Yes, I'm materialistic!

It’s going to sound trite or materialistic to admit that I have a few “things” or material possessions that I really love because someone special made it, or a unique material or process was used, or because the craftsmanship and material are special.

For example, Garland Rice, retired Polk County High School construction teacher, made me several oak tables from a piece of red oak that came from Deep Gap, a secluded range of small mountains that sleeps between Cooper’s Gap, World’s Edge, and Edneyville, NC. I used to live there in an 1864 farmhouse—middle of nowhere and lovely, dark, and deep. Every time I prop my feet on the big table, I think about this place.

Also, I love the simple design of the sturdy tables,

and appreciate their primitive elegance.

Bartering is common with us, so Garland traded wood for wild game. Garland never does anything halfhearted. I know this because I listened to his students who so admired him and his passion for teaching them the value of using their hands and their brains.

I love his tables (can’t call them “coffee tables” because it sounds too trite, cliche, mundane.

It gets pretty intense around the table. Tonight we're playing a

word game Apples to Apples,

and Lyndsey is losing because Cole is getting outside the box.

I love my candleholder handcrafted by a local forest ranger and wood craftsman. It is a work of art.

He also makes the most beautiful wooden bowls, using local materials from my neck of the woods. The candle holder looks great beside Cole’s hand-gathered and handcrafted antler lamp.I know Dan, his wife, and his daughters. In fact, I taught his girls in high school. I love the passion he has for his craft. I hate to love “things,” but I do. If you want to appreciate his talent, visit his website Dan Loudermelt’s Tree Treasures.

I love Jody Durham’s soy candles. Jody searched for the highest quality soy, and tested and poured before he settled on his recipe and ingredients. I know Jody, Deanna, and their 2 daughters. In fact, I taught both of them in high school.

When I light one, the wonderful scent is enhanced by the craftsmanship that goes into each of them. Check out his new company Small Time Candles. Tonight, the Clean Cotton scent is working nicely, as Cole made us dinner by tenderly sautéing some fresh fish (ok, he rolled it in cornmeal and fried it to a crisp with a side of Heinz ketchup, filling the kitchen and living room with a “cooked,” heavy smell). Jody is a creative photographer as well. One of his photographs is particularly unforgettable. I’m not sentimental about weddings, but this photo from his gallery is unforgettable—the bride almost disappears into the clouds. Symbolism and metaphor abound. I love this photograph.

When I visit Julia and Stan Yoder’s Open Road Coffee in Tryon, I feel good somehow, because the owners are genuine—they love their shop.

You can just tell—the handcrafted chocolate sauce that goes on my mocha latte, the homemade pastries…the coffee is awesome, and even better because the Yoders smile a lot, because their children are often nearby, because the greet their customers with genuine interest. Once I get my smooth coffee, I can sit on the outside patio, inside, or step on over the New to You Re-Use It Shop. I’ve got several handmade scarves I love. Yes, they’re flattering, but better yet I can imagine the crafter mulling over colored streams of soft cotton. There’s lots of brand name clothing that is mildly worn, and I often get some great finds. My sister and I fought over this gladiator outfit just last Saturday.

It might be great to wear on family night while we watch Troy, Gladiator, 300, or Titus Andronicus.

My student Hope’s apple pie creation is almost too good to eat, but after some pics and accolades, I sent it on up to M & M in Hendersonville (one slice missing), as I knew this would add some discussion to the regular lunch break.

Supposedly, someone said, “This %@$# pie looks too good to eat…this %@$# pie is the best I’ve ever eaten.” Hope’s pie is both—tart, tasty, tantalizing. I say sell them on her college campus and pay for tuition.

Whether or not you appreciate traditional Moonshine, you might appreciate the craftsmanship the artisan used when he hammered out the Dark Corner Distillery copper still. It is something to see. Joe and Roxanne have taken care with the design of their store--copper patina walls and all. By the way, Joe is a former student of mine. The ambiance suits the product and the tradition. Beautiful place.

When I buy local, sometimes I know the person and about his or her life. I buy from people I like and admire. I buy for their commitment to their craft, their creativity, their work ethic. Sorry, but mass-produced feels sort of like the emptiness of a gift card—that generic, androgynous, safe choice—nothing personal. Most people who handcraft their wares usually enjoy the process. Everything can’t be handcrafted by an artisan, I know. But, that is the reason I have an attachment for some things—because someone “studied” it, or worked, then stepped back, evaluated, and took up the “tool” again—someone contemplated…

PS. Sorry about the font; it is defying my commands.

Warhorse Increases Manufacturing With Recycling, Re-Purposing, and Kind Friends

THE WARHORSE gets a new soap pot!

Warhorse Solutions' glycerin, natural soaps are dark--Appalachian Amber we call it. Since we use the refined glycerin byproduct from our biofuel process, the oils are dark as the temperatures are hot, hot. We do not dilute our soaps with water and then thicken them. We don't dye it with Titanium Dioxide, and we don't use sulfate detergents for artificial suds. We use A LOT of glycerin and soap. Sulfates can dry and irritate the skin. The high glycerin content keeps the skin moist AND effectively cleans. It appears that many people embrace our dark amber soaps, so we are increasing our production capacity--in other words, I need a bigger soap tank.

Since our little company is growing, it was time to get off the Red Oak firewood and onto biodiesel and a bigger soap cooker. I'm a bit tired of dodging smoke from the fire, shifting my stirring position depending on the wind, and my boat paddle is tired. So, after badgering Carl that I needed a more efficient process, he started "studying," reading about biodiesel burners. Expensive to buy a manufactured one. So, as Carl usually does, he talks to Bob Russell, to Steve, Larry, and Tony Hyder, and to Casey Thompson, a Hyder son-in-law. After a few trips down to the Dark Corner, Carl had a plan. What's great about having friends who can make anything, who have a wealth of knowledge, and who embrace hard work, they can help you get things done--they're all blue collar engineers, got the knowledge and the hands to make it happen, much like my husband Carl.






Be Kind Solutions' new soap burner is made from a recycled oil furnace burner. Carl got a used one from John Foy at All Seasons Heating and Air. BINGO! John put a new burner nozzle on it and a few other parts. John was kind enough to just charge us for the parts--$25.00. Thanks John.


Carl built a firebox using firebricks and fire clay and bolted on the recycled furnace. BINGO! I owe him $187.00 for the bricks--got to sell some soap. With some copper tubing and wiring, I've got a more efficient method of refining my glycerin and making WARHORSE Cleaning Soap, Paws to Palms Pet & People Soap, WARHORSE Leather Gel, and be kind's body washes. Now, I can use our biodiesel in the furnace burner--a sustainable and "green" biodiesel burner. The firebricks contain the heat, and the thermostat keeps my temps where I need them. It burns about 3 quarts of biofuel an hour and puts out lots of BTUs. Very efficient. Thank you, Carl.

Next step is getting a bigger soap tank. Shopped for used ones on Craig's List, Ebay, and equipment manufacturers. Family friend Rick Pate of Green Creek and Chemway let the dogs out to sniff one up for me. Found one with 4,000 gallon capacity--not there yet. Whew! Pretty expensive, even the small ones. We knew there had to be a steel tank somewhere that we could recycle and re-purpose.

Bob Russell--my biodiesel mentor, our diesel mechanic mentor, our organic blueberry and raspberry supplier--suggested we check out the Russel Diesel Shop collection of "dead" tractor trailers long since put to rest. We drove our '81 Chevy Luv Diesel on over and found several steel tanks that might work. BINGO!

We loaded up our recycled and re-purposed steel 160 gallon diesel fuel gas tank, which came off a diesel dump truck. Our good friends The Dark Corner Hyder brothers gave us their suggestions on the best way to make my new soap cooker. Carl "studied" on it for a while, and today he took it over into the Dark Corners for some welding and remodeling. Casey, Dink Hyder's son-in-law, who's getting pretty close to living off the grid, is handier than Carl is with a welder.


Casey and Mindy are very industrious. They installed and use a wood burner that heats their house and water. Pipes are buried and carry temperature controlled heat into their house. It doesn't burn much wood, as it is choked way down.










Mindy and Casey don't sit down much, as their two daughters keep them busy. Plus, they are on the lookout for sustainable ways to live. They have just started a new batch of dibs so they can continue getting their fresh eggs.






And, Carl and I passed along the biodiesel lifestyle
to Casey. He has just built his own processor
and made several "perfect" batches. Just like us
he and Mindy realize making biofuel is a lifestyle--getting dirty, being outside in cold weather, and ALWAYS
tweaking the system. Like the rest of the Hyders, these two industrious people built their own home. Add the chickens, cutting firewood, making biofuel, bear hunting--plus Mindy is a RN at Spartanburg Regional and Casey works with Hyder Farms--no body is just chillin' in this household.








Casey gets to work on the WARHORSE soap cooker.

























As you can see, once Casey got finished with the basics, he got a little creative and put the WARHORSE on my soap cooker--permanently. Mindy drew him on with chalk and BINGO! I owe Casey and his wife Mindy A LOT of my WARHORSE and glycerin body soaps. I'll be making a Dark Corner delivery soon! Thanks to both of you. Sit down and rest a spell. You deserve it. Casey really likes WARHORSE's Blue Musk Glycerin Body Wash

Once Carl brought the WARHORSE soap cooker home, he still had to weld a motor on top with an agitator to keep the glycerin and soaps moving during the refining and cooking stages.



As soon as Carl got the WARHORSE out of the back of the truck, I checked it out and decided to remove the last bit of gum from the inside.









I really like the new tank--my labor should go down, and my capacity increase. The ball lever valve on the bottom will be soooo much easier than hand bailing out the soap. Whew, one thing down and another to tackle. "Hey Carl, I think I need a bigger distiller." I better give it a rest.