Darlene

Spies are not allowed here plus they would have to get past our formidable security. We take shifts walking the property well armed with the best guard dogs available. Nope not even a fly can get through the net we have thrown over this place. The pictures I have taken will have to be sent out by a secret contact I have in place and I will pick then up at a later date. I hope everyone has the decoder ring handy, they will need it later. John See I have to use Darlene's sign in just to get this info out to ya'll

Yeah, I told Darlene I know why the cowboy's were gloves when around cattle & using a rope. We are waiting for the soap to set for 30 minutes before the next step. The rain has stopped & it is a nice cool day. Edit: I forgot to log Darlene out. John

God's timing is always impeccable . I've been needing to move my Angus and Jerseys to my feed man's farm to have them bred for about 2 months. Last week, I had made arrangements to do it yesterday, not thinking about everyone coming to the get together. When Wormie showed up, the light bulbs went off and I suddenly knew I was not alone in this endeavor . Wormie may have been a little rusty roping cattle but it came back with a flood as he struggled with the calf who wanted to go in one direction as he tried to lead her in another. Of COURSE it just took a woman's touch because I would get behind the calf and give her a gentle push (shove) in the right direction and off she'd go. We finally got her loaded into the trailer and off we went. Corralling the Angus was a little bit different. You don't lasso a 1500lb mama cow. We bribed them with grain and carted them off too. All in all, I couldn't have done it without his help although it was hysterically funny at times lolol.

Me and my crew

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I'm so sorry to hear that W2 I was looking forward to meeting you. We'll plan on next time then for sure!

I have a small fenced little yard off the great room door that everyone goes in and out that would work for her. My brother brought his 2 dogs this past Spring and we worked it out and they had a great time. She'll be secure and won't be able to get out and none of mine will be able to get to her I'll have a litter of pups at that time so they'll be in the front yard, although they would be fine with your girl.

Who is Abby-Girl? If you're talking about a cat, that's fine...I'm allergic to them though . If you're talking about a dog, that's fine too...just know that I'm a dog breeder and all my dogs guard my livestock so let me know if it's a dog so I can make special arrangements for her.

I sure hope you continue on the road to a good recovery (((((w2))))). It would be very special for you and hubby to come

Piece of cake! The fun thing about soap making is that it reminds me in some ways of cooking...a little of this, a little of that and maybe just a little of everything lol. Regardless of what we put in it, it's ALWAYS more healthy for the skin! I need my slumber party partner to get here and help get me organized. You are so good at "Darlene, you need to do this next" lolol

lol We can make the stuff that you use IN them

Yep...you'd faint if you knew how cheap and easy it is to make...and effective

For the most part (outside of a few things I'll get done before hand), there hopefully won't be any emergencies that will need help this year (please Lord, let it be so lol)... I'm going to start making a list of all the things I want to teach everyone in regard to the body products and a few other things, like laundry softener crystals, etc. It'll be fun to get the recipes for everyone ready ahead of time and between the samples of everything and the recipes, everyone will be amazed at how much money they will be saving along with how much healthier all these things will be for them. If anyone has any specific requests (I'd like to learn how to make this or that) let me know ahead of time so I can see if we can do that too!

I was thinking earlier today, trying to figure out what I need to get done before the get together, that it's only 6 weeks away! Sheesh!!!!!!!!!!! Once I get Madison off to college tomorrow I'll need to get back home and hit the ground running!

If Stephanie can make it hopefully she'll bring some of her children. Regardless, the kids always have a blast so I know your daughter will really enjoy it! My youngest daughter will be here...she just turned 18 but loves kids of all ages

Are you accusing me of something? lolol

It's been a couple of months since I first posted about our 2014 MrsS Get Together so I wanted to let everyone know that a date has finally been set! Everyone is welcome to come whenever they want but we're planning on October 2-5 for the actual get together. I hope that many of you can come. There's always something very special when we gather together face to face. I'm still planning on doing some soap making and body care classes and everyone that participates will be able to take home some of the things we make. We'll make some products that require the bare minimum of ingredients so that people can learn how easy it is to make these things themselves and we'll also do some fancier things just because they're fun! We'll forage for some herbs that we can infuse to bring healing qualities to our products and a host of other things. I'm counting on Gunplumber to be our leader with firearms. It's so much fun to teach those that don't know how to shoot, and for those that do, target practice with a variety of guns and rifles. Anyway, I just wanted to give update on the dates our get together will be and hope that y'all can make it! For those that don't know where I'm at...I'm up in northern Georgia, about 15 minutes from the TN/NC border...and about 2 hours north of Atlanta.

Now that's not completely true lolol. You were always good at somehow finding it when you came to visit.

That's a very special memory for me...your awe and excitement at your first time. We would love for y'all to come again!

I'm in the process of building the bath and body shop...the url is www.shadowwingsbathandbody.com but it's not open for business yet. If you'd like some of them just send me a pm and I can ship you some out

I wanted to share some pictures of a couple of my soaps so that you can get an idea what we can do at the get together. While the outside artistic part is alot of fun, what's even more important is what is on the 'inside' of the soaps...the oils used, the additives that take the soaps from 'special' to 'luxurious'...that feed and heal the skin: The first one is with lavender essential oil, calendula infused Sweet Almond oil and aloe vera juice: These are beer shampoo bars, made with 'wort' (the first stage of the beer making process that is loaded with hair loving ingredients), scented with peppermint, rosemary and lavender essential oils: This soap is made with aloe vera, chlorella and spirulina powders and is a 'natural' soaps without micas or oxides added for color: This is a mens soap made with activated charcoal which draws out the toxins from the skin: I juiced fresh cucumbers and cantelope melons and used the juices as the 'water' portion of this batch of soap: This soap uses the same skin nurturing and loving oils as the rest, along with heavy cream...I just wanted to make a soap I thought was pretty : Old fashioned pine tar soap...great for excema and psoriasis and other skin conditions: And finally, chocolate and hearts always goes well together : Anyway, that's just a preview of the soaps that I make that I look forward to teaching those who are able to make this years get together. Like I said earlier, we'll be doing some lotions, butters and scrubs too...putting each of us in a better position to hand craft our body care products with ingredients that are healthy for us and our families .

Take care of yourself Deb...I hope you'll be able to attend one of these years too!

That would be wonderful if you could make it (((CGA)))

In fact MomM, I wanted to show you something I'm almost finished rebuilding. You should know that I did it just for YOU! lolol I tore up the yucky old wood floors in the laundry room and laid new ones, plastered and painted the walls and put in new trim (haven't finished the trim around the window yet). The trim stain technique was really kewl...I made a concentrated black tea and brushed that over the rough sawn wood boards and then brushed some vinegar solution that I had put a steel wool pad in to disintegrate to give it a really kewl color.

I sure how y'all can make it...it would be so awesome to meet you in person