| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| thistledown farm |
Posted - Jul 22 2004 : 8:34:59 PM
I just popped on to the MJ's Farm web-site to see when the new issue would be out, I've been haunting the stores all week in vain. I was pleasantly surprised to find this forum however.
I live on a tiny farm in NW Washington. Currently we have 3 old retired horses, a few chickens, 2 dogs, and 3 cats.
My passion is growing unusual or out of the ordinary perennials and shrubs form seed. I have a nice big greenhouse and lots of gardens. I love anything old and worn, my kids think I'm crazy. I live in an old farmhouse built in 1905 which I love and I know is haunted by the people who built it (in a good way).
I discovered Mary Jane's magazine at the second issue. Wish I'd have found it at the first. I love it because it is personable (is that really a word?) and down to earth. I WILL not share my issues, I selfishly horde them in my reading basket next to the bed. I'm very glad to meet you all.
Linda
Thistledown Farm
Girls,do not scrub and cook and scour, until you have no time to plant a tree or vine or flower.
Letters to Country Girls 1853 |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Jul 24 2004 : 09:57:35 AM
Linda - Thanks for sharing your story about your "friends" in your old farmhouse.
My father's people also immigrated from Norway in the early 1800's and settled in Iowa and Minnesota. The family farm is still in the family and is outside of Forest City, Iowa. The old Lutheran church nearby has headstones with our name on it dating to 1853 or so.
However, to change to the spirit topic, I have a friend who lives in an historic house in Quincy, Florida. She ran it once as a bed and breakfast, but now lives there alone and runs an antique business dealing in old books. Anyhow, she has "friends" who visit her, also. She thinks one of them was very afraid of fire, because she will find her candles lying neatly on her dining room table after she put them in the wall sconces. And she once laid a quilt over a radiator (she does not use the radiators for heating) and found it neatly folded on a rocker nearby. At first she thought she was doing things and forgetting, but now she knows that someone is helping her remove fire hazards!
I agree with Clare that one can be sensitive to past presences in houses. This friend of mine is a no-nonsense kind of person so it struck me by surprise when she told me these stories.
By the way, sounds like you and Clare have lots in common. I did not realize that Norwegians settled in large numbers in Washington, as they did in the mid-west.
jpbluesky
Love those big blue skies and wide open spaces. |
| thistledown farm |
Posted - Jul 23 2004 : 9:39:16 PM
Wow Clare you came from my area. I'm just south of Arlington in North Lakewood. Where are you living now?
Lina
Linda
Thistledown Farm
Girls,do not scrub and cook and scour, until you have no time to plant a tree or vine or flower.
Letters to Country Girls 1853 |
| Clare |
Posted - Jul 23 2004 : 2:41:11 PM
Linda, My mom's family immigrated from Norway and settled in the LaConner, Mt Vernon and Sedro Woolley regions in WA and homesteaded. Your description of your place sounds so much like "the ranch" that my mother talks about occasionally, where her uncles and aunts lived and farmed in the late 1800's until the mid-1960's, in very fertile land. I am sure you are not nuts or crazy. It's only those that are open and receptive to such things... those are the ones that are aware. It's great you say hello to them. Here's to ancestors, related or not! Thank you for sharing!
Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural |
| thistledown farm |
Posted - Jul 23 2004 : 2:24:51 PM
Since you've all asked... Since we have lived here (16 years) at certain times usually in the evening the smell of carnations will kind of whisp thru the house. No one smells it but me. Sometimes the old rocker that I found in the basement rocks by itself. My husband says the floors are uneven. I told you they all think I'm nuts. Sometimes I think I hear faint music in the barn. Must be the birds.... I never have felt frightened and I just say hello John or Borghild. They came here from Norway and built this farm. They never had any children but loved all the neighboring children. They ended up being moved to a nursing home in a nearby town and were both buried as poor people. I try to take flowers to their graves a couple of times a year.I researched my house history years ago. There was only one other family that lived here for any period of time and they are still all living nearby. The house was rented out for much of the 25 years before we bought it and became it's caretakers. Did I mention that anything will grow here? They always had huge gardens too.
Linda
Thistledown Farm
Girls,do not scrub and cook and scour, until you have no time to plant a tree or vine or flower.
Letters to Country Girls 1853 |
| Clare |
Posted - Jul 23 2004 : 12:48:38 PM
Yes, Linda... ditto on the interest in your house's past life! Fascinating!
Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural |
| cecelia |
Posted - Jul 23 2004 : 12:08:47 PM
Welcome Linda, from back East. I love the name of your farm! I've been to Washington State but only along the coast, and the Olympic National Forest area. I love the area, and wouldn't mind moving there someday. I'd also like to hear about the spirits in your farmhouse, which sounds so charming. Glad to have you as a farmgirl.
Cecelia
ce's farm |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Jul 23 2004 : 07:12:03 AM
Welcome again, Linda! I want to hear about your friendly spirits! Tell us a story about them! I know you will enjoy this forum. Everyone here is so nice, and friendly, and open to sharing and hearing about simple lifestyles and other things!
jpbluesky
Love those big blue skies and wide open spaces. |
| Clare |
Posted - Jul 22 2004 : 8:51:33 PM
Welcome, Linda! We're neighbors, almost! Sarah tells us to expect the next issue of the magazine/catalog sometime in September. Hope you'll join in our conversations!
Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural |
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