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Marine Corps Birthday and Veterans Day

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Marine Mom Annual Letter

This Marine Mom has written several previous letters to the Marine Corps. It’s been a couple of years since I wrote my last letter. But this year I felt compelled to write again.

It’s late at night this year and I’m reviewing the past couple of years. Two of my Marines are veterans. My third, a son from another Mother, is finishing up his last tour after two enlistments.

The years 2020 and 2021 have seen a lot of changes and challenges. Everyone has had their challenges and obstacles to overcome. I do have to say that my boys have gained the skills from the USMC to not only deal with the challenges but come out the other side better men.

Dear Marine Corps,

Thank you Marine Corps for teaching my Marines, patience, flexibility, motivation, and endurance through trials and life.

Thank you for teaching them patience. They learned patience in many ways. Patience was needed during the Covid-19 pandemic. The lockdowns, masks, and shutdown of a career that was just getting started required not only patience but flexibility.

Patience, from the “hurry up and wait” mantra of the Marine Corps taught them to endure this past 18 months. The inability to attend college classes, and not being able to go to the gym on base.

A Marine stand in front of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor at MCRD San Diego.

The constant need to adapt to the needs of the Marine Corps gave them all the flexibility to change, adapt, and create new daily goals to stay motivated and help others do the same.

Motivate!

Yes, thank you for this phrase. I hear often from my oldest Marine veteran. It was not only a challenge to stay motivated during the lockdown, but to keep his colleagues motivated during the lockdown and work shutdown.

A US Marine who served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom 2012

He not only endured but thrived and took the lessons he learned from the United States Marine Corps, and experience in Airwing supply logistics and applied them organizing crews unloading semi-trucks for stadium tours and Broadway shows.

Lastly thank you for the endurance given to a specific deployed Afghanistan Marine this year. I am sure he saw more than he probably wanted to see, and will never look at freedom and home the same after the end of August.

Honoring our Armed Forces on the Marine Corps birthday and Veterans Day.

I haven’t had a chance to give him a hug yet and tell him how proud I am of him. He doesn’t think I thought of him often, but I did. He has grown so much during these since I first met him at age 10 and now he has the eyes of experience. Thank you for bringing him home safe and sound.

Thank you again,

A Thankful Marine Mom

Marine Corps Birthday

So on this unofficial holiday of the Marine Corps birthday, I want to remember how the Marines have helped make men out of boys.

Local Farmers Market Booth Ideas

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Successful Farmer Market Ideas

I am so looking forward to my farmers market booth this year. In 2017 our small town started a Farmers Market. Elmwood, Nebraska is a small town of fewer than 800 people but has a supportive community.

Learn about successful farmer market ideas that will help sell more vegetables and products.
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The first year I was often the only booth set up. I sold muffins and jalapeno jelly. Sometimes four or five other people selling vegetables, baked goods, cookies also set up.

However, in 2020 the Covid pandemic changed everything. People wanted to shop local, shop small, and support local small businesses. The number of our vendors doubled, the attendance doubled.

Farmers Market Booth Ideas

Local farmers’ markets in 2020 thrived. Many first-time vendors set up tables. Cute farmers’ market booth ideas and tips were traded as people helped each other.

Each week more than twelve vendors set up. This year we are expecting the coffee truck to return, bakers, and I will be revealing my new business, Tea & More. We are expecting at least a dozen vendors each week.

Farmers Market Display Ideas

Paying via Venmo became very popular last year. So this year I’m going to make it really easy for my customers to scan my Venmo QR code to pay for their orders.

Create your own Pay Here sign HERE

This year I will also have business cards at my booth. This way they can order my products during the rest of the week.

The business card template below also gives space on the back to list the other farm market the customers can find you during the week.

Farmers Market Sign Ideas

This year I decided to create custom yard signs pointing people to our farmers’ market booths. I designed these templates so other towns can easily create their own signs.

Farmers market signs are important. These direct customers not only to the location of the market but continually remind people about the event each week.

Farm market signs are posted at the gas station that remind people during the week about the weekly farmers market. On the morning of the community farmers, market arrow signs are posted pointing the way to the park.

Market Tote Bag Options

Learn about successful farmer market ideas that will help sell more vegetables and products.

This year we will be offering customers reusable market bags. Already people are excited about the new vendors and products. If you would like to offer these custom totes in your farmers’ market booth then head over to my Zazzle store.

If your town is thinking about starting a Farmers Market I would highly encourage it. It brings people together, it is a social event every week. It encourages people to become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses.

Learn about successful farmer market ideas that will help sell more vegetables and products.

If you have additional ideas for promoting a farmers’ market please comment below and share them with others.

2020 High School Graduation Party Ideas

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High School Graduation Party Ideas

Graduation parties this year will have a different feeling to them. Seniors spent their last remaining months doing distance schooling and social distancing from their friends.

But they still want to celebrate and be recognized for their accomplishments. Some high school graduation ceremonies are being rescheduled for July and even August.

Coronavirus Graduation Invitations

Encourage guests to stop at the street to “Honk, Wave, and Cheer”. They can either stay in their cars, or stand by their decorated cars and hold signs and cheer.

Order graduation invitations for a “Drive-By” party. Mark this special time with a formal graduation invitation or announcement.

Some families may not be comfortable with having the large graduation parties and may instead opt for a non-traditional “Drive-By” Graduation party. Or a Graduation parade instead.

Students love music and their favorite 2020 playlist can be broadcast from their radios. Everyone can socially distance and hold a dance party in the front yard.

Fun Graduation Car Flag

Seniors will be decorating their cars with streamers and may even want to add a custom graduation car flag to their windows.

These personalized graduation flags are available in a variety of school colors and can be personalized with their school name.

Personalized Graduation Banners

Take the budget you were going to spend and create an amazing small graduation party. Pull out all the stops and go ALL out with graduation yard flags, large personalized graduation banners and extra special gift bags.

Ideas for a High School Graduation Party

High school graduation party ideas can be very creative. Graduation favor bags can be filled with candy and handed to “drive-by” guests from a 6-foot distance and still socially distancing so everyone is safe and comfortable.

Or you can fill your own cellophane bags and tie them with thank you tags to create personalized and unique graduation party favors.

Graduation Personalized Banner for COVID-19

Maybe they actually want to recognize they were part of a coronavirus graduation Class of 2020. Make a personalized banner for COVID-19 graduation that puts the whole coronavirus out there.

You can even personalize banners with senior photos, names, and school name. Find more graduation banners and signs in this collection.

2020 graduates need to be recognized and not feel like they have been left out. Make this a graduation season, not a day, or even a senior week. But, a senior summer!

2020 High School Graduation Signs

Post high school graduation signs in your yard for the whole month. Afterward hang them on your fence, patio, or deck.

When their high school can hold a delayed graduation ceremony later in the summer encourage all the students to bring their graduation banners to the ceremony. Then post them on the fences and the front lawn of the high school.

High School Graduation Gifts

Graduation gifts are being equally creative. It may not feel like it now, but seniors will want to remember this year. They made history whether they want to admit it or not.

Frame this Then & Now print in a frame and give as a graduation gift to a Mom, Dad or Grandparent who has watched their child or grandchild grow up and mature into a young lady or young man.

This gift pack of a scented candle, caramels, and a cute little succulent plant is a perfect graduation gift for a girl going off to college. She can create a little piece of serenity in her college dorm room as she remembers her friends.

High school graduation party ideas and gifts for girls and boys. #graduation #graduationparty

How I Became a Face Mask Designer

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How did being furloughed during the Coronavirus epidemic made me a face mask designer?

Well, the world has changed. The Covid-19 crisis has turned our lives upside down. People seem to be hiding behind cloth face masks, avoiding people by keeping a 6-foot distance, and staying at home.

Reusable Cloth Face Masks

Many have lost their jobs, including myself. This reminds me of 2009 during the H1N1 or Swine Flu epidemic. I lost my job then also. I was an executive for a swine equipment company and pork sales plummeted, swine producers went bankrupt. At that time Smithfoods couldn’t even give away hams because people were afraid of eating pork. (now they have even different problems)

But I am an eternal optimist. Some call me obnoxiously optimistic. When one door closes another opens. I feel incredibly blessed right now.

In 2010 I started taking my photography and graphic design more seriously. I opened online stores on various platforms including Zazzle, FineArt America, and even Amazon.

I have a strong faith in God and the scripture verse from Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.”

Social distancing is now the norm for now. Wearing a cloth face mask doesn't have to be boring. Add some personality to your face with a custom designed face mask cover.

Reusable Cloth Face Mask Designer

The same week I was furloughed due to Coronavirus Zazzle offered reusable cloth face masks to their designers. I was accepted into their Promoter Progam the next day.

One of my companies, Zazzle, started manufacturing blank masks in California when the Washington State coronavirus cluster broke.

This has been a blessing and I spent almost every hour that week creating designer face masks. How this works is I create the graphic design and then send it to the printing company who then prints and ships the masks directly to the customer.

I first started with dog-themed face masks for my “Boxer Dog Life” Facebook Community.

Then I started taking special face masks requests.

The traditional face mask suppliers were out of stock. People were asking how to make COVID-19 mask at home. People were in search of the best cloth mask pattern. Quilting groups could no way make enough for the nationwide demand.

Coronavirus Face Mask Design

You can now buy face masks online on my Zazzle store. I started with dog-themed face masks for my Boxer Dog Life community. I then started taking requests for customized

Social Distancing Face Mask

Social distancing has become the norm during the Coronavirus epidemic. Some states are now requiring everyone to wear a mask in public to lower the curve.

Cloth Face Mask Cover

Not all face masks are created equal. Zazzle is offering a two-layer polyester washable face mask with a microfiber backing and an insert pocket to place a carbon filter insert for even more protection.

Now you can find first responder cloth face masks for police officers, firefighters, EMTS, EMS rescue, and even correctional officers. These help extend the life of PPE equiment. Honor the people who wawlk the thin blue line, thin red line and thin grey line.

Since I started I have earned enough to cover the wage gap in being furloughed. I don’t know how long this will last, but until now I will keep adding new products and personalized gifts on Zazzle.

Check out all my custom products and if you need anything send me a chat on my Zazzle store.

My Favorite Sweet and Spicy Venison Jerky Recipe

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The Best Deer Jerky Recipe EVER!

You think I’m kidding? I’m not.  My sweet and spicy venison jerky recipe won Grand Champion at the County Fair in the entire canning and preserving class.

Make the best homemade jerky recipes that will win championships. Homemade sweet and spicy venison jerky marinade.

There is little I like more than homemade jerky. Seriously, it’s really the perfect food. It’s high in protein, low in carbs (a good thing for me) it’s tasty, lasts a long time and is just AMAZINGLY fantastic.  I hoard my jerky. Literally. I guard it passionately.

But, I will share my homemade jerky marinade recipes and process so you can make your own. There really isn’t any magic to the process, and like any recipe, it can be tweaked to your individual taste.

Ultimate Beef Jerky Gift Basket

If you are not into making beef jerky yourself, or maybe it sounds a little intimidating, then there is an alternative. Order beef jerky as Christmas gifts men will especially love.

How to Make Homemade Jerky

The process of making homemade jerky takes about three days. Two days to slice, prepare, and marinade and one day to dehydrate. But it’s well worth it!

Step 1 – Select your meat: The best meat for jerky is lean with little fat. My husband saves me the rumps, and he uses the shoulders for his ground venison jerky.  If you are making beef jerky then the best meat for beef jerky is a nice large rump roast or round roast.

Step 2 – Slice meat 1/8-1/4″ thick. Half frozen meat will slice easier

I used to hand slice beef for jerky, and that works. But, your hand gets very tired after about 15 minutes. If you are making homemade beef jerky and buying a beef round roast from a meat case you can ask the butcher to slice it for you. There are still a few full-service grocery stores around. They usually have the best meat too.

The best and fastest way to make a large batch of jerky is with a high-quality meat slicer. The Chefs Choice 610 Slicer some of the best reviews. We received our slicer as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago and it’s WONDERFUL!! If you’re going to make jerky on a regular basis then invest good kitchen equipment and tools to do the job.

Nesco FD-1040 Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator, White, 1000-watt - MADE IN USANesco FD-1040 Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator, White, 1000-watt – MADE IN USAChef’sChoice 609-A Electric Food Slicer with Tilted Food Carriage Easy-clean Design Rugged Construction High Torque Cool Running Motor Gear Drive Operation withChef’sChoice 609-A Electric Food Slicer with Tilted Food Carriage Easy-clean Design Rugged Construction High Torque Cool Running Motor Gear Drive Operation with

Step 3 – Place Slices into a deep storage container. Crisscross them leaving gaps where marinade travel and do its magic

Step 4 – Pour prepared jerky marinade 

Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the container is full. Then press the meat down and make sure it’s covered in the jerky juice marinade.

Step 5 – Marinade in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours

Step 6 – Dehydrate on high (160F) for approximately 4-6 hours

Lay your marinated jerky meat on the dehydrator trays close together. It will shrink as it dries. Depending on the thickness of your jerky and how much jerky marinade juice it soaked up will determine your drying time. You want the final product to be dry, but not too dry. It should bend just slightly without breaking. BUT, if it does get drier that’s okay too. It will still taste great. In fact, it will last longer as you have to suck on it longer to eat it.

Step 7 – Eat and Enjoy! Be prepared for friends coming out of the woodwork asking for jerky. Giving you meat to make into jerky, loaning you their dehydrators because they can’t make it as good as you do. Yes, it’s happened. I put their dehydrator in the garage and use mine.

The Best Dehydrator for Jerky

Seriously, the best dehydrator for jerky is the Nesco Gardenmaster Dehydrator.  Don’t use any other kind. I have tested about 5 different ones, you will be VERY disappointed if you use any other brand.

Nesco FD-1040 Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator, White, 1000-watt - MADE IN USANesco FD-1040 Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator, White, 1000-watt – MADE IN USA

The heater and fan are on TOP of the Nesco Gardenmaster Dehydrator, which is VERY important. This pushes warm air down through the center tunnel and racks assuring an even airflow. There is no need to rotate racks. The jerky dries evenly. Our Nesco dehydrator is going on fifteen years old and is still going strong. Really any of the Nesco professional dehydrators will do a good job.

Don’t skimp on a jerky dehydrator. If you find a “bargain” with a heater or fan on the bottom, walk away. Think about it, you don’t want the jerky marinade to drip on the heating unit.

Packaging Jerky – Bags and Labels

Normally I use freezer quart bags and store my jerky in the deep freeze. It is rare that I give away my homemade jerky. But occasionally I do put them in my Christmas baskets and boxes. It’s then that packaging is important.

This is label can be ordered on Etsy and I’m sure you can ask the artist for a venison jerky label too.

Homemade Jerky Recipes

My best deer jerky marinade recipes start with a base blend. I then adapt it depending on what I feel like.  I started with the Sweet and Spicy Venison jerky and spun off from there. A lot of this has been experimentation, but without fail it came out delicious every time.  The base blend of marinade will cover approximately 4-5 lbs of meat.  If you have marinade leftover that you haven’t used store it in the refrigerator for your next batch.

Make the best homemade jerky recipes that will win championships. Homemade sweet and spicy venison jerky marinade.

Venison Jerky Marinade: (Base )

(Championship) Sweet and Spicy Venison Jerky

  • Base Blend
  • 1/4 Barbeque Sauce
  • 1/4 Honey
  • 1 TBSP Chilli Powder

Teriyaki Jerky Recipe

  • Base Blend
  • 10 oz Teriyaki Sauce
  • 2 TBSP Crushed Garlic

Venison Sweet Hot Jerky Recipe

Spicy Hot Jerky Recipe

Now I’m warning you if you do NOT like hot and spicy then do NOT try this! 

The longer you marinade this the hotter the jerky. Let this sit for two days and age.  I don’t like super hot jerky, heck I don’t even like hot jerky. When I licked my fingers after I got some marinade on my fingers it set my lips on fire. I much prefer my Sweet and Spicy Venison jerky more. The chili powder is just enough for my tastes buds.

  • Base Blend
  • 1 TBSP Chilli Powder
  • 2 TBSP Habanero Pepper Flakes
  • 2 TBSP Daves Gourmet Scorpion Pepper Hot Sauce

Cabela Jerky Recipe

Since I live in Nebraska a lot of people ask me if this is the Cabela jerky recipe. I’ve tried it. But, I like mine better mainly because of the liquid smoke and the garlic.  But if you have been searching for the Caela jerky recipe here it is for you to try.

  • 3 lbs venison (or beef)
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp Accent seasoning
  • 2 tsp table salt
  • 2/3 tsp onion powder
  • 2/3 tsp black pepper