Thursday, June 15, 2017

Busy day today!  I made two batches of foaming hand soap. We were just about out of both at the store.

Claire and Garrett helped me bake some cookies, but the oven thermostat is wacky and 2 of the batches overbaked.

Made 2 batches of wax melts

I have also been working on a series of Made in Michigan candles.  Hmmmmm, all three involve chocolate.  I am sensing a theme here.

Today's batch was Detroit and the Sanders Ice Cream Shoppe.

Monday was Mackinac Island and Traverse City

I still have 5 stockings to make and 1 stocking for an order.  

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Today Meghan, who is four, and I are working on paper piecing a quilt for the guest room.  This is where the grandkids always stay when they "visit the night." I have a lot of scraps and the girls want to learn to quilt.  Paper piecing is an excellent tool for teaching little ones to make quarter inch seams. The first thing I teach little ones is a healthy respect for the machine.  If you ask them they will tell you that you never put your fingers near the needle - ever.

Please pardon the poor video quality.  I was guiding fabric with one hand and video taping with the other

The pieced block looks kind of wonky 
when it comes off the machine.

We trimmed it up and it looks much better.

After we make 99 of these blocks,
 they will be sashed
and made into a quilt for the guest room.

Another batch of soap has finished curing so I will be packaging that today.  I am in a time crunch to get soap made and cured for our spring craft shows.  Today I am working on the Country Apple soap.  We also list on Etsy so it has to be wrapped and ready today. 

  

Nicola and I are pretty well on target for getting things ready for stocking sales.  The orders start coming in fairly regularly from August until we have to pull our listings.  We have been pulling them in mid-October because we want everything to be shipped out by November 30.   Even though we warn people to order early, it's just hard to get in the Christmas spirit in April.  

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

It's been a while so I thought I'd better update.  October 15 is my annual traditional "start thinking about Christmas" day.  (December 15th is my annual  "wish I'd started October 15th day")

Anyway, things have been hopping here at the Sugar Bush.  The grandkids keep us all busy.  The guys have started the fall harvest, and we are two shows into our fall craft show schedule.  We continue to be blessed by wonderful support from our customers.

The stocking orders are starting to pour in and it's a challenge to keep on top of them.  (A good challenge, to be sure.)

This year we have been experimenting with different fudge flavors - Kit Kat Crunch, Peppermint Patty, Snicker! Snicker!.  (Shown is the Snicker! Snicker!)

 I have yet to make the pink peppermint yet, but speaking of peppermint, I made a batch of peppermint soap last night.  I am chomping at the bit to cut and see the pretty swirls inside.  But when I went to put it on the cutter, it felt soft so I will wait.  I did unmold the overpour, though.

Madison has started pre-school so Meghan is now becoming my Sugar Bush helper.  She is unpackaging all of the bulbs for my lamps.  I ordered her Sugar Bush tee shirt.  She is very excited.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Let's see - what did I do today?
Started off the day with Madison, Meghan, and Garrett.  Never a dull moment with those three around.
First off, the girls turned on the CD player which is, and has been, their custom.  Garrett, who is Claire's little brother, has heard this song before.  So he did his little dance.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Despite the fact that Garrett is a little tornado boy, I did manage to get a batch of chocolate peanut butter fudge made.  I had some help with the testing.  Notice Maddie's ponytail.  That is her 80's look inspired by the Princess Pageant.

Thankfully, Harold made a roast the other day, so I didn't have to worry about lunch.  After the monkeys went hope, I made a batch of Maple Cream Fudge, a batch of Hazelnut Coffee candles, a batch of Country Orange Spice grubby tarts, and 120 more soap hearts for the Girls on the Run race bags.  I have one more batch of those and they will be finished - and none too soon because they have just enough time to cure before the event which will be in Shepherd this year - woohooo!!  Tomorrow Madison will help me package them and put on the labels.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

I can't believe how fast time is flying these last couple of months.  Yesterday was Monday, so that means I made a batch of soap.  Since I am always a season ahead, I have started on the products for our fall craft shows. Last night's soap scent was Enchanted Apple.  It smells sooooo good.  I've also been working on candles and room spray - so the house smells like apples, cinnamon rolls, cinnamon sticks and all those wonderful fall smells!

Last Saturday we had a "Welcome to theWorld, Ben" party combined with a "Congratulations, Jamie" party. We really lucked out with the weather because there was heavy rain in a lot of places in Michigan. It was overcast but only sprinkled a little. It was a great day. We got a 4 generations pic

And an "all the grandkids" pic

 

And a lovely Soule Family Pic

Word of the day: Tuesday of the Sixth week of Easter 
Saint(s) of the day : St Isidor the Farmer 

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 16:5-11. But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. Coming of the Advocate

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

I really hope I am not getting a stomach bug again.  I have felt slightly nauseous all day and it doesn't seem to be easing off. I went to cantor practice tonight and the cold air made me feel a little better, but then the nausea started creeping back in again.  I think tomorrow will be a rest day.

Meghan and Madison were here yesterday.  Madison has taken a liking to the Shirley Temple movie, "Heidi."  This is her version of the Heidi look.  

Actually, she reminds me of when my cousin and I used to play Jesus and Mary.  This looks very much like the "Mary" we portrayed.  And for the life of me, I cannot find the lace table runner that Madison used to create her look. 

The Flyzone this week is the bathroom and one other room.  I really didn't want to do bathrooms today, so I am getting my bins in order downstairs.  I wasted too much time in my day looking for things because they aren't where they belong.  Organizing the bins lets me know at a glance what I have in the way of inventory.  I discovered a lot of soap bars (we have switched to cold process slices) so I spent a lot of the day taking pics and getting them listed on Etsy.

I also worked on some Valentine tea lights.  Tomorrow, if I feel halfway decent, I need to get caught up on stockings.  I should have at least a dozen made by now and I don't.  I do not want to be caught short next fall. 

Oh, and I placed an order on Vista Print for notecards, post cards, shelf cards, and a magnetic sign for the car.  All free except for the shipping which was quite reasonable.

Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Second week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St. Jaime Hilario, Martyr (1898-1937)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 3:1-6.

Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand.
They watched him closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him.
He said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up here before us."
Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

Making Honey, Oats,and Milk Cold Process Goat Milk Soap

I am still queasy about seeing myself on video, but in the interest of showing the soapmaking process, I put aside my misgivings.

Thursday of the Twenty-first week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St. Louis, King of France (1215-1270)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 24:42-51.

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.
Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is long delayed,'
and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

 

Friday, August 19, 2011

Well, Deb E., you have created a mini cupcake monster. I don't know why I didn't try this before.  They were so much fun to do.  I may need to include them in my regular soap routine.  Maybe do 5 large cupcakes and 5 small.  These are just way too cute!!! Thanks for the prodding, Deb.  Of course I will set aside one of them just for you as a thank you.  I also have 3 little granddaughters who will love this soap.  It's scented in Fairy Tales fragrance oil.

 

Word of the day:
Friday of the Twentieth week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St. John Eudes, Priest (1601-1680)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 22:34-40.

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together,
and one of them (a scholar of the law) tested him by asking,
Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?
He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Been doing some of the more fun things around the Sugar Bush. My favorite thing to do is package products. I made a batch of Country Apple Bath Fizzies yesterday and they turned out really nice. I packaged them this morning.

Also, my first batch of soap made with fresh goat milk from Diane Davis is ready to package. It will be fully cured on Monday. I tried a bar this morning. All I can say is OMIGOSH! It is so creamy and nice! This is scented with Raspberry Jasmine Spice.   These would make really cute gifts for wedding or baby showers.

Last night Anna hosted an Album Making Party at her house.  I'm going to use it for Grandbaby pics.  Of course I'll need to make a few more to hold all the pics I have.


Word of the day:
Saint Barnabas, apostle – Memorial
Saint(s) of the day : St. Barnabas, Apostle
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 10:7-13.

As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Here are some things I've been working on.  The picture below is of some Bridal Party Gifts that were ordered.  These were ordered back in May.  There are cupcake soaps for the women and soap slices for the men.  These were done in Lemongrass. 

 Below is a batch of fudge that I made with fresh goat's milk.  The taste is the same, but the texture is much creamier.  I had extra milk this week so I tried it.  I think we may be changing our recipe. 

Remember the batch of Primitive Blessings soap that I did the other day?  Here is a pic of it cut up.  It hasn't darkened yet, but it will.

Word of the day:
Thursday of the Seventh week of Easter
Saint(s) of the day : St. Ephrem the Syrian, Deacon and Doctor of the Church (c.306-373)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 17:20-26.

I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."

 

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Well, I finally got to make soap last night. I made Pumpkin Spice (sorry Deb). I make our Autumn soaps in the summer because our craft show season is insane starting with late September (when the stocking orders begin to roll in too.) I upped the goat milk on this. The lye concentration was 6.5 ounces of water and 16 ounces of goat milk. I put the batch in the refrigerator to keep it from gelling. I took it out this morning and it is really oily. I can't tell if the zap I am getting is from lye or fragrance oil. We shall see. The soap began to heat up a bit after I got it out of the refrigerator. I used no coloring, but swirled it with a cocoa powder mixture. I have used this in bar soap but it did not turn this gorgeous shade of orange. Perhaps the oven processing made a difference in the bars. I love the way these turned out. I am hoping the the moisture really is oil and not something else. Time will definitely tell.

Word of the day:
Saturday of the Sixth week of Easter
Saint(s) of the day : St. Francis Caracciolo, Priest & Co-Founder of Congregation (1563-1608)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 16:23b-28.

On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father.
On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you.
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God.
I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Made soap today. Whew! This one was a challenge.  After I filled the molds, I waited for the rest of the batter to set up. Half an hour later I was still waiting for it to set up.  I tried piping the cupcakes.  It deflated on me so I scraped it all off of the cupcakes - scooped it back into the piping bag and tried again.  What a mess.  But after I unmold everything, I think it will look fine except for one anemic cupcake.  I did this batch in Berry Pickin' because I am out of it.

I think I'm done making soap for a few days.  I'm out of goat's milk and today's session really tired me out.  LOL!  Of course, tomorrow I will unmold it - it will be gorgeous - and I'll want to make soap again.


Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Fifth week of Easter
Saint(s) of the day : St Bede the Venerable, Priest and Doctor of the Church (673-735), St Gregory VII, Pope (c. 1013-1085)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 15:1-8.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.