Tuesday, March 20, 2012

This morning I had 3 of the grandkids here.  I decided to work on a rug since I can stay in one place an keep an eye on the monkeys.  Madison is a big help in handing me strips - keeps me from having to keep reaching for them.  I got up to go get something and came back to this:

Madison loves to "make rugs."  She has a specific protocol - she has to have her shoes on (which for some reason she skipped in the above picture). 

We have about 6 weeks until the Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival so I have to close in on finishing up any soap we want to have for sale in the next 2 weeks.

Nothing gets me out of a funk like making soap. Today I decided to do something fun and make cupcakes. Madison and Claire love soapie cupcakes.  I made a batch scented with Fairy Tales.

I also tried out a new scent.  I purchased it for my brother-in-law to try.  I'm not sure if it is a scent I will keep.  I'll post a pic of it cut up tomorrow.  We'll see how it goes at the Syrup Festival.  I swirled with with black which morphed to dark green - go figure.  I will probably call it Praire Moon. 

I also packaged the County Fair this week.  Packaged other soaps last week.  Should be pretty well stocked up for soap for the syrup festival.

Word of the day:
Tuesday of the Fourth week of Lent
Saint(s) of the day : St. Joseph Bilczewski, Bishop (1860-1923), St Maria Josefa of the Heart of Jesus, Religious (1842-1912)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 5:1-16.

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep (Gate) a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes.
In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled.

One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be well?"
The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me."
Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk."
Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked. Now that day was a sabbath.
So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat."
He answered them, "The man who made me well told me, 'Take up your mat and walk.'"
They asked him, "Who is the man who told you, 'Take it up and walk'?"
The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there.
After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, "Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you."
The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well.
Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Madison and Meghan were here today. When Madison is here, she always checks the spot where I set new soap and she discovered a new batch of Honey, Oats, and Milk. She loves to hold a cupcake and sniff it. It's very comical because she does this many times during the morning. This morning she went home with another couple of bath fizzies to share with Meghan Mae and a packet of peanut M&Ms to share with Mama and Daddy.

                                     
I cut yesterday's batch of Cider Mill and I'm planning to make some Pumpkin Spice soap later today. The house smells sooooooo good right now.  Here is the cider mill.  It looks a bit different from the last batch.

             

Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Twenty-third week in Ordinary Time
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 6:20-26.

And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.
But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.

Monday, July 18, 2011

I worked in the basement for quite a while yesterday. I love packaging items and I lost track of time. When I came upstairs I thought it looked like it was going to storm because it was dark. And then I looked at the clock. It was after 9:00!!
I packaged up the Chai Tea and the Christmas Tree soaps and candles.

Word of the day:
Monday of the Sixteenth week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St. Frederick, Bishop and Martyr († 838)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 12:38-42.

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."
He said to them in reply, "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here.
At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

First of all, today is the birthday of my beautiful second born child - Melisa! We will be celebrating tonight.

This morning I went for a run and then made some Apple Jack 'n Peel soap.  Mmmmmmmm.  It smells like Autumn in here.  I love Autumn.  I actually love every season in its turn, but since I have to do Fall soaps during the summer, I am able to enjoy two seasons at once.

Got another order today, this one from Etsy.  We are starting to get inquiries about Christmas stockings and I've had a couple of orders so it looks like the stocking season will be starting early.  :)

Word of the day:
Thursday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St. Pantaenus, Father of the Church, (+ c. 216), Bl. María Romero Meneses (1902-1977)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 10:7-15.

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.
Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words--go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.
Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Well , I didn't get everything on my list done yesterday. The laundry is still waiting to be folded. And I didn't get any stockings made. I did get a batch of Peppermint Bath Fizzies made.  I also had enough left over to make some foot soak fizzies.  Remember the blueberry fizzies I made the other day.  Pftttt!  They fizzed on me. 

Today I made a batch of fizzies scented with Honey Blossom.  They smell wonderful.  I got a lot of packaging done and some things listed on Artfire and on the website.

Word of the day:
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - Solemnity
Feast of the Church : The Sacred Heart of Jesus, solemnity
Saint(s) of the day : Bl. Antonio Rosmini, Priest, Founder of the Institute of Charity (1797-1855), St. Gal, Bishop (c. 489-553)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 11:25-30.

At that time Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

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.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Sigh - so many fun things to do - so little time.
We had a craft show yesterday.  We weren't expecting much in the way of sales - especially when we got there and found out that there was a rummage sale in the middle of the room.  But, it was a fundraiser for the Senior All Night party and I am a big proponent of the young folks finding a nice place for fun where they will be safe and watched over.  I'm such a mom.  LOL!  I talked to one of the moms today and the kids exceeded their fundraising goal by $100 dollars so that's good.  We enjoyed visiting with the other crafters, too.  We're not all that well known in Alma, so it's also good exposure for us.

I never posted the wedding cupcakes that I made so here's a pic of them.   They haven't been unmolded in this picture.  I'll post another one tomorrow so you can see what they look like.  Michelle, of Sweet Scents Soaps posted a great idea about packaging these which I will also take a pic of and post.

I snagged Anna to help me with a haul video on You Tube.  I ordered some things from Kris at Kayorcee Creations.  The soapmakers on You Tube are a fun group - very supportive of each other.  Here is the video Anna and I did.  If you get a chance, check out Kris' shop and her videos.

Word of the day:
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Saint(s) of the day : St Isidor the Farmer
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 10:1-10.

Jesus said: «Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.
But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.
But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers."
Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep.
All who came (before me) are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day!

We won't be doing anything until this evening when the kids come and then we will fire up the pizza oven.  Yummmmm!!!  So I am using this afternoon to get caught up on some housecleaning.  This week I have to do 150 more little soaps for the GOTR gift bags.  Tomorrow I have to do 2 batches of soap for a lady who is getting married in June.  She wants them for favors for the wedding party.  Those are going to be fun, but I want to make sure that I have stuff picked up around here so I can enjoy the process.  I will be making 10 cupcakes for the ladies, and 10 slices of soap for the men.  Anna is making special labels and I am really excited about doing them.  They have to be done tomorrow so they have time to cure before the wedding


Word of the day:
Third Sunday of Easter
Saint(s) of the day : St Victor
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 24:13-35.

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus,
and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.
And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,
but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?"
And he replied to them, "What sort of things?" They said to him, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him.
But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place.
Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning
and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive.
Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see."
And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!
Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.
As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther.
But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.
With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.
Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?"
So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them
who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!"
Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

I'm a little over half done making our little soap hearts for the GOTR gift bags. Anna made the labels, and Melisa is putting them on the little packets. I will drop these off to her in a little bit. We are supplying about 600 this year. Whew!!!!

A few days ago I made some soap with a scent we are calling Primitive Pear. The scent is very hard to describe. It reminds me of something I can't quite name. I really like it. It has pear notes in it, but there is something else in the background.  When I swirled the mica, it immediately turned greyish purple.  Now it has a green cast to it, kind of like ripened pears. There are also some green dots appearing that I'm not thrilled about.  I made a loaf and several cupcakes.

Melisa and Anna have told me that they don't really like the heart-shape on the cupcakes.  I'm not sure why - I like them, but I am out voted 2-1 so I guess I will switch to round cupcakes.  What do you think?

Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Second week of Easter
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 3:16-21.

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Tonight, with the Mass of the Lord's Supper, we will officially end Lent and begin the Sacred Triduum - the three most holy days of the church year. My tradition is to join the St. Mary's school students at their Holy Thursday Retreat. I love to watch their faces as they re-enact the events leading up to Good Friday and Easter. Holy Week is a very trying, taxing, and busy week, but I love it.

I listed the new Honey Blossom Soap in our Etsy shop.  I really love how it turned out and it was a joy to cut it with my new cutter.  Nice even slices - Ahhhhhhhh

I can't wait until things slow down a bit.  I have a ton of ideas I want to try.

Oh, and in other news, there will be another Sugar Bush baby arriving in early December.  Melisa and Justin are expecting.  Claire and Clayton called to tell me about it and they are VERY excited.  They have been having a ball with their younger cousins and I am sure they will be a very big help to Mommy and Daddy.

Madison and Meghan were here yesterday.  Meghan is really growing fast now.  I see big changes from one week to the next.  Yesterday Madison arrived at our house with a new hat.  She just cracks me up.  Her favorite thing to watch at our house is "Froofy."   (Max and Ruby)

Don't forget about the fantastic giveaway that our Etsy team is having!!  The winner will receive everything shown in the display at our team blog!

Word of the day:
Holy Thursday
Saint(s) of the day : St. Anselm, Archishop an Doctor of the Church (1033-1109)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 13:1-15.

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.
The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper,
fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God,
he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist.
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later."
Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me."
Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well."
Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all."
For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he saidjavascript:void(0), "Not all of you are clean."
So when he had washed their feet (and) put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you?
You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet.
I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Yesterday I received a fragrance oil order that I have been wanting to try. It's a dupe for Lush's "Honey, I Washed the Kids." This fo is named, "Toffee Sugar Crunch." but I don't smell honey or sugar or toffee in it at all. I mean, usually my sniffer can pick up even subtle notes. The scent is pretty, but not foodie. So I'm wondering if I wasted the bubble wrap technique on this scent. Anyway, here is the result.  The soaping went wonderfully.  The loaf gelled, which surprised me.

I had some pink dollops left from the Fairy Tale batch so I topped a few cupcakes.  I am much more confident with my piping technique now.

Here is the loaf this morning.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  The honeycomb looks really nice.  I'll cut it tonight with my new cutter.  I had said that it was coming yesterday, but I forgot that I had received a delayed shipping notice on it.  It should be here today when I get home from the Cathedral.

Word of the day:
Tuesday of Holy Week
Saint(s) of the day : St. Elphege, Archbishop and Martyr (954-1012)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 13:21-33.36-38.

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, «Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.»
The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant.
One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side.
So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant.
He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to him, "Master, who is it?"
Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it." So he dipped the morsel and (took it and) handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot.
After he took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."
(Now) none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him.
Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or to give something to the poor.
So he took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.
When Judas had left them, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
(If God is glorified in him,) God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once.
My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, 'Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you.
Simon Peter said to him, "Master, where are you going?" Jesus answered (him), "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later."
Peter said to him, "Master, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times."

 

Saturday, April 16, 2011

This morning's funeral was one of the hardest I've had to do in a long time.  The kids were troopers and I had 4 students come over to help with the music.  As long as I didn't look at the parents, I was okay, however during Communion one little girl walked over to the red casket and just stood looking up at Owen's picture.  I had to look away.  I can't imagine the kind of pain those parents are going through.

Tonight we had Palm Sunday Mass.  It went well, but we had to have a short procession because of the rain.  Tomorrow the choir will be there. 

Here is the Fairy Tales soap cut up and also the 3 cupcakes I made.   I listed the slices on Artfire and it has had 14 views already!!! 

Word of the day:
Saturday of the Fifth week of Lent
Saint(s) of the day : St Engratia, Virgin and Martyr and Eighteen Martyrs of Saragossa (+ 304)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 11:45-56.

Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him.
But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, "What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs.
If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation."
But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing,
nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish."
He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,
and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.
So from that day on they planned to kill him.
So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.
Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves.
They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?"