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One soap to clean everything? It may sound too good to be true, but savon de Marseille style soaps have a long history of doing just that! It is time to revisit this centuries old product that fits perfectly into a modern, eco-friendly, zero-waste lifestyle. Join me as we explore its history & many uses.  Photo from marvellous-provence.com A traditional, hard soap crafted from olive oil & salty sea water, this style of soap has been made in the south of France for over 600 years. It has been used to clean everything from infants to kitchens, stone floors to laundry, & is one of the most gentle, moisturizing soaps made. Cut in large, square blocks, the soap cubes are meant to be grated or rubbed to use rather than picked up as you would traditional bar-soap. In 1688, Louis XIV set in place regulations limiting the use of the title “Savon de Marseille,” defining it as a soap made of at least 72% olive oil with no animal fats, & so began the proud tradition of stamping the cubes.
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 In this house, we look forward to peony season every year. Classic peonies, tree peonies--all colors & sizes, these gorgeous flowers fill our gardens with beauty & fragrance. We cut them by the armful & bring them indoors to fill that space up with their beauty & fragrance too! One of my favorite ways to enjoy peonies is to make jelly with them. That's right! Not only do they smell great--they taste great too! The jelly is almost as beautiful as the flowers themselves, & it is a fun & tasty way to stretch out your enjoyment of these fleeting beauties. This year, peony season was delayed greatly by the cold, wet Spring we have had here in midcoast Maine. As a matter of fact, the bulk of my pink peonies have only just opened, which is really unheard of being that it is July 2nd! I had been holding out for the pinks & was only just able to make our jelly for this year. You can make peony jelly with any color petals, but I prefer to use the pinks as they make the MOST AMAZINGLY colored jelly, as you will see as I run us through the whole process.
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Meet the Centuries-Old, French Cleaning Classic
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AuthorMy husband & I were blessed with 2 beautiful girls. When I was diagnosed with MS, I couldn't keep up the pace working retail. We decided on a simpler life, built a cabin in the woods, & moved to mid-coast Maine 
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In the Smitten Barn - 2 Hodgdon Street - Damariscotta, Maine 04543