While Etta Jane is awaiting giving birth at the WSU Veterinary School, our attentions are turned to the other bovine beauties at my farm. We caught Sally O’Malley this week (you may remember “Scratching Post”) getting her itch on with what’s left of this dilapidated tree. Do cows purr?
Oooo how she was enjoying it. You could hear her smile.
Then, suddenly, who comes tearing across the field with gale force? None other than Ms. Maizy, who is one of the cows I milk every day. With an eyes-closed “huff,” she knocked Sally off her tree. “Can’t you read?”
Maizy is “herd boss” around here and quite a bit larger than most of my herd. Oh, and the one leading the pack when they all get into mischief. Maizy is the one who’s figured out how to open our gates (making it so I have double locks on everything).
3 …
2 …
1 …
The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,344 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,177 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 Farm Kitchen/Cheese Making Merit Badge, I was movin’ on up, to the East side, to a deluxe apartment in the sky … Oops. Sorry. Sometimes I am overtaken by a wild urge to sing the lyrics to classic television shows. Anyway, back to the badge, Madge!
I was movin’ on up, if you will, to the Intermediate Level of the Cheese Making badge. Because, let’s face it chickadees, if there is cheese, I will be there. When it comes to snack foods, I come to snack foods! And since my buttermilk and yogurt were both a resounding success, I was feeling pretty confident. I was already having daydreams about Aged Gouda, Smoked Mozzarella, Garlic Jack, Drunken Goat, and a creamy Bleu! The stinkier the cheese, the closer to heaven, isn’t that right? I’m pretty sure I read that somewhere.
“Salute British ingenuity. Behold, the ubiquitous mobile home, a two-wheel tribute to the British spirit of adaptability, and to the great and growing pastime of messing about—in caravans.”
So begins the video below all about the Caraboat.
Back in the late ’60s, a man named Tom Car dreamed up this little watercraft, which is truly a land caravan (glamper) that doubles as a houseboat. Using a 6 1/2-horsepower motor, this wasn’t exactly a seafaring vessel (think the Perfect Storm for about 10 seconds, then cut to credits), but what a sweet little idea.
The curtains are a nice touch.
I wonder how long it took to get those swans in the shot?
Only 64 of these beauties were made before they stopped production, rather quickly. (Click here for the rumored theory on why the Caraboat went out of production.) This caravan-boat is now highly sought after by collectors.
I saw this retro video and just about died. You’ll love it.
The music is divine.
The quality—fabulously ’60s.
And they even have tea on board.
*Listen for this line:
So yo-ho-ho-ho to you, too!
It’s a doozy.
Now, let me introduce its new and updated cousin, the Sealander. The German-designed Sealander has taken this idea and transformed it into a modern machine.
The two ads themselves are strikingly funny! Maybe in 60 years, someone will be laughing at our “modern” Sealander.
Oh, how times do change.
How often do you stop to consider the world around you
from a different perspective?
It seems that we get set in our ways,
comfortably nearsighted,
amid the routine of daily life.
Stepping into a different light, or a different pair of shoes, can make a world of difference in the workings of our hearts and minds.
I love those moments when I stop and gasp, “Wow! There’s a whole new way to see that!”
Take, for instance, the photographs of an elusive London artist known only as “Slinkachu.”
(Don’t you love the alias?)
Playing with perspective is this man’s passion, and his photos persuade me to ponder …
Photo by Slinkachu, courtesy of The Little People Project
When I heard my cousin-in-law, Gretchen, was expecting again, I was impressed. With quite a few of us completely immersed in parenthood, I had that “I don’t know how she does it” thought. I knew we both had the same goals to feed our kids healthy, nutrient-filled foods, but how on earth was she managing with three boys under the age of 2??!!
Well, she’s sharing her secret … and not just with me. She’s started her own business called Gretchen’s Grains. It all began with her need for healthy and quick accents to a busy mom’s meals. As a mom with little ones, I can relate. When whole-grain rice takes an hour, it requires some planning … and sometimes, there just isn’t time. So pre-cooked frozen grains it is. Duh! Find yours in the frozen foods section at a Whole Foods or local coop near you. Way to go Gretchen!!!!
Sure, summer weather makes it a lot easier to get some exercise, but summer travel can sometimes put a damper on our best intentions. I decided if I was willing to lug my running shoes all over the Northwest this past month, I’d better be willing to use them! And as it turns out, a looming half-marathon is a very good motivator. Guess that’s the point, right?
My official “training” does not begin until later in July. In the meantime, I’m just working on being ready for that training to begin.
And it’s an awesome way to start any day The Foothills of Boise, Idaho, are home to seemingly hundreds of running and biking trails. Visiting family a few weeks ago, we enjoyed a run most mornings, and I kind of kept up with the seasoned runners. Clocked 3 miles a day … and learned it’s much easier to run when you’re with good company. And the views, well, they speak for themselves. Inspired!
And the following weekend I was in Portland, Oregon, for a college reunion. While the company was also wonderful, they slept in a bit, so I enjoyed some muggy morning runs solo along the Willamette River. I ran 2.5 miles and learned that a path filled with folks happily enjoying their own morning exercise is also a good motivator.
Glad I brought my running shoes. I look forward to the next path this marathon journey takes me on.
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.
