Drama. Period.

All of Kyle Hilton's 'Downton Abbey' paper dolls can be viewed at Vulture

Yes, it's already over. That Season Two of Downton Abbey that seemed like it took forever to get here, is now done.

Am I normally a huge TV fan? No, unless it's PBS' Masterpiece Theater, Thursday night Mystery, or the first few minutes of a 'news tabloid' show (That's all I can take of Ann Curry) in the morning or a political debate.

But you know what really draws me in? Period Dramas! Cranford, North & South, Rebecca, Bleak House, Jeeves and Wooster (okay, that doesn't fit, but I do like it - a lot), Winds of War, Island at War, Foyle's War (are you seeing a theme here?), Gosford Park, etc.

I enjoy all of those. But suddenly there's one that snagged viewership like never before - and I'm no exception: Downton Abbey. It was written by Julian Fellowes (whom we fondly remembered as Kilwillie from Monarch of the Glen), who has managed to keep us all on the edge of our seats from one episode to the next (and one season to the next!)

The story started with the sinking of the Titanic. Now we're into the 1920s. Okay, so people are calling it a soap opera. BUT, (and you can see I'm getting very defensive here) there's no gratuitous sex and violence, the script is intelligent and extremely witty, the costuming is gorgeous, the historical accuracy is...um, accurate? and they speak with a great British accent (actually, several different accents, but most are from within Britain.) What more could you want? Oh. And it's easy to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys. And we know the bad guys are losers.

How on earth does Julian Fellowes come up with this stuff??? He's brilliant! And now we're waiting for Season Three.  Keep up the good work, Kilwillie!

I'm asking for a show of hands here: Is anyone else out there a Downton Abbey fanatic?

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

Linky Followers Widget

 

http://www.linkyfollowers.com/

As I'm sure you've heard by now, the GFC Followers widget is going away (as in 'disappearing') in March for those who are non-Blogger bloggers. In order to make it easier for you and your blogging buddies to stay in touch, the Linky Followers widget has come to the rescue. SO, if you click on the link above, it will take you to the Linky Followers homepage and explain how to put the Linky Followers widget on your own blog, so as to avoid disruption of communication and losing your friendly followers.

It really is pretty easy, so those of you who may be reading this blog and are not Blogger bloggers (how weird is that!), I invite you to click on the Linky Followers widget on my sidebar and become a follower of Cranberry Morning.

It's always somewhat aggravating when people like Google get a 'better idea,' although the status quo is just fine, thank you very much, but this annoyance is easily mitigated by signing up for Linky Followers. Although people with WordPress, LiveJournal, and other blogging platforms will no longer have GFC, we can apparently all use Linky Followers. At least, that's my understanding.

I've been a bit out of commission since last week (nothing serious, just a nasty head cold and being very tired. This time I can't blame Lionel), so I've got a lot of catching up to do. I'm off to read your blogs!

Hope you have a great week.

 I had to look at something springlike. We're expecting snow in the next couple days.

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

Last Chance Dairy

Last Chance Dairy

We visited this farm a couple years ago, and I'm going to post a few pics from that time. But the other day, as I was driving to Rice Lake, the red of the barn, the blue of the sky, and the white of the show stuck me as such a beautiful sight! I had to stop and take this photo. (If I were to zoom out a bit, you'd see more snow, but the snow really isn't the point of this photo.)

The people who own and operate this farm, one of the not-so-many remaining small dairy farms in Wisconsin, are a very lovely and accommodating couple, even encouraging us to stop in at milking time, so we could see the 'girls' in action. I remember from my childhood on a dairy farm that people did not like anyone traipsing into their barns at milking time. It might upset the cows and that would interrupt the cows' milking progress. So I know it was a very kind gesture that they invited us to come at milking time.

 Thirsty and resourceful kitty

 Annie meeting a heifer

Yes, always a good idea to keep your palm flat.

 Lovely Orchid

 'Work, work, work...will it never cease!'

-from 'A Murder is Announced'

 The tranquil pasture

A place to relax, take a walkabout, and make more milk

I so appreciated the willingness of these dear people to have us on their farm, seeing first hand their love and care for their animals and their land - and the joy they have in owning a small dairy farm in Wisconsin. They're a vanishing breed.

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

Have a great weekend, everyone!

A Sweet Reflection

cellphone pic

I got this message and picture on my cellphone today. My daughter text (ed?), 

'After washing my hair and putting it up in a towel, 

I turned around to see Henry sporting a towel, too!'

What little mirrors children are!

***

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

Rosemary Lemon Chicken Recipe

Tuppence, the Herb Inspector

I was looking into the archives and found this post that I thought I'd re-share with you today. After all, Tuppence needs to get her fair share of air time.

The photo above shows Tuppence, checking the herbs for me. (It's her day job. Her night job is helping Lionel keep us awake.) I'll use some of the plants for cooking and some of them will become ingredients in my handcrafted soaps. The plants in the photo are aloe, parsley, lavender, and rosemary. All live on a bench placed against the south-facing windows of our bedroom.

One morning I decided that I'd make rosemary-lemon chicken for supper, so I ran upstairs to snip a sprig of rosemary. Then I cut a lemon in half and placed both halves of the lemon into the chicken, along with a clove of garlic. After pouring a little white wine over the chicken and sprinkling it with a bit of salt and quite a bit of pepper, I put the lid on the Crockpot and turned it on to Low.

I was a little surprised when I served the chicken that evening, that it tasted a little 'off.' After all, I loved rosemary-lemon chicken, and the last time I'd made it, it was delicious! This chicken certainly smelled good; it just didn't taste right. It wasn't until later that evening when I walked past those plants to climb into bed, that I realized I had snipped a sprig of the wrong plant. You'll have to admit that rosemary and lavender look a lot alike! But trust me - rosemary goes much better with lemon in a chicken recipe.

Tuppence on Break

I suspect that the only way to avoid cooking disasters altogether is to stay away from the kitchen! But that wouldn't be fun, would it.

As you can see from the post, the recipe is actually contained within. I mean, how hard is cutting a lemon and a sprig of rosemary, pouring a little white wine on a chicken in a Crockpot and turning it to Low? Evidently, harder for some of us than for others. It might be a good idea to label that rosemary plant.

What's your cooking or baking disaster?

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch.com

 This post is linked to some or all of the following: Amaze Me Monday and Skip to My Lou and Bedazzle Me Monday and  What's in the Gunny Sack and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Made By You Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Tip Me Tuesday and  Made from Scratch Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and  Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays  and Two Maids a Baking and Overflowing With Creativity and What's Cookin' Wednesday and Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Link it Up Thursday and Threading Your Way and Lisa's Gluten-Free Blog and Favorite Things Friday and I'm Lovin' it Friday and It's a Hodgepodge Friday  and Creative Bloggers and  Serenity Saturday and  Home and Family Friday

Homemade Rosemary Mint Soap

Rosemary Mint

Homemade Soap - All Natural

If you like herbal scents, you will love this new homemade Rosemary Mint hot process soap. Rosemary and Peppermint Essential Oils and pulverized dried rosemary from my little herb garden blended with quality base oils to produce a great lathering and gentle herbal soap. It was difficult to capture the color, but it is a light brown with a slight green cast to it.

Some say that rosemary, as aromatherapy, is good as an anxiety reliever. Shakespeare said it's good for remembrance (or at least I think that's what he said). Peppermint is uplifting and invigorating. Together, they make a wonderful combination that you will enjoy in the shower or bath. Breathe deeply!

Each hand cut soap comes with its own distinctive label and is wrapped in a clear cello bag, ready to give as a gift. 

Complete ingredient list and other details can be found at www.homemadesoapnsuch.com 


Note: Pregnant or nursing women should not use rosemary.

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoap'n'Such

This post is linked to some or all of the following:  Mop it Up Monday and French Obsession and  Skip to My Lou and Bedazzle Me Monday and  What's in the Gunny Sack and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Made By You Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Tip Me Tuesday and  Made from Scratch Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and  Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays  and Two Maids a Baking and Overflowing With Creativity and What's Cookin' Wednesday and Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Link it Up Thursday and Crafty Friday (Thursday) and Threading Your Way and Lisa's Gluten-Free Blog and Favorite Things Friday and I'm Lovin' it Friday and It's a Hodgepodge Friday  and Creative Bloggers and  Serenity Saturday and  Home and Family Friday 

Our Righteousness - The Fast Track to Hell

Yorkminster

It seems so counter-intuitive, doesn't it.  I mean, righteousness is what it's all about when standing before the holy and just God of the Universe, isn't it.

I wonder how many of us, growing up in the church, had our list of 'righteous' accomplishments that we could check off, to ensure our righteous standing before God:

1. I was baptized
2. I was confirmed in the church
3. I walked down the aisle
4. I asked Jesus to come into my heart
5. I went to Bible camp and Sunday School
6. I went to church every Sunday, Wednesday, and sometimes in between!
7. I give to the church
8. I don't cheat on my taxes
9. I am good to my husband/wife/children

etc.

We've ticked off all the boxes on our list and we're in good.

At least we're pretty sure we're in good.

But Jesus said that whoever is guilty of one part of the law is guilty of all.

WHAT??!

The Law of God shows us how sinful we truly are before a holy God.

But what about my righteousness? What about that list? I've accomplished them all. I'm a moral person!

What is moral?? Unless we are comparing it to the Law of God, morality is only a subjective thing and can mean anything we want it to, or that a group of people agree upon. But that's not God's idea of morality.

God said that 'all our righteousness is filthy rags' before Him.  Isaiah 64:6

All of us have become like one who is unclean,
   and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
   and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

I don't get it.  What's so bad about me? I know lots of other people who are worse.

Right. We all do, for we're comparing ourselves with one another, not with a holy God.

The Law shows us our sinfulness so that we come to an end of our selves. Working hard to earn our salvation? Ticking off all the boxes?  Give it up already! We are only fooling ourselves.

Only Jesus was perfect. Only Jesus kept the whole Law of God. Only Jesus is righteous before God.

So, given the story thus far, we are in an utterly hopeless state. All of us. We are all of Adam's fallen race.

BUT THERE'S HOPE!
ENTER Jesus.

Jesus, God in the flesh, came to earth, lived the perfect sinless life, completely fulfilled the Law of God, then went to the cross and paid the price for OUR sin to satisfy the justice of a holy God.

Why would He do this???  No clue, except that we were totally unable to help ourselves and He loved us enough to take the punishment we deserved.

'But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' - Romans 5:8

Jesus is our only hope before a holy God. And there we find perfect righteousness - not ours, but Jesus'. And we are SAFE. No more boxes to tick off, no more trying to be better than the next guy, no more working so hard to be acceptable.

We trust in Christ alone. We don't put our trust in a baptism, in a confirmation, in a prayer that was prayed to invite Jesus into our hearts (and where did that come from anyway?).

We look only to Jesus and His righteousness. We throw ourselves on the mercy of God. We follow Him. Daily.

He takes our sin and gives us His righteousness in return, so that we can stand justified before a holy God. That's the deal. That's the whole deal. That's the only deal -

for those who put their trust in Him alone, His righteousness is credited to our account.

It is truly amazing grace.

'This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.' Romans 3:22-24

Better yet, drag out your Bible and read the entire book of Romans. It will shed more light on God's wonderful gift to us in Jesus Christ, His Son.

Bill's Barn on a Winter Afternoon

Neighbor Bill's Barn

Late Afternoon in February

You may be getting tired of seeing this barn in the various months of the year, but I never tire of looking at it. I especially love it in the late afternoon light of winter, when the near-setting sun casts a golden hue upon it.

You can see that we haven't had a lot of snow this winter (for which I'm SO thankful), and the temps haven't been too objectionable. Even after sundown this evening, it must have been in the 30s when I took the dogs outdoors. That's pretty amazing for NW Wisconsin in February.

I know that March is typically our snowiest month, but at least it won't stick around long if it does snow after the middle of March.

Speaking of March, I have got to order my Carmen Pepper seeds so I can get them started indoors, the beginning of March. (Note to self)

At the top center of the photo is where Othello was read, at the top of the bank beside the road - parts read by a homeschooled kid and her mom. And that reminded me of Generals Grant and Longstreet.

From: The Story of the Mexican War by Robert Selph Henry

'Forces at Corpus Christi numbered, by the middle of october, 1845, nearly 4,000 men, half of all the Army of the United States... The routine of daily drills was relieved, after the army was assembled, by almost daily horse races, by the exhibitions of an American circus which somehow managed to set up in business, and by the performance of a 'very clever company' of actors appearing in the army theater which opened its doors on January 8, 1846, under the general managership of courtly Captain John Bankhead Magruder - whose next duty in Texas was to be that of the major general commanding at Galveston for the Confederate States. Scenery for the theater, which seated 800, was painted by army men, and some of the plays were put on by army talent. One of the amateurs was Lieutenant U.S. Grant of the Fourth infantry, who according to the later recollections of Lieutenant James Longstreet managed to achieve so little feminine appeal in the part of Desdemona that the lieutenant playing opposite him balked at going on as Othello.'

I should have asked my son-in-law John, 'Which President of the United States played the part of Desdemona in Othello?'  He is amazing at Presidential trivia, but I bet I could have stumped him on this one. :-)

***

 

...and more! Check out all our handcrafted soaps at

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and at

our ETSY store

This post is linked to BARN CHARM and PHOTO FRIDAY 

 

Cashew Pork - Five Spice Powder - Recipe

 

Cashew Pork with Five Spice Powder

I've been making stir-fry recipes for eons. I love them. My kids grew up on them - well, except for one who hardly ever ate real food. I think he's so well preserved that his corpse will never rot.  But that's another story.

There are a few tricks to successful stir-fries. They are:

• Keeping fresh vegetables on hand
• Keeping a variety of meats on hand
• Planning 24 hours ahead, which means either
• Taking meat out of the freezer the night before (to partially thaw in the refrig) or
• Using meat fresh from the market if you don't mind cutting squishy meat. Ew.
• Keeping sauce ingredients on hand

So here we go.

Cashew Pork with Five Spice Powder - Recipe

Lean pork loin sliced in small, thin strips

1 hefty clove of garlic, minced or sliced

Olive oil, 1-2 T. in a large skillet

Heat oil over med-medhi heat and add meat and garlic. Stir-fry til meat is browned. Remove from heat.

In a second skillet, also with a bit of olive oil, stir-fry the following:

4 stalks of celery, sliced on the diagonal (more surface area to stir-fry, and it looks prettier)

1 onion, halved and sliced

Red sweet peppers, seeded and sliced (I use my Carmen peppers)
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

Whatever other vegetables you have on hand, e.g. broccoli, carrots, snow peas

Throw in drained water chestnuts if you have them.

After onions and peppers are translucent, remove that skillet from heat. Combine contents of both skillets into one. Actually, I start with both skillets going at the same time (one with meat, one with veggies) to make this getting-dinner process go faster.

In a small bowl, mix sauce ingredients:

1/2 c. GF Organic chicken broth (I find that Pacific is the one brand that doesn't give me a headache!)

2 T. white wine

1 scant t. honey

1 T. corn starch

Stir to dissolve honey and corn starch. Drizzle over stir-fry and re-heat stir-fry (stirring constantly - I use two pancake turners to do this) over med. heat until sauce is a clear glaze.

Sprinkle on 1/2 t. (or to taste) Chinese Five Spice Powder, a little salt, and a healthy dose of cayenne.

Serve.

Have a bowl of cashews on the table. I don't stir cashews into the recipe itself, for I don't want to ruin any possible leftovers with soggy cashews.

Some people like to serve rice with a stir-fry. If you want to do that, have your rice cooking while you're putting together this recipe. If it's basmati rice, it should be ready about the same time that your stirfry is ready. That's always handy! And over the past two years, I've made the shift from a bed of rice with stirfry on top - to just a sprinkling of rice on top of the stirfry.

This whole thing, from start to finish, takes no more than a half hour.

Be sure to let me know if you make this recipe, okay? And don't forget about that cayenne! :-)

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

Homemade Soap'n'Such

This post is linked to some or all of the following: Amaze Me Monday and Skip to My Lou and Bedazzle Me Monday and  What's in the Gunny Sack and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Made By You Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Tip Me Tuesday and  Made from Scratch Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and  Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays  and Two Maids a Baking and Overflowing With Creativity and What's Cookin' Wednesday and Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Link it Up Thursday and Threading Your Way and Lisa's Gluten-Free Blog and Favorite Things Friday and I'm Lovin' it Friday and It's a Hodgepodge Friday  and Creative Bloggers and  Serenity Saturday and  Home and Family Friday

Children's Knitted Sweaters

Henry's Sweater

Vanna's Choice 'Barley'

These two little hooded sweaters, size 2, were knitted before Christmas to give to the two youngest grandsons. I had intended to knit Glenn's sweater for his April birthday, but when I found that I had a couple weeks to work on it before Christmas, I decided to give myself the challenge of getting his sweater ready too! As it turned out, I was finishing it and putting the buttons on while the family was here for Christmas!

Glenn's Sweater

Vanna's Choice 'Oatmeal'

I used size 8 Addi Turbo circular needles and Vanna's Choice yarn. I love the look of the Oatmeal and Barley yarns. They look so natural and so preppy! And, I was able to find buttons that went perfectly with the two sweaters and still didn't cost an arm and a leg (as buttons are wont to do).

Admittedly, the sweaters are a bit big on the boys now, but I figure it would be way worse if they were too small. So, they'll grow into them.

The pattern I used is from Cottage Creations, 'Lillie's Little Sweater.' I had to add my own notes to it as I was knitting, for even the simplest of patterns has to be translated in my own wee brain after I've worked out the sticky bits.

Poor Henry - Most of the problems were worked out on his sweater. Still, I'll tell him that it carries the 'family heirloom -  first sweater that Grandma ever knit' title, (so we'll pretend that's worth something. :-)

And then in January, I knitted this little sweater, same pattern, with Wool-Ease Dark Rose Heather for a darling little baby girl named Priska. Isn't that the cutest name!

I love the little flower-shaped buttons!

If you look closely, you can see where I totally messed up on the cuff. But I was working with five needles at the time and felt like I was fighting a porcupine! It was horrid! I figured that Priska could use this as her work sweater, wearing it when she goes out to feed the chickens, perhaps. Oh wait. She is only a month old. That might not work.

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch.com

This post is linked to some or all of the following: Mop it Up Mondays and Skip to My Lou and Bedazzle Me Monday and  What's in the Gunny Sack and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Made By You Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Tip Me Tuesday and  Made from Scratch Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and  Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays  and Two Maids a Baking and Overflowing With Creativity and What's Cookin' Wednesday and Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Threading Your Way and Lisa's Gluten-Free Blog and Favorite Things Friday and I'm Lovin' it Friday and It's a Hodgepodge Friday  and Creative Bloggers and  Serenity Saturday and  Home and Family Friday

Christmas (Cactus) in February

My Christmas cactus

that evidently has not looked at the calendar

Right now, my Christmas cactus has more blossoms on it than it did at Christmastime. It's a real treat to have so many gorgeous blossoms on an indoor plant. It helps make February more tolerable.

And just a last reminder:

Today is the last day of my Hope of Spring 25% Off Sale on all my homemade soaps at Homemade Soap'n'Such.  So hurry on over. You won't want to miss this, and the sale ends at midnight tonight.

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoap'n'Such

Have a great weekend, everyone! 

My Second Bloggiversary

First, just a quick reminder of my 25% off Hope of Spring sale on my luxury homemade soaps (at Homemade Soap'n'Such) running this week only, February 6-10. Sale ends Friday night at midnight.

Yorkshire, Scottish Blackface Sheep - my favorite!

I wonder if he'd loan me enough wool to knit a scarf?

 
It was two years ago today that I put up my FIRST BLOG POST  for all the world to see (Okay, make that about 2 people - Debbie and Kevin). I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, except that I was being pestered by a friend to start blogging. I listened to her. What was I thinking?? :-)

Actually, I've really enjoyed blogging the past two years. I've noticed a trend toward fewer words and more pictures in my posts, however.  I know that people are busy and may appreciate less text and more photos. I can do that.

I tend to write about whatever strikes me. Some kindly call my blog 'eclectic.' That's a nice way of saying that I don't seem to have any particular focus. :-)  My posts usually revolve around the following subjects:

• Favorite Recipes
• Arts and Crafts, including my handcrafted soaps, knitting, baking, cooking, sewing, etc.
• Gardening and canning
• My dogs and cats, those delightful creatures whom we love and who keep us awake at night... and sheep. No, I don't have sheep, but if I could import a Yorkshire/Scottish Blackface, I would! I suspect that Kevin would frown upon keeping him in the house, however.
• Our home, and the things we occasionally do to improve it
• Books I love, including those by C.S. Lewis, R.C. Sproul, G.K. Chesterton, Francis Schaeffer, Dorothy L. Sayers, etc.
• Scripture to ponder, especially those involving God's amazing mercy and grace, shown in sending His only Son to rescue sinful people - like me.
• Vintage, or things I've had around quite a while and thought weren't worth anything til I saw the same things in an antique store. (I still can't think of 70s clothing or decor as 'vintage.' To me they are simply an example of poor taste. Sorry to the younger generation who seem to love it.) :-)
• Travel, to infinity and beyond (but most likely Wisconsin, Texas, and England - I have not lost hope about returning to England.)
• Family, including those irresistible grandchildren 

 Eeyore, a happy defender of the Second Amendment

  Flags at Brit's Pub, Minneapolis
(one of my favorite places to go for dinner - on special occasions)

I've met some great bloggers over the past couple years, and although there are many blogs I love to visit, due to keeping this short, I will mention only a few of them here.  The following have been great readers and 'commenters' on Cranberry Morning, nearly since the beginning...and I appreciate it!

Mary, from Food Floozie, is a delightful blogger who has managed to find just about every cool place to eat in the Ann Arbor, MI area! (and on a budget as well!) She shares her thoughts and recipes and great Ann Arbor places on a nearly daily basis.

Jenn, from Jenn's Food Journey, is a terrific griller. With lots of wonderful recipes for the grill, and some for the smoker, she manages to entice us all with her enthusiasm and encouragement! So many of my recipe files have the name 'Jenn' next to them!

Gloria, from Under Her Wings, has become a great 'virtual friend.' Although she lives a long way from NW Wisconsin, I feel like I know her. She always has great insights into Scripture (and human nature) and brings me daily inspirational posts.

Pam, from Empty Nester is an amazing goal setter. Living in the South, she has such un-Scandinavian events as oyster roasts and beach parties! With a lovely family and cute Tucker (her dog), she has a great sense of humor which entertains and uplifts her readers.

J - on-Tour@Jayzspaze is from Northern England where he writes about that corner of the world. He's a great walker/ tour guide /writer and brings us seriously good posts packed full of information and wonderful photos he's taken. If  you're thinking about taking a trip to England, you should definitely check out his blog.

Jane, from Midwest to Midlands, posts daily gorgeous photos from the heart of England. Stunning photography of that enchanted island (and a hint of jealously) take me to her blog on a regular basis!

So let me close by telling all who follow Cranberry Morning just how much I appreciate you and your very welcome comments. I love hearing from you! Thanks for being such an encouragement to me. :-)

If you've just happened upon this blog, I'd love it if you'd follow along and keep the conversation going!

Thanks!

...and more! Check out all my soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch.com

25% off Hope of Spring sale - this week only, Feb 6-10

  Starting in the upper left and going clockwise:

The Subtle Rose

Clover Blossom

Tropical Vanilla Bean

Incense Pleasure Patchouli

These are just a few of my homemade soaps 

that are on sale this week only 

February 6-10. Sale ends Friday at midnight.

Just a reminder:

This week, (February 6 - February 10) I am hosting a Hope of Spring 25% Off Sale on all my homemade soaps. Just use the Add-to-Cart buttons to choose your soaps, and at checkout, in message to seller space provided, type in 'Spr25'. Supplies are limited. I make my soap in small batches. If I am unable to fill a quantity of a particular soap you request, I will email you to ask for a second choice. Thank you for being understanding!

Since Paypal does not make it easy to offer a discount, I will simply refund, through Paypal, the 25% of your order total (offer does not apply to S&H). So, you make your purchase and when I get your order, I will refund 25% of your order total through Paypal.

For example, let's suppose you place an order for 12 bars of my homemade soaps. You will be saving $13.50 off the current price by purchasing these luxury soaps this week, during our Hope of Spring offer.

Due to the sharp rise in cost of my soap-making supplies (you know, all those great-quality base, essential, and fragrance oils we all love?), I am going to have to raise my per bar price to $4.85. The price increase will be in effect as of Monday, February 13, 2012. And at that time, the Buy Five Get One Free offer will resume.

So I hope you will drag out your calendar, make your list for Birthdays, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, New Baby, New Mama, Secretary's Day, etc. and take this fantastic opportunity to stock up on the highest quality, luxury soaps for you, your family, and your friends. As you can read from testimonials on the sidebar at www.homemadesoapnsuch.com , you are gonna love them!

Remember, each bar of my luxury, homemade soap comes wrapped in its own special label and is enclosed in a cello bag. Makes a perfect gift!

I make my soap in small batches, and this fabulous offer ends Friday at midnight. When it's over, it's over. So hurry on over to Homemade Soap'n'Such (or click on the link below).You won't be sorry.

P.S. And please, pass the word along to your family and friends!

Thanks!

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

Homemade Soap'n'Such