tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58737295177400969602024-03-18T19:35:54.016-07:00Blog of the Soap PixieMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.comBlogger346125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-33905545172300662802024-03-04T14:28:00.000-08:002024-03-04T14:31:35.987-08:00ANNOUNCING OUR NEW NEWSLETTER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdRFdBnt2tr9CifNcvb4-Ce6a2e4SU4f9nCFEB2jg7s4b21cbg7BcuNfItD8iVA9xF3qWCWM3hTZ7pVTHXCt-Al2d6OGWdLxsOY3xBwWaaOiwVKATjfAu-bEFjn5NjOFNZFy_r3iymaeqOxh49i53U06E3HmrMc_hSgtV-JMITA9ZHZ_oMUuE5Upm1rRX/s1456/Screenshot%202024-03-04%20at%204.16.52%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="1456" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdRFdBnt2tr9CifNcvb4-Ce6a2e4SU4f9nCFEB2jg7s4b21cbg7BcuNfItD8iVA9xF3qWCWM3hTZ7pVTHXCt-Al2d6OGWdLxsOY3xBwWaaOiwVKATjfAu-bEFjn5NjOFNZFy_r3iymaeqOxh49i53U06E3HmrMc_hSgtV-JMITA9ZHZ_oMUuE5Upm1rRX/w640-h178/Screenshot%202024-03-04%20at%204.16.52%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>It's that time of year again when we begin planning for upcoming craft markets and this time I wanted to do something a little different. I decided to start a monthly newsletter for anyone who loves Soap Pixie products and enjoys free recipes, craft ideas, nature photos, the occasional coupon for soap, etc... </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not a fan of the "buy and bye" of today's consumer market, I prefer to connect with customers in a more wholesome way. Most business newsletters always focus on marketing and although I'll definitely include information about my favorite soap of the month and what craft markets we are doing or what soaps I'm making, I'd also like to utilized some of my knowledge in aromatherapy, herbalism, gardening, and crafting and I think a newsletter is a fun way to do that. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you'd like to receive The Soap Pixie newsletter, aptly titled Pixie Particulars, you can sign up at any of the spring, summer, fall, winter craft markets we'll be doing in 2024. The newsletter will be in digital format sent by <u>email only</u> every month. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our first market will be the Northfield Earth Day Celebration on April 27, 2024. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://northfieldearthday.com" target="_blank">NORTHFIELD EARTH DAY CELEBRATION</a><br /></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-67270855743877054112024-03-02T06:43:00.000-08:002024-03-02T06:45:24.494-08:00ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW!<p>My doctor has sent me to several people along my healing journey and everyone of them has been exceptionally nice, caring, intelligent, and helpful. If there were more doctors on this planet that put in as much effort as my doctor does into making her patients well and really truly caring about them I think the world would be in a much better place.</p><p>One of those amazing people my doctor has her patients work with is acupuncturist <a href="https://pointclinic.com" target="_blank">Hongji Bessler</a> and she is incredible, I can't rave about her enough. Truly magical. Without her being part of my medical team I don't believe I'd do as well as I do. Recently she started using electroacupuncture which stimulates the needles with an electrical current plus using herbs in conjunction with the treatment and it has made a big difference in how I feel by reducing pain and improving the flow in my digestive system. </p><p>If you've never considered trying electroacupuncture for pain relief but are curious to know more there are numerous studies available that highlight the benefits but I'll just share this one here. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3947586/#:~:text=These%20studies%20show%20that%20electroacupuncture,Hz%20than%20at%20100%20Hz." target="_blank">Mechanisms of Acupuncture-Electroacupuncture on Persistent Pain</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhnPMwKsyeXfZB8zMve3tJWZfsgOrK90fG4TtMoG7xumdKc_OyDl2AFTVN6MofCnhYkZE__9Y6_9pRkKMpualGgGYDG5qFvkPhXyn1VnNf4fNBgapMnj4Ii7dGDpV4MGgliubDnHkanVcfKvd7imNJ06QKNTYDgkimSWQYvBnuRELBppWCNim_Jd8-UIU/s1500/Untitled%20design-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhnPMwKsyeXfZB8zMve3tJWZfsgOrK90fG4TtMoG7xumdKc_OyDl2AFTVN6MofCnhYkZE__9Y6_9pRkKMpualGgGYDG5qFvkPhXyn1VnNf4fNBgapMnj4Ii7dGDpV4MGgliubDnHkanVcfKvd7imNJ06QKNTYDgkimSWQYvBnuRELBppWCNim_Jd8-UIU/w640-h640/Untitled%20design-2.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-73199402823709175692024-02-19T11:55:00.000-08:002024-02-19T11:55:47.030-08:00OUR FUR FAMILY NEEDS ALL THE GOOD THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS HE CAN GET<p>Our grand-dog has had so many health problems recently and there is the belief it may be caused by periodontal disease and fractured teeth. We almost lost him in December but by miracle he survived and tomorrow he'll be going in to have his teeth removed and the doctor will examine his mouth to see if she sees anything else. I'm so worried he won't survive the procedure. He has been on antibiotic numerous times since December to control the infection so my daughter doesn't have much of a choice right now on whether to address the teeth but it's going to be risky. Praying he'll survive and be a healthy boy again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N8YuQRpMQrsC0mno-z7ujRlQhLNvvt5ao0kd2UfUfWIpCUUKHe75AhvMvj3yaU1VFfiJs1b48Y_-Dle0jCalaIgjO6JBAx7bLh6KrAdCClA5j_H5GVCsCvSL1S4z0LTTFHbsP_Lj3klZ2X0ELEVij3CmwoOBogqMInFxOddt-G6Q0ckR0fjs_ru_vVNK/s1402/Screenshot%202024-02-19%20at%201.51.28%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="1252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N8YuQRpMQrsC0mno-z7ujRlQhLNvvt5ao0kd2UfUfWIpCUUKHe75AhvMvj3yaU1VFfiJs1b48Y_-Dle0jCalaIgjO6JBAx7bLh6KrAdCClA5j_H5GVCsCvSL1S4z0LTTFHbsP_Lj3klZ2X0ELEVij3CmwoOBogqMInFxOddt-G6Q0ckR0fjs_ru_vVNK/w572-h640/Screenshot%202024-02-19%20at%201.51.28%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="572" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-49531929812761864752024-02-17T15:20:00.000-08:002024-02-17T15:20:14.170-08:00TO BE GRATEFUL<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoFs0Zh6mY41AcN239jky1ZEbB0M3903llhwaG9tO1_Sr9SkmZqmebEqjwtyiraU3M9t0fvToEHmnBhaMXNgOHqt3jaRPC-qJSI8oIfnW1gjTFIrhEC0bOD70Q9YqR6jgg65PHrAw2Hbuugv-FI5xP2m29hXkjmPVY4F8H4zVlFUYBF_RDHDLe7U2qONp/s2000/I%E2%80%99m%20grateful%20for%20my%20daughters%20spending%20time%20with%20me%20today.%20Their%20willingness%20to%20go%20for%20a%20long%20nature%20walk.%20I%E2%80%99m%20grateful%20for%20our%20grand-dog%20being%20healthy%20and%20doing%20well%20on%20his%20new%20medication.-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoFs0Zh6mY41AcN239jky1ZEbB0M3903llhwaG9tO1_Sr9SkmZqmebEqjwtyiraU3M9t0fvToEHmnBhaMXNgOHqt3jaRPC-qJSI8oIfnW1gjTFIrhEC0bOD70Q9YqR6jgg65PHrAw2Hbuugv-FI5xP2m29hXkjmPVY4F8H4zVlFUYBF_RDHDLe7U2qONp/w640-h400/I%E2%80%99m%20grateful%20for%20my%20daughters%20spending%20time%20with%20me%20today.%20Their%20willingness%20to%20go%20for%20a%20long%20nature%20walk.%20I%E2%80%99m%20grateful%20for%20our%20grand-dog%20being%20healthy%20and%20doing%20well%20on%20his%20new%20medication.-2.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Despite my chronic health issues I'm so grateful for so much in my life. I'm grateful that my kids are happy and healthy, enjoying life. I'm grateful I have an awesome husband who always supports me. I'm grateful my grand-dog didn't die this past December and is still holding on and enjoying walks with us. I'm grateful for our beautiful home and the location we live, where we get to see wildlife every single day. </p><p>For a long time, many years, I'd journal anytime I was upset about something or just sad. I recently decided to start a daily gratitude journal. It helps to remind me to stop and reflect every day on what has gone well and how thankful I am for it. It really has helped my mood to bring into awareness all of the things that are good in my life, and there is so much. </p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-10024177461961992052024-02-10T09:17:00.000-08:002024-02-10T09:17:53.892-08:00NEVER ENDING HEALTH CHALLENGES<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lo_lO-cNSD6vpIszRXB1aTZ7RNljtxCe9A1xyF6KAmbiijQdWKPneZp4qXyXzDgyriMmLH6jqJ_UkeLRIspl8hfO3NIzW4biMCcgnMYQ2lYE0xudkFIWG_agPgThfThE9UK1L-xs7ahvqIENs9u19RHMlg5PSfkKtUyyHjioZyb39ZC04-2hTA3dHD5B/s2048/IMG_6936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lo_lO-cNSD6vpIszRXB1aTZ7RNljtxCe9A1xyF6KAmbiijQdWKPneZp4qXyXzDgyriMmLH6jqJ_UkeLRIspl8hfO3NIzW4biMCcgnMYQ2lYE0xudkFIWG_agPgThfThE9UK1L-xs7ahvqIENs9u19RHMlg5PSfkKtUyyHjioZyb39ZC04-2hTA3dHD5B/w480-h640/IMG_6936.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />My life was turned upside down in a single night October 2018. I went from having typical health challenges that everyone has as they get closer to 50 to fighting for my life. Multiple doctors from a variety of specialties, numerous SIBO treatments, a trip to Mayo, kidney surgery, and countless other diagnoses later, I am still fighting to be well. There has been a significant change in my mental health recently. I'm tired... really tired. Chronic illnesses take their toll on more than just a person's body. <p></p><p>I've lost my optimism, my hope for better. Yet I keep going because that's what I do. </p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-87570411902392137662023-11-13T07:00:00.001-08:002023-11-13T07:00:00.135-08:00RUN, RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN! YOU CAN'T CATCH ME, I'M THE GINGERBREAD MAN!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll have some gingerbread men available for purchase at the <a href="https://www.riverwalkmarketfair.org" target="_blank">Winter Market in Northfield</a> November 18th. These little soaps smell amazing, like freshly baked gingerbread cookies. Yummy! They are always a hit with our customers and sell out fast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzuQF9PgK_o2KA-l-Z9KA4JOQvwrcB4xsttAhWonjg450fCdeJCV4d1KgDeetvUY3FzZ8n9uUGhaRFYbpVsX4SqqJbpTpiK3jhVaWCQ7V6fJXU50ANP3xRxxj5WAfAeG2aExGtuE41ryzvgPC6Naophz6Wgj5fcT9emxiRIol9nEslpgffpKu0oxFbZU2/s3027/IMG_5060.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3027" data-original-width="2578" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzuQF9PgK_o2KA-l-Z9KA4JOQvwrcB4xsttAhWonjg450fCdeJCV4d1KgDeetvUY3FzZ8n9uUGhaRFYbpVsX4SqqJbpTpiK3jhVaWCQ7V6fJXU50ANP3xRxxj5WAfAeG2aExGtuE41ryzvgPC6Naophz6Wgj5fcT9emxiRIol9nEslpgffpKu0oxFbZU2/w546-h640/IMG_5060.heic" width="546" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-69770206221628948632023-11-11T16:35:00.004-08:002023-11-11T16:35:55.614-08:00UPCOMING CRAFT MARKETS, HERE WE COME!<p>We will be at the winter market in Nortfield Minnesota every other weekend starting November 18th. Here are a few of the soaps we'll have on hand.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hwOZMZ2vSuIjy5mxiaxgNwzvROHPcGi7Ij3LUn4f0lvaqTFLsq395CpJc5jg_SJMOM2fruq6KKepyngJXVVN73mYNpT89R_LD4OdEUTnIqz3rf55bRGTDQ7vdd7yeXa7Uj03QzLXN4NM12-J1h2-2W9ZpXZul8VI53ixa6QKnIx8M1FWacwUfzf_m37L/s2829/IMG_4846%202.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2151" data-original-width="2829" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hwOZMZ2vSuIjy5mxiaxgNwzvROHPcGi7Ij3LUn4f0lvaqTFLsq395CpJc5jg_SJMOM2fruq6KKepyngJXVVN73mYNpT89R_LD4OdEUTnIqz3rf55bRGTDQ7vdd7yeXa7Uj03QzLXN4NM12-J1h2-2W9ZpXZul8VI53ixa6QKnIx8M1FWacwUfzf_m37L/w640-h486/IMG_4846%202.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Q1Q7ulYCNRy75jZ_amY0SKVOKHNi9_DUuyV5PwppiAzI_U3kfnLZuZtzrCHiSyrPGWrc3Y_54RTl7AKFlbWFsaZkwxZMHilTeoolviI0xdZoAHM62DMrXn5BWLqhgD8UwtagK8x1ciko573SxGJno3FxglpfzskUkk96ULLVkmT2VEviqo_b4j-I5FaI/s2981/IMG_5055%202.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2522" data-original-width="2981" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Q1Q7ulYCNRy75jZ_amY0SKVOKHNi9_DUuyV5PwppiAzI_U3kfnLZuZtzrCHiSyrPGWrc3Y_54RTl7AKFlbWFsaZkwxZMHilTeoolviI0xdZoAHM62DMrXn5BWLqhgD8UwtagK8x1ciko573SxGJno3FxglpfzskUkk96ULLVkmT2VEviqo_b4j-I5FaI/w640-h542/IMG_5055%202.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I'm doing a set of videos for TikTok showing the soaps I've made inspired by some of my favorite Christmas movies. This one is inspired by the movie Jack Frost with Michael Keaton where he dies and comes back to life as a snowman. It's a very cute movie with lots of laughs and will make you cry too. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNGrfrLuYmwE4Hfr1ZaEUDp_6CqaKVLsEKT347V65s2Y37eKfEvWtG84jbka2Kmb536r51Gxqq8EYMufLJjq3GCH0xp3qKwkNcKGWzLem7jUQDyqnRMdcPYmjIBD4NMMkzfLYdtLlgfpspWQ1pHAQW4tspjFHFaN0lszBP0T8enTj8GMjpl8orG9ynlHr/s3839/IMG_5006%202.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2511" data-original-width="3839" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNGrfrLuYmwE4Hfr1ZaEUDp_6CqaKVLsEKT347V65s2Y37eKfEvWtG84jbka2Kmb536r51Gxqq8EYMufLJjq3GCH0xp3qKwkNcKGWzLem7jUQDyqnRMdcPYmjIBD4NMMkzfLYdtLlgfpspWQ1pHAQW4tspjFHFaN0lszBP0T8enTj8GMjpl8orG9ynlHr/w640-h418/IMG_5006%202.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-26077126468013014102023-10-16T18:27:00.006-07:002023-10-16T18:27:41.540-07:00SOME NEW GOODIES IN THE SHOP<p> I finally have the website back up and running. Phew! I've uploaded the new soaps that are for sale. Here are the latest.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Lemonade Stand</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQq5YQXr0DPQ2xzYqJ5_lAFJjxmCb7vesZTp8IPQwnvBnIGZBD9KOLz_dYRqRBWG9dQNM-J8QPIO-jztQz_yENhTxbMq7nDIdb-nibmn6z0VZT97MqnxxmatOzDCOVd03JQsRkUB0me2XeiqU5ulUBrNcUE5j7WV5kla_2HB0xIM4G0IunMvKIaPO6vxiT/s2939/IMG_4506%203.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2802" data-original-width="2939" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQq5YQXr0DPQ2xzYqJ5_lAFJjxmCb7vesZTp8IPQwnvBnIGZBD9KOLz_dYRqRBWG9dQNM-J8QPIO-jztQz_yENhTxbMq7nDIdb-nibmn6z0VZT97MqnxxmatOzDCOVd03JQsRkUB0me2XeiqU5ulUBrNcUE5j7WV5kla_2HB0xIM4G0IunMvKIaPO6vxiT/w640-h610/IMG_4506%203.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Smell the Rainbow</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHJSy3Dd26spb_gS350TteNYejIgh_-pTXpCAdwioN_ZWcvqzKx_Cj0m-RNPqKM0tytxLbXxr7tQECzHr8_CBIREK43g_DPkrFcBnuc2Rqwf-ynuPheCnwxw5kllVCv1X7F5NK8U1iG5-lYpGyaXRz_LbMJmDWea32qRHfh27LvOwxKws2mzVr9QS7Nqh/s3024/IMG_4507%202.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2665" data-original-width="3024" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHJSy3Dd26spb_gS350TteNYejIgh_-pTXpCAdwioN_ZWcvqzKx_Cj0m-RNPqKM0tytxLbXxr7tQECzHr8_CBIREK43g_DPkrFcBnuc2Rqwf-ynuPheCnwxw5kllVCv1X7F5NK8U1iG5-lYpGyaXRz_LbMJmDWea32qRHfh27LvOwxKws2mzVr9QS7Nqh/w640-h564/IMG_4507%202.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pumpkin Souffle</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiht0CowQ1ary-FcszVmI8vCuP6LdEqjXs2PrNUFKSc_NgYJ_ThSbYm5lkwmrhEX1YuJ6YwdNzhwCNZWK1MI61WewUaYutt5yLJ0HMm3sMDiwNePdKF6bvJUihsAAQsLZ5I1fOpG2gxWIL_ShSxTrYhRtpI553kABdjuH2JyJ-YCFJtlisb2EimtEZPfk/s3020/6AE31246-5E47-4043-85E1-0ED760049F2E%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2743" data-original-width="3020" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiht0CowQ1ary-FcszVmI8vCuP6LdEqjXs2PrNUFKSc_NgYJ_ThSbYm5lkwmrhEX1YuJ6YwdNzhwCNZWK1MI61WewUaYutt5yLJ0HMm3sMDiwNePdKF6bvJUihsAAQsLZ5I1fOpG2gxWIL_ShSxTrYhRtpI553kABdjuH2JyJ-YCFJtlisb2EimtEZPfk/w640-h582/6AE31246-5E47-4043-85E1-0ED760049F2E%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spearmint</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjY5T2owBa1mBAuJ2pMsV36tkw82a46BSeNpUfjOj9ZVnki2Zkh0h0MINi0he9JbaQAs5LgZSJiCDtQfcYk011xHZqRyNLbBFPh5CtpjI7u1g39oFLIC0ubRU-Mn3SvNq48lyccosSd6shDrXVfm9ThuhwRwK8eF5OwxV7aRjoxUNUSTTtsn5qUfha4X4L/s2511/IMG_4514%202.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2381" data-original-width="2511" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjY5T2owBa1mBAuJ2pMsV36tkw82a46BSeNpUfjOj9ZVnki2Zkh0h0MINi0he9JbaQAs5LgZSJiCDtQfcYk011xHZqRyNLbBFPh5CtpjI7u1g39oFLIC0ubRU-Mn3SvNq48lyccosSd6shDrXVfm9ThuhwRwK8eF5OwxV7aRjoxUNUSTTtsn5qUfha4X4L/w640-h606/IMG_4514%202.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-21149902110216702302023-09-29T06:00:00.000-07:002023-09-29T06:00:00.142-07:00I MADE A CAKE!<p>I am so proud of myself. I am a terrible cook and even worse at baking but I actually whipped up something on my own (sort of) and my family loved it! </p><p>Nearly 30 years ago a friend of mine had made this really delicious cake for her daughter's birthday. The frosting was so yummy. I liked it so much I asked her to make it for me again when I had a staff meeting to go to. Of course it was a hit. Everyone wanted to know what the delicious frosting was made of. When I asked my friend what the secret recipe was she laughed and said "it's just cool whip and pudding." I couldn't believe it. </p><p>I was thinking about that cake the other day, trying to remember how she made it, and decided to give it a try. I knew she used a box cake mix but wasn't sure which kind. She also used some type of lemon filling but I wasn't sure if it was lemon curd or lemon pie filling so I just got lemon curd. Her cake was two layers and she spread the lemon filling in between the layers. So I bought a lemon cake mix but instead of making two layers I just made one layer and used an injection tool to inject the lemon curd throughout the cake. I found the closest cool whip frosting recipe I could on <a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/8465/cool-whipped-frosting/" target="_blank">All Recipes</a> and used that to cover the cake and then topped with lemon zest. The family is obsessed. Gobbled up the entire thing and now want me to make it again. I wish I could eat it!!!!! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4Z5efxEXHYiN3qe03YTruj0TJenGNpCAhcKNKB3DVAmOsDEINJUvWCy0vV6WJpo9KWqsFFzMCv7tKppDIJ6cClQhQBjuJ9BbL9HpF-A1T0eRuyVPYwHPZXffOjVvhE4pHBobinxTcohuJK-GN84b06mmS3m4_Nno4OfKKU8vmuI3gfHyFPRUXHoPyPbj/s1214/Screenshot%202023-09-23%20at%206.08.17%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1214" data-original-width="1160" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4Z5efxEXHYiN3qe03YTruj0TJenGNpCAhcKNKB3DVAmOsDEINJUvWCy0vV6WJpo9KWqsFFzMCv7tKppDIJ6cClQhQBjuJ9BbL9HpF-A1T0eRuyVPYwHPZXffOjVvhE4pHBobinxTcohuJK-GN84b06mmS3m4_Nno4OfKKU8vmuI3gfHyFPRUXHoPyPbj/w612-h640/Screenshot%202023-09-23%20at%206.08.17%20PM.png" width="612" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6ttWrI-ryLHm-BHaf5uJsB7CmF7Hh3VGM1etVBVK-f3Vu9ZzO2UTiZDoL2synAhHUa4vG1tTwm7Rqod80AynVBBWX3R4NnGlEk1sQU_5Fd_B9x1CJF3XHSXTo430NorAGsHEpUr3VwhAKPJbThRxz74ju0Q-twcHiDWq9QkbEFIKxc6E_cuh8_AxO4oR/s1310/Screenshot%202023-09-23%20at%206.08.34%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="1166" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6ttWrI-ryLHm-BHaf5uJsB7CmF7Hh3VGM1etVBVK-f3Vu9ZzO2UTiZDoL2synAhHUa4vG1tTwm7Rqod80AynVBBWX3R4NnGlEk1sQU_5Fd_B9x1CJF3XHSXTo430NorAGsHEpUr3VwhAKPJbThRxz74ju0Q-twcHiDWq9QkbEFIKxc6E_cuh8_AxO4oR/w570-h640/Screenshot%202023-09-23%20at%206.08.34%20PM.png" width="570" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-75882625434141758292023-09-27T06:00:00.000-07:002023-09-27T06:00:00.141-07:00THERAPY COWS? <p>After nearly 5 years of struggling to find someone to help me with my medical issues I finally have a doctor that I really like and I believe wants to help me. One of the things that makes her even more amazing and unique is her clinic location. She built a clinic on her property in Wisconsin and it's such a wonderful place. The drive there is so beautiful and relaxing and then being there feels like being at a bed and breakfast or a spa retreat. The cows roaming the property are a bonus. I think all clinics should be in serene locations. It makes a world of difference for patients. I could probably commune with the cows and make a complete recovery just from that. 💜</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7LmBOQAJPSiWPLVifmZ7boj83MUDJBI5NA5aKZjdDFLkFeqCEzOzT5GPV4PINHODbljtM8SgP5EvyKiMy2i4UWG3Vr92QIg6mY4lrAXbUaJ0U7YJWcRcG0G59M3JrGYdZ3nE34ROeEBMeasOoyq706eAZ7LtG4LSpnRrxPYE39bMXZRwccQGO2i7msrI/s1280/IMG_3984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1098" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7LmBOQAJPSiWPLVifmZ7boj83MUDJBI5NA5aKZjdDFLkFeqCEzOzT5GPV4PINHODbljtM8SgP5EvyKiMy2i4UWG3Vr92QIg6mY4lrAXbUaJ0U7YJWcRcG0G59M3JrGYdZ3nE34ROeEBMeasOoyq706eAZ7LtG4LSpnRrxPYE39bMXZRwccQGO2i7msrI/w550-h640/IMG_3984.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQT_NII_sQkIdp1IBvfSxcQRSAMGfqOgjpCaEgEEn4rZdtiinXyuDX2JPcE0-cIqGLYGemm4IsrtiwXRWhZaP2opcahWgA6hpOotVCPEqICy7Y3kWzrqHNCg0cs5avtIabHpWIR_WB-s7cXYvkgie7P2YU9i_7awHCzhTO9kyrQaOYqTges1FmmyY02JIk/s2016/IMG_3867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQT_NII_sQkIdp1IBvfSxcQRSAMGfqOgjpCaEgEEn4rZdtiinXyuDX2JPcE0-cIqGLYGemm4IsrtiwXRWhZaP2opcahWgA6hpOotVCPEqICy7Y3kWzrqHNCg0cs5avtIabHpWIR_WB-s7cXYvkgie7P2YU9i_7awHCzhTO9kyrQaOYqTges1FmmyY02JIk/w480-h640/IMG_3867.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-48243957627510176952023-09-25T06:00:00.001-07:002023-09-25T06:00:00.139-07:00LUFFA, LOOFAH, LUFA, LOFA, LUFA<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Is there really a right way to spell luffa? 😂</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Several years ago I tried growing luffas so I could use them in my soaps. I'd been buying and using luffas for a while but figured it would be even better if I grew them myself. Well... it didn't work out so well because Minnesota has such a short growing season. This year I saw a luffa at the Farmer's Market and decided to buy it so I could dry it myself and use it with an upcoming batch of soap. Since it was green I knew the skin would be next to impossible to peel off without ruining the luffa so I followed the advice of a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgbvCkJEi9U" target="_blank">YouTuber </a>on drying it in the oven. It worked out well, the skin came right off, but half of the luffa deflated. I'm also not sure it is suppose to be so green after washing it. I washed it as well as I could but it still looks a little funky. I decided this luffa is best saved for the trial run I just put it through. I'll return to the Farmer's market for another one and see if I can make it come out even better. This January I'll start seeds inside so that I give the luffa enough time to grow so I can let it dry on the vine by end of summer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cdPoAWnOE7-EQt0U-tAZE0t9C4vNde83mAVpioSYwkZiEOI-u7LJygkbsoMtBWrKI-AI1um2mL6lMmgBZUKE3ZS4khmS9mCMeeKU2ApbgxdYcqpFwnAvCF_1_3ecym1x97-LxZHt-VR3AyvpFjw7wFR7VEpHJqeShSkj11G4mZf1M5ePqVMiyOm-lZ46/s2016/IMG_3968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cdPoAWnOE7-EQt0U-tAZE0t9C4vNde83mAVpioSYwkZiEOI-u7LJygkbsoMtBWrKI-AI1um2mL6lMmgBZUKE3ZS4khmS9mCMeeKU2ApbgxdYcqpFwnAvCF_1_3ecym1x97-LxZHt-VR3AyvpFjw7wFR7VEpHJqeShSkj11G4mZf1M5ePqVMiyOm-lZ46/w480-h640/IMG_3968.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Exceptionally long luffa 🤣👀<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQdOqEvvPpV4WoRxhexzln4XOvowtkYpc0NEvgBHhU8WXD77JSb055PAOKIxlUhd3bxoEVpafeJWPSSouEaI9vGfqDZyh5dA4LovY8w872qu1mGQElI3PJtdRXlQB5m20JRXU8BLQPrrijBRazpNB0erhn69LvK2MyimWHrW4mFIXA5fCJNsuOZPmABif/s2016/IMG_3970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQdOqEvvPpV4WoRxhexzln4XOvowtkYpc0NEvgBHhU8WXD77JSb055PAOKIxlUhd3bxoEVpafeJWPSSouEaI9vGfqDZyh5dA4LovY8w872qu1mGQElI3PJtdRXlQB5m20JRXU8BLQPrrijBRazpNB0erhn69LvK2MyimWHrW4mFIXA5fCJNsuOZPmABif/w480-h640/IMG_3970.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I cut it up as instructed by YouTuber</p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp98kAUPRkVP4pkcqiPnKR7ljBubhJcXGmjoNVzevyqTt4vEAk4AOoVmy03ErGDdQeI2RJONeMcdNwY0zictxfJLxBgdRNtoeMXQoS8uv5OjQouiR1FMLswv_SH5T4Dq_QXcgPRDX7g_AEFLrQ0GyOgRmbvAlNqYu_F47JINN8e8AaGIsv2ScLIKr-ILuo/s2016/IMG_3969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp98kAUPRkVP4pkcqiPnKR7ljBubhJcXGmjoNVzevyqTt4vEAk4AOoVmy03ErGDdQeI2RJONeMcdNwY0zictxfJLxBgdRNtoeMXQoS8uv5OjQouiR1FMLswv_SH5T4Dq_QXcgPRDX7g_AEFLrQ0GyOgRmbvAlNqYu_F47JINN8e8AaGIsv2ScLIKr-ILuo/w480-h640/IMG_3969.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZ-hIgLq6ywRtsv6qHMznVaaFCzfoOkGCRXIFEkITsN0bx8bc7mdImR2CV3iygXm_oImEEuocO0MZhywPio59elraJTbGTdQ5-V2Q1CiRJkH47rnjgZl4XzJXvJD1ZgJWu_1zwod4LOWVoH6jiq4r3mmvHmNQczgA6aHN-uUkVq2brBFcYKrH5IhINuzO/s2016/IMG_3973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZ-hIgLq6ywRtsv6qHMznVaaFCzfoOkGCRXIFEkITsN0bx8bc7mdImR2CV3iygXm_oImEEuocO0MZhywPio59elraJTbGTdQ5-V2Q1CiRJkH47rnjgZl4XzJXvJD1ZgJWu_1zwod4LOWVoH6jiq4r3mmvHmNQczgA6aHN-uUkVq2brBFcYKrH5IhINuzO/w480-h640/IMG_3973.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> The two luffas on the left are no good. Completely deflated and mushy. The ones on the right look pretty good. I'll update once they are dry. <p></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-87161292057085268172023-09-23T15:17:00.008-07:002023-09-23T15:17:47.074-07:00APPLE PICKING TIME<p>Every year at this time our family heads out for some apple picking because the girls love picking and I love making applesauce. My favorite apples to use are sweet tango. They have the perfect balance of sweet and sour so they can be used in applesauce recipes that contain sugar or no sugar. For myself I always make it without sugar and for the girls I make it with brown sugar. </p><p>Here are two of my favorite recipes:</p><p><a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/149218/spiced-slow-cooker-applesauce/" target="_blank">With Sugar</a></p><p><a href="https://thewoodenskillet.com/slow-cooker-applesauce-6/" target="_blank">Without Sugar</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbwoW-ap9rK9wyHNjmnmPSVQJfNRxGkvvY_Js7Ty8M3WAKDzumPNDgjneJt0NjYwV4jXJhf0tkJeDe_HJHjm-WikEsFybObcSaJyAFq7xcDMbH7FewNPtJ24wDljEMxT7Do-27ZFZ9M64dSLsGfiB7kK4StBNUGXVP5MB_c61B0mY0sxRVdsO4e714UXu/s2016/IMG_3898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbwoW-ap9rK9wyHNjmnmPSVQJfNRxGkvvY_Js7Ty8M3WAKDzumPNDgjneJt0NjYwV4jXJhf0tkJeDe_HJHjm-WikEsFybObcSaJyAFq7xcDMbH7FewNPtJ24wDljEMxT7Do-27ZFZ9M64dSLsGfiB7kK4StBNUGXVP5MB_c61B0mY0sxRVdsO4e714UXu/w480-h640/IMG_3898.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sirVqo1hHR1ui03wXLUTEGKiGHJ_ASXPc31QkeooSb2nGrHmX3ZFNuD5pS7xbhj1wn2jg4nTOMkqui1NpKZmuCe6s0ArZq25a92EMdTh7EnKi8wsDgdGoGFeTnyHTWpFq1JfvrKWepbIb8QGhYBOWr3LNkO9kfU1nhEAIAeBJMy-ld75W-9_6OMSGEo7/s2016/IMG_3899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sirVqo1hHR1ui03wXLUTEGKiGHJ_ASXPc31QkeooSb2nGrHmX3ZFNuD5pS7xbhj1wn2jg4nTOMkqui1NpKZmuCe6s0ArZq25a92EMdTh7EnKi8wsDgdGoGFeTnyHTWpFq1JfvrKWepbIb8QGhYBOWr3LNkO9kfU1nhEAIAeBJMy-ld75W-9_6OMSGEo7/w480-h640/IMG_3899.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYi4yp7tzUZ3zLjddvzIBp3ZSMaAoNrW4s10VmMDao6mgFKugmETM5D8nFQCzzFeBlwdbGiG9MBexZPb9yYiLBusha0m4fMpbWFxtCTF7UD9QV56NGMn7UywM3GX0eDPg3UH9e8rvNTJOh7KaWIPZU0ub_APJ9VuEDaSd8sWYEvPl8V9CHGer5jQ2Qjtp/s2016/IMG_3902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYi4yp7tzUZ3zLjddvzIBp3ZSMaAoNrW4s10VmMDao6mgFKugmETM5D8nFQCzzFeBlwdbGiG9MBexZPb9yYiLBusha0m4fMpbWFxtCTF7UD9QV56NGMn7UywM3GX0eDPg3UH9e8rvNTJOh7KaWIPZU0ub_APJ9VuEDaSd8sWYEvPl8V9CHGer5jQ2Qjtp/w480-h640/IMG_3902.jpg" width="480" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><u><br /></u></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iH-eye7dOTetw0VMhNS-_mLgRJbD4V0n8XYerzBFvWDE-EfjzzAJqrpq3nD5CWA6qqReZkXAIURctbYVlcbPGvBGMD8GIqmUQCN4kzLnCfiD4dgEX2EbufBgDe2pbAgXp-cOIitLgxDNs0gkffjlLaFY3xDewHDWcmGvtX6i-3TCaJV99FGHTAhRALMN/s2016/IMG_3901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iH-eye7dOTetw0VMhNS-_mLgRJbD4V0n8XYerzBFvWDE-EfjzzAJqrpq3nD5CWA6qqReZkXAIURctbYVlcbPGvBGMD8GIqmUQCN4kzLnCfiD4dgEX2EbufBgDe2pbAgXp-cOIitLgxDNs0gkffjlLaFY3xDewHDWcmGvtX6i-3TCaJV99FGHTAhRALMN/w480-h640/IMG_3901.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-80113726508341338722023-08-28T08:52:00.004-07:002023-08-28T08:53:58.215-07:00ONE MAGICAL MOMENT TURNED INTO MULTIPLE <p> My husband has been after me for a while now to feed the hummingbirds but I refused. We use to feed them in years past but I'd often forget to clean and change out their sugar water every 3 days which can be unhealthy for them so I just gave up. A few days ago I was sitting on the deck watching a single hummingbird investigate the flowers and not finding what they wanted. Suddenly the hummingbird came to within 2 inches of my head and stood there for what felt like a couple minutes just fluttering to keep itself stationary while he looked at me and then he flew off. It was such a magical moment to be that close. I took it at a sign I needed to put feeders out again. I rushed inside and made some sugar water and put out two feeders, one on the deck and one in the garden, and within seconds half a dozen hummingbirds appeared. We've never had so many at once. It's difficult to capture them in motion without the photo being blurry but I was able to snap a couple shots of two birds.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3S4xJNEDpjRoQ20LmsF2NoycWWk9xU73KdeMDTkOawSPj7l8jiLbEe3cYU3JdWIRqgIq8dz_1yMh8Svz7dMZ8xxMOqCFvxjAOhCuqbwwGqQE71TP0EAqxNTvYKW0m1f7f3-ISe_AALVYBTlEprReSuExZpa1l9Az53m6CvI1UwdLPw4LB6bKoXQTnJiwl/s2197/IMG_3440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2197" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3S4xJNEDpjRoQ20LmsF2NoycWWk9xU73KdeMDTkOawSPj7l8jiLbEe3cYU3JdWIRqgIq8dz_1yMh8Svz7dMZ8xxMOqCFvxjAOhCuqbwwGqQE71TP0EAqxNTvYKW0m1f7f3-ISe_AALVYBTlEprReSuExZpa1l9Az53m6CvI1UwdLPw4LB6bKoXQTnJiwl/w344-h640/IMG_3440.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire2hjuJbjoTZQpcCnKAngMbIlzLOo2lhVpXAGw_YS0D3Y2jhI6WOIz4d-WqTDBkOZ1Gx-AhlDau91eZ4IPsaHzE7Qy24nbtoGqNbTllRzdc2N2vPS3E1UwQTFpEHkQ7andwD1hNXxmcH9GaCJRVpwV7t3vDm2UeX5tbcUmaS9C7VtQiGRqjzzQrhkgwoz/s1887/IMG_3439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1887" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire2hjuJbjoTZQpcCnKAngMbIlzLOo2lhVpXAGw_YS0D3Y2jhI6WOIz4d-WqTDBkOZ1Gx-AhlDau91eZ4IPsaHzE7Qy24nbtoGqNbTllRzdc2N2vPS3E1UwQTFpEHkQ7andwD1hNXxmcH9GaCJRVpwV7t3vDm2UeX5tbcUmaS9C7VtQiGRqjzzQrhkgwoz/w400-h640/IMG_3439.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-51748667853388457312023-08-25T06:29:00.002-07:002023-08-25T06:29:00.133-07:00SOAPY CUPCAKES FOR THE KIDS ARE ON THE WAY<p> In June I brought mini soapy cupcakes to sell at the Riverwalk Market in Northfield and they were a huge hit. Little kids love little soaps, especially when they are in the shape of yummy foods like cupcakes and donuts. For me they are really fun to make, though I do need some work on my piping skills. 🤣 </p><p>Here are the soapy cupcakes I made for September. They are scented with Berry Bliss fragrance oil. So delicious! Not really... don't eat them 😜</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcV86oEwY93WcvEEsqXQy4u1stWy2t4AVdK9OT-w9zdfCZ8_sL6awwDb0jBfI-FQN-tG1tOjQtzmmcK4OsVHQxfV3CygyPiqK9eiviNeEAIoc_AHMRN3gMUzyfcIfxFpGGOdxpzm2yh3Flo_can50u-VziWoTLJ5Rx5rUy0NksqH87VToq132gCfaygEo3/s3024/E1C10883-D8D1-4683-B5A4-B916C998AD33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2527" data-original-width="3024" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcV86oEwY93WcvEEsqXQy4u1stWy2t4AVdK9OT-w9zdfCZ8_sL6awwDb0jBfI-FQN-tG1tOjQtzmmcK4OsVHQxfV3CygyPiqK9eiviNeEAIoc_AHMRN3gMUzyfcIfxFpGGOdxpzm2yh3Flo_can50u-VziWoTLJ5Rx5rUy0NksqH87VToq132gCfaygEo3/w640-h534/E1C10883-D8D1-4683-B5A4-B916C998AD33.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-45817289378814696612023-08-24T10:57:00.001-07:002023-08-24T10:57:00.146-07:00NEW SOAPS FOR THE AUTUMN SEASON <p>Fall is just around the corner. In our home we follow meteorological fall which is September 1st so everything orange, yellow, red and pumpkin starts on that date. Halloween decorations go up, bonfires get lit, pumpkin scented candles start to burn... and Fall soaps go on the website to be sold. </p><p>Here are a few I've made for the upcoming season. I'll have these on the website and for sale at the Northfield Riverwalk Market on September 2nd, September 16th, and October 14th. If you are in town please come out to visit our booth and take a whiff of the lovely new scents we have. 🍁</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOg5km79_Kmm-tbvnLjRyspzmXuP7lbbwy7IHUsz-lSpLt1ib5gN3UtrOsz5nzDrpevU1If5zdvo3BehVLHjlANB1IolDD4dnrroY52tMdpcQwondZcPjNqeCSpNdUKut-FrMJ0FdbS8Md2clqOj71rymbEFoAWVrDtWS7ATp04pVXH57xWiPCQglPa8Nr/s3024/A566F63D-602C-4355-8673-A0B199E2B147%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2624" data-original-width="3024" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOg5km79_Kmm-tbvnLjRyspzmXuP7lbbwy7IHUsz-lSpLt1ib5gN3UtrOsz5nzDrpevU1If5zdvo3BehVLHjlANB1IolDD4dnrroY52tMdpcQwondZcPjNqeCSpNdUKut-FrMJ0FdbS8Md2clqOj71rymbEFoAWVrDtWS7ATp04pVXH57xWiPCQglPa8Nr/w640-h556/A566F63D-602C-4355-8673-A0B199E2B147%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Autumn Fig</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WvvK9ca8AZJQjqpuGt1lGZf26JIodJ9HO-miVFICr7cCjU7YbCG6snorVTKUBwABVLCPBLktPHzEqOG0Bw7gtWueT5Xa4u3v5NbDHuSgb40_v-QBv3-eY0QhbuYBk2xQxFkZ0bT7lnWps3pumhUmDSkNh490zOXECQx1Bs4nLIq0GUMnnGbS8oA024ZK/s2351/IMG_3189.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2019" data-original-width="2351" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WvvK9ca8AZJQjqpuGt1lGZf26JIodJ9HO-miVFICr7cCjU7YbCG6snorVTKUBwABVLCPBLktPHzEqOG0Bw7gtWueT5Xa4u3v5NbDHuSgb40_v-QBv3-eY0QhbuYBk2xQxFkZ0bT7lnWps3pumhUmDSkNh490zOXECQx1Bs4nLIq0GUMnnGbS8oA024ZK/w640-h550/IMG_3189.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rosehip Jasmine</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9QwvFyEUfOJeDjbaTPIq7payvOCL8j_hNcAJpXR2Hih24ANuc1m3yeD6KqhVYFivNt1ASdVkhZmC0_yU0Fvm3UIhapZKlxbz_Dp1FXIjbnBfAQJtCfFuCjX8w780M3ECxTBGUc64tm1kYM97mATw4jYKVY5jAi3wSJF3FgNGZcysjvc4zkuo-mzoBY_D/s2932/IMG_3161%202.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2873" data-original-width="2932" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9QwvFyEUfOJeDjbaTPIq7payvOCL8j_hNcAJpXR2Hih24ANuc1m3yeD6KqhVYFivNt1ASdVkhZmC0_yU0Fvm3UIhapZKlxbz_Dp1FXIjbnBfAQJtCfFuCjX8w780M3ECxTBGUc64tm1kYM97mATw4jYKVY5jAi3wSJF3FgNGZcysjvc4zkuo-mzoBY_D/w640-h628/IMG_3161%202.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Apple Sage</div><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-71860241723733029082023-08-23T10:51:00.009-07:002023-08-23T10:51:00.144-07:00PUMPKINS DO GROW IN POTS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the last couple years without success I've been trying to grow pumpkins on my deck. I first attempted to grow them in the garden but some wild critter always got to the plants before they'd fruit so I started experimenting with pots and although the plants would flower they'd never fruit until this year. I did some research and found I was using too small of a pot so I went bigger and lo and behold I got two pumpkins. I sadly planted them way too early so now I have to figure out how to make them last until Halloween because the whole point was to grow carving pumpkins. Next year I'll go bigger. I'll use a 10 gallon pot and see if I get bigger or more pumpkins. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0U2MWHTHSbAc55wj9wFVW5H8NF0XphbRTMCx77PaxlUijboxiUsx36kwCKzsmewLaCiHcuaeYOUa2ZTfFZlOR8DQD2g2jvJouW_9sFM3g-EFIs9HPCZfuOFX6jFBa79YQmKBDiNb7eyY7kX6W-3b_0HQ1gmrLXYWVq12yF7igb4aP83tqCK3xJVj9WKM/s4032/IMG_3164.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0U2MWHTHSbAc55wj9wFVW5H8NF0XphbRTMCx77PaxlUijboxiUsx36kwCKzsmewLaCiHcuaeYOUa2ZTfFZlOR8DQD2g2jvJouW_9sFM3g-EFIs9HPCZfuOFX6jFBa79YQmKBDiNb7eyY7kX6W-3b_0HQ1gmrLXYWVq12yF7igb4aP83tqCK3xJVj9WKM/w640-h480/IMG_3164.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: #484848; font-family: "EB Garamond"; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span><p></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-69627393200788709682023-08-22T10:49:00.005-07:002023-08-22T10:49:34.353-07:00BIRDS! BIRDS! BIRDS! I LOVE BIRDS<p>When I first got sick in 2018 one of the things that helped me get through the mental challenge of my illness were the birds. I've always enjoyed birds but there was a point where I couldn't even walk so I would sit out on the deck and just listen and watch them flitter around the yard. I was content in those moments. They got me through some very difficult times. The following are some photos I took of my wild bird neighbors visiting recently. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVMeM3to1Tn-uRREE_sZ8gn6iVMTJKJV6ry266BMIYESX2c7Xvf8FzahCCQlHPzPcfMwquWi0lL7cTSFBhQRYHCi0SlyCJ6q16bxQGVJmMfhFSEXFJ0Jhb5d7rK9_i9OUnE2-9h-miaJkTAxsY2WNwUNBI3SPYQ20mQnvtbFr8tlMmSdK1RPS5bmdw6Na/s2048/D9B5909A-F498-477D-B541-CE53BEBBA226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVMeM3to1Tn-uRREE_sZ8gn6iVMTJKJV6ry266BMIYESX2c7Xvf8FzahCCQlHPzPcfMwquWi0lL7cTSFBhQRYHCi0SlyCJ6q16bxQGVJmMfhFSEXFJ0Jhb5d7rK9_i9OUnE2-9h-miaJkTAxsY2WNwUNBI3SPYQ20mQnvtbFr8tlMmSdK1RPS5bmdw6Na/w640-h640/D9B5909A-F498-477D-B541-CE53BEBBA226.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFASLvJWYpGQf0CkfH0pGouv1odNZjiaJqSQbfHDxSDGn75JvDfn_U4yUIlOPA78Lizr1ACU20rcX3HN_3semzsG9utJL4fePK-hlK0LA9-rSWEUL_0tCfJFJw5BGX-4_rWskrjDC6Q14CPqmSQJsPMgGixFaOYdE7liPBWcr44FcHlei7ySXmRsbBur3/s1488/IMG_2930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1488" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFASLvJWYpGQf0CkfH0pGouv1odNZjiaJqSQbfHDxSDGn75JvDfn_U4yUIlOPA78Lizr1ACU20rcX3HN_3semzsG9utJL4fePK-hlK0LA9-rSWEUL_0tCfJFJw5BGX-4_rWskrjDC6Q14CPqmSQJsPMgGixFaOYdE7liPBWcr44FcHlei7ySXmRsbBur3/w508-h640/IMG_2930.jpg" width="508" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvZNoKMqSvkn8vtyafJea8feAvpvuRtprKOb3uEfGiQNAh5pnrDeLOBODkOiQHUu_v7yniX5RkMmXMYQqV_FKrJ51b1e7Y-2nRPZ9d2B3SPvFt10hzpam-4ZgwlioT7sv3rdimRV25_Pi993o_8aiIfV7U0tDmSaI8uaNeTwlIbacPlfmcWLsFDSxF-cc/s1558/IMG_2933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvZNoKMqSvkn8vtyafJea8feAvpvuRtprKOb3uEfGiQNAh5pnrDeLOBODkOiQHUu_v7yniX5RkMmXMYQqV_FKrJ51b1e7Y-2nRPZ9d2B3SPvFt10hzpam-4ZgwlioT7sv3rdimRV25_Pi993o_8aiIfV7U0tDmSaI8uaNeTwlIbacPlfmcWLsFDSxF-cc/w484-h640/IMG_2933.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKL8aiPtc6WZt3wiC4bWivBnfy_5y_wwgngD3ghg6vKTfpJuk1tc2X1ljXq36CpTDN4G8tDd1OWExSSKEwU8AVoQAzYcd8uJ40i2AgEVTTQzkk4oWc40MKmwZhTZfotKT2zMJMpAxcaHzFfyfOGkWpK6aZqMfnmNQVxzwFgy3CUvagLeL4QMaQm8XbwNI/s1586/IMG_2938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1586" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKL8aiPtc6WZt3wiC4bWivBnfy_5y_wwgngD3ghg6vKTfpJuk1tc2X1ljXq36CpTDN4G8tDd1OWExSSKEwU8AVoQAzYcd8uJ40i2AgEVTTQzkk4oWc40MKmwZhTZfotKT2zMJMpAxcaHzFfyfOGkWpK6aZqMfnmNQVxzwFgy3CUvagLeL4QMaQm8XbwNI/w476-h640/IMG_2938.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipicB1I_dCV0xN86x6jeTBkJO5soqfSnYd1yY5sNHIRP66y3IeDic5Q8Py0MFKqVlNRVCyurzd8I-8xppjiDBNfe34txKNo-KN2gKZfoCZrifd6Qn9jGQ_Hk0O4ZfQgLDg50hSu5eE49kaqgF0SCc5HAflTUCoWZmQNH4p0DgubLrcckH3FmkjY2zoYXvF/s1363/IMG_2940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="1151" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipicB1I_dCV0xN86x6jeTBkJO5soqfSnYd1yY5sNHIRP66y3IeDic5Q8Py0MFKqVlNRVCyurzd8I-8xppjiDBNfe34txKNo-KN2gKZfoCZrifd6Qn9jGQ_Hk0O4ZfQgLDg50hSu5eE49kaqgF0SCc5HAflTUCoWZmQNH4p0DgubLrcckH3FmkjY2zoYXvF/w540-h640/IMG_2940.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPnttsedEQS5bKODoDL24nsmH7PSXgEAjgDbwjXHZcPq6rNDFloocUGeBHtpTattz13yrwoLsHERLJhsnKiVqd9pA8FWoksMaxJ7twkTCQtmbX7ToYV9TZ4KZl3tI-bCYpwAlETE7bXJNL43UVdJikLhWv02ZejSYFuUs7cQm3pvU8k9AJSdwva2lbkzf/s1374/IMG_2941%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1374" data-original-width="1159" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPnttsedEQS5bKODoDL24nsmH7PSXgEAjgDbwjXHZcPq6rNDFloocUGeBHtpTattz13yrwoLsHERLJhsnKiVqd9pA8FWoksMaxJ7twkTCQtmbX7ToYV9TZ4KZl3tI-bCYpwAlETE7bXJNL43UVdJikLhWv02ZejSYFuUs7cQm3pvU8k9AJSdwva2lbkzf/w540-h640/IMG_2941%202.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnq43XhX0eKnyyVr7ZSgFpEINGB-aKKrLgSpRb9Ik5WkziL8euKVXIeL7LqH-j1sdKXlL4aOLYfZZIquD6Sj0AK8Z7qfgFRLW6XhXExR5T2Kio2rNE6ygjhjbGhDJWh52vlPMIowXfZqo0LDnqHkFyXP9mrYgy5mfWV-Fxu8S2-OtCAVdLnR5TGwarhSO/s1607/IMG_2939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1607" data-original-width="1178" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnq43XhX0eKnyyVr7ZSgFpEINGB-aKKrLgSpRb9Ik5WkziL8euKVXIeL7LqH-j1sdKXlL4aOLYfZZIquD6Sj0AK8Z7qfgFRLW6XhXExR5T2Kio2rNE6ygjhjbGhDJWh52vlPMIowXfZqo0LDnqHkFyXP9mrYgy5mfWV-Fxu8S2-OtCAVdLnR5TGwarhSO/w470-h640/IMG_2939.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-9142407633220462542023-07-24T06:30:00.005-07:002023-08-24T06:26:46.253-07:00PLANT FOR THE GARDEN - PRICKLY ASH<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOastCMRN_ezijsErAjl55aIQG9WBKjrRrOHd-in73spXRPm7HciRRa_vTPOsLBDmygHXr_53jSQV33dTF9YKWqMMCgi8GBiKwL3cqSsHZYLgTHa3oQSxrfdzwjMoRlr-ypdASaoKrxanp0QBUMU-yDIeKxhIYfo__9XUC19ZUthcYfWpjnR1dm8wvk9lx/s900/A%20plant%20for%20the%20garden.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOastCMRN_ezijsErAjl55aIQG9WBKjrRrOHd-in73spXRPm7HciRRa_vTPOsLBDmygHXr_53jSQV33dTF9YKWqMMCgi8GBiKwL3cqSsHZYLgTHa3oQSxrfdzwjMoRlr-ypdASaoKrxanp0QBUMU-yDIeKxhIYfo__9XUC19ZUthcYfWpjnR1dm8wvk9lx/w640-h640/A%20plant%20for%20the%20garden.png" width="640" /></a></div>Once a month I plan on posting about a native medicinal plant for the garden. I'm in Minnesota so my shares will be specifically related to Minnesota so make sure to check if the plants I write about can grow in your area and aren't invasive if you live outside the state. <p></p><p>To start off I'll talk about Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americium). The first time I tried prickly ash was quite the experience. My daughter nibbled on a berry first and said her lips tingled, her tongue was a little numb and she couldn't stop drooling. She handed me a berry and I nibbled and nothing happened so I nibbled on a second and again, nothing happened. I told her to give me a third so I nibbled on a third. Suddenly it hit!! I was drooling like a Basset Hound, my whole mouth was tingling, and then my lips and tip of tongue were numb for 30 minutes. </p><p>Prickly Ash is not related to the ash species of trees, it's actually part of the olive family. It's great for wildlife since butterflies are attracted to the flowers and birds use the tree for shelter. Native Americans would use the tree for medicinal purposes. They'd chew on the fruit and bark because it produces a numbing effect so it helped relieve tooth pain. Modern herbalists use prickly ash to treat arthritis and digestive issues. I love it because the crushed leaves and berries smell like a lemon and nibbling on the berries produces a fun sensory experience. I haven't tried it in any recipes yet but I know others have and love it. I may try it with tea sometime. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPr2KbdgGK5fA4J9EsgtMI1hqwdsOMsa6rQgIZFbL0bgNg0rUG4gSTFtXhsMN37GS1MHuvHtnNvpSsKIcryZAgOccN9IUBnvVkhC0yaU2tg5Nfhnt_uSo121Cxs00Gej-M3JPdj2DND_BqfUPmyCJIPO8hpSn9BbiZFdl7KHvh_z1vv4gZxYcDKYrNoHY/s4032/IMG_2556.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPr2KbdgGK5fA4J9EsgtMI1hqwdsOMsa6rQgIZFbL0bgNg0rUG4gSTFtXhsMN37GS1MHuvHtnNvpSsKIcryZAgOccN9IUBnvVkhC0yaU2tg5Nfhnt_uSo121Cxs00Gej-M3JPdj2DND_BqfUPmyCJIPO8hpSn9BbiZFdl7KHvh_z1vv4gZxYcDKYrNoHY/w480-h640/IMG_2556.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77CaZRtMHV57kRxgHY6eVzg_dV1izn8azal5F7OeYqAeL1pkgA79bdRml5hrb5SIYmmiC2spVIjtI7_uLJBc-KXjSXihDf93ojJ8555Zm7j3lNGvhNfYyP9OK_QJ4GgK4wqo9B8FC5Q8-FGgT0ZQrLgg2yn28nHz5m9ZQFTRnVDCLLR7FJDlcFonG4aEM/s4032/IMG_2555.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77CaZRtMHV57kRxgHY6eVzg_dV1izn8azal5F7OeYqAeL1pkgA79bdRml5hrb5SIYmmiC2spVIjtI7_uLJBc-KXjSXihDf93ojJ8555Zm7j3lNGvhNfYyP9OK_QJ4GgK4wqo9B8FC5Q8-FGgT0ZQrLgg2yn28nHz5m9ZQFTRnVDCLLR7FJDlcFonG4aEM/w480-h640/IMG_2555.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-5175413933729959272023-07-23T08:51:00.003-07:002023-07-23T13:30:21.871-07:00MY DAYS OF SHOPPING ON ETSY ARE OVER!!<p>I remember the days when Etsy was just a small online e-commerce site founded by three guys out of their apartment. They created the perfect platform for people to sell handmade and vintage items until they took the business public. Little by little it has deteriorated to the point of sellers jumping a cliff like lemmings. Knowing all that was happening I continued to shop there and not question anything until my first bad experience a few years back. I purchased a product I thought was American made and it turned out it was from China. The next time I went to shop I was careful to use the search filter, setting it for U.S. sellers only, and somehow still ended up buying something from China. I quickly discovered that the filter only remained set for the page I was on but as soon as I scrolled to the next page it defaulted to all locations. Ugh! After that I scrutinized things more and still ended up buying from someone whose profile said they were in California but then the item I got shipped from China!!!! Frustrated doesn't adequately describe how I felt. </p><p>Today I went to see if I could find a potting bench on Etsy, careful to look everything over to make sure it is a product made in and shipped from the United States. <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">This is what I came across. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzRxZPT-BDteivTGsnSWdx9P-E8ap33lPdJxge4EXItfnROT2bcEaATTIhPV8_WLFRZsf62XYJYvz07r5XpF4nLI0qDpeK9NKGTj_QLv8QXUzmGMbfPY58_LwGh7bwjDLCAP-2L1PbTMQrjcvJAAYRdNDhzFKhSMVXYaRC0YXhh7q_whJNrbrtXkhM2BS/s2556/IMG_2542.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzRxZPT-BDteivTGsnSWdx9P-E8ap33lPdJxge4EXItfnROT2bcEaATTIhPV8_WLFRZsf62XYJYvz07r5XpF4nLI0qDpeK9NKGTj_QLv8QXUzmGMbfPY58_LwGh7bwjDLCAP-2L1PbTMQrjcvJAAYRdNDhzFKhSMVXYaRC0YXhh7q_whJNrbrtXkhM2BS/w296-h640/IMG_2542.PNG" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">^ this is the first potting bench I came across. I like it because of the little sink. I checked the description and noticed there wasn't anything noted about assembly. Usually sellers will tell you if it comes assembled or if you have to put it together. I looked to see where the seller was from and the info is blank.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLfECw209rck8PdKwufTDc_csB44HPRG5Fkced-ZoREmsGAACUKO_zATu4cUefhAEeumgbw1WJDZDAQgb8F55a1nfO4tKWUBaQPeLDxScDXhoRmd-MFQPMJz_v8O2js6zEMO4GZwfJxrFHHchFF7JkaBEH5yTeTtESrO72FLBxjxGb3qoiyiPCnwtXVaf/s670/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.13.51%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="670" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLfECw209rck8PdKwufTDc_csB44HPRG5Fkced-ZoREmsGAACUKO_zATu4cUefhAEeumgbw1WJDZDAQgb8F55a1nfO4tKWUBaQPeLDxScDXhoRmd-MFQPMJz_v8O2js6zEMO4GZwfJxrFHHchFF7JkaBEH5yTeTtESrO72FLBxjxGb3qoiyiPCnwtXVaf/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.13.51%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">Then I checked to see where they ship from</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66-rS-DLXnueXX0SdtSosEbru--TL0Ev8umeR3tzPr3FVis57Ae0wPeKnZHOtyDfBz9ZLZVk8h7l6tL21vTP4Z3OIUnt8JOi3Dor9DXWe9j6e0NJFvoS8nuVFMw9_xvmq198DMUEWazpJDTQIxoxoLOUoyQ8iZ-NONeaHuiZ4grU1-HPSUdGTqWX2eCCz/s532/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.17.51%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="532" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66-rS-DLXnueXX0SdtSosEbru--TL0Ev8umeR3tzPr3FVis57Ae0wPeKnZHOtyDfBz9ZLZVk8h7l6tL21vTP4Z3OIUnt8JOi3Dor9DXWe9j6e0NJFvoS8nuVFMw9_xvmq198DMUEWazpJDTQIxoxoLOUoyQ8iZ-NONeaHuiZ4grU1-HPSUdGTqWX2eCCz/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.17.51%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">I noted they list this item as a handmade product.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSp5WKkAtp-2_X8GIlJOH74fgEn9_x41pR31Fxu_9ZGKRrXVYIP7YxKQYWbzrmHhgdS9Nw9RV3Bzq_ZEM2KF1YSg2lDwJSJrqZDDVSrCmGDFDA07PI50Rj2HmE38pH_t-bSaq8g3oJDE7Uy3hf7TNW5VWi-PW4fyMMFtc0G6EK32-gUq_OLlWq1cuK_JiP/s384/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.17.40%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="384" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSp5WKkAtp-2_X8GIlJOH74fgEn9_x41pR31Fxu_9ZGKRrXVYIP7YxKQYWbzrmHhgdS9Nw9RV3Bzq_ZEM2KF1YSg2lDwJSJrqZDDVSrCmGDFDA07PI50Rj2HmE38pH_t-bSaq8g3oJDE7Uy3hf7TNW5VWi-PW4fyMMFtc0G6EK32-gUq_OLlWq1cuK_JiP/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.17.40%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I decided to look elsewhere on Etsy for another potting table and <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">I came across the exact same one but this time by a different seller.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXMZZNSCZq-lNDQeg9B0OM-vJ_f6ynaZUbSL8qMgPhpkNjAFln2Be4-AaBzDcimg-MGQzH07gHinSOpvTXKhsItcR8kv6fcuGoUqac60dhpqjJOPpBBlTsfs9AdLDYG5qLgejECZ5XOGiEMJX1YsMxmS13jakK0yzFRetN3LBoeWXQikPv1TX0oEaG1tg/s2594/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.10.18%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2594" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXMZZNSCZq-lNDQeg9B0OM-vJ_f6ynaZUbSL8qMgPhpkNjAFln2Be4-AaBzDcimg-MGQzH07gHinSOpvTXKhsItcR8kv6fcuGoUqac60dhpqjJOPpBBlTsfs9AdLDYG5qLgejECZ5XOGiEMJX1YsMxmS13jakK0yzFRetN3LBoeWXQikPv1TX0oEaG1tg/w640-h350/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.10.18%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">I clicked on the sellers name to see where they were from</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaO1DFZMWrGFPqfyDG16az7z_rL2vPHItcJE0o0oR46mY61akJMH6yEWwO0Tk62L_12Tjw8YTzDWhxJb6ZmdTM6UlGMCssCwPLgOBJCkefihCW908UuzPfe3LzeBuiSkrrlK141yHcK5vzZ1HCtNKa2eVaAyRK6lFsPoCMp7fpOPTUGBsvmDjqWziKkd98/s508/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.11.05%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="508" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaO1DFZMWrGFPqfyDG16az7z_rL2vPHItcJE0o0oR46mY61akJMH6yEWwO0Tk62L_12Tjw8YTzDWhxJb6ZmdTM6UlGMCssCwPLgOBJCkefihCW908UuzPfe3LzeBuiSkrrlK141yHcK5vzZ1HCtNKa2eVaAyRK6lFsPoCMp7fpOPTUGBsvmDjqWziKkd98/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.11.05%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">Then I looked to see where they were shipping the potting table from</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7p064pcLIkPNZf1JjbKoSQ0XhYBufu1vCoCtIzlKIdo3JH5I1D6Eo-Yx2bOhOO8RRG3DYapt0FafAV_lymS7nFUxhtUiuLMjfw6e3nkJ4BettpVHd-NskuiDGFjWrrVnek8dlwHKpdCbvb28qUmnRD6AOCgz4-xdg89fgZOjUaUSE2YcK6DqH1fY_GuK/s848/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.10.52%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="848" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7p064pcLIkPNZf1JjbKoSQ0XhYBufu1vCoCtIzlKIdo3JH5I1D6Eo-Yx2bOhOO8RRG3DYapt0FafAV_lymS7nFUxhtUiuLMjfw6e3nkJ4BettpVHd-NskuiDGFjWrrVnek8dlwHKpdCbvb28qUmnRD6AOCgz4-xdg89fgZOjUaUSE2YcK6DqH1fY_GuK/w640-h158/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.10.52%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>I read the description of their table and it was <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">100% identical to the potting table being sold by HAPPYSHOPBY</span>. No variation at all. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">Then I looked at the description and this person describes it as vintage AND handmade. Claiming it was made before the year 2000.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj892kQT5hZGNE1Zl1l6raqCx04X_MMigiTnFNj_Kq4g2OznLw-FkvkUczbyy2DmeCiWiP80rKwR0VJ6gWlnEUW5JnfyPQnx9736EcF8124Hq49tsVe-SDcN1JF3Hv_FsDttTspvaTOwJRM-EzkoEoApCTgDotiJnGE-PcfmgSJ7pBOhdxFP9jXK0M0WDes/s554/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.26.57%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="554" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj892kQT5hZGNE1Zl1l6raqCx04X_MMigiTnFNj_Kq4g2OznLw-FkvkUczbyy2DmeCiWiP80rKwR0VJ6gWlnEUW5JnfyPQnx9736EcF8124Hq49tsVe-SDcN1JF3Hv_FsDttTspvaTOwJRM-EzkoEoApCTgDotiJnGE-PcfmgSJ7pBOhdxFP9jXK0M0WDes/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.26.57%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the deal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. That potting table doesn't even look vintage. Does it look 23 years old to you? Even if it were never used, wood deteriorates. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Handmade is totally misleading. Sure, it could be something handmade by someone else and you are selling it for them, but is that what people think when they are shopping on Etsy? No! They think YOU made that item. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I decided to Google potting benches and sure enough, this particular potting bench is sold everywhere which makes it NOT handmade and NOT vintage. Home Depot, Target, Walmart and many other places sell it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Out of all of those selling this potting table, the first one on Etsy - account HAPPYSHOPBY - was by far the most expensive. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_TRxRZduGKmHPSJ-Z2BmdDxMKEnJccU7BDQK3b-lkGwLzoX5xd6jCzqcrDr9O8RfRH2aySwh5BKYmrGj9_RTssfAv8LTMv-A7OEg7_p4NWWjAkCCjT-PL8uaurFVq77Y0odIA7LuauPis92PpwXb2oz4nYQgun-GEefagBz2sVGJ_CAev6qt59MLjqFq/s2556/IMG_2543.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_TRxRZduGKmHPSJ-Z2BmdDxMKEnJccU7BDQK3b-lkGwLzoX5xd6jCzqcrDr9O8RfRH2aySwh5BKYmrGj9_RTssfAv8LTMv-A7OEg7_p4NWWjAkCCjT-PL8uaurFVq77Y0odIA7LuauPis92PpwXb2oz4nYQgun-GEefagBz2sVGJ_CAev6qt59MLjqFq/w296-h640/IMG_2543.PNG" width="296" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSd1GKQtr5YUXaf0aMGPHk_sX24yT_ZV3fV-oA_YCQ0FvEQ1UjanuZ8jY8xagqZJzdHZdEdcg9kYpKBmPJOC4Ne-07gZ7vecAoMLfiGth_2lHB_dmOukLg0i7Hhuv7H5AixKNKs5iAS7mrHoLP4WHcperO9NsYhLCl1cuiL7_uXg7norqMDdwLFUuru_f5/s2556/IMG_2545.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSd1GKQtr5YUXaf0aMGPHk_sX24yT_ZV3fV-oA_YCQ0FvEQ1UjanuZ8jY8xagqZJzdHZdEdcg9kYpKBmPJOC4Ne-07gZ7vecAoMLfiGth_2lHB_dmOukLg0i7Hhuv7H5AixKNKs5iAS7mrHoLP4WHcperO9NsYhLCl1cuiL7_uXg7norqMDdwLFUuru_f5/w296-h640/IMG_2545.PNG" width="296" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMjpD1ZAp7aItLL6fSpv8nxFyweKymx9XjiuWSCCUPaigqyV-TmTQfSWF0zRs565BqnMsASfcOEYXgKElNnDQfeBIh2yJEYeTkY_7xW1TY3XUVFeCEo2CyQZEl0z5XJVATlI2ecWEgE71SHEHiKBiVmaRiNc2ip_D5A8oQ4iD3WxoyRgqbn_oXHELAgPr/s2556/IMG_2544.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMjpD1ZAp7aItLL6fSpv8nxFyweKymx9XjiuWSCCUPaigqyV-TmTQfSWF0zRs565BqnMsASfcOEYXgKElNnDQfeBIh2yJEYeTkY_7xW1TY3XUVFeCEo2CyQZEl0z5XJVATlI2ecWEgE71SHEHiKBiVmaRiNc2ip_D5A8oQ4iD3WxoyRgqbn_oXHELAgPr/w296-h640/IMG_2544.PNG" width="296" /></a></div><br /><div>If you are reading this and wonder "how can I be sure what I'm getting is American handmade" here's how:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Look at the business name, is it actually a name and not something like HAPPYSHOPBY? </div><div><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">This one below is called Infinite Cedar. A real name. (name is on right below the price)</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWz-gg2sWxRGAd3YCmOOFn2-nPafqFhHtcp7vhiOvhbmE9uB5cjxXT_MaLcXWRmQcqqA5UvnqbxKYGW2btUlpHWS21Ckr3ucAZODYwlw5C4cqolaXVl1zOfgJWj3E458btTf4tDO8Wz7bm1qk2Ik8xYfOOw0OwdrJ2Hc1Rf6HANZOz7XBrqOiFNApha0TV/s2628/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.35.00%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="2628" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWz-gg2sWxRGAd3YCmOOFn2-nPafqFhHtcp7vhiOvhbmE9uB5cjxXT_MaLcXWRmQcqqA5UvnqbxKYGW2btUlpHWS21Ckr3ucAZODYwlw5C4cqolaXVl1zOfgJWj3E458btTf4tDO8Wz7bm1qk2Ik8xYfOOw0OwdrJ2Hc1Rf6HANZOz7XBrqOiFNApha0TV/w640-h308/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.35.00%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>2. <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">Look at the price. </span>The price needs to make sense for the product. Handmade woodwork is on the more expensive side. $279 makes sense for the above table.</div><div><br /></div><div>3.<span style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Look at the highlights. </span>This item says it's handmade and lists the materials used. When something is handmade the materials used should also be filled in. If they made it then they know what it's made of!!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vhEbtHxPve9xs6LGpxwbcM6iAD-eF6t_HHh4qqzu7FfxNMQSs7Did0Y8Gp6z2qMbhT5f3VKajRGvjxDNoxBFcdfi3Hl2ZHSKWFr2F3w79HK3-4cPORpNYojUsc5JY-L1-AAtzZ9Ue02rSxyNcd5PA9OowKXFM3hwNb8KUZ3i6dPRJLMuxqvPvxU6NWRK/s916/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.39.15%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="916" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vhEbtHxPve9xs6LGpxwbcM6iAD-eF6t_HHh4qqzu7FfxNMQSs7Did0Y8Gp6z2qMbhT5f3VKajRGvjxDNoxBFcdfi3Hl2ZHSKWFr2F3w79HK3-4cPORpNYojUsc5JY-L1-AAtzZ9Ue02rSxyNcd5PA9OowKXFM3hwNb8KUZ3i6dPRJLMuxqvPvxU6NWRK/w640-h160/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.39.15%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>4. <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">The description should make sense.</span> It shouldn't read like an ad for Home Depot, it should read like the craftsman wrote it and for the above item it does.<div><br /></div><div>5. <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">The seller and shipping information should be the same. </span>If this person made the item then it will ship from their location. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDepiWqQpODuhRHAfPkZK1HJR_5C6ru2OI-nWQUaIhlHgn665aGi11ifP-e3GI8c1rsFY7KE3oNUeB1oAcmpZT5eUPN11j0YV2MBj2CBRYO3ohFWc-4O92nBA5aw0Z5TNN8AA56cQqxxyiDnEJCy3hREVylNz6a0m0l0IkqTSWuph-kXMXOICuU5GlTHhp/s894/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.44.34%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="894" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDepiWqQpODuhRHAfPkZK1HJR_5C6ru2OI-nWQUaIhlHgn665aGi11ifP-e3GI8c1rsFY7KE3oNUeB1oAcmpZT5eUPN11j0YV2MBj2CBRYO3ohFWc-4O92nBA5aw0Z5TNN8AA56cQqxxyiDnEJCy3hREVylNz6a0m0l0IkqTSWuph-kXMXOICuU5GlTHhp/w640-h284/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.44.34%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj97eMC2AEqto97qJ6Mhpgo1SqiqS0Cs2JBumfEseO3bwk-H7PZMu3V94JSJCMZkOcocnuSl89Je4G_Cta72wMqyYxseS_nFhQpgcSoEyCnj4xuET9tyurI5R8ZWxUlnwU_dtqurQiYS3aUH6JmFNstWXSqz4hq3BXG2eQwSbwsnWKkfQ3M3fkQd7yLByr/s520/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.44.21%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="156" data-original-width="520" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj97eMC2AEqto97qJ6Mhpgo1SqiqS0Cs2JBumfEseO3bwk-H7PZMu3V94JSJCMZkOcocnuSl89Je4G_Cta72wMqyYxseS_nFhQpgcSoEyCnj4xuET9tyurI5R8ZWxUlnwU_dtqurQiYS3aUH6JmFNstWXSqz4hq3BXG2eQwSbwsnWKkfQ3M3fkQd7yLByr/w640-h192/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.44.21%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>It's really sad that customers have to jump hoops to find actually handmade or vintage items on a site that built a reputation on selling handmade and vintage items. </div><div><br /></div><div>Look at how they describe themselves.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_Jvw5E08lPI8-TH0kruCsf_Mp5QiBNVx22d1nzj5vh6A0XfJ3VW0pWnZykqSzpxoj1StVJNYv8t8K-_NPdsrObd-veCuo3M6edLV49I7vOsQizdJuosTNGgn1d-lN-CBJR_KohpIKZZxvQhrdSdZ1p-CIx5sF-xAW-PUv1zy52pUBui251xQrTyr41bs/s2158/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.47.53%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="2158" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_Jvw5E08lPI8-TH0kruCsf_Mp5QiBNVx22d1nzj5vh6A0XfJ3VW0pWnZykqSzpxoj1StVJNYv8t8K-_NPdsrObd-veCuo3M6edLV49I7vOsQizdJuosTNGgn1d-lN-CBJR_KohpIKZZxvQhrdSdZ1p-CIx5sF-xAW-PUv1zy52pUBui251xQrTyr41bs/w640-h158/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.47.53%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9WUmRj_xz1n2dPxTjMKxD8nzVDU1k340wzvAIaUHBl3CbviqiIwiL-fy_NryNmef408cUd1-QzIuyL57QXQR6SYMZsxoKB2paQudyFuiXM3d0GnqUC7EQ_jomK2Qfb29bA3_tjW_L8d47wUDSIbro0ZBZnEWvdPruN5BteFX1yAPHS7VujDsjFr7vYkP/s1446/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.48.43%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="1282" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9WUmRj_xz1n2dPxTjMKxD8nzVDU1k340wzvAIaUHBl3CbviqiIwiL-fy_NryNmef408cUd1-QzIuyL57QXQR6SYMZsxoKB2paQudyFuiXM3d0GnqUC7EQ_jomK2Qfb29bA3_tjW_L8d47wUDSIbro0ZBZnEWvdPruN5BteFX1yAPHS7VujDsjFr7vYkP/w568-h640/Screenshot%202023-07-23%20at%2010.48.43%20AM.png" width="568" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Creativity lives in the heart of the scammers on Etsy selling mass produced products from other places and shipping it to your doorstep. Sadly, the ones that will pay the price for this are the true artists and craftsmen. <br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-24760429823353771842023-07-20T15:44:00.003-07:002023-07-20T15:44:28.359-07:00WE'LL HAVE A COUPLE NEW BATCHES OF SOAP AT THE RIVERWALK THIS SATURDAY!<p>While I was thinking about all of the kids that love to visit my table at the riverwalk I decided it would be fun to make some soaps that are very kid specific and this was my first of several to come. A real rubber ducky for kids to have in the bath. When the soap runs out the ducky will still be there to play with. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUmHlTvYEBMIW4Lg8g4l-Rlf9jq6YOagLgo33rnTy3vayHhSKgCuBf2QuEzzmq4LcHT97UFsHnHxOciiPA60N-0JaFBYLOFrjBR9lf14hP9N3SzoRCVd_bu4y-EKwH2BfJtX8ck8CuZaCUJ0Km_UFx5cLQntX5AO5umEqEsiwtuU-YgNd_BmrioqmfGUP/s3022/IMG_2463.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2936" data-original-width="3022" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUmHlTvYEBMIW4Lg8g4l-Rlf9jq6YOagLgo33rnTy3vayHhSKgCuBf2QuEzzmq4LcHT97UFsHnHxOciiPA60N-0JaFBYLOFrjBR9lf14hP9N3SzoRCVd_bu4y-EKwH2BfJtX8ck8CuZaCUJ0Km_UFx5cLQntX5AO5umEqEsiwtuU-YgNd_BmrioqmfGUP/w640-h622/IMG_2463.heic" width="640" /></a></div><p>The following batch smells super yummy. It's made with orange essential oil and colored with orange mica. It's smells so uplifting and the extra bonus is there's a luffa inside to help exfoliate the skin when washing. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIw3lYdB_bqwuVqufsR7B2pG0gwE46PgqIf9GUJIECUkp1oJ5InBox9nmD7PO3WKlmWFJZomZR-AJOmc5s2w3uepDK5j2NdgvGjlEo7LIVQ0oWJSccgH5Z30Z-ZpDJS9uuH976tiopCUrZn4SecQWgj0f2M0J3m_Uf5zuvDXV1HzbCmRhsE4OOh0zW542/s3229/IMG_2465.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3229" data-original-width="2872" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIw3lYdB_bqwuVqufsR7B2pG0gwE46PgqIf9GUJIECUkp1oJ5InBox9nmD7PO3WKlmWFJZomZR-AJOmc5s2w3uepDK5j2NdgvGjlEo7LIVQ0oWJSccgH5Z30Z-ZpDJS9uuH976tiopCUrZn4SecQWgj0f2M0J3m_Uf5zuvDXV1HzbCmRhsE4OOh0zW542/w570-h640/IMG_2465.heic" width="570" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Both of these soaps will be at the riverwalk this Saturday. <p></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-41641867811350943292023-07-17T20:03:00.003-07:002023-07-17T20:30:02.408-07:00OUR FIRST GARDEN PARTY<p>My daughter and I have been wanting to have a potluck garden party for years but it's complicated since our entire backyard is forest and native plants with our man made trails going through. It's filled with pollinators, stinging and biting insects; all things we choose to attract with native plants but don't coexist in close proximity to people and our food very well. This year, since it's the 3rd year of the drought, we aren't getting the abundant wasp population we normally have because the Joe pye weed and goldenrod are a bit behind the blooming schedule so we had a chance to carve out a spot for a party. We removed a bunch of mint and chives to locate elsewhere and then cleared the ground for tables. Our little party was nestled in among the plants and everything went great. We didn't see a single mosquito, YAY, and only a few insects appeared to sniff at the food. </p><p>We had a lot of crafting with friends. We're so grateful for wonderful people to spend time with creating in the beautiful outdoors. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyKMYgBxA30Ncye0h6lAzn-870LYQLcetbsiJtm4MCiFuu1nRiQB2B5QVgJggynrjO_uhxGau8YfFqk5dOeCC4fj-s7crgbhr88JvyrcDRAL-_GSA6JGPG1Eb3VCuMNDPhZoTWOGkBf_5Lzm_xUXD10YAooBo9QpldcFC6Y27BNChaKSnLfvV0HIK8NDP/s4032/IMG_2371.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyKMYgBxA30Ncye0h6lAzn-870LYQLcetbsiJtm4MCiFuu1nRiQB2B5QVgJggynrjO_uhxGau8YfFqk5dOeCC4fj-s7crgbhr88JvyrcDRAL-_GSA6JGPG1Eb3VCuMNDPhZoTWOGkBf_5Lzm_xUXD10YAooBo9QpldcFC6Y27BNChaKSnLfvV0HIK8NDP/w480-h640/IMG_2371.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGjpv5JOK6zOqnwDqslOLbcezyYNAtqu4igJk-9KnJazocKneBZMly-8nyKRWeLaRC17ALXzT-FKSRQtriLhhOGm0mCx9oo4jHRPRKLgf0slJrbhYa-pxJGjBfjIgqAvEuzE4HWWKF-TE49kJJczrDUJCi1tCMGpPpIppwFAX2dOwVkaDxv5d0m5p3QCf/s4032/IMG_2367.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGjpv5JOK6zOqnwDqslOLbcezyYNAtqu4igJk-9KnJazocKneBZMly-8nyKRWeLaRC17ALXzT-FKSRQtriLhhOGm0mCx9oo4jHRPRKLgf0slJrbhYa-pxJGjBfjIgqAvEuzE4HWWKF-TE49kJJczrDUJCi1tCMGpPpIppwFAX2dOwVkaDxv5d0m5p3QCf/w480-h640/IMG_2367.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLY4AnSRl5Y2PnkXQZV_ruRwYFibLEV5pASaLo7Ejh_nyK7KQnVB5SWUUuD3VlrYcsA7tm3SIGGctzfzTOz30Caem9c4Dtw16_JibcIIHiclfuIIn4udj-k-bibhF7SCLv7U2fNv68OCUhwQ9W3bkIeaPq01yu24E60vK2HOLhAiKLrolGnlPxDVJyJrO/s4032/IMG_2374.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLY4AnSRl5Y2PnkXQZV_ruRwYFibLEV5pASaLo7Ejh_nyK7KQnVB5SWUUuD3VlrYcsA7tm3SIGGctzfzTOz30Caem9c4Dtw16_JibcIIHiclfuIIn4udj-k-bibhF7SCLv7U2fNv68OCUhwQ9W3bkIeaPq01yu24E60vK2HOLhAiKLrolGnlPxDVJyJrO/w480-h640/IMG_2374.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvFjPCqDAh2lQ93-pXru7izQYlGITFailhD3WEy7Et45uc62ICjjYumgejvhqDaBMb9AcpY1dMItY_1M9c_5Lppqv3oxYJk-89Wa-0nNmIij4ceCE23OoeU3FOAyAG4vK2aUV7OM6asoMvNsaO3zF4cgNX56l19Voi4HvhhiZptlQKqqcw5_R2mdBoAMR/s3086/IMG_2355.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3086" data-original-width="2842" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvFjPCqDAh2lQ93-pXru7izQYlGITFailhD3WEy7Et45uc62ICjjYumgejvhqDaBMb9AcpY1dMItY_1M9c_5Lppqv3oxYJk-89Wa-0nNmIij4ceCE23OoeU3FOAyAG4vK2aUV7OM6asoMvNsaO3zF4cgNX56l19Voi4HvhhiZptlQKqqcw5_R2mdBoAMR/w590-h640/IMG_2355.heic" width="590" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Painting by Maya Valadez</div><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-22011349678617291052023-07-04T06:00:00.001-07:002023-07-04T06:00:00.133-07:00OUCH! ACUPUNCTURE<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrKks2JnOp9VAq9EMpu9RIpwr6UjBUcpN1-WaMNIuRSBO6iSTT3ZEAPsVIHPhSd6DUZfEvFtpZBQ_U_pcWTmC0Sa5VZVQdPEy5h8zRMg-WwNIZHu7-dNrQCsADT4HogtNnAodyNYPkE6fq12pPZ4P1lHGKjKhhL_oYKttJl79oe59DtPx3zeS7Qj4v8D0/s1500/acupuncture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1500" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrKks2JnOp9VAq9EMpu9RIpwr6UjBUcpN1-WaMNIuRSBO6iSTT3ZEAPsVIHPhSd6DUZfEvFtpZBQ_U_pcWTmC0Sa5VZVQdPEy5h8zRMg-WwNIZHu7-dNrQCsADT4HogtNnAodyNYPkE6fq12pPZ4P1lHGKjKhhL_oYKttJl79oe59DtPx3zeS7Qj4v8D0/w640-h384/acupuncture2.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />For years I've had people tell me I should try acupuncture but I have a severe needle phobia so I've avoided it. I don't care how tiny the needle is, it's still a needle and just knowing it's being stuck into my skin is enough to make me sweat and worry. <p></p><p>A few months ago I finally broke down and went for my first treatment. I had such severe anxiety at the time and nothing was helping with the reflux, insomnia, and adrenaline rushes that I thought acupuncture couldn't hurt. I first tried a place in Burnsville. I was amazed at my first session because I didn't feel the needles at all and the rush of energy I felt flowing through my body made me euphoric. I knew right away that I was hooked. My new doctor recently had me try a new acupuncturist in Roseville, one with more knowledge and experience with Chinese medicine, and I'm so glad I switched over to her because she's truly a master at what she does. </p><p>Every time I get a treatment I walk out feeling 100x better than when I went in. I still fear the needles and I cringe every time I have to lay down on the table and be poked but I love the outcome so much I just don't care. I feel the needles more now which is a good sign according to the acupuncturist. My favorite part of each session is feeling the energy flow through my entire body. I use to only feel energy in my hands but now I sense it from my head to my toes. It's calming and healing for sure. </p><p>If you've ever tried acupuncture I'd love to read about your experience. </p><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-49908417973103031492023-07-03T06:00:00.001-07:002023-07-03T06:00:00.160-07:00MET WITH A NUTRITIONIST <p>My new doctor has a group of people that are part of her healthcare team and so far everyone she has sent me off to see I've been impressed with. My most recent appointment was with a nutritionist. She went over my medical record before meeting with me so she had plans for me the moment we sat down to speak to each other. </p><p>First priority is to find foods I can tolerate and gain weight so she had me experiment with cassava flour today. I've had cassava before in the form of pasta but hadn't eaten it since getting sick again back in December and never worked with the flour. I cooked up two tortillas, added some almond butter and blueberry jam (100% pure fruit) and ate both. It was a nice change from eating the same foods over and over for months. I hope my body handles it well. </p><p>Normally not handling well means becomes abdominal pain, bloating, loose stools, and horrific reflux. Fingers crossed for a good outcome. </p><p>For anyone interested in a gluten free no grain flour alternative, the recipe on the bag is:</p><p>3/4 casava flour</p><p>1/4 tsp sea salt</p><p>2 Tbs olive oil</p><p>1/3 cup warm water.</p><p>Mix together well and then make six balls. If the consistency is a little dry just add a tiny bit more water. Roll out the balls in between two sheets of parchment paper and place on non stick square griddle pan on medium heat and wait for bubbles to form on each side like you do with a regular flour tortilla. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_81OANBARKBsB0zOSCtZqE_k5KJw_9Ch0C6NAncqMULZIK2PBKw3mI8WY0wJuDXpkFZqxTNYI7tOPLABeLRObhhdWrF-W0PRjVnFC1tHgIkq7H-j2ud5HlhCQltuba_Qs-R33kQKhY-Ja11Mfp35Oj0ILpvgGo0FmvMMcugYMQuLsMiEkXkLydD0-9RXn/s3332/IMG_1992.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3332" data-original-width="2824" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_81OANBARKBsB0zOSCtZqE_k5KJw_9Ch0C6NAncqMULZIK2PBKw3mI8WY0wJuDXpkFZqxTNYI7tOPLABeLRObhhdWrF-W0PRjVnFC1tHgIkq7H-j2ud5HlhCQltuba_Qs-R33kQKhY-Ja11Mfp35Oj0ILpvgGo0FmvMMcugYMQuLsMiEkXkLydD0-9RXn/w542-h640/IMG_1992.heic" width="542" /></a></div><br /><p>The cassava tortilla is close in taste to a flour tortilla but a little more doughy tasting. </p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-2514128217753499352023-07-02T15:46:00.003-07:002023-07-02T15:46:26.485-07:00LAWN BE GONE!<p> In 2020 we removed a large portion of our front lawn and today we have just about 1/4 left to remove before it's all gone. We filled the empty space in with 90% native plants and have been very pleased with how it turned out. </p><p>We aren't strangers to replacing non natives with natives. When we moved into our home nearly 16 years ago our entire backyard was buckthorn. It was an extension of the forest into Alimagnet park. Our first year we hired a company to remove all the buckthorn then after that we had to deal with flooding all the time so we had the yard regraded. After the regrading we bought a large sack of native wildflower seeds and spread them all over the backside of the house and within a year we started to see native grasses, goldenrod, Joe pie weed, daisies... Today we have so many natives growing back there I've lost count. The amount of wildlife that loves to be in our yard is what makes me the most happy. Frogs, toads, turtles, fox, rabbits, deer, snakes, wasps, hornets, bumblebees, hummingbirds, butterflies... We now see so many insects that we'd never seen before planting natives. We also stopped raking up our leaves in the fall and that has caused a boom in the firefly population around us. It's truly incredible and very special. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB2beZ7dRfIAFY1_DwmByi_14k5A__JTSHeA5K3PGtNe6Xr6btUX0PtfHeTcul7HCtyaFK0kx0IqABr1c_7DdvpBrzXIuXBzejtjHwDPqgMtWg28pQxa3YwTFtSeagkBo-lA43mlMwW4gRxgKV-CoXifHEa7dFh7Ms5vFeql12bcvL4zVgMqKi3tpVdoJ/s1756/IMG_2022%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1756" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB2beZ7dRfIAFY1_DwmByi_14k5A__JTSHeA5K3PGtNe6Xr6btUX0PtfHeTcul7HCtyaFK0kx0IqABr1c_7DdvpBrzXIuXBzejtjHwDPqgMtWg28pQxa3YwTFtSeagkBo-lA43mlMwW4gRxgKV-CoXifHEa7dFh7Ms5vFeql12bcvL4zVgMqKi3tpVdoJ/w430-h640/IMG_2022%202.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some people are surprised to learn that the adults of most firefly species are in fact pollinators. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcg9Ff6GLIujZs-T4b5TMgo1ZGlaK7OpPPnxJZbVguojL0ffgi5D1OpSSjkbDey95sOCQXc29wrkJBs8yFxHzNxv57ZskG5fAF_vMlxtWZlZMFsXI06rxxa7lROvLf0jppkftqDDYPDoDfIq0wXHUgdf77X8pTNiciVkxc3BwjPob1DCWP6vRj96nqde7/s1777/IMG_2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1777" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcg9Ff6GLIujZs-T4b5TMgo1ZGlaK7OpPPnxJZbVguojL0ffgi5D1OpSSjkbDey95sOCQXc29wrkJBs8yFxHzNxv57ZskG5fAF_vMlxtWZlZMFsXI06rxxa7lROvLf0jppkftqDDYPDoDfIq0wXHUgdf77X8pTNiciVkxc3BwjPob1DCWP6vRj96nqde7/w424-h640/IMG_2023.jpg" width="424" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;">The honeybee isn't a native pollinator but it's a pollinator none the less.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ej4zzZxv_zZibgs2mFwKTWUg6uKV8xdWp9ddXXukYp-hhItDCpAFMuCmsgxJgLCaoOtWdhFLhvG5qKGpR17NCoCDS59XtszFVXNgFcQcu5AVVdnewO7IUD3wET0heDtbfQyAMHXWn2OVaIgHtSoCsis8T2MgRgTyvj9QWnt2wiQu6gvOjMxWMZViB6Rg/s2556/IMG_2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ej4zzZxv_zZibgs2mFwKTWUg6uKV8xdWp9ddXXukYp-hhItDCpAFMuCmsgxJgLCaoOtWdhFLhvG5qKGpR17NCoCDS59XtszFVXNgFcQcu5AVVdnewO7IUD3wET0heDtbfQyAMHXWn2OVaIgHtSoCsis8T2MgRgTyvj9QWnt2wiQu6gvOjMxWMZViB6Rg/w295-h640/IMG_2024.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Monarch butterfly.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT2IbEadbVbkCgrMLFOmA00XRfa7kgx-FlbQVA0Mn0HLG24iTvI4e7GtayRSAcAQEmSHoWZqqHDfabXO-tvGYuHRMJ1hlNRF1wcq0XSnpydJj08CfLA0Uj1gjZkYvrt7F_dyj5K0OqvWKMfHb4LLWMbe9IjvmTcCZ0qfp7TiHBPqeo1uFMPEtmcnUt9LU/s2556/IMG_2025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT2IbEadbVbkCgrMLFOmA00XRfa7kgx-FlbQVA0Mn0HLG24iTvI4e7GtayRSAcAQEmSHoWZqqHDfabXO-tvGYuHRMJ1hlNRF1wcq0XSnpydJj08CfLA0Uj1gjZkYvrt7F_dyj5K0OqvWKMfHb4LLWMbe9IjvmTcCZ0qfp7TiHBPqeo1uFMPEtmcnUt9LU/w296-h640/IMG_2025.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The bumblebee has some pollen on her legs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLk26Ic6UBYGpWkHJkmFzPKM73OjlLIyAzsyWAytF5KBVOfgAZpjslanHrNxRG1XTzvo78WFpR9kxNrpXeHRObl-ye7S7UTsq-XO3WEpXosahyGUCACaHz31Y_ym2KcCtwC7icJrUDmgiQXDZZO9J_jVCFklUaKwAT73FFarI6cWB-8dsGUKce7QbSdF-/s2048/IMG_2028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLk26Ic6UBYGpWkHJkmFzPKM73OjlLIyAzsyWAytF5KBVOfgAZpjslanHrNxRG1XTzvo78WFpR9kxNrpXeHRObl-ye7S7UTsq-XO3WEpXosahyGUCACaHz31Y_ym2KcCtwC7icJrUDmgiQXDZZO9J_jVCFklUaKwAT73FFarI6cWB-8dsGUKce7QbSdF-/w480-h640/IMG_2028.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When we removed a portion of our lawn in 2020. We did this on both sides of our driveway.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmVXUXZvcsDrVxJQa0c3t4-QJcnbRxm1JIl_YykObl24IFdJ-G2vtzKeFV4uQ6SJPJAWjiV7F5o3itVtZSWdVHkm8H7XrQ3fLOH6QROJcZeFO2YxJCFToIkY_tZIIJZ_38j80jbApO7E7kc7Zb8RDgprXh_dRjNnexaRWo4YnHBw9FVPdPoXte0lSqNeN/s4032/IMG_2029.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmVXUXZvcsDrVxJQa0c3t4-QJcnbRxm1JIl_YykObl24IFdJ-G2vtzKeFV4uQ6SJPJAWjiV7F5o3itVtZSWdVHkm8H7XrQ3fLOH6QROJcZeFO2YxJCFToIkY_tZIIJZ_38j80jbApO7E7kc7Zb8RDgprXh_dRjNnexaRWo4YnHBw9FVPdPoXte0lSqNeN/w480-h640/IMG_2029.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">These are the plants we put in to replace the lawn. We have mountain mint, butterfly weed, bergamot, boneset, pearly everlasting... and many more.</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873729517740096960.post-65236066350688242772023-07-02T08:00:00.007-07:002023-07-02T08:01:59.759-07:00THE NEW WEBSITE IS ALMOST READY<p>I have a new website! It's not quite ready yet. I expect to be done with it around July 9th since I'll be finished tweaking it sooner than I thought. I originally planned for maybe the first of August but things are coming together quickly so I'll announce when I have all the soaps uploaded to the site so people can check it out. For now I'll have bath bombs, cold processed soap, and knitted wash cloths. In autumn expect to see more fun things. 🙂</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIU8yvgfho-tKN4S5cqzRpys6qGiZy3O4947ieWCs62dZd4LAVe-V57R7He-QeYSEHsMDxxJhlyid3hgw4Ghe6jdCroTzhGIHxAe7qf2PXp7KpLfRdiVD7wGEiMb4L04k7FvNxVnZaqnwfwhusaH61TbLJ_fJTmG7pY23GnZM3kIi2olu6i9qb5qLa-Gx/s1988/Screenshot%202023-07-02%20at%209.54.43%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1316" data-original-width="1988" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIU8yvgfho-tKN4S5cqzRpys6qGiZy3O4947ieWCs62dZd4LAVe-V57R7He-QeYSEHsMDxxJhlyid3hgw4Ghe6jdCroTzhGIHxAe7qf2PXp7KpLfRdiVD7wGEiMb4L04k7FvNxVnZaqnwfwhusaH61TbLJ_fJTmG7pY23GnZM3kIi2olu6i9qb5qLa-Gx/w640-h424/Screenshot%202023-07-02%20at%209.54.43%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.com0