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**Welcome Wagon:  Introducing myself  |
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WoodstreamDreambyNicole
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
Nicole
Marlton
NJ
USA
177 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 01 2011 : 6:05:56 PM
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Hello Farmgirls!
I've finally joined the forum after 3 years of reading and loving Mary Jane's Farm Magazine. I discovered it one September afternoon in B&N with my [then] 3 month old sleeping while my [then] 3.5yo in preschool. I soak up each issue and share articles & tips with friends and family. My mil gives me a subscription every year for my birthday and I'm so very grateful!
I'm a SAHM and wife. We live in suburban southern New Jersey. Before SAH, I was a special needs teacher. I have my BA in Special Education and I have my Master's in the Art of Teaching. Currently I have the beginnings of a small business based in my home that I work on in my spare time. I handstamp cards, crochet hats, scarves, blankets, dishcloths, even mittens! I also make felted cashmere & wool flowers that can be either pins or hair clips.
I'm also active in my church and with the PTO at my son's elementary school. Today I finished up directing this year's VBS at church. It's a year long commitment and I believe it was so worth the time spent planning. In the PTO I was on the teacher appreciation and hospitality committees. I plan to participate in a similar way this coming school year and I'll also do something with my younger son's preschool.
I have a group of moms that I adore and rely on for support. Our children have known each other since they were babies. It's such a great feeling to have close-knit friends who have similar values to raise my children around.
Several years ago we started having "Craft Club" nights. I had recently learned how to crochet and was willing to teach my friends. We met once a month and worked on projects, caught up without little ones tugging on yarn, and enjoyed ourselves. Since then our "Craft Club" has morphed into an "Eating Club" - we love to cook and we try to meet montly and rotate among each home, the host chooses the theme and makes something, the others bring other food items within that theme. It really is quite fun! At Christmastime since 2005, I've hosted a cookie exchange for my friends. It's been either full brunch or full dinner special morning or evening for just the moms and we swap cookies & recipies. It's something we choose the date for in September before the holiday schedule fills up too quickly.
We moved to our current home just short of two years ago. Last growing season was the see what comes up year. This year I've started to tend to the jungle that the flower beds have become. I plan to install raised beds in a corner of the yard so that I can grow my garlic. I have my herbs in pots. I also have a 25x25 plot at the community garden that I garden with one of my friends from the above group. We share the responsibilities of weeding and watering during the growing season. We have tomatoes, lima beans, yellow squash, zucchini, leeks, butternut squash, basil, parsley, red bell peppers, sunflowers, and some very under attack eggplant growing out there now. Digging in the dirt is very good for the soul.
I haven't stopped crafting since the group has shifted to eating rather than crafting. Crochet and sewing (by hand) are very calming crafts for me. I also enjoy stamping because there's almost immediate satisfaction in completion of a project. I did dabble in scrapbooking, but it's very time consuming and I prefer the digital version of scrapbooking. I've tried to learn to knit, but it hasn't caught my heart as crochet has.
I was in my first craft fair this past April and I'll be in one again in September. I received my first special order for six of my felted cashmere flower pins. I have two to finish and the order will be complete. The woman who placed the order was so pleasant - a kindred spirit indeed - she is purchasing them as Christmas gifts for the women in her knitting group!
I love to cook & bake. Periodically I get together with my friend that I garden with and we spend the day cooking & freezing meals while the children play. It's so nice to be able to do that with someone, sometimes the kitchen duties can feel very lonely! Both my friend and I have been having some difficulty with inspiration lately because our younger children in the past 2-3 months have become incredibly picky eaters. It's disheartening to go through the process of cooking a lovely meal that they would eat a few weeks ago and nolonger will even acknowledge.
My favorite harvest-time kitchen tool is the Squeez-o Strainer. If you don't know what it is, you need to Google it! I make homemade apple sauce, cranberry sauce, and something I call tomato goodness. I'll share that recipe if anyone wants it, just say so!
I will wander around the forums and try to find my way. I'm looking forward to meeting other farmgirls!
Have a very good Independence Day weekend to all of my American Farmgirls! Thank you to all of our miliary farmgirls! I'm the sister of a LT in the US Navy stationed overseas, so I appreciate all that you do!!!
Good night!
Nicole
Shop
www.woodstreamdream.etsy.com
Custom Creations
www.woodstreamdream.blogspot.com |
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WoodstreamDreambyNicole
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
Nicole
Marlton
NJ
USA
177 Posts |
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smiley
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
lea
pea ridge
arkansas
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2011 : 8:11:01 PM
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| Welcome from Arkansas, Nicole. Sounds like you will fit right in. Hope you like it here. |
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embchicken
True Blue Farmgirl
1487 Posts
Elaine
Ocean
NJ
USA
1487 Posts |
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WoodstreamDreambyNicole
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
Nicole
Marlton
NJ
USA
177 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2011 : 10:14:45 AM
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Thanks Smiley & Elaine!
I'm taking a break from the heat outside. I worked at the patch (community garden) for 2 hours this morning weeding, trimming tomato plants, and watering. Today I'm tackling the front flower & herb beds. I am moving boulders from 2 small overgrown weed piles (isn't that a lovely description?) at the end of our driveway up to the new bed at the front of the house. When we moved in there were too many overgrown shrubs out front - almost to the 2nd story of the house! My husband finally removed the last of them this spring. He transplanted the hostas that were nearly hidden by those shrubs & I got Boston fern to alternate with the hosta for a shade boarder since the very front of the house has nearly no sun except at the peak of summer for a few hours in the morning. There's also lily of the valley that grows along the front of the house among the hostas & ferns. It's really quite pretty.
I'm battling with trumpet vine babies shooting up throughout the beds - but I know it will be that way forever. There's a trumpet vine that was planted at the base of the support wire for the telephone pole out front between our property & our neighbor's property nearly 20 years ago. While it's a beautiful plant, the runners go everywhere! At least I don't have to look at the ugly aluminum support for the telephone pole!
My break's about over. I want to get more done before I have to start supper.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Nicole
Shop
www.woodstreamdream.etsy.com
Custom Creations
www.woodstreamdream.blogspot.com |
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debra e
True Blue Farmgirl
261 Posts
Debra
Georgia
USA
261 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2011 : 1:29:46 PM
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Hello Nichol from Ga/Ohio
I enjoyed reading your post. I put myself where you are while I was reading it.
The heat here in Ga is unbearable today. Hot! Hot! Hot!
My plants are wilted from the sun.
Hope you have a great rest of the weekend and go to debra e to read about me.
Welcome to the farm,
debra e
Farmgirl Sister
#2915 |
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ChickieMama
True Blue Farmgirl
303 Posts
Angela
Banks
Oregon
USA
303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2011 : 01:15:57 AM
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Hello and welcome from Oregon Nicole. We are just now getting some nice sunny days here. Looks like we are going to have a nice 4th of July and I hope you do too! Hugs!
Farmgirl Sister#2808
"Happy Hens make Happy Eggs"
http://lazyjoranch.blogspot.com
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laurentany
True Blue Farmgirl
3259 Posts
Laurie
Patchogue
NY
USA
3259 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2011 : 1:01:02 PM
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A Warm Farmgal Welcome from your not too far neighbor here on Long Island, NY!!!
It looks and sounds as if you will really enjoy this site- there are just so many warm, welcoming and "full of knowledge" sisters here.
In the garden it seems like its a constant battle against the weeds no matter where you live! I guess thats part of the excitement/satisfaction in conquering them! Good luck with your weed patches- I am sure that you will transform them into beautiful gardens over time.
Smiles,
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
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n/a
deleted
136 Posts
donna
honesdale
pa
136 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2011 : 7:19:48 PM
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Welcome from NE PA...we are practically neighbors :0). I appreciated your lovely intro and did not find it too wordy at ALL! how else would we get to know you??? Well, you will find a lit of support and interesting posts here. I am pretty new here and have found such inspiration! Welcome and enjoy the sunshine and heat---soon enough there will be chilly days and snow!
Just a Brooklyn, NY gal trying to figure out this country thing after 12+ years in the woods of NE PA! Wife of my HS sweetie going on 23 years and mom to the amazing four ages 19(g), 17(s), 14(s), 13(s)!
Donna
Sister # 3062
http://restingunderthepinetree.blogspot.com/ |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2011 : 7:41:39 PM
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Hello and welcome from Tennessee! Loved hearing about you and your life and look forward to "talking" here on the forum. Jump on in and join the fun.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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WoodstreamDreambyNicole
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
Nicole
Marlton
NJ
USA
177 Posts |
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herblady55
True Blue Farmgirl
3470 Posts
Judy
Louisville
Ohio(Stark Co)
USA
3470 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2011 : 3:10:01 PM
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Hello Nicole and Welcome from NE Ohio!
Sister-chick# 905(Sept.14th 2009)
Judy
French-Hugs&Squeezles!
I am not contained between my hat and my boots! -Walt Whitman-
"Why couldn't I have been born Rich instead of So Good Looking?" |
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fille de ferme
True Blue Farmgirl
2344 Posts
Madeline
Meadow Lands
Pa.
USA
2344 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2011 : 4:21:53 PM
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Hi Nicole & Welcome from Pa. :)
Blessings |
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CurlysQuilts
True Blue Farmgirl
569 Posts
Sarah
Northeast Kingdom
VT
USA
569 Posts |
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WoodstreamDreambyNicole
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
Nicole
Marlton
NJ
USA
177 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2011 : 10:23:45 AM
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Hello Judy, Madeline, & Sarah!
Sarah - Mt. Holly is not too far from here. I'm in Marlton (Evesham Twp.), so a bit farther south in the county. Yes, I did favorite your shop - I saw you on one of the other threads here on MJF - I think about Etsy.
Have a great day!
Nicole
Shop
www.woodstreamdream.etsy.com
Custom Creations
www.woodstreamdream.blogspot.com |
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**Welcome Wagon: Introducing myself |
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Introducing myself
