I think in some little secret corner of my heart I want to be a cowgirl. It was the first thing I ever remember wanting to be when I grew up. Of course, it's possible that I was influenced by the red cowgirl outfit with matching boots, hat and swingy fringe that my mom bought me when I was little. I never could resist swingy fringe. It's actually not so much a cowgirl that I want to be, but more of a country girl. I want to wear piggy tail braids, a straw cowboy hat, a sundress, partially covered by my apron and cowboy boots. I want to live in the country and have a spread. With outbuildings. And a creek. I want to harvest food from my very own gardens and carry it into the farmhouse cradled in my apron. I want to sit on the front porch with the radio on and snap beans.
I think these insights will explain to you why I have recently fallen in love with Mary Janes Farm and The Farm Chicks. These pictures are from the Country Living website where the Chicks often have stories. If you know of any other places I can get some good 'ol country girl inspiration, I'd be much obliged if you shared it.
I want to live in the country and have chickens and goats and a huge orchard, but that's not what hubby wants. So I do my suburban farming. The discussion boards at Mary Jane's Farm Girl Connection is where I go for my inspiration. Many of those women have blogs.
ReplyDeleteManuela
Wooohooo, sign up for that life. Except maybe with pizza delivery? LOL
ReplyDeleteI too love Mary Jane Farms and Farm Girls. I consider myself a country girl. I grew up in the country and after 15 years have "sort of" ended up back in the country.
ReplyDeleteYou have yourself a good weekend now ya hear!!
Dear Jen - thanks for stopping by theleakingwindow. cammyk is my sister-in-law and I definitely see a common thread amongst y'all. I enjoy your blog.
ReplyDeleteOh Jen. I'm right there with you...actually I don't really like being dirty so I think I like the IDEA of being a country girl much more than I would like the reality of it! For now, I'll be happy hearing the chickens on the farm nearby and gawking at the farmer (under the guise of the kids being interested!) as he harvests the corn in the Fall!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by the other day. You asked which floorplan we have. It is the Keystone.
Hi Jen,
ReplyDeleteI think I'll join you, only I don't know how good my legs would look in a skirt and cowboy boots. I actually did a modified version of farm life when I lived in very rural Nova Scotis when my boys were young. We even raised chickens and grew all our own vegetables. It was lovely and I miss parts of it...but, suburban living has its perks, too. It can be pretty lonesome down on the farm unless you have a friend within spitting distance!!
Loved this post...!!!
Linda
i got my first pair of cowboy boots when i was in high school. mom went to austin to visit a friend & bought me authentic texas yellow ropers....loved 'em.
ReplyDeletelater i bought red cowboy boots. they were the coolest thing ever. had there been a fire, god forbid, they would have been the first thing i grabbed!
my youngest loves her red justins & just outgrew them.
yes, i too have always had this "i think i could be a gypsy cowgirl & marry me some cowboy were cute little dress & boots & grow sunflowers too , ofcourse"
cowboy take me away!!!
Hey, Jen, if you've never checked out Confessions of a Pioneer Woman, go & have a look at her blog. She is absolutely hilarious...she is a city girl, now married with 4 kids, living on a cattle ranch. Very funny & she has a recipe blog too.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thepioneerwoman.com/
It's so fun to read her posts!
Rhoda
I love this post & pictures!
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean when you say you want to be a "country girl" :-} Me too!
I love it. I know the Farm Chicks site. It's great!
ReplyDeleteI will have to check out Mary Jane's site.
Thanks for sharing.
Now go get your cowgirl boots on.
Rosemary
Jen! You made me smile when you said cowgirl! You'll have to go read my last three posts - I've been playing cowgirl quite a bit here lately!
ReplyDeleteI just love sunflowers and aprons and the country life. Husband and I plan to sell our house eventually and move out to the country as well! Keep dreaming!
Dawn
Yee-haw! What a great post! I sort of live in the (suburban)country, but don't have farm animals to feed or at 4am.( Do 4 cats count?) I want chickens but around here, Coyotes make that impossible unless you build Fort Knox, and even then they can still get in! I grew up on a big farm with the braids, creek and no kids to play with... but still have fond memories of hiking, berry picking and shucking corn in the field where it grew. (sigh...) Have a great weekend, cowgirl!
ReplyDeleteLaurie
Jen I can see you on the farm. You would look adorable tending to the chores. I can just imagine the great things you would cook and bake with fresh eggs and milk from your own farm.
ReplyDeleteLove those cowgirl boots too. RJ
I love your blog!!! Thank you for sharing! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi, Jen!
ReplyDeleteI've recently discovered your blog, and I must say it is quite delightful. I'll definitely be stopping by often!
Lindy :)
There is just nothing that quite describes what it is like to live in the country. Would not trade it for anything!
ReplyDeleteI long to be a country girl too so I can really identify with your post today. For now I have to be a City girl but I escape to the Country whenever I can and the very urban flat is decorated in a country style. Long to grow my own food though and keeps chickens and ducks.
ReplyDeleteYou MUST go visit Ree at "Confessions of Pioneer Woman"!!!! She's wonderful. You'll love her.
ReplyDeleteGo. Right now.
http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/
If you just want to be a part time cowgirl you could buy a little old trailer and join "Sisters on the Fly" with their cowgirl caravan. http://www.sistersonthefly.com/ You have to see how they paint their trailers with cowgirls...too cute!
ReplyDeleteI was a country girl...so guess I am a country girl...cause you can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl!!
ReplyDeleteCute post Jen, with great photos!
Pat
"I was raised on Country Sunshine, I'm happy with the simple things. A saturday night dance, a bottle of Coke and the joy that the Good Book brings......"
ReplyDeleteLove the aprons and boots!
Penny
www.lavenderhillstudio.com
I am a country girl & was raised as one ...could never see myself living in the city but do miss my hit of TJ Maxx from time to time. Very sweet pics jen! I have always wanted to redo an old farmhouse but don't think I could ever afford to. sigh, cherry
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog, just surfing fantastic blogs tonight. A great way to spend the evening, especially when there are blogs like yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michele
I grew up on a small farm and know how lucky I am to have that experience. I picked a LOT of rocks, baled hay and weeded plenty in the hot sun so I know it's hard work too. My grandparent's farm was just a mile down the road and she had chickens unlike my mother who was afraid of them. My aunt and uncle live a few minutes from us on a neat old farm and yes they have chickens too. I get farm fresh eggs from her and sometimes I help collect them. Farm Girl Fare is my favorite country blog.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen Confessions of a Pioneer Woman? Her blog is very funny, and she also has the most beautiful photos. I am new to your blog, and am enjoying it very much.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Mary
Ohhh....Going to Farm Chicks in Washington was one of my favorite experiences in my LIFE. I hope someone tries to carry on THAT tradition!!!
ReplyDeleteYou found my blog today and now I have found YOURS. Another happy moment!!!!!
Hi Jen, I found your blog today and just loved reading it. If it's ok I want to put a link on my blog to yours. I do live in the country. My dream was to retire at the beach but my better half wanted to live on a lake in the country (he's a crazy fisherman). I had to be dragged kickin' and screamin' out here but I would not leave it now for the world. It's so peaceful and pretty. My neighbors have horses which I visit all the time and just today I watched two little deer fawns playing in the back yard. And we can even order pizza! But I do miss being close to shopping and great grocery stores but there's always a trade off somewhere. You can come visit anytime. We'd love to have you. Lynn
ReplyDeleteJen, my mom has been to the Farm Chicks (their antique and craft show is very near my mom). She met them and they are wonderful. she brought me several goodies, including two wonderful aprons that they made!! I also have gotten recipes from their site, and you can watch a couple of videos of them preparing some recipes (they make a great blackberry crisp, which I made last weekend and was AMAZING). I love the look of a country dress, cowboy boots, and an apron. I also love the look of a country dress, a shorter one, with old faded jeans, and cowboy boots (anyhoo, I digress about the fashion aspect). I too like the idea of living in the country and having the out buildings....ahhhh, such a nice little dream from my suburban neighborhood. Sheesh, maybe I could write a little more.
ReplyDeleteallie
www.mycozyhome.typepad.com
Jen, Thanks for your sweet comments! We are touched that you have enjoyed our stories with Country Living. And to everyone else here who had such kind words to say, Thank you. We love getting to do what we do and are so happy when others enjoy it. :) Jen, I was trying to personally email you but couldn't quite figure out how. If you can email me through our website (www.thefarmchicks.com), that would be great. :) Thanks a bunch, Serena
ReplyDelete