Adopt-a-Cow

In the last two pages of our children’s book, Moo-n Over Main Street Metropolis, we created a project for kids so they can have their very own Jersey cow. All they have to do is make a color copy of the cow, Sally O’Mally, in the book onto cardstock, write their cow’s name on her pinafore, cut her out, take a photo of the two of them together, and mail or e-mail it to us. We’ve posted some of the photos on our HeritageJersey.org website.

Here’s a glimpse of Dolly Anna and Gladys Pippi on their first trip with us.

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  1. Winnie Nielsen says:

    I love the idea of paper doll cows. Next up is to draw some changes of clothing for them to do barn chores in. They need coveralls,wells, and plaid shirts don’t you think? I used to have a set of paper doll horses that lived in a shoe box barn. I made all sorts of horse blankets and leg wraps for just about every occasion, including Halloween and Christmas outfits.

  2. Karlyne says:

    Why, thank you for solving the “what to get for my darling 8 year old grandgirl’s upcoming birthday” riddle!

  3. CJ Armstrong says:

    What a fun idea for kiddos . . . and adults too, if they are so inclined!

    I won’t be “adopting” any cows though. We own some Longhorns and are trying to get out of the cow business. This morning I had to go round up a wandering steer, pushing my way through rabbitbrush, sagebrush, climbing over barbed wire fences, crossing the creek (first time on branches that a beaver had put down, second time I had just to wade through the water) and encouraging my dog, Bramble, to “get him”. She happens to be an Australian cow dog so she has the “get ’em” instincts. We got him back to the pasture but Bramble was a mucky mess, my feet and shoes were soaked through and a bit mucky, I had cuts from barbed wire, scratches from the brush and I was ready to give him “what for”. He’s on the schedule on to be butchered in abaout 3 1/2 weeks . . . hope we can hold out that long!

    • Karlyne says:

      I think you should definitely name this one; how about Hobo Stew? He was probably trying to get a ride on the rails.

  4. wow CJ I always love your posts- to me you are a genuine cowgirl!! my country life seems so tame compared to yours

  5. Hi Meg,

    My grand-girls love theirs. They keep them at my house. They said, “They belong at the farm, Gram”! So tonight I was vacuuming in the guest bedroom and when I went to vacuum behind the door, there they were! Standing there where the little girls had left them. 🙂 I love them… I think it is the cutest idea ever.

    And of course, we love your book!

    – Dori –

  6. Connie-Killarney says:

    My Granddaughter, Lily June is 6 months old, she loves books already! I’m on my way to order this wonderful book! I loved paper dolls as a child!

    Connie

  7. Bonnie Ellis says:

    Those are so cute! I want one too Mary Jane. Could you post the cow paper doll for us tomorrow?

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We’re Celebrating our Farmcation

Since we’re in between moving out of our old home and moving into our new home, we’re bunking up at the farm with NannyJane. We’re calling it our “farmcation,” and you might see a few more farm pics in the coming weeks.

We just got back from an East Coast trip, so we’re waking up with the sun and the rooster, and this morning, we decided we’d wander out our back door at the farm …

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A beautiful morning with my favorite hikers.

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  1. Winnie Nielsen says:

    The views from Nanny Jane’s farm are simply breathtaking! Now wonder all of you love living in this little corner of the world.

  2. Karlyne says:

    Did you not get the wildfire smoke, or has it just moved on? We’re still socked in, although it doesn’t smell as bad as it did a couple of days ago!

  3. CJ Armstrong says:

    Looks lovely! Hope the fires aren’t threatening you guys there. Heard that the smoke was pretty bad over Moscow. Stay safe, please! PRAYING FOR RELIEF and for SAFETY!
    HUGS TO ALL!
    CJ

  4. Bonnie Ellis says:

    Keep those photos of those precious girls coming Meg. It is so fun to see them grow. Can’t believe they are so tall already. Thanks for the pictures.

  5. I love our farm here in Tennessee and the views from our hilltop – but sometimes I really miss the West. And these pictures of NannyJanes farm are SO gorgeous.

    Hope you had a great vacation on the East Coast. I’ve never been…. we tend to head to the Gulf Coast! Someday….

    – Dori –

  6. Debbie says:

    Sorry we missed you on the East Coast, Meg! I think we were vacationing at the same time. Those pics of Nanny Jane’s farm are food for the soul. Those rolling hills!!!!!!!!! Wow!
    Great to see the girls in this post.. they sure are growing fast!
    Sending hugs from the beach,
    Deb

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Childhood Memories

My fraternal grandparents had a house on the Cape during my childhood. My summer memories are filled with all things Cape Cod.

So taking my little family back is a dream come true for me. We filled our days with the beach and bike rides to and fro. And our evenings were spent eating seafood and fresh veggies from the same farm I frequented with my grandmother as a child.

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The Crow Farm stand has actually been selling veggies since the 1960s in its current location. Not much has changed since I was a kid.

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I picked up some corn they were just bringing in from the fields. And a beautiful head of lettuce.

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Then we completed the meal with a few of these …

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And caught the sunset on the beach.

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Thankful for farmstands and childhood memories that have withstood time. And thankful for memories in the making!

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:

    Cape Cod is a beautiful place and how wonderful that the Farm stand is still there from your childhood days so that you could share it with your family today!

  2. as they say, “you can come home again ” – ok. well come back to vacation again !

  3. Karlyne says:

    And no smoke to hack your way through! Happy vacation!

  4. Connie-Killarney says:

    Oh, I so enjoyed your pictures!! What wonderful memories! I have always wanted to visit there. I love reading novels set in Cape Cod! Thanks for sharing these!! Farmgirl Hug!

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Mia’s Cucumber

When Mia brought home a small cucumber plant that she had been meticulously watering the last few weeks of school from a small seed she planted, she was so proud and I was a tad worried.

I knew we were hoping to move and wasn’t sure where we should plant this precious plant. But NannyJane came to the rescue and Mia carefully dug a hole at the farm in the designated cucumber area of the garden. She and NannyJane have watered it carefully (NannyJane may have watered it a little more).

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She took her time picking which cucumber she wanted to devour first.

Photo Jul 24, 7 17 45 PM (1)Then we peeled it and added a titch of salt.

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Yummy! Mia may have a green thumb. But it’s also clear she does her best gardening (and eating) in her pajamas!

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:

    Yay, Mia!! Congratulations on your successful cucumber harvest. What a testimony that the school to table experiment works well when little gardeners put some love and basic growing skills together. Plus, there is something empowering in taking a seed and nurturing it to completion and then eating it!! I love her idea of gardening in PJs too! A sort of Garden Glamping equivalent?

  2. CJ Armstrong says:

    What a sweetie! Thanks for sharing this! Can’t believe how she’s grown since we saw her . . . and the rest of you farm folks . . . a few years ago.
    CJ

  3. Linda says:

    So cute! Doesn’t everyone garden in their PJs? It is so great to see kids’ excitement when something they have planted grows to maturity and they can eat it.

  4. Bonnie ellis says:

    Wow, all things nurtured grow! Look at your daughter. She’s growing into quite a young lady. You and nannyJane are doing a great job. Way to go Mia!

  5. Awwww… isn’t she the cutest thing??? And is there anything yummier than a cucumber right out of the garden with salt?? My fave! – Dori –

  6. Mia, try using a large fork to score the skin in stripes. Then when you slice the cucumber it looks like flowers. Really pretty in cucumber tea sandwiches that way.

  7. Debbie says:

    Yay for first harvests and for cukes and salt… Oh yeah! What would summer be without that taste?
    What a darling girl!

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We’re Making Our Move

We sold our house!

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We are so excited to be moving across town to something closer to the schools and parks and downtown. We’ve been boxing it all up.

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And we’ve never had such a big truck in our driveway before.

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On to our next chapter!

  1. terry steinmetz says:

    best wishes for your move! I’m thinking of all the new adventures you are going to have!

  2. Cindi says:

    That IS a big truck for moving across town, but it is the best way to do it. I do not envy the packing. Funny how our possessions grow just as quickly as our kids. Good luck!

  3. Winnie Nielsen says:

    How exciting!!Can’t wait to see photos of the new place.

  4. Stephanie Guevara says:

    Good luck in your new home!

  5. Karlyne says:

    Ah, moving… It’s a great time to take stock of your life (as in, “WHY have I saved this?!?”)

  6. CJ Armstrong says:

    WOW! Big truck! I hope we never have to move again! Wishing you the best and looking forward to seeing pics of your new “digs”!
    CJ

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