New Year -- New Products -- New Website!

It's a new year, with brand new products -- and the Grapevine Open Market starts up again in about a months.

So, I'm moving my spot from under the tree, behind the Gazebo ... to shady Liberty Park -- I'll be right by the fountain, just south of the Tobian Cabin.

And, I decided to move my website, too! Please come check out the  Wife of Baths website, http://wifeofbaths.blogspot.com

My e-mail's the same ... fraubudgie@yahoo.com

See you there!

Remember the Katrina livestock group that we were helping in August -- with the special sale on the "horsie" soap?

They're still rescuing, and supplying farmers and livestock. Here's an update from Debra Barlow, cross posted at Red Hot Cuppa Politics: Debra of HopefulHaven sent this update. The endings for the summer storm season are still unfolding ... but at least this one's working out.

From her e-mail: On a good note, the little hurricane pony we took in from Picayune, MS will be going home with her family that raised her from a baby . I told Treisha today she could have her baby back and she was totally elated!!! The family that was going to adopt her said to let Treisha have her back since she had her from a baby and had gone through so much with her after her foundering and losing her hoof. Treisha brought her out of it and the hoof came back, so she deserves to have her baby back. I will be going to Picayune, Ms on Friday Nov 25th, then from there over to Erath for the rest of the weekend, to do the hay and feed run to all my families over there. If anyone would like to join me this weekend, please let me know...

Note that these folks are still delivering supplies to the affected area.

God bless and God speed.

And, amazing, good work! If you want to check out the equine (and everything else) rescue group, click to the title link.

UPDATE: Here's a snippet from Agriculture Magazine on the rescue group:

Debra Barlow and a group of volunteers from Hopeful Haven Equine Rescue Organization in Shreveport, Louisiana, have been rescuing (animals) and delivering supplies to individual ranches since the hurricanes wreaked havoc on the Southeast. "We are a horse rescue organization, but we have opened our arms to include all the livestock we can help," Barlow says.

"We have rescued emus, cattle, horses, you name it."...The rescued animals have been put in holding pens since they can't graze the saltwater-saturated alfalfa fields. "The salt content is making the animals sick because they are getting dehydrated and delusional," she says. "We are hoping to get the saltwater absorbed out their systems with feed, water and hay."

Barlow's rescue group has delivered over 45 tons of hay and feed to ranchers and farmers over the past eight weeks. However, the group is not done. They are still organizing convoys and delivering supplies...”NEWS at: http://www.agriculture.com/

And, they'll be going out 11/11. Here's the information, including where they're meeting, and what they need:

NEXT CONVOY - FRIDAY, 11/11/05:12:00 p.m.

Convoy meets at Summer Grove Baptist Church, in Shreveport, LA(on Jewella where the old South Park Mall used to be)by 4:00 p.m.

Arrive in Lafayette, LA at OMNI Energy Building4500 NE Evangeline ThruwayOn I-49 at between exits 4 and 7 on Frontage Rd.

Go north on service roadOMNI Energy Bldg. is blue, on right side of roadPull into parking lot; onsite contact: Lisa Simmonsby 5:00 p.m.

Arrive at Erath supply site and head to devastated areas.

SUPPLY NEEDS:If you can’t join the convoy, send supplies to Erath drop/distribution site:

ATN: Animal Rescue13738 Highway 331
Erath, LA 70533
Debra Barlow or Hank Moses will accept supplies

Range Cubes Horse Feed/Cattle FeedHayBarbed WireT-PostsTroughs

SEND VACCINES FOR CATTLE & HORSES TO:Dr. Prejean / 1101 West Port Street / Abbeville, LA 70510OrDebra Barlow / 315 Pecan Drive / Shreveport, LA 71106EEE/WEE West Nile & Tetanus Desperate request for equine vaccine donations from veterinarians. No limit to amount needed. Fed Ex delivery is ideal.

MONETARY DONATIONS:
Hopeful Haven Equine RescueP.O. 17763 Shreveport, LA 71138* Debra Barlow needs inventory of what is in your trailer by 11/10. *

IF bringing donations, specify donator’s name and address on inventory paper.* Call & email Debra Barlow ASAP: 318-286-3116 * hopefulhaven@yahoo.com

She's kept CuppaPolitics updated on their activities all along, here's a link to all of the posted e-mails for the past two months.

You know, any group that asks for feed cubes and vaccine before they make a plug for cash is worthy of support in my book.

Anyway -- see y'all Thursday (behind the gazebo, under the tree) at the Grapevine Open Market... and only a couple of weeks left before the Market closes for the winter on November 19th.

I've got a new line of specialty red soap -- perfect for the holidays -- and fun to use year round.

I also have a digital camera! Now, if I can just figure out how to use it, I'll be posting photo's of my new products here on the website.

Stay tuned!

Hi ... just in case you've been wondering where I've been the past month ... 

I'm unveiling my line of incredible bird soap at the Ft. Worth Parrot Mart today ... it's so exciting. I've been up to my elbows and ankles in hot soap ... new molds ... scumptious new colors ... and subtly delicious scent.

I'll also be presenting a new line of "Champagne" salts --- traditional sea salts that release tiny champagne like bubbles in you tub! They're not fizzies, or foamies ... more like fine bubbly champagne to sparkle your bath ....

And, finally, I'll be pesenting "Ducky Balm" -- solid hand balm to soothe chapped hands and lips ...

Hope to see you at the Bird Mart -- but if you can't make it, look for me under the tree, behind the Gazebo at the Grapevine Open Market ... and there's only a couple of weeks left since the Open Market closes for the winter November 19th!

Later!

Thanks to everyone who donated to the Livestock Rescue Effort in Louisiana. Here's an e-mail from Debra, of HopefulHaven.

Wife Of Bath Customers:

HHERO has been working endlessly to make sure the horses of south Louisiana have been able to have feed and hay.  People were given the choice to leave, and the animals were not.

This effort could not succeed without wonderful caring people like you who have taken that extra moment to help support our efforts. Now we have another hurricane coming.

Just a short note to let you know we appreciate you.  If you would like to be on our email list for updates on the efforts, email us at hopefulhaven@yahoo.com with your request.

Thank you and GOD BLESS!

Respectfully yours,

Debra Barlow
President

P.O. Box 17763
Shreveport, La 71138

Phone numbers:
318-925-4272 home
318-797-6043 fax
318-286-3116 cell
318-7977464 work mon-thur 8-4 fri 8-1
"If ever a horse needs a helping hand, Please God, Let it be ours"

 

She's kept me updated with pretty much a daily e-mail. You can check them out at Red Hot Cuppa Politics, I've posted them under "LiveStock" something or other for two weeks.

This group has been making heroic efforts, and has been helping not only animals, but people as well. Also, the money given has gone directly to things like hay, gas and trailers.

Anyway, thanks to all of you for your kind donations ... and I'll see you soon!

I want to thank you all for your generosity to the livestock rescue efforts in the Katrina strike zone. I'll be continuing to offer the horsie soap line to donate to the rescue efforts. That included profit, cost of materials and labor included in every bar ... and you'll get a great bar of soap out of it.

Saturday, I collected for HopefulHaven, out of Shreveport. I've been getting daily e-mail updates from Debra, and they are doing some amazing things. Also ... note that along with rescuing horses and other critters, including a dang rooster, they're managing to help humans in  the process. Here's her latest e-mail.

(Code 3 is a group which has been trained to provide medical assistance in livestock disaster relief; they're coordinating with HopefulHaven)

Code 3 Associates is now in Gonzales. I talked to Warren and he is setting up now...The rescuing will be on by A.M. I am in constant touch with him. He will be sending people up here to us that are mobile first.

An update from our friend Mike Reeves with the seven horses from the other night. Someone stole all his saddles out of his truck. These were roping saddles he had won. I just happen to live 2 doors down from the LWRC(Louisiana World Rodeo Circuit) and they are going to get him everything he needs to get to his Rodeo next weekend. Saddle, boots, clothes, the works. Team ropers stick together and I knew they would be the ones to help him. Thank you Todd and Tanya Johnson for steppin' up to help.

Our family we got in last night is doing well today, their horses are settled in, and so glad to not be in the trailer anymore. They have over 10 acres just for their horses. They got much needed rest. We went and got them horse feed today, gas, and took them to the shelter to get signed up for FEMA.

One of Hopeful Haven horses got cut today(Haley) and I spent some time at the vet getting her sewed up. Our vet is going to treat all the disaster horses that are injured here at no cost. Along with a few of her other vets in the North West Louisiana Veterinary Association so we have free vet care here for the horses that need it. Our vet took Ralph the Rooster home. I felt she should name him Rooster Coggins.

Once again, we are accepting donations on the HOPEFULHAVEN.COM website. You can donate there on the paypal link. We need donations at this time to help with gas. Also, I would like to take this time to thank those of you that have already donated. Bless you 1000 times over!!!! You also will receive a tax donation paper from us. All donations are tax deductible.

No horses will be released to just anyone that we take in. These horses will be logged in. Foster homes will have to show ID also to verify you are who you say you are. Horses will be identified by chip #, brand, and tatoos. Horses that don't have these will be housed at the arena facility. Our goal is to keep horses and their owners together here and to reunite horses with their owners. I just could not imagine a nights rest if I didn't know where my babies were. We have Noah's ark here. A saddlebred, an arabian, a QH, a Paso Fino, a mini donkey(Mikey), a goat that thinks he's a horse. A shihtzu, a bassett hound, an iguana, and a brown throated conure. Also a rooster and a hen. (Blackjack and Millie) You thought I was kidding about Noah's ark? The boat is in the driveway. They would all have to go in it.

I am going to get some much needed rest earlier tonight because tomorrow is going to be a bigger day. Love to all of you and God Bless. Pray for the horses.

 They're now set up for donations at HopefulHaven through paypal.

There's more of her e-mail at Red Hot Cuppa Politics, http://cuppapolitics.blogspot.com. I'll warn it's a conservative political blog, but I promise that the livestock updates are totally non partisan, and I have been posting updates there every day on how the livestock rescue's going.

Incidentally ... I collected Thursday for LoneStarEquine, who is also working in the area. Somebody asked me if LSE was doing anything about horse slaughterhouses. I've checked. They are. There are some good links from the website, but it might be on the back burner for now.

In other soapie news ... Grapevine Open Market will be closed this week, for Grapefest. I'll be back a week from Thursday, with all the wonderful soaps.

Now, on September 24th, I'll be in a craft show at the Methodist Church in Grapevine. If you can bring me a Wife of Baths card or bag, I'll give you a discount on a wonderful bath product!

See you next week.