We Can Do Better

Reflecting on the weekend's events, I know we can do better—as a community, a society, and a country. This hatred, disrespect, and disdain for those with opposing views that has spread throughout our communities and taken over our country is shameful. I have said before that the glory and beauty of America is that we have the freedom to disagree. What a boring world it would be if everyone thought the same thoughts, shared the same ideals, and embraced the same values. We would never grow, see the beauty of new ideas, or create new inventions if we weren't challenged. Art, literature, and music would not exist without freedom of thought. Problems would not be solved, innovation would cease, and we would come to a standstill as a society.

Our founding fathers built this country on the ideals of those who suffered oppression and lacked freedom of thought, expression, speech, and religion. They desired to create a land free of tyranny and oppression. As the stewards of this land, we cannot lose those ideals and values by getting caught up in angry rhetoric, narrow-minded agendas, and blaming the opposition. We certainly can't resort to violence to oppress those who oppose us. It is beyond archaic to believe that if someone does not share our thoughts, morals, and values, then they must be silenced with violence.

What have we regressed to thinking that destroying those who disagree with us is acceptable? If I am being transparent, there is no single party I affiliate with and believe has the best interest of all Americans at heart. A perfect party will never be created because we are a country built on diversity. We are one big melting pot of beautiful differences, backgrounds, cultures, beliefs, morals, and values. Over the decades, we have adopted and adapted what is now the gorgeous fabric of our country. Is it a perfect tapestry? No. Are there flaws, holes, and areas of discord? Absolutely. However, those are as much a part of our history as the victories and triumphs. We cannot allow such a beautiful tapestry to be destroyed.

I may be simple-minded, but I cannot fathom hating an individual whom I don't know personally enough to destroy them. These candidates embody an idea. They personify a party's ideals. I don't believe either candidate can be anything like what they portray to the public—at least, I hope not. They are figureheads and nothing more. Taking down an individual is not going to stop the political machine. Wounding and killing innocent bystanders is not going to eradicate the opposition. It merely leaves a wife without a spouse, children without a father, and parents without a child. Nothing has been accomplished but the destruction of innocent lives. The large political (broken) machine will continue to grind on, and a new figurehead will replace the one destroyed.

However, I remain hopeful that we can do better. I believe that we can exercise our freedoms and think as individuals. I hope that common sense will reign. If left to their own devices, individuals will choose right over wrong. Of course, checks and balances need to be in place. Individuals need to be held accountable for their actions. The balance in our country needs to be restored. Perhaps the one glimmer of hope in this deplorable situation is that the balance will be reset. Everyone can step back and realize that what has happened is not serving us as a country. We don't need outside enemies to destroy us; we are doing a bang-up job on our own. Perhaps, just perhaps, dear reader, this will be a siren to restore the balance. Once again, we can respectfully disagree and engage in authentic communication, and the people will truly be represented in both parties.

I hope we will do better. We will look to the past for inspiration, respect the foundation our founding fathers laid, and pass on a legacy to future generations. A legacy we can be proud of and one that will add another layer of beauty to this lovely and diverse tapestry we call America. Stay safe, be smart, do better, let common sense reign, and keep washing your hands on this beautiful summer day. Seriously, I feel my closing has never been more relevant.

Tuesday Spotlight: Honey Yogurt Bee Bar and Milk and Honey Moisturizer

Welcome to the Tuesday Spotlight, dear reader. This week, our lavish and moisture-rich Honey Yogurt Bee Bar and Milk and Honey Moisturizer are on special exclusively on the website. You can save 25% on bars and jars of these delightful creations. Our Honey Yogurt Bee Bar is created with fresh goat's milk yogurt, which I make from the milk of our lovely nanny goats. The yogurt I make is clean and straightforward. I only use fresh goat's milk and organic yogurt enzymes. It takes twelve hours to make a thick, rich yogurt, but the lather it creates in our soap is worth every effort. We also include organic raw local honey in our bee bars, which helps create a thick, dense foam.

We begin each recipe with fresh, raw goat's milk—five pounds of milk go into each batch of our handmade soaps. We never use powdered milk or water in our soap recipes. Using fresh, raw milk as our liquid gives our products an unsurpassed quality and nourishing property. We then blend old-fashioned ingredients like lard for hardness, coconut oil for cleansing properties, olive oil for moisturizing, canola oil for lather, and castor oil for a rich lather. Once the ingredients saponify or turn into soap, they change their chemical makeup entirely and become a clean, simple, pure soap bar.

The light, fresh scent of Milk and Honey creates a lovely and softly scented nourishing bar. Follow your daily shower with our thick, rich moisturizer, and your skin will glow in no time. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to save 25% this week only. No promo code is needed; the savings will be applied at checkout.

On this lovely summer day, stay safe, be smart, enjoy the savings, use products that nourish your skin, and keep washing your hands.

It's Time For A Bit Of Positivity

Check out our Facebook page to win all six happy holiday soaps.

Welcome to Monday, dear reader. What a weekend! With all the happenings on Saturday, I feel like we could all use a bit of lightness and positivity. I need to allow the events of Saturday’s Trump Rally in Butler, PA, to marinade a bit before I comment. Trust me, there are a lot of thoughts floating around in this simple brain of mine. Sigh. However, let us begin the week with joy and positivity. This upcoming Saturday, July 20th, we celebrate Christmas in July at The Ligonier Country Market. I do not usually embrace Christmas in July, but for my market family, I will do whatever it takes to support our small artisan and farming community. It’s also an excellent time to spread a bit of much-needed joy and have a little fun.

To build up to Saturday’s Christmas in July celebration, we are adding a little fun and a Christmas gift to each online order we pack this week. Today, Monday, July 15th, we are holding a drawing for all six of our freshly made holiday soaps that will be featured at Ligonier this Saturday and at The Shaker Woods Festival in August. If you follow us on social media, enter to win a gift of all six holiday-themed soaps. You can’t win if you don’t play.

Today, Monday, each online order will be gifted an Elf Fart soap. The Bean’s Elf Fart soap is wildly popular and always generates a smile. Tuesday, every online purchaser will be gifted The Mean One. Wednesday, all online orders will receive a free bar of my personal favorite, Comfort and Joy. Thursday, the gift will be our Maximus soap, and Friday, you decide, are you Naughty or Nice? If left to our own devices, we will assume you are Naughty.

Perhaps, dear reader, take a little extra time to spread a bit of joy, be kinder, and go the extra mile to be a decent human. Your act doesn’t have to be anything significant or outlandish. Perhaps let someone out in traffic, and if someone offers you the kindness, acknowledge them with a wave. Hold the door for a stranger and maybe add a smile and have a good day, let someone go ahead of you in the grocery line, pick up the tab for the lonely person drinking coffee by themselves, engage someone in a pleasant conversation, or smile at a stranger. It’s nothing too demanding, just a bit of positivity in a tumultuous time. We’ve got to change our ways and undo some of the madness in this world. It’s just a thought.

I know a bar of soap isn’t going to change someone’s life, but if it brightens someone’s day for even a moment, it’s worthwhile. On that note, dear reader, stay safe, be smart, offer up a little kindness, embrace some lighthearted fun, don’t panic when you realize we are halfway to the holiday season, and keep washing your hands.