January | 2013 | Raising Jane

You’ve Got Mail

Posted on January 31, 2013 by maryjane

“I just found your website and I can’t wait to scour it with a fine tooth comb! I started renovating a 1972 Frolic last spring and I am planning to finish up the work this spring. Still trying to get to the bottom of a bathroom leak before I button the inside work up and move to the outside. Can’t wait to paint her pink and white. Thought you might want a sneak peak of my work, so I’ve included a few photos of my renovation.

I’ve also included a link to photos I took of all the vintage campers at the Tin Can Tourists Vintage Camper Show that was in the Finger Lakes last fall. Great inspiration! Looking forward to celebrating International Glamping Weekend with the rest of the girls!”

Eileen
The Joy of Caking

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Thanks for the e-mail, Eileen, and for your photos below. They are fantastic. Let the countdown to International Glamping Weekend begin!

Here are some before and after pictures of Eileen’s Pink Paradise:

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Laurie Dimino says:

January 31, 2013 at 3:43 am

Pretty in Pink for sure! I cant get enough of the ideas that I see on these vintage trailers. Cant wait to own one myself one day (hopefullly soon) and have fun re-doing her too!

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Winnie Nielsen says:

January 31, 2013 at 4:02 am

These renovated trailers are so impressive! Talk about adorable and functional.I know these glamping events must be so much fun for everyone!!

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Terry Steinmetz says:

January 31, 2013 at 6:40 am

Now I’ve got more dreams to dream! Thanks for the inspiration.

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Eileen says:

January 31, 2013 at 8:26 am

Thanks so much for sharing the Pink Paradise and my photos of the Tin Can Tourist Vintage Campers I took last fall. I’m ordering bathroom fixtures as we speak!

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Susie Miele....Goat Lady Soap Co. says:

February 1, 2013 at 9:43 am

I’m loving the pink! Been dreaming of finding myself a little vintage trailer and dressing her up! Keep up the good work she’s looking real pretty!

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April says:

April 4, 2018 at 8:51 pm

So cool!! Im in rhe process of remodeling mine and at times i feel overwhelmed, then i look at trailers like these and i have my morivation back. 🙂 kudos

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Relaxation Merit Badge

Posted on January 30, 2013 by mbajane

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 4,690 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—6,500 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

For this week’s Make It Easy/Relaxation Merit Badge, I thought I had it made in the shade. That’s right, girls, how hard can it be to relax?! I mean, seriously, this badge was in the bag, so to speak.

I was blindsided however, by the sneaky difficulty of relaxing. The insidious lurking feeling that I must be doing something. The niggling notion that I couldn’t turn my brain off.

I first realized how hard this was going to be on me when I found myself with my Blackberry in hand, scheduling my five-minute period of relaxation.

Um, grammar isn’t my strong suit, but isn’t that some sort of oxymoron, or something? Like a jumbo shrimp, or all-natural artificial flavor, or “a little bit pregnant,” or specifically vague?

Sighing at how in over my noggin I was, I scheduled my five minutes of relaxation right after my Hot Yoga class, but before my appointment at the The Doggy Beauty Parlor. Ms Twinkles is overdue for a grooming and a toenail clipping. I swear, that dog takes tap dancing to a whole new height on my hardwood floors at 3 a.m. My Pomeranian thinks she’s Gene Kelly.

I found myself looking forward all day to my appointment with Relaxation. That’s right, I thought of Relaxation as a person I was meeting. Perhaps a long lost girlfriend, or a grandmotherly type, or a tanned cabana boy … ahem. Back to the badge at hand!

After Hot Yoga, I kinda wished I’d scheduled a few minutes to die properly. I had sweated away buckets, which sadly, in the world of physical fitness, meant I probably worked off half a blueberry muffin (sans butter). But, no matter! I had time to shower off, and then I found a perfect spot to meet with my elusive and mysterious Relaxation.

Evidently, Relaxation is not a punctual guy. I laid down in my favorite recliner and waited for him to arrive. Would he be soothing and gentle? Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? Have a pencil thin mustache? My mind whirled. My thoughts swirled.

I. Could. Not. Find. The. Off. Switch. To. My. Brain.

ARGH! Stop thinking, Jane! I told myself, fiercely. Just relax! Relax! RELAX RIGHT NOW!

This badge was going to take longer than five minutes. This whole process was new to a get up and go kinda girl. I was lost. I decided to research a bit on the benefits of relaxation and the health hazards of stress. Turns out, the smartest, most successful, and happiest people in the world know the importance of little things like:

saying “No” occasionally
not over-committing
getting a full night’s sleep (No, not just on the weekends! Every night!)
recognizing what stresses you out and eliminating it
surrounding yourself with your definition of beauty

Huh! Who knew, right? I always figured the most successful people were the ones running around like chickens with their heads cut off, having a million and one things to do, and people to hire to do it! Maybe after I redefine what relaxation means to me, I can redefine what success means to me …

Whoa. Getting deep here. Suddenly, I felt a weight off my chest. I felt lighter. More energized. Less stressed. Could it be *gulp* that I did it?! I calmed down, and (dare I say it?) relaxed?

And I didn’t even have to schedule it this time.

Winnie Nielsen says:

January 30, 2013 at 4:24 am

I am not sure what others experience, but working seems to condition me to be on task. At the end of the day, it is hard to turn that switch off. Over the years, I have spent so many hours on task that being busy becomes the natural default button. Real relaxation is very hard to do because one first has to have the ability to switch off the on task button for a brief while and then switch it right back on to keep going. This is the tangled up loop I have found myself struggling with. I only wish it was as easy as MBA Jane makes it sound to me!

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- Terry Steinmetz says:
  
  January 30, 2013 at 9:06 am
  
  You are so right, Winnie. Not only is it hard to “shut off”, sometimes I feel down right guilty. I sat one afternoon with my hubby & my mind never did shut down. That’s where going for a walk really helps me. When I walk around my property, I CAN & DO shut off the rest of the world & my mind. Do you think it is because we are nurses & had to be task oriented?
  
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  - Winnie Nielsen says:
    
    January 30, 2013 at 11:32 am
    
    After all these years, I am not sure if it was the nursing profession or my own personality . For sure, being able to be on task is what keeps people in the nursing profession capable of keeping up with all the unexpected twists and turns of any work shift. But I wonder if maybe some of us are just wired to be results oriented by nature. Then the profession we go into further reinforces those tendencies because, in the case of nursing, we get positive reinforcement for being so proficient. So while I am your go to person to get something done, I am not very good at relaxing and doing nothing. My mind is always going 100 miles an hour ! Maybe we are hopelessly ” taskers”??
    
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    - Terry Steinmetz says:
      
      January 31, 2013 at 6:43 am
      
      Maybe! The only time I really relax is when I’m outdoors!
      
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      - MaryJane says:
        
        January 31, 2013 at 6:54 am
        
        This is what everyone says, outdoors. It probably has to do with the scientific concept of “grounding,” covered in a recent issue of my magazine. Mine might be my bathtub:)

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Self-sufficiency

Posted on January 28, 2013 by mbajane

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

Now that I’ve cultivated my green thumb with my ever-so-lovely herb garden, it was time to dry some herbs and package them as gifts for this beginner-level Self-Sufficiency Badge. There’s nothing better than a DIY gift, I always say, and these were going to be fabulous.

My marjoram and thyme and basil were pretty much out of control. Those babies were over-running my kitchen windowsill. They were like weeds, only much more fragrant and tasty. They grew at a phenomenal rate, kinda like the plant in Little Shop of Horrors, only they hadn’t eaten anyone (yet).

My parsley was a little peaked, I must confess, and my cilantro was hit and miss. I also had a couple of different kinds of oregano, a rosemary tree (that I may or may not have to decorate), and a gorgeous batch of velvety sage, not to mention some beautiful dill that had me craving pickles every time I walked by.

I’m telling you what, girls, if you want your home to smell like a Williams-Sonoma store or a Yankee Candle shop, then get thee to a seed store, posthaste! My kitchen always smells amazing, if I do say so myself (and I do).

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Winnie Nielsen says:

January 28, 2013 at 4:07 am

I love finding recipes to make homemade versions of spice mixes or potpourri. They always taste and smell better than the fake ones. This spice rub is quite interesting with a touch of dill and paprika. Sounds like a great way to make some interesting chicken on the grill.

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Terry Steinmetz says:

January 28, 2013 at 5:36 am

I love the seasoned salt recipe. Thanks again.

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Karlyne says:

January 28, 2013 at 8:24 pm

I like the seasoned salt recipe; I think I’ve never put enough salt in mine before!

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You’ve Got Mail!

Posted on January 28, 2013 by maryjane

“We love your magazine, it’s refreshing after a day of mud and manure at the barn, followed by laundry and dishes (sometimes mud and manure too) at the house.

We have 30-acres in West Virginia, complete with geese, ducks, chickens, cattle, and an occasional lamb or turkey. These are our girls washing their now-grown bottle baby, ‘Rocky,’ before the county fair. They, and my son are truly country kids.

This was our daughter’s first showmanship class. Hope you can use these pics somewhere.”

Kelly

Terry Steinmetz says:

January 28, 2013 at 5:38 am

It is good to see the next generation growing up with the animals! They will have cherished memories later.

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photo-of-the-day

Posted on January 26, 2013 by maryjane

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Build It Green Merit Badge

Posted on January 26, 2013 by mbajane

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

For this week’s Beginner Level Make It Easy/Build It Green Merit Badge, I’m going green in my decorating. At first, yes, I may or may not have thought that meant a green theme, as in the color green, as in sage, pea soup, lime, forest, emerald, etc. But I quickly wrapped my brain around what it really meant: responsible, earth friendly, no regrets, kind of green. I knew that!

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Hear Ye!

Posted on January 25, 2013 by maryjane

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Marsha Gulick!

Marsha (Osagegypsy, #2988) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an expert Level Horse Dreams badge!

“In 2005 I bought four Gypsy Horses with the savings my father left me. He always wanted to give me a horse, so I knew this was a good investment for me. I researched the Gypsy Breed, sometimes called Vanners or Cobs; and where it originated in the UK. I joined a forum and learned SO much from the folks I met there. After researching and buying Gypsy Horses, the REAL learning started. I read books, The Soul of a Horse, Foaling books and magazines.

We now own 10 horses and have raised and sold a number of them.

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Nellie Will-Do, Part II

Posted on January 20, 2013 by mbajane

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

In Part I of this beginner level Stitching and Crafting Nellie Will-do Badge, I gathered all my supplies for my “What Not to Sit Upon” upholstery makeover. Then I got hungry and took a break. Now, we’re ready to roll. Staple gun in hand, I’m all business.

Speaking of the staple gun, that thing is a beast! My thumbs will be sore for weeks, I do believe. (My texting is really going to suffer. I may have to *gasp!* call someone! Like, with my voice. I’m not sure I remember how to do that. Why, I haven’t held a phone to my ear in, like, forever.) Also, it’s quite loud—the gun, I mean. When I finally got it to fire correctly, I screamed and ducked and nearly ran for cover. Of course, I’ve been watching too many crime dramas, so I may have thought for a moment I was in the middle of a drive-by.

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Hear Ye!

Posted on January 18, 2013 by maryjane

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Krystle Townsend!

Krystle Townsend (countrymommy85, #2595) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an expert level Going Green badge!

“I’ve been making my own soaps now for just over a year now. We use homemade cleaners for the house also. We strictly use a clothesline and drying rack in the summer and use the drying rack in the winter and use the dryer only when necessary. If we re-paint we will ONLY use non-toxic paint. We removed all the carpet from our house and have tile and hardwood floors now! I’ve helped my family (more than the required 10 hours) be self sufficient and green clean! I’ve offered my books and materials to help even further.

It has been a slow process but one well worth it. After removing the carpet, I was shocked to see how much dirt and nastiness was hiding underneath!!! So glad that germ and gas trap is gone. It is neat to see how much healthier and peaceful your house becomes without chemical cleaners. It almost seems they are a stimulant of some sort. Nothing like putting on clean clothes in the morning and being able to smell the sunshine on them.”

Terry Steinmetz says:

January 18, 2013 at 9:08 am

I agree! Thanks for the encouragement. That’s the best part seeing all the merit badges being awarded; I get to see what other ideas have come about!

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Nellie Will-Do, Part I

Posted on January 16, 2013 by mbajane

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

This is a beginner level Stitching and Crafting Merit Badge that made my living room smile. Hello dolly!, did my living room need a makeover, stat. The problem? My furniture all had good bones (after all, it’s been handed down for generations, mostly from the original Dream House), but the upholstery was …

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Elizabeth says:

January 16, 2013 at 1:03 am

Oh how this is perfect timing, again! Just so happens that I took a large piece of furniture apart yesterday (the first time I had ever done such a thing). Had no idea what I was getting myself into, seeing how much labor goes into disassembling a heavy piece of well crafted furniture. This part of a mechanically operated chair is brand new~out of the box & never been slept on; sat in or exposed to dust bunnies.

Very happy to report that I accomplished this task of staple strip removal in only three hours! And I didn’t even damage any of the material (my main concern). It was such a learning experience to see how this particular piece of furniture was put together. I was so proud of the person/s (or manufacturer) who put this piece of furniture together as so many things now days are slapped together in such a shoddy & careless fashion that it did my heart good to see that someone really cared about a product they probably worked on a long while.

It must sound odd then that I should be taking apart such a fine piece of furniture but don’t despair as I plan to use ever piece of it…except the flexible strips of heavy duty staples:-)

Not long ago, I was inspired to try the above project after reading the upholstery chapter in your Idea’s Book. Your books have had a profound effect on me as I’ve tried so many new fun (& sometimes frustrating) projects since you exposed me to so many new idea’s. Thank You!

Hope you share pictures tomorrow of your part II project.

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- MaryJane says:
  
  January 16, 2013 at 4:52 am
  
  I know the excitement when you discover the bones of a piece are sound and the workmanship good. And use every piece? You’re awesome Elizabeth. Your post made my day, er, I mean MBA Jane’s!
  
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