How to be Handsome Cosmetiques ( The sun Bath)

The Value of a Sun Bath

The lady of the 1800’s were not any different than you or I. The only difference is that their information came by Pony Express, not on the world wide web.

A sunbath is of more worth than much warming by the fire.

Ladies who have ample leisure and who lead methodical lives take a plunge or sponge bath three times a week, and a vapor or sun bath everyday. To facilitate this very beneficial practice, a south or east apartment is desirable. The lady denudes herself, takes a seat near the window and takes in the warm rays of the sun. This is beneficial and delightful.

If, however, she be of a restless disposition, she may dance, instead of basking in the sunlight. Or, if she be not fond of dancing, she may improve the shining hours by taking down her hair and brushing it, using sulphur water, pulverized borax dissolved in alcohol, or some similar dressing. It would be surprising to many ladies to see her carefully wiping the separate locks on a clean, white towel until the dust of the previous day is entirely removed. With such care it is not necessary to wash the head, and the hair under this treatment is invariably good.

This is not to be done in real life. This is about the ladies of the 1800’s

Check in tomorrow and see what new in the 1800's mail box.

How to be Handsome Cosmetiques

Some buy new books, Me I love old books.

We talk of living the Eco friendly, natural, and organic life. This is a choice we make; but what if it was just life!

For a moment let step back in time. ( just for fun) this is the only information you get and are glad to get it as a woman in 1800's

From one of my books, How to be handsome Cosmetiques;

All women cannot have good features, but they can look well and it is possible to a great extent to correct deformity and develop much of the figure. The first step in good looks is good heath, and the first element of good health is cleanliness.

In the matter of baths, it is not strongly advocated she plunge into ice water: it takes a woman with clear grit and a strong constitution to endure it. If a hot bathe were used, let it come before retiring, as there is less danger of taking cold after-wards; and , besides the body is weakened by the ablution and needs immediate rest. It is well to use a flesh-brush and after wards rinse off the soapsuds by briskly rubbing the body with a pair of Coarse toilet gloves.

The most important part of the bath is the drying. Every part of the body should be rubbed to a glowing redness, using a coarse crash towel at the finish. If sufficient friction cannot be given, a small amount of bay rum applied with the palm of the hand will be found efficacious.

Next the Value of a sun Bath.

Cora's Blissfully Natural Oil - How it Came to Be

I never blog about our products, But I thought you might like to know how!
Cora’s Blissfully Natural Oil Came to Be!

Cora is an amazing person and sometime I just have to turn her loose to do her own thing. Well on one of those free to be Cora days she was working with the oils, mixing this and mixing that just experimenting as she sometimes does. When I walked in and ask what are you making and she answered; just making something for my face, arms and legs. I thought OK! Now we have oil on the counter again. When she was done I ask how are you going to preserve it? So she goes online while I am doing some paper work and comes up with rose hips and explains it all to me; on how rose hips if full of vitamin C, and that it was used in the old days as a preservative . I think OK lets put in a bottle and send it out to our test friends and family. Two or three weeks passed, nothing. Then one day one of the friends called and asks if I had tried the oil, I said no. Cora uses it but I haven’t tried it. She said this is the greatest oil, your skin drinks it in and how silky soft it leaves it. How great it was as an oil treatment for her hair. Then tells me that when you use it on your hands you can rub it across a sheet of paper and it does not smear or leave an oil stain. The whole time I am thinking (you have got to be kidding Me) I did not say that but I thought it.
To make a long story short we added Cora’s Blissfully Natural Oil to our products and it is now one of our best sellers, our local customers love it and at Craft show we almost always sell out.

You only have to use a few drops for your hands and face.

The oils are listed on the bottle, if you ask Cora she will tell you that it is the recipe and it’s a secret. She mixes it herself, won’t even let me see the recipe.
Just a little FYI

Zucchini and Squash Soup Base

We are all about eating what we grow. Summer will soon be here and the garden will be full of fresh vegetables. One of our favorites is zucchini and squash; we plant a lot of it.
We eat it, give it away, and at the end of the season we make Soup Base. Waste Not Want Not!

Zucchini and Squash Soup Base

Take whatever zucchini and squash you have; wash it, peel it, and remove all the seeds.
Next cube and place in a pot with water; cook in till it looks transparent, drain off the water and puree it. Return to pot and add the seasoning of your choice; I add fresh garlic, salt, and a little cilantro/coriander. Bring to a boil, then let it cool, when cool place in freezer bags. There you have it, simple! Fresh from the garden.

This base can be use in the crock-pot to make roast, soup, spaghetti sauce and the list goes on and on. Zucchini and squash is always less expensive in season so if you have to buy it stock up.

My camera died so will post a picture later.

Challenged in the Kitchen - Cherry Cobbler


If you are not the best cook in the world try this Cobbler. I am known for my lack of ability in the kitchen. Over the years I have come up with a few thing that I make very well, and this is one of them.

Shopping list
1 - yellow cake mix
1 - pie filling (we like cherry no sugar added)
11/2 - sticks butter - melted
cooking spray

8x8 or 9x9 baking dish
Pre heat oven to 350 - spray baking dish with cooking spray, sprinkle 1/2 of the dry cake mix in pan; Now drizzle about 3 tables spoons of butter over the cake mix. Next add pie filling spreading it evenly. Add the rest of the dry cake mix spreading evenly over the pie filling; drizzle the remaining butter over the top of the dry cake mix. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or golden brown.
Let cool and enjoy.
Prep time is 5 to 10 minutes

Make Your Own Fabric Softener

Make your own fabric softener it is easy and cost pennies per load. This works well with our Earth
friendly Laundry Soap.
1gallon white distilled vinegar
1 orange peel
2 sticks of cinnamon
Add orange peel and cinnamon stick to the vinegar and let set for 7-14 days. make two so that you always have one ready.

Use our all natural Earth Friendly Laundry Soap; and you are one step closer to going Green.

www.dragonfly.artfire.com

A Little Farm in you life ( What to plant)

Gee all this talk of spring; Made it snow here last night. I guess it is still winter. Our growing season here is about 90 to 120 days if we are lucky; that is from last frost to first frost. I never set any of my baskets or containers out in till June; If I set them out any sooner they always freeze. When you set your plants out will depend on your growing season. All the container plants that I have are Annuals, my yard is large and contains about 200 plants, trees, and scrubs. Our home is only six years old and is in the middle of an Organic hay field. I had to plant all grass, flowers, trees, and shrubs myself. To cut expenses I planted everything very young; all of my plants were small including the trees and shrubs. if you want to have trees or shrubs in your container farm try this site http://seedlings.uidaho.com/ all their plants need to stay in containers for at least a year and most can be in large containers for many years; or in till they are to large for your space. Tomato plants also grow well in a large container; and will give you fruit to enjoy. lavender is an other plant that you will be able to enjoy for years. Container Vegetable gardens will save you money and look great mixed in with you trees, and flowers. The sky the limit; The thing is to grow what you like and have time to care for. Trees give you roots, flowers bring you joy, and vegetables you get to eat; what else could you ask for!

http://dragonfly.artfire.com

A Little Farm in you life ( You gota feed them)

Don't fret - it's very basic stuff. Just like us, plants need the most nutrition when they are growing. The best type of fertilizer to use often boils down to a matter of convenience. I have a pile of cow poo that I mix with organic potting soil. Well I am guessing that you don't have a pile of cow poo sitting around waiting to become fertilizer ; so here is a list of the different types of fertilizer you can find anywhere. Powders must be mixed; liquids may be used as is or diluted. Most products are applied to the soil, but some are also recommended for foilar feeding, meaning they are sprayed on to the leaves and absorbed into the plant. Slow - release pellets applied once, then gradually dissolve each time the plant is watered to release a constant flow of nutrients; pegs may be inserted directly into the soil as another form of slow - release feeding. There are organic and chemically based formulas. If you plan to eat what you grow then I would use organic slow release, but the fertilizer used is your choice. There are two hard and fast rules for feeding plants: First, always read and follow label directions when applying fertilizers ( or any chemical for that matter). Second, never apply fertilizer to dry soil. Plant nutrients are only absorbed by the roost when dissolved in water, so water in well. Under watering results in under diluted fertilizer, which results in root burn.

Now the fun part picking the type of plants to grow. Annuals, Perennial? Annuals deserve due praise for their uplifting gifts of quick and constant color, but come season's end they're goners.
Perennial, though, have more to offer. Given a little preparation, they will joyously stage a comeback performance season after season after season.

A Little Farm in you life ( Time to get tough)

Whether you just brought home a nursery-grown basket overflowing with mature growth or have finally decided your baskets or containers are ready to be set outside, don't rush it.

Tender new plants, even those mature-looking nursery grown specimens, need a little toughening up before they are ready to face the rigors of the real world. This process is known as hardening off and involves a physical toughening of plant tissues. It prepares plants for drying winds and wavering temperatures, the likes of which they never encountered in the greenhouses, stores, or your living room.

Hardening off is easy to do and takes only a few days and a little patience. Rather than setting out your basket and container and leaving them to fend for themselves, set them out in a protected place for about 1/2 hour the first day. the second day leave it out and hour or so. Double the exposure each day.

Over the years my children have given me the most beautiful mothers day planters. Before I learned about hardening off, and in the joy of the moment I set those planter right out on the patio. It took just a few days for the plants to loose their blooms and all summer to save the plant, and sometimes the plants died. Ha ! most of the time they died; my local nursery loved me and all the money I had to spend to replace the plants. So please do not skip the hardening off step.

Container gardens live in an extremely artificial environment. So for healthy happy plants be prepared to dole out a little pampering. Drying winds combined with exposed foliage and limited root space create a huge demand for moisture. Here are a few easy watering rules. Check for moisture before you water. If you can push your finger into the soil an inch and still feel dampness, the basket or container can probably wait another day before watering. Wet soil can definitely wait, but dry soil needs water now. In general, more frequent watering is required for plants in small baskets and containers. In this unnatural environment all plants need more water than in their natural habitat. Use safe water don't use water treated by a water softener, water softeners use chemicals that are harmful to plants.

Life in a basket or container has its limitations and one of them is that the roots can't go out to eat. It's up to you to provide all their nutritional needs. These needs vary with the seasons. During periods of active growth, they eat like kids. During dormant periods they fast. Knowing when, how, and how much to feed your baskets and containers is important, and there are lots of choices. Don't fret - it's very basic stuff. More on this tomorrow.
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A Little Farm in you life ( about soil, seeds or plants)

Picking the proper planting medium is very important; Don't use dirt! When used in container, even the best garden loam compacts, which squeezes oxygen away from the roots and hinder water absorption. Instead use a planting mix. There is two kinds available, Soil less and soil-based.
Soil less mixes are composed mainly of shredded peat. While lightweight and porous, they contain no nutrients and tend to break down over time, which also causes problems with aeration and water absorption. Soil-base mixes retain nutrients and are easy to wet, both initially and after planting, but they are also heavy. Soil less mixes are fine for temporary container and baskets, such as annuals that will be tossed at season's end. Soil-based mixes are the best choice for perennial baskets and containers that are to be maintained over time.

I myself just don't have the time to mix up my own potting soil, I buy it premixed. The thing to remember are read all ingredients on the bag. I buy an organic soil-base mix from home depo for my patio container and indoor plants.

Mixing you own is the way to go if you got the time and space, for it allows you to work in bloom-boosting amendments, such as bone meal, dolomitic limestone, or slow-release fertilizer.

Homemade Planting Mixes - Soil-Based Planting Mix - 1 part high-quality soil, 1 part peat moss, 1 part part perlite, vermiculite, or sharp builder's sand, 1 part compost (optional). Soil less Planting Mix - 1 part #2 grade vermiculite - 1 part peat moss. To either mix add 1 tablespoon super phosphate, 2 tablespoons ground limestone, and 4 tablespoons steamed bone meal per gallon of medium, or you can substitute a fertilizer of you choice.

I in my life have killed hundreds of seedlings, and now plant straight into the containers. This is how I do that; once you have got the soil in the container get it wet all the way, not damp but wet. Now plant your seeds according to directions on the seed pack, after you have done this cover your container with plastic wrap you may want to tape it down, and place in a warm well lit place. Mine are in my family room in front of a window, so to get the sunlight. You will notice that moisture builds up on the plastic wrap that is good; this is how you seeds will water themselves for the next few weeks, you will want to check them and remove the plastic wrap. DON'T your containers are like little hot houses. Once you seedling come up and are pushing against the plastic wrap remove it and place plastic knifes around the inside edge and if needed water carefully and replace the plastic wrap for a few more weeks. Before I forget put something down to protect your floor under the containers.

http://dragonfly.artfire.com

A Little Farm in you life ( about containers)

Choosing the right container, is sometime the hardest part of having a patio or balcony garden. Here are a few comparisons to make choosing the container that will be right for you.

Material Characteristics
Pulp Inexpensive, lightweight, absorbs water, and breaths well.
Wood More expensive, heavy, attractive, and breaths well.
Plastic Moderately priced, lightweight, less attractive.
Clay Moderately priced, heavy, absorbs water.
Ceramic Expensive, very attractive, moderately heavy.
Wicker Inexpensive to Costly, rots if kept wet, attractive.
Wire Lightweight, durable, allows for planting at different levels.
Metal heats up quickly in the sun which will damage roots, heavy.

Any container that appeals to you, has not been used to contain any sort of toxic substances, is at least 3 inches deep, has drainage holes in the bottom can be put to use in your patio of balcony farm. Just be aware that what your container is made of makes a difference, and each material has its advantages and disadvantages.

Bear in mind that container gardens take lots of water and that well watered soil is heavy. Consider total weight when choosing containers. If you are choosing to have a hanging garden this is a very important.
Wicker Trick - to get the effect of wicker planters, use a slightly smaller plastic container as the planter and neat in the wicker basket.

How to put a Little Farm in Your Life

When trying to figure out what to write about on by blog. I went to a lot of blogs to see what everyone else writes. What I found; is that most blog are about your life, business, and things that people know how to make, and so on.

I thought and thought and thought! What would make people want to revisit my blog????????? How to make soap, No, lots of those blogs. How to make a quilt, No not my thing. So I had to think some more! I GOT IT !!!!

My Blog is going to be - WAIT FOR IT -

How to put a Little Farm In your life!

You are now thinking right I live in the city, in an apartment with a tiny patio or balcony. If that is what first popped into your head, then I am thinking and talking to you.

There is something about planting and growing, I believe it is the playing in the dirt that makes it so relaxing. Maybe it is watching what you planted grow, some farmer say it is the harvest. Me I like eating what I grow; knowing that it is all-organic makes it even better.

Here is your shopping list: This is not a long list and won’t break the bank.
Organic potting soil
Containers (we will get back to this)
Seeds or small plants ( you can start your own seed now inside.)

One of my favorites containers is straw bales. I use the one that we use on the farm for my patio. For small places there is the small ones that you see at Michaels you know the ones that are used for Halloween. These look nice, retain water longer, and when your done with them you don’t have to worry about what to do with them; just toss them out biodegradable. The small bales of straw should be at least 12 inches by 12 inches and use small plants to start out don’t worry the plant will grow. Place a trash bag under your bale, so not to leave water spots on you patio and when it time to toss them out just pull the bag up around the bale.
The container is your choice, only you know how much space you have and what works for you, remember that the container will be sitting on the floor.
It is still too early to have plants outside so you have a lot of time to get your supplies.

Come back soon for the next up date on How to put a little farm in your life.