Amish Photos and Hodgepodging the Generation Gap

I'm finishing up the Amish pics from our visit to southern Wisconsin a couple weeks ago. 

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 She writes the questions;

we write the answers.

Plug them into your own blog

and join in.

1. What's something you might say runs in your family?

Humor. My dad and his siblings all had a wonderful sense of humor and although I think my mom had a more difficult life and saw things more seriously, her siblings were all fun and funny, and my cousins are all a little crazy and funny. It's quite wonderful. Mr. C.'s parents both had a good sense of humor and so do his siblings. Our kids do, and for an example, last weekend (see previous post) family was here and we were watching White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.  At one point in the afternoon, I looked at our daughter and said with all sincerity, 'You are a beautiful woman, Honey.' She turned to me and said, 'Muuutual, I'm suuuuuure,' like the annoying blonde from White Christmas. Of course it cracked me up. We can't have a conversation without laughing. Or occasionally crying.

2. I read here a list of ten things you should do before 2017 arrives (in less than six weeks!)...which tasks on the list might you do? What would you add to your own 'before the year ends' list?

visit your Dr. or dentist, deep clean your home, donate unwanted items to charity, look someone in the eye and tell them you love them, write an honest letter to yourself, clean up your inbox-desktop-photos, travel to a place you haven't been, compliment a stranger, watch the sunrise, think ahead to your goals/plans for the new year.

I think the only ones I've not done are travel to a place I've not been and deep clean my home. This is not the time of year to venture into unknown territory.

Brussels Sprouts on an Amish farm

Waiting at the Hardware Store

3. What's something other generations (not your own) misunderstand about your generation?

Yes, we may look ancient, but we still have a few synapses firing. Well, usually. And we could teach you a thing or two.

Amish farm

Same farm, zooming in on the popcorn hung to dry

4. Sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread dressing-which would you miss the most if it weren't on the holiday dinner menu?

I didn't know there was any stuffing other than sage and onion. I would miss nothing else.  Just give me the stuffing.

5. What are you overthinking right now?

The kittens.

6. Your favorite slang word lately?

Whaaaaat???? (said with my son-in-law's voice)

SE of Westby
Winding, narrow roads

7. Write an acrostic for the word grateful.

God

Rules

Always.

Truth

Eternal,

Faithful.

Unsurpassed

Love. 

And on those winding roads, a huge grain semi

 8.  Insert your own random thought here.

This relates to the over-thinking question. I put a listing on Craigslist for the three adorable kittens and their wonderful mama. I was so sad to have to do that, but Tuppence Meowed at me in no uncertain terms that I was 'RUINING HER LIFE.'  I don't want to ruin her life. She's been a wonderful cat and apparently old dogs aren't the only ones that are rigid and inflexible. She's in no mood to be nice to anyone but me, and especially to some upstart whippersnapper kittens and their mother. Did I say how sad this makes me?  I was really truly hoping...But, the day I placed the ad, I received a text message from a family who wants to come look at them and may be interested in the whole kit and kaboodle. To me, this is an absolute miracle. Of course they haven't visited yet, but once they see those kittens, I can tell you it will be a DONE DEAL. 

He made it.
The end.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Everyone!

 

 ***

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Through November 30 
 

Christmas Hearth
Natural Vegan Soap

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

and at

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Join me on Instagram: @cranberrymorning

Wisconsin Barns and Good Fences

These were drive-by photos taken with my cell phone. Barns were somewhere just south of Ellsworth, WI or just south of Red Wing, MN. I think it's the same barn in both photos. You would think that I would know for sure, but I was taking photos with both my cellphone and my regular Panasonic camera, both on the way to Rochester and on the way back. It can get confusing, especially since I've not yet taken the time to go through all my photos and nail down locations.

It's only a three-hour drive from our home to Rochester, MN, but it is a beautiful drive, especially once you get near the Mississippi River. The bluffs, THE RIVER, the hills. I'm planning to make that trip again next summer, just because of the gorgeous scenery. There are several places along the river to pull off and enjoy a picnic while watching Old Man River. So it's not just Lake Superior that feels like a geographical anchor, but also that huge Mississippi River. I don't know how else to explain it.

Anyway...in the meantime, Winter's back.

And so am I.

Linking to Theresa's GOOD FENCES

Christmas Soaps are Ready!
I will not be making more Christmas soaps
this season.

BUY FIVE, GET ONE FREE

'Christmas Morning'

Natural, Handcrafted, Vegan Soap

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

HomemadeSoapNSuch

and at

Our ETSY Shop 

 

Making Soaps for Christmas

Just in case anyone has ever wondered about the mysterious process of soapmaking, here are a few photos I took of my equipment and supplies that might (or might not) be of interest to the uninitiated:

Several stainless steel bowls/pans

Several all-natural base oils

Lye

Distilled Water

Natural colorants (like powdered sandalwood,
madder root, French green clay, etc.)

Essential Oils

Fragrance Oils

Botanicals (like oatmeal, rosemary, lavender, etc.)

Several wire whisks

Stick blender

Several spatulas

Scale that weighs in ounces

Thermometers

Large (as in huge) stainless steel spoon

Large plastic spoon

Smaller spoons

Wooden molds (designed by me, made by Mr. C.)

Freezer paper

Apron

Goggles 

Rubber gloves

...and probably some other things I'm forgetting at the moment.

Oils and lye water getting to temperature

'Sweet Baby Calendula' with
all-natural, calendula-infused olive oil

poured into the freezer-paper-lined mold

Ready to cure

After the soap has its initial cure,

I cut the soap log and set the bars out on drying racks

Some Christmas soaps on my drying racks

And here they are, photographed and
 ready to go to my website and Etsy shop.

Each bar is 4.5-5 oz.
Every bar is vegan.

When I get a soap order,

the bars are each labeled with their specific label

placed in a clear cello bag,

and sealed with a gold paper seal.

Then they are carefully wrapped and placed in a bubble wrap mailer
along with a little card that explains how to care for
your handcrafted soap,

and off they go to the post office.

And there you have it!

***

Buy any 5 or more, Get 1 FREE

 Check out all my handcrafted vegan soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

and at

Our ETSY Shop 


 

Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties:  Amaze Me Monday and Inspiration Monday and Mosaic Monday and The Barn Collective and    Treasure Box Tuesday and Vintage Bliss Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Our World Tuesday and Tuesdays at our Home and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Vintage Inspiration Wednesday and Ivy and Elephants Wednesday and Adorned From Above  and Artsy Corner Thursday and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Saturday's Critters

Homemade Natural Vegan Soaps for Spring

'What on earth is this????'

you may ask

 Well, it's what comes after THIS:

and sometimes THIS:

and THIS:

and THIS:

and after a few other steps involving magic, it turns out like THIS:

Coconut & Lime

Natural, Homemade Vegan Soap

Moisturizing, Natural, Gentle, and an Amazing Fragrance!

And check out these other natural vegan soaps

at

HomemadeSoapnSuch

and at

Our ETSY Shop

All my homemade vegan soaps are made with only natural base oils,

plus essential oils or quality fragrance oils,

botanicals

and only natural colorants

(I'm keeping those secret, but you'd find many in your spice cupboard!)

And don't forget, it's always Buy Five or More, Get One FREE.

And there are many more!

Now don't you feel guilty for thinking that I just sat around all day, eating bonbons????   I should think so! LOL 

So what kind of fragrance lover are YOU?  Floral, Spicy, Woody, Fruity, Herbal?

Inquiring minds want to know!!  That means, I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment telling me which you prefer! or do you like a combination?

Although I usually forget to do it, there is an outside chance that this post will be linked to one or more of the following: Inspiration Monday and  Mosaic Monday and The Marketplace  and Market Yourself Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Treasure Box Tuesday  and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday  and What we Accomplished Wednesday and Whatever Goes Wednesday and  Adorned From Above  and Rurality Blog Hop and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday and Good Fences and  Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Weekend Reflections and  Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and The Charm of Home and  Share Your Creativity and A Favorite Thing Saturday and Weekly Top Shot and Shadow Shot Sunday and  Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday

Wildflowers in July and Clover Blossom Vegan Soap

Red Clover Blossoms

July in Wisconsin

Summertime is finally here and I am enjoying temps in the upper 70s and 80s.  It's a pet peeve of mine that just when we're finally starting to thaw out from the long winter, the AC in stores is cranked up (or down) so that you need a sweater!

But in the wonderful outdoors, it's the perfect time of year to find wild red clover in NW Wisconsin.  Wildflowers abound, and if you scroll down, you'll see some of the many photos I took on Saturday's walk along our road. There is such variety. I'm talking about the 'weeds' in the ditches along a one-mile stretch! Just when I thought I'd taken enough photos, I'd spot another type of wildflower and had to take a photo of that one too. It does become an addiction, I think.

 'Clover Blossom'

Natural, Homemade Vegan Soap

***

And now, what you've all been waiting for!  (Wasn't that from Rocky and Bullwinkle? I heard Rocky's voice when I typed it.)

In the allium family, I suspect (3.5 inches in diam.) and daisies

Daisies, of course

According to TexWisGirl, this is 'Devil's Paintbrush'

which I'd always known as 'Indian Paintbrush.'

New little maples

Sweet Little Buttercup??

Morning Glory

Pink, Wild Rose

Speedwell or Treadwell (I think)

Clover

Trefoil

More Trefoil

White yarrow

If you know that I've got any of these identified incorrectly, please let me know in a comment. This was probably about 3/4 of the different wildflower species I photographed. There are more.

***

 Buy Any Five, Get One FREE

'Clover Blossom'

Natural, Vegan, Handcrafted Soap

Clover Blossom Homemade Vegan Soap is luscious and has that irresistible, fresh clover floral fragrance.

Check it out.  By the way, if you're not familiar with Etsy, it may help to know that when you scroll down any soap's entry and click on the blue link, 'Show Item Details,' you will find a complete ingredient list for that particular soap.

 Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

and at

Our ETSY Store 

This post may be linked to one or more of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and Get in My Tummy and  Cure for the Common Monday and  Clever Chicks Blog Hop and  Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and Sunny Simple Monday and     Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Creative Showcase and Memories by the Mile and Crafty Texas Girls and  Tweak it Tuesday and Effort and Assets and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and Love Bakes Good Cakes and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Wildcrafting Wednesday and   Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Girl Creative, Thursday and  Creative Things Thursday and Be Inspired and Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Friday Fences and  Thursday's Inspiration and  The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and Creative Things Thursday and   Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and Share Your Creativity and   A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday and  Market Yourself Monday and  Saturday Nite Special