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Abundant Life

December 6, 2009 by Mary Humphrey

No matter who you are…a busy individual  running a business…a student cramming for exams…a parent caring for youngsters…no matter your degree of busyness, I hope you remember to stop and enjoy the simple things in life. 

The simple things are the abundance’s that have been given to us. 

My kitchen is full of windows, one nearly spans the back wall.   From it I can see my shop and a bird feeder.

This morning I noticed birds watching the feeder from afar…many beautiful hungry birds…intent on seeing when “the human” was going to fill their feeder with seed.

And then, I saw the red-headed woodpecker.  He was a big young man.  As if he knew I was trying to take a picture, he flew off each time I silently inched towards the window. 

He made several trips to the feeder.  With a mouth full of seed or corn, he would fly over to the electric pole.  He carefully climbed the pole and placed his harvest inside the pole’s crevices and splits.  Delightful…smart creature! He was happy.  He knew his abundances.

Most of the birds had flown each time I took a picture…but a few remained in the lilac bushes.

Have a beautiful day…please savor your abundances, the smallest of things in life!

“Whatever we are waiting for- peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance – it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.” – Sarah Ban Brethnach

Posted in General Reflections, Goat Care (and General Farm), Health, Inspirations | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments »

I Am Picky About My Goat Milk Soap

December 4, 2009 by Mary Humphrey

Orange Mint Goat Milk Soap

Orange Mint Goat Milk Soap

My soap has to meet many standards.  These are my personal preferences:

  1. Mildness – The soap must not irritate the skin.  Each new recipe is people tested.  Other than washing with the soap, it is tongue tested.  Touch a sliver of the soap to the tip of the tongue. Even the slightest zap means the soap is not mild.
  2. Hardness – I do not like super hard soaps because they seem to lack in other necessary qualities, however, I do not accept a soft bar of soap either. I expect a bar of soap to last more than a handful of rounds in the shower!
  3. Scent – First, I follow the safety guidelines that are established (by the IFRA, International Fragrance Association).  Secondly, human comfort is priority.  Do I want skin irritation caused by the dumping of excessive fragrance in a product?  No.  On the other hand, I want the product to correctly reflect the description that is depicted.
  4. Color – I lean towards natural color, provided by essential oils, herbs, and clays.  I use colorants when necessary, with safety in mind.  Color varies when creating natural products.
  5. Lather – I expect lather, but not tons of bubbles.  Loads of bubbles tend to dry the skin out.  I want a smooth lather, with a slick glycerin glide that leaves the skin feeling silky.
  6. Milk – I handle the milk with care from collection to the time it is used in a product.  I taste test all of the milk before it goes into products.  The milk must fit into the nearly-organic category.
  7. Size – A full-sized bar must meet a weight average (at the 4th and 6th week) of 4.2-4.5 ounces.  Some soaps will continue to shrink as they lose moisture and harden, but they must remain within the correct weight range.
  8. Ingredients – I purchase from reliable suppliers that are quality, safety, non-animal cruelty, and regulation minded.  All ingredients are stored in proper conditions, kept fresh in my shop.

If a soap does not fit into my quality standards, it goes to the discount section of my online store.  I then clearly state why the soap is discounted. 

If  a batch of soap is not good enough for the store, it goes to the trash can, myself, willing friends, or someone in need.

That wraps it up for now…now you know my picky side.  I don’t just make soap, I make soap that reflects my brand!

Posted in AGH Business News, Products | Tagged , | 16 Comments »

Drought Prevention, Not Just For Trees

December 3, 2009 by Mary Humphrey

Rainy December Day

Have you ever been busy enough to barely notice the rain? Have you ever laughed enough to not notice the darkness during a short winter-type of day?

Rain, it is something nature seems to require more of during the hot summer months, verses late fall when the deluge appears to check in for the long haul.  The fact is, trees can die in the winter months from a lack of water just as easily as they can during a parched summer season.  A drought can be reversed during any month of the year.

We, as humans, are in need of life-sustaining water as well.  We can experience inner-droughts.  But I am really not reflecting on the water that we drink to keep our bodies ticking.  I am referring to the life-sustaining laughter and happiness that we require. 

Do you know someone who is internally shriveled up, filled with bitterness, no longer able to see the break in the clouds, no longer able to laugh even during the darkest of days? I have.  I would love to give them a drink of the good water, to nourish their minds and souls.  Purge the ugly thoughts that seem to envelope them.  End their drought…their lack of hope.  

Do you think we need to remember that our bodies need replenishing too, not only with wet water, with spiritual water, to prevent an inner-drought? Do you think we can focus on love, laughter, humanity and gratefulness despite the dark days? The tree sustains itself during the darkest of months, renewing itself just in time for the dry summer months, should we do the same?

Posted in General Reflections, Health, Inspirations | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments »

The Remaining Dairy Doe In Milk, How She Is Maintained

December 1, 2009 by Mary Humphrey

Alpine Dairy Goat

Iris

As I filtered the ice cold milk this morning, and took my normal sip of the sweet liquid to ensure the collection meets the fresh taste test, I thought about the blessings of having the dairy does on the farm.

I am very appreciative of the single doe that I have in milk right now, Iris, an alpine dairy goat.

Iris has been in milk for nearly a year.  Her volume has decreased dramatically, but she lets down enough milk to allow a fresh supply for my goat milk lotion.  What I do not use for lotion, I freeze for soap. 

For those of you considering a dairy doe, you can keep your doe in milk indefinitely as long as she continues to produce  milk. 

My trick is to supplement the dairy does with a good concentrate (grain). 

Watch the doe to ensure she does not thin out.  You can increase the amount of concentrate to allow for the volume of milk, however, too much protein can thin a goat down.  Make sure the doe is allowed to graze (or browse), and in the winter, or during lean grazing months, a good alfalfa mix hay is necessary.

If you need to chemically worm a goat in milk, continue to milk her, but discard the milk for the recommended amount of time. 

If a dairy doe becomes sick, requiring antibiotics, I remove her from the milkstand for the season.  I have only had to do that once.  It seems the does in milk are generally full of health.

I will keep Iris in milk until her final 2 months of pregnancy.  She has not thinned out, she is still eager to milk, and Annie’s Goat Hill always needs fresh milk on hand!

I hope you enjoyed this article.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Posted in Goat Care (and General Farm) | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments »

20% Off Sale – Goat Milk Soap and Lotion

November 30, 2009 by Mary Humphrey

Special announcement:

To help with Christmas savings and shopping, I am running a Christmas sale 11/30 – 12/19. Every item in my online store will be discounted 20% during the sale dates!

Please be safe, enjoy the season, and have a very Merry Christmas!

Posted in AGH Business News | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments »

Hot Process Honey Oatmeal Goat Milk Soap

November 30, 2009 by Mary Humphrey

Hot Process Honey Oatmeal Goat Milk Soap

Soap making revolves around three basic methods:  melt and pour, hot process and cold process. 

The melt and pour process involves a pre-made base that the crafter melts and then pours into a mold. 

Both hot process and cold process follow the same recipes.  The hot process involves heating the raw materials until they form soap (see the photo above). 

The benefit to hot processed soap is that it is mild as soon as the heat process is completed.  A cold processed bar of soap is not mild (cured) for several days, to several weeks.  A cold processed bar of soap must sit on a curing rack, awaiting mildness and hardness, for 4-6 weeks.  A hot processed bar of soap is already mild, therefore, it only needs to harden for a few days to 1 week.

I am a girl that loves to wing-it.  I really am impatient with reading someone else’s instructions.  I dive into whatever I am doing with prayers that it works out, and sometimes that means I learn the hard way.  The good news is the hot process batch of soap was very successful. I was hoping the mottled look would leave as I pushed the thick soap into the mold.

Hot Process Honey Oatmeal Goat Milk Soap

Alas…the mottling stayed in the soap.

Hot Process Honey Oatmeal Goat Milk Soap

Now, for the rest of the story!

I am trying to stay on top of sales during the holiday season.  As I completed an inventory count of honey oatmeal goat milk soap I realized I might run out before the holiday season ends.  So, I decided it was time to dive into the hot process.  What better soap to start with than honey oatmeal!

It smells wonderful.  It is mild.  It is pretty.  But it certainly does not pass for the creamy look of the honey oatmeal goat milk soap that I normally carry.  I used a small piece of the soap already, by the way, it is excellent soap!

What do you think of the hot processed honey oatmeal soap?

Posted in Products | Tagged , , | 42 Comments »

Did You Find the Soap You Were Looking For?

November 28, 2009 by Mary Humphrey

Recently a new customer asked if I carried a particular type of soap.   The customer was elated when she learned that I had the soap that she wanted in stock.  Prior to her purchase, I had planned to discontinue that type of soap.  Once the customer received the soap, she responded with ordering a larger batch, along with a standing order for future soap.

If you are having difficulty finding what you are looking for, please ask.  If I do not carry the soap that you want, I will make sure I carry it, or that I make it available to you personally.

In the example above, I now have another happy client.  One that can stop searching for her type of soap.

What is on your wish list?

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Posted in AGH Business News, Products | Tagged , | 9 Comments »

Organic Goat Milk In My Products

November 27, 2009 by Mary Humphrey

No, I cannot stake a claim to organic milk.  I cannot say the farmer’s field that contained the corn, or other grains in my feed, was never sprayed with anything other than natural fertilizer.

What I can tell you is this, my hay is raised by a local Mennonite neighbor that does use natural fertilizer.  The fertilizer comes from our local dairy barns, including mine.  There are no chemicals used on any of the dairy farms.

The feed that I use is a recipe that I developed.  It is mixed at a local mill, and the grain comes from local farms.  I know of no farms that use artificial pesticides or fertilizers in this area.  My farm is never sprayed with pesticides.

My dairy animals are not given growth hormones, nor do they receive antibiotics or chemical wormers while they are in milk.

I believe that is about as close to organic standards as you can get without the USDA stamp of organic.

Thank you for your questions, I hope to cover more here, to share with others!

Posted in Goat Care (and General Farm), Products | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Thanksgiving Memories With A Sense Of Humor

November 24, 2009 by Mary Humphrey

My Laughing Buddies...Nieces...During A Pouting Moment

I have a rather warped sense of humor.  When something tickles my funny bone there is no stopping my laughter.

Some of my best Thanksgiving memories are those spent at my father’s house, with my sister and nieces in attendance.

My father didn’t like the giggling…honestly, he was a grouch.  He actually was proud of being grouchy, which was funny on certain days.  I respected my father, but I had a good time with my family despite his grumpiness.

After a long day of visiting and shopping on Black Friday, my niece and I got the hysterics when we retrieved the leftover gravy from my father’s refrigerator.  It definitely had the appeal of brown gelatin.  I looked at her, she was watching me, and the laughter began.  Silly for hours.  Thanksgiving always brings up the discussion of the Jello gravy.

One Thanksgiving at my father’s house included Samson, a male boxer that had just entered our lives.  I believe he was 9 weeks old.  He snorted, played with every toy he could find, he had a grand time.  My sister said, “Mary, I think that dog needs some sinus medicine!” All of us were getting used to the boxer puppy.  Ahhh…boxer love began.  And he was part of the family too.

I’ll never forget the day when my husband, the silly nut, patted the wrong person on the tail end.  I have NO idea how he managed it.  But he got my step-mother instead of myself.  She was thrilled.  I was in hysterics.  She used to flirt with him something terrible, ha! I rather enjoyed seeing her delight, and snickered at my nutty man!

My family is now spread pretty far apart, we are in three states.

This holiday we are having dinner with our best friends.  And yes, we all have a sense of humor.  The stories I could tell…but they fall under the category “you would have had to been there.”

I am thankful for my fond memories, and I am sure there will be many more.  Laughter and love, nothing better in life.  I hope the same for you.

Blessings to you all!

Posted in Family & Friends | Tagged , , | 14 Comments »

Product Monday – Castile Goat Milk Soap

November 23, 2009 by Mary Humphrey

castile goat milk soap

You may have heard of castile soap from your grandparents.  Castile has a long history.  Written references to castile soap date back to the early 1600’s from Italy and Spain. 

Castile is a pure olive oil soap.  It is mild, not drying to the skin.  By standards, castile soap is fine, hard, white and colorless.

My version of castile soap contains goat milk and olive oil.   It is a slightly off-white soap and odorless. 

It tested in my bath as a hard soap, long-lasting.  It rinsed well with no residue, yet, it was not drying to the skin.  

Castile soap will become available on the website this week.

If you are interested, please let me know.  I plan to add castile soap to the base list of soaps that I carry this week!

Posted in Products | Tagged , | 6 Comments »

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