Not really much to say today…
I’ve been exhausted all week even though I have no real reason to be which translates into I will have to play catch-up this weekend!

Many things to do this weekend and even though it’s supposed to hit 60 degrees (or maybe higher?) tomorrow it is still a little to damp to start working out in the yard.

Hubs did mention a few weeks ago that he wanted to pull up the crappy crabapple tree in the front yard with the jeep. Maybe tomorrow would be a good day for that….and it would give me something to video!!

With that I will leave you with these  links:

Ignore Expiration Dates
“Best by,” “Sell by,” and all those other labels mean very little.

$238 billion loss for U.S. mail
Saturday delivery may end

Scathing Review
‘Alice’ in Blunderland

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

It’s the end of February already…and no it doesn’t help that it is a short month to begin with!

The northeast is getting slammed by yet ANOTHER snow storm while over here (Puget Sound) spring has….sprung! Grass is growing and trees are blooming!

Books
I have long been a fan of J.A. Jance novels..both the Joanna Brady and J.P. Beaumont Mysteries. Same characters in each series and often times those characters cross over.

Our local library carried only a handful of her books so one day a couple of weeks ago I went on to the library website (what a pain in the *ss that is!!!) and reserved as many books as I could. As I reserved the books I would get a notice saying….51 people have reserved this book ahead of you. Ok…so it will be a while as they all come trickling in.

Um…not!

A few days after I placed my massive reserve list I get an email stating that I have 12 books ready to go! I high-tail it to the library and bring it all home. These are, for me, fast read books so I will whiz through them in no time.

Not to mention I have the newest Stephen King book Dome sitting on our table just calling my name!

Karma
I have been telling my husband over the years that there is such a thing as Karma.
Good and Bad it always pays you back.
He is beginning to believe me!

Case in Point:
As I posted in HERE I was appalled at the lack of security and the fact that no one helped as a young woman was beaten in a Seattle bus tunnel.

I still feel that way.

However…As I always say….Karma has a way of paying you back.

Apparently the young woman is not as innocent as she wanted everyone to think!

Interesting Stories of the Week:

I found these two stories extremely interesting!

The Chemist’s War
The little-told story of how the U.S. government poisoned alcohol during Prohibition with deadly consequences.

The Clarks
An American story of wealth, scandal and mystery

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

Lot of things going on today.
See you Monday!

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

**Super Bowl
I’m not a sports fan so I never watch the Super Bowl…I do however get online the next day and watch the ads.

This year I’m not impressed…at all.

Was disappointed with all of them except, of course, the Budweiser draft horse/bull ad.

Give me a draft horse any day.

**How About That Snow…Or Lack Of It?
I keep looking at snow pictures of the East Coast and thinking….damn that’s a lot of snow…and I believe you guys have another storm coming in next week!

Olympic games start this weekend….the last I heard they didn’t have much snow up there. Wonder how that is going to work.

**Valentine’s Day
To me Valentine’s Day just isn’t that big of deal…maybe thats wierd coming from a woman who loves chocolate, jewelry and flowers.

Heard a local radio poll the other day…
Valentine’s Day is the one holiday men hate most.
Keep forgetting to ask hubs what his view is!

**Haiti Missionaries
I thought yesturday I read that Haiti was going to release those missionaries that tried to illegally remove 22? ‘orphaned’ children. So far I have not seen any updates.

I totaly ‘get’ what the missionaries were trying to do.
Anyone with a heart should want to help those poor children who are in and have been in desparate situations. If I was younger and we had more room I would seriously consider trying to adopt one or two.

However, those particular missionaries were warned ahead of time that if they did not have the proper paperwork trouble would ensue. Apparently they thought they were above the law because they proceeded and were caught.

I honestly don’t think there was criminal intent here to traffic children and the missionaries should be released. However, I do think the Haiti government should ban them from ever returning again. They very well could have jeapardized future legal adoptions.

**911
A few days ago new pictures of 911 were released.
Even though it’s been several years since this horrific attack it seems like yesturday.

**Voting
What is the purpose of holding an election so us minions can vote democratically?

Apparently there is no purpose when the state government can suspend initiatives that the public passed. Think about that the next time you vote.

**Security
Or lack thereof.

I am absolutely pissed and totaly embarrassed for our state. We made national news the other day you know.

Can someone explain just what in the hell a security company is supposed to provide? Are they not supposed to provide…um….security?

Well apparently not.

King County taxpayers are footing the bill for more than ONE MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR for the services of Tukwila-based Olympic Security Services to keep us safe.

Tell that to the 15 year old girl that was savagely beaten by three men on January 28th. While she was down on the ground and being visciously kicked repeatedly the security guards did nothing.

Nothing.

Except to watch.

They caught the men (all under 18 I believe) who have since pleaded not guilty (um hey fellas…they have you on tape!).

Olympic Security’s contract runs out this year and I hope to god King County has the balls to contract with another security company that can actually provide security instead of wasting millions of dollars for nothing.

You can see the video (its painful) and read about it more HERE.

They have showed this video on tv many times during news broadcasts and I get pissed all over again.

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

Hmmm…..

I usually plan out my blog posts well in advance but time seems to have gotten away from me these last two weeks….

And I have nothing specifically to blog about!!!

So let me just ramble a bit:

**We have completed manufacturing several soap logs that a local wholesale account will soon carry (they are adding SEVEN of our scents that they didn’t carry before!!). In unmolding them yesturday I had forgotten just how much I love the Crystal Blue scent! In the past we did a blue swirl that was a little on the muted side however for this particular wholesale account we went ahead and did the layered look! Blue on the bottom with a white topping. I will say it is very, very nice and we will be making all subsequent Crystal Blue soap using the layered technique! Comparison pictures will be in a future blog post.

**I have been making body products for over ten years and I honestly get just as excited making products now as I did way back in the beginning. Ideas keep running through my head on future scents and products with the only limitation being….time.

**It’s the end of the first week of February already.
Where…Has…The…Time…Gone???!!!
It seems like every time I blink another month goes by.

**January was the warmest here in Washington ever recorded!
Trees and plants have blooms already and our flower bulbs have sprouted up several inches! Yesturday it almost hit 60 degrees. Harleys were out and I also smelled fresh cut grass!!!

**Speaking of flower bulbs….
I have warned my family (erm…hubs) that I AM going to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival this year! I have wanted to go for several years but for one reason or another we just never made it. I will have my trusty Flip in my pocket and plan on buying an armfull of blooming tulips!

**In (many) years past Country Meadow did local farmers markets and craft shows. We are once again venturing out to local public venues and I am in the process of finalizing and getting acceptance confirmation for several shows. I miss the one-on-one contact with people and having our products available to customers for touching, feeling and smelling is a much better experience than buying off of a website….
Besides….we will have FREE SAMPLES available for everyone!
As our calendar fills up I will post the shows here…

Hmmmm….I’m betting there is a Wordpress Calendar/Event App that I could put up!

Marr?????

**So now I’m off to go over and add to our blog schedule so I don’t seem so lame next time!

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

Microsoft Office 2003

About a week ago when trying to open up a saved document Word wanted to open up in ’safe mode’. I did that and I can work on saved documents however I know this should be fixed.

I’ve tried doing the repair thing and I’ve even reinstalled it but it still wants to open in ’safe mode’. I’ve searched online but I’m just not finding the information I need in order to get this working like it’s supposed to.

Any suggestions?

How do Food Companies Determine Serving Size?

Airport Security – Body Scans

I don’t fly.
I don’t do boats either.
If I can’t get there on wheels then I don’t need to go.

I understand airport security.
However, I have a little problem with full body scans.

Pumpkin Bars

In November I made the pumpkin bars posted HERE.

They were absolutely delicious!

So I’m wondering why the last person to have some didn’t just eat the teeny, tiny 1″ piece that was left?

It looks so lonely.

Pumpkin Bars in a 13" x 9" Dish

Pumpkin Bar - Last Piece

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

Links:

Fed Up Homeowner
(I honestly don’t blame him but I don’t think I could do that to our house!)

Why the Palace Fell
(Haiti)

Burning Question:
When do aftershocks stop being aftershocks?

The earthquake that destroyed Haiti was a magnitude 7. They have received many aftershocks under that the latest (this morning) being a magnitude 4.4. Now I can see earthquakes with a mag of under say…..4 being called an aftershock…but what about ones that are above 5? To me those are NOT aftershocks….those are earthquakes!

New Illness
For those men who can’t seem to keep their willies in their pants (Hello Tiger, Duchovny) all you have to do is say….you are a sex addict and all will be well. Go in for ‘treatment’ and come out shining.

GIVE ME A BREAK!
I’m not buying it for a minute.

TV Shows
I had been an avid fan of Grey’s Anatomy since day one. I made sure I watched it each and every Thursday. But at the end of last year…I guess I had had enough. I have not seen an episode since before Thanksgiving. For the most part the storyline was semi-believable but then there would be the random episode that was totaly…crap. Then you would have the crossover into Private Practice (I hate that show) which made me want to watch GA even less.

I have broken the GA cycle!

Being the true crime buff that I am…I now have two new shows that I watch each week…both of them on the Discovery channel.

Deadly Women
and
Wicked Attraction

If I had life to do over again I think an FBI profiler would be right up my alley!

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

I had my usual Friday Free-For-All post ready to go…
however…
In the shadow of Haiti’s earthquake everything here seems so…
trivial.

I had no idea until this week just how poor Haiti is and it’s been that way since the beginning of time. Haiti, from day one, has never had anything…
And now…
They have even less.

There are so many questions and there will be no good answers so the best that we, in the developed world can do, is to donate money to qualified, reputable organizations.

I came across a blog yesturday from a rescue center that treats severely malnourished children. I stayed up late and read each and every blog post and yes, I had my box of kleenex beside me.

Again, so many questions.

We already donate and recycle loans on Kiva and now I must dig a little deeper so I can also donate to RHFH Rescue Center….how could I not?

I know money is tight for a lot of people but any amount that you can spare will go a long way in helping RHFH keep kids alive.

I have added a link to their blog in our Links We Approve of category as I myself will be checking back on a daily basis.

At the moment they are all safe but obviously that could change at any moment.

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

Weather
Here in Washington state we pretty much have mild or semi-mild temperatures. During a normal winter we have rain and if we’re lucky a sprinkling of snow.

Last year we had an actual winter with snow several inches deep that lasted for the better part of a week or so. It was fantastic!!!

I know what 32 degrees feels like.
I know what 18 degrees feels like.
I don’t, however, know or care to know, what 52 below zero feels like!

Holy- freeze -your- balls- off- Batman!
How do you North Dakotan’s survive!

According to THIS Bismark, North Dakota reached a high of 14 below zero yesturday with a wind chill of 52 below!!!! I’m telling ya…there is not a snowsuit big enough that would keep me warm in those conditions.

Happy Birthday
To Elvis.
He would have been 75 today.
Which brings me to the question….
How long do we keep celebrating a dead person’s birthday?

When is enough…enough?
Debt-ridden (to the tune of BILLIONS) Dubai has opened the world’s tallest tower and while I admire great architecture I’m wondering….is this such a good thing?

Porn
There is a time and place for everything.
I don’t think coffee stands are the place.
I don’t think lingerie football is the place either.

Talk about insulting.
Come on women….if you want to play FOOTBALL suit up and PLAY football! Prancing around in barely-there underwear does not qualify as playing football!

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We would like to take this time to thank you for your support and patronage of our business.

2009 is almost over and we look forward to a new 2010 with a renewed economy, an increase in jobs opportunities, and for us, new products and business ventures (I have two semi-related business ideas that I have had to put on hold. Hopefully next year will allow me to finalize the details and work on a launch!).

Holiday Hours

Country Meadow will be closed from December 22, 2009 through January 3, 2010.

We be open on December 28th and 29th for order processing only.

We are also taking a Blog break during this time and will resume normal business and blogging on January 4, 2010!

Note:
Our blog is due for a regular update which I will attempt sometime within the next two weeks. If all goes well our blog will still be here. If something goes wonky be assured I know about it and will have my best person on it!

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a bright New Year!

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com