I’m calling you out!!!! On a roll … call, here’s where you can read about the amazing accomplishments of Sisters who earn Merit Badges. “Hear YE!”
Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …
For this week’s Merit Badge, I decided to tackle cross-stitching! Why, you ask? Well, that’s easy. I started a book club.
Huh?
Let me explain.
Cathy R says: MBA Janes entries are a hoot! Chuckles & grins! My one question ~ where are you shopping ~ your clothes are fabulous? Keep earning those badges and telling us about them! C:
Cathy in ID to the East
To celebrate National Sewing Month, I asked if you’d send in the projects you’ve been working on. Here they are, and ladies, they are just Sew Wonderful …
It is so good to read about one of my favorite things. I’m so glad others are getting to enjoy it.
Too Fun MJ! Love sewing….:) Thanks for sharing the link for the sewing merit badge requirements… I think I’ve got beginner and intermediate licked!
I’ve got my hand in the paint bucket now.. Is October National Paint month ? LOL!
Love,
Deb ( your BEACH farmgirl )
MaryJane says: If it isn’t, you better declare it! Are you using the colors of your gorgeous dahlias?
Consider it DONE! Believe it or not I’ve painted over my apricot walls with a fresh creamy off-white… It makes a lovely backdrop for all of the ‘ other colors’ I have in our house… The kitchen is RED, BLACK and OFF WHITE and My kitchen curtains remind me a lot of my dahlias. I fell head over heels in love with them this summer!
I’m going to frame some of the dahlias and a few of the ” cottage hens” for some farmgirl artwork too!
Would I be taking things too far if I spray painted my almond colored stove ‘ stove red ‘ ? Nah, I didn’t think so!
MaryJane says: No wonder. You are like a dahlia. Many shades of HAPPY.
Gifts galore!!!!!
This, this, THIS came!!!! A newfangled chicken waterer (with handy winterizing heater) made and sold by a most adorable family in Florida. Called a Chicken Kooler, it’s a must have (watch the video on their website, Cheery Chicks showcasing 4-day old baby chicks using one). She also made a darling …
Candice Buerer says: Cucumbers. It seems so ordinary and unexceptionable, but there is something unique in the flavor of a homegrown cuke. I’ve known for decades that homegrown tomatoes are sweeter and more flavorful than their store bought counterpart. But the difference in cucumbers I only discovered last year after growing my own for the first time. It is subtle and more of a refreshing feeling than a distinct easily described flavor.
Last year I grew the usual green variety of cukes and this year lemon cucumbers. Both kinds I find pleasantly satisfying and no where near ordinary.
Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …
History has never been my thing … my forte … my area of expertise, if you will. I was usually the one in Mr. Boring Pants history class in school, yawning and doodling on my exam. Maybe I am just a forward thinker? A future-focused kind of girl?
But all that’s about to change! Getting my Civic Heritage Badge has made me a believer:
History is actually, sorta, you know, like, fascinating! Not boring … or scary at all. Except for all that battle stuff.
Shocker. I mean, really, who knew? Not me. And not Mr. Boring Pants, either, I’d wager. He almost put himself to sleep once, as he droned on and on about the Cuban Mission Crisis. Cuban Missing Crisis? Cuban Michelin Crisis? I never did hop on the express train to knowledge with that one.
Anyhow.
Confession time: As embarrassing as it is to admit, I have never set foot in my local museum. I know! Grab your pitchforks and heat up the tar, ladies. I am truly sorry, and I will make up for it by going several times per year now. Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye, if I lie. (Well, not that part so much.)
When I told the lady at the front desk that it was my first time there, she was kind enough to give me the educational packets she hands out to the elementary kids. A bit humbling, to be sure, but hey, I love a good word scramble and scavenger hunt. I eyed a group of first graders with the gleam of competition in my eye (better than a needle any day). They were going down!
Turns out the history of my little town was actually sort of interesting, especially when there are black and white photographs to go with the dry old plaques. Talk about roughin’ it! Man, those pioneers were some tough old birds. Even the children looked like they could teach me a thing or two about life.
I swear, I found a dead ringer for my Grandma Barbie in one of the photos. I nearly swallowed the pencil I had between my teeth (trying to be libraryish), and did a major double take. Could my ancestors have come over on the Oregon Trail? On the Mayflower? Were they involved in the Cube Shaped Missing Crisis? Hmm. My thoughts were going a mile a minute. I was thinking an interview with Grandma Barbie was next … I could be the genealogist of the family. I could get my own television show.
MBA Jane, Ancestor Hunter
Woman vs. the Past
The TV crew could drop me in the prairie with nothing but my survival skills and a cast-iron skillet …
Wait. I just saw a photo of a primitive outhouse.
Never mind.
Back to reality (and it seems as though that class of first graders is one room ahead of me). Egads! Moving right along.
So, it turns out, I don’t hate history. Epic knowledge. These merit badges surprise me every time. Maybe I don’t not like mayonnaise? Cheap dates? Bad perms? Only time will tell.
Eileen Stone says: HA,HA, HA, HA! I am totally with you on this! I am married to a CPA/history buff. He likes to drone on & on & on………..zzzzz…….about the dullest parts of history & accounting. Sometimes he agrees to tell me accounting &/or history stories to help me fall asleep. He is wonderful, handsome & sexy, which is why I married him! I was an art student who was “gah, gah” for him. We are still in love & married 36 years!
A couple of years ago, a poem about aprons caught fire on the Internet. Here’s a newer version (well, new to me). I thought (or rather, I knew) you’d enjoy reading it along with a collection of our apron photos.
Remember making an apron in Home Ec? Remember Home Ec?
The principal use of Grandma’s apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few and because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons required less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.
Many decades ago, when I was in jr. high school, I took a class in sewing. Our first project was to make an apron and it looked very much like a couple of these. I also took a class in home economics. These were required classes for girls…not electives. Do they even teach these things in schools today?
Siobhan McBride says: Those aprons are so beautiful!! Thank you for sharing the nostalgia!!
Barbara Sanders says: Love these aprons! Have to celebrate the one my cousin made for me for Christmas. I asked for an old fashioned one, similar to these. Wonderful, frilly & floral. We trade skills: I take help care of her computer issues, she sews for me when I can’t. (flunked sewing in Hume ec, too busy playin with computers!)
Well, you know me . . the “apronista” from southwest Colorado. Make ’em, lots of them! Sell them at Farmers Market, on my blogspot and give them as gifts! I believe you might have a couple that came from my “apron shop”.
THANKS for singing the praises of aprons!
CJ
Rick Hill says: These aprons are great.
May they never be used to prepare GM foods.
Char Clark says: Did I read you sell some of these? They are gorgeous! I have scoured second-hand stores looking for ‘grandmas’ aprons’. I love love love your photos and the aprons. Please email me with prices. Very interested in an apron to do most of the things listed in the poem. (We don’t have chickens, yet.) Do have apples, pears, plums, apricots, walnuts, strawberries, rhubarb, grapes, and 15 or so flower beds. I have two granddaughters, two daughters, and a daughter-in-law. Wouldn’t it be grand to have similar aprons – matching yet different. I’m so excited. I can’t wait to hear from you.
Sandra Flammia says: Hi my name is Sandra I love aprons I sew aprons myself all kinds I sell my aprons at craft fairs and such I am very proud of my aprons I make my own patterans . I love what you have done.
Last week, I shared two decked-out trailers that the ladies of Glampers on the Loose revamped and stayed in during our trip to South Dakota. How adorable was Shery’s “Cabin in a Can” and Jennie’s “Little Black Dress”? This week, we’re sharing “Primitive,” the “Holy Roller,” and “The Bunkhouse.”
Here’s Michele’s dreamboat, “Primitive.”
What a great time we all had:) We are planning our trip your way next summer. Wonderful company all of you are. Nice pics Ace.
Always Michele
Donna says: How creatively adorable! I wanna do that too!
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Hey there, Glampin’Gals! Your FOTOS of FUN really gladened me! I <3 all y'all!
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Csrol Bercaw says: I am new to the glamping life. Our first trailer that needs to be transformed from Jayco”boring” to a cozy retreat. It’s not as cute as a Shasta but…..it’s a start. I simply love your décor and ideas. How fun. I want to do New England Americana theme. My poor husband is in for quite the transformation. TU for sharing. Newly Inspired, CB
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.
Mmmmmmmmmmm lovley!