The life and times of a busy homeschooling mom to 11 earthly children and 3 waiting for us in heaven. Trying to balance God, family, work and everything that comes with it.
This past Saturday I set up show for the 4th year in Randolph at the High School. This is my best show of the year. They know how to bring in the people and repeat customers can't be beat. One of the people going through was our postmaster. She thanked me for all the business I move through and I was able to show her what she's shipping in those boxes. Another person that caught my attention was an owner of a bed and breakfast in Randolph. She's looking for little soaps and lotions for her business. That got me excited! Below you'll see pictures of my set up. I've been in the same class room all 4 years.
There are only 3 of us vendors in this room...we've been together all 4 years and have gotten to know each other well. We all set up anyway we want and I like to set up in a straight line. It really helps with the flow of the customers.
For the past, I don't know how many years, I've always sat down at this time of year to write "The Grahn Family Newsletter"...not this year. Well, I kind of will be just not sending it. Everyone will be getting a link to this blog. This is where they will be able to read about us and see a whole lot more pictures. Last year I kept track and the newsletter costs us right around $100 to print and send.
Then comes the issue of which kind of format should I use...go month by month? or write about each person? We've come to the conclusion that I will write about each one of us...that way I can write a small amount each day.
So sit back and watch for the virtual unfolding of the 2010 Grahn Newsletter.
This past summer we've had our suspicions about a possible cougar living in our area. A week ago Sunday it was confirmed by 2 of our daughters as they headed back to college. They saw within 15' of their car a cougar walking down the road and cross in front of them.
I've been doing lots of reading about them since we live on a farm and have small children. This is what I came up with from the state DNR site....
"Cougars (Puma concolor) also known as puma, mountain lion, panther, catamount, American lion, and mishibijn (Ojibwa), once roamed throughout the state of Wisconsin. It was one of three wild cats native to the state, along with the bobcat (Lynx rufus) and the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). Currently bobcats are the only known breeding wild cat in the state, with a fall population of about 3000 in northern Wisconsin, and lower numbers in other portions of the state. Canada lynx do not appear to breed in Wisconsin, but rare visits are made to the state from this northern wildcat. Wild cougars probably disappeared from the state by about 1910, but reports again began to surface in the 1940s of possible cougars in the state. These were probably of escaped captive cougars or misidentifications. Since the 1940s various naturalists and wildlife biologists collected reports of cougar observations.
Since 1991, the Wisconsin DNR has conducted a standardized system of collecting reports of cougars and other rare mammals. On January 18, 2008 a cougar was sighted near Milton, in Rock County, Wisconsin. The sighting was verified as 'cougar' from the tracks and DNA from a small drop of blood from a cut on the foot. Tracks were also found near Elkhorn, about 23 miles southeast of the Milton sighting. In early 2009, a cougar was sighted in Burnett County. Then in late 2009, a cougar was confirmed via tracks and photos travelling from St. Croix into Dunn County. Tracks and other sightings have also been confirmed in northern Wisconsin in 2010. For more details or to report a cougar observation, visit the DNR's "Cougar Sighting"
page."
This is a picture of one I found on the DNR web site.
I'm really excited that we are going to be able to set up a trail camera to see if we'll see anything like the above picture. Please, if anyone sees one in the area please report it.
Through the whole month of November with every $15 purchase you'll receive a FREE lip balm!!!! order $30 get 2 free, order $45 get 3 free...see where I'm going?
As I was thinking about making supper... Reuben sandwiches came to mind. It feels like forever since we've had them and before the girls head back to college it would be a nice home cooked meal. A couple of days ago I made bran pumpernickel bread that is wonderful!!!
Bran Pumpernickel Bread
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 tablespoon instant coffee
2 1/2 cups whole bran cereal
1/2 cup molasses
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons caraway
2 packages yeast active dry
3/4 cup water warm (105° to 115° f)
3 cups flour 1 cup rye flour In a medium saucepan, heat milk, butter or margarine and coffee powder until melted and dissolved. Add next four ingredients and blend well. Let set 5 minutes. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water; let set until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes. Add milk mixture and rye flour; stir in enough all-purpose flour to make a stiff dough. Knead on a floured surface until smooth and elastic, 5 to 7 minutes. Place in a greased bowl; turn dough to coat surface. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled, 60 to 75 minutes. Punch down dough and form into two loaves. Slash tops several times. Place on a greased baking sheet, cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled, 40 to 50 minutes. Brush with cold water; bake in a preheated 350° F oven, for 35 to 40 minutes or until tests done. Remove from baking sheets; cool on wire racks.
Then it dawned on me that we didn't have thousand island salad dressing. Then I wondered if I could make my own. To the computer I went and this is what I found...
Thousand Island Salad Dressing
Ingredients
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chili sauce
2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
2 tablespoons chopped celery
4-1/2 teaspoons finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
Salad greens
Directions
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Serve with salad greens. Yield: 1-1/2 cups. So it looks like we'll have Reuben sandwiches afterall!
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Go to my ArtFire Studio at http://countrysoapsbymarlene.artfire.com/ and select any item you like, then click "Add to Amazon Wish List" (below the yellow ArtFire Shopping Cart button), then enter the sweepstakes. Enter once a week now through December 19, 2010 to improve your chances and create your holiday wish list for all your family and friends to see! No purchase is necessary to enter or win.
I know many of my friends have been asking where are you and what's going on... Well, life...pure and simple. The garden is now done and I'm working on my new Artfire Studio Trying to learn a new format is taking some time. There will be many NEW things coming to Country Soaps for the upcoming holidays...stay tuned!!!
