Mothers have a special bond with their daughters. My mother and I have been no exception. When I was little, my dad was a traveling salesman. Mom was a stay-at-home mom, a “homemaker” as she was called back then.
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Debbie 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.’”
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.
Cathi 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.”
Dori 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.
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.”
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!
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”.
What a lovely thing to do! I wish my oldest could find the time to do that even once a week but I’m lucky if she returns a phone call once a month. You are a great daughter!
Awww…maybe you guys can schedule a tea time. It’s so hard to slow down sometimes. Much love to you. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Wow Nicole, this is a fabulous idea to set aside a specified time to catch up with loved ones long distance.
I’ve actually started slowing down too. Life is too fast and too much is going on all at once. I’m getting into the habit of slowing down and concentrating on one thing at a time and I find I’m far more relaxed even though I have lots of things to do. Once I’ve finished one thing I move into the next thing.
I think I’ll take a,leaf out of your words here and begin a tradition of setting a tea time and connecting with my loved ones too. Beautiful idea.
I dint have my mum anymore, but I do have a special mum and grandmother in law and I think I’ll start with them and add in my other far away family and friends. How much happier and peaceful in ourselves are we when we take the time to stop and savour the time to connect with our families.
Thanks for the fabulous post and wonderful idea.
Love that you get in so well with your mum and daughter and really treasure your time together. Truely Rich.
God Bless you and yours.
Hugs from Australia xo
Hi Denise, I hear ya. I am also trying to do what you mentioned. I am trying to concentrate on one thing at a time and not get so distracted. Taking that “tea time” break is a big help during the week! Schedule that tea with your loved ones, and drink an extra cup for me! Thanks for taking the time to comment and share…means so much. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Good morning Nicole! What a great reminder! I talk to my Momma most every day and although we don’t schedule a time to talk, we do make time to visit. Sometimes we talk over an hour, sometimes just a few minutes. But always a sweet visit. And the funny thing that will make you laugh… my daughter and her little family live just down the road and she and I talk EVERY SINGLE DAY on the phone! 🙂 And I usually see her every day too! But we’ve noticed that when we are together usually the two little girls are right with us so to have private, quality time to talk we usually have to do it over the phone! Funny huh?! 🙂
Have a good week! 🙂
– Dori –
Hi Dori! I don’t think it’s funny that you still talk everyday on the phone to your daughter! I imagine that is how it will be with mine (I hope we live close by; I’ve already set the rule that she can’t go to college anywhere that I can’t get to by car, lol). My daughter and I text everyday when she is riding the school bus. I have started now that I send her a “funny” – some sort of funny joke or cartoon – everyday. Now the kids on the bus look forward to seeing what funny thing her mom is sending each day. I can see how with two little grandgirls you only get to talk privately on the phone with your daughter. I remember those days! Enjoy, as you know, they grow fast! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole,
I just love this post. It’s so true that many families are far from their roots then pile busy schedules on top of it and it gets harder and harder to give our loved ones our UN-divided attention. My mom lives in our home now and I still run around like a chicken with my head cut off so I’m taking a social cue from you. Mom and I need to set a date for tea or coffee, or a smoothie ( our latest favorite beverage). My aunt ( who lives in my home state, Nevada) and I do ” long distance coffee” just like you and your mom. We text, set a time and have an actual visit. Even with me being on the east coast we make it work and I cherish those visits with her. I am amazed at the clarity you have of time spent with your mom. What a blessing your memories are. Thanks for sharing them with us, Nicole!
Farmgirl Hugs,
Deb ( your beach farmgirl sis )
Hi Deb! You are so right about the way we are all so busy these days. It seems there is never enough time for everything. I thought as my daughter got older, it would be less crazy, but it seems we are busier than ever. I have to really stop and consciously take a break once and awhile (and I have to learn to say “No” – I tend to say “yes” to everything, but that is a whole other can of worms). I think as a society on the whole we are more that way now, never stopping.
How blessed you are to have your mom right there with you! I remember reading one of your blog posts where you introduce your mom and thinking you all seem very close. Enjoy a smoothie with your aunt, and give your mom a big hug! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
This also reminded me of another fun thing my Aunt and I do. She has visited us here in Plymouth a few times. So every week or so she or I will take a photo of someplace the other has been and send it with the caption. ” Where is Debbie, today” or Where is Karen, today”. I love doing it. It sure keeps us close and it does my heart good to see my home town surroundings. 🙂
I love that, Deb! Oh how awesome! Thanks for sharing that! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
This is a really good story. It’s wonderful to hear that people have good relationships with their parents. I am blessed to be one of those people. I am always spending time with my mom and even call her everyday even though I only live 30 minutes away. Your idea for long distance tea time is a great way to stay connected with love ones who live far away. Each day as I watch my son grow I realize how important it is to spend as much time with him as possible and cherish those moments.
Hi Krista, How lucky you are to live only thirty minutes from your mom! I am so grateful that I can call my parents every day, and I do try to. My mom and I and our “Long Distance Teas” have become so special. It’s the next best thing to being together face to face. Unfortunately for my husband, his parents live in another country, so the time difference is huge, but they still try to talk every week at least once or so. Enjoy and savor every moment with that sweet baby boy of yours. Time moves faster and faster the older they get! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Dear Nicole,
I’ve just finished reading your latest blog & looking at the wonderful pictures of you, your daughter, brother, niece, and your precious mom. I so much look forward to your blogs & they mostly leave me teary-eyed but happy.
I grew up in Houston living right next door to your mom and her twin sister, Barbara. They were my childhood friends & share a very special place in my heart to this day. Just wanted you to know that I love reading your words about your mom because I have wonderful memories of her, as well, & of the unique, special person that she is!
Wow! Thank you so much! I have grown up hearing wonderful stories about you! How wonderful to get this comment today! Much love to you! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Great idea!
Hi Denise, Thanks! It’s just something we came up with to keep in touch better than just a quick, distracted phone call. There is nothing like hearing someone’s actual voice. Text messages are fine for some things, but an actual phone call is the best, don’t you agree? Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
you are so right! BTW, I really do enjoy your column too!
Thanks so very much, Denise! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole, what a wonderful tribute to your mom who is my dearest friend forever.
Having tea with her via text is wonderful….Love you, both!
Mary Ammerman
Hi Mary, I am so glad my mom has had such a wonderful friend as you these years. Love you too! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
I am really looking forward to this! Although scheduling it will be quite the challenge right now. My girl Sarah has recently graduated and started teaching. She has three babes under foot from 5 1/2, 3 & 9 months!
Hi Gaye, How sweet…a new teaching position and those sweet babies surely must keep Sarah extra busy, but even a busy mom needs a break – even for a quick cup of tea! Have fun! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Thank you, for writing this about our relationship through the years and our new “Tea Time” that has been such a happy time for me and a wonderful way to keep in touch. The years are going by so fast and I have missed you everyday. So sweet for Beverly Kay Jones, my childhood neighbor, to have sent a comment. She and her mother, Helen, were very close, and I loved her mother too. Very thoughtful and great comment Mary Ammerman sent regarding this blog about our relationship and “Tea Time”. She is truly a cherished friend and a great writer, herself. Love,
Mother
Hi Mom, I am glad you liked this post. Missing you so much, and really look forward to our tea times. Hopefully we will be sharing a pot of tea face to face soon! Love you always, Nicole
Thanks for sharing this loving and moving post. The ladies in your family beautiful. My sisters and I were close to our late mom. We miss her so much.
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, Thank you so much! I’m sorry you are missing your mom! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole, this is so sweet. Technology can be great but it can also be so overused. I too hate seeing people with their devices glued to them and their attention so focused on it they do not see or hear the people around them. But on the brighter side, I love my ipad and my face time with my grandson, so that he will know who I am when I get to come and visit. Maybe you and your mom could even face time each other during yall’s tea time, be like yall are sitting there together in the same room. 🙂 I am very blessed this month to be able to spend with my grandson and prayerfully moving back home in April to be around all the time. (or as much as the kids will allow, hahaha) Can’t wait to have sleep overs with him at my house. Be BLessed and continue your tea times with your mom, and the setting is now set for your daughter to do the same one day if she is moved away. Neta
Hi Neta, Thank you! I agree wholeheartedly. Technology is wonderful and awful at the same time. We must use it like everything else – in moderation and not overdo it. I am not a fast food fan, but have you seen Chick Fil A’s new challenge? It is a box (called a “coop”, how cute), and families are told to put their devices in the box on the table while eating. If no one touches their phone during dinner, they all get free ice cream cones. Love it. Enjoy your little grandson; wish I could help my mom get her FaceTime working but so far it hasn’t happened. At least we speak every day and now she texts so we can do photos, too. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by the blog! Farmgirl Hugs to you sweet farmgirl, Nicole
My mom and I lived far from each other my whole married life, but we made a point to stay in touch best we could. For the last 8 years we talked every day, sometimes using FaceTime so we could see each other as well. We, too, would grab a cup of tea and spend some time together. My mom passed away suddenly in January and everyday around 4:00 pm I think of her and wish we could make one more call. Life is fragile and very precious. Make the most out of every day you have with your loved ones.
Cindy, this comment has made me cry. I am so sorry for your loss. Sounds like you and your mom had a wonderful, close relationship. Thank you so much for sharing with us. Big Farmgirl Hugs to you. ~Nicole
Nicole, I know you Mom treasures every minute of that time spent with you! I know how much she misses you and your sweet family. So many miles between you, but with this “Tea Time” you are close at heart, sharing, caring and loving! What a blessing you are to her!
Love, Ruth
Hi Ruth! Thank you so much for those sweet words. Our trip to Georgia was so quick, but hopefully next time we will be there longer, and we can all meet for lunch! Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
What a nice tradition to have! I’ve lived in FL my married life (34) years and my parents lived in PA. Mom and I made it a point to call each Sunday at 2 o’clock. We would chat about anything and everything for 2 and sometimes 3 hours. When she suffered a heart attack and congestive heart failure, I called everyday to check. When she passed in 2014, I would dread Sundays at 2. For a year or more, I would take a nap during that time since I missed her so much. I still have moments of sad Sundays but it has eased somewhat. Cherish every moment and conversation with your mom. It’s so hard when they are not with us any longer. Wishing you many more years of long distance tea!
Hi Cindy, What a touching story about you and your mom. I am sorry to hear that she passed, and I can only imagine how much you miss her. Thank you so much for sharing. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
I just got a chance to read your post and had to write and tell you that my Mom and I did this also! It was our little ritual and continued until she passed away. We would look for new types of tea and send a teabag through the mail, then when it came we would both try the newest tea and discuss our reactions to the newest “find”. I miss our silly conversations about books and Masterpiece Theatre and new recipes and gardening. . . I am glad that you have the time with your Mom.
Hi Sheila, Thank you for this comment. I am going to see if my mom would like to share tea bags with me, as well! What wonderful memories you have with your mom. My mom just turned 75 – it’s so hard to believe. She is always young in my eyes! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole