The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,518 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,653 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

For this week’s Farm Kitchen/Pay it Forward Merit Badge, Level Two, I was excited to keep on keeping on with my own personal vendetta against hunger! Maybe I can’t change the world, but I can sure change a day in someone’s life, so that was my plan. Baby steps, girls, baby steps.

I got my bossy pants on (pinstriped, wide legged, look aMAYzing with heels) and set out. My plan for helping my corner of the planet and for earning my Intermediate Level Badge was simple: Collect as many canned goods as my little arms, boxes, reusable shopping totes, and car could carry, and donate to the same dear food bank I donated my handful of change to the other day (when I was earning Level One). Now the goal was to collect at least 50 items, but I just knew I could blow that number out of the water. I mean, let’s get real here, ladies, I could probably find almost that much in my own pantry (well, there was a sale on pineapple a couple months back … sometimes I get concerned that I won’t have the ingredients to make an emergency homemade, midnight Hawaiian flatbread pizza, you know? No? You don’t have homemade, midnight Hawaiian flatbread pizza emergencies? Huh. Curiouser and curiouser).

So, I parted ways with 12 cans of diced pineapple (reserving a couple for said emergencies) and went on a little manhunt.  A canhunt, actually.

HAHA! Get it? CANhunt? I know, I know! Wipe the tears of mirth away, my friends, and keep reading.

Naturally, I tried to let a few pals know I was coming (so as not to become a Canned Foods Mafia or something) and I was pleasantly surprised to see them getting into the swing of things, too. We were really in the spirit.

The farmgirl spirit.

In fact, they wanted to come with me in my collection rounds, but my seats were full of a case of water chestnuts, a flat of French sliced green beans, lots of soup, some unopened jars of spices, tons of bags of pasta, a box of Turkey jerky, a dozen home-canned jars of peaches, and the bumper crop of my neighbor’s zucchini.

Yeah, I’d say 50 items was going to be a piece of cake.

Everyone I met was happy to give something, even if it was just a tin of tuna or a carton of powdered milk. At Midge’s house, she was in the shower, and since the kids know me, they let me in and were only too happy to donate all the vegetables they could find! Sweet kids. Very generous, I thought.

I rounded out my afternoon of nonperishable food hoarding and drove the booty to the food bank. Together with the volunteers, we unloaded my car (which was sagging under all that weight!) and made the cook very, very happy.

Turns out HE has homemade, midnight, Hawaiian flatbread pizza emergencies all the time.

I knew I wasn’t the only one.

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Sharon Demers!!!

Sharon Demers (Calicogirl, #5392) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Intermediate Level Backyard Farmer Merit Badge!

“A friend that raises La Mancha Goats taught me how to milk. It is not as easy as it may appear. I know it is alot of hard work and I can only imagine how much milking it take to milk a cow.

My husband and I started raising hogs this past July. We did alot of research through the internet and books and finally decided on a breed we would like to raise. We chose Large Black Hogs originally from Cornwall, England. This breed is considered critically endangered. We chose the Large Blacks because of the critical rating but also because of their docile temperament, great mothering skills and their dark color. We live at a higher elevation and were concerned about sunburn.

We LOVE raising hogs and I never knew how much fun they would be! Endeavour is our boar and his girl is Trudy. We plan on breeding to keep the breed going but also for meat. Just today after feeding them I asked who wanted to cuddle and Endeavour came over and started rubbing his face against me 🙂 (The photo is from an earlier cuddle time.)”

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,518 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,653 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

For this week’s Stitching and Crafting/Cross Stitch Level Two Merit Badge, you may think I’m preoccupied with autumn going into winter.

And you’d be right.

Sewing is the best when done in the autumn, with a mug of something warm, a blanket over your cold toes, your pet of choice snoozing next to you, and the fall lineup of your favorite shows just starting. Autumn is when I get all my best crafting done, winter is when I reap the benefits, and spring and summer are when I attempt to get my lazy patootie off the ol’ couch.

I may have to cross-stitch that mantra on something.

One of the best things about cross-stitching is it that gives you the excuse to really go nutty in the embroidery-floss aisle at the craft store. Those twisty loops of rainbow thread are almost better than a fresh box of crayons. And that, my dears, is saying something, ‘cuz there ain’t nothing better than a fresh box of crayons—am I right?

You know I am.

Add to my floss addiction (No, dear dentist of mine, the other kind. Don’t get too happy with me; I still only floss after eating corn on the cob and five minutes before my check-up.) the addition of a coupon and a fun, little box for organizing my new collection, and I was a golden girl. I don’t think there’s a time commitment requirement for this particular badge, but if there was, I would have fulfilled it just lovingly arranging and rearranging my embroidery flosses. They were as happy as clams at high tide in there, and I beamed every time I opened my box.

But seriously. Time to get cracking. And stitching.

I educated myself on the fabrics of cross-stitch: Aida or Evenweave. Or as I like to call ‘em, Sunday fabric.

‘Cuz it’s holy.

Get it? Holey?

Just a little cross-stitch humor there. Ahem.

Now, Aida and Evenweave come in various sizes, depending on how many stitches per inch you’d like. I know, I know, we’re sneaking some math in here. Badges are sly like that: You never know what you’ll end up learning.

Not being one to ever overestimate myself (ha!), I went with the most common and standard of the cross-stitching fabrics: a 14-holes-per-inch Aida.

What are you making, Jane, you might well inquire at this point? Well, I’m glad you asked. I’m making a Christmas stocking.

What? I like to get a jump on the holidays.

Also, my old stocking got a little too close to the roaring fire I was roasting chestnuts on last year. (It’s okay, it was too small, anyway. Santa knows I’ve been VERY good this year, and I’m expecting some serious loot. I mean, look at all these Merit Badges I’ve been earning all year. He has to be pretty proud, and I’m sure that will reflect in the amount of dark chocolate in my new stocking on Christmas morning.)

Of course, I had to choose my most Christmas-y of colors out of my floss collection, and I spent a merry afternoon cross-stitching.

The only drawback is putting my new creation away until Christmas Eve.

Suddenly, I’m in the mood for chestnuts.

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Audrey Morris!!!

Audrey Morris (#5517) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Level Community Service Merit Badge!

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The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,518 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,653 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

For this week’s Outpost/Fishing Intermediate Level Merit Badge, I collected my knots: double surgeon’s loop, turle, barrel knot, Palomar, and clinch. I was giddy with excitement (and also hunger). The first step was to head out to the Department of Fish and Game! (I am trying not to use so many exclamation points, but I felt that deserved one because I’ve never been there before.) Other places I’ve yet to go to:

Spatulas R Us

Shirley You Drive Truck Rental

NincomSoup

Wok This Way

Curl Up and Dye Salon

But I digress. Anyway, my fellow fisherwomen, my mistresses of the sea, my water babies, I ventured into the Department of Fish and Game with eagerness. I was ready to learn all about my state’s laws and regulations and to familiarize myself with the available fish (not to mention the bait with which to lure said fishies). The people there were so nice. They didn’t even look too confused when I asked them why Palomar got a knot named after him/her. Well, they didn’t have an answer either, but they seemed nearly as intrigued as I was, so I felt like I really fit in.

I chatted for a bit with a sweet gal named Debbie. Turns out, Debbie was an expert fisherwoman, and once I cultivated her friendship with a latte and a homemade granola bar, she was willing to share a few helpful hints with Yours Truly.

Hey, I’m not above bribery.

Idaho, my new bestie said, is home to the best Chinook salmon and steelhead trout in the world. She showed me what they look like (a peculiar sort of beauty: I find it more attractive on a plate with some wild garlic and a wedge of lemon). Did Debbie merely point out a crudely drawn rendition of a salmon? Oh, never let it be said. No way, Jay, she pulled out her wallet and unfolded what looked to be hundreds of snapshots of herself with her catches.

Methinks Debbie does not have children yet.

Or if she does, they are either extremely shy or hiding behind the ginormous salmon.

I was immediately intimidated by Debbie’s catches. Don’t worry, she assured me, you’ll be starting out small, and odds are, you won’t be pulling out fish the size of a Volkswagen any time soon. At least she hoped not. Debbie is competitive.

With my arms laden with stacks of brochures, I finally left my home away from home, the Department of Fish and Game (no exclamation point needed now that I’ve been there).

Once home, I settled my cravings with a tuna melt and burrowed down for the evening with my rules and regulations, and also my handy-dandy wall poster on bait. Although I was determined to live up to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s standards of a good old worm on a the end of a piece of string attached to a stick, I didn’t mind knowing the more modern stuff, too. You never know. Apparently, fish are picky little things sometimes, and you have to experiment with what they like on any given day. I can relate. I mean, sometimes there’s nothing better than a medium-rare steak with some tossed greens, but other times, all I really want is a PB & J! So I get it, fishies, I totally get it.

I dreamed that night of fish and worms, baits and knots, Laura and Debbie. It was a restless kind of sleep, that kind that only comes when you know you’ll be rising with the dawn, pulling on your waders, and goin’ fishing.

Jump on in, girls, the water’s fine.

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Debbie Platt!!!

Debbie Platt (GardenGirl50, #5353) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning a Beginner & Intermediate Level Gaining Ground Merit Badge!

“As a Master Gardener I have learned lots about composting. I have been to Sonoma Compost twice to learn about composting. Sonoma Compost is a wonderful program operated by our county waste management. They turn everyone’s green waste (curb pick-up) into OMRI listed organic compost.

After I became a Master Gardener (in 2011), my husband and I built a permanent composting system. It has three sections that are about 3x3x4. We have about an acre and a half of gardens and trees. So we have lots of materials for me to compost. I have a little chipper so I can shred up what I prune from my garden. I add all my vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells, and I shred paper, newspaper, light weight cardboard and add that. I have chickens so I have chicken manure to add. I get a full wheelbarrow about three times a year to put back in my gardens.

It has been great to have the 3 bin composting system. It is a lot easier to manage. I love that I rarely if ever have to buy compost. With my homemade compost I know what is in it.”

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,518 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,653 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

For this week’s Farm Kitchen/Pay it Forward Merit Badge, I had to channel my inner camel. What’s that, you say? You know, that humpy, lumpy, dumpy animal that can go for days without food? Or is that water? Well, whatevs, my dears—I’m no zoologist. I just know to earn my badge this week, I was going to do a little math and do a little fast. (See what I did there? Made a poem.)

Anyway, the math came in when I did a rough calculation of about how much it costs to feed Yours Truly on a weekly daily hourly (ahem) basis. It takes a lot of fuel to keep this much cuteness going, in my defense. Then from there, I got to take that amount (from one meal) and donate it to my local food bank, and—get this—skip that meal myself.

Gulp.

I’m not very good with skipping meals, I confess. I get a little shaky, a little grouchy, a little panicky.

In short, it’s a good thing it’s Halloween season, cuz if I find a broom, I may be riding it around my house shortly.

But it’s just one meal, Janie my girl, I tell myself, you can do this. I am woman, hear me roar.

Or whisper for a cracker, whatever the case may be.

But to my surprise, that didn’t happen at all. Fasting for a cause was nothing like forgetting to eat breakfast! Maybe it was because I was doing it for a reason, maybe it was because I wasn’t focused on myself so much, maybe it was because I had the Trucker’s Omelet Special that morning … but I didn’t even miss it. It was a miracle! I felt really good (except for the gravy-smothered hash browns, which were totally not loving me back).

Each time I got a little hungry, a little tummy-growling action, a little persnickety, I stopped and thought: Too many people go through this feeling (times a hundred) every day. I patted my stomach and told it to simmer down, and it did. Obedient little belly have I.

By dinner time I was, of course, slightly on the famished side, and I wouldn’t say I was at my best, personality wise, but still, I had gone without and learned something in the process:

• how to help my local food bank (more on that with Level Two of this Merit Badge)
• how to be aware of and lower my own food budget
• the meaning of this word:

Hangry: hang-ree, adj. A state of anger due to a lack of food, causing irritability and a negative change in an emotional state.

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Sue Hacker!!!

Sue Hacker (Teenie weenies, #5458) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning a Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert Level Horse Dreams Merit Badge!

“In my back road drives, I found myself admiring those cute little tiny horses. I knew nothing about them or if they required more because of their small size. After talking with a trainer friend, I learned they were so easy to care for and required less hay, and space. I also learned they are great for cart driving for adults, which looked pretty fun.

I kinda peeked on craigslist to see miniature horses were on there, and found a handsome little sorrel paint. He was with a rescue group and a lot older. I looked at the rescue site, and saw a little miniature mare, the same age. I inquired about him, then about her, and asked if it’s possible to get them both. They said that would be ideal because they have been together all their life. But If I wanted just one, that would be okay too. Without any hesitation, I happily adopted them both and even a cart to drive him. It didn’t take me long to realize he knew how to cart drive, but he’s happier just enjoying the retired life with his little woman. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to make Sniffy and Libby part of our family.

Um, well… it has turned dangerous – in the best of ways. I have since rescued three other horses and have been continually learning more about not only horses, but different breeds. I am always sharing the joy of horses with my daughters and encouraging them to enjoy these amazing and beautiful animals.”

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,518 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,301 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

For this week’s Garden Gate/Herbs Merit Badge, Intermediate Level, I continued onward with my obsession desire to make the perfect homemade tea. Since it was going to be a while before my cardamom was ready to harvest, I decided to try another (and faster) indulgence:

Mint!

I love a good cuppa peppermint or spearmint tea, especially on a chilly winter’s night, or iced on a busy summer’s day. And it’s not as heavy as my beloved chai, a fact my jeans will testify to.

Unbeknownst to me, there are more than just good ol’, tried-and-true spearmint and peppermint. Have you ever heard of … drum roll, please …

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