Monday, March 31, 2025
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Honeybees Getting Water
Honeybees don’t collect just pollen and nectar, they also need water. We put out this re-purposed chicken waterer and put small stones in it to keep the bees from drowning. I think they like it!
Friday, March 14, 2025
Todays' the Day! Rusty Truck Vintage Market!
Today and tomorrow, the Rusty Truck Vintage Market in the Expo Building at the DuQuoin State Fairground. Today 4:00-8:00 (don't worry, it's before the weather comes), and tomorrow 10:00-4:00. I've got some really neat woodworking pieces for you, and if you're looking for soap at this show, we're set up right next to Meadows Bluff Farm, who have some fantastic goat's milk soap. So stop on by and let me know you're following us on social media. Looking forward to seeing you!
Monday, March 10, 2025
Sunday, March 9, 2025
The Branch Cafe & Market
Town Square Market has closed their old space and moved into the same space as Longbranch Coffee Shop. The businesses have reopened as The Branch Cafe & Market. We are still a part of this, and you can find us just inside their back room, immediately to the right as you go through the door. We have a brand new display, the better to show off all your favorite soaps, lotions, lip balms, etc. So stop on by the Branch (I have to get used to saying that now!), 100 East Jackson Street, Carbondale, the other end of the block from where they had been.
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Maple Syrup Festival
Coming up soon, the Maple Syrup Festival at SIU's Touch of Nature in Makanda is always a great time. We'll be back this year with all of your favorite products.
Monday, March 3, 2025
Spring Shows
We’re branching out this year as John showcases his woodworking at a number of different shows. Not to worry, Ruth & John will still be together at our usual events (and maybe some new ones!), but it seems a good time to try some new things. Here are the shows we have coming up in March and April.
We begin the year with John going solo to a new show for us, the Rusty Truck Vintage Days at the DuQuoin Fairgrounds. On Friday and Saturday, March 14-15, John will have all his woodworking at the Expo Hall.
On March 22-23, we return to the Maple Syrup Festival at SIU’s Touch of Nature. We will both be there with a full range of all our products. This is a fun show with a pancake breakfast, forestry demonstrations, live music, a climbing wall and more. This is a great chance to get out, enjoy the woods, and stock up on your favorite products.
Another first-time event with the wood products is the Spring Spectacular Craft and Garden Market. This show will be Saturday, April 5 at the Event Center in Murphysboro.
We are delighted that our woodworking will be on display at the Oak Street Art Fair in Murphysboro on April 26. This show gets better every year, and we are looking forward to being a part of it.
These are just the first of what promises to be a very busy season. Keep checking back for more detailed information on each show as we get closer to each date. And we will have more shows added to our schedule as they get confirmed. We’re looking forward to seeing you!
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Saturday, February 22, 2025
New Cherry Wine Rack
A new wine rack just out of the wood shop, this one is cherry with green epoxy accents. It holds four bottles of your favorite wine. It measures 24”H x 19”W x 6 3/4”D.
Monday, February 17, 2025
Leucistic Cardinal
We like to feed the birds on our back deck in the winter. We have big glass doors so we can watch them as they feed. A couple of weeks ago we saw this little fellow come up. This is a leucistic cardinal, a cardinal with abnormal pigmentation. It’s not sick, it just has differently colored plumage.
Sunday, February 16, 2025
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Monday, February 10, 2025
Cherry Charcuterie Board with Green Epoxy Resin
We will have some announcements of upcoming shows, some of them new to us, before long. In the meantime, here’s a large cherry board with green epoxy resin, 16 x 10 1/4.
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Leucistic Cardinal
A couple of cardinals on our deck: the one on the left is leucistic, meaning it has abnormal pigmentation. It’s not sick, it just has differently colored plumage. Pretty neat, huh?
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Rusty Truck Market Days