Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Starletta Schipp!!!

Starletta Schipp (star-schipp, #1927) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning a Beginner Level Green Energy Merit Badge!

“I did a lot of research for this badge and shared my findings in the chatroom on the Farmgirl Connection.

It is so much information to take in and I was quite disappointed to learn that the electricity I use is coal-sourced. However, I did find that my electric co-op has a program to get up to 30% of my energy from renewable resources.

It is obvious to me that wind and solar are the most reasonable sources these days but their output can be inconsistent. Therefore, it is really lifestyle changes that need to occur. The days of not thinking about my power usage are over. I truly love this about the Farmgirl lifestyle that helps me to reach out to learn things I didn’t even know I needed to know … and once I know it, I can’t un-know it so it spurs me to make lasting and sweeping changes. Thank you for that!”

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … April Whitehair!!!

April Whitehair (#5806) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning a Beginner Level Buttoned Up Merit Badge!

“I received many buttons from my mother who had been collecting them for years. I also added several of my own to the collection. The ones I collected were all free, off of old clothing and from torn or stained clothing that we couldn’t sell at the church rummage sale.

With my own buttons and the ones I got from my mother, I now have many, many buttons.”

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,843 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—8,286 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

For this week’s Cleaning Up/Shopping Green Intermediate Level Merit Badge, I threw out the last of my toxic, scary, chemical laden (but “naturally fresh,” of course … pshaw!) cleaners out of the bottom of my cupboard.

It felt good.

Really good.

A couple of the spray bottles weren’t too bad, in terms of shape and size, so I rinsed them out thoroughly and decided to keep and reuse them.

Next: I filled a couple of too-cute baskets (one for the kitchen and one for the bathroom) with a few Mason jars, a squirt bottle or two, and those recycled spray bottles. And after that, I filled those bad boys with the following:

Homemade Soft Scrub (great for countertops and sinks and tubs)

• 3/4 cup baking soda
• 1/4 Castile soap
• 2 T water

Mix together and store in lidded container of your choice. 

DIY Dishwasher Detergent

• 1 cup Borax
• 1 cup washing soda
• 1/4 Epsom salt
• lemon juice

Mix the powders, then drizzle in lemon juice until soft and sticky. Spoon into ice-cube trays and sit on your windowsill to harden. Use 1 cube per load. 

Homemade Dryer Sachets

• small muslin bag (think large tea-bag size)
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/8 cup arrowroot powder
• handful of lavender and rosemary from the garden
• a few drops of essential oil (lavender and/or rosemary if you like themes)

Mix the powders and herbs; drop in the oil(s). Tie up your sachet and toss in the dryer. (Or in your hubby’s stinky sock drawer. Or in your teen’s smelly closet. Or toss them at your doggy when he’s feeling particularly odiferous.)  

DIY Countertop Wipes

• 4 old t-shirts that you’ve been meaning to throw out anyway, cut into squares the size of baby wipes (you’ll end up with about 8 per shirt)
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
• 2 T dish soap

Mix water, alcohol, and dish soap and pour over squares. Store in a sealed container (a recycled wipes container works well, but a clear glass canister is prettier, IMO).  

Citrus Enzyme Cleanser

• 2-liter bottle (Something that can be shook up. I know we’re all about things other than icky plastic ‘round these parts, but I gotta say, a recycled liter water bottle works well.)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 t yeast (This speeds up the process, but you can leave it out. It will take 3 months to be ready, instead of two weeks, though.)
• 1 liter water
• 2 cups citrus peels (I used grapefruit)

Combine all ingredients in bottle and shake thoroughly (sing a little Carmen Miranda while you’re at it). Shake once per day for two weeks (leaving the cap a bit loose—we’re playing with fermentation here, gals). To use, mix 1 cup cleaner with 1 liter water. This wonder stuff works on everything from mopping your floor to cleaning your toilet to spot-treating laundry to fertilizing your plants to an all-natural drain cleaner to your very own insect repellent. It may even alphabetize your bookshelf and make you dinner if you ask nicely.

I lovingly arranged all my new beauties, labeled them, and set each basket under the sink. Toxic free, sparkling clean home!

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Suzanne Holland!!!

Suzanne Holland (#828) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Level Know Your Roots Merit Badge!

“I have been working on the family tree with the information left to me by my mother and her sisters. I have used online resources, and through those resources, have been fortunate enough to discover distant cousins trying to fit the pieces together also. The cousins are on my mother’s side and we are working slowly together, digging through court records and archives, to put the family tree together accurately.

I am also working, on my own, on my father’s side of the family. As it turns out, my 5th great-grandfather had two land grants … one right here in St. Francisville, Louisiana, where I moved five years ago, and one in Natchez, Mississippi. The house he built, “Coyle House,” still stands in Natchez. I have had the privilege to meet the current owner, and she even had photographs of my 4th great-grandparents that she gave me copies of. Also, I found out that my 5th great-grandfather came from Ireland, County Donegal, but had land and family in County Sligo. I live right off Sligo Road, in St. Francisville, where his land grant is described as being located. I have plans to go pull court records this summer when I have more time to dig to discover the exact location and who he sold it to before moving to Cotton Valley, Louisiana.”

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,843 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—8,286 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

For this week’s Farm Kitchen/BakeOver MakeOver Intermediate Level Merit Badge, I was nervously pacing the length of my kitchen.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

Forth and back.

To and fro.

Fro and to.

Forth and fro.

Etc, etc.

The source of my anxiety was this: Coming up with two new recipes/ideas for BakeOvers and then presenting them to YOU. Now I’m a creative gal, certainly, but sometimes my kitchen experiments become kitchen disasters right before my terrified eyes. Not wanting to poison anyone, I took my time with these delectable, delicious, divine, and distinctly different makeovers. Drum roll, please.

Biscuits & Gravy (BakeOver Style)

Preheat oven to 400°F. In your most favorite cast-iron skillet, brown up 1 pound of organic breakfast sausage. (Mr. Wonderful and I really like the spicy variety. It adds some kick. And also some romance, due to the spicy lips.) Drain any excess grease. Add 3–4 T flour; stir for about 2 minutes. Slowly add 1 cup half-n-half and 1 1/2 cups milk. Heat until thickened. Season. (I like lots of pepper. Again, spicy lips make for excellent smooching.) Layer biscuits made with Organic Budget Mix^® All-Purpose Original Baking Mix on top. Bake at 400°F until bubbly and brown, about 20–25 minutes.

Pile on plates.

Eat happily.

Smooch.

Honey Fig Crostatas (tarts)

On a lightly floured surface, roll out a Organic Budget Mix^® All-Purpose Original Baking Mix BakeOver crust to 1/8″ thick. Cut out eight 5″ rounds, rerolling the scraps if necessary; transfer to a parchment paper–lined baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

In a bowl, toss 1 lb of green and purple figs, cut into wedges, with 3 t honey, 1 t fresh lemon juice, 1 t fresh thyme leaves, and a pinch of salt. Arrange the figs on the dough rounds, leaving 1/2″ border all around. Fold the edges over the figs and brush the dough with an egg wash. Chill for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F. Bake crostatas for 35 minutes, rotating halfway through baking, until crusts are golden. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Gently toss another 1/2 lb figs, cut into wedges, with 2 t honey. Transfer crostatas to plates, top with the figs and another 1 t fresh thyme leaves, and serve.

If you don’t have figs (or don’t like them), try using apricots or plums. Crostatas are are fun and easy, and they have endless varieties. Plus, you’ll really feel fancy—even when they drip hot juice down your chin because you can’t wait an appropriate time for them to cool off before devouring.

Or is that just me?

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Jennifer Prior!!!

Jennifer Prior (#5297) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning an Intermediate Level Knitting Merit Badge!

“Okay, so I have already become an addict. My friend taught me how to make clog slippers that are felted. At one point, I was knitting with three needles at one time! The slippers were huge when finished, but after felting, they fit like a dream. I actually met with a few friends to work on these. We knit together on three different nights for several hours.

This project was such fun, I made another pair in a different color. Now my mom wants me to make a pair for her. I’ve attached photos. They are so cute; they look like little teddy-bear feet. I am so crazy about knitting now and have since made numerous dishcloths in varying patterns. Wow, knitted dishcloths work so much better than sponges and I even use one for washing my face now.”

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,788 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—8,160 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

For this week’s Stitching and Crafting/Embroidery Intermediate Level Merit Badge, I got out my luffly collection of rainbow-hued embroidery floss (which reminds me: make a dentist appointment asap). They had been lovingly arranged, according to color and hue and alphabetically, but then I babysat Midge’s triplets.

And they were really into making friendship bracelets.

Let’s just say, they are not as OCD-ish as their Auntie Jane, and they oh-so totally rearranged my skeins. I tried to control my shudders and wails and learned to appreciate chartreuse being next to charcoal, and apricot cuddling up with turquoise.

And I gotta say, burgundy really makes ballet pink pop.

After I spent upteen hours (or at least it felt like that many) untangling my threads and tucking them back into their box where they belonged, I got out my tea towels.

Seven.

Hey, guess what? Guess what else there are seven of?

No, not deadly sins. Sheesh, you gals are jumping to morbid conclusions today! Who’d want to embroider those?

No, no, seven days in the week, of course! Ah, those childhood days of wondering if it was Tuesday or Wednesday, and recalling we could just take a quick peek at our socks or undies … nostalgia. I could really use a few pairs of those these days, as I am … getting a wee bit older. I could also use something with my friends’ and family’s birthdays printed on. Maybe a belt? Scarves with grocery reminders printed on the hem? No? Too weird? Okay, back to Days of the Week Tea Towels then.

(But if you forget your mom’s birthday due to lack of reminder clothing, don’t come fretting to me.)

First, I washed and dried my towels. Next, I found my embroidery hoop, which had been doing double duty as a picture frame. Then, I printed my designs onto my towels. You know what’s super-nifty these days, chickadees? Some printers will work on fabric. I know! It’s amazing the things you can put through a high-quality printer: brown paper bags (cute for anything you want to look extra “vintage-y”), lightweight fabric, wrapping paper … the possibilities are endless. Well, maybe not endless: I don’t recommend anything edible or anything of the feline variety, despite the fact that my cat is obsessed with snuggling with my printer. Don’t even get me started on my pup’s love affair with the vacuum. Your pets may be slightly less odd, in which case, moving right along …

My towels at the ready, I lined up the rest of my arsenal for an afternoon of embroidery: a tall glass of iced tea, several cookies (frosting free … trust me: fine needlework and buttercream don’t mix) and my favorite miniseries, Anne of Green Gables. If you’re anything like me, you watch your favorite movies or shows according to what you’re doing: sewing goes with Anne Shirley for me, just like Austen films go with painting, and Jane Eyre is perfect for baking. There’s no rhyme or reason, it just works. Try it. You’ll see.