***BREAKING NEWS***

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The new face of MGO (pictured here with her family)!

Hello Friends.  To clear up any confusion, we returned from our August road trip a month ago and I am just now finishing up my posts, so when you see titles with Mississippi, Colorado, Kansas, etc. in them, we aren’t actually there anymore.  It isn’t that I haven’t been dying to tell you about the rest of the places, people and pets we met along the way…it is just that I got a bit…distracted.  Shocking, I know. 

What was I distracted with, you wonder?  Well.  The BIG news is that my little business, Mountain Girl Organics has officially sold!  We have been doing all the stuff that needs doing to get Paula (the proud new owner) up and running.  Just in time for the Holiday Season, no less.  Phew – so much to do!  Luckily she will have lots of help from Laurie Teason (of Sweet Cheeks Soap Co fame) and “the guys” (see above). 

We will be sending out a press release and more very shortly.  There are a few things that still need tweaking!  In the meantime, if you are a facebook user, be sure to fan Paula at Mountain Girl Organics.  Paula is currently working on the website, www.MountainGirlOrganics.com, and you can still leave comments on the blog, www.MountainGirlOrganics.wordpress.com

I was going to wait until everything was “just so” to make this announcement, but it really is a process and I just can’t keep it to myself for another minute.  In other words, I am very excited!  A little sad, as well (my baby…) but mostly excited!  Paula is taking on A LOT in a very small amount of time, so if you would care to share the love through a few words of encouragement via fb and/or the blog I know she would appreciate it : ) 

OK, now…where was I?  Oh, yes…Clarksdale, Mississippi…

Earth Day 2010 – What’s (Bar) Soap Got to Do With It?

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MGO Soap Display at Mountain Man Fruit & Nut Co.

It is Earth Day and I am feeling good.  The Bay sparkles.  The doors and windows are open wide.  The clothes are drying in the ocean breeze.  And the gardens are coming to life.  We are blessed. 

I am happy about something else, as well.  This morning, I woke up feeling a bit melancholy over my little business, Mountain Girl Organics.  Earth Days past involved Evergreen celebrations that included local poets, musicians, artisans, and MGO prizes (of course). 

This year, my little business is up for sale and the products have all but dwindled from the shelves.  Recently, interest was expressed from a potential buyer who lives out of state and has  never tried MGO products before.  So, Laurie agreed to make a few bars of soap for her.

It is pretty much just as easy to do a large batch as it is to do a small one, so I asked Jeanie at Mountain Man Fruit & Nut Co. in downtown Evergreen if she would be interested in ordering a few more bars.  Her inventory is all but depleted and she said absolutely.

So, while I am excited to be heading in this new direction in life, I am also very pleased to see that my bar soaps will once again be available at Mountain Man during this time of transition.  

The bars will take a few weeks to cure, and not all scents will be available, but they will be on the shelves in time for the busy market season.  I am a bit surprised to feel such relief over this! 

But what is the correlation between bar soaps and Earth Day, you ask? 

My bar soaps are more natural than most.  They are created with organic, sustainable, and fairly traded ingredients…no need for chemical preservatives.  They use very little packaging (which has been recycled and is recyclable).   Lightweight and easy to ship as well. No leaky messes.  I could go on and on…

Your turn.  Are you doing something special in honor of Earth Day? Do you make your own natural products?  Or maybe you have tips for us, on how to live simply so that others may simply live? If so, do tell!

Lost in the Attic with Cupcakes, An Interview, and a Contest!

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Spring

How wonderful are my friends?  Take Rachel, for example.  She called me out of the blue this week and asked if I would allow her to interview me and blog about it.  Why yes, Rachel…that would be lovely!  Thank you for asking!

The interview focuses mainly on the sale of my bath and body products business, Mountain Girl Organics.  We had so much fun with this!  I am thinking you will enjoy it as well, and I am sure you are wanting to know more about the contest…

It’s a piece of cake.  Well, more like a bar of soap.  And a bag of malted milk balls.  And maybe some honey mustard pretzels…yum.  Where was I?  Oh, yes.

All you have to do is comment on my blog (feel free to comment on whatever post you are drawn to here), then visit Rachel at  www.lostintheattic.typepad.com and leave a comment on her post featuring yours truly and the sale of MGO. 

This will give you not one, but two chances at winning a $25 gift certificate for Mountain Man Fruit & Nut Co. in Evergreen Colorado…yum…contest starts NOW and ends next Friday (4/16/10)…ready, set, go!

For Sale

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It’s official.  Just click on the flyer to make it bigger.  You can find out more at:

http://evergreenresidentialcommercial.com/index.php?action=listingview&listingID=66

The Sale of Mountain Girl Organics

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Evergreen Farmers' Market, Summer 2008

Forgive the digression; it is just that, at this point, most of our Caretaking Couple readers are also familiar with my natural bath and body products business, Mountain Girl Organics

If you have not heard already, Mountain Girl Organics, LLC is going up for sale as soon as all of the bookwork is taken care of.  My realtor will be Sue Caicedo of Evergreen Commercial Group.  Here is her contact info:

Sue Caicedo
Keller Williams Foothills Realty
Evergreen Commercial and Residential Group
303-670-7732 Office
720-839-3484 Cell
suecaicedo@kw.com
www.evergreenresidentialcommercial.com

I know a lot of you have questions (the most popular being “How Much Are You Selling It For?!?) and we are busy working on all of that. 

My inventory and equipment are currently with my friend and mentor Laurie Teason in Lakewood, CO.  She has a commercial kitchen there and would like to continue on with MGO. 

Laurie does not come with the sale : ) however she is familiar with all things MGO and would prove invaluable should someone without industry experience purchase MGO. 

***You can find Mountain Girl Organics pictures on my Facebook page.  Feel free to friend me (Valynne Bernetich) and/or become a fan of Caretaking Couple***

If you have questions or comments feel free to share.  If I can answer them, I will.  As soon as all info is gathered, the details of the sale will be left to Sue. 

Big hugs to all you friends, customers, and fellow greenies out there : )

Valynne & Paul

www.MountainGirlOrganics.com

Haiti Needs Soap

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Our friend Alane of Blissful Botanica just brought to my attention this blog:

http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/index.php/soap-needed-in-haiti/

Don’t have any soap/shampoo to spare?  The crafting community is also stepping up and showing their support.  Find out how by going to my friend Rachel’s blog:

www.lostintheattic.typepad.com/

And if you are needing or wanting anything from Mary Janes Farm, please consider purchasing those items this week as 10% of sales will go to Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts:

www.maryjanesfarm.org/

Most of us cannot begin to imagine the circumstances the Haitian earthquake victims now find themselves in.  Thank you for doing whatever you can to help.  Hugs,

Valynne & Paul

PS I just sent 50lbs of random soap chunks in 2 large Priority Mail boxes, which cost me $29 total.  Two normal boxes would have cost me around $80 to send.  Be sure to use the “Flat Rate” boxes, which you can pick up free of charge at the post office.

Mountain Girl Memories

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Mountain Girl Memories

January marks three years for our beloved Mountain Girl Organics.  I am creating a portfolio of all things Mountain Girl and would appreciate your help…

 Do you have a photo, momento, memory, or testimonial you would like to share?  If so, I would really love to hear from you.   

Please click on the comment link above or e-mail me at Valynne@MountainGirlOrganics.com if you have an attachment. 

*Bonus:  if you comment/e-mail before the end of January 7th (tomorrow) your name will be entered into my mystery prize drawing!* 

A Quiet Christmas

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Ski Country Antiques Open House 2008

This is a new kind of holiday season for us, and not just because of the move.  A year ago, I was creating and selling  my natural bath and body products with fervor while Paul worked tirelessly behind the scenes.  

A year later (i.e. now),  Laurie has made and delivered the last of the wholesale orders to my Colorado shops for me (thank you Laurie).  The Mountain Girl Organics online shop is officially closed for the winter and I have just enough product left over to share with a few new neighbors and friends.  

Sitting here post-blizzard with the Greyhounds by the fire feels so comfy, wistfulness notwithstanding.  I’ve got a few things to figure out.  In the meantime, a quiet Christmas…

A Few Observations on a Lazy Sunday Afternoon

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It has been almost two weeks since we left Evergreen.  Today is our first official “lazy day”.  Paul has built a fire and is watching an old Cary Grant film while I catch up on my correspondence.  It is pouring down rain – the perfect day for hunkering.  The dogs are tucked in (yes, we tuck them in, Greyhounds don’t have a lot of meat on their bones, you know…nothing to do with being spoiled…).  Paul ran out this morning and picked up three big Sunday Papers (The New York Times, The Cape Cod Times, and the Boston Sunday Globe) which we haven’t even opened yet.  I love lazy Sunday afternoons.

A few observations:

I feel very comfortable being back on the East Coast.  It is almost as though I never left.  That is not to say we don’t miss our Colorado friends and local haunts.  Today, our friend Gary e-mailed from Java Groove.  It is beginning to sink in (now that we are sitting here relaxing) that I can’t run and meet a friend or two for a quick cuppa at the Ice House or Java Groove.  No Bloodies with Maria at Bear Creek or Sesame Tofu with Em at Saigon Landing.  No more manufacturing fests with Laurie.  No more Bear Mountain walks, no more views of Mt. Evans from the back deck.  Frank won’t be coming over any minute for movie night.  No more bartending on Fridays – no more listening to John and Lisa on a Thursday evening.  No more happy hour with friends at Rio Del Sol…or Rocky Mountain Markets and Music Fests.  Still, I am comfortable here.  It just feels right.  Paul and I are already enjoying this next chapter in the story of our lives.  Corny, but true.

Tomorrow, Paul will get to work at his new “desk” (see pics below).  I will set up opposite him.  Mountain Girl Organics continues to grow, even while I am away.  Things are evolving in mysterious and exciting ways.  MGO is ready for bigger and better things, but still I find it all a little discombobulating.   My ingredients and products are all in Colorado, and I am here.  All of the Holiday shows are coming up…and I am here.  Believe it or not, there is still much work to be done, even from 2,000 miles away.  I just don’t know how to not to constantly think about this business I have lived and breathed these past three years!  So, during this transition phase, I have been researching.  Jotting down ideas.  Brainstorming with people, catching up with others.  And breathing.  Really breathing.  Being at sea level again seems to agree with me.

Paul will be coming back to Colorado to sign the official closing paperwork any day now.  We sold a lot of stuff before leaving, however there is still a lot to be sold.  You can see a list of what is left by scrolling down a few blogs.  I am suffering just a little from separation anxiety over my books and photos.  I keep thinking I could reference this or that so easily if I only had this or that soapmaking or herbal book.  And while I TRY to embrace this online photo phenomenon, I really do…it just is NOT the same as looking through an old album.  Or putting a new one together.  Oh, and even though I rarely read old cards and letters, I do find great comfort in knowing the boxes that hold them are just a room or two away.  The beauty is this issue will resolve itself in a matter of weeks, if not days…just feeling a bit sentimental, is all : )

Speaking of sentimental, I know people are reading this blog (thanks to analytics) which is pretty cool since I am not advertising it at all (I want this to be about our personal journey without intruding on the homeowner’s privacy).   So, if you happen to be reading this and have anything you would like to share, please do!  I am still getting the hang of this blogging thing, so if you aren’t feeling it, no pressure.  I understand all too well.  However, if you are cyber savvy and want to post a comment, we would love to hear from you!  In the meantime, thank you for spending time with me on this lazy Sunday afternoon…

V

A New Beginning

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After spending the past couple of weeks exploring caretaking opportunities all over the States, Paul and I have accepted a position in Cape Cod, MA.  This is a long term house and pet sit (1-2 years).  We are packing up the 4Runner and heading out on Monday October 5th, at the latest.   These last few days in Evergreen will be hectic as we have much to do before we leave! 

Paul will most likely be coming back to CO in a few weeks to tie up all loose ends with the house sale.  In the meantime, we will be having our final estate sale on Saturday October 3rd (check Craigslist on Thursday or just follow the signs from Little Cub on Saturday).  We are getting rid of almost all earthly posessions so there will be all sorts of random stuff.    

Thank you to all who came out to the Ice House last night.  It was my final bartending shift and the place was packed, thanks to the music of Joe Bye and friends.  We sure will miss all of the great live music Evergreen has to offer.  There are so many things we will miss about Colorado.  I am from the East Coast, so I know what cold winters mean; I know there will be times when we long for Colorado Blue Skies! 

For those of you who are wondering what is to become of Mountain Girl Organics…the answer is I don’t know yet.  A friend is interested in buying the business, which would keep it all local.  Otherwise, I will put production on hold after my Holiday orders are in and revisit MGO once we are settled in.  Late winter/Early spring is a good time for this as retail is typically much slower. 

As for Paul, he will continue on with his job (he works remotely) while we are in Cape Cod.  We are both looking forward to taking care of two retired greyhounds, being closer to my CT friends and family, living on the water, etc. etc.  Thanks to technology (when I can figure out how to use it) we can keep in touch with each other so easily these days.  We have met some great people out here that we will miss dearly.  Lucky for me, I probably won’t have time to think about that too much until we are all nestled in to our new  dwelling…