It's been so rainy, cold and chilly this last week! Last Saturday my family and I left the Saturday morning farmers' market early because of the cold. There were only 5 vendors and about that many customers. Three more weeks to go and the markets will be over until we start going to the once-a-month winter market in St. Louis, which we are looking forward to.
I do have Christmas shows that will be starting soon, so I have lots of goat milk soaps to make and wrap. In fact, next week I'm attending a planning meeting for one of my Christmas shows. I have a new scent, Magnolia Magnifique, to add to my list. If you like florals, you'll probably like this one. I have shaving soap in the molds that I will take out once I finish blogging and checking email.
Speaking of blogging, I attended an Agritourism Celebration this week and one of the speakers talked about using social media for advertising. She said that blogs are supposed to be updated 2 or 3 times a week. I guess that means I'm a bad blogger because I don't update my blog that often. Anyway, about 95% of the meal was locally grown foods and the chef did a wonderful job preparing them! Delicious!!!! Go local foods!
I have a new passion! I bought a mountain dulcimer yesterday from a local man. His price is so reasonable. Better than buying on the internet and again it was from someone local, who I'd rather support any day. It was the last one he had in stock. So now he'll have to make more for the next customer(s) who want one or two. Oh, it is so gorgeous! It's made of sycamore wood, which is a light, multi-colored wood. I could hardly wait until after supper so I could sit down to start learning how to play. It is so easy and so much fun!!!! I used an electronic tuner to make sure it was in tune. Let me tell you, that was so easy to do. Traditionally, mountain dulcimers, or lap dulcimers, are played with a quill. Since my son has a stash of feathers from one of our farmers' market vendors, I asked him for one. It works as well as a plastic guitar pick, which my daughter is loaning me until I get back to the music store to buy some picks for myself. I'm eyeing several (5 or 6) dulcimer music books on internet, so once I buy them, I should be set on PLENTY of music to play. The only thing else I could really use is a music stand so my music can be directly in front of my at about the same height as my dulcimer on my lap. This will make it easy to look back and forth between the music and the dulcimer. Hhmmm, will have to add that on the list next to the guitar picks.
My daughter and I have also joined the local Cat Ranch Art guild. I know some of the members and 2 in particular have been trying for while to get us to join. We attended their Cat Ranch Round-up two weekends ago, where we sold soaps and I demonstrated spinning on my Babe production spinning wheel. People were amazed that I was spinning wool on a wheel made of PVC pipes and a wheel chair wheel. So since my daughter and I are both artist, creative types, and we "caved" haha! and joined the guild last week. The folks we have met so far are really nice and very encouraging of everyone's talents. And the Guild is already planning on next year's Cat Ranch Round-Up. It's going to be bigger than ever, with lots of activities and music, and most important, the members artistic creations will be on display and for sale. Stayed tuned for more info!
I have to go now and wash dishes and then I'm going to make mozzerella cheese because I have lots of goat milk now. I made mild feta cheese for my husband and yesterday it was ready to eat. However, he likes marinated feta, so I put in several jars with Italian dressing. Once it sets for several more days, it will be ready to eat. As long as it stays covered with the oil, it will keep indefinitely. As least that's what my recipe book says. Marinated feta never lasts long enough around here to know for sure how long it will keep!
Until next time.
