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Merit Badge Awardees - Woo-hoo Sisters!:  Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees |
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 12:16:38 PM
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Deidre Malcom (Sweetsmom, #8353) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Expert Level Farmgirl Gratitude Merit Badge!
“It was difficult, but I shared on social media.
My cards expanded to preachers, librarians, store clerks, wait staff, random people doing normal things that are kind, and so many others. I also started leaving little notes around on tables and counters for people who may need a smile.
People appreciate authentic recognition. I like letting people know how they are making a difference in the world.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 1:15:27 PM
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Teresa Roberson (Carolinacateyes, #7386) has received a certificate of achievement in Outpost for earning an Expert Level Speak for the Trees Merit Badge!
“On the beautiful, cool, and breezy Saturday morning of March 19th, I joined a group to explore the Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary. With 4.4 miles of designated trails and boardwalks across the swamp and through the forest, this is a nature lover's paradise. Clusters of red maple tree seeds fluttered down upon us at the entry. I collected an attached a cluster of a dozen seeds to plant in pots at home. Bald Cypress trees are numerous in the deeper part of the swamp. This tree is both a deciduous and a conifer, is wide based to help secure it in the water, and is surrounded by pneumatophores (knees) which act as conduits of air for the submerged roots. I noted little competing vegetation in this area. Magnolia trees grow in the dryer area and is indicative of most Southern forests. This tree is tall in statue and has large wide leaves on it’s pyramidical shape. It flowers in early summer. I noted holly trees, sassafras trees, water oaks, sweet gum and red maple growing in this dryer area as well. I identified the Black Tupelo tree by the bark as no leaves were present. The bark is gray and raised to resemble alligator hide. The sweet gum and Black Tupelo are remarkably similar in outward appearance except for the defining bark. As we walked out into the sunny green area of the sanctuary, live oaks with their spreading branches were a welcoming sight. The pine tree is noticeably missing in the sanctuary. It doesn't like wet feet!
This Sanctuary is a place I’ve wanted to explore for years, and is probably grossly underused by locals. It's an area filled with flora and fauna, birds, and other wildlife and unknown relics from the past. I found out so much information about the development of this 600 plus acres, including the tagging of many species completed by my former University of SC professor! I plan to visit the sanctuary again when tree leaves are more prominent in a few weeks. There is also other vegetation I want to identify. I’m taking the tree expert, a one-time hardwood specialist in the lumber business, with me. He found the the sweet gum and Black Tupelo trees on my property and explained the differences in appearance, inside fibers, and what each tree is specifically used for in the lumber industry. Yes, these are interesting topics to me!”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 1:16:23 PM
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Teresa Roberson (Carolinacateyes, #7386) has received a certificate of achievement in Make It Easy for earning an Expert Level Let's Get Physical Merit Badge!
“After completing the “Know Your Food” Badge for over six months, January 14- July 23, 2021, I continued tracking the food I consumed and my exercise journal. Once I got into the habit of doing this, it was not difficult to continue this journey to lower my A1C through healthier food choices, including organic foods, smaller portion sizes, and daily exercise. I'll probably have to keep track of these things forever! This was more of a challenge during these past winter months of 2022. I was noticeably lethargic and had to truly push myself to move away from the office desk daily and keep moving, out in the sunshine. My lab results on March 22 showed a decrease in my A1C from 6.9 to 6.6 with a goal to reach 6.3 in late June.
Alas, it is spring in South Carolina! I've committed to a new adventure to hike 75 miles within a three-month timeframe. I'm well on my way to completing my goal after only two months! I have to document every mile! I have several hikes planned within South Carolina that I’m excited to make before my deadline. Being type II diabetic at nearly 70 years of age, I will continue to keep track of everything that affects my well-being.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 1:17:33 PM
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Teresa Roberson (Carolinacateyes, #7386) has received a certificate of achievement in Outpost for earning an Intermediate Level Buzzin' Around Merit Badge!
“I normally use the electric chainsaw I purchased in 2018. This works fine if I'm in my yard and have enough heavy-duty electrical cord to power it. I also have a small battery-operated chainsaw used to cut small projects. Both chainsaws require maintenance, keeping the chains sharpened and oil supplied to keep them cutting. I wear old saw chaps, a hard hat, ear muffs, safety glasses, work boots, and leather work gloves. Just recently, while looking over the farm property, I decided I wanted to clear the ditch banks of small trees and underbrush to give the fields more morning sunlight and to beautify the area. I needed to know how to operate a gas-powered chainsaw! I watched several chainsaw how-to videos on YouTube. Two of the videos stated to find an expert to actually train under. So, once again I went to my expert lumberman.
The lumberman suggested a new pair of modern chaps for better protection. Those are on order. I donned all my safety apparel. Then, we checked the saw blade for sharpness and proper tension, and checked the gas and oil. He showed me step-by-step instructions to crank the chainsaw just like on the video. I cranked it! I am not comfortable with this chainsaw at all, but as my expert friend keeps telling me, “Practice makes perfect.” Onward we go to practice over the next few weeks. To be continued . . . ”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 1:18:37 PM
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Teresa Roberson (Carolinacateyes, #7386) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Expert Level My Fair Farmgirl Merit Badge!
“I found a DIY facial cleansing lotion recipe using elderberry blossoms and fennel leaves and knew I wanted to make it. Elderberry flowers are a great source of antioxidants that prevent aging and gives a youthful glow to your skin. Elderberry grows abundantly in a nearby low-lying area on my farm. All I had to do was wait for the white blossoms. Finally, in early July, I gathered a half cup of blossoms, cut some fennel leaves, bought a gallon jug of distilled water and a half gallon of full fat buttermilk (YUM)! I pulled out a jar of raw honey and began the recipe. The hardest part was waiting for the flowers and leaves to steep until cooled so it could be strained. I then added the honey and buttermilk and whisked the mixture until it was thick and smooth.
A little goes along way! After washing my face, I scooped some on my fingertips and massaged it into my skin before rinsing with lukewarm water. My face felt so much cleaner and smoother to the touch. I became severely dehydrated during this time last summer and the cold lotion was a welcome relief and added much needed moisture to my skin. I used the cleanser two to four times a day because of the dehydration issues and quickly emptied my jar. I wish I had dried some elderberry flowers to use for another recipe later, but I intend to do just that this summer. I’ve learned that many times we overlook the addition of plants and herbs growing in our own backyard to create a healthy, natural product. This cleanser is a good alternative to drying soaps and safe for sensitive skin. I look forward to making my next batch during summer 2022.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 1:41:15 PM
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Susan Ownby (#8450) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning a Beginner Level Self-sufficiency Merit Badge!
“I learned to dry herbs and spices. I did some in a dehydrator and a few in the microwave. I also have some in process of air drying.
I made the spice blends from MaryJane's Ideabook and packaged half of them as a gift for my daughter-in-law, who loves to cook.
The spice mixes made a very nice gift for anyone who likes to cook.
We're still in the process of sampling the various blends, but very pleased so far. We love having the added flavor in our meals, but don't really know what goes with what, and the blends have solved that dilemma.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 1:42:31 PM
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Candy Hogan (Tigger9777, #8283) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning an Intermediate Level Organic on a Budget Merit Badge!
“For the past 5 weeks, I've continued my eating plan with MaryJane's budget mix. When I do the shopping, I still buy organic fruits and vegetables. The local farmers market is back and I like to shop there when I can.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 2:11:33 PM
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Heather Clark (#8429) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning a Beginner Level Icing on the Cake Merit Badge!
“I used a guide from a Betty Crocker cake decorating kit to learn about the basics of cake decorating. Each nozzle that came with the kit was featured. A small picture was displayed showing examples of decorating styles that could be recreated with each tip. The guide explained that any frosting used in the piping bags should be mixed with desired food coloring and stirred thoroughly before filling the bag. Then I looked up the cake decorating guide on the Wilton website and learned about leveling, layering with frosting, and various styles of decoration for the top and sides of cakes.
I learned a lot, and I’m excited to move on to the intermediate badge.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 2:12:50 PM
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Heather Clark (#8429) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning a Beginner Level MaryJane's Better Butter Merit Badge!
“I googled sanitary practices and facts on dairy products and butter.
The shelf life of homemade butter is no more than 2 days if stored at room temperature, 1-3 months refrigerated, and up to a year when frozen.
I learned that butter can be traced back as far back as 8,000BC and used to be used as a healing unguent. I also learned that many cultures considered the transition from cream to butter to be magical, and as a result used butter as an offering to their gods.
I learned quite a bit about how butter is made, where it originated, and how to use and store it correctly.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 2:13:59 PM
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Heather Clark (#8429) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning an Intermediate Level MaryJane's Better Butter Merit Badge!
“You can use whey or buttermilk to replace milk or water in many recipes, or you can drink it in your coffee.
Washing and kneading your homemade butter is important because it removes extra buttermilk and makes the butter taste better. You can tell if you’ve washed and kneaded it efficiently when there is no more liquid separation from the butter after letting the mixture sit for a short time.
Cultured cream is more savory than buttermilk cream.
The butter turned out great and I learned that it’s very fast, cheap, and easy to make your own butter.
We baked banana bread with it and used it on our toast. It was delicious :)”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 2:14:57 PM
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Heather Clark (#8429) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning an Expert Level MaryJane's Better Butter Merit Badge!
“I used my homemade butter to make a loaf of banana bread, I used it in place of cooking oil for pan-frying various vegetables, over medium eggs, and grilled cheese sandwiches and quesadillas. I also used it in pancakes and in place of the oil in the pan for my pancakes, as well as a topping on toast, bagels, and pancakes.
It turned out great and the butter lasted us a long time.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 2:18:58 PM
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Heather Clark (#8429) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning a Beginner Level Going Green Merit Badge!
“I have collected fabric reusable bags, and I saved all the plastic bags I have brought home in the past and I reuse them around the house for various crafts, collecting trash, sorting, etc.
So far so good!”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 3:51:57 PM
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Aneta Smith (#8224) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning a Beginner Level Staying Green Merit Badge!
“I’m buying supplies to keep things non-toxic. Each day I mix 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of vinegar and put it in my toilets and swish. It keeps things clean and smelling good.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 3:52:47 PM
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Aneta Smith (#8224) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Intermediate Level Staying Green Merit Badge!
“I’m not good at borrowing books and returning them so I buy a magazine called Willow and Sage. They have all kinds of things to make and do and thing to buy. We also have an apothecary in our town that has a lot of oils and has ideas. I'm trying to stock up without spreading an arm and a leg.
I bought lots of vinegar and baking soda along with borax and fels-naptha soap to make my own laundry detergent. It doesn’t work all that well, so back to the drawing board.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 3:53:31 PM
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Aneta Smith (#8224) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Expert Level Staying Green Merit Badge!
“Our power company gives us energy efficient bulbs. We’ve also converted our camper to the lights. My laundry could still use some different cleaning aids or a new soap recipe. We need to buy an air purifier and replace some windows.
I'm still stocking up on supplies to make my own cleaning supplies. I'm helping my neighbor with hers as well. Although we live 5 miles from each other, we share each other’s ideas. I’m looking for classes on YouTube to help with my staying green projects.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 3:55:17 PM
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Aneta Smith (#8224) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning a Beginner Level Water Conservation Merit Badge!
“I checked for leaks and have none. Some of the ways we conserve water is reusing our grey water when possible to water plants or flush. I use a cup to brush my teeth and rinse. Just like camping. Our power company sent us a shower head that saves us a lot while showering.
There is only the two of us so it’s not a problem to save water and we live in a camper in the winter months in Texas. During these months, it’s a military shower and a small pan for dishes.
So far it’s working well, other than when we have company and they all need showers. So the new shower head is great. They are allowed a certain amount of time to shower so they aren’t wasting.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 3:55:55 PM
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Aneta Smith (#8224) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Intermediate Level Water Conservation Merit Badge!
“We do collect water when washing dishes and put it in a barrel outside, but only in the summer as we are gone in the winter. We have a septic system so we don’t save much grey water. I really don’t want to get rid of that so our grey water from the sink in the kitchen goes in the barrel.
We have a rain gutter system that goes into the ground right now. Hopefully this summer we can figure something out. I’ll catch up with that this fall.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 3:56:46 PM
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Aneta Smith (#8224) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Expert Level Water Conservation Merit Badge!
“We have a well, so there isn't an easy way to calculate our usage. We wash dishes in the sink with a bucket and rescue the grey water, take military showers, have a low-flow shower head, and reuse our grey water whenever possible. We’ve always tried to save water at all times.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 3:57:30 PM
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Aneta Smith (#8224) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning a Beginner Level Recycling Merit Badge!
“We have no recycling center anywhere even close to where we live. We do take our metal and steel to a recycle place 90 miles away. We make less than our gas costs. But it cleans up the yard.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 3:58:29 PM
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Aneta Smith (#8224) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Intermediate Level Recycling Merit Badge!
“We have started to use a water bottle to refill and if we have to buy water like for my c-pap we find a use for then empty jug. We fill it with water and a couple drops of Clorox in case we need it for a rainy day. I try to put my left over scraps of fruits and vegetables in a bucket for compost/mulch.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 3:59:20 PM
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Aneta Smith (#8224) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Expert Level Recycling Merit Badge!
“The closest recycling center to us is 120 miles. We try to do whatever can and get with others to try to work stuff out, but right now with gas prices the way they are it’s pretty hard. It's not going so good, but I'm not giving up.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 4:00:04 PM
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Aneta Smith (#8224) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning a Beginner Level Home Insulation Merit Badge!
“Checked on insulation in our home. The house is a Modular and has fiberglass batting. The house is 13 years old. They say this is a good insulation for this type of house. Our home holds the heat well and it stays cool in the summer.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 4:02:37 PM
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Aneta Smith (#8224) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Intermediate Level Home Insulation Merit Badge!
“We’ve checked all windows and doors for leaks and tightness. We’ve found three windows that need replaced because the seals have broken, but they don’t let air in or cause other problems.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 4:04:09 PM
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Aneta Smith (#8224) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Expert Level Home Insulation Merit Badge!
“We don’t need insulation. We do need to put new molding around the doors as they are getting old but are still good.
My neighbor is getting some insulation in her storage room. When she took the wall down the insulation was pretty much sitting on the floor. So I'm helping my neighbor with her insulation in her storage area. It turned out pretty good.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16458 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16458 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2022 : 4:25:23 PM
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Annette Widmark (Viking homestead, #6518) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning an Intermediate Level Spinning Merit Badge!
“I learned to card wool on regular cards and viking combs. I spun and plied a 2-ply yarn which I set the twist by washing the yarn and putting a light weight on the skein as it dried.
I taught my granddaughter how to spin in the drop spindle. The yarn turned out pretty good and we made cat toys out of it.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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Merit Badge Awardees - Woo-hoo Sisters!: Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees |
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Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees
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