Crossing Things Off Our To-Do List

Ever so slowly, we are ticking things off our never-ending to-do list on the farm. Sunday, the weather cooperated enough for The Bibbed Wonder to clean the barn. The fields have been too wet and saturated for the equipment to get in without ripping up the pastures and creating more work. The Bibbed Wonder keeps the shoveling to a minimum by utilizing the skid steer, the tractor, and the manure spreader. The individual stalls must be shoveled, but truthfully, a large broom can handle the cedar chips and small amount of poo that the small stalls acquire. I helped a bit with the shoveling, but The Bibbed Wonder ran the equipment.

It's rewarding to check off items on one's to-do list. Mr. Fuzzy Bottoms and I often compete to wipe things off the whiteboard in the soap studio. For whatever reason, erasing an item on the whiteboard is very satisfying. I am tempted to create a whiteboard for the utility side of the garage to help us stay task-oriented and give us another whiteboard to fight over. To-do lists can be an excellent organizational tool, or a daunting reminder of all one has yet to accomplish. For the sake of my workaholic husband's mental well-being, I have refrained from implementing another whiteboard.

With the beautiful weather we have been experiencing, I took the opportunity to clean out the little green chicken coop that houses my new baby chicks. My chicks are now four weeks old, and they are almost feathered. I liken this stage to that of adolescent children. The chicks are in what I refer to as their ugly stage. Their little legs seem too long, their new feathers are wonky, and their little beaks appear too big for their little heads. I removed their heat lamp, installed the roost, and hung their water and food troughs from hooks installed in the coop. I was happy to check that off my to-do list. Three of the little buggers escaped the coop, and we had to run around like mad men trying to catch them. My greatest fear was that Buster would join the game and kill one. However, he merely sat at the driveway's edge and watched us chase tiny chickens like we were mad.

I hope to begin bathing the goats this week. I have started taking a new medicine, and it is taking a bit of getting used to. Unfortunately, it seems to zap my already taxed energy levels. I remain hopeful that it will be a game-changer once my body adjusts. However, until that adjustment, I believe fighting with my almost two-hundred-pound girls will do more harm than good. Realistically, once The Bean finishes school, we can tag team the girls, and things will go more smoothly. My girl is on a money-making mission with upcoming trips and a new car on the horizon. She will be thrilled to help me bathe goats for an hourly wage. Okay, thrilled might be an exaggeration, but making money seems to make any task more appealing.

Along with our never-ending to-do list of farm chores, we now must factor in prepping for our weekly market, staying on top of social media, and, much to The Bibbed Wonder's chagrin, weekly grass mowing. The grass has gotten ahead of us with all the rain we have experienced. Eric hates to mow the grass. However, although he hates to mow the grass, he also obsesses about mowing. I am forbidden to touch the mower. Seriously, one little incident where I bent steel blades, and he has held that against me like I committed treason. Okay, there have been multiple incidents with the mower. I got it wedged between a tree and a fence post; I have ruined numerous blades by assuming it can grind sticks, stumps, or rocks; I have taken off parts of the swing set and almost slid into the pond. I will admit running the lawn mower may not be one of my strengths. It is okay for me to admit this. However, when I once again offered my mowing services to ease his burden, my darling husband informed me that I am good at many things, but running the lawn mower is not one of them. Sigh. Rude.

Someday, when I am retired and have time to pursue all my grand ideas, I will buy myself a little Kubota tractor with all the toys and attachments. I will then refuse to let The Bibbed Wonder look in its direction. Unless I get it stuck, need it maintained, or break something on it. He then will know what it's like to live with someone with cooler toys than he and not be allowed to touch them. It's called karma. I have big dreams.

On yet another lovely summer-like day, stay safe, be smart, cross things off your to-do list, don't be rude to people who try to help you, and keep washing your hands.

Tuesday Spotlight: Almond and Milk

Today, the spotlight shines upon our soap family favorite, Almond and Milk. Almond is our second most popular soap, only taking a backseat to Milk and Honey. Our Almond and Milk bar is a luxurious creation that begins with our farm-fresh goat's milk. Each of our small batches of goat's milk soap begins with almost five pounds of fresh, raw milk from our well-loved ladies. We also use skin-loving oils like olive, coconut, and castor oil for emulsion and lather.

All the ingredients in our soaps can be found in the average pantry. We keep it simple, pure, and non-fussy and make our soaps using tried-and-true ingredients. We don't cut corners and never change ingredients for less expensive options. Frankly, there are enough cheap, chemical-laden products on the market. My soap family deserves the best. If you are here and reading this blog, you are my people, and I will take care of you—pinky promise.

Our Almond and Milk soap and moisturizer smell divine. If you love the scent of almond extract when baking, you will love our almond and milk products. This lovely bar is just as pretty as it is deliciously scented. Almond blossoms inspire the soft pink. Although not on sale this week, our new almond-scented foaming hand soap rounds out our Almond and Milk collection. I gently suggest purchasing all three for a lovely hostess gift, bridal shower gift, or birthday gift. The delightful scent and soft pink are pure femininity. Pair our products with a sweet pink hand towel, an almond-scented candle, and a simple soap deck, and you have the perfect gift.

Stay safe, be smart, enjoy the savings, and keep washing your hands on this gorgeous summer-like day.

We Appreciate You

Saturday was the opening day at The Ligonier Country Market. This is our eighth year as vendors at the market, and with every year, we have grown more appreciative of our soap family. I remember our very first market. We have definitely learned a lot while attending this fantastic market, and we are grateful to those who take on leadership roles for creating such a well-run, well-organized, and well-attended market. We always say that Ligonier Country Market has spoiled us for all other shows, and it remains true.

There are so many things I love about The Ligonier Country Market. First, it's the people. This market is filled with great people, from the organizers to the vendors to the market attendees. I have stated before that the handmade community is an exceptional group. We have made some wonderful friends at the market. Two of my besties, Tricia Brown and Christina Moore, have become cherished and trusted friends. We also have a lovely circle of wonderful friends, including Carlene, Pat and Sherry, Pamela Jean, Sharon, Sue and Julia. Being surrounded by these people makes my Saturday enjoyable. However, we also have so many outstanding soap family members we look forward to seeing regularly. These wonderful people make what we do worthwhile, and we have a running list of people we look forward to seeing almost every week. Anne, Robbie, Kelly, Jeanette, Gus-Gus, and Linds are just a few of the people we look forward to seeing. I don't think many business owners have such wonderful supporters who have become friends. In this, we are truly blessed.

Another reason I love The Ligonier Country Market is the venue. The event space is easy to maneuver, and we get to keep our vehicle at our tent site (you cannot imagine how much easier and more convenient this small detail makes a vendor's life). This year, the site markers are brighter and clearer than they have been in the past. We like to arrive at 6 a.m. so that we don't have to fight traffic to get to our spot and we can be set up in a timely manner. The setting is gorgeous, and when the weather cooperates, you can't ask for a better setting for a country market. We have had a variety of neighbors over the years, and most of them have become part of our friend circle. The vendors at LCM always impress me with their artistry and professionalism.

Thank you to everyone involved in making The Ligonier Country Market a warm, friendly, and welcoming place. In our eighth year, we continue to feel the love from you, our soap family. In the early days of being a vendor, I was a nervous wreck on market day. Now, eight years later, my anxiety is assuaged. Still, I continue to feel the desire to improve, make your shopping experience as personal and unique as possible, and show you the care and service you deserve. You will always come first. If the day ever comes that this is not my why, I will graciously bow out because I will no longer be serving you. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

If you have an opportunity to join us on a Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, it is worth the early hours and the traffic. A few tips to make your market day enjoyable are to come early, dress in layers, wear your cutest, most comfortable market outfit, and bring your appetite and plenty of cash. You will find most vendors accept cards, Venmo, Apple Pay, etc., but small business owners get charged exorbitant fees for card transactions. Many of my vendor friends have implemented minimal amount purchases to accept cards and service charges to counterbalance the exorbitant costs. For example, if you use a card to purchase an $8 bar of soap, we actually lose money on that transaction. It's a difficult situation for small business owners. Of course, we want to offer convenience, and we understand that many use their cards to receive cash-back rewards, but please remember that most of us are too small to absorb the fees most POS providers charge. We aren't greedy or trying to be difficult; we are merely trying to protect ourselves. This year, the market has provided a bank trailer complete with an ATM for shopper's convenience. However, fees are incurred from using the ATMS as well. My gentle advice is to be proactive and get cash before coming to the market.

Thank you to our soap family for your years of support. You have made our early Saturday mornings a reason to smile. "We appreciate you" is not enough, but please know truer words were never spoken. We look forward to another market season of good people, jokes, and laughter, growing our soap family, and serving you. On this summer-like day, stay safe and be smart; thank you for your support; please join us on Saturdays, and keep washing your hands.