3 little snapshots…

 One.. 

 cold days

Two…

cozy evenings 

Three…

snuggly Bailey 

“I seek quiet joys.”

~John Clare

3 questions…

One never knows what will be discovered in an old barn (where is my bag of gold, please?!)

Alas, while not gold; however, they are treasures of a different kind. 

This was in an old box - perhaps a pillowcase once upon a time? The edges are frayed, but otherwise in pretty good shape…anyone with embroidery knowledge; chrysanthemums?

This looks like it would have been a lovely violet embroidered tablecloth - but the black discolorations are so sad to find. Any suggestions to remove them? Mold/mildew stains maybe. (What’s the secret to cleaning with snow I’ve heard about?!)

Lastly, these prints in the snow - hmmm. A bit bigger than the size of my fist, straight line (which I read indicates a cat of some sort) and measured in at 4’10” apart - YIKES. What animal has a stride nearly 5 feet?

Any ideas…coyote, wolf, Abominable Snowman, maybe?!

Happy Thursday to all - keep warm and safe wherever you are! 

all systems go!

Doesn’t this photo just make you chortle, chuckle, even teehee?! 

Hempstead Heath, London 
December 22, 1938
Credit: Frederick G. Roper

Winter has gifted us a real-life fairy tale, and this gal is looking about as joyful (and definitely fearless) as absolutely possible!

As for here, today all systems are go:

*Dishwasher water lines have thawed

*Clothes washer lines have thawed 

*Propane delivered

*Driveway plowed 

Happy dance all around! 

Currently -19 at 9 am…hats off to the predictions from The Old Farmers Almanac - they were spot on.

Unashamedly still hibernating…planning to whip up some snow ice cream, testing out a 1903 bean soup recipe, enjoy making Jiffy Pop (does anyone remember that?) and settle in to watch a double-feature with my daughter.

I hope all is well where you are - I know the snow, ice, and frigid temperatures are again coming tomorrow for many of you - stay safe and warm.

Let it snow!

Wow, like so many of you, we have found ourselves in the middle of Old Man Winter’s grasp! 

What started out as small, innocent-looking snowflakes Saturday night, revved up and continued to fall throughout the day Sunday. By Monday morning we found ourselves with “officially” 15-1/2 inches of snow. And while that’s not much for some parts of the world, it’s a lot of snow here in the Midwest!

It didn’t seem to bother Bailey one bit…

and no, she didn’t have to run clear out to the chicken coop, she had a lovely path shoveled for her, but she chose to blaze her own trail.

I don’t know, it looks like she’s smiling to me!

This morning it was -15, brrr. At least the wind has died down and the sun is shining. I’m taking in way too many calories by drinking unreasonable amounts of hot chocolate, and while the new furnace is purring away beautifully, I’ve found that I simply want to curl up and to hibernate. I have books next to me, favorite magazines, a clean calendar for 2026, and a notebook – I’m plotting and planning, scheming and dreaming.  

Speaking of that new furnace, while it’s absolutely delightful, it runs on propane. Now, at least here, propane companies will not let customers place a refill order until the tank is at 30%. So at 30% I place an order, knowing that the snows are coming and we need to be prepared. 

Well, we get on the schedule, and we wait, and we call, and bless her heart, the grouchy gal says, “You and everyone else needs propane.”  

OK, I get it, I’m sure she’s inundated with calls. However, as the days go by, (and truly, we keep this old farmhouse at 68 during the day, 60 at night, no extravagant temperatures,) the level drops to 20%. We call to remind them. At 12% we call and get a little more assertive. Now the tank sits at 4%. At some point, we’ll have to turn the furnace off. And here’s the thing, no other propane company will fill the tank, only the company we have a contract with. Sigh. 

And so it goes…there is firewood, there is electricity for space heaters, there are quilts, blankets, and a snuggly dog. And of course, copious amounts of hot chocolate. 

There will be a fire at the crack of dawn and we’ll see. Hopefully they will arrive tomorrow with the delivery. 

Perhaps I will bundle up and step outside to take some pictures to share. 

But for now I leave you with this, 

“Be it ever so cold, humble, there’s no place like home!”

little thoughts…

This just makes my heart happy…

A crock no one wanted, ticking that someone had tossed aside, and a handed-down, chipped cup.

What doesn’t make my heart happy? Being silly enough to sweep the snow off the steps while in my slippers - which led to wet slippers, damp socks, and frosty feet.

Oh well, no better excuse to put my feet up by the fire. Lesson learned? Probably not. 

Wherever you find yourself today, I hope your heart is happy and your toes are toasty!

MJF January post just published..

 

Hi to all!

If you’d like to read about old-fashioned wintering here on the farm, you can find me at:

Rural Farmgirl

Thanks!

as they say - that’s a wrap!

And just like that, somehow the month of December with all its hustle & bustle has flown by.

We bundled up and went to our favorite tree farm where we spied this beauty sitting in a field,

as well as this cutie! (Yes to both please!)

Favorite ornaments were pulled out of an old trunk, 

and our tree was decorated on the 24th. While that’s a lot later than we normally decorate, university exams ran long into the month. No worries, it was something new to do on Christmas Eve. This was the first year we brought home a Douglas fir, and while a bit shorter than usual, it was a snap to decorate and easy to get the tree topper on! 

My mom gifted me with a replica of the old-fashioned Swedish angel chimes I remember my grandmother having. I love their gentle sounds. 

And this year’s pickle gift will come in handy on these cold January nights!

On New Year’s Eve we enjoyed favorite snacks, sipped non-alcoholic bubbly, and as always, banged pots and pans at midnight (good thing the neighbors aren’t too close!) New Years dinner was traditional pork roast and sauerkraut … said to bring a year of good luck. Who knows, but I’m not one to toss the possibility out the window - besides, add mashed potatoes, veggies, and some cranberry sauce – what could be better?!

And here we are in a fresh new year filled with dreams. While I am definitely a list maker and have plenty of things I’d like to accomplish, for now, in this moment, I want to be still.

Winter is here, and I am ready for the cold, ready for hibernation, ready to be cozy. 

The fire is blazing,

the greenery will stay put,

along with some special Santas, I just can’t bring myself to pack away quite yet. 

A friend of mine has already taken everything down, boxed it up, and has a fresh 2026 slate to do anything she wants with. That’s OK, remember – you do you.  

So whether your decorations are packed away and all is fresh and clean, or whether you’re sitting at dusk enjoying candlelight and fairy lights, here’s to 2026 - absolutely filled with possibilities!

Happy New Year!

 

“At my age, a new year is a gift, 

a humble celebration, a new adventure, 

a beautiful journey, a moment of happiness. 

Let’s enjoy life together.”

~Maria Branyas Morera, 2023

  Who lived to be 117 years old

Sending you heartfelt wishes for a wonderful, peaceful, joy-filled 2026. Thank you for all you do to inspire and encourage me - it’s a joy to have found so many kindred spirits. 

Merry Christmas!

 

 Sending you wishes for a very happy Christmas filled with laughter, love, and magic! 

a few snippets of December...

 

What you get when the temps drop to 4, and the pumpkins are still on the steps...frozen TO the steps.  Oh well, how about if I add a little greenery around them? I can start a new trend for those of us who just didn't quite pack up Thanksgiving decorations a bit earlier!

   

This skinny tree has taken its usual place in the front window, 

always filled with simple decorations. 

And while I love retro colors and styles for my '63 camper, they don't really seem to fit with this old house. However; over the years I've been given so many beautiful handed-down aqua, pink, and muted pastel Christmas balls, I felt I had to use them. 

This little tree was pretty much a give-away in an "As-Is" section of a nearby store. My daughter and I looked it over, didn't see a thing wrong, and so home with us it came. (I felt like Charlie Brown rescuing his little tree!)

It just fit in a corner of the dining-room between windows that needed a bit of holiday sparkle.

Saturday my son comes home from university for Christmas break (yay!), we'll pick out our tree on the way home, and on Monday he'll be having his wisdom teeth out. I know, what a way to spend Christmas vacation...but, these things get squeezed in when they can. Sigh, as the old proverb goes: "Needs must when the devil drives."  It was simply the best time to fit it in.

Christmas dinner will be Sunday, and the days following his surgery will be spent enjoying mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, pudding, applesauce, ice cream...you know the drill.  

I hope you're all doing well...the count-down is on! 

With that said...spend these days doing what makes you smile, what makes your heart happy, and as they say: You do You. Stay in your jammies. Stay up late, or turn in early. Get cozy or dress up and go dancing.

Are my packages wrapped? 

No.

Are my cookies baked? 

No.

Are my cards mailed? 

No...they will be tomorrow; just think of them as Happy New Year's cards!

However, there IS a new furnace keeping things warm, firewood stacked by the kitchen door, and a snoozing dog by my side. 

All is well. 

Tomorrow I will put on my Christmas apron, turn up the music, bake cookies, and enjoy the days to come. 

However you're spending these days, there's a magic to them that we're never too old to enjoy. May you find all that magic surrounding you. 

(source unknown)

MJF post is up!

 

My December MaryJane’s Farm blog post is now up if you’d like to visit with me!

Rural Farmgirl

 

and so it begins!

 

Let the fun begin! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Courtesy of Google images)

Light snowflakes falling, turkey roasting, and vintage jazzy music playing while watching the dog show…that’s what’s happening in my corner of the world (with a definite post-dinner nap in my future!)

Sending warm wishes for a happy, cozy day wherever you may be!  

MJF November post is ready…

 

Just a note to let you know the November MaryJane’s Farm post is up…if you’d like to pop over and read it, here’s a quick link: 

Rural Farmgirl

Thanks! 

a quick hello!

A quick note to say hello and a peek at what’s happening here. The weather has become cold and windy, we even had a bit of snow this week!

While it quickly melted, it’s reminded me I need to pick up the pace. I cut the last of the sage and brought it into dry for Thanksgiving stuffing (or do you call it dressing?) I brought in some pots of rosemary, begonias, and geraniums, hoping they will perk up the kitchen throughout the winter, along with the last of the garden peppers. I don’t think I have the energy to make pepper jam, any suggestions??

Jan you are so right - the green gingham skillet is on eBay! 

Avocado looks to me like the 1970s so not super old, but just right for holding Candy onions in a farmhouse kitchen. 

Will let you know what I do with the bead board – I am plotting and planning, scheming and dreaming!  I also found some handwriting (plus the vet’s name and number) on the wall. Maybe it’s just me, but I think things like these are treasures. Not exactly sure what the last sketch is supposed to be…

And lastly, while staying up way too late to finish a book I’ve been reading, my Aurora app sent a notification that the Northern Lights “might” be visible in my location. Since this is a rare occurrence here in the Midwest, I grabbed my coat and outdoors I flew! And while they only lasted a few minutes before the clouds rolled in, it was an absolute thrill to see them.

Hope all is well where you are…as for us, Bailey thinks it’s time for a nice afternoon nap.