Driving yourself crazy to have the “perfect” Christmas?
Why?
Just. Well. Stop.
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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”.
Love, love, love the house! I could see myself kicking back with a cup of hot chocolate and looking out at the snow, or baking in that kitchen (and I don’t even bake as my family will tell you)! It’s perfect!
Barb, thank you! That kitchen has made me a better baker for sure. I’m pretty good at sipping hot chocolate in front of the fire too. Still waiting for this season’s first snowfall. Hope it comes soon!
Thank you for the tour! Love your home! Looks like a home to live in not a show room, but still a home to enjoy looking at when visiting. Love your kitchen, every bit of it. My home is a modular. Always trying to give it some character. Wanted an older home like yours but the land is what the woodworker wanted and the house was there. I drag all the decor up and sometimes I drag a quarter of it back down because I feel like I am just spending to much time with it. More important things to do like spending time with grands and friends. Have a blessed imperfect holiday season!
Brenda, I miss you! How are you??
Yes, this house has character, but no straight walls or floors….
Ahh, thanks for that Rebekah. That “I miss you” comment. Made my evening. We have been having some difficult months within our family. Things are starting to quiet down hopefully I can touch base with all my far away friends more often. Straight walls are over rated. lol.
so sorry to hear that times have been difficult. here’s to easier and better days ahead! (got to be, right!) thinking of you…
Beautiful home. Love your Christmas trees in all the rooms. Why are you sorry there is nothing on the one table. At least it is not stacked with “stuff”. Most people have a hard time keeping a flat surface cleared off so that is a positive note.
Have a Merry Christmas and give the horses a huge from a “Saddle Pal Gal” SPG.
Thank you, Margaret! I guess I gave the wrong impression on that table. I’ll have to take the 5th on what is usually has on it. 😉
Rebekah,
I loved this. It is always my motto at Christmastime! And this year I am DETERMINED to make a quilt starting like, next week! 🙂
I loved the house tour. And I’m ready for a personal visit! I think your farmhouse is company ready! Farmgirl bloggers here we come! 🙂
I bet I know exactly what you were thinking in the freezing cold creek…. “NO SNAKES WILL BE IN THIS COLD WATER”!!!
Big farmgirl hugs…
– Dori –
You got that right, Dori! No snakes this time of year.
Um…you’re going to make a quilt??
Oh Rebekah, I love your home. It is so cozy, warm, inviting and it looks lovely. Love a home that has the welcoming lived in feel. I so miss living in the country. Was raised living on a working farm and so miss chickens, horses, cows, pigs, etc. Until my friend gave up riding I would visit there and get my horse “fix”, but now that is gone. Living my country life through your posts. Thanks for sharing your lovely home.
Merry Christmas!
Ruth Ann
I love it here, Ruth Ann. We found a wonderful house on a wonderful farm in a wonderful community. Lucky, for sure. If I ever moved back to the city, my horse would have to come too. 🙂
Happy December, Rebekah!
I think I can… slow down and enjoy Christmas…I’ve been feeling the ” pinterest pressure ” too but I’m not giving in…! I have a couple of festive things I want to make to add to our holiday house dressings but keeping it simple and relaxes for sure… Your home is so darned charming and homey… Good for you and thanks for the reminder to not go crazy at Christmas… It’s so not worth it! Give Merlin a pat for me!
Hugs from the beach farmgirl!
Deb
thanks Deb! hope you have a great holiday season! you’re right–no more Pinterest pressure! lol
Beautiful. It all looks perfect to me….lived in and loved.
At the house I had before this one, I used to say–we live here. It is not a museum. Sit on the chairs. Relax.
This one just lends itself to that. I don’t have to say it anymore.
Ohhh! You must be my “soul daughter”. I love all your post and especially this one. I am so imperfect. With 5 children, 13 grands and 3 great-grands all my imperfections make for a very cozy and fun filled place to be at Christmas (they love it). I wish you a Merry Christmas with much peace and many blessings to share.
I am! Your soul daughter! Yes, it is easier to have FUN when we embrace imperfection.
Rebekah: I love your words this time. So true. We use to have all our parents and friends for the holiday and now they have all passed. There is just hubby and me. We just have a quiet peaceful time. We don’t NEED anything and we are not techy. It gives us time to savor the spiritual side of Christmas. God Bless you and your family P.S. being a BIG JT fan. Did you make your bracelet?
No, Diane, I’m not crafty enough to make something like that. Someone on etsy made it for me. Love that song and those words.
Thank you for the “encouragement” of just letting things be not so “picture perfect.” I just bought a log home in the mountains of TN, my dream of almost 38 years. Even though it is a log home and absolutely beautiful, it is also on a farm. That is what drew me to it. It is NOT a log cabin in the mountains just to go to relax. We will LIVE here, every day, enjoying “the passage of time” and soon, hopefully, get some chickens, cows, etc. And yes, I have neighbors too that were “raised” living in this area. We seem to be entertainment for them as well, but in a friendly way. They have looked out for us, and warned us, so to speak, of bad weather and what to listen or look for and what to expect. I love this place already and am learning to relax and just be!!! I didn’t realize how “up tight” we lived until moving in to this area. There is always something to do…so no time to get “bored.” But when finished, it is a “good tired.” From a farmgirl in the country in a TN log home, have a Happy Chanukkah and a Blessed Christmas.
Sounds like you have finally found your true HOME! Congrats!
loved the tour! and Merlin too!
I’ll tell my Merlin. But he just rolls his eyes when I tell him how much he is loved!
How delightful to see a true blue REAL lived in house not from a magazine. That’s the way my house is too. Really lived in. That’s why it’s not in a magazine. lol Thanks for sharing.
Yeah, I have no desire to live that way (magazine worthy), do you?
This is much more fun.
Your house is so warm and inviting! No one really lives in those Pinterest perfect houses. You are so right about trying to make everything perfect, sometimes it is the imperfections that make the best memories or at least a few laughs. Enjoy your Christmas and give Merlin a cookie for me!
Thank you, Diane! I hope you are getting settled in your home? I will def give Mr. Merlin a cookie for you!
The pictures are beautiful as is your house. You sure put a lot of work into Christmas. We do too. After all Christmas only comes once a year so we might as well make the most out of it. Thanks for sharing the photos and your house.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS
Marilyn and Family
We love Christmas here, but we don’t really put a lot of work into decorating. It looks like we do? yay! We decorate the Christmas trees quickly, haphazardly, and lovingly. They always look good when we plug in the lights. Like magic! We pull decorations out of the attic and keep putting them up until it becomes work for us. Then we stop. Since we moved here, we have not put up ALL the decorations and Christmas stuff we have. (we have tons) (of course, having snakes in the attic just might have something to do with that! haha) I have always been the person who plays Christmas music all year long. Now that we live on a Christmas tree farm, we REALLY stay in the spirit 12 months a year.
Love the house tour – beautiful and lived in – Sorry, but I don’t think I’d make it pass that great porch, especially if I could watch Merlin from there! Love your posts. Have a Merry Christmas.
Merlin would like that! For you to sit on the porch and admire him. I do enjoy that porch. I can hear the chickens clucking and see the horses on the hill. And I have a view of our red barn there too. It is a favorite spot for coffee and tea.
Rebekah,
Your post touched me so! Your home and farm are beautiful, warm, welcoming and down home, just like you!
I have 8 kids. We have messes. A lot of them. All day long! When we have company, we clean like crazy, the dishes are all done and I always say our home looks “fake clean”. (Sigh)
Oh well, we all desire clean homes, orderliness, etc. But, we live here. Plain and simple. I will embrace my imperfections this Christmas season and do my best. If someone comes knocking at my door and the house is a disaster, I will smile and offer them a warm cup of hospitality, just like you would. :). Merry Chrisrmas blessings …
Thank you, Rosemary! I love the quote that goes something like–I keep my house like this so you will feel better about yours. 🙂 I enjoy visiting someone’s home when it feels lived in and cozy. Yes, let’s offer that cup of hospitality!
I’m not sure I have any more words of love for the tour – it is PERFECT just the way it is!!! And I can see why people would love to just stop in for a warm welcome. There is NOTHING out of place, crooked or a miss – no need to apologize for anything. You are special and all that you do. Merry Christmas and God bless.
Oh, Rebekah! Your new kitchen just takes my breath away. Also, I am completely impressed that your Christmas decorations are up on December 1st. Not happening yet at this house. Love you!
Love your home. It looks like real life. Perfect imperfection :). Your kitchen is just fabulous too. I could live In there!
Interestingly I’ve given away the idea of perfect Christmas this year too and am concentrating on living the spirit and really enjoying the season with the people I love. Merry Christmas to you and yours. I love the fun real perspective you keep writing on life. Very refreshing for my soul.
Beautiful pic of Merlin, love love love the house. thanks for sharing. I just put up a backsplash, couldnt really decide either what I wanted, nothing just didnt jump out at me, then my husband had some old barnwood. voila, jumped out, so barnwood planks up, and then I have one of those ikea magenetic strip things that you put your knives on. I love it. 🙂 Have a Merry Christmas and I think your house is perfect, lived in and real. 🙂
The kitchen!!! I love it!!!! I have been waiting and waiting fir the pics of the kitchen to see how you placed and used that beautiful sink and those floors!!!! What a gorgeous, beautiful kitchen! Well done! Your house is so cozy. Every room, nook and cranny. I so enjoy your house tours. Thank you for taking the time. As far as Christmas, I love simple. We put up a tree. I hang my Grams ornaments. We don’t buy but a few presents for the babe. We go to 1-2 festivities. And we call it good. And it is so magical. Enjoy your magical imperfection this year.
Hi, Beka – Just saw Elton John in Vegas (on t.v.) and was thinking of you. Of course I’ve loved your blog forever. It makes me miss you so much because if sounds just like you (well, it IS you) but, you know what I mean. Anyway, wishing all of you a Merry Christmas. Take care.
Love,
Ruthie
My Sweet Ruthie!!!!!!!!! What a wonderful surprise!!!!
email me at rebekah@maryjanesfarm.com.
(I still love Elton John, btw!)
Can’t wait to catch up!
You are living my dream!!! Oh boy, if I had that kitchen I would never leave it.. well, maybe to enjoy the porch. Or the dining room. Or to hang Christmas ornaments on the fence. Now there’s and excellent idea!!! Thank you. I will look at those not-so-perfect-but-will-do decorations of mine with different eyes now.
Rebekah, you have such a cool house! It shows how down to earth you are. Your house is a reflection of you, right down to the cocoa station for your guests…. Some true Southern hospitality! Your kitchen is gorgeous, and I love the wormy chestnut floors. They bring history to a new space. Good job!
Thank you for reminding me not to get too carried away with the holidays. It’s not about what’s under the tree, but who surrounds it.
Merry Christmas to you and your family…. And Merlin!
I live in a house built in 1875. When I walk up the stairs to the second story, the grooves in the stair treads remind me of what I love about this home. The crooked walls, no closets, small cozy rooms, a peaceful heritage of days gone by. i love it will all my heart. It fills my soul with joy everytime I enter. What more can we ask for??? Merry Christmas.
Claudia, I love your words about your home. “peaceful heritage of days gone by.” “fills my soul with joy.” You are right. There is nothing like an old house. I’ve got those groves on the front steps too. Precious to me. I have lived in 3 houses that I built and then, this one. This one feels more like home than any of the others. I sure would like a decent closet though, now that you mention it. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
You are so much fun! I *love* your kitchen! We are hoping to remodel our kitchen in the future and I will use yours as inspiration.
Have a great day!
PS. My first magazine came. The Christmas issue. SO excited! Thank you!
Thank you! I still have work to do in there, but ONE DAY I’ll be done! I’m glad you are enjoying MaryJanesFarm Magazine. I have to say-IT IS THE BEST!!! Ever! 🙂
Love your kitchen, even though its unfinished. Your house is very nice. One point..,,always measure from the ceiling before you hang a picture. ..its one tip i learned. I dont think theres anythibg oerfect about this life though, so why try. I say if your happy and healthy who cares wgat yoyr hoyse looks like. …enjoy tge adventure. .Merry Christmas and HAPPY New Year! Susan
Love your kitchen, even though its unfinished. Your house is very nice. One point..,,always measure from the ceiling before you hang a picture. ..its one tip i learned. I dont think theres anything perfect about this life though, so why try. I say if your happy and healthy who cares what your house looks like. …enjoy the adventure. .Merry Christmas and HAPPY New Year! Hope you don’t overdo it…enjoy Christmas. Susan