A Tribute to the Farmer's Wife

Farm Girl Family Kitchen is dedicated to my mother, who taught me the art of cooking and instilled in me the joy of preparing great meals for my family. I remember my mom making breakfast every morning for my daddy, a farmer. Our freezer was always stocked with beef and pork we raised on our farm, ensuring we had hearty, home-raised meat for breakfast. Often, she’d prepare hashbrowns and gravy, always complemented by eggs from our chickens. As we gathered around the table, the farm report announcing

Mother stands proudly in a handmade, well-fitted dress, showcasing her creativity and sewing skills. Her outfit, accessorized with gloves and a matching bag, reflects a timeless elegance.

Commodity prices and weather updates played in the background, connecting us to the rhythms of farm life.  Farmers live by the weather, which is controlled by our creator, God. Above all, my parents taught me the importance of faith in God, which was the foundation of everything we did. These moments with my family and the values they instilled in me are at the heart of Farm Girl Family Kitchen. My mother's birthday is June 4th, a day I celebrate her life and the countless lessons she has imparted to me through her love of cooking and family. She would be 104 years old if she were still with us.

In addition to her cooking, my mom also loved to sew. She and I spent many hours in her sewing room, talking and sharing memories. She would tell me stories about her childhood on the McFarland Ranch, where her mother was the cook for the farmhands. Her father, my grandpa, served as the ranch foreman on the section of the ranch where they lived. He oversaw the operations and ensured everything ran smoothly. Mother grew up alongside one brother and three sisters, and their parents, my grandpa and grandma, expected everyone to pitch in to help run the ranch's day-to-day operations.

Whether it was tending animals, working in the fields, cooking meals, or helping in the garden, each child had a role. It was a way of life rooted in responsibility, cooperation, and pride in their work. They all had a relationship with the ranch hands that were almost like family, sharing stories, laughter, and lessons learned in the warm embrace of the ranch community. Mother often felt like a younger sister to some of the hands. She shared entertaining tales about how some catered to her sweet tooth. After all, who doesn't enjoy buying a child candy to witness their delight in receiving it?

One of the weekly chores for the family was laundry. That process was quite different on a ranch in the 1920s and '30s. Of course, there was no electric washer. The girls' dresses, crafted from humble flour sacks, told a story of resourcefulness and creativity. Each garment was fashioned from soft cotton, a fabric that became a canvas for their daily lives after being vigorously scrubbed clean on a rub board. Once washed, these vibrant pieces were lovingly hung out on the line to dry, fluttering like colorful flags in the gentle breeze.

However, the process didn’t end there. Every shirt, dress, apron, and other cherished items required meticulous ironing to restore their crispness and charm. The iron was a small, handheld tool made of heavy cast iron; you’ve probably seen one in antique shops. It needed to be heated on the wood-burning stove before being used. This wasn’t mom's favorite chore, especially in the summer when the kitchen was hot. Lifting and working with that heavy iron made the job hot and tiring. Still, freshly washed and pressed clothes, especially for Sunday morning church or the occasional special event, were well worth the effort.

Stories like this one have always stayed with me, and I cherish the connection they gave me to our family's history. I want to use this blog to share some special stories with you, celebrating the legacy of love, faith, family, and tradition that has shaped who I am today.

Recipe: Country Cream Gravy

Country Cream Gravy, the breakfast gravy I talked about at the start of the post, is one of my favorites. It's a heartwarming reminder of mornings in a farm kitchen.

• 4 Tbs oil (bacon or sausage drippings and butter or vegetable oil to equal the required measurement)

• 4 Tbs of all-purpose flour (you will need a whisk to work the flour into the oil smoothly)

• 4 cups of whole or 2% milk, warmed

• 2 tsp of salt or to taste

• Optional: 1 tsp fresh ground pepper

• optional, 1/2 to 1 lb of cooked and crumbled pork sausage

1) Heat the milk until its temperature is similar to the oil's. I typically microwave it for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. If you heat the milk on the stove, monitor it closely, as milk can scorch easily. Warm milk blends with the warm rue more seamlessly than cold milk. Set warm milk aside until you get to step 3.

2) Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat until it is fully melted. Sprinkle flour over the warm oil and whisk together to form a smooth paste. Allow the rue to cook just briefly, for 1 minute or less, to get a richer brown color.

3) Pour in warmed milk a little at a time and continue to whisk constantly to prevent lumps.

4) Whisk in the seasoning. While whisking, allow the gravy to boil. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

5) Optional: When the gravy is creamy, stir in the cooked and crumbled sausage to your preferred thickness.

Serve a generous portion over fried potatoes, biscuits, or crispy toast. Tip: If your gravy is too thin, combine a little more flour with some warm milk and add it to the gravy. Directly adding flour to smooth gravy may result in lumps.

Once, as a young girl, I was learning how to make gravy under my mom's guidance. Naturally, it turned out lumpy. She kindly said, "We can fix that." She brought out her magical new appliance, the blender, and smoothed it out nicely. Mom often showed me grace when I didn't get things quite right. This grace helped me understand what unconditional love means. Jesus loves us unconditionally when we seek salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him."

John 3:16-17 NLT

Click here to discover how to welcome Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and embrace His unconditional love.

Biblical Principle

Today’s post discusses the Biblical principle of being a valued worker. This concept will frequently appear in many of the Farm Girl posts. Growing up with someone from the Depression era instills an appreciation for the ability to work for what you need.

• "Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." Galatians 6:4 NLT