Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 6,861 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—9,721 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! ~MaryJane 

For this week’s Each Other/Let’s Go To Town Beginner Level Young Cultivator Merit Badge, I gathered up my large stack of (barely overdue) library books, my biggest and sturdiest reusable tote bag, and my posse of neighbor kids. I had learned something about the little whippersnappers earlier and I was appalled.

They didn’t have library cards.

Photo by Joe Crawford via Wikimedia Commons

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Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Krista’s Auntie MJ (moi) couldn’t be more proud.

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 6,861 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—9,721 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! ~MaryJane 

For this week’s Young Cultivator Each Other/Thank You! Intermediate Level Merit Badge, I decided to let Piper and Andy put down their pencils (the Gratitude Journal keeping was getting easier and better, but I was afraid another Merit Badge with writing involved might give them the Crazy Eyes). You see, to earn Level Two, they could either send Thank You cards to people in their community, OR they could do something nice for said people in their community.

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Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Diane Kasperzak (DiDi, #3657) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert Level Farmgirl Shutterbugs Merit Badge!

“I researched the photography terms and found several of them to be intriguing (especially framing and leading lines) and something I hadn’t considered when taking photos. I will try to use these techniques in the future.

I have taken well over 20 photos of horses, country scenes, and family pets, three of which were posted on the chatroom.

I got a blue ribbon at the Eastern States Exposition for the Black-eyed Susan photo posted in the chatroom, and a white ribbon at the Four-Town Fair for the photo of my parents’ dog, Baby Sammy.

I admire so many of the famous photographers’ photos, but I am particularly drawn to close-ups of flowers. There are many such photos on display online, and I was also inspired by a woman I worked with who also takes flower photos. We went to the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls on two occasions, and I posted my 10 favorite photos from those trips in the chatroom. I also entered several of the photos in the local fairs, and shared 8x10s with several elderly family members to send them cheer.

I read “50 Incredible Photographic Techniques and Tutorials” and “Ten Top Photography Composition Rules.”

I was astonished when I first saw my photos; I won a few ribbons at the fairs; my family loved the colorful photos; I learned new techniques; and I look forward to another wonderful trip to one of my new favorite places, the Bridge of Flowers.

I have taken photos for several events where I have taken more than 100 photos at each. One occasion was a high-school graduation. In addition to a photo album for the graduate, I framed several photos of her with her family members. I also have made several calendars with photos that I have taken.

I read “Advanced Photography Techniques,” “Six Advanced Tips for Photography Composition,” and “18 Composition Rules for Photos that Shine.”

I posted one of my favorite photos of a chipmunk sitting on a raccoon statue, along with my thoughts about taking photos, in the Farmgirl Connection Chatroom.

I have recently been informed by the National Wildlife Federation that I was a finalist in its 2015 photo contest, and that my photo of a chipmunk sitting on a raccoon statue (taken in my backyard) is on the NWF website in the Honorable Mention slideshow. The photo was also awarded a blue ribbon at the Eastern States Exposition.”