Moving On
My siblings and I are clearing out my Dad’s house. Dad has moved and the house contains so much stuff… drawers and cabinets filled with near-ancient things, closets full of clothing and shoes, newspaper clippings, books, photos. We’re coming across things from years back that he has used practically forever; amazingly, most things still function, although a lot worse for the wear. We’re sharing stories and laughing about private family jokes; it’s a time for transition and reflection, looking at what works in life and what doesn’t. One thing for sure, Dad didn’t spend money on fancy gadgets, he kept things simple. If it performed well and got the job done, there was no use chucking it.
As we have sorted through, we found a slide ruler, and I called dibs on Dad’s old wooden folding “tape” (I always wanted to play with it when I was a kid, but I knew I’d best leave it alone for fear of breaking). And then the kitchen ware; we found tried and true cast iron skillets, dishes that have stood the test of time and are now “collectables”, real silverware, old tea kettles, a simple ice cream scoop, a hand-powered juicer, and oh my gosh, even a wooden washboard and wash tub–no thank you, I’ll take my modern washer and dryer.
But you know, even though things have changed, these precursors to “modernity” assisted in a job well done. The reasons were quality, function, design, appearance… a complete “package” of sorts that simply did what it was designed to do. Yeah… that’s where I’m headed… J.R.LIGGETT’S Shampoo Bar. An old-fashioned concept wrapped up in a modern package. A well-designed, well thought out product that fills the bill, that gets the job done without a lot of bells and whistles. Not a lot of fanfare or fancy foot-work, just a down to earth shampoo that makes it happen. That’s all it needs to do! Leaves your hair clean, shiny and healthy without added strange, unpronounceable chemicals. Doesn’t harm the environment, no plastic bottle to add to the landfill, easy to transport, mild enough for a body soap, shaving cream, wash out a garment, wash up a dish…
J.R.LIGGETT’S has withstood the test of time. And even though this shampoo bar could stand chest puffed out and all proud and smug-like, it’s really not necessary, cause quality stands for itself–it makes it own statement; it just keeps on keepin’ on…
We could have found a bar of J.R.LIGGETT’S amongst Dad’s stuff (actually, I found two bars that I had sent him), because you don’t throw out something that works… You keep it, you use it, and you tell others about it… just like I’m doing. Will you tell others too?
Joy Richter ©copyright 2012 J.R.LIGGETT LTD
The photo above: No, not Dad’s house. Located in the Mira Valley, outside Ord, Nebraska. I’ve passed by this house for years and finally stopped and nabbed some shots.
Back to School… Take Action Now!
It’s not a pleasant subject, but the reality is, back to school can mean thousands of children being exposed to head lice. Children by their very nature love to play closely with other children–rolling around on the floor together, heads close to one another as they work on projects, and eagerly sharing one another’s hats and caps. Parents dread the idea of receiving that letter from the school nurse stating that a case of head lice is going around school, or worse, your own child has lice. Years ago, my own child came home with ’The Letter’–turned out she had nothing more than a mild case of dandruff, but it’s tough not to panic as the idea of “what now?” is foremost in your mind.
For several years mothers, the media, school nurses, and entomologists have been reporting that many head louse populations have become resistant to the chemicals used to treat them. Preventive treatments with anti-lice agents are not recommended and can lead to illness and persistent itching.
Permethrin and Lindane are insecticides used to treat head lice infestations. The success rate of Permethrin has dropped, and Lindane, which is toxic to humans, has been known to cause seizures, and temporary paralysis. Lindane has been used both as an agricultural insecticide and as a pharmaceutical treatment for lice and scabies. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Lindane as “moderately hazardous”.
Taking into consideration the information I’ve come across on the Internet about the chems used to treat head lice, I’ve wondered if there isn’t a more natural, safer, and simpler way to attack this plague. Do it yourself treatments use plant oils such as olive oil, eucalyptus, tea tree, geranium and lavender, which make the hair shaft slippery and difficult for lice to cling to. The aromatic properties of these oils also repel the lice. It sounds to me that if possible, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” should be our modus operandi here. Obviously, we would caution our children to refrain from sharing hats, caps, combs, hair bows, etc., but are there any other precautions we should be taking?
J.R.Liggett’s Shampoo bars have for years been touted as a real preventative for these tiny nasty creatures. It has to do with the natural vegetable oils, olive, castor, and coconut oils in a non-detergent base that the head lice don’t like. All six different shampoo bars that J.R.Liggett offers, contain olive oil, coconut oil, and castor oil. The Tea Tree shampoo bar formula works well for dermatological issues, and the Ultra Balanced shampoo bar is unscented. We recommend using these on your children’s hair before they get infected and they will stand a good chance of coming through the season with out a single “nit”.
Over a year ago, a user of J.R.Liggett’s shampoo bar left a Facebook comment referring to being proactive in preventing head lice: “We learned our lesson last year–the hard way–twice! Thanks to your shampoo Jim, this year we’re A.O.K.!
Joy Richter ©copyright 2012 J.R.LIGGETT LTD
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Once Upon A Time
“Once upon a time, Americans enjoyed hard work…” So goes the title of chapter three in author and artist’s Eric Sloan’s book, Once Upon a Time-The way America was. What admirable attributes did previous hard-working generations have? Yesterday, my husband and I had the privilege of watching reenactments of various elements of life and labor on a farm as it would have been just a mite over 80 years ago. As I watched the men working on that hot day, I realized the drive and determination these folks had to possess to make an everyday living and to put food on the table on a daily basis. I thought to myself, those old farmers knew how to work… and how to live.
Steadfast, generous, truthful, with good morals and integrity. They showed thriftiness, making do with meager possessions, passing them down, and wearing them out. For the most part, a person stood strong through the trials of life, sharing their abundance (or in many instances, their “hardly enough”) with those who had less or none. A person’s word was a contract; folks knew dishonesty was not only downright wrong, but they also knew lies could ruin a family’s reputation for future generations… word gets around, you know.
“Once upon a time, Americans were frugal…” Eric Sloan writes; ” Waste was once deplorable, considered bad manners… the mark of a fool and something quite un-American. Nothing, once upon a time, was wasted.” When the recipe for J.R.LIGGETT’S Shampoo Bar fell from that old New England cookbook and fluttered to the floor, a snippet of the honest, hard-working generations of the past stepped into the present. A recipe for washing one’s hair; and after a tad of tweaking and smidge of fine-tuning, an opportunity for you and I to recapture in spirit the ideals of long ago… old-fashioned? You bet! But always in style.
Good and common sense never goes out of style… A mild, multi-tasking shampoo bar, using clean, crystal clear waters sprung from an old earth. Made from all natural ingredients that we can trust not to harm the rivers or streams. Thrifty in form and use; replacing a plastic bottle-filled liquid of unpronounceable chemicals that strip your hair of its own healthy and necessary oils. Handy to use in home or for travel. Wise and wonderful, excellent for a body soap and shaving, this bar rings true and honest, no frills… just hard-working craftsmanship.
For you, for today and tomorrow… grab your slice of the past, the spirit of pride and honesty. Order J.R.LIGGETT’S Shampoo Bar here.
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Joy Richter 2012 ©copyright 2012 J.R.LIGGETT
Stepping back in time just for a few moments…
It was a hot day on the old Plains… here I am tentively petting a horse and holding a jar of homemade wild plum jelly… Yum!
Simple, Old Time Quality
I stumbled upon a few bits of Early American folk wisdom the other day, and remembering how the recipe for what eventually became J.R.LIGGETT’S Shampoo Bar was first found in an old New England cookbook, I thought there might be a bit of interest in how things were done in “simpler” times, although their concept of “simple” is debatable.
“Try the oldest recipe for fine hair shampoo and softener. Just beat up a fresh egg and rub into the hair. It sounds messy and takes four washes to complete the shampoo, but it is effective.”
Four washes? Ummm… I think I’ll stay with J.R. LIGGETT’S Shampoo Bar; not messy at all— save the eggs for breakfast.
“Take an air bath. Benjamin Franklin rose each morning at daybreak, got out of bed and passed half an hour in his chamber without any clothes. This, he said, refreshed as much as a complete bath in water.”
Perhaps in a day and age when you had to haul water from a stream, or use an indoor hand pump, fire up a wood stove, heat the water, and then pour into a large tub; yes, an air bath was easier and better than nothing. Fortunately, in modern times we can be clean, refreshed and moisturized without all the fuss of preparations Early Americans faced. I vote for J.R.LIGGETT’S Foam Face & Body Wash and his Moisturizing Body Scrubs.
Times have changed and J.R.LIGGETT’S has changed right along with it. While the Early Americans may have thought an egg shampoo was the way to go, and a bath sans water would suffice, we now know better. J.R. LIGGETT’S Shampoo Bar is the go-to product for hair, skin, and shaving. It contains such mild ingredients–unlike many products now on the market— a person may very well not even need any added moisturizers. The shampoo bar cleans, conditions, softens (with only one wash!), and is completely bio-degradable. The Foam Face & Body Wash contains natural plant-based oils, and no harsh detergents. All of J.R.LIGGETT’S products are truly an example of “old-time quality in today’s world”.
A reminder: Coming up on March 31, 2012…
J.R.LIGGETT’S is committed to cruelty-free products and has generously donated Fergie’s Dog Shampoo to the Fishkill Cares for Cats event to be held on March 31, 2012 in Fishkill, New York at the Fishkill Town Hall, 807 Route 52. Fishkill Cares for Cats is a community event with music, face painting, humane education materials, balloon sculpting, vendors, food, and raffles. Plan to attend to learn about the over-population of domestic animals, adoption, spay/neuter, animal testing and vegan food options. For more information, please visit this website.
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Joy Richter 2012 ©copyright 2012 J.R.LIGGETT
Old Fashioned?
Mom’s apple pie. Rocking chairs. The Ford Corporation’s Mustang. The ‘Little Black Dress’. What do these have in common? Tried and true. Classic. Longevity. Staying power.
The description, ‘old fashioned’ often causes us to quickly dismiss a way of thinking or an object without even giving it a fighting chance. For others, the term, ‘old fashioned’ brings to mind comforting, fond memories of childhood, family, or a special possession we owned.
When the tattered, ’home-grown’, handwritten Old New England recipe for J.R.Liggett’s shampoo bar first fluttered to the ground from the pages of an old recipe book he had discovered, without a doubt, I would imagine that besides his curiosity, the words, ‘old fashioned’ came to mind. A shampoo bar? Sounds like an odd concept, but upon consideration, an idea that we might quickly and foolishly dismiss, turns out to be quite ingenious.
Made 100% by hand the ‘old fashioned’ way ( I love the hand-crafted evidence on the bar surface–the occasional nick or dent–truly hand-made!), from the meticulous measurements to mixing, heating, pouring, and cutting, J.R.LIGGETTS’ Shampoo Bars have been tried by thousands and found to be true… true to his ‘down home’, ethical, honest business practices, and his philosophy of conscience and integrity—ideas highly valued by our parents, grandparents, and those before them. Values that are still highly desirable and sought-after today. Great values and a strong work ethic never go out of style.
Wisdom, practicality, stretching our dollars… all are closely held beliefs that aren’t subject to trends or fads, they are beliefs that are “in style”. Wisdom is given to those who seek, think, explore, discern, and learn. J.R. designed a small, functional wooden rack to rest the shampoo bar on and to keep it dry between use–no languishing in water to slowly waste away… a practical and useful way to stretch your hard-earned money… to make it go further–for longer.
We are reminded of the familiar adage: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” Old fashioned? Yes… happily and thankfully so.
Joy E. Richter 2011 ©copyright 2011 J.R.LIGGETT LTD
