Raising Jane Journal

Here’s where you can count on me for a quick pick-me-up post from one of my 12 categories, penned in honor of us girls and that letter of the alphabet we’ve all laid claim to, G. My goal is to gladden your heart and add some glisten to your life.

Author Archives: maryjane

Separation Anxiety

Posted on July 3, 2013 by maryjane

To set the stage for how it felt to walk away from my baby for the first time, here’s a 32-second Subaru TV ad that says it all. (I love this commercial.)

And here’s my “baby” in her new home-away-from-home for the next week or so.

Continue reading →

photo-of-the-day

Posted on July 2, 2013 by maryjane

farm_romance-4609

photo-of-the-day

Posted on July 1, 2013 by maryjane

farm_romance-5563

Glamping Sites to Visit in 2013: Day 8 of 15

Posted on July 1, 2013 by maryjane

Now that you’ve read my book, Glamping with MaryJane, you need to find a fabulous place to get your campin’ glam on.

We’re back for an 8th day of where to glamp in 2013.

Have you been hankering to visit our neighbors in the Great White North? Do you love wildlife, five-star food and accommodations, and a good rest filled with adventure? If preserving wildlife habitats are also at the top of your list, visit the Clayoquot (pronounced Cla-kwhat) Resort this summer.

I think they’ve thought of just about everything.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada

get_out-where_glamp1

Courtesy of Clayoquot Wilderness Resort; http://www.wildretreat.com

Imagine a place where guests enjoy all-inclusive, five-star vittles and beverages; a massage with your minimum 3-night stay; and activities such as rock climbing, horseback riding, ocean or fresh water fishing, whale and bear watching, Wild Side First Nations Interpretive trail trek, river and sea-kayaking, archery, hiking, skeet shooting, target shooting, mountain biking, surfing, zip line, paintball, tree platform climbing, and even surfing.

get_out-where_to_glamp8-1

Courtesy of Clayoquot Wilderness Resort; http://www.wildretreat.com

You’ll have a blast launching yourself into new experiences.

get_out-where_to_glamp8-2

Courtesy of Clayoquot Wilderness Resort; http://www.wildretreat.com

Scaling mammoth cliffs.

get_out-where_to_glamp8-3

Courtesy of Clayoquot Wilderness Resort; http://www.wildretreat.com

Feeling the thrill of wildlife watching, bears, and whales, and eagles, oh my!

get_out-where_to_glamp8-4

Courtesy of Clayoquot Wilderness Resort; http://www.wildretreat.com

Or buckle down and giddy-up for a ride on the equestrian side.

get_out-where_to_glamp8-5

Courtesy of Clayoquot Wilderness Resort; http://www.wildretreat.com

As they put it, “Couples, grandparents, school-age children, teens—regardless of experience—find their ideal program of custom-designed fun and adventure at the Resort.

The months of May and September are perfect for couples, while the summer months might better suit high-energy family gatherings.”

Continue reading →

photo-of-the-day

Posted on June 30, 2013 by maryjane

farm_romance-5577

Zentangle

Posted on June 30, 2013 by maryjane

Have you ever Zentangled? (This new concept may be old hat to you, but just in case …)

Don’t let the term trap you into logical interpretations.

No claustrophobia intended.

On the contrary,

this type of tangling is all about freeing … your mind.

Zentangle® is a mesmerizing method of structured doodling created by calligrapher Maria Thomas and her husband, Rick Roberts.

gift_gab-zentangle1

Image courtesy of Zentangle.com

Let’s put it into context:

You’ve been known to scribble and swirl on scraps of paper when talking on the phone, yes?

Well, Zentangle takes this kind of drawing to a whole new level of artistry-meets-meditation.

And anyone can do it, even people who insist they can’t draw.

gift_gab-zentangle21

Image courtesy of Craft Chick http://craftchick.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/whats-a-zentangle/

“We love presenting to a class or seminar full of people who are convinced they can’t draw the Zentangle art we show them. Then, within 15 minutes, they have easily accomplished what they thought was impossible,” Maria says. “This is one of our favorite Zentangle moments, because then we ask, ‘What else do you know that you can’t do?’ You can transfer that insight and experience of success and accomplishment to any life experience. Something may look complicated, but you now know that you can do it, one simple stroke at a time.”

gift_gab-zentangle3

Image courtesy of the Greeley County Library http://greeley.mykansaslibrary.org/zentangle-classes/

Continue reading →

photo-of-the-day

Posted on June 29, 2013 by maryjane

farm_romance-4316

Kumanokoido

Posted on June 29, 2013 by maryjane

As I was thinking about a possible Smokey the Bear theme for decorating my new trailer (with a small trailer, you can have several different decorating themes on hand for different trips—this theme would be for traveling with my grandgirls) …

when I happened upon the most darling teddy bears …

Continue reading →

photo-of-the-day

Posted on June 28, 2013 by maryjane

farm_romance-5088

Hear Ye!

Posted on June 28, 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 … Sarah Hall!!!

Sarah Hall has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning a Beginner Level Horse Dreams Merit Badge!

“I live in an area where horses are not hard to find. My husband and I took a bike ride a few miles from our house and looked at the fields of beautiful horses. I really liked the American Painted Horses and swooned over all of the miniature horses!

I scheduled an hour-long ride near Rocky Mountain National Park and brought a friend along with me.

This truly turned out great! My first and only experience with a horse prior to this was at summer camp when I was a child. The horse stepped on my foot, crushing it, and I had many months of recovery with added complications due to my type I diabetes. I was traumatized by the experience but have always still admired horses (from afar). When I saw this badge, I knew that it was time for me to try to get over my fear of being too close to them (I do know that what happened to me as a kid was due to my inexperience and not the horse, but I was fearful none the less).

I was very nervous being near the horse and getting on it, but once I was in the saddle, my fear went away. The horse I rode was gentle and the ride was amazing (AND she was an American Paint Horse by chance). I really had the time of my life and would love the opportunity to go again! (I am in the white shirt with the huge smile on my face!)”

IMAG0586