Farm House News
Cats In The Cradle
N e w s fr o m th e Fa rm h o us e … .S u m m er 20 08
S pe ci al Of fe r fo r o ur R et ail C us to m er s th is S u m m er !
T hi s sp ri n g m ar ke d o ur 28 th ye ar in o ur h u m bl e ol d fa rm h o us e an d w e fe el tr ul y bl es se d to be in o ne of N e w E n gl an d’ s m os t be au tif ul lo ca ti o ns . T o ce le br at e, w e’ re of fe ri n g F R E E S HI P PI N G o n all or de rs of $7 5 or m or e, so T HI N K A H E A D T O T H E H O LI D A Y S! ! T hi s of fe r is g o o d till Se pt . 30 o nl y. W e al so ha ve sp ec ial de al s fo r o ur w h ol es al e cu st o m er s, pl ea se e m ail or p h o ne us to ge t th e lat es t!
O ur “ Vi ct or y G ar de ns ” ar e o ve rfl o wi n g wi th ve g gi es an d fr ui t, th e s w ee t sc en t of he irl o o m ro se s fill s th e air an d ne xt ye ar ’s fir e w o o d is w ait in g to be st ac ke d. M y da n de lio n wi ne is ex ce lle nt , an d th e g o os eb er ry & bl ue be rr y pi es fr o m o ur o w n b us he s ar e a ra re tr ea t! Li fe is g o o d de sp ite th e ha rd ec o n o mi c ti m es be ca us e w e’ ve al w ay s liv ed ve ry si m pl y wi th o ut all th e tr ap pi n gs of th e “y u p pi e” S u b ur bi a lif es ty le. O ur “k id s” W ilb ur fo rc e an d P o o ps ie ad or e th eir ne w pa l “P is sy P us s” w h o fi na lly be ca m e a h o us e kit ty la st fal l. M y pr oli fic rh u ba rb pa tc h in sp ire d ne w so ap s wi th a Fr en ch tw ist th at wi ll be av ail ab le fo r C hr ist m as (b es id es , y o u ca n o nl y m ak e so m uc h rh u ba rb wi ne !). Fr en ch -s ty le ru sti c so ap cu be s in R os y R h u ba rb an d R us tic O at wi ll be av ail ab le th is Fa ll. In sp ire d b y th os e w o n de rf ul ch u nk y so ap s y o u fi n d in Fr en ch b o ut iq ue s th ey ’r e m ad e wi th lo ca l h o ne y an d ar e e m b os se d wi th a be au tif ul h o ne y be e st a m p. Tr es m ag ni fi q ue ! A n d of co ur se , th ey ’ll ha ve o ur si g na tu re vi nt ag e pa ck ag in g!
Ju ne ’s fr ea ky he at w av e fo u n d m e in P hil ad el p hi a wi th si s an d fri en ds fo r Ci rq ue D u S ol eil ’s fa b ul o us sh o w. D es pi te th e u n be ar ab le he at an d dr ea df ul sti nk in th e su b w ay st ati o ns w e ha d a gr ea t ti m e an d te rri fic se at s. T he tri p al so ga ve m e ti m e to he lp A ni ta wi th a b o ok an d ne w tu ne s sh e’ s wr iti n g. W e’ re b ot h lo ok in g fo rw ar d to a re tu rn to th e N. H. Sc ot tis h Hi g hl an d G a m es w he n sh e vi sit s in Se pt e m be r.
W O W ! … w e g ot a p h o ne ca ll an d Sil en t S oa ps or de r fr o m fa m o us fil m hi st or ia n Le o na rd M alt in hi m se lf. T ha t w as a sh oc ke r, an d sa le s fo r Sil en t S oa ps ha ve in cr ea se d th is ye ar.
M y so ap s ha ve fi na lly cr os se d “t he p o n d” an d ar e be in g m ar ke te d in hi g h- en d sh o ps ar o u n d L o n d o n. W e’ re ve ry ex cit ed to sa y th e le as t! T hi s is a ne w ve nt ur e wi th fi ne Br iti sh fo lk s w h o ha ve N e w H a m ps hi re tie s.
O ur be st se lli n g B ay R u m so ap w as ch os en b y th e ne w m an ag e m en t of N. H. M ot or S pe ed w ay to be in cl u de d in 80 gi ft ba sk et s fo r th e N A S C A R dr iv er s th is su m m er. T he y pi ck ed a wi n ne r!
H o us e re n o va ti o ns ar e o n- g oi n g th is su m m er to ac co m m o da te fri en ds fr o m E n gl an d w e ha ve n’ t se en in 20 ye ar s. T he re m us t be 5 la ye rs of w all pa pe r sp an ni n g 16 0 ye ar s to re m o ve , b ut n ot hi n g ca n co m pa re to th e te di o us ta sk of re pa iri n g ol d pl as te r ce ili n gs ! T he fu n pa rt co m es w he n it’ s ti m e to se le ct w all pa pe r … .a n d ye s … I’ m d oi n g all th e w or k m ys elf ! I pr o mi se to p os t “b ef or e an d af te r” p h ot os wi th th e ne xt u p da te !
Fr ie n ds D av e an d Al i St ev en so n at w w w. lo os er th an lo os e. co m or ga ni ze d a w o n de rf ul vi nt ag e fil m fe sti va l th is sp ri n g. A n d th an ks to th e m w e w er e ab le to p h o ne an d wi sh a ha p p y 83 rd bi rt h da y to fo rm er Li ttl e R as ca ls st ar D or ot h y D eb or ah . C he ck o ut D av e’ s w eb sit e to le ar n ab o ut u pc o mi n g fil m ev en ts. Y o u’ ll al so ge t to he ar hi s fu n n y w eb ca st “L o os e Et he r,” a ve rit ab le fe as t of vi nt ag e fil m ti d bi ts, so u n d ef fe ct s, gr ea t ol d m us ic, ne w s q ui ps an d p oli tic al co mi c rel ief h os te d b y D av e hi m se lf, hi s si de -ki ck P hil , an d oc ca si o na lly “t he wi ve s. ” H ey , w e’ re g oi n g to ne ed all th e co mi c rel ief w e ca n ge t in th e co mi n g ye ar !
A u g us t wi ll se e us at M ea d o w br o ok fo r “ Hi p pi ef es t” fe at ur in g m y fa v or ite ba ss pl ay er Ja ck Br uc e fr o m T he Cr ea m. I la st sa w th e m wi th m y P hil a. ba n d in 19 68 -6 9 d ur in g th os e m e m or ab le El ec tri c Fa ct or y da ys . O ur cu rr en t ba n d Bi tt er s w ee t wi ll ha ve a bi g ba n d re u ni o n in Ju ly wi th se ve ral of th e m us ici an s w e’ ve w or ke d wi th o ve r th e pa st 27 ye ar s. H o w ti m e fli es … .
C o mi n g to th e La ke s R eg io n? D o st o p b y! W e ha ve p ot te d he rb s, vi nt ag e g o o di es , b o ok s, an d of co ur se … .S O A P S! H av e a re fr es hi n g gl as s of rh u ba rb p u nc h an d st ro ll th ro u g h o ur ga rd en s. C all in g ah ea d is A L W A Y S ad vi se d!
T he w eb sit e co m es to y o u b y w ay of m y tal en te d ne ig h b or an d fri en d Kr ist a. La stl y, th an ks to all o ur lo ya l cu st o m er s, w e tr ul y ap pr ec iat e y o ur b us in es s an d ki n d co m m en ts. A s w e he ad in to th e be au tif ul fal l se as o n in N e w H a m ps hi re d o e m ail us to fi n d o ut w ha t’ s ne w fo r th e h oli da y se as o n in ca se w e ca n n ot ge t to an ot he r u p da te be fo re th en . I wi ll be ha p p y to m ail y o u a pr o d uc t fl ye r an d or de r fo rm . H av e a w o n de rf ul su m m er !
This spring marked our 28th year in our humble old farmhouse and we feel truly blessed to be in one of New England’s most beautiful locations.
Our “ Victory Gardens” are overflowing with veggies and fruit, the sweet scent of heirloom roses fills the air and next year’s firewood is waiting to be stacked. My dandelion wine is excellent, and the gooseberry & blueberry pies from our own bushes are a rare treat! Life is good despite the hard economic times because we’ve always lived very simply without all the trappings of the “yuppie” Suburbia lifestyle. Our “kids” Wilburforce and Poopsie adore their new pal “Pissy Puss” who finally became a house kitty last fall. My prolific rhubarb patch inspired new soaps with a French twist that will be available for Christmas (besides, you can only make so much rhubarb wine!). French-style rustic soap cubes in Rosy Rhubarb and Rustic Oat will be available this Fall. Inspired by those wonderful chunky soaps you find in French boutiques they’re made with local honey and are embossed with a beautiful honey bee stamp. Tres magnifique! And of course, they’ll have our signature vintage packaging!
June’s freaky heat wave found me in Philadelphia with sis and friends for Cirque Du Soleil’s fabulous show. Despite the unbearable heat and dreadful stink in the subway stations we had a great time and terrific seats. The trip also gave me time to help Anita with a book and new tunes she’s writing. We’re both looking forward to a return to the N.H. Scottish Highland Games when she visits in September.
WOW!… we got a phone call and Silent Soaps order from famous film historian Leonard Maltin himself. That was a shocker, and sales for Silent Soaps have increased this year.
My soaps have finally crossed “the pond” and are being marketed in high-end shops around London. We’re very excited to say the least! This is a new venture with fine British folks who have New Hampshire ties.
Our best selling Bay Rum soap was chosen by the new management of N.H. Motor Speedway to be included in 80 gift baskets for the NASCAR drivers this summer. They picked a winner!
House renovations are on-going this summer to accommodate friends from England we haven’t seen in 20 years. There must be 5 layers of wallpaper spanning 160 years to remove, but nothing can compare to the tedious task of repairing old plaster ceilings! The fun part comes when it’s time to select wallpaper….and yes…I’m doing all the work myself! I promise to post “before and after” photos with the next update!
Friends Dave and Ali Stevenson at www.looserthanloose.com organized a wonderful vintage film festival this spring. And thanks to them we were able to phone and wish a happy 83rd birthday to former Little Rascals star Dorothy Deborah. Check out Dave’s website to learn about upcoming film events. You’ll also get to hear his funny webcast “Loose Ether,” a veritable feast of vintage film tidbits, sound effects, great old music, news quips and political comic relief hosted by Dave himself, his side-kick Phil, and occasionally “the wives.” Hey, we’re going to need all the comic relief we can get in the coming year!
August will see us at Meadowbrook for “Hippiefest” featuring my favorite bass player Jack Bruce from The Cream. I last saw them with my Phila. band in 1968-69 during those memorable Electric Factory days. Our current band Bittersweet will have a big band reunion in July with several of the musicians we’ve worked with over the past 27 years. How time flies….
Coming to the Lakes Region? Do stop by! We have potted herbs, vintage goodies, books, and of course….SOAPS! Have a refreshing glass of rhubarb punch and stroll through our gardens. Calling ahead is ALWAYS advised!
The website comes to you by way of my talented neighbor and friend Krista.
Lastly, thanks to all our loyal customers, we truly appreciate your business and kind comments. As we head into the beautiful fall season in New Hampshire do email us to find out what’s new for the holiday season in case we cannot get to another update before then. I will be happy to mail you a product flyer and order form. Have a wonderful summer!
Summer 2008...
Cats In The Cradle - Handcrafted & Herbal Soaps ~ 122 Frank C. Gilman Highway, Alton, NH 03809
tel & fax: 603.875.7284 ~ www.catsinthecradlesoap.com ~ email: ccradle@worldpath.net
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