The Wash Your Monday Blues Away contest continues (start time in 5 minutes)! The original rules apply. I am having fun with this, and I cannot wait to see who wins a bar of soap this week!
Archive for the ‘All In A Day's Time’ Category
Wash Your Monday Blues Away Contest 12/22
Posted in All In A Day's Time, tagged Contest, Goat Milk Soap on December 22, 2008| 1 Comment »
Not Just The Large Cities-Job Losses
Posted in All In A Day's Time, tagged Economy on December 18, 2008| 11 Comments »
With talks of the auto makers in trouble, the decrease in fuel consumption (despite the lower prices at the pump), and layoffs amongst many city, county and school employees (including universities), I wanted to give an outline of how our local (and rural area) will be suffering from job losses.
We are going to lose 9,800 jobs in a 5 county area (a mainly rural area). Approximately 2,600 of those jobs are people that live in my county. This major job loss stems from DHL pulling their business, taking it elsewhere, back to Germany. The ABX employees that work at the airstrip, ensuring DHL gets their daily shipments in and out, will lose their employment. A percentage already have.
The commercial air strip is 25 minutes away from our farm. Many of our neighbors, friends and famly are employed at ABX/DHL. Some of the employees are farmers, most cannot afford the current diesel fuel prices, and some that cannot either afford or obtain health care without the 2nd job (1st job farming). If they cannot afford diesel, and if they cannot afford health care, I can see hay, feed, and (human) food prices on the increase. I can see many more foreclosures on farms and properties.
Last year ABX employees started posting red signs in their yards, similar to real estate sale signs, to indicate that they were employed at ABX. For a while, and still to this day on some occasions, it brings the goose bumps up to see how many people are going to be affected by these jobs losses. Within one mile of home, I can count at least 7 households that will be affected.
We have already seen businesses close, with more to follow. We have been told by our local real estate experts that our property values are to decrease, and the economic experts are saying the values will stay in a slump for at least the next 2 decades. The example given, to put this in perspective, a property valued at 195,000 a few years ago, will be valued at 145,000 within the next year. Because of the economy, we have been told property taxes will be increasing this coming year as well. More taxes, less property values.
Some of my friends are farmers at night, school teachers during the day. They are concerned about the children attending their schools. A nearby school is expecting to see 40% of the children’s parents unemployed once DHL completely pulls out.
The pull out is expected to be nearly complete by 1/31/09. We hear news daily of the next round of job losses. As in today’s newspaper article: http://www.timesgazette.com/main.asp?SectionID=18&SubSectionID=175&ArticleID=159893&TM=46995.52
In my estimation, there is nothing we can do to stop DHL. United States government officials have tried, politicians have tried, people have tried to stop the deal. The deal is happening.
My husband has been unemployed for 6 months. Yesterday’s paper had no job listings in it, the big 0! And I keep thinking about these 9,800 people. Who is going to employ them? Is there going to be a people bail out (like a big bank or car manufacturer might receive)? Help is needed.
I cannot change the economy. I cannot change any of the after affects. The only thing I can do is hang tight, prepare to be a good community member. Keep my boots on, and hold on to them snugly. It could be a slippery ride. They say what goes down has to come back up. That is what I am focused on, the ride back up.
I am a optimist. This article is not meant to be negative, it is just factual. I wish we all had an answer!
Until the prayers are answered, keep your faith!
Contest Winner
Posted in All In A Day's Time, tagged Goat Milk Soap on December 16, 2008| 1 Comment »
Before I run down to the barn to feed the critters, I wanted to post this week’s Wash Your Monday Blues away winner!
Amy found the inbedded GC (Goat Chat) link on the Annie’s Goat Hill FAQ’s page.
Her choice was a bar of honey oatmeal goat milk soap!
I have had the honor of knowing Amy through Goat Chat this past year. Amy resides in Michigan. She is a wonderful lady, with a sense of humor that I so much appreciate! I love a good laugh, and she certainly can provide it. Amy has had to deal with a lot of health issues in her life. I wish she didn’t have to battle the things that she does, but I can say without a blink of an eye, she inspires me, with a reminder that strength within ourselves is key! Thank you, Amy! Keep that faith! And you certainly were fast in finding that link!!!!
The Busyness Of Monday
Posted in All In A Day's Time on December 15, 2008| 5 Comments »
Today has been one of those days. You know the type. You make a small list early in the morning, or the day before, and then before you know it the list grows longer. At 12:53 this afternoon I looked at the clock and announced that my list was complete for the morning. And I also noted that I was then tired!
Today is the last day that UPS, FedEx, or USPS (the postal service) is guaranteeing parcel delivery by 12/25/08. Part of my errands today was a stop at the post office, and by the way, there was a winner to the Wash Your Monday Blues Away contest, and her bar of soap is in the mail!
It looks like a bunch of us in the United States are going to see freezing temperatures, and snow or ice. by the end of the day today. ‘Tis the season. Be safe!
The kid in the photo was born on our farm last February. He made a trip into the office, requested by Valerie herself. She called the kid our “love child,” and she, herself. fell in love with him. What you cannot see is the diaper he wore to prevent accidents. 🙂
Wash Your Monday Blues Away Contest
Posted in All In A Day's Time, tagged Goat Milk Soap on December 14, 2008| 1 Comment »
For those of you that do not know, I live a busy life. I run a soap and bath product business, handle a goat herd, and I am a moderator on a goat forum. I am also very much a home-based person, and I much appreciate my husband and life on the farm.
The goat forum that I help moderate is called Goat Chat. I am proud to provide a link to the forum. And I want to announce a contest that will be running at that site for at least 6 weeks.
Please do not look for any formal legalities with this contest. The gift is one of my bars of soap. You do not have to be a Goat Chat member to win, but I would appreciate it if you would visit the site.
Goat Chat: http://z11.invisionfree.com/GoatChat/index.php
About the contest:
Wash Away Your Monday blues contest!!
This contest ought to be a fun one…and there is a real prize involved!
To win the contest all you need to do is go to my website and find the initials GC (underlined). Once you find the initials you must go to the Contact Us page on my website and send an email to Annie’s Goat Hill.
The first person that I receive an email from that identifies the correct page that contains the initials GC will receive a bar of soap, compliments of Annie’s Goat Hill.
Your email must include the name of the page where you found the initials GC, your full name, and your mailing address. In that initial email you must also tell me what type of soap you are requesting.
Within 3 days of receipt of your email your bar of soap will be sent to you via mail (USPS).
I do not have many rules for this contest, but here are those few:
-The contest will run beginning at 8:00 AM (Eastern time) each Monday. Closing time for each contest will be 12:00 AM (Eastern time) each Tuesday.
-Winners will be announced via GC and my blog each Tuesday morning (or afternoon) depending upon my schedule, preferably by 1:00 PM Tuesday.
-No repeat winners within the same calendar month.
-I will be the judge of the email received times/dates.. Annie’s Goat Hill will not provide proof of the emails received. You have to trust me on this one (and you can)!
-You must allow me to give at least your first name, general location, and a very small tidbit about you on both GC and my blog when I announce the winner each week.
-The email that you send must come directly from my website.
-The soap will be mailed to you, no UPS shipments.
-Shipment will be made to the continental US or Canada. If you wish shipment to be made to other locations, you will be required to pay for the shipping.
-I will edit rules if extreme circumstances arise (none expected).
-The most important rule is have fun!!
A note from myself…you might be wondering why am I doing this? Many of you have expressed that you would like to try my soaps. This is your opportunity! I care about everyone, I am proud of GC, and I am proud of what I do (my products). No catches involved, none! And it is time for a good contest on GC and otherwise!
So, start picking our your scent/type of soap…and be ready to find GC (which, by the way, will also be linked to Goat Chat).
Sunday…The Day Of Rest
Posted in All In A Day's Time, tagged Reflections on December 14, 2008| 1 Comment »
I truly appreciate Sundays, the day we are told to rest. The day we start the week with. The day we renew, prepare our minds and body for the work week ahead.
Many of us set this day aside for family, friends, quiet time, worship, reflection, and even meditation.
I was startled awake this morning by something beautiful, much like the image above. The sunrise was so bright it seemed like something huge was burning. It was. The clouds striped across the horizon and the sunshine was streaming through. Glorius.
Yesterday’s post was meant to be something very positive. Life has a lot to offer. Despite our worries, we should never stop looking, onwards and upwards, for the brightness in the days ahead. Nor should we stop finding the brightness in this very moment.
God Bless.
Ahhh…Summer Thoughts
Posted in All In A Day's Time on December 11, 2008| 4 Comments »
Getting ready to put the computer to sleep for a few hours…but began thinking, nothing like thoughts of summer. I could use a shot of 80 degree weather again…so could the “girls on the hill.”
Bursting At The Seams
Posted in All In A Day's Time on December 10, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Yesterday ended up being a day to organize. I worked on my desk, and from the looks of things, it is obvious that I still need to sit in the office a bit longer. Filing and paperwork has a way of growing way out of hand. A prior career in accounting, one that later turned to the management of student loans, pretty much makes me shun any sort of deskwork now. Blah! 🙂 But with all good things, there are necessary evils that we must stay on top of. Blah again! 🙂
Later in the day I moved on to the soap shop. It was a day to organize that area as well (boxes, soaps, bookwork, shipping materials, oils). Ready for the next project! That’s the ticket!
Now for the title of today’s blog, Bursting At The Seams. One of the last things I did yesterday was walk around the boer lot. The best time to check on the girls is while they are eating. They are focused on the almighty feed and hardly notice that you are looking at their udders and checking their spines for loosening of ligaments. Nobody seems to be nearing iminent labor, but what I saw made me exclaim out loud, “Oh my word!” Those girls are huge…bursting at the seams! I said to someone yesterday, “I think they have been sneaking into the candy dish when I haven’t been looking.”
I have been laughing for days at a few scenes from a movie that we watched. The movie is an older one, one that I never cared for before…A Shot In The Dark (the Pink Panther). There is a scene where a bent pool stick is handed to Inspector Clouseau. I have no idea why, but I lost it when I saw that pool stick. I kept thinking that he could not possibly use that thing. My husband was on the phone, and I had a feeling I was going to roll if Clouseau did use the bent pool stick. So, I inched my way out of my seat to get as far away from the phone conversation as I could. I didn’t get very far when the bent pool stick was used. Hilarious! I couldn’t breathe. And I still cannot. Ha ha ha. It doesn’t take much…and I truly believe laughter really is “good medicine.”
I read a wonderful piece in the paper the other day. It was geared towards keeping our eyes set on our goals, and towards staying positive. The example given, for those of us that garden, is based on the making of furrows in our gardens. We want our furrows to be deep, and we want them to be straight. Picture the end of that row or furrow being your goal. Where do you want to be in life? What is (or are) your goals? As you start your row, make sure it is deep (well into the ground, a place where seeds will sprout strong roots), and make sure it is straight. To keep your row straight, do not look to the left, nor to the right, and never look back. If you keep your eyes set on your goal, the end of your row, you will surely make a straight path that will end right where you want it to, and it will result in a deeply planted garden that will flourish. A good reminder to all of us. Do not dwell on the evil, the ugly, the problems of the current economy, anything that distracts you from good. Keep your eyes set on your goals, and certainly do not let loose of the focus of where you are going! You will get there and you will like the garden that you have sown!
Quiet Monday
Posted in All In A Day's Time, tagged Goat Milk Soap on December 8, 2008| 4 Comments »
Today lent itself to quiet thinking. We all need that from time to time.
The shop work was spent boxing up orders and preparing samples and business cards. Lavender was the choice of the day. Not very surprising at that.
The sage and citrus soaps on the curing rack appear to be retaining a soft cream color with sage swirls. Pictures will be on call soon.
No signs of babies in the barn, tomorrow is the official start of baby watch in the boer lot. I do not expect much activity for a few weeks. It was too hot for comfort when the buck was sent in with the girls last summer.
Lotion Day
Posted in All In A Day's Time, tagged Goats on December 5, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Today was the day to bottle up lotion. My favorite for the day was the peppermint! Lately I am back in the swing with lavender as well. Sometimes we learn to appreciate certain essential oils all over again. Perhaps the old nose shifts gears from time to time. 🙂
20 days until Christmas…and as one of wonderful goat friends said yesterday, “Mary, it seems like we have had a long winter already.” Neither of us have starting kidding yet, and both of us just know it will happen as soon as the first snow storm arrives. Life on the farm, gotta’ love it.
I cleaned my walk in closet out last week. Literally rid the closet of a ton of clothing, except for the older sweatshirts. In anticipation of the colder days ahead, I am going to try to cut sleeves off of the sweatshirts for the newborn kids that need an extra coat. This adventure ought to be pic worthy!
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