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Across the Fence:  Hello! Its Been Awhile! How Is Your Summer So Far?  |
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sjmjgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
566 Posts
Stephanie
Mt. Vernon
Iowa
USA
566 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 15 2014 : 6:43:46 PM
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I have not posted here in quite awhile, so I think its high time that I start being more active on the forum again. I have missed you ladies and all the mischief and creative ideas! What can I say, sometimes life just gets too busy...Now that things are starting to settle down again, I'm hoping to be more active on the forums,
Summer here in Iowa is shaping up pretty nicely (except for the gnats, ugh!). I have my flowers and my garden in and things seem to be growing nicely and even pretty much weed free! Lol! We are hoping to take our first extended family vacation in many, many years over the Fourth of July. Can't wait!
How is everyone's summer going so far?
Farmgirl Sister # 3810
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- Dalai Lama
April is Autism Awareness month. Autism affects 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys, including my son). Go to http://www.autismspeaks.org/ to learn more and help Light It Up Blue on April 2nd!
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Jun 15 2014 : 8:28:08 PM
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Hi Stephanie--glad you're back! Summer in Illinois is a lot like summer in Iowa--we've had just the right amount of rain to make everything grow. I got my first cherry tomato of the season yesterday. Flowers are late to bloom because we had cold well into May. And lots of bugs! I have a spider by my front door who only appears at night but I let him stay there cause it prevents any of those nasty little mosquitoes from getting in. I recently attended a writer's conference (my vacation) and now I have a fresh outlook on life. I'm buying new (brighter) clothes and I've been looking at fashion blogs--I see personal style as a form of art. Of course, I usually wear jeans and t-shirts but I found a tube dress with a full skirt that will make a dandy skirt (I don't have the figure to wear it as a dress--I'd have to wear skinny jeans under it). I've been cooking more at home and saving money with a new book I bought--Wildly Affordable Organic. It has some great (no exotic ingredients--after all, not everyone has a "local Vietnamese grocery" down the street) recipes and all kinds of tips on saving money. My garden is doing well. My hair is longer than it's been in years but I like it that way. Keeps it from getting too frizzy. I'm glad your summer is going well and I hope you'll post when you can.
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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MayFay
True Blue Farmgirl
73 Posts
Stephanie
MO
USA
73 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2014 : 10:33:24 AM
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I haven't posted in awhile either. I lost my farm dream when we moved into an apartment. I let my MJF subscription lapse, and I tried not to think about anything farm while attempting to grow some herbs in a pot on a shady third-floor balcony. Sad, sad, sad. But life doesn't just throw unexpected disappointments, it tosses some happy stuff in there, too. Next month I move to my farm. Yep, really and truly. A dream returned and realized from the ashes. I farm I own. I farm I can do anything I want with. Small, but dearly beloved, and I'm not even there yet. So how's my summer going? It's living in one place while my thoughts are somewhere else completely and won't return even when I speak sharply to them. I finally gave up trying to be "present" and decided to start building a chicken coop in my living room. At least it gives me focus. I've decided to get strong for the work ahead by exercising and eating well and in proper portions. My apartment is lovely, and life here is easy, easy, easy, but please, dear God, let me have a shovel in my hands and a tree to plant. Let me get up at dawn and work until the heat makes me retreat to the house to work on my quilt. So that's how my summer is going. It's joy and longing and hope all making me ready to burst.
And, thanks for asking. ;) Weed free is excellent and so is a long-awaited family vacation.
Cindy -- ah, the first cherry tomatoes. They always taste so good. It's amazing how differently we feel with a change of clothes. And, I agree, personal style is art. It's a creative expression of who we are.
Happy summer to you both!
Farmgirl Sister #5093 |
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Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
6663 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
6663 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2014 : 05:47:54 AM
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Here in Florida, we are into the summer pattern of 90+ temps, humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms everyday. Except for a few plants that love the heat like Okra, peppers, eggplant and peanuts, our gardens are wrapping up until Fall. This is the time of year, I wish I lived way up north where there are more patterns of cooler weather. I know it can get hot and humid spells up there, but they are tempered with some cool rainy days and sometimes some drier periods. Here, the humidity is relentless. It seems like you trade cold and snow for heat and humidity so I think it all evens out in the end no matter where you end up.
I am so happy to hear that you found a farm, Stephanie! Congratulations!!
Hope everyone continues to have a great summer with their gardens, family, and just enjoying the beautiful freedom that warmer days give us in our clothing style, garden bounty, and outdoor activities!
Winnie #3109 |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2014 : 08:28:27 AM
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Hi Stephanie! So good to "see" you! All is well here in PA... We had a very chilly, slow start to summer so we didn't get our garden in until much later than I had hoped, but it's coming in beautifully now! SO happy! We've had a TON of rain lately, which has been such a blessing. The garden seems to have just started burgeoning this past week. My girlfriend always tells me it's because of the nitrogen that the lightning brings. I don't know how true it is, but it sure seems as though she's right. :) My son's back at work full-time, so I've been spending a lot of time working on building up my pantry. Next year is his last year of homeschool, so I want to make everything as easy and convenient on my shelves as possible. Last week I made all sorts of jams, jelly and blueberry pie filling. Over the weekend, I made a whole and canned a whole bunch of spaghetti sauce, too. This week my projects include finally making that homemade laundry detergent, canning some more potatoes and dehydrating all the spinach that's finally coming in from the garden. Next week - gulp - I will be tackling my bedroom and office. I swear by the time I put my winter clothes away, it's going to be time to haul them out again! LOL! But I need the space... ergo, I pack! ;) I hope things settle down for you a bit now. It's so good to have you back! Keep us posted on what's happening in your world, ok? :)
Cindy! 'Sounds like that conference was great! And thank you for that book recommendation - I'm going to have to check it out! :)
"But life doesn't just throw unexpected disappointments, it tosses some happy stuff in there, too..." Stephanie - I love that! SO true!!! I'm so excited for you and your new move to your farm! Can't wait wait to hear all about your new adventures living the dream! AWESOME!!! Congratulations!
Winnie - I didn't realize gardens in Florida went through cycles! I always thought you all just enjoyed bountiful gardening year round! I would love to hear more about your experiences! Do you plant fruits and veggies seasonally, then? With what crops do you meet the most success? Don't worry, fall will be here before you know it! I don't know if I could stand the heat and humidity you go through - I feel for you. And I think I'd just about perish without apple pickin' season and chilly boot and sweater weather! :) Then again, to live where there is always such beautiful flora, and to be near the ocean and the sand... You're right, you're right, it's definitely a trade off! One I could definitely make every once in a while, for sure! :)
Have a great day, girls!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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sjmjgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
566 Posts
Stephanie
Mt. Vernon
Iowa
USA
566 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2014 : 7:16:13 PM
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I am so glad to hear everyone is doing well! The garden has gotten a bit weedy with the recent storms here. Wish I had the energy to really get out there and do some work. Maybe this weekend...
Stephanie so happy to hear your dream is finally coming true! Post pictures when you can!
Farmgirl Sister # 3810
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- Dalai Lama
April is Autism Awareness month. Autism affects 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys, including my son). Go to http://www.autismspeaks.org/ to learn more and help Light It Up Blue on April 2nd!
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Across the Fence: Hello! Its Been Awhile! How Is Your Summer So Far? |
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Hello! Its Been Awhile! How Is Your Summer So Far?
