How can I raise the level of gratitude in my life? Let me count the ways.
Winnie Nielsen says: Bees are such beautiful insects and what they do to make out lives better is absolutely incredible!
MaryJane says: Gooseberry or some kind of currant. I will pay attention once they bear fruit.
Cheryl bell says: Very nice picture, reminds me of the day my grandson saw his first bee, he was very afraid so I told him to be very still and watch, the bee is just thirsty as the bee took a drink from Dameons cup his fear turned into amazment
Bonnie ellis says: It is so great to see bees again in the spring. We couldn’t be Farmgirls without them.
Amy Cloud Chambers says: Oh heavens, how pretty that is. Bees are delightful helpers, aren’t they?
Amy Cloud Chambers says: What kind of plant us this? It kind of looks like something we have that we call flowering almond, but I’m pretty sure that’s not the real name. The flowers are so sweet and dainty!
Winnie Nielsen says: That, I am pretty sure, is our heritage Apple Tree Mascot in full bloom! Oh, look at those beautiful pink blossoms just promising delicious red apples come September for our MJF Apple Festival. Apple Pie, Apple
Crisp, Apple Cider, Apple eating here we come!
Bonnie ellis says: That is an apple tree I think. Ours are in bloom here in Minnesota.
Winnie Nielsen says: Ohh, that is such a pretty view of the early greening of Spring. I love the blending of all the colors of brown, green, and blue.
Vickie says: What a beautiful picture! Nothing like being on a farm. If for no other reason, the peace this picture portrays says it all! The joy of knowing where your food comes from is most rewarding also!
bonnie ellis says: The palouse must be a really pretty place. We have nothing like it in Minnesota.
Winnie Nielsen says: Rain is beautiful in the many surfaces it feeds. This looks like tulip leaves but that is too early out your way, I think?
My latest MJF magazine came yesterday and of course I had to sit down and read it cover to cover! One of the articles that caught my attention was the one about bacon gravy. Three years ago, I found a series of books written by a descendent of Swedish Immigrants to the Kansas area in the late 1860s. In the recipe book, there was the recipe and history of white gravy. When bacon or other meat was not available, farmers’ wives kept the family fed with the three ingredients they always had; milk (from their cow), butter, flour. A white gravy was made following your exact recipe given (at the bottom of the page under tip) and placed over homemade bread. When eggs were plentiful, they were chopped up and added to the gravy. This meal was a family staple when times were lean and a hungry family needed a hot meal to keep going.
Also, every Easter, we dyed 4 dozen hard boiled eggs for the annual egg hunt on Easter Sunday afternoon. The week after Easter, our favorite breakfast was when Mom made white gravy with chopped hard boiled Easter Eggs served over toast. Our big family always looked forward to this treat. It was almost as wonderful as foil covered chocolate eggs in our Easter baskets!
I’m originally southern and so no meal is complete without gravy. My mother’s name was Davie ( named after her father David who was called Davey ) and we always called it ” Davie Gravy” . I could positively live on bisquits and gravy I do declare.
Winnie Nielsen says: I LOVE this!
MaryJane says: Our wood shed with the tree we cut up mounded (and curing) behind it.
Winnie Nielsen says: It is so pretty and cozy looking to me. The perfect place to also have a “She Cave” get away for book reading and knitting. I think I love it’s simplicity and beautiful wooden exterior.
Bonnie ellis says: I am glad no one lives in it. It’s so cold here all I could think of was I hope it’s heated! Lol
Linda says: Love love your pictures. Are they for sale?
MaryJane says: Not really. Sorry. We recycle them continuously into calendars, our magazine, books, etc. so we like keeping them “closely held.”
Winnie Nielsen says: I love the look of my favorite privy all wintered up with snow!
Oh brrrr! I grew up using one of those and in the winter . . . oh mercy! My, oh, my! BRRRRRRRRR!!!
CJ
Bonnie ellis says: I get cold just thinking about using one of those in the winter. Glad we have indoor plumbing!
Winnie Nielsen says: Aren’t these the cutest ornaments ever! Love their bright colors.
How sweet those needle felted birdies are ! I was in the Historical town nearby of Lititz, PA yesterday , full of darling shops and one shop had a huge cage with 5 of the happiest parakeets I have ever seen or listened to. What an unexpected joy they were !.
Bonnie ellis says: Those funky little birds remind me of grasshoppers. Fun colors!
Winnie Nielsen says: The recent beautiful frosting of your landscape this Fall has been beyond words. It must feel like magic to wake up to such work of Mother Nature.
Bonnie ellis says: How come that kind of frost looks so beautiful on the countryside and awful on he car windshield when you have to scrape it. Lol. Another one of those ephemeral moments. Beautiful!
Winnie Nielsen says: Look at those adorable faces! Oh my, I just want to pet their soft wooly necks.
bonnie ellis says: How very sweet they are and appropriate at this time of the year.
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
My friend the American Robin! Cheep, Cheep!!
Robins are such fun to watch when they cock their head to listen for worms. Nice picture.