Week 17: Chosen Farm Girl Of Month May 2018 On MaryJane's Farm Forum

Week 17: Farm Girl of Month May 2018

Howdy! my lovely reader's.  It is so nice to have you stop by today and take a peek into my life.  I know some of you are celebrating this special occasion with me.  Yet others are wondering what in the world is a farm girl of month.  What is MaryJane's Farm forum?

 This was a big event for me because I have been active on this forum for over 10 years.  It was a total surprise for sure.  I have taken part in so many fun swaps with other farm girl's at heart, as we are affectionately known, for all kinds of craft items and tea party themed swaps.

Here are a few of the sweet gifts I received from my dear farm girl's at heart aka sisterhood friends.

In her own words: "Congratulations Marsha, you are so sweet, special and deserving. Think of you often when I have tea, remembering the Farm Girl Tea get to gather we had. Enjoy your special month. Hugs and Love Karla"

In her own words: "Congratulations Marsha as our FGOTM for May!! I hope you enjoy this special month and have some extra Farmgirl fun!! Farmgirl Hugs to you from Sunny Florida!!"

The Congrats! keep coming in on the thread daily from farm girls from all over the USA.  The head Sister, MaryJane even surprised me with a gift in the mail.  Here it is:

I have not heard from MaryJane yet on the forum.  She took a month off for some R&R.  Just the fact that she took the time out of her very busy schedule to acknowledge me was very much appreciated.

If you'd like to read what the other farm girls Congrats! to me you can head on over to the MJF website discussion thread Farm Girl of Month, here.  Go to page 92.

The reason I am sharing this part of my life with you is to encourage you to start your own local sisterhood chapter with your friends and family members.

Have your own craft days and swap events.  Getting together with friends and family to just do fun things is a big stress reliever for us all.

If, you say you don't have stress you are not telling the truth.  Just to keep up with the daily routine is stressful.  Why not take the time to get together with a few of your friends.  

Invite ones you don't know very well and get to know them better.  Step out of your normal circle of friends and invite a totally new group of acquaintances over and get to know each other better.  You might just strike up a few new friendships in the process. 

I made a challenge this year to send out one card and letter every week to my circle of friends and acquaintances.  I didn't know how much this would impact me until now.  Every card and every letter I have sent out was just what that person needed at that moment in their life.

I called it: #52weeksnailmailchallenge you can read week 1, here.

It has evolved into a whole new craft from for me.  The old fashioned pen pal movement is back in full swing.  You don't just send a plain card and stick it in an envelope.  Oh! no.  That is old school for sure.

Here is the new way.  Pocket Letter's.

 I plan on adding them to my Etsy shop, MarketsofSunshine in the very near future.

In the meantime, I invite you to join my StampinUP! click here >>>>> Paper Pumpkin subscription box.

click here to receive your first card making box of goodies in the mail for next month.  You'll be so glad you did.

You can thank me later.

Sending You Sunshine,

Marsha J.

P. S. I'd love to have you follow my blog.  Just click the follow button on the right side bar. 

Easy Chicken and Dumpling Recipe

Easy Chicken and Dumpling Recipe

Do you love comfort food?  The kind that your Mom or Grandma made when you were a kid.

I love to cook with wholesome organic ingredients.  The food just tastes so much better when you use organic.  Don't believe me?  Try it!

Batter

 

Here's what you'll need to make this recipe:

• small mixing bowl
• medium stock pot
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups gluten free flour
• 1/3 teaspoon gluten free baking soda
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
•  1 cup purified water

Step 1: In the mixing bowl beat the eggs.  Add the other ingredients one at a time.

You want a sticky batter, not runny.

 

Cooked organic chicken

Step 2:  I prefer to cook mine in the crock pot to bring out that extra yummy flavor.  Add a little garlic powder and salt and a little extra virgin olive oil on top.  Fill the crock pot half way with purified water.  Set on high for 4 hours.

Add your favorite vegetables the last hour.

 

Step 3:  To cook the dumplings you will need the chicken broth from the cooked chicken in the crock pot.

Take out the chicken and vegetables.  Skim off any extra fat floating on top of the broth.

Step 4:  Transfer the broth to a medium stock pot and bring to a boil.

 

 

Step 5:  Drop your batter into the boiling broth and put the lid on. 

Cook for 12 minutes.  Move the pot around to make the dumplings turn over in the hot broth.

 Remove from broth and serve with your cooked chicken and vegetables in a deep bowl.  Add the gravy from the pot over the top.  Enjoy!

 

My family says this is the best chicken and dumpling recipe they have ever tasted.   Getting my husband to eat his vegetables is worse than trying to get a kid to.  Now, the problem is solved.  He asks me to make this for him now.

 

Sending You Sunshine,

Marsha J.

 

 
 
 

 

Week 16: How To Start An Indoor Miniature Garden On A Budget

Have you caught the miniature garden bug yet?

I have!  I had it long before it became popular.  I have always been fasinated with miniature figurines.

Here is what I started with. I searched through my house and collected all of my miniature figurines that I had purchased over the years.

 It is a collection of all the things I enjoy doing in my life.

Birdhouse, butterfly, camping, flowers, nature, gardening, needlework, tea and a little tractor to keep the grass mowed.

Where To Start?

1.  Search your own collection room by room

2.  Ask friends and family if they have any miniatures they want to give away and do a swap

3.  Go to garage sales or thrift stores

4.  Ask in online forums and groups and do a swap

5.  Save up a $1 a week for your miniature collection

Most of these cute miniatures were under $5 each.  Some were gifted to me and some I bought at garage sales and thrift stores.

Others, I made myself from a kit.

#52WeekSnailMailChallenge - Week 16

 Sending out my pocket letters to friends was so much fun.  They are filled with so many goodies and surprises. 

What did you send out this past week?  I'd love to see.
Just in case you missed Week 1 you can catch it here:
Mail Art Week 1

Have you seen my newest product line?

Paris Collection!

Wallets and Coin Purse Sets

 You'll find them in my Etsy shop, MarketsofSunshine

Click Here!

Sending You Sunshine,

Marsha J.

Week 15: Monday Motivation - Weekend Tips: How To Be Productive While Relaxing

Week 15: Monday Motivation - Weekend Tips: How To Be Productive While Relaxing

My weekend was packed full of family activities that were productive and relaxing.  How do I do it?  Here are some tips that I use to keep myself moving even on low energy levels.

#1 - Make a plan and a list
        a) write down all the things you need to get done over the weekend.  
        b) next make a plan of action.  Prioritize your list into what must be done, what needs to be done and what should be done

#2 - Take action steps
        a) start with your "Must be done" item on your list
        b) get to work right away and complete this plan of action
        c) once it is completed mark it off your list

#3 - Relax
        a) now take an hour and relax i.e. eat lunch, listen to music, take a nap but only for one hour
        
#4 - Move on to your "Needs to be done" item on your list
        a) follow the steps above in #2 to complete this action
        b) move on to your last item under "what should be done"

#5 - Sunday evening plans
        a) invite a few friends or family members over and discuss what you accomplished over the weekend by following these steps above 1-4
        b) prepare a light meal or just snacks
        c) no movie or TV this is just conversation no noise pollution allowed 
        d) end the evening by sharing your favorite spiritual gem from your weekly bible reading program, sing a favorite song, read a passage of the bible together
         e) end the evening by having each guest write down 1 thing they are grateful for from the weeks activities
         f) finally say a prayer with your guests and mention all the things you are grateful for that you experienced over your productive and relaxing weekend

I hope you have been motivated to incorporate these 5 steps into your next family weekend projects.  Don't leave your days to chance.  Make a plan of action and follow through.  Make yourself accountable to your partner.  You will strengthen your relationship and get more done each week.

When Monday rolls around you won't have regrets of what you didn't get done.  You'll be grateful for what you accomplished by working together as a team.

Need some help getting started?  No problem!  I've got that covered.  You'll find a worksheet in my Etsy shop called: 

5 Tips On How to be Productive While Relaxing Over the Weekend

If you liked this post, please take the time to leave me a comment below.  Share it with your friends on your social media too.  I'll see you next week.  Same place.  Same time.

Sending You Sunshine,
Marsha J. 

Week 14: Teach Cursive Writing At Home #52WeekSnailMailChallenge

What You Can Do

• Send your child or grandchildren letters by mail
• Make a day to teach them cursive writing
• Start with signing their legal name
• Start a pen pal challenge

You'll find many new styles for sending letters by mail like stuffed envelopes, pocket letters and more in my Etsy shop, 

MarketsofSunshine.

 Check out my pen pal letters I've started sending this year in past blog posts like this one, Mail Art. 
Don't miss any of my posts.  Sign-up for my mailing list here:
 
 Sending You Sunshine,

Marsha J.

P.S. If you can read my cursive writing above leave me a comment below and tell me your age.