Busy Fall Days

Fall will officially be here on Monday and with it comes some rain. It has been hot here the past few days - in the 90's - and I want cooler weather. Next Monday and Tuesday I get my wish because it will be rainy and in the mid 60's. Just the kind of days to nest and get some Fall decorating done. I saw pumpkins at the store on Monday - excitement! Can't wait to get some.

I have been busy making soap and finally got my inventory all caught up plus two Fall scents. Everything had gotten so behind when I was moving around all the over the place this summer. Bazaars will start next month and I'm so looking forward to that. I love doing bazaars. It's not even so much about the money but being in the pleasant atmosphere and seeing the treasures of other artists. Of course, I need to sell something so that I can visit booths and buy from other people!

Thank God for His many blessings this past week. My friend Kim had surgery to remove a cyst from her breast and is doing just fine. My brother's surgery went great and he was home the day after. It amazes me someone can have surgery on their spine and be home the next day! His walking is almost normal and the feeling is starting to come back in his hands. Daily blessings of shelter, food, dear friends, and the basics of life. God is good and life is good!

Stephany is in her 3rd week of high school and doing great. She hates getting up so early but said she truly does love being back in school. She is such a social butterfly and loves being around her friends. Homecoming is 3 weeks away and she was lamenting last night that she has not been asked to the dance yet. I don't think it's so much about the date but about the cute green dress that she saw at the mall!

An Answer To Prayers

My brother just called me and he does not have MS!! Praise God!! He has a herniated disk in his neck which is pinching nerves and causing his hands to be numb and difficulty walking. He will have to have surgery but, considering the alternative, he is perfectly happy to have it.

Thank you all for your prayers! I know they helped.

This news just made my day!

Sunday Ramblings

We had a wonderful Sunday although it was hot - 90 degrees! I hope that's the last of it. I was just outside (it's 9:15 pm) and it's still so warm. But you can sure feel Fall in the air in the mornings.

I made a batch of Chai Tea soap this afternoon and just got done cutting the Pumpkin Spice that I made last night. My house smells like Fall for sure! I even had to spruce up my blog for Fall today. Can you tell I'm anxious??

Just put in a couple of loads of laundry. Steph is at a friend's watching a movie so I have to go pick her up. Then we have to go through all the school paperwork and get ready for another week. The first bell rings at 7:25 so our alarm goes off at 5:15. It takes that girl an hour and a half to get ready! I keep hoping she'll get faster in her morning preparations but I don't think that will ever happen. It's been too long ago since I was in high school for me to remember if it took me that long. It probably did.

We lived right across the street from the high school and I could see the kids standing outside waiting for the first bell. I could hear it ring and then I'd take off across the street. I can't use the "I walked 5 miles to school in all kinds of weather" story with my kids. They just laugh at me.

Occasionally I look at real estate in my hometown of Virden, IL. About 2 weeks ago I saw that the very house I lived in across from the high school is for sale. My mama and daddy paid $5000 for that house in 1965. When Mama died in 1970 Daddy sold the house for $8200. It had 2 bedrooms, 1 bath (a big old clawfoot bathtub), living room, and kitchen. The people that own it now have added another room on the back and also a 2 car attached garage. It looks completely different. They even took off the front porch and moved the entrance to the side of the house. The asking price now is $69,900. I just think of how fun it would be to buy that house!

I hope that you all had a great weekend!

Pumpkin Spice Soap

I made Pumpkin Spice soap tonight. My house smells so good! It's in the oven baking away for about 2 hours. I'll be able to cut it late tomorrow night. I'll post pictures on Monday. Tomorrow will be Chai Tea - that's a good one too.

I just love Fall and all this comforting spicy scents!

Fall Is Here!

Well, Fall is officially here. I went to Walgreen's tonight and found Brach's Mellocreme Pumpkin Candy! I love these! Of course I had to buy a bag. My hips don't need them but they sure taste good!

Gone Too Long

Every day I think I need to post on my blog. Then the day slips away and I didn't get it done. The last time I posted was 8/22! That's way too long to be away.

I've been making a little soap - Blue Bonnet and Cottage Rose. I got my order of fragrance oils this past week so I'll be doing more soaping soon. Including Pumpkin Spice for Fall. It smells so good! And it's time to start making lotion bars again. I don't do them in the summer because they don't ship well in the heat - they would be a puddle by the time they got to their destination.

School starts for Stephany next Wednesday. She's a freshman in high school this year. She had her orientation last Thursday. When she came home I asked her what she thought. All she could talk about was how big the school was - 500 kids in her class and over 2000 in the school. The town I grew up in IL only had 3200 people. Her school is almost as big as my hometown. When I told her there were 80 kids in my graduating class she just laughed.

We've put off school shopping due to finances but will be able to do some shopping on Tuesday. I love school shopping and so does Steph. Luckily we're past the "clothes wars" years so it really is a pleasant experience.

I'm still looking for work. With the economy like it is the jobs are not as plentiful as they were. I've been on several interviews but no offers. Luckily I'm still getting unemployment and can get a 13 week extension. That will help greatly. And I'll just keep plugging away - there's not much else I can do. God has a plan!!!

My brother lives in IL and is 9 years older than me. He called me today to tell me that he has MS. His hands have been numb for about 3 months and they were treating him for carpal tunnel. Then he started having some problems walking so the doctor ordered further tests. He has an MRI on Wednesday to confirm the diagnosis. There are medications out there that can help with the symptoms so hopefully he can get on something soon.

I would sure appreciate your prayers for my brother and his family as they travel this journey. We don't know what the future will bring but we do know that God is leading. I'm praying that he will regain the feeling in his hands - that seems to be the symptom that is bothering him the most right now.

I've also been watching the TV on and off today about Gustav. I have lots of online friends that live in the area that will be hardest hit. Some of them have left but a few are staying to ride it out. I've been praying for them, for the other people who live there, and for the emergency crews. It sounds like this is going to be a really nasty hurricane.

Giveaway at Aunt Jenny's World

Aunt Jenny is having a giveaway of one of her beautiful hand embroidered tea towels! I have several and they are gorgeous. This one won a blue ribbon at the county fair.

You've got until Wednesday, 9/3 to leave a comment and be entered. Just click on the picture to visit her blog.

Fun Day

I went to Portland to pick up some soap supplies today. I need to get busy because soon it's going to be bazaar season and people will be Christmas shopping. I have my first show on September 27th in Portland. I got invited by the local Craft Mafia group and it will be held in the Secret Society Ballroom. I looked at pictures on the website and it is a beautiful, old historic building with wooden floors and red velvet drapes. I can't wait.

Here's a link if you want to take a peek for yourself. http://www.secretsociety.net/

I ordered from a different supplier than I usually use and it was the most pleasant experience. They have a very small warehouse and office. He and his assistant were so friendly. I asked if I could smell their lavender essential oil so she took me out in the warehouse. While I was there she showed me all around and I got to sniff and touch and try things - coffee butter, lavender butter, tangerine butter, and organic shea butter. Then she sent me home with a small chunk of raw cocoa butter - it smells so good that you just want to eat it. I put it on a little dish by my sink and will rub it on my hands after doing dishes. I'll definitely be getting some of that when my cocoa butter supply runs out. And I will definitely be buying from this supplier again - probably just so I can have another tour of the warehouse!

Tomorrow I'm helping my oldest daughter move - not fun! But Sunday I will get to make soap so that will make up for the hard work on Saturday. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

HELP! I'm Melting!

It has been so hot here!! 102 on Thursday, 100 yesterday, and 100 today - the first time we've had that many consecutive days of 100 degree heat in about 20 years.

I've been doing nothing but trying to keep cool. Luckily we have air conditioning and I've been hibernating as much as possible. But I still feel tired from the heat. It's even too darned hot to make soap - now you know it's hot!

Tomorrow it will be 90 and then down in the 70's for the rest of the week. Back to normal - YEAH!

And that's the weather report for Vancouver, WA. Tune in tomorrow, same time, same station!

Pineapple Blossom Soap

I know that I should be thinking about Fall soap scents but it's just been too darned hot here! I need something fruity and refreshing to finish out the rest of summer.

If pineapple flowers had a scent this would be it! A beautiful tropical medley of island flowers and fruits with a juicy top note of the freshest pineapple you've ever smelled! This soap has become an instant hit around our house - especially with the teens. I wish the picture was scratch and sniff!

These bars are larger than I usually make them and weigh 5 ounces each. They are listed in my Etsy shop and will be in my Ebay store later tonight.