We’ve all heard how important it is to eat a diet high in roughage. Likewise, “roughaging” (spending time outdoors) is essential to our mental health. Even if it’s a settee on the porch, we need it, gotta have it. I aim to be the reason you pulled your bedding out the back door last night.
Here’s another proud new Tabitha owner who sent us photos of her maiden voyage. We said we’d be proud to share them. (Read on to find out where you can buy a Tabitha trailer too.)
From now on when you see this on the road, you’ll know I had something to do with it:)
Polka-dot décor and …
bathroom door, and …
double-boiler s’mores.
What more is there? You, too, can buy one here!
Winnie Nielsen says: Next step…… hot coals for s’mores!
Connie says: My friends and I lived outdoors, we stayed out as kids in the summer from sunup to sundown, playing in our neighbor’s tree house ,jumping on the pogo Sticks and swimming at our neighborhood Community Center. When school started we would all do our homework outside and then play until we were made to come in! We would start a game of kickball or baseball and pick it up where we left off the next day! We never ate indoors except in extreme Winter!
We were happier and healthier because we were getting fresh air and exercise naturally! The only time we were indoors, playing a board game was, if it was raining hard. A little rain never pushed us inside, we played in the rain too!
Karlyne says: This looks like a picture of my husband and two of his brothers. Next step? A burning twig in somebody’s ear…
Pamela Caldwell says: Since I have 5 grandsons – three of who have slept in a backyard teepee for more than a year, this is awesome. Thanks for sharing.
During my childhood, we pitched a tent in the backyard many times. As soon as summer hit, we were out the door.
Just last weekend, our girls got their sleeping bags out and we enjoyed a wonderful backyard campfire. Backyard camping is sometimes the best-case scenario with little kids.
But share your backyard and gardens with other folks looking for a place to pitch their tent? Well, only if they’re willing to reciprocate!
That’s exactly the concept behind CampInMyGarden.com
In order to participate, you must become an active member with an online profile, since it often calls for sharing your facilities with those camping in your backyard. But there are options—some yards are simple “bamping” (basic camping), while others are definitely “glamping” (glamour+camping) by its finest definition.
If you’re inclined to offer up your yard and gardens to fellow campers, the site has fun alternatives to traditional accommodations around the world.
Winnie Nielsen says: I love this concept of backyard camping. Growing up all my camping was done at Girl Scout camp every summer because back then, they had everything, including sleeping bags, you could use for each camper so a person did not have to own their own gear. But I like the idea of backyard experiences because it allows one to create a fun scenario right at home for everyone without needing to have the money to travel. Sometimes you just need to break up the routine and summer camping is one of the best ways to do that.
Connie says: Your wonderful story brought back such sweet memories of my family! My daughter Holly, had her own little yellow tent for her and her best friend, Melissa and our dog Max! Max did everything we did! He loved the slip -n-slide, he lined up behind the kids and took his turn! We strung those plastic patio lights in the trees at the very back of our yard. We were on a tight budget so vacations out of town were very few, but I would not have traded those backyard camping nights for anything!
Karlyne says: What a seriously brilliant idea!
Maybe you’ve heard of the phenomenon geocaching—it’s traveled far and wide. It’s been mentioned in many publications (Mom devotes an entire page to it in her Glamping book). We went geocaching as a family for the first time last weekend. Who wouldn’t love a real-life treasure hunt for folks of all ages that’s based entirely on the honor system?
It starts with a map of your current location from the official Geocaching website.
Some best friends to help navigate are always handy. And hiking shoes for a cache in the woods are a good thing. Spiderman goulashes are also helpful.
Off we went! Geocaching will give you actual coordinates for using a compass, and we’ll do that when we’re a bit older. We chose the GPS route this time and …
On a wild goose chase we ventured!
We searched high and low …
while we worked together to find the treasure …
And when we did, the kids could barely lift their bounty …
But the score was definitely worth the three-mile trek. The master rule of Geocaching is that if you want a treasure, you must leave a treasure for the next person and ALWAYS sign the guest log! We hope someone likes the mini John Deere tractor my daughter traded for paddles and a ball.
Geocaching is a wonderful adventure for family and friends. Thank you, Geocaching, for encouraging our kids to head outdoors. We’re hooked and can’t wait for our next adventure!
Winnie Nielsen says: What fun! I have never known anyone who actually did this together. It is a great way to learn compass skills and enjoy being outdoors. And who doesn’t love a treasure hunt?!
My daughter has done this in the past. I personally have not, at least as it was called “geocaching”. But it would be a great family activity!
Looks like the Rae family had a splendid time!
CJ
Lisa A says: We’ve been geocaching for about 10 years and have almost 5000 caches! We’ve made friends and found out of the way sites that we would never have known about. It’s great exercise, getting out in the fresh air. I’m glad you enjoyed your experience!
Camp with us:
3 nights, 1 camper: $220
Ticket price includes a single spot for three nights, and the following for one camper:
Winnie Nielsen says: Wow, that photo of the ocean view is stunning. This sounds like a fabulous weekend for a very reasonable price. I can just imagine how fun and festive all those trailers are going to look decked out in their 1950s finest too. Plus, it would be fun to put together some outfits from the 50s to wear all weekend just to give it the real feel. I remember all the moms in the 1950s wore “house dresses”, including my mom. They always had big pockets too. I wonder if they left these at home in favor of fashionable “pedal pushers”? We never did camping except with the Girl Scouts and then the leaders always wore official GS attire.
Boy, wish I could! Love that part of the world. My hubby, daughter and I were in that area a few years ago, camping at San Simeon State Park, visiting San Luis Obispo and other attractions. It was a great trip! Someday we’ll make it back there!
CJ
MaryJane says: Reiver’s needs a rest? Doesn’t a beach and blues sound nice?
Winnie Nielsen says: What a way to start my day; viewing all these photos of the day!
Winnie Nielsen says: Is somebody great with calf? Or just well nourished on that beautiful green grass? Don’t you love the airplane ears? My kitty can do the same thing and I think it is so cute!
MaryJane says: Just well nourished. This gal doesn’t put any weight on her hip bones, just her stomach. She does look pregnant in this photo but she isn’t.
She isn’t a cow-ardly animal at all, not spooked by those blackbirds.
MaryJane says: 🙂
Winnie Nielsen says: Another beautiful flower I have never seen. The deep pink/red colors are so beautiful against the yellow stamens.
Deborah McKissic says: This columbine is just beautiful! I have columbines in my garden…from my grandmother’s garden..they are purple and some double pink ones…I just so enjoy them in the spring when they bloom! I love the colors of this red/pink one with the yellow! My mom has some that are all yellow..they are a great addition to the perennial garden…now, off to weed some in my gardens..the rain is coming in so it might be time to transplant some tomato plants from my tiny greennhouse and out to the garden today….
MaryJane says: Enjoy your garden and your columbines!
Deborah McKissic says: Thanks, Mary Jane! Enjoy your day there and your farm animals, fields and gardens…oh…I want chickens so bad..maybe a cow or two…I need to move…we have farmland all around us..but those farms were “grandfathered” in years ago..so, off I go to buy eggs from the farmer out behind me..and, gaze at his cows…and, dream! Then, home to plant those tomatoes!
MaryJane says: The antics of our chickens provide us with constant entertainment-our version of reality TV. Can’t you have just two chickens? There are so many cute homes for sale now for just two chickens.
Deborah McKissic says: I wish I could have one chicken! I bought books and read up all about raising chickens and then asked our borough..even our borough manager said for years he has wanted chickens…I could have got them and no one would have known till I was turned in and had to pay fines…oh, my..can you believe it? In the city you can have chickens! Even the lady from rent the chicken.com tried to help me and suggested fighting the ordinance…I am not a fighter..so, I might have to be a mover…I really like my little cape cod house and cottage gardens, though…years of raising my family and grandkids here…I guess I will have to stick to “farm gazing” out back to my neighbor farmer…
Debbie Fischer says: So happy to see that so many farmgirls in other states are growing our state flower the Columbine. We as Coloradans love their many colors and delicate flowers. In the Pikes Peak Mountains there are fields of them and they are a sight to see, all the vibrant colors.
Thank you Mary Jane for sharing my State Flower with everyone.
Karlyne says: This color of Columbine I do recognise! Gorgeous!
Several of you asked WHAT the variety of flower was featured as our photo-of-the-day on May 18, 2014. Well, it’s in my perennial flower garden and it’s a …
columbine. 
Winnie Nielsen says: I have heard of these flowers but have never seen them that I know of. What a delicate and colorful garden addition to enjoy!
Debbie Fischer says: The beautiful Columbine, Colorado’s State Flowers, a sight to see in the Mountains of Colorado when they are all in full bloom in their many colors. What a beautiful flower to have for my state flower.
Karlyne says: From the slightly fuzzy look of the flower, I thought it was a type of mountain bluebell. I’ve never seen a blue Columbine! How pretty!
It’s not like the Colorado columbines that grow wild in our mountains. And it’s not like any that I have planted in my yard. It is GORGEOUS!! What variety is it?
CJ
MaryJane says: Variety? Now where did I put those garden notes? I do have it written down and will find it when I have more than two shakes of a lamb’s tail. Or two swats of a cow’s tail.
Terry Steinmetz says: Thanks MaryJane. I have seen them in the U.P., but farther north of us.
Winnie Nielsen says: Such a breathtaking view! Wow, it is inspiring!
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
I can’t think of anything else that is needed except maybe a full tank of gas and a packed bag. The Tabitha looks so manageable to haul all while having everything you need for top of the line comfort.
I totally love your camping trailer. Wherever did you find something so precious and adorable? I would
love to down size. Currently we have a 33 foot 5th wheel. It sucks up the gas terribly,& is just to big!
Take Care, Pamela
You too can buy one here, http://www.raisingjane.org/journal/45782
Love it!
I am green with envy! Or maybe turquoise or aqua…