I’m calling you out!!!! On a roll … call, here’s where you can read about the amazing accomplishments of Sisters who earn Merit Badges. “Hear YE!”
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Jennifer Ettlin!
Jennifer Ettlin (MsKathleen, #7128) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Expert Level Home Insulation Merit Badge!
“We got lucky on this area because we managed to get the attic insulated in mid-to-late June before the summer heat kicked in and before all of the weird natural disasters have been hitting our area. We were severely under-insulated when we had our energy audit, down to an R value of 8 in some areas. None of the attic was insulated to the same level either. So, following an insulation ruler and adding some blown cellulose insulation, we were able to bring it up to an R17 value evenly throughout the attic. It looks like it snowed in our attic.
Our walls have proven to be an interesting addition of insulation, as we are in a Berm- or Earth-contact house. It’s underground like a Hobbit hole, so insulating walls is a bit different than insulating above ground. We still get air drafts and things from the windows and skylights, but with insulation, our big problem is underground humidity. It molds extremely fast in the walls, especially if it’s a higher R value. Luckily, we were able to check the insulation to find we have stiff back-board insulation with mold-resistant barriers built in (it’s a pink sheet of solid fiberglass insulation with two layers of moisture barrier glued to the back and one on the front). This is exceptional for a house that is underground since it means all of our escaping air was going out of the attic … Which now has more insulation. And we were notified today that the power company got our rebate application.
We’re toasty and our energy bill has dropped in half this summer! I’m fairly happy. Our rebate is still under review with the power company, but they have acknowledged that they have it. They’re just having difficulty processing it with all the unusual weather going on in the Kansas/Missouri area (we had the largest flood in our area in the last 40 years just last Thursday), so they said it will be back probably around the end of the month. Three tornado incidents, a flood, and a power outage that knocked out the power for 14,000 people during a super-hot summer have kept them busy.”
Winnie Nielsen says: Jennifer, this is outstanding what you have learned and completed!! Talk about a complicated situation to figure out and then solve for the future.
The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 7,428 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—10,782 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! ~MaryJane
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/Put Me In, Coach! Beginner Level Young Cultivator Merit Badge, I wrangled Andy off the couch.
This may sound easy enough, but it was kinda like wrestling a lethargic octopus. Once I finally got him off the furniture, his body left an Andy-shaped dent in the cushions. I lectured him about the seriousness of bed sores and gangrene setting in.
“But, Auntie!” he wailed. “Summer vacation!”
“Summer’s over, kid,” I answered, trying to fluff the pillows. They were a loss, so I settled for hiding the remote control in the potted fern.
“Stop making me do stuff …” He flopped onto the floor.
“Oh, no, you don’t, young sir,” I replied, flipping him back over. “No indentations in the carpet. Come on. We’re going out for sports.”
photo by Edward N. Johnson via Wikimedia Commons
That got his attention. Well, by ‘got his attention,’ I mean that he blinked twice, which I took to mean he was down with the plan. Sometimes with preteens, you got to take what you can get as far as Proof of Life.
In the car, we talked over what kind of sports or activities he would like to try. The kid mumbles a lot so I went back to the blinking form of communication. Then he said something that sounded like mumbo-jumbo,
Parkour.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I asked, politely. “Pork? Are you hungry?”
“Parkour, Auntie. Now that you’ve got me thinking, I have always wanted to do parkour.”
“Park or … what?”
He sighed, and passed me his phone where he had pulled up the definition. Ah-ha!
par·kour
: the sport of traversing environmental obstacles by running, climbing, or leaping rapidly and efficiently
I got it then. “Ninja stuff! Spiderman! Yes?”
“Yes!”
photo by amagill via Wikimedia Commons
Well, color me red but I didn’t know there was a name for such shenanigans, much less places you could go to take actual lessons in jumping off buildings, flying down rooftops, and launching your body through space. It seemed a little dangerous (And something I might have to sugar-coat to Andy’s mom. Ahem.), but I was happy to see my little merit-badge protégé getting excited about something.
In order to fully supervise the imp, I signed up for a class myself. Oh yes, I did!
I admit I was nervous, but luckily the instructors didn’t expect me to leap tall buildings in a single bound right in the beginning. In fact, there were no tall buildings in the gym. Whew. What they did have were large wooden boxes in different shapes and sizes, rock walls, ledges, ropes, mats, and all sorts of other obstacle-course-type things.
Since I’m one of those persons who can trip over flat surfaces, I let Andy give it a go first. It was nice to see him breaking a sweat, running around like a chicken with his head cut off, and practicing his new skills. Much better than say, watching him play video games till his eyes crossed and spider webs formed in his hair.
I even got to try my hand at jumping across long distances, pulling myself up a wall, and rediscovering the lost art of somersaults. I felt rather ninja like, I must say. I even hummed my own theme music.
On the way home, Andy thanked me for getting him out of the couch cushions. He even used real words (not blinking).
Karlyne says: I love Ninja Warriors! I don’t want to do ninja stuff (you go, Jane!), but I love cheering them on.
Winnie Nielsen says: Ninja Warrior stunts are amazing. How do they ever do that stuff without hurting themselves? With a naturally clumsy body, I am afraid acrobatics was never going to be possible for me. How does one coordinate what seems like very long arms and legs?
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Teresa Roberson!
Teresa Roberson (carolinacateyes, #7386) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Level Community Action Merit Badge!
“I am disgusted with the litter strewn on the highways in my neighborhood and in my yard. So, I researched the “litter” issue in my community.
Litter remains a problem in rural South Carolina. The South Carolina Dept. of Health and Environmental Control heads both Palmetto Pride and Keep SC Beautiful, affiliates of the national Keep America Beautiful and the Adopt-a-Highway program. In my county, The Walterboro Chamber of Commerce organizes the Keep Colleton Beautiful. DHEC controls the Adopt-a-Highway program.
In partnership with a variety of local organizations and agencies, the objectives of Keep Colleton Beautiful are to:
• Conduct continuing education programs regarding litter, recycling, and the proper handling of solid waste in Colleton County.
• Develop and enhance programs that will result in the sustained reduction of litter and graffiti and increase the use of recycling in Colleton County.
• Encourage stricter code enforcement regarding litter and dumping, and review and recommend, where appropriate, legislative change regarding environmental ordinances in Colleton County.
• Encourage the placing, planting, and preservation of trees, flowers, shrubs, and objects of ornamentation in Colleton County.
• Maintain certification with the national Keep America Beautiful organization.
• Solicit and accept donations and appropriations of money, services, products, property and facilities for expenditures and use by KCB for accomplishment of objectives.
• Make an annual report to the Colleton County Council.
• Cooperate and work with other County departments, agencies, and groups to carry out the general purposes of the Commission.
Keep Colleton Beautiful organizes and promotes the Great American Cleanup, annually in April.
Until the day of the Great American Cleanup in April, I will keep my roadside clean and document the amount of litter I retrieve from my area and the time I volunteer. I will recycle the items from the litter I collect. After speaking with the Chamber’s office, I plan to ask to become a member of their Keep Colleton Beautiful board next year.”
Lisa Von Saunder says: Congrats Teresa, you are doing a great job and making the world and your neighborhood a better place to live.Im very impressed with youtr political action.
Winnie Nielsen says: Wonderful job, Teresa!! You are going to make a big difference in your community and hopefully inspire others to do their part as well. Thank-you for taking on this work in your community!
Winnie Nielsen says: Ta-Da!! There they are…..our MJF Apple Festival mascot apples. They look beautiful and getting ripe and sweet just in time for the beginning of our September Apple Festival. I have already posted an opening statement on the Chatroom and an Apple Giveaway to sign up for as well as an Apple Swap. I hope some of our newcomers will jump in and join the fun.
MaryJane says: This year I really watered our tree. She’s lookin’ great! Your giveaway is sweet, Winnie. I should think about one also.
Marjorie Nawrocki says: Oh, the beauty of growing apples, I can smell them now! Sure miss that from my youth in Ohio !!!
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Nancy Noble!
Nancy Noble (NancyOH1, #7441) has received a certificate of achievement in Make It Easy for earning an Expert Level Collect It! Merit Badge!
“I have been keeping my eye out on eBay and at the local antique mall, Heritage Antique Mall, for paperweights. Both places have a selection of paperweights and I have my eye on a few of them. Some I can purchase now and some will have to wait and be put on my wish list for purchase later.
I did start a spreadsheet today with my current collection of paperweights. This spreadsheet can always be added to now and much more information can now be added for future purchases. This information can be where I purchase the paperweight, how much it cost, and any information obtained about the paperweight.
My second spreadsheet is started for my paperweight wish list. Here I can now list any paperweights that I might want to purchase once I have the money or ones that I would come across in articles, online, or in stores. That way once I locate and/or can afford to purchase them I can mark them off my wish list and put it on my inventory spreadsheet.
My collection, inventory, and wish list have all turned out great. Now to be on the look-out for more paperweights to add to the collection.”
Karen thatcher says: I love this. My Mom collected paper weights for years and I wish she had kept this information. When she passed in 2013, I set the paperweights up at a table at the funeral and let the 13 great grandchildren each pick one to keep in her memory.
Winnie Nielsen says: Nancy, your collection sounds very interesting! I would love to see the paperweights and hear you talk about their history. A spreadsheet is a very helpful way to keep everything in order and also to be able to reference past purchases and current wish lists. Enjoy sharing your new passion with others!
What an interesting collection. I’d love to see a display of different paperweights just to see the variations. The spreadsheet will also help (the wishlist part) for holidays when people just don’t know what to get you. Great job!
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Michal Cole!
Michal Cole (#7441) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning a Beginner Level Sew Wonderful Merit Badge!
“I put together a sewing kit for my daughter, who will be a junior in college at the University of Idaho. I like to try and do a fun back-to-school gift, but as she is in her third year, she has more than enough of the typical items. When I last visited her, she commented on all the little baggies she had of extra buttons from the clothes she gets, so when I read the requirements for this badge, it all just kind of came together. There is a significance behind the acorns. She is in a sorority, and the name of her “family” in that sorority is the acorn branch of the nut family tree. I thought it would be fun to include those. I had so much fun putting it together!
I included two small Mason jars, one for the many extra buttons she has. The other has several bobbins wrapped with thread, and some empty ones. She is a lefty, so I bought her left-handed scissors, and sticking with her signature color, spray-painted them pink. I also added a scissors fob with her initial and an acorn and a pretty button as well as a felt cover for the blades. I made her a needle book based on a pattern from Nana Company. I added a small pocket to it to house a soft measuring tape, a seam ripper, and an ez-pull bodkin. Lastly, I crocheted a small amigurumi acorn, wrapped some steel wool in batting, and stuffed it for a pincushion. For the straight pins, I found some cute heart-tipped ones and included those.
I think it came together in such a fun and cute way. It was my first shot at making the needle case, so next time, I will make some adjustments, but otherwise, I am really happy with the results.”
Lisa Von Saunder says: How Sweet Michal ! Im sure your daughter wlil think of you for years to come when she uses her sewing kit.
terry steinmetz says: Way to go, Michal! That looks really good and will be so-o-o-o helpful.
Winnie Nielsen says: Michal, this is a creative, useful, and darling sewing box for your daughter to take to college. I bet she will find a lot of her friends coming to her for that safety pin, button and thread to make a quick mend before a special outing too. Who knows, she might be the new “sewing central” for her dorm!
Winnie Nielsen says: Love those day Lily colors. Wow!
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Katie Reichenbach!
Katie Reichenbach (farmgirl68, #7422) has received a certificate of achievement in Make It Easy for earning a Beginner Level Collect It! Merit Badge!
“I did my beginner level of Collect It! on my first Boyds Bear – Eli Q. Spangler. Here is what I found …
Boyds Bears
Where was Eli Q. Spangler produced?
Eli Q. is part of the “High Fashion Society.” He wears a sweater with an Americana heart stitched on the front and has a star stitched on his right paw. He is also a part of “The Head Bear Collection. This means he is hand-stitched and fully jointed (arms and legs move). I don’t remember how much I paid for it (I know it was more than I should have been spending at the time on a stuffed animal), but today’s MSRP is $36.99. He was introduced in 2005, which is about the time I got him.
What is unique about the Boyd’s Bear production process?
Boyds stuffed bears began production in 1979 as part of a small antique store in Boyds, Maryland (for which they are named), by Gary M. Lowenthal and his wife, Justina Unger. Their first bear was fully jointed and named “Matthew” after their newborn son. I learned that from the start, all the bears were imported from China. The company moved to Hanover, near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1987. In 1993, they introduced resin bears and then increased their product line to include many different items. They also branched out to include other “friends” of the bears. The couple sold the company to Enesco in 2008. Enesco decided, unfortunately, that Boyds Bears should be “put into hibernation” (in other words production was stopped) in 2014.
Do you know how the notion of “teddy bears” got its start?
They are named after Teddy Roosevelt. In 1902, he refused to kill a captured bear. Word spread and Morris Michtom, a Brooklyn, New York, shop owner, along with his wife, created stuffed bears based off of political cartoons that had been spreading. Michtom obtained permission from Roosevelt to call his creation “Teddy Bears.” Of course, people young and old flocked to buy them. The teddy bear was even used when Roosevelt ran for re-election, as his mascot!
How likely is there to be another item just like Eli Q. Spangler?
I could not find any information on how many of these bears were produced; however, even though he is a “retired” bear, I had no problem finding listings for him on line on many different sites. This is probably due to the fact that they were mass-produced in China.
Does Eli Q. Spangler have a personal connection to me?
I don’t necessarily have a personal connection to Eli. I just know that I fell in love with his face. Boyds Bears’ noses are so endearing, you can identify them right away. It is hard not to fall in love with every bear produced. Because I bought him so long ago, I don’t remember what made me choose him over all the others. Perhaps it was the time of year or a holiday.
Are there any clubs or online chatrooms for folks that share a passion for Boyds Bears?
There had been an official fan club called the “Loyal Order of Friends of Boyds!” that was established in 1996. There was a membership fee, which included membership perks, an online newsletter, and admission to a members-only website. Enesco determined 2014 would be the final year for the club. Aside from this “official” club, there are tons of others. Here are just a few. Keep in mind these are not officially affiliated with Boyds Bears:
BearsnBuddies.com
BearMuseum.com
BoydsWeb.com
It was nice to learn about the bears whose faces I fell in love with. I was, however, saddened by two facts: 1) They were mass-produced in China, and 2) They are no longer in business. The company was based in a town only a few hours from my home, so I felt a special connection to them.”
BB king says: Congrats on your badge Katie. I have few boyd’s bears and some other animals they did, ( I love their little moose ) don’t we all? they were so cute and affordable too.No, I didn’t know they were made in China. I have collected bears all my life starting with a polar bear when I was a baby. I know this sounds crazy but i put them all out at Christmastime and put red or plaid ribbons on all of them , and some with Xmas hats and clothes too. I go all out at Christmas decorating but the Bears get all the attention, haha. whats not to love about Teddies?
I think that’s a lovely way to help decorate for Christmas. I go all out decorating as well. It’s like getting a home make-over for free. I actually have Christmas “frogs” of all things. Yes, frogs.
Winnie Nielsen says: What a fun way to earn this new badge, Katie. I have had a few of these bears in my day as well and I enjoyed your review of the company history. You are not alone among those who dearly love these bear collections and it is fun to hear about your enjoyment. After all, that is what Teddy bears were made for!
Thank you, Winnie. It was fun to learn more about what I’ve collected. I’ve since put them in a place of honor on a corner shelf at the top of the stairs. They greet me every night, lol.
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.
Katie barr the door ’cause the wind and rains are a’comin” !!
I have my daughter’s kitty here since she had three dogs she has to keep in her house and they might gang up on her. Poor girl, she is under the bed and Bump hasn’t even given her the time of day. He is napping away like usual and doing an inventory of all the stuff from outside that is now inside. It has been a busy morning for the “House Manager”!! LOL!! Right now, it will be late evening and through tomorrow afternoon that we will get whatever is going to happen. I have already dug into the chocolate but was smart enough to grab some small boxes of Newman’s Organic raisins to have on hand for a healthy alternative.
Love your update Winnie. Hanging onto every detail because I’ve been trying so hard to picture your situation. Also, it sounds like Mr. Bump is doing pretty good these days, right? I’ve been worried about him. Big hugs this morning!
Thank-you for your extra hugs as I might be needing them come about 4am when we are in the thick of things! Yes, our Mr.Bump has been doing better. Last week, the vet thought he might be seriously going down hill. She gave me a kitty narcotic to help ease his pain which I gave Mon.,Tues, and Wed. It helped him tremendously and I haven’t needed to give him any since then. I have figured out that one big problem for him is the awful arthritis in his left knee that has been progressing for the past year from an acute injury two years ago when he was ripping around the yard on a chilly morning and misjudged his jump onto the porch, slamming into it instead. Arthritis is painful but not necessarily terminal like pancreatitis could be. When he is in pain, it is obvious. He has a hard time walking and his left leg will sometimes quiver when he stands on it. So now, I am wondering if some of his problems have been related to his leg. Or a combination of both. However, I am feeling more confident that we still have some quality time left with him as the past 4 days have been really normal. Last week, I didn’t know what to worry about the most: impending hurricane or a possibly dying kitty. I will take every good day I can get with Bump!