American Made

I bought a couple of pairs of blue jeans this week, my favorite brand, Levi’s.  Comfort and quality, and jeans that seem to fit my middle-aged figure a bit better.

I do not buy clothing often.  I am a jeans, t-shirt, sweatshirt, type of gal.  When I buy something new I find myself looking carefully at the tags, sometimes looking at where they were made after I arrive home with my purchases. 

My two new pairs of jeans were made in Sri Lanka and Turkmeniston.  Curiosity stepped in.  I looked at some of my older Levi tags.  Made in Columbia, Brazil, Mexico and Cambodia.  I stopped looking at that point.

Nothing said made in America. 

Why is that?

We speculate that American workers are all about money. 

I recently joined in on a discussion about motivating employees.  The talk went all over the place, left to right, top to bottom.  I said motivation comes from a person’s own personal passion.  Some said motivation comes from money, and nothing less these days.  Personally, money would not motivate me.  If I disliked what I was doing, no amount of money would make me feel any different. 

Would you purchase jeans that were made in America, pay more for them, to ensure the worker received their $29.99 per hour, verses the seamstress in Sri Lanka that is likely receiving $3.00 an hour, and I pray that they are not a child!

Many of us think Levi’s originated in the United States.  They did, by a Loeb Strauss, who was german born.  He developed the company “Levi Strauss & Co”.  Mr. Strauss immigrated to the United States in 1829.  Some say the original jeans fabric came from France. 

I found an interesting website AmericansWorking.com as I began thinking about American made clothing and products.  The website lists many types of products that are made on American soil.  I found a company that makes clothing and jeans, All American Clothing Company.  Their jeans look rather attractive, surprisingly they only run about $10.00 more per pair than Levi’s. 

Do I have a problem with clothing made anywhere but the United States? No.  But I am concerned about the trade balance.  I read up on that topic a few days ago.  We import a lot more than we export in this country!

I look at how many people are out of work in our country.  I look at the unemployment rate in our county alone.  I look at what we can do to keep people in work, right here, in our country.  And I wonder…how do we resolve this? How do we get ourselves back to being proud, proud to say, this is American made?

Part of My Passion – The Animals

Today I arrived home a bit late.  The animals knew I was late.  I do believe they have internal sun clocks. 

The deep glare of all of the hungry critters, accompanied by the time I spent away from the farm (enjoying a beautiful countryside ride), brought out sheer appreciation of my farm life this evening.

They  were squealing…

Henrietta and Friends - Growing!

Caleb, our great Pyrenees mix, said…

I have been a good guard dog...now I am dancing for my food!

The cats were lined up at the gate…ready for warm goat milk…

More cats in the feed room…

Protecting the feed sacks...looking for a "live" snack...

Come on…are you going to feed us or take pictures all evening????

Left Camille (nubian), Right Carmella (nubian), Frosted ears in front (nubian/boer) Ms. Red

And the beautiful nubian that is finally beginning to grow…

Amelie - Whom greets me with kisses on the chin and a nubian hum every day.

And those that seem to be expanding way too much…a boer doe that looks ready to pop…could not possibly have been bred in June!

Valentine - Going to need her own personal electric scooter soon!

What a troop they are! I love them all. 

Have a wonderful Friday!

Connections

I listened in on a conversation between friends a few days ago.

One friend said, “I think the Internet is great for research, for learning about things, but I do not think it is right for people to be able to connect with each other as readily as they do across thousands of miles.  I do not think that is the way things were supposed to be.” 

Normally I chime right in, say how I feel.  But I remained quiet.  As shocking as this might sound, I was lost for words.

For whatever reason, tonight I stared at a map of the United States.  And then I remembered the conversation.

I looked at the map and thought about our connections.  We really are scattered about.  Far and wide.  But are we?

I thought about how we learn from each other.  How we share in bits and pieces of our daily lives.  How we can operate a business from home, doing what we love, holding onto our dreams. 

I think about my friends that do ministry work online.

I cannot fathom any of that being a bad thing.

I feel rather blessed.

How about you?

Have You Ever Lost Your Go-Juice?

Have you ever lost your go-juice?

The scenario:  you are going full speed ahead, grinding through the long to-do list for the day.  All at once you slide into the break down lane.  You find yourself saying, “I cannot do any more.  I am here for repairs!” The go-juice has leaked from your engine.

Last week I wrote two posts, When 24 Hours Is Not Enough (here) and Bringing The Balance Back Into A Busy Life (here).  Unanimously, the comments circled around keeping lists, learning to say no, getting off of the merry-go-round, doing what is most important, and letting the rest go. 

I said I would share my organization “system.”  Warning, it is VERY dry reading!

I keep a Franklin Covey planner.  Daily activities are broken down into 3 sections - a short daily task list, an appointment schedule, and a new list of notes throughout the day.

The planner also contains what I refer to as the “long list.”  It contains tasks that I may not be able to complete that day.  The tasks are color coded:  pink-must do as soon as possible, yellow-very important but not top priority, blue-important but can be done at a later date.  I also keep a shopping list (for the business), an inventory list (for the business), and a wish-list.  What is a wish-list? Websites that I want to visit, books I want to read, places I want to visit, things I want to look at, things that are not important at all…except to my own well-being.

When the “short” daily to-do list is too long, when I feel overwhelmed, I select 3 items that has to be done that day, only 3.  I mark them with a hi-liter to ensure I stay focused.  When the 3 tasks are done I feel tremendous! It works. I accomplish what I set out to do!

The most important thing to do is not procrastinate.  I cannot put off the “worst of tasks.”  When something important is put on the back burner it comes back and bites me in the rear.  Putting off a task of low importance, I often find to be helpful.  I end up glad that I didn’t do it to begin with.  It is like an idea that you tuck away.  You do not forget it, but something better eventually comes along!

Last week, I was in the middle of a busy task filled day when I ground to a halt in the emergency lane.  The go-juice was gone.  The brain went to mush. 

The break-down repair ticket contained orders such as dropping what was not necessary, taking a long walk, calling someone I love, and deliberately scheduling time for enjoyment. 

The biggest thing I did was to become very aware of what I was doing that was not necessary.  I scheduled email time, scheduled blog time, scheduled soap shop time, and deliberately stepped away from everything that was not going to make or break my day.  When busy, a person has to be deliberate…it makes for a much healthier being!

I plan/hope to stay out of the emergency lane for a while!

Handcrafted Wine Soap

Handcrafted Wine Soap

Normally on a Monday I showcase an existing product.  Not today.

Normally in a Product Monday article I talk about soap or lotion that contains goat milk.  Not today.

I am busy with holiday sales.  You would think I would stick to the basics since I am in the busy season.  No.  This girl needs to have fun!

I made two batches of clean laundry goat milk soap on Saturday, still to be cut.  I made wine soap Sunday morning!

I had to share with you a glimpse of the fresh batch of wine soap as I poured it into the mold.  Pretty, huh? It could have passed for chocolate soap!

It has been 6 years since I’ve drummed up a batch of non-milk soap.   I could not find good information on how to make wine soap so I calculated and proceeded with caution.  I’ve read horror stories about wine soap concoctions erupting and overheating.  Sugar content would be the culprit.  

The results were good.

I originally used a Tuscan wine fragrance.  I liked the fragrance, however, I picked up on a slight perfume overtone.  So, I remembered a 1/2 bottle of merlot that was going to go to waste.  I added the wine to the recipe as well as the fragrance.  Wow, does it smell wonderful! The wine coloring that I intended was overran by the color from the wine and lye (brown).  We shall see what transpires as it “ages” (cures).  Along with the extra dobs of shea butter that I always add to my soaps, it ought to be a soap to treasure!

Fun…and even the pots and pans from the batch were a joy to wash.  They smelled wonderful!

Enjoy your Monday!

Abandoned Buildings – Hope For Lives

 

A few days ago my husband and I hit the road for the day.  He was making cold calls for prospective clients.  I enjoyed the scenery.  I love the harvest season!

As the drive progressed I noticed more and more abandoned buildings and houses.   

It is apparent that people and businesses simply pulled up the stakes.  Left.  Moved on to, hopefully, a better place in their lives.

For sale signs everywhere.  Older signs had been replaced with newer ones.

I am not depressed over what I saw.  I am just hopeful for the people involved. 

I checked a few minutes ago on our county unemployment rate.  I stopped watching the figures when they neared 13%.  The latest report states 15.3%.  Wow.

A friend approached me a month ago, asking if I could use some help.  Her normal hours are being cut drastically.  She works in a retail location.  I explained that I run my company myself.  I can use some help.  Yes, I can! Can I afford to pay anyone right now? No.  I wish I could.  If I could, I would definitely hire her first.  And if I could, I would hire the poor folks that need the help in the worst sort of way.  I cannot.  Bet your bottom dollar, I feel like being generous.  I work hard here.  I keep my nose to the grindstone.  But looks can be deceiving, this is tough for all of us! As I told my husband yesterday, “It is a blessing that one of us is working!”

All I can do is pray for you. 

Obviously I do not get out of the area often.  I go ten miles in either direction, that’s about it.  Such a site to see, and I am glad I saw it.  Not glad for what is happening, glad that I know.

I hope help and change comes soon.  There is hope.

 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. —Jeremiah 29:11

 

 

 

 

 

Calendula Cleanser

I love it!

I made 2 more jars today. 

This is the original post and pic.

I am using the product as a late night facial treatment when needed.  It goes on like a salve (not heavy).  Wonderful results in the morning.  The skin does not feel dry.   The skin feels refreshed, very soft.  A very small dab does it, about the size of a pencil eraser.

I can see this being a huge boost in the winter, especially when the skin is exposed to dry air, wind.  Indoor heat is harsh as well.  My goat milk soap has proven itself to be mild, but sometimes we need a little help when the harshest of seasons comes into the scope.

I am going to toy with the recipe a bit more.  And then offer it on the website.

Healthy, natural, no offensive smell.  It is wonderful on the lips as well.  Has a very slight chocolate taste due to the cocoa butter. 

I was concerned about skin reaction…I had none. 

Have a beautiful Saturday!

I received this in my Daily Bible Verse today.  A good reminder to stay well grounded:

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.  Proverbs 16:18

Conviction

Welcome to the world, Elizabeth. Sleep peacefully.

Conviction…Mary’s definition. You are at peace, knowing that everything is right in the world (despite the ups and downs). You speak with passion. You are filled with thankfulness. You want to climb mountains. Yet, you absorb the peace, because peace is good for your soul.  You are glued to your virtues.  They have proven themselves beyond measure.

Conviction…doing what you know is right.  Because it works.

Knowing to keep your mind open to transitioning whenever the road changes.  It will change.  So will you.  What is proven, convictions, what is good…remains rock solid.

Have a wonderful Friday! I hope to do the same.

Speech Writing For Dummies

Do I really know how to write a speech? No.  But I am doing it.

It has been 8 years since I have talked about anything other than general conversation in front of a group larger than a handful of people.

I met a local woman recently when she stopped at my house to promote her new business.  We ended up hitting it off.  Before we ended our hour-long conversation she asked if I would be interested in doing a couple of local speaking engagements.  Gulp.  I said yes.

As she walked away, she said, very nonchalantly, “Oh…I want you to talk about your entrepreneurship skills.” 

Are you giggling with me? I cannot say entrepreneurship, much less discuss it.

I am doing the gig today.

I have been writing.  I have been writing lists, lists of things that I need to get accomplished, like we talked about here and here.  I’ll discuss that later…I am on a study, and your comments are part of it.  The rest of the writing has been an outline of the speech.

I had no idea where to start.  But the ink flowed.  Now I feel compelled to share with you what I learned while speech writing:

• Determine what you are going to talk about.
• Make an initial outline.
• Copy greater details into your 2nd outline.
• Read the speech several times.  Then, stand up and speak it.  Practice.  Practice.  Practice.
• Do not read to your audience, speak.
• You can talk about yourself, your business, but keep it interesting.
• Turn your speech into a learning situation for the audience members.  Give them something to think about, or something to learn from.
• Do not drone on.  Throw in short sentences.  Use expression.
• Thank the audience for their hospitality.
• Toss in something fun.  Put something of interest in front of the audience for them to wonder about during your speech.  For example, at the conclusion, I am going to throw out a few goat and soap related questions and give soap and lotion samples for participation. 

Remember, it isn’t about making money, or any other self-gain, it is about the community knowing what you do.  Knowing that you are there.  It is what they get from you, not what you get from them!

Wish me luck.  Am I nervous?  For some reason, no. 

This is a lot different from my career when I taught the departmental technical procedures.  It is a lot different from writing manuals.  It is a lot different from attending corporate meetings. 

I have never actually done this beofre.

But I can do it, sure I can!

By the way…I need all of the prayers I can get.  Tee hee!

Bringing The Balance Back Into A Busy Life

As you sift through the daily list of things to do, do you find yourself wanting to set the work aside? Do you vision yourself pushing away from the computer? Could you possibly be so bold to consider turning off the cell phone?

We are definitely a world full of list makers.  Lists that guide us through each and every day.

As elaborate and carefully put together our lists are, some of us are better than others at working a balance into our lives.

Is balance in life important? 

Busyness in life does not segregate itself into a few of life’s roles.  Power to the homemaker that has learned to say ”no.”  By example, perhaps she can help the business owner that feels he nearly needs to work around the clock.  And what about the woman that reports to the corporate job each day? She drags herself to the laptop, even working from home on the days she is too sick to travel to the office. 

We can block off the calendar to show others that we are not available during a certain period of time, to ensure we get work done in our office, can we do the same for our personal lives? 

Some say their minds are healthier, they accomplish more when they simply say, “Enough is enough.”  Does shutting the work day down lead to procrastination? Or does it lead to a fresh start, accomplishments that abound once we return to work?

I know, some of these questions are ”no-brainers.”  But we do not always listen to our brains, we ignore our wills, even though they are screaming out to us, “Stop this ride!”

At what point do you “stop the ride?”

Do you take charge and pull the brake?

Do you come to a screeching halt, just when you cannot possibly take it any longer? Or do you plan for a smooth stop?