I could live on butternut squash. I have my Airstream’s floor covered in our winter’s supply. (I keep my Airstream just a few degrees above from freezing, tucked away in the back of my barn—perfect for storing squash.)
How about you? What’s your favorite winter squash? My mother’s was “old mother Hubbard” squash. I remember her breaking them open during the winter with a small axe. She was probably growing what is now called the Blue Hubbard Giant Heirloom Squash. The hubbard she grew were huge—much bigger than a baby! Once she opened one up, it lasted for several meals. We often ate a section after it was baked with just butter, salt & pepper.
Sauté 1 diced onion and 2 cloves minced garlic in 2 T butter. Add 4 cups cooked butternut squash and half a Granny Smith apple, diced. Add 3 cups vegetable broth, 1½ cups apple cider, 1 t minced fresh thyme, 1½ t salt, and ½ t black pepper; bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Purée. Serves 6.
What to do with all those little bits and pieces of remnant doilies and edgings? Paint them with water-diluted Mod Podge in layers until the piece is stiff enough to hold its shape. Put a wire hook in the top and call it a snowflake ornament!
UPDATE 6/28/2017:
A heartfelt thank you!!!!!! to everyone who signed up to be a Tabitha owner. We’d love to continue hearing about your many adventures! The crowning moment for us was when my daughter and her family passed another Tabitha owner two hours over the border in the neighboring state of Washington. As is so often the case, manufacturing and businesses change. T@bithas, as part of the T@b family, are still in good hands but we’re going to take a hiatus from the production of them while the re-branded company producing the well-know T@b teardrop gets up and running. If you are interested in buying a new or used Tabitha, please contact your local dealer to find out if they can track one down for you, https://nucamprv.com/dealer-locator/
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12/8/2013
Tabitha is finally ready and orders coming in …
(Thanks for your patience; we had a lot of manufacturing details to iron out.)
Here’s the brochure we made for RV dealers across the U.S. who are offering her for sale. (Readable text printed below each page.) Or you can read it online here: http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/Tabitha_Brochure.pdf. Scroll down on this post where you will find even more photos and a Q&A section. If you’ve asked us a question, you’ll find the answer further on.
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Barb Keefe!!!
Barb Keefe (#5355) has received a certificate of achievement in Make it Easy for earning a Beginner & Intermediate Level Let’s Get Physical Merit Badge!
“My goal for this badge was to get in some exercise 4 days a week, starting gradually and progressing. Daily exercise would not be realistic. I purchased a calendar book to document what I did.
My routine started out with a total body range-of-motion exercise program since I had not been active for a long time. I did each body part for 7 repetitions.
For strengthening, I did the following exercises targeting uppers one day and legs a different day. For the most part, I did 2 sets of 12 repetitions and if I felt real good, I did 3 sets.
Upper exercises:
-Bicep curls, starting with 3 pounds and progressing to 8.
-Triceps, starting with 3 pounds and progressing to 8.
-Press, starting with 3 pounds and progressing to 8.
-Bent over row with scapula retraction, starting with 3 pounds progressing to 8.
Lower exercises:
-Straight leg raises, starting without weight and progressing to 7 pounds.
-Hip abduction, starting without weight and progressing to 5 pounds.
-Hip abduction, starting without weight and progressing to 5 pounds.
-Hamstrings, starting with 5 pounds and progressing to 7.
-Bridges, starting without weight and low reps, progressing to 10 pounds 3 sets of 25.
-Abdominals, variety of curl ups, “100’s”, bicycle, planks
After 2 months of this, I needed a change and started yoga at home. I bought a couple of books and watched some programs on TV. It is much harder than it looks! It was very motivating to get me to do something, and I am still at it.
I continued with my exercises as described in the beginner level and started really paying closer attention to what we are eating. I did some Googling around on GMOs, all natural make-up, organic fruits. I subscribed to VeriaLiving channel on DISH for $5 a month. This has really increased my knowledge about many areas of health that are more holistic. I have started a home yoga routine. My groceries are changing to more organic, such as apples, spices, bulk tea, and herbs. I bought a ¼ beef from a local farmer that does not use hormones or antibiotics and I buy my eggs from a friend or get the organic-fed, cage-free variety even though they are more costly. I have yet to find any local chicken, however. In the long run, it evens out because I am not purchasing a lot of junk food.
While shopping at a second-hand store, I was able to “upcycle” a food dehydrator and am trying that now. Normally, I do not cook with beans very much and have tried a couple bean dishes and am planning on starting meatless Mondays. Moving forward, I want to drink more water and have started to drink a glass when I get up, at lunch, and when I get home from work. From now on when something needs refilling or replacing, I am going to do it with the most healthy natural choice.
This has changed a lot more than I thought once I was writing it all down to report. One thing at a time will make it easy and it does add up. It has increased my awareness and will make me healthier.”
Way to go Barb, keep up the good work!
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.
