It’s here! Spring’s finally arrived, keeping me happily busy sunup to sundown. I don’t mind winter, but wanted to say, “ENOUGH already!” when it seemed to last an eternity this year. Warm thoughts to my friends in the Midwest, feeling those chilly temps even longer than us! When the first green popped up, I was ready to dance like Snoopy from the Peanuts gang! So what if some of the vegetation sproutin’ were weeds? They’regreen! Recently, I’ve even learned to appreciate and eat certain weeds. Come peek at what I’ve got cookin’...
Charming. Quaint. Historic...These words describe my favorite places. We’ve recently spent a family day finding just that! What do dinosaurs andheirloom seedshave in common? Both are found in New England! Come take a Suburban Farmgirl road trip with me to Hartford County, Connecticut!
The ol’ quote says, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder”. I’m feeling that way aboutspring, and it’s refreshing arrival! After a long winter of cold temps that started here six months ago, I can’t wait to smell warm, dark, earth, and dig in the gardenunder the sun. It’s a time in New England when the earth “wakes up”. (Although with chilly, below-normal temps for April, I’m thinkin’ Mother Nature’s overslept)! Not to worry...there’s plenty of signs of spring, so if it hasn’t arrived for you yet, it can’t be too far away!
Hooray for Spring!Join me in celebrating the Earth!
Something spectacular is happening daily in my daughter’s school. Since December, therapy dogs have been in the halls and classrooms. Brought in for comfort after December 14th, these furry, four-legged souls have brought so much more.
I’m a “planner”, always trying to think ahead, stay organized, and not get too stressed. But sometimes life has other plans, and things just get C-R-A-Z-Y. Like so many other suburban moms, life can get hectic, like a roller coaster ride. Sometimes ya just wanna say, “Slow the ride down, we’re going too fast!” So far March has been madness!
I recently reorganized my kitchen. Our home’s hub, it’s where meals are shared, crafts and homework’s done, and friends gather. We don’t eat out often; it’s costly, usually non-organic and often disappointing. Anything we order, I can make. I’m tickled when asked cooking advice. Cooking’s part skill, part creativity, and lots of practice! Now, I’m not one to brag, but in the kitchen I feel like a black-belt Ninja! It wasn’t always so . ...
As a kid in Houston, I really didn’t have “winter” clothes. We’d wear flip-flops almost year round, and my “coat” was more of a jacket. The first time I saw snow up North, I was so excited I phoned my family in Texas at the crack of dawn! Now, snow’s part of life in Connecticut, and most of us don’t give it much thought other than checking to see if school’s called off. So when warnings came through about a history-making blizzard, we got prepared (not panicked). “Nemo” was bringing a snowfall our area hadn’t seen at once in several decades. What’s a farmgirl to do with a ton of snow? Have a ton of fun!
We’ve turned the corner to February! It’s still Winter, but on the “bright” side, days have begun to get longer, and we’ve been doing some Spring dreamin’! I’ve got hot organic tea made; have a cup and let’s chat about “this and that”!
It’s been over a month since the horrific tragedy in Newtown, CT. All of us here are asked frequently “How are you doing?” I can’t speak for how the families of the victims are; they remain in my daily thoughts and prayers. The rest of us are healing, as a whole, with the help and love of so many from around the world.
It's January again...Happy New Year! I hope you had a nice holiday season, a time of warm greetings and sharing with family and friends. The start of the holidays in late November marked my second anniversary sharing with all of you as the Suburban Farmgirl blogger. It seems as though Father Time has new running shoes, because time’s just flying! I’m so very thankful for all my farmgirl blessings! Won’t you join me in wishing Happy New Year, and a big Farmgirl “THANK YOU" to our darlin' Queen Bee, MaryJane?
Nicole Christensen, our current Suburban Farmgirl, calls herself a “knitter, jam-maker, and mom extraordinaire.” Born and raised in the great state of Texas, she now resides in suburban New England in picturesque Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York state.
Married for over twenty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields and has been a world-traveler, entrepreneur, knitting teacher, and homemaker, but considers being a mom her greatest job of all. Loving all things creative and domestic, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted.”
Paula Spencer Previous Suburban Farmgirl, October 2009–October 2010 Paula is a mom of four and a journalist who’s partial to writing about common sense and women’s interests. She’s lived in five great farm states (Michigan, Iowa, New York, Tennessee, and now North Carolina), though never on a farm. She’s nevertheless inordinately fond of heirloom tomatoes, fine stitching, early mornings, and making pies. And sock monkeys.
