Wash cloths ever wonder where they disappear to?

 My children are grown, youngest is 21 now, when they were younger it seemed like we had tons of wash cloths! Of course they always seem to be in the wash! That never ending story of laundry! Just when you think it's done there's another load or 2 that magically appears. 

Ok back to wash cloths! 

I want to say in the past 7 to 8 months my wash cloths have been disappearing! Most of them I know how, they have fallen victim to a black four legged friend whom we rescued last November. 

She is a bundle of joy and frustration, and I say that in the most loving way! I would not give her up if my life depended on it. 

Ok this post is really about dogs not wash cloths, or is it both!? 😋

Now this cute guy, even though he looks guilty, isn't the guilty one. The guilty one seen the camera and split! This guy stepped in and posed for the camera, he was never asked, he just took it upon himself to do this.  By the way that's Chief, one of the most loving loyal dogs I've ever known!!! 

Now back to my rescue pup, she is now a year old, we got her at 5 months of age. Poor little thing had been to 3 different homes before we got her, at 5 months that's a lot of homes! The person we got her from was good to her, but little miss Katie was just to much and she is a hand full! An adorable handful! 

There she is all cuddled up taking a nap, now mind you that's about the only time she is resting! 

She is a little got to move gal. 

That would be the reason I have a dwindling supply of wash cloths. She loves to find them in the laundry pile, run off somewhere to tuck them under her to chew on. Oh you should see the ones I've rescued, yes I still use them, they now have love every holes in them, or an extra finger hole to hang on to. Lol

Now keep in mind, these are the cheapest thing in our house she has chewed on, besides the paper towel cardboard roll, I've lost expensive work shoes, the cord to my vacuum cleaner, the list goes on, to this cute little gal. Yes she gets disciplined, she will immediately stop when you call her name or even look at her, but as a pup she still has the chew urges, we get toys for her to chew on and our oldest dog lucky feels the need to not let a toy hang around the house unless it's a tennis ball. 

Pretty miss lucky, she's 4 and a half years old, she has never met a toy she couldn't destroy. 

Gentle other wise, In fact if you were to come visit, at some point and time she will sit next to you, start smiling while staring at you and before you know it, a big ol wet kiss right across the face.  

The smiling one is lucky, her partner in adventure is chief. This photo was from a campout we did last summer. These 2 loved the water, spent most of their time in the creek. Of course so did the rest of us.

My story of disappearing wash cloths, yes they disappear, yes I know who is making that happen! Did this give me an opportunity to introduce you to my fur babies, YES! 

Sometime soon there will be a grand baby to share about, until then you'll hear stories about my trio.

Thank you for stopping by,

Michele 

 

Cantaloupe Sorbet

Each Tuesday at a Farmers Market just across the street from where I live, yes I just said across the street, how could that not be exciting right ?!?! There is a vendor that brings the most amazing watermelon and cantaloupe to sell ( along with some other amazing fruits and veggies). This last Tuesday I got 2 cantaloupe from him. Got home and got to thinking, besides just eating these yummy delicious fruit, what else could I do with them? I have been craving ice cream lately, but it's been so hot the past few weeks that dairy cream just didn't sound good. So off to research Sorbets!

Now let me tell you, I was excited as all get out when I found out that it's really really simple to make! Yippee for me!!!

Now the tricky part, most actually all the recipes called for lemon juice in the recipes, citrus like the tomatoe family are not good for me! So my experiment begins! 

I cut my fruit up

Put these sweet yummy chunks of sweetness into the fridge. While my cantaloupe was chillin I created a simple syrup.  Boiled together sugar and water. Once the syrup came to a boil I turned it off and let it cool. 

Once cooled I pulled out me food processor, the cantaloupe chunks and the simply syrup. 

I have a smaller food processor, so this is done in small batches, you can do how it works for you. If you don't have a food processor, a blender works great too. 

I placed 2 cups of chunked cantaloupe into the food processor, poured about 1/4 cup of simple syrup over the cantaloupe. I put the lid on the processor ( important step here!) then blended away!! Once blended I took the top odd and added a splash of vodka, just a splash. Now my vodka is pinnacle whipped so it has a vanilla taster to it, you can go plain or not use the vodka and go with the lemon juice instead. 

This is how it looks once blended, yes I took a spoon full out to sample. 😊 very much pleased with the results!

I poured this onto a container and proceeded to do the steps over again until I used up the cantaloupe. 

Once my container was full, or I had used up the cantaloupe I had set aside for the sorbet, I put the lid on and placed in the freezer.   Now with the vodka in this recipe it won't freeze completely, but it does freeze! When your ready, or the sorbet is ready just pull out of the freezer and scoop yourself up a bowl. 

I also did the same recipe with watermelon. When I did the simple syrup I added  mint leaves to the mixture before it started to boil, once the simple syrup cooled I removed the mint leaves. 

Here is a photo of what my watermelon sorbet looks like 

Now for the recipe 

7-8 cups cut up cantaloupe or any melon

For the simple syrup it's

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

4 mint leaves (optional)

Vodka to splash into the mixture. 

Now when you are done. You don't really taste the alcohol, there isn't much in the mix maybe 4 tablespoons at the most 

Purée all together, put in the freezer to set up, once ready enjoy!!!!

Hope you enjoy this yummy recipe, I know I have already!

Thank you,

Michele 

Watermelon Salsa! yum!!!

 Years ago I developed a severe allergic reaction to tomatoes. Tomatoes also being in the nightshade family eliminated more foods, like potato, bell peppers, jalapeño, etc. Now due to the reaction that happens, I really don't miss these foods, and if I had to say it I would be on a partial Paleo diet due to it. I say partial because I love my breads 😍. 

My allergies have lead me on a pursuit to find foods within my safe zone, but can taste along the lines or even better than the tomato counter part. So hence Watermelon Salsa was born!!

This taste salsa has gone to several pot lucks, made special appearances at my work and leaves everyone amazed! Usually I don't tell them it's watermelon, they just usually freak out when they see me eat it or they dig into it, eating chips and stating wow this is great salsa!!! Then I get to step in and exclaim it's WATERMELON SALSA!!!!!

Now how to make it, this took me sometime to research and figure out different ways to make salsa, then eliminate what I can't eat due to the allergies. 

You of course start out with watermelon. Dice up enough to to fill a bowl. 

Next I get my garlic cloves, onion and cucumber ready ( yes I said cucumber) 

I use my garlic press mince the garlic, I peel the cucumbers, now this time of year little cucumbers from the garden are great! 2 small ones did the trick. Now dice up some onion. I used about half medium onion fort recipe. Once everything is diced up, add it to the watermelon. 

Now for the good stuff, I use about 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Add it right on the watermelon mixture! Stir it in. 

 

Then last, but not least I chop up the cilantro and add it in. 

Stir it all together and enjoy!!! You can eat now or put on the fridge for an hour or so to let the juices all mingle together. 

Now note due to the fact this is watermelon, it will get soupy after a day or so, just drain off extra liquid if needed. If your home is anything like mine, this won't last long!

Here is the recipe again

Dice enough watermelon to fill a bowl

Add 2 cloves minced garlic 

2 small cucumbers diced

Half a medium onion diced

Diced cilantro

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste.

Toss everything together and enjoy!!!

I usually just eat it with chips, but have also taken a baguette, sliced and toasted. Topped off with the salsa and feta cheese. Your options are endless!!

I would love to hear your feedback on how you enjoyed this salsa!

Michele

 

 

Homemade laundry soap

I have been making my own laundry soap for years, my laundry soap recipe came out of desperation for me, as a person with lots of allergies finding something that wouldn't cause hives was a necessity.

Bonus for me, I use soaps I've already made, using up bars that are older, still good, actually harder making them easier to grate. I love my homemade soaps, haven't purchased a bar of "store" soap since year 2000. Another bonus is the ingredients are simple, takes less to wash my clothes and everything comes out clean.

3 summers ago I gave a niece of mine a bag of homemade laundry soap as part of her bridal shower gift. Her husband, who is a part of the naval rescue crews, loves my laundry soap. He finds it gets the smell out of his uniform and other clothes. They loved it so much that we sent it to Guam with them to use. 

Below is how I make my laundry soap 

First I collect my ingredients and get started 

 

I grate my bars of soap, now I make large batches, so I use more than one bar, but for someone doing this for themselves a bar should do. 

Take a bar of handmade soap and grate it.

Then measure out the following; for every cup of grated soap use half cup of each of the following:

Borax, baking soda and washing soda. 

Now I put this through my food processor to blend it finer, but that isn't necessary.

I process small amounts at a time to make sure it's blended well, then I pour into my storage container.

Using this is easy, I have that little silver cup that is equal to 1/4th cup, a regular load I use half of my little cup, or 2 tablespoons of soap, heavier loads I will use more. The container I have is actually a plastic ice cream bucket, (schwans) reused it after we ate all the ice cream, hey a person needs to do their best at recycling. 

In summary 

for every cup of grated soap use 

1/2 cup borax

1/2 cup washing soda

1/2 cup baking soda

Run through a food processor ( if you don't have one that's ok)

When washing use 2 tablespoons of soap for normal wash, 3 to 4 for heavy, depending on your preference. 

Now I must tell you that this soap really doesn't suds, that is ok, sudsy water doesn't always equal clean clothes. 

Michele 

Apricot Freesia Soap

I chose this wonderful sweet scent to participate in a soap swap this month. I'm excited as, to me, this soap has turned out beautiful! Pretty apricot color with a light pink swirl. 

12 bars go to the swap, leaving me with 6 beautiful bars to share with others 😊 

These beautiful soaps are made with some great skin loving oils and butters. Olive, coconut, lard, Shea  and cocoa butter. 

Rose garden soap

Rose Garden Soap

Reminds me of walking right into the Portland Rose Garden when in full bloom, oh the sweet crisp blend of many fragrant Roses. 

My lovely soap is made up olive, coconut, grape seed oil, lard, cocoa butter and Shea butter. With besutiful swirls of purple, pink and burgundy oxides. Skin loving and beautiful. 

Why I want to test Brambleberry's mystery fragrance oils

For years I have shopped with Brambleberry, they were one of the first companies I have purchased from when I started to make soap. That was January 2000! 15 years of soap making! One of my investments was the birch wood mold, I purchased one from Anne-Marie and loved it! I won a second birch wood mold one year when Anne-Marie hosted a Soap get together in Portland, Oregon. My soap won first place, getting me the other fabulous soap mold. These have been my go to molds now for years! Below is a photo of the coffee soap I made

http://www.brambleberry.com/18-Bar-Unfinished-Birchwood-Mold-P5168.

My favorite fragrance oil is rise and shine , this one scent I think I gave gotten from Brambleberry from almost the beginning, the smell is so sweet and wonderful! 

http://www.brambleberry.com/Rise-And-Shine-Fragrance-Oil-P3941.aspx

I want to be part of the Spring 2015 S.O.A.P. Panel, to me this is a great way to be creative and interactive in what is new in the soap world. A chance to get my creative juices flowing again. 

Creepy fall drink

This drink was a fun experiment that turned out way cooler than expected!

My photo is a little dark, it's clear, orange and red

Took a glass filled half full of ice, poured in Malibu rum, peach scnapps, pinnacle whipped vodkaand topped off with cranberry juice, before you stir the cranberry juice init hangs out on the ice giving this drink a very cool Halloween party cocktail.

This drink was hubby approved :-)

Coconut watermelon mint martini

I was wanting a watermelon martini. In my search of recipes all wanted fresh watermelon, I unfortunately didn't have that on hand, but did have fresh mint, watermelon schnapps and coconut rum. 

I took 3 or 4 mint leaves and muddled them in the bottom of the glass, poured crushed ice over the mint then added a shot of coconut rum and topped that off with the watermelon schnapps.

I must say it is yummy!!! Reminds me some of a jolly rancher hard candy. 

Fun soapy elephant packed weekend!!!

3 days and 3 different venues! Friday at Molalla's 2nd Friday (photo below)

Saturday will be at the Canyon Creek Festival in Colton, then Sunday at Colton's Farmers Market. 

Blueberry buckle

This evening I thought I should try a new blueberry recipe, on my hunt I came across this blueberry buckle recipe on all recipe.com  now I had 2 different recipes up and was reading each one, and well kinda added a little extra. Along with the ingredients below I also added 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Also noted (maybe my oven) that I should have used a little bit bigger pan. End result, AWESOME!!!

.Original recipe makes 1 -8x8 inch cake

Change Servings

• 3/4 cup white sugar

• 1/4 cup shortening

• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup milk

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 2 cups fresh blueberries

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 cup butter, softened

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Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease one 8x8 inch pan.
2. Cream together 3/4 cup sugar, shortening, and egg.
3. In a separate bowl mix together 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into sugar mixture, alternating with milk. Stir in blueberries. Pour into greased 8x8 inch pan.
4. To make topping: Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, cinnamon, and butter. Sprinkle over cake batter.
5. Bake at 375 degree F (190 degrees C) for 25-30 minutes.

July's 2nd Friday booth in Molalla Oregon

Booth is all set up waiting for customers to come :-)

This seasons 3rd 2nd Friday event! 

Soaps unmolded

Here is the Bug Be Gone soap, always love the smell and pretty green swirls in this soap

Here is my rise and shine out of the mold and cut, colors didn't turn out quite how I wanted, still needs some cleaning up, 

Here is bonsai, dare I say I totally forgot this little batch of soap was on my drying rack, oh shame on me! 

Needless to say I love the smell and the multiple blue swirls in this soap. 

Bug be gone soap

Each year I seem to sell out of this wonderful blend of

essential oils I nicely call Bug be Gone!

usually at the first part of summer I have customers asking

me if I have any yet.  One customer has been a 5 plus years purchaser!

She has informed me that nothing works as well as this soap does

for keeping the bugs away. 

In this photo I have added my EO's and have gotten the soap

to a trace

                              I am now adding in my green colored soap for a neat swirl effect

                                Soap has been poured into the mold, you can see the marbling of color
                                                                      within the soap

                                    I am adding more green color to the top so I can create  more
                                                             of the swirled/marbled look

                                          Soap has been swirled and molded.  I love this mold
                                            each bar comes out pretty close to the same size

I will be posting pictures soon of the bug be gone and the Rise and shine

look like once they are out of the mold

Rise and Shine Soap

Used my new 1 lb mold I got from Anne Marie over at Brambleberry

I love the fresh crisp scent of Rise and Shine, 

It's a wake you up, and make you feel so good kind of smell.

Trying to accent the differnt citrus scents with colors

of orange, pink and yellow and a hint of white

                                      Looking forward to unmolding this soap soon!

Colton farmers market display

My darling husband helping at my booth for the first farmers market in Colton

He was so awesome at it, he volunteered to run the booth for the 2nd market, as I had to work at my other job. 

Colton Farmers Markets run every 2nd and 4th Sunday in the green space by the Colton Telephone Company. Markets will run June through September 10 am to 3 pm. Always a great event. 

Pepperberry soap made for a soap swap

I've joined a soap swap on soap Queen's blog, it's part of Brambleberry. I love Anne Marie's different fragrance oils she has available on her website. One fo I've had and still hadn't used until recently is her pepperberry fo. Very sweet kinda spicy scent. I'm enjoying it and am glad I choose it for the swap.
My creative juices got a flowing with many ideas for packaging. I chose to use paper and wrap with ribbon adding a little touch of cuteness to it.

Wonderful day at the tulip fields

What a fun day at the tulip fields! The wooden shoe tulip festival out side Woodburn Oregon is an amazing place. This is the place my husband took me on our first date. We have made a point to go back each year.
We seen a cool pink John Deere tractor, cute doggies posing for their pictures, family and friends. Had a little fun with the iPads photo booth when taking some of the photos.