Fall colors on our way to Milwaukee

It was time to go back to Colorado, on the way to the Milwaukee airport we saw a few spots that were pretty…

On the way to Milwaukee

Have no idea what these purple berries areLove the red leavesLove the red leaves

Love the red leaves

Favorite neighborhood in my home town

I love staying at my sisters house when I come home. The neighborhood is on the west side of Iron Mountain close to Pine Mountain. Besides looking at all the beautiful colored leaves I love looking at all the old homes.. here are some of my favorites

Backside of Jo’s house

Front side of Jo’s house (Fleshiem St)

Favorite little house- 2 doors down from Jo’s

Brown stucco with field stone house and carriage house

Brown stucco with field stone house (side view of house)

Brown stucco with field stone house

White house on the corner

Brown stucco with field stone house

White house on corner- side yard view

White house on corner

Unusaul style

Unusaul style- check out the windows

Beautiful house and yard

Beautiful house and yard

Fall in the UP

Upper Peninsula

I am taking a break from handmade soap making  to visit family, celebrate our anniversary and enjoy the lovely fall colors. Tim and I were married here on Oct 8th, 26 years ago. Anyways, the UP refers to the upper peninsula of Michigan (the pink color on the map indicates the UP)

The weather has been mostly cold and rainy with a little bit of sunshine here and there. Hopefully the trees will peak while I am here to see the beauty.

Here are some pictures of the leaves changing colors (will continue to add photos)

West side of Iron Mountain, Michigan

Breitung- Balsam Street

Breitung- Balsam Street

While enjoying the sites we noticed this house for sale, the price made us do a double take. Take a guess at the asking price.

Breitung- Balsam Street

West side of Iron Mountain

West side of Iron Mountain

West side of Iron Mountain

Upper Peninsula

The sign said $2000! It looks like it sits on a lot and half. Tim went up and read the sign and it said something about $2000 down and then in smaller print it said it was a land contract of $200 a month and something about $9000.

My Soap Shop Gets a New Look

Since the July hail storm our house has been under construction- new roof, new stucco, new windows, new garage door.. Instead of replacing my shop garage door it will be replaced with French doors.  It will be a treat to open the doors and get a nice breeze going through the soap shop and more natural light!

Tim and Ben have been working hard constructing the new opening, first they framed in the footer, next they poured the footer, framed in the opening to accommodate the door. Yesterday they  trimmed the roof so it is ready for the roofers.  Monday the electrician will install outdoor lighting. The door should be installed in about 3 weeks along with new house windows and stucco. Stay tuned.

Framing in the footer

New footer

Ben and Tim working on shop

Opening framed in

Sept 28, 2009- ready for electrical expection. That’s it till the middle of October.

Wilderness Soap Company @ Western Welcome Weetk in Littleton Colorado

Julie Godard of Wilderness Soap Company will be at Western Welcome Week this Saturday in Littleton, Colorado.

Come out and enjoy the fun, festivities and parade! Stop by Julie’s tent and check out her goods!

Western Welcome Week

Julie’s website is www.wildernesssoapcompany.com , email addy is julie@wildernesssoapcompany.com

Chefie G’s Food Recipes

My son, Grant did all the food for his grandfathers 80th birthday party. Many have asked me to post the recipes, so here they are. You will have to down size the recipes

Salads

Horseradish Slaw

5 qts shredded green cabbage

5 qts shredded red cabbage

2.5 qts shredded carrot

1 cup finely sliced green scallions

8 Granny Smith green apples- cubed 1/4″ tossed into 3 T lemon juice before mixing with slaw mix

 

Dressing

2 cups of apple cider vinegar

1 1/4 c of sugar

4 t black pepper

Mix the above ingredient until sugar is dissolved. Combine with slaw mix and let sit for 30 minutes

1 qt mayonnaise

1 c sour cream

1 1/2 c horseradish- grated

1/4 spicy ground mustard

Mix ingredient , thoroughly then mix in slaw and let sit for at least 1 hour

Salsa Bar

Black Bean Cumin Dip

2 pounds of cooked black beans

1 1/2 t chopped garlic

1 1/2 t toasted cumin seed, ground fine

1/4 cup cilantro leaves

1/4 cup sour cream

1/2 jalapeno, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in food processor till smooth

Grilled Corn Salsa

4 ears corn

2 jalapeno peppers

2 tomatoes, stemmed, seeded and cut into 1/2 cubes

1/2 cup diced red onion

1/2 t minced garlic

3 T minced cilantro leaves

1 T minced peppemint

1/4 c squeezed lime juice

2 T olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Peel corn and place on grill till cooked. Remove corn from cob. Grill japapenos for 5 minutes turning periodically and let cool. Stem and seed jalapenos then mince. Add all ingredients, stir to combine..

Will post more recipes as I get them from Grant.

Biergarten Party- July 18th

13th Annual German American Chamber Biergarten Party

Date: Saturady, July 18th        Time: 4 pm to 10pm

Loacted at 17832 Highway 8, Outdoor Pavillon, (Morrison Exit off  C-470 through Morrison,  south of Highway 8 for a mile. On East side of Highway)

*Double click on image below and it will take you to the website or click here.

Biergarten Party- Morrison Colorado

I made special handmade soap using German beer for Dan Cheatham owner of Legends International.  Stop by Dan’s and pick up a bar of beer soap.

German Beer Soap

Beers used:

Köstritzer Brauerei Schwarzbier ( pictured to the left- dark beer soap)- medium body beer that has a smoky aromas with a chewy malt character. I used chocolate, essential oils of patchouli, petitigrain and cedarwood and hops extract. This soap smell wonderful, the blend of beer and chocolate is delicious! A real man’s soap.

Erdinger Wheat Beer- (pictured on the right- light colored beer soap)- has a wheat and malted barley smell and a  hoppy after taste. For this soap I used an essential oil blend of  juniperberry, coriander, lime, patchouli, lavender with  hops extract. This one is my favorite, you can really smell the lime.

Why soak raw almonds before eating?

I watched the Bonnie Hunt show this morning and one of her guest stated that she soaks her raw almonds in water over night. Evidently, soaking the raw almonds overnight or 12 hours starts the spouting and will predigest itself, therefore it takes less body energy to digest the nut.

The nutrient value of soaked almond increases more than 200%. During the spouting/predigest stage, simple sugars are created from carbohydrates, amino acids created from proteins and fatty acids from fats.

How to prepare soaked raw almonds:

Simply fill half of a large mason jar with raw almonds and fill with water. Add a pinch of salt.

Seal and store in frig for 12 hours.

Remove almonds from jar and rinse, lay out on counter top and cover with a light dish towel.

Let rest for another 12 hours, rinse and eat.

Makes sense to me and it sounds good, so I’m going to give it try.

Welcome to Olde Town Littleton Market

Olde Town Littleton Market -  a fresh-air market with one-of-a-kind merchandise. Located on the sidewalks of Historic Downtown Littleton- the second Saturdays of  July 11th August 8th September 12th October 10th 8 am – 3pm  (COME RAIN OR SHINE!) 

Olde Town Littleton Market – 2nd Saturday of July, August, September and October

Awakened Spirit Holistic Health Center
2606 W. Alamo Ave.
Littleton, CO  303.586.5230 (Michelle- owner)
http://www.awakenedspiritcenter.com

Julie and Andrea will be at the Awakened Spirit Center, be sure to stop by.

Wilderness Soap Company- Julie
Wise Women Botanicas- Andrea
Illuminating Balance (Candles)- Andrea

Details Boutique
2359 W. Main Street
Littleton, Co 80120  303-703-3884
*Look for Sweet Cheeks products at this location 

Product Liability Insurance

The other day a thought came to me, how long after you close a business (food products, bath and body products..) would you have to carry product liability insurance.  Would putting an expiration date on the product and have post a  ”do not use after such and such a date”  be a sufficient cut off date to cancel the  insurance?  What is your insurance company’s policy on this issue?