on September 20th! I’m excited, and already planning to see it with a group of girlfriends. In the meantime, one of the first things that comes to mind when I think of Downton Abbey is all things..tea! Dust off that china, Farmgirls, and let’s talk tea!
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”.
Probably 10 years ago I convinced our ladies at the church “we” should have a tea party done in style. A lady who does this for a living directed us through the preparation and serving and another lady came and talked with us telling the history of the high tea and its place in society. It was a BIG success and some of them still tell of it. We all learned a lot also. It was a bit of trouble coming up with all the lace tablecloths.
Thanks for prompting the great memories.
Hi Mary, what a great idea you had, and it sounds like you all had a grand time! I would have enjoyed the event! I am so happy you enjoyed the blog; thank you for reading and commenting. FARMGIRL Hugs, Nicole
My granddaughter who is now 7 1/2 loves to ‘have a tea party’ when they stay with nana in the winter. She loves dunking her cookie in the tea, too. Such sweet memories.
Hi Mary, How sweet! So true…what wonderful memories you are making with your granddaughter! When my daughter was little, we had “tea parties” also, often with dolls and the family dog, too! I miss those sweet days, but we still have tea together. In the cold weather, we have tea together when she gets home from school, to catch up and slow down. Last Mother’s Day, Audrey got me the matching tea pot to my favorite dish set from the 60’s. It’s so special to me. Enjoy every minute with your sweet grand girl, and thank you for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Loved this article! Once moved into our new farmhouse, I thought inviting gals over for “”Tea at 2 on Tuesday” might be fun!
Hi Sharon, congrats on your farmhouse! What a cute idea of “Tea at 2 on Tuesday”! Sounds like such fun…enjoy! Thank you for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Great blog! I always look forward to reading your blog and really enjoyed learning the differences between us and the UK and the tea experiences. I am 73 and do enjoy a good cup of tea! Thank you again for such an interesting read!! Laurel
Hi Laurel, Thank you! I am so glad you enjoy my posts. I love tea so much, as well. I think my favorite will always be “Earl Grey”. Bigelow “Constant Comment” makes me think of my Mama- it’s her favorite I also love Pumpkin Spice (organic, not the artificial kind). Harney and Sons makes great tea, too, and their little tins the tea comes in are so cute and easy to repurpose. A good cup of tea does wonders for the soul, don’t you agree? Thanks again for commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole, I always read your blog and enjoy it. I should be a better friend and reply to each one telling you how special it was or what special meaning or memory it gave back to me!…I’ll try to do better, ha ha ha.
Also, I really appreciate the lovely pictures you share with us! Being an avid photographer myself, I know how much time is spent editing, framing and preparing the pics for your articles….thank you.
Oh Mary, thank you so much for this comment. It means a lot to me. I am so glad you enjoy reading what the blog. I do so enjoy creating each one. I can’t believe it will be nine years this November that I have been writing the Suburban Farmgirl Blog! Each comment from readers means a lot to me. Thanks again! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Thanks for this! I love all things tea! I enjoyed the comparisons between teatimes in England and America. I didn’t know that the teaspoons are smaller in England, so I was always puzzled by the idea of putting one teaspoon per cup in the pot – it sounds like so much, considering our teaspoons here. Thanks also for the book recommendations.
Hi Theresa, Thank you! I am so glad you enjoyed the blog. I have a set of little spoons I’ve had for years, and wondered why they were so small. They are English tea spoons! A good way to remember is that an English tea spoon is about the size of half a teaspoon here. Thanks again for reading and commenting. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Oh how I love an afternoon tea! A morning tea! An evening tea! Oh how I love tea! My grand doll and I have many tea parties!
Hi Carol, I hear ya! I have a sitting room in my house that is white wicker and vintage, with a collection of tea cups and tea pots, sitting on a bead board shelf my dad made me a long time ago. We have always called it “the tea room”. When my daughter was little, we always had “tea parties” there. I always let her drink from a china cup, even when she was little. Enjoy you grand doll! Thanks for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Love reading about your tea. My mom, aunt, cousin, and myself have been rewatching Downton Abbey in preparation for the movie, we gather once a week, serve a meal, and of course tea and scones or shortbread for dessert. I purchased tea shaped spoon rests for each of the girls to take home and attached was a 1920’s woman’s face stamped on a piece of circular paper with a quote from the series. It’s nice to hear you gave a tea gathering tradition too
Hi Melissa!Oh how fun! Love all your ideas. I have watched the series more times than I can count (and never get tired of it). I can’t wait for the movie! So exciting! Enjoy! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
I love this blog! The pictures are so pretty of the you and your friends, tables, food and tea servings. I love scones because you took me to a tearoom in Connecticutt and they were delicious.
Love,
Mother
Thank you, Mama! I just made Audrey and myself a pot of your favorite tea from the bags you sent. We had a cup of tea after a busy day. Love you, Nicole
LOVED the interesting information and pictures of a high tea. Makes me want to have one…It all looks so elegant and satisfying…
Thank you for your “tea tidbits”
Thank you, Julie, glad you enjoyed this post. Thanks for “stopping by” the blog! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
A good book about tea is THE TEA GIRL OF HUMMINGBIRD LANE. Not about high tea but more about the origin of tea. Found the book very interesting..
Hi Donna, Sounds like a great read! I will look for it. Thank. You so much for reading and sharing! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
What a timely blog!
I am preparing my mother in law’s celebration of life this Saturday and it is going to be a Tea Party.
She so enjoyed her daily and nightly tea time and going to Tea Rooms.
Thank you!!
Dear Karna, I am so sorry to hear of your loss, but what a lovely way to honor your Mother-In-Law! Thank you for reading and sharing. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Hi Nicole,
Thank you for your always interesting blogs and pictures. I can’t wait for your next one!
You have not experienced “high tea” until you have gone to high tea at the Plaza Hotel in New York City! I took my daughter when she was 16 years old. It was absolutely WONDERFUL! If you are in Connecticut, hopefully some day you’ll go to the Plaza for high tea!
Hi Eileen! OH MY! That sounds like so much fun! We are super close to NYC, so I will put that on my list of things I’d like to do. Thank you for telling me about it; I had no idea! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
What a lovely post. I only drink tea. Thank You for explaining the differences between England and the United States concerning tea and the accessories. Do you know that Hoffman publications has a magazine “Tea Time”. It is lovely. Enjoy the “Downton Abbey” movie.
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, So glad you enjoyed this post. I have not heard of that publication, but will look for it! Thanks for sharing! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Hi Nicole –
That is a great day with the ladies in your life. In November my church hosts an Autumn Tea and each table has a different theme. People really go all out and it is a very nice afternoon with friends, sipping tea and just catching up with one another. Thanks for the wonderful story! Diane
Hi Diane, Your church tea sounds lovely! By the way, when is the Knit In at the FDR museum… do you still go? And will you be at Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool this year? Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Hi Nicole –
The Knit In is always the first Sunday in May. Yes a group of us went and had a great time. I will definitely be at the Wool & Sheep show. I look forward to this event every year. Hope that you will make it this year! Have a great day! Diane
Hi Diane! I have to remember that in May, and would love to go next year. I will be at the Wool and Sheep show this year…maybe we can meet for coffee or something there! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
I have very fond memories of cream tea with my English DIL in Boscastle in 1991. I came home with a brown betty and an addiction to McVities, which I can only find now at World Market. Impossible to find Devon cream here but I make a passable substitution with cream cheese and cream.
Thank you for bringing back good memories.
Hi Judith, Love this comment! Thank you for reading and sharing! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Do enjoyed reading your blog.
Rodella Johnston
Hi Rodella, thank you so very much! I hope you visit again. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
So enjoyed reading your blog.
Rodella Johnston
Hi Rodella, thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you will visit me again, when the next Suburban Farmgirl Blog comes out, September 24th! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Hi Nicole –
The Knit In is the first Sunday in May. We had another great turnout. You will have to come sometime and bring a friend or two. It is so great to bond with these women and a few of them that I met have now become members of my Prayer Shawl Group. I will definitely be at the Wool and Sheep show in Rhinebeck. I am even taking a class in Needle Felting as I always wanted to learn this craft. Are you going? Hope to see you there. Have a great day! Diane
Hi Diane, Oh that sounds like so much fun! I must do that this year! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Although I am now a Kansas farmgirl, I lived 35 miles from Boston, and Tea is in my
genes. Loved your blog, your pictures and sharing such a delightful tradition with
your friends! Since I had 3 sons and sadly no daughter, I still wanted to share my
love of tea. So, with my youngest son and his pre-school friends (boy & girl), I hosted
a Teddy Bear tea with miniature cups. Too precious!
Since that was successful, years later…I included a tea with homemade scones for
my Kindergarten Daycare transition class. These are some of the best memories ever.
Thanks for taking the time to blog and for doing an amazing job!
Hi Pamela, Thank you so much! Love your comment – such sweet memories you shared with us, thank you. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole