Surfing Goat Soap - More from Hames & Axle Farm

The other day I blogged about Hames & Axle Farm, and how they make the most terrific natural bug repellent. So good that I spent half the afternoon today driving out there to Ashburnham to pick up a few more bottles.

Now that I've visited the farm, I am prepared to rave some more about them! First of all, thanks to Pat and Dave for showing my son & me around their wonderful, happy goat farm. The Nigerian Dwarf Goats were a sheer delight! It seemed that there were a million of them, and each one had its own creative, poetic-sounding name. And each one had a sweet little face and b-a-a-a-a-a-h call to go with it. Anyone who knows me, knows that I paint cats. But today I found a new source of animal inspiration: Nigerian Dwarf Goats! They came in so many different colors and patterns, just like cats. I even saw one that reminded me of my late calico cat, Nellie. And each one has that triangle-shaped head and little dime-slot eyes...I fell in love right away.

The goats weren't the only ones to steal my heart. Happy, free-roaming chickens scratched the rich dark soil looking for goodies or whatever it is that chickens like. Being a child of supermarket-shopping parents (don't eggs come from a carton??), I had never seen this, but apparently it's the way they get exercise and stay happy and healthy--unlike their ill-fated cousins at factory farms everywhere. They were beautiful, clean chickens on this lovely, clean farm.

But lest I forget....I came back here today to say that I neglected to tell you about the Surfing Goat Soaps web site. It was explained to me today that the name comes from the way the little goats like to "surf" atop anything that they can find--tree stumps, rocks, people who kneel down and let them (I speak from experience.) And this web site has more than soap. It has lotions, household stuff and information! Did you know that Pat, breeder of the aforementioned goats, has written a book on Nigerian Dwarf Goats and edits Ruminations; The Nigerian Dwarf and Mini-Dairy Goat magazine? Check out the web site by clicking HERE. I think you'll enjoy it. I can't wait to order some of their goat milk laundry soap.

Local Harvest web site -a great resource

I just found the Local Harvest web site which is a great resource for finding out about find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and more. I even signed up by clicking on the "Keep Me Posted" link, which will provide me with a weekly email notifying me of new LocalHarvest members, local farm events, seasonal foods, new farmers' markets and other local food-related events.

Sterling, Mass. Farmers Market

We just got back from the Sterling, Mass. farmers' market. Very nice! There was a young man there with guitar, performing for the crowd. He did mellow, relaxing James Taylor-type tunes; it complemented the farmers' market very well. My son had ice cream from one vendor and a cookie from another. I sampled some marinated goat cheese from Crystal Brook Farm (of Sterling) and wonderful baguettes at another booth. I seriously wanted to buy both of them, but I found out the hard way that there are no ATMs from my bank between my home and this market. (Note to self for next time!) There were wonderfully woolly alpacas in a pen, several booths with vegetables and blueberries, one with fresh coffee, and a face painter too! The atmosphere was warm, busy and friendly. A very enjoyable experience.

I had visited there to help out with the table of the ALOHA homeschoolers' co-op. Located in Central Mass., ALOHA is a secular homeschooling co-op that we belong to, and we were helping to just get the word out about the group in the hopes of getting new families to join.

Sterling Farmers' Market takes place every Friday from June to September, from 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm., right in the center of town.

A useful new product....made by me!

It seems like all my spare time lately is spent trying new ways to create my newest items....journals! Specifically, wire-bound books. The variety of covers and styles and art I can put on them is vast. Noa Gifts has some of my kitty journals, and I'm working hard to get a larger selection together, not only for Noa and my other stores, but for my local art event that's happening in Worcester on September 20: it's called stART on the Street. I'm so happy to have bought the binding system to begin making journals. I've been selling my cards and magnets and other art-y items for years, but this product has got that high "usefulness factor" that makes me excited to be able to provide it. Maybe it's because I ALWAYS have a big journal in my backpack, a tiny journal in my fanny pack, one for my child (till he's old enough to write his own journal) and one for me. Oh, and one for my gardening notes, and one for my business notes....and so on....and so on..... Come see me and all the other enterprising artists & performers at stART!

Seeking the Good

I will likely be starting a new blog soon, inspired by some truly angry and bitter rantings by a close family member. My desire in starting the blog is to be able to share (and learn from others) regarding my choice to move TOWARD "The Good." That is to leave behind the petty, the angry, the dysfunctional, the short-sighted, the selfish, and move toward living a life that respects the truth, seeks wisdom and beauty, embraces the positive, and so on.

Obviously I am too busy to have the two blogs that I already have, and one might question the wisdom of starting yet another one. However, these things are important to say and discuss. And today on my Facebook page I saw a perfect example of seeking "The Good." Read this passage by Barbara Scofidio, owner of Noa Gifts (Groton & W. Concord, MA). Here's her quote:

"So, when we were building the addition, we had to cut some trees, including black walnuts. We knew they could be used for furniture so we advertised them on craigslist and the nicest man, Buzz, bought them. Yesterday, two years later, he brought us this amazing bowl he made from our trees as a gift. It has 600 pieces of wood (black walnut, cedar and cherry) from our yard and measures over 16"!

I love it. Thanks, Barbara!

Blushing Bee Naturals - Holden, Mass.

Driving down Main Street in Holden, Massachusetts, I used to see a tiny storefront shop called Blushing Bee Naturals. I kept meaning to go in there, but there didn't appear to be any parking so I usually kept going.

Good news! They've relocated to 787B Main Street, next door to the Sheep Shack, Pet Barn and The Bagel Inn. Plenty of parking made it easy for me to stop in there the other day, and I'm glad I did. I got to chat with the extremely cheerful and positive owner, Kathy Leal, who helped me pick out an exfoliating facial cleanser that I am thoroughly enjoying. It has natural ingredients, it smells good, it works...who could ask for more?

The store is bright and cheerful and just packed with natural soaps, cleansers, accessories and other gifts. One in particular stuck out in my mind--a very reasonably-priced little group of square scented candles, stacked one above the other, all connected by a single wick. I wish I could remember the price, but with their little square dish I am pretty sure it was around $11 or so (don't quote me!). They had funny greeting cards and jewelry there, too.

My 6-year old son was with me, and after he finished organizing the beeswax soap display and looking all around at the colorful, wonderful-smelling merchandise, he became bored and prevailed upon me to leave. But I will definitely go back again (without him) so I can take my time and really look around.

Kathy says she does not have a web site and that they get their business by word-of-mouth, and since I'm sitting here blogging about the cheerful & helpful customer service and their wide range of yummy products--I can see her point. :-)