I think that Pip and Caper are cute. In fact, I think that they are unbearably charming and handsome boys. But, in the world of miniature dairy goats, they’re average. Can you believe it? I know this because there are a blogs out there that post photos of their off-the-charts adorable goats. Minter Bay breeds goats that are black and white and have blue eyes. True. Just take a look at Cora Belle. Then there are Cudzoo Farm’s mini-Alpine dairy goats. Check the farm’s goats for sale page, where there are no goats currently available, but there are photos of some of the cutest babies ever. It’s a good thing that there are not any for sale. I want one. Or two. What Sarah at Cudzoo Farm does have for sale are soaps, made from fresh milk from those very same beautiful goats in the photos on her web site. She very nicely sent me a bar of Dirty Pig Soap for my own personal use. Sarah says there was no hidden message in that selection. She also sent me three bars to giveaway to one very lucky winner.

Her soaps are as pretty as her does! (Even the pig soap is attractive, but you don’t get to see that because I’ve already used it.) To enter, simply take a look at her soaps here, and then tell me (in the comments below) which soap is your favorite. It’s an interesting selection. I’m intrigued by the soap with jewelweed to soothe poison ivy. Luckily so far this summer I’ve avoided getting a rash. But I haven’t avoided working in the garden in the heat and humidity. Dirty Pig soap is exactly what I needed!

Contest fine print: If you are a FaceBook reader, you must enter here, on my web site to win. Please don’t leave your entry in the FB comments section. But feel free to spread the word on FaceBook! One entry per person, and my international readers are welcome to enter. The contest will close on Monday, July 23 at 7 am. The winner will be selected using a random number generator.

UPDATE: the contest is closed and the winner is Cady!

Are there any images of chickens more charming than those found on mid-century tablecloths? I think not.

Just look at the crazy patterns and colors. Who can resist an avocado green hen? Not me.

Or a lemon yellow chicken squawking about her egg?

I’ve seen this exact same expression on some of my hens!

So much personality!

And drama!

There’s a lot of chicken love on these tablecloths.

As I said, they’re as charming as can be, but even better with goats.

At the turn of the last century poultry shows were prestigious affairs. It was where farmers learned about new breeds, and it was where  “the fancy” strutted their stuff. Hundreds and sometimes thousands of birds were put on display. Even Madison Square Garden hosted shows.

The show in Springfield, MA stretched on for four days!

Along with the ribbons and trophies (of which I have a collection – this one is in my kitchen)

exhibitors won prizes, everything from subscriptions to poultry magazines to chicken tonics. If you were successful, you could recoup your expenses and even turn a profit. At the Springfield show, the best of all of the awards was offered by Ivory Soap.

In today’s dollars, that is about $450.

I wonder if this promotion was successful and if there was a jump in sales amongst the poultry set. It sure makes me want to go out and buy a box. (Does anyone else remember making snowmen out of the flakes?)

Betsy could use a bath.

But without that $450 incentive, I think I’ll leave her be.

I enjoyed reading your entries and finding out what you’d put in the bag. So many of you mentioned my favorite things – farmers market produce, kittens, knitting, crafts, books and beach towels, art supplies and dog treats – no wonder you all log on here, and no wonder that I have such a good time writing to you!

But, there is only one winner and that person is “Stephanie in AZ.” She’s going to put the makings of a chicken quilt in it. Stephanie, email me your mailing address and I’ll get the tote out to you. And send me a photo of the quilt when it’s finished!

Even if you didn’t win, you can still have a chicken feed tote bag. There are bags on etsy.com. I even saw bags for sale at the Brimfield Flea Market!

Totes at Brimfield Flea Market

I sometimes have bags for sale. I’ll be at the Carlisle Farmers Market on and off this summer with the bags and other things. (Tomorrow I’ll have canning jar vases brimming with hydrangea flowers.)

If you can sew a straight line, you can make a tote yourself. The pattern that I use is one that I came up with. I started with an illustration in a Japanese craft book on how to make bags (all in Japanese!) and then there was trial and error to work with the material and my sewing machine. I don’t think that I’m the best person to teach bag-making skills. But, Backyard Poultry Magazine has directions here. It’s not how I do it, but it looks sensible enough. Instructables has directions for how to make one with a lining, and a more basic bag. Let me know if you start sewing them up!

Yesterday I went back to Brimfield, but the cast iron rooster had been sold.

This is the windmill weight that got away.

A windmill weight is a classic piece of folk art. It had a utilitarian purpose, which was to balance the machinery on windmills. It was a functioning piece of a ubiquitous part of the American farm landscape. A big hunk of cast iron could have done the job, but instead local iron mills made them in the shape of cows, roosters, and even squirrels.

There were large, commercial foundries that turned out thousands of these, local companies that made hundreds, and once in awhile one was crafted on the farm where it was used. The best windmill weights have that folk art aesthetic of whimsical and yet modern. The weights were out in severe weather and show their age and the hammering of elements.

A few years ago there was a spate of articles about windmill weights in the shelter magazines, and prices skyrocketed, the best examples going for thousands, and a more common weight still reaching $1,000. The one that I didn’t snatch up was was priced at only $250. It might have been the best deal at Brimfield. But it might have been a fake.There was something about this one’s patina that looked off, and the booth had other repros so I didn’t trust the dealer.

I’m not sorry that I passed on it. Nor am I sorry that I didn’t bring home the chicken taxidermy.

But I do wish that my kitchen had room for this.

I should have brought this home to go in the basement next to my husband’s vintage arcade games, but I didn’t splurge on it.

However, I didn’t come home empty handed. I bought a few vintage postcards. You’ll be seeing them here.

Reminder –  the Tote Bag Giveaway ends tonight! Have you entered and shared on FaceBook?