Tallow Trouble, Veterans Day, Olive Oil Magic, & Black Friday!
POSSUM FOX BACKYARD GOODS
November 11, 2025
Dear Friend,
It goes without saying that the worst things happen at nighttime. For some of us, it’s dreams or nightmares, for others, the harsh reality of something forgotten that comes to our consciousness, causing us to sit bolt upright in our beds with dread. So was my experience in the wee hours of the morning. I threw off the covers, shoved my feet into slippers, and made my way like a drunk to the kitchen to witness what I feared I would see. And sure enough, there it was.
White billows of tallow had boiled over from the crock pot on the counter and streamed downward to form lumpish swirls all over my kitchen floor. I was horrified! I quickly switched the setting from low to warm, squinting to read the tiny labels. I lifted the lid and saw most of it had boiled out.
Oh, the woes of human error! I wasn’t looking forward to calling my daughter, Rose, our alchemist. Thankfully, she understood the trials and tribulations of tallow making.
Today I am working busily at home, rendering two crocks of new tallow. And you better bet your britches I’m watching it closely as I change the cat box, walk the dog, work in the yard, clean off the deck, clean the house, and catch up on my writing. Wait a minute, I need to set the timer!
Happy Veterans Day!
Today, we pause to honor the brave men and women who have served our country with courage, dedication, and sacrifice. Because of your service, we have the freedom to dream, to build, and to grow — including running a small business like ours and serving the community we love.
At Possum Fox Backyard Goods, we’re deeply grateful for the generations of veterans who have protected the ideals that make this nation strong. Your commitment allows us to do what we do every day — gather, create, and celebrate the simple joys of home and backyard life in a free country.
From our family to yours, thank you for your service and your sacrifice.
— The Possum Fox Backyard Goods Team
Black Friday Sale!!!
Put this one on your calendar, folks, because this sale is going to blow your socks off!! All of our most popular products and gift sets will be BUY 1 GET 1 FREE for the ENTIRE BLACK FRIDAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND! You heard that right. Get your Christmas shopping done for half the price!
Keep an eye out for a shopping page on our website, coming soon.
This is a sale you won’t want to miss. Give the gift of 100% all-natural skincare at half the price!
Olive oil, nature's potent elixir…
With the onset of winter comes cold, crisp air that noticeably dehydrates the skin. Before I started using tallow skincare, I noticed winter’s drying effects on my lips and face, as well as my arms and legs. My skin pulled together, revealing more lines and wrinkles, and my legs felt dry and itchy. To combat winter wrinkles, I turned to tallow with organic extra virgin olive oil, which is my favorite line of defense.
Since I visited the Durant Olive Mill in Oregon and, most recently, the Texas Hill Country Olive Company, I’ve been reminded of the outstanding benefits of organic extra virgin olive oil as a moisturizer that nourishes and protects the skin. All of this is due to its antioxidants, vitamin A and E, and healthy fats that hydrate, improve signs of aging and wrinkles, and help soothe skin disorders, including sunburn, eczema, and acne. In addition, it supports skin cell regeneration and repair, helping heal damaged areas. Olive oil deeply feeds the body as both food and beauty.
It wasn’t until I spent some time in Italy that I fully realized the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil. People lived noticeably longer, healthier lives. I learned the beauty secrets of the ancient Mediterranean peoples, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians.
Greeks and Romans were known to bathe in olive oil lather, using a strigil, a small, handheld, curved blade, to scrape it off. Some scented the olive oil with perfume before bathing.
Cleopatra, while bathing, was known for using olive oil on her skin and hair. The Egyptians, in particular, placed a high value on beauty, especially silky smooth skin.
Whether drizzling our salads and meals with extra virgin olive oil or applying it topically, our bodies receive powerful nutritional benefits inside as well as the same antioxidant and hydration benefits when applied on the outside.
My favorite go-to olive oil hydration therapy is Winter Balm, our tallow moisturizer for winter hibernation. What I love about this moisturizer is its ability to keep my skin hydrated and supple, leaving it soft and smooth for a good time. As a body cream, I use it on my face daily, as well as my arms, legs, and anywhere I feel dryness. The moisturizing effect is instant and refreshing.
Winter is a joyful time of the year with holiday festivities and merrymaking. Remember to feed your body the health benefits it needs to make this season the most wonderful time of the year
"Beautiful skin requires commitment, not a miracle."
Savory Chicken Marbella
Ingredients:
6 bone-in chicken thighs
1/2 cup Lemon Infused Olive Oil
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup prunes, chopped and pitted
1/2 cup green olives
1/4 cup capers
5 bay leaves
1 head of garlic
1/4 cup oregano
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup white wine
1/4 cup flat-leafed parsley, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
Create a brine mixture by combining lemon-infused olive oil (can use a good EVOO with grated lemon zest added), vinegar, prunes, olives, capers, bay leaves, garlic, oregano, and salt & pepper.
Add chicken to the brine mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Place chicken in a single layer in a glass baking dish.
Carefully spoon the brine all around the chicken, careful not to cover the chicken.
Add white wine, and sprinkle each chicken thigh with brown sugar.
Bake for 35-45 minutes, until there’s an internal temp of 165 degrees.
Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
PS…if you prefer to leave the brown sugar out, you can do so, and it will be a bit more savory.
Have a cozy week and stay toasty warm. Enjoy this ‘falling into winter’ photo…
The Possum Fox Family