| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Muleskinner |
Posted - Jan 04 2012 : 08:01:39 AM
Hey Ya'll.
I'm Melissa. From Georgia. I'm 33. I was introduced to the magazine and this forum by my girl Tara - Sweet_Tea. We're best buds and stuff.
I love mules. I can harness a team and hitch them to a wagon. I love big draft horses and love learning about plowing and old farming ways. I have a 1930s Hoosier kitchen cabinet I'm restoring and when I need some peace and quiet I meander around antique stores looking for enamelware pots, pans and dishes and have built quiet a collection that I use. Once I was buying a couple things and was telling the lady about my cabinet, she said, oh these will decorate it nicely. I was thinking, decorate? Heck, I'm gonna USE this stuff! Haha...
I can cook outside with dutch ovens and have done chuck wagon competitions. So I'm all about doing things the old way. I love western history and anything cowboy.
Oh I'm single, no kids. I have several health issues that kinda limit some of the things I get myself in to. Like the kitchen cabinet, its taking forever cause I just get to work on it a little bit at a time. I also have severe anxiety from a bad wreck, so even though I love my mules and driving a wagon, I don't do it often due to fear. I haven't been horse back riding in several years because of fear. I've been in some bad wrecks... and cheated death more than once.
So much of the time I'm just happy to do what I can when I can. :)
Has anybody here ever heard of the Foxfire books? Its mostly a north Georgia mountain thing, but I'm obsessed with these books and the values and goodness of hard times and good times long gone. I think I love going "back to my roots" with the old ways because it comforts me in a time when things are so crazy and out of control.
I look forward to getting to know ya'll and learning some things. I'm really interested in learning how to do canning and hopefully doing some gardening with a friend who has a nice spot cleared until I can get my own going. I may try some smaller raised beds here at home.
Anyhow... that's all. I'll post a pic or two later... cause right now, I'm in my bed, and its cold, haha. |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| henlady35904 |
Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 07:35:49 AM
Melissa, welcome from alabama. I do a lot of canning, iff ya ever need help just let me know. I adore draft horses and mules too, although I don't have any at present, just a TWH. Do you ever go to any mule day celebrations? Its been a couple of years since I've been, but love going.
Farmgirl Sister #2667 |
| katmom |
Posted - Jan 07 2012 : 6:49:46 PM
Hey Melissa,
Welcome & sounds like you are already having fun here! wahoooo!
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom.
"Is it time for my Dirt Manicure yet!"
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://www.graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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| Muleskinner |
Posted - Jan 05 2012 : 8:37:08 PM
quote:
Originally posted by forgetmenot
Anyway, I love, love, love the Foxfire series. I am trying to collect it. Having a time finding affordable copies. I know they are out there though. I am re-reading #3 now. Due to an aversion to noise polution ...
First, I totally get the aversion to noise. I've gotten SO noise sensitive, I have a hard time with most public places and I don't even watch TV any more.
I was introduced to the Foxfire books by a friend last year. He had a total love of old buildings and old ways like I do. I want to go up to the museum in NE Georgia one day. I have books 1-10, except for number 6. I found several in an used book store, but due to money I couldn't get the ones they had... so number 6 got left. It was about all the different religions and such. The first ones I picked up, I found on Amazon... and I checked the prices that were in the "used" category. I've also looked up some on eBay. I didn't realize the books were in such demand, til I started pricing and finding them for myself.
Here's the website for those of you who have never heard of it: http://www.foxfire.org/
• "Foxfire" is the name that an English class picked, in 1966, for a student-produced magazine they chose to create, containing stories and interviews gathered from elders in their rural Southern Appalachian community. Other potential names on the list included "ginseng," "yellow root," and "bloodroot," which are plants native to the north Georgia area where the students lived.
I didn't have Grandparents growing up. My grandmother was the only one that was around into the years I can remember, the others passed early on. Later when talking about the Foxfire books, my mom told me that my paw-paw used to get the magazines when they were coming out in the 70s. So I've found a lot of personal connection with the books and my own family history... because most of my family came from up in the NE Georgia mountains and in the western Carolina mountains. The very locations where they interviewed people and learned about how things were done.
I should have mentioned I love to write... my posts will get lengthy, you've been warned, haha.
quote:
Originally posted by smiley
I broke 2 ribs about 2 years ago from a riding accident. I have ridden only once since then. Is that fear or facing the reality of the fact I dont "bounce" like I used to :)
Well, this was more than just a riding accident. I was doing the horse drawn carriage thing for a wedding. We were hit by a drunk driver. I got run over and dragged down the road. By some miracle, I didn't die and nothing major was broken or injured. Just bruised from head to toe. I've also been through some other traumatic things... health issues and all that... so yeah, it totally robs you of your innocence and you're very aware how quickly things go wrong. :( Just a lot of fear I'm trying to ... do something about.
quote:
Originally posted by laurentany
I have a friend who lives in Kennesaw- is that anywhere near you?
Yes. Very close to where I grew up, actually it was just the next town over. That's my old stomping grounds I guess you'd say, where we would cruise around and look for trouble, haha.
About the Hoosier. It excited me to hear so many people interested in it. :) Its not one of the big oak fancy ones. Lord knows I couldn't afford one of those, I've seen them in the $1200-1500+ range. Then the ones you usually find in the antique stores are restored already and pushing over $300. So I really lucked up on this one. She had it for $250 and it was in a sad state of disrepair. The hinges on the doors were mismatched and the wood was damaged from too many screws. Paint flaking off the drawers. Plus she was moving and had to clear out her dealer space. I got it for 50% off, $125! I was stoked. :)
I really want to start up a blog and note all my progress and do pics that way. Ya'll have inspired me to get on that soon. Its not a fancy one with the tramdour door, or the built in flour sifter... and its missing the wire wrack in the lower section... and I'm gonna change the shelf in the upper section... but ya know, its old and its mine and I'm fixin it. 
Thanks for such a warm welcome. :) I look forward to gettin to know ya'll. |
| laurentany |
Posted - Jan 05 2012 : 7:49:40 PM
A warm welcome from Long Island, NY Melissa!
I loved your introduction- felt like I could visualize all that you were describing. Would love to see your Hoosier cabinet either in progress and/or completed. I have a friend who lives in Kennesaw- is that anywhere near you?
You will most certainly LOVE all the gals here- so warm, friendly and knowledgable too! Its just a feel good place for sure!
Welcome!
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| artfulsister |
Posted - Jan 04 2012 : 7:50:39 PM
Hello Melissa, welcome to MJF! This is a really fun place!
Your cabinet job sounds fab, I would love to see it when you are done : )
I haven't heard of the Firefox series, so thank you for sharing about that, I will check them out!
Hugs,
terri
Every day is a new opportunity for joy! |
| smiley |
Posted - Jan 04 2012 : 7:05:24 PM
Welcome from Arkansas. I broke 2 ribs about 2 years ago from a riding accident. I have ridden only once since then. Is that fear or facing the reality of the fact I dont "bounce" like I used to :) |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Jan 04 2012 : 5:33:43 PM
Hi Melissa and Welcome from the SW corner of Louisiana. You will fit good with the MJF. Enjoy. I'll look forward to reading your posts.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| Kim L. |
Posted - Jan 04 2012 : 5:00:12 PM
Hi Melissa! Welcome:) Hope you get a chance to post some pictures of your cabinet -- I love antiques and using them also:)
~Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.~
Mother Teresa
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| forgetmenot |
Posted - Jan 04 2012 : 3:44:20 PM
Hi, Melissa! Welcome! I'll bet you will just love it here. I am probably a pretty modern woman..after all, I do use this computer thingy. Anyway, I love, love, love the Foxfire series. I am trying to collect it. Having a time finding affordable copies. I know they are out there though. I am re-reading #3 now. Due to an aversion to noise polution I do most of my kitchen work by hand (although I cheat sometimes with the old electric hand mixer). I find it relaxing to stir by hand, etc. So, I really like your story about the enamelware, and Amy Grace's about the egg beater. I've always done a lot of canning and jelly is my joy.
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that something is more important than fear." Ambrose Red Moon |
| Muleskinner |
Posted - Jan 04 2012 : 08:51:03 AM
Gracie - that's funny! So you understand, I see. I recently found a Sunbeam stand up mixer, in really decent shape. I love using it.
Ruby - Douglas is down south, way down south. I'm just west of Atlanta about 30 miles. When people ask me, what, where... I just say, "I live in Almost Alabama." Haha.
Thanks for the welcome. |
| rubyleesmom |
Posted - Jan 04 2012 : 08:46:21 AM
Welcome Melissa..from one fairly "newbie" to another. Everyone is very supportive and there really is a great feeling of "sisterhood" here:) I can sympathise a little with you about the horsey fear, as I had an incident with a galloping horse and a standing still fence post (didnt end pretty)..Is Temple Georgia anywhere near Douglas? My parents live there! Hope you enjoy the fellowship..You will learn alot from these gals! |
| graciegreeneyes |
Posted - Jan 04 2012 : 08:13:24 AM
Hey Melissa - glad to have you here, it's a great community!! I had to laugh at your story of enamelware and "decorating" - I bought an eggbeater at an antique sale one year and the lady asked what I was going to do with it....."Um....beat eggs...." I said - she looked at me like I was crazy:)
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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