The Yarmouth Clam Festival was a wonderful event. I set-up on Thursday afternoon and was greeted by many friendly faces. Artisans see each other at many shows and cultivate friendships after years on the road. Spending three full days next to other artisans allows many philosophical conversations about selling products on the road, views on life and love and secrets about where the best places to dine in the area. The Clam Festival is an enjoyable event. People attend the festival year after year. Grandparents bring their grandchildren to enjoy all the festival has to offer. They love the parade (no rain on the parade this year!!!), the music, the food and the artisans. This event is a tradition for

many. Below are some of the characters I have known over the years.

Again this year I was across from the infamous Judith Barker

and her ever so helpful husband, Paul. Judith noted that she has been successfully selling her gold and silver jewelry long enough to have daughters of her customers seeking her out for ware for themselves. WHAT A TESTAMENT TO HER AND HER WORK. She is a selling machine. She takes each customer into her arms an

d listens to them to find the perfect piece for them for for a gift. People come back year after year to see her and find another treasure

Next to me is a very successful artist, Woody Jackson. He is the fella whose cow you see every time you open up a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream.  He sells his art on t-shirts, canvas, calendars, mugs and more.  He is a great Vermonter and philosophical straight man.   I enjoy watching people be dazzled by his cows and other terrific scenery.  His heart is in his work, something you want to take with you.  Oh yeah…. I (happily) sold most of his wares on Sunday because he was busy “getting down” to the Wicked Good Band. 

Bestey Golon of Common Folk Farm was next to Woody so I couldn’t see her, but I could hear her laugh.  Such a hearty loving laugh.  You can imagine that she would love to invite you in for a cup of tea if she had time.

Her garden are bustling at this time of year.  She is collaborating with the Shakers in Maine as well as tending gardens of her own, teaching, and selling herbs at shows.  She and her husband Dale are wonderful people, some of the first I met as a vendor.  We share time and space at the Fryeburg

Fair, 8 days of talks, laughs and support.

I enjoy going to the festivals and artisan shows to sell my products.  Culitvating friendships with my customers has been extremely rewarding. This weekend was no exception.  Many repeat customers visited my booth to stock up on everything from Baby Bum Butter to Goat Milk Soap.

When my very busy Michelle Delucia and Eric Fisher stopped by the Clam Festival, I was humbled that they come to the festival, not only to eat the great food, but to stock up on soap.  They own and run a very successful gardening business, felting business and more called Sunshine Daydreams Gardens.

What is nice about craft shows, festivals and such is that vendors have a chance to talk shop about trends, good shows, good tents, and best prices for hotels, food and more.  We find it important to support each other as well.  Most of us purchase our gifts from each other.  Whether we trade or buy out right, we know we need to stick together.  Dan, the hot sauce guy, was my first sale on Saturday morning.  He bought my Aftershave for men.  So if you see him, make sure you tell him he smells good!!! HAHA!  Dan is a great business man.  He sells his hot sauces like there is no tomorrow.  He gives people a friendly hard time, just like your big brother or smartie pants uncle.  I was so honored to have him buy my lotion.  His website is Eatmeimhot.com An example of how successful and “dan” he is.  Friday night he was selling the heck out of his sauces and ran out of $1 bills.  He was telling people it is $10 is you don’t have exact chance, if you do, it is $8 a bottle.  We asked him if he sold any for $10 and he said yes.  HOW DOES HE DO IT?  Great sauce, check it out.

Days can be long and sometimes hot as a vendor (and customer).  When we are selling are wares alone, it is always nice when someone will watch the booth, bring you a snack or even a smile.

My friend Kevin is just the guy.  He surprised me on Saturday with a cold drink and a smile.  He helped closed the show that night.  What a great guy.  He is a super salesman with a terrific sense of humor.  Kevin took a picture of himself while I was taking a break from the booth.  Yes, Kevin, there is proof that you were working. HAHA!!!  He said that while he was taking the shot, a woman in another vendor’s booth thought he was taking a picture of her and waved to him.  HAHA!!!  SO much fun!!!

Well, that is about it from the Yarmouth Clam Festival.  My next show is Grand Lake Stream, July 24 and 25th.  More friends, vendors, music and merriment.

Meg, Amy, Rebecca, and I spent a lovely rainy afternoon in Bridgton, ME making soap at the Rufus Porter Museum and Cultural Heritage Center. We used goat’s milk from my goats, olive oil, safflower oil, and a few secrets to make our Lemongrass/Orange, Lavender with Calendula and Rose with rose petals. What a wonderful day. These pictures show the basic process.

Soap students measuring ingredients for soap

Sodium Hydroxide mixing with Goat mIlk in a cold water bath

Amy and Meg blending the milk and oils.

Amy and Rebecca blending like champs!!

The ladies graduated from Goat Milk Soap Making 101

Thank you ladies!!!

My brother, Matt, enjoys outdoor acitivies as much as I do.  We tend to ski at least once a week together at the local weekly community ski race called Mountain Meisters.  The race is on a Nastar course at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, NH.  Both of us are new to the sport and racing, both beginning in our 30s, but having fun and learning quickly.  Watch out hot jocks.

Just loving the bluebird day

There is nothing like driving 5 miles down the road to a beautiful tree farm to choose my holiday tree.  My friend Kevin and I went to get trees yesterday.  What fun!  It definitely put me in the holiday spirit.  As we drove home with our beautiful trees, I realized that not everyone drives the 5 miles from their home to a tree farm that is pristinely taken care of by a wonderful friend, Ward Simonton.  I love living rural and having the opportunity to enjoy the seasons, forest, weather and simple things in life.

There are so many things to be grateful for this year.  I am grateful for a new president, my home, my job, my friends and the wonderful snow on the ground.

I encourage you to take a moment, look at all your blessings, and tell someone why you love and appreciate them.

What are you grateful for this year?  Have a wonderful holiday season.  Remember it is the quality of time spent by loved ones, not the quanity spent on loved ones.

Love, Jen

After my morning ritual of Earle Grey tea with Yerba Mate and journal writing, I mosey up the hill to feed my Nubian goats. (I have been raising goats for 10 years using their milk for soap , cheese and drinking). They are adorable. Each with a different personality. As I approach their pen, they bleat to say hello. They are looking for their grain and in the fall apples or extra hay. In the summer there is a movable electric fence. They are moved around the field eating brush, grass and leaves. When they are enclosed around a stone wall, they devour the tiny saplings leaving the large trees to continue to grow. Their presence is calming and connects me to the earth as well as reminds me of the simple things in life.

The building in the photos is their summer home. It protects them from the sun and rain when they feel they need a break from the weather. Goats are very hardy and are fine under a tree for shelter from the rain and harsh weather.
In the winter they are housed inside. On nice days in the winter, I enjoy taking them for a walk. Yes, they follow me. Why would they run away from the person who not only loves them, but feeds and waters them?

My skin is going to be so smooth after this Clay Face Mask

During the summer I tried to go to the ocean once a week.  Living in Northern New Hampshire that prospect was easy.  A drive to the Maine coast took about an hour and half.  The ocean purifies the soul, the salt water refreshes the skin and the sun warms the body. I enjoyed walking the beach looking for sand dollars, sea glass and other treasures.  One day I decided to try my Clay Face Mask at the beach. I used sea water to reconstitute the clay and applied it to my face and body.  It is easy to put all over because I was in my swim suit and washing it off require me to run into the waves and splash water on my face and clay covered body.  The Maine Coast is known for cool water, but it was refreshing none the less.  The experience left my face soothe and free of dead skin, my soul uplifted and ready to face the daily stresses in life.

It is so important to take time for ourselves and have fun with friends.  This picture was taken by my good friend Kevin who made a pact with me in early summer. We would go together to the ocean once a week. We had a wonderful time.

I would suggest purchasing my clay face mask and trying it out at home, girls’ night in, or on your next trip to the ocean. Love, Jen