Daisy Soap Girl

Rising To The Top

2010-04-18T18:02:00.004-04:00

None of us are born knowing everything. We had to learn everything we know, little by little. As a baby we had to learn how to crawl before we could walk. We had to learn how to use a spoon to eat. We had to learn how to tie our shoe laces, ride a bicycle and so forth. Our first attempts at doing all of these things may have led to frustration but we didn't give up. We fell down but we got up. Over and over we tried at tying those laces and finally we figured it out. We kept trying and when we succeeded we were somewhat astonished but very proud of our triumphs.

Now as adults, some of us have lost that ability to see things through to the end. The first time we attempt something that we've always wanted to do and have a problem with it we give up. We look at the people around us who had success with the same thing we tried and think they are smarter or have more talent. We think we will never be like them. When in reality, most of those people were not born with that talent. They had to learn and it took hard work, patience and perseverance. You will never hear them utter the words "I can't".

If you should ever find yourself giving up on your dreams, think again, one last time. Take a deep breath. Remember that old inspirational story of The Little Engine That Could. Try one last time with a different approach. Find out if there is another avenue you can use. Research and read all you can on the subject. You may find something that will give you a better understanding. Take baby steps. Climb the ladder one rung at a time and don't look down. Eventually, you will realize how far you'll come. You will find that you have reached the top. You will be a star!

The Party Is Over

2010-04-11T20:15:00.006-04:00

A year has passed, I had a birthday a couple of months ago and a new decade is staring me in the face. True reflections and changes I need to make in my life don't start in January. I've found that if I'm honest with myself and want to make a serious impact; the new year starts with my birthday.

The truth of the matter is that I don't celebrate for just one day. I celebrate the whole month. Don't get me wrong, I'm not whopping it up going from party to party, toasting myself nor am I eating cake. Most of that time is spent looking back over the past year. Looking at what's been happening in my life and seeing what changes I need to make. I like to think of think of it as a business plan for my life. Things that didn't work for me, I let go and put my focus on the things that add value.

When I revamp and make these positive changes I feel energized. Then its time to put that new energy to work. To celebrate me. To try new things. To do stuff I've always wanted to do. Go places. Meet new people. And, in the process hope that I've become a better person and learned a thing or two.

My New Garden Restaurant

2010-04-03T14:22:00.005-04:00

This Spring I think I'll open a restaurant. It will not be like any restaurant you've ever seen. I'll serve up the finest of foods. All plant based of course, with such delightful dishes that even the most finicky eater will relish with pure joy. There will never be a dish left unfinished. This will be a restaurant that appeals to only a select few and only that select few will be allowed entry. Dinner will be refused to those who don't meet certain requirements. It's a restaurant for snails and slugs, you see.

It has occurred to me that all the flowers and some of the vegetables & fruits I have growing in my garden are the favorite foods of snails and slugs. They seem to share my taste in horticulture choices. I know they must be thanking me profusely for planting such a wide variety of treats. And, a nice place for them to come dine each night.

The first course that I'll be serving early in the season is a wonderful little appetizer that I call Lettuce. The next delightful dish will be the juicy and sweet Strawberry. Then I'll provide them with the succulent foliage of the Hostas and the tender purple flower of the Iris. Later in the year I pamper them with delicate dishes of Daylily, Dahlias, and Marigold. Maybe I'll add a side dish of Cabbage and Gerber Daisy for dessert. I have been told that whatever I do, I should not decorate the restaurant with any type of copper, crushed "eggshell art" or coffee grinds. Nor under under circumstances should I serve them beer. They are especially attracted to that drink and have been known to get drunk and drown in it. And, we wouldn't want that to happen, would we?

Surviving Starbucks

2010-01-14T16:48:00.004-05:00

If you've never been to Starbucks I have a few tips for you before you go. You don't want to get on line and not know what you're doing. There is a special language that Starbucks customers use and the cashiers expect you to use this language in order to keep the line moving. There is a rack in the store with pamphlets explaining the different drinks and how to order but who has time to read this while you're standing in line. I guess they expect you to take it home to study and then come back when you've decided on your drink. It's so much easier if someone explains it to you before hand.

My first order at Starbucks was just a coffee because I didn't know what else to order. The people in front of me were ordering things like Caramel Macchiato, Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte and Green Tea Frappuccino-hold the cream. What the heck were those and what do they taste like anyway? When my turn came, I timidly asked for a small coffee with cream and sugar. The cashier (barista, as I've since learned) promptly informed me that the small was referred to as "tall". When my coffee came it was black, no sugar, I complained and was told that the cream & sugar were at the "fixings" bar near the door. Oh, what an embarrassing moment. Everybody now knew I was a Starbucks virgin and didn't really belong. What a smug look I got from the next person who loudly ordered the Venti Vanilla Latte. I thought to myself, "latte to you too", and walked on over to the fixings bar. The coffee was actually really good and I knew I'd be coming back for one of the more fancier drinks eventually. Then I'd order myself a Venti Chai Latte just like a Starbucks pro, but will refuse to look down my nose at the novice.

Okay, so here are those basic tips to get you started. First there are three cup sizes. The "tall" which is 12 fl oz, the "grande" holds 16 fl. oz and the "venti" hot drinks are 20 fl. oz while the venti cold drinks are 24 fl oz. You tell them what size you want. Then there is the matter of which coffee, tea or other drink you want. You can always order coffee but the fancier coffee drinks are macchiato, expresso, cappuccino, lattes, and various teas, tea lattes and hot chocolate. The cold drinks are the frappuccino coffee and non- coffee drinks, frappuccino non coffee drinks are blended with cream, fruits, vanilla or green tea. You can then customize your drink by having it made with soy or skim milk, having them add protein or fiber powder and flavored syrup. They can add a double shot of expresso, hold the cream or make it "skinny" by using sugar-free syrup. These are a few things that will help with your ordering but please, please remember there is that fixings bar that has the sugar, cream, milk, cinnamon, stirrers, napkins and sometimes powdered vanilla. So get out there and treat yourself to a fancy drink. If I happen to see you there, I'll treat you to one.

Baby, I'm Back!

2010-01-07T14:45:00.004-05:00

Okay, enough is enough! I'm back! For the past few weeks I have been in a constant work mode. First it was the Thanksgiving festivities, then Christmas, Kwanzaa and the backlog of soap orders from regular customers. The work just kept coming and coming. Then the horror of all horrors, not a thought in my head to write about. Not even one tiny Christmas story came to mind, even though I was drowning in Christmas preparations for weeks. Well, that's the way it goes sometimes.

What did I do about it? I just took time out to regroup and connect with my poetic side. And how did I do that? Well wonder of all wonders I went visiting in the Poets Woods! Yes, my good people, there is such a place. We actually found this place while traveling and site seeing in Cape May New Jersey. It's located across the road from a small residential community and is a successful attempt to keep the area free for birds, butterflies and small animals to take refuge. While walking in this natural habitat I almost forgot there was a busy highway only a mile or so away. The only noise I could hear was the joyful song of a few birds who refused to move South for the Winter and the crunch of dead leaves and small tree branches as I walked. It was peaceful and a great place to unwind.

You won't find it on any map nor can you Google it. And I'm sure that's the way the neighbors want it. For now, I think it's enough for them to be able to cross the road and take a leisurely stroll. And just maybe share it with an unsuspecting traveler like me.

The Beauty of Math

2009-12-16T17:14:00.003-05:00

A friend sent me this and it's too good not to share it with you, think about it.

The Beauty of Mathematics
and the Love of God!

The math part is good,but the end is even better.

Beauty of Mathematics!!!!!!!

1 x 8 + 1= 9
12 x 8 + 2= 98
123 x 8 + 3= 987
1234 x 8 + 4= 9876
12345 x 8 + 5= 98765
123456 x 8 + 6= 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7= 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8= 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9= 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn't it?

And look at this symmetry:

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

Mind Boggling...

Now, take a look at this...

101%

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:

What Equals 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they
are giving more than 100%?

We have all been in situations where someone wants you to

GIVE OVER 100%...

How about ACHIEVING 101%?

What equals 100%in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help
answer these questions:

If:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

And:

K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%

But:

A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E

1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%

THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will
get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

If you find this interesting share it with your friends & loved ones.

Have a nice day & God bless you!

Who's Watching Who?

2009-12-09T17:27:00.006-05:00

My husband gave me a fifty five gallon aquarium for my birthday about three years ago. We read all about setting it up, how to adjust the water for the right pH levels, how to take care of the tank and choosing the right fish to go in it. We decided that a fresh water tank would be more practical for our needs, even though the salt water aquarium was prettier. It has turned out to be great fun with only a few blunders.

One of the blunders was that in our excitement to chose fish, we put too many of the wrong types in the tank. The smaller ones were disappearing fast. We kept looking for them, thinking they were hiding somewhere, only to discover that the catfish were eating them one by one. Our brightly colored school of Neon Tetras disappeared in the course of two weeks. Another bad decision was leaving the heating element on in the middle of summer, with the house tightly sealed while we went gallivanting on vacation for a week. Upon our return we found that only three fish had survived. One was an Algae Eater and the other two were Goldfish. We agreed to give ourselves a little time before buying more fish and that agreement has lasted at least two years now.

It has been exciting watching our three little babies grow up. We got them when they were no more than 3 inches long. Now they've grown to well over 8 inches in length. The Algae Eater's head and eyes are gigantic. I've recently moved my computer near the fish tank so that I can enjoy them better. I now find they are the ones watching me, especially the gigantic Algae Eater. He is constantly staring at me with those creepy eyes. I'm beginning to wander if he's curious about my activities or if he's considering me as a source of food.

A Season For Everything

2009-12-02T14:24:00.005-05:00

Things have been quite busy and hectic around me lately. There are soaps, lotions and lip balms to make, label, package and ship. All these things to do, plus writing two blogs, keeping my home fresh, husband smiling and learning the duties of my new assignment to The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild Board of Directors has me checking my To Do List quite often. In the midst of all this, preparing for our annual Thanksgiving trek to our family's home in Virginia didn't seem to be the treat it usually is. There is so much unfinished work to do and I guess I feel a little guilty about it. All in all, we had a great time and it was a wonderful break from work.

So why do I now find myself sitting at my window looking out at the changing colors of the big oak tree in front of my house? There are so many different and brilliant hues of red, orange, yellow and green. It's really pretty but too bad it will soon be bare of all those beautiful leaves. I again look at the beauty of it and then realize that it's actually shedding the old, resting for a season and then reviving itself again for yet another glorious season. And it keeps doing this year after year while at the same time making itself stronger.

Life is like that also. We have our busy times, our quiet times, our sorrowful times, our joyful times and times for renewal. We have to be like that oak tree and change gracefully with each season & time in our lives. We need to embrace each change as a way of gaining strength and endurance for the season ahead. Going with the flow and making a difference when we can, will go a long way in leaving that stress and burnout behind. There is a time for everything under the sun and we have to recognize that. Now that I've had my season of rest and a great lesson from looking at the big oak tree, I may as well get back to work.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T11:00:00.000-05:00

This is my absolute favorite holiday. We're surrounded by people we love, we're counting our blessings and thanking God for His grace and peace. I wish my blog family a Happy Thanksgiving and for you all to have a nice day.

Brown Bag Project

2009-11-20T21:27:00.005-05:00

Bloggers Unite is an online group created to have Bloggers join in a single voice, by writing about things that will make the world a better place. I have chosen the November 21 event Brown Bag Project. The purpose of the project is to raise awareness of world hunger. We are asking everyone to hold a food drive, donate food, money or time to your local food bank, or pack and deliver a meal, fruit basket, etc. to a family in need.

I started my project today, a day earlier, because I will not be available tomorrow. I'd like to share my experience with others so they may be able to avoid the problem I encountered.

There is a food bank several blocks from me that serves hot meals to homeless or hungry people. I thought it would be a great idea to deliver the makings for a salad to the bank. To my surprise, shock and hurt they refused the donation. When I asked the reason, the manager explained that it is their policy to accept food from authorized agencies only. They couldn't be responsible for tainted food. This was hard for me to understand because my donation was clearly factory sealed and not tampered with. She did however, direct me to The Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger, where my donation was gladly accepted. I'm wondering how many other people have had experiences trying to give away perfectly good food and have it refused. And how many people have given up trying to do good things because of red tape and gatekeepers.

The Joy of Making Liquid Soap

2009-11-18T14:57:00.002-05:00

The process of making liquid soap is a bit more complicated than making bar soap but it is far more fun and interesting.
The big difference is that bar soap is made using sodium hydroxide and to make liquid soap you must use potassium hydroxide. There are also more steps involved in making liquid soap but it is totally worth it. I would suggest that you first learn to make bar soap before attempting liquid soaps.

The most interesting thing about making liquid soap is watching it evolve from one stage of cooking to the next. To get things started you must mix your oils and potassium hydroxide as you would for bar soap but in a heated crock pot. You bring it to a creamy consistency (called trace) using a stick blender. After it has traced, you put the top on the crock pot and watch the show begin. Within a 3 to 4 hour period, your soap will change from an applesauce looking appearance to what can only be described as a Vaseline looking appearance. The soap is translucent and ready to be diluted and tested for neutrality. If you get a clear reading on your test results it is now time for the fun part of fragrances, coloring and bottling.

I like making it because I control the ingredients that goes into it and it has a richer and creamier texture than store bought liquid soaps. It also leaves your skin feeling fresh, clean & smooth. I can also control the thickness and divide it into several portions that I can fragrance and color all from a single batch. The formula and ingredients I use for household and body care are different. I always use high quality oils for my body gels and shampoo but for cleaning products I use whatever is on sale at my local supermarket. Once you get the hang of making liquid soap you'll find that the possibilities for ingredients are endless. You can add botanicals, clays, herbs or anything else you desire to your portion. I find that making your own liquid soap is yet another way to make your lifestyle greener.

Remembering Our Veterans

2009-11-10T17:58:00.006-05:00

Tomorrow is Veterans Day, an annual American holiday honoring military Veterans. It is also known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in many parts of the world, commemorating the cease fire agreement between the Allies of World War I and Germany, at Rethondes in France. This took effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.

In my younger years I didn't pay much attention to Veterans Day except as a legal reason to be excused from school and dreaded history lessons. Later, I began to think more about Veterans Day when some of my friends returned from The Vietnam war and others did not. Those who returned often had physical injuries or post traumatic stress disorder symptoms. I remember in particular, a close friend who couldn't watch television programs like Mash or Combat, that were popular in those days. Each time he'd hear machine gun fire, he would shake uncontrollably and stare blankly at the television screen. We learned never to watch such programs in his presence. It still saddens me that those Veterans were never properly honored upon their return home.

It's more heartbreaking today to think that our soldiers who are fighting in Iraq may be going through the same types of situations. War is horrible and we're continually asking ourselves is it necessary. Looking back in history, war has been a fact of life since Biblical times. I guess only God can answer that question. The greatest thing that we as a people can possibly do is support the women & men who support our way of life. And, by giving our heroes & heroines the recognition, honor and respect they deserve.

You can contact the US Department of Veterans Affairs to help do your part at http://www.va.gov and please, pray for peace in the world.

We've Come A Long Way, Baby

2009-11-03T16:11:00.005-05:00

Last month I attended a craft festival where I saw an old fashioned, black & white television set on display. It's so amazing to realize how far we've come. Television was first introduced in April of 1939 at the NY World's Fair held here in Flushing Meadow, Queens, NY. Ten years after that more than one million homes in America had t.v. sets in them. My grandparents were one of those fortunate million.

What good times we had sitting around that little black & white screen watching shows with family and friends who didn't have one. It seemed that the house was always filled with visitors until one by one people bought their own. The grownups liked to watch the Evening News, Jack Benny, Ed Sullivan and the controversial Amos & Andy Show. We children watched Howdy Doody, The Mickey Mouse Club, Capt. Kangaroo and all the westerns, especially Gunsmoke. It never occurred to us that Miss Kitty and her girls were not so reputable; after all, Marshall Matt Dillon loved her and we did too. During the day my grandmother had to catch her soap operas. Her favorites were The Guiding Light, The Secret Storm, As The World Turns, Search For Tomorrow and the mysterious, The-Edge-Of-Night. I liked the way the announcer always paused between each word and the graphics that turned from daylight to dusk were so cool. I thought it incredible how Grandma always managed to do her housework and still keep up with all the people in her shows.

Those were the good old days. There were no remote controls, except us children, who were often called from our play just to change the channel. Funny, how we all liked watching the same shows with no arguments. There wasn't much variety like today's programming and we only had three major stations...ABC, CBS and NBC. Now, some seventy years later, not only is there a t.v. in every home but more than ever a t.v. in every room. The closest we ever came to seeing a reality show was when we heard those famous words...Smile, you're on Candid Camera. My, how things have changed!

Pumpkins And Squash Are Gourds, Oh My!

2009-10-27T16:51:00.004-04:00

When people think of Halloween the things that come to mind are ghosts, goblins, witches and yes, pumpkins. To me the pumpkin is the ultimate Halloween symbol. Personally, I no longer celebrate Halloween but I do love to carve myself a cute Jack-o-lantern, so off I went to get a pumpkin.

While at The Farmers Market choosing my pumpkin, I noticed that they were next to the gourds. I casually mentioned this to the grower/seller and we had a nice conversation about gourds. He told me that the pumpkin is a member of the gourd family which also includes squash, melons, cucumbers and of all things loofah. Well, being a soapmaker who uses loofah in my soaps, that got my attention. I couldn't wait to get home to look it up.

I found out that the loofah is indeed from the cucurbitaceae family. All this time I thought it was some sort of sea sponge. In actuality it is a plant seed pod and grown in the ground. Imagine that! After it has been harvested and dried, the outer shell is soaked and peeled away, leaving a cylindrical sponge that houses hundreds of seeds. These sponges are durable and have a multitude of purpose. They are use as packing material, padding for pillows, mattresses and to scrub everything from dishes to delicate skin. In fact, they are mostly known for their exfoliating action in keeping our skin clean and smooth. And all this I learned from just going to the market to buy a pumpkin for carving!

Climate Change

2009-10-15T01:24:00.001-04:00

I've noticed that our winters here in New york are becoming less and less severe. We don't get nearly as much snow as we once did. The spring flowers are starting to show their heads earlier and have began to appear in February instead of mid March. My Morning Glories, which are supposed to be annual flowers in our area are now returning as perennials. At first all of this seemed very nice. We didn't have to shovel snow as much. And, who can resist the flowers blooming as a suggestion that spring is on the way, but I have come to realize that this is not a good thing. It is all due to Global warming.

Global warming is a term that's been in the news lately and for good reason. The climate is changing rapidly and it's having an impact on all of us. Global surface temperatures were first measured in 1850 and have been increasing ever since. Twelve of the last 14 years have been the hottest on record. According to scientist, the global average temperature is expected to increase by 0.2 degrees Centigrade per decade over the next two decades. It has been observed that glaciers are melting in many places across the world. This is putting people at risk of floods, which could reduce our crop yields, thereby jeopardizing our food production. We Humans caused this by the Greenhouse Gases we produce in our daily living habits and by the amount of fossil fuel that's used. If we don't take some action to stop it or try to control it, our way of life will be dramatically changed. Our children's lives and that of the earth will be in grave danger.

There are ways we as individuals can make a difference. We have all started to recycle and that's good but if we go a step further by turning off lights when we leave a room, using energy efficient appliances, compact fluorescent bulbs, collecting and using rainwater for our plants or to wash the car. Speaking of cars, we should car pool, take public transportation or get healthier by walking or riding bicycles. We should consider vacationing in our own country or closer to home, reducing the amount of red meat and dairy that we eat. Lowering our heating bill in the winter by wearing sweaters, and washing our clothes in cold water would save us money as well as conserve fuel. Give a small native tree as a gift to be planted in someones yard. Trees use carbon monoxide and puts oxygen back into the air. These are just small things to do but every little bit helps. It is our responsibility to do our part in saving our planet. So would everyone please jump on board and do a little something for our earth.

Deer On A Brooklyn Street?

2009-10-13T01:21:00.003-04:00

Atlantic Avenue is one of the busiest streets in Brooklyn, stretching from one end of town to the other, yet in a corner garden on the corner of Hoyt Street, there is a community garden with deer living in it. Yes deer, but these are no ordinary deer they are sculptures and this is no ordinary garden with vegetables growing in it. It is a shade garden, a sanctuary that's a welcome site in the middle of Downtown Brooklyn's Boerum Hill section of the Borough.

The garden established in 1975 is one of the oldest community gardens in Brooklyn. It's 25' by 50' space was developed by The Hoyt Street Association, a group of neighbors and merchants who live and work in this quaint, well cared for community. It is maintained by a team of local volunteers called The Green Team, who plants, waters the flowers and makes sure that it's kept clean.

When you walk into the gated garden and look to the left, you'll see a large mural painted on a wall of a building that shelters the garden on one side. It's a painting of a large tree and adds a bit of coziness to the area. There are two large trees in the garden, one is an oak and the other is reported to be a species of meta sequoia. The ground is not covered with grass but has lovely cobblestones, designed in a sort of circular pattern of paths leading to several park benches. The center of the cobblestone circle is an area that's used for activities such as storytelling. There is an annual plant sale whose proceeds are used to help fund projects for the Boerum Hill community.

The park is not normally open to the general public but when it is, you can go in have a seat or admire the deer and the scenery. Most people get pleasure from walking by and looking in for a few minutes. It is certainly a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of the traffic on Atlantic Avenue.

Red, Uhh Purple, Hot Chili Peppers

2009-10-06T17:58:00.004-04:00

It was raining cats and dogs but we were determined to be at the hottest Fall event of the year in Brooklyn. What could be hotter than The Annual Chili Pepper Festival at The Brooklyn Botanic Garden? Nothing I tell you, and nothing could keep a hot pepper aficionado away their beloved treat, especially me. I love peppers, but not too hot, medium spicy is good enough for me and this years event didn't disappoint.

They had hot smoking bands with names like Paprika, Red Baraat, Pistolera, Lost Bayou Ramblers and Nepo Soteri & Asante performing on The Cherry Esplanade Stage. Yes, we were dancing in the rain. There were vendors under canopies handing out samples of hot sauce, pickles, chutney and one vendor handing out sugar concoctions, some of which were in the shape of a chili pepper and I"ll call incredible edible art. You could watch chefs prepare fabulous dishes, some cooking in clay pots and you could get yourself inked at The Chili Pepper Tattoo Parlor. At the gift shops they had T shirts, pepper plants, posters, books and other "chili" items for sale. Needless to say my shopping bag was full of "hot" stuff.

I enjoyed every wet rainy bit of it but the best part was when I got to ask the real live Chili Pepper Lady some questions about the purple pot of peppers I purchased. Whew! say that fast five times. Yes it is ornamental but contrary to popular belief it is not poisonous, pungent but quite edible. Yes, it is rather hot. But if I must have a bite of it and find my tongue is on fire, my eyes popping out and sweat pouring from my face, there is a remedy. No, not fanning my mouth, or drinking something sweet, or eating bread or drinking tomato juice. We all know that drinking water seems to make it worse, so enough now, what can I do? Well, scientific research points to drinking milk, yes milk. They say that milk and milk based products contains the protein casein which unbinds the capsaicin (pepper) from the nerve receptors on the taste buds. So, go much away but make sure you have a glass of "hot" chocolate milk to cool down the fire. On second thought, I think I'll have a glass of regular milk or two on hand just to be on the safe side.

Light At The End Of The Tunnel

2009-10-01T19:09:00.003-04:00

Last week we took a much needed trip to the country for a break. It was good to have nothing more to do than look at the grass grow. And that we did! You may think this is nuts but we actually watched as a wasp dragged a dead spider across the patio floor and to his nest on the ground. We watched a flock of geese that was headed south for the winter, land in an open field to rest for the night. The night before our trip back home, my sister in law pointed out four deer that were standing at the edge of the woods. It was such a lovely trip.

The drive home was equally nice. That is, until we approached the Holland Tunnel coming into New York. Horns were honking, people cussing and cutting each other off to get to the Easy Pass Line and the never ending traffic. When we reached the expressway leading to the Tunnel, I noticed the glorious New York Skyline and skyscraper buildings in the background. But, I also noticed the horrible gray smog that enveloped the city. The sun was shining but it still looked gloomy. And oh my goodness, we were driving right into it!

By the time we drove into our driveway my spirits had drastically change. I don't know if I had vacation lag or if the air was affecting me but all of a sudden I felt so tired. It was only four o'clock in the afternoon but I had to take a nap. The next day was no better, I slept late and couldn't seem to muster enough energy to do much of anything. This morning I decided to sleep late again but the sun was shining in my window and the birds were chirping to merrily for me to stay in bed. I think they were trying to tell me something. After finishing my daily chores, I thought it would be the perfect time to go to the park and commune with nature. As I was enjoying my walk in Central Park, my mind went back to the birds outside my window and how they were having a wonderful day in spite of the smog. It was nice how they managed to discover a little bit of country in the midst of a large city and be joyous about it. And I just realized the same thing for myself. Everybody can't be a country bird we need some birds in the city too. Next time I'm feeling gloomy about the smog I'll just think about the birds and remember that Central Park is my own little light at the end of the tunnel.

Sweet Basil's Song

2009-09-22T22:37:00.006-04:00

Now that Fall is here my mind has turned to harvesting the bounty from my garden. I grow basil every year but this is the first year that it has grown really well. It was so bountiful that I had enough to share with neighbors and also to experiment with some new recipes. Usually, I don't post recipes, but I found the following dessert recipes to be a refreshing change from the standard basil pesto or basil tomato sauce. Enjoy them, using this basic syrup recipe. The syrup can be used to add flavor to tea, fruit salad, mojitos and adds incredible taste to ice cream.

BASIL SYRUP
Ingredients:
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 cup (well packed) basil, chopped
Instructions:
In a saucepan combine the sugar and water. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring to help the sugar dissolve. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and add the chopped basil leaves. Cover and let sit for at least an hour. Strain the syrup thru a mesh sieve, discard the leaves and place syrup in an air tight container. Will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.

BASIL LEMON GREEN TEA
Ingredients:
4 cups boiling water
3 green tea bags
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup basil syrup
the zest of 1 lemon
Instructions:
Place tea bags in boiling water and let steep for 5 minutes. Take tea bags out, add sugar and stir until well blended. Add basil syrup, lemon zest and serve over ice cubes when cooled.

FRESH FRUIT SALAD
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh peaches, peeled and sliced
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup kiwi, sliced
1 cup basil syrup
basil leaves for garnish
Instructions:
Place peeled and sliced peaches, blueberries and 1/2 cup kiwi in a large bowl. Pulse 1 cup basil syrup and 1/2 cup sliced kiwi in a blender until kiwi is blended. Pour mixture over fruit in bowl and toss gently to coat. Serve with basil leaves as garnish.

BASIL MINT MOJITO
Ingredients:
8 fresh basil leaves
8 fresh peppermint
8 tsp. natural raw cane sugar
1 tbsp lime juice
4 tbsp basil syrup
1 cup light rum
1 cup sparkling carbonated water
4 peppermint sticks
4 to 6 cups small ice cubes
Instructions:
Crush basil leaves, peppermint leaves, into sugar & lime juice using a mortar & pestle. Pour rum, basil syrup, 2 cups ice cubes and contents from mortar into a shaker. Shake vigorously for 3 seconds then pour equal amounts into 4 tall (12 oz) glasses half filled with ice. Fill each glass with 2 oz sparkling water. Place a peppermint stick in each glass.

For basil Ice Cream, you can simply pour basil syrup over vanilla ice cream but if you're in an adventurous mood, the following recipe is a great taste experience.

BASIL ICE CREAM
Ingredients:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 cups half & half
1 tbsp honey
1 cup sugar
1 cup fresh basil
2 tsp. lemon juice

Blend basil leaves and sugar in blender until sugar turns green and basil leaves are chopped into tiny pieces. Add remaining ingredients and blend well until mixture is light green in color. Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions. Take mixture out of machine and freeze for about 30 minutes. Enjoy an incredible taste experience.

A Cool Cat

2009-09-14T18:19:00.006-04:00

Someone who was to become one of my very best friends, was rescued from the subway train tracks by a Transit Police Officer friend of mine, and his partner. They couldn't find a proper home for her so they phoned me to ask if I could watch her overnight until they found someplace suitable. My first thought was that I didn't feel like being bothered but they assured me it would be okay, so I relented. The overnight stay turned into a permanent one and Elizabeth, the kitten became a loyal friend.

She grew into a lovely cat and provided me with moments of joy, laughter and sometimes anguish. I made the horrible mistake of buying Fancy Feast gourmet cat food as a special treat and that was all she would ever eat. She would leave the other cat food in her bowl all day, choosing to starve instead of eating it. And then when I did stock up on her favorite Fancy Feast flavor of ocean whitefish she suddenly refused to eat that, insisting that her new favorite was now the turkey flavor. She would however, eat the white part of boiled eggs when I chopped them up for her. One of the most hilarious things was to see her racing to be by my side whenever she heard me in the kitchen operating the can opener. She loved to drink the water that I drained from the tuna. She liked to sit in front of the TV watching Michael Jordan and trying to grab him from the screen as he played basketball. Okay yeah, I definitely understood that and kind of cheered her on! She proved her loyalty and sensitivity when she found me sobbing on the couch after a breakup with a boyfriend. She jumped on the couch and snuggled close to me, which made me cry even harder. It proved to be very healing. The next day I rewarded both of us by sharing a slice of the famous Junior's Strawberry Cheesecake with her.

Elizabeth was with me for about four years and left as dramatically as she had come to me. I lived in an apartment complex that did not allow pets. When my apartment came up for the required three year inspection for repairs, I made arrangements for a friend to keep her for a couple of hours. My friend thought it was a good idea to take her out of her carrier box while transporting her in the car. Elizabeth became even more frightened and jumped out the car window. We searched everywhere but was never able to find her. I am hopeful that some nice family is taking care of her because she is a very cool cat.

The Dancer In Me

2009-09-08T12:29:00.003-04:00

For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to become a dancer. Not a ballet type dancer but a dancer who focuses on the creative interpretation of music. One who makes up her movements according to the music in her ears and in her heart. I envisioned myself twirling across the stage in colorful silk costumes, expressing my feelings, pretending to be Katherine Dunham, Martha Graham or Isadora Duncan. And I did it. For a while, in a modern dance group at my high school. Too soon that dream went into another direction.

As life would have it I moved on to other things. In my time, dancing wasn't considered something you could actually earn a living from. For the sake of becoming a productive human being, I conformed to the standards of society and put my dreams and dancing shoes aside. I went to college, got a job, retired and now here I am back at the same crossroad, wanting to become a dancer again.

But this time I'm a different kind of dancer. Yes I still dream of dancing across the stage, I still listen to the music in my heart and create my own steps but I do it in another way. I dance to the creative world of soapmaking and a business owner. Orchestrating my moves, practicing and rehearsing my steps to boost my performance, overcoming challenges by changing directions with the movement of the economy and by giving my audience an award winning performance, so that I can receive that standing ovation. I enjoy this and to me it's just like dancing.

Help! My Soap Is Sweating!

2009-09-02T14:40:00.004-04:00

Even though the sky looked ominous, there was no sun in sight and a forecast of possible showers; we packed up the soap display baskets and headed for the farmers market in time for the eleven o'clock opening. I barely had time to setup and make a few sales before the sky opened up and rain began to fall as if there were no tomorrows. The only solution was to cover the soap so it couldn't get wet and try to wait it out. The waiting turned out to be three solid hours, nonstop with some drizzles in between downpours.

When the rain seemed to be at its end I uncovered my displays, making them ready for the few brave souls who decided to venture out to walk the dog or do a little light shopping. As I waited on customers I noticed that the soaps they were handing me for packaging were damp. Upon further investigation it appeared that all the soaps in my display baskets had formed little beads of condensation on them. There was no way I was going to sell my customers wet soap. I informed the market manager that I was leaving for the day. It was only a little after 3 PM just two hours before the market closed but I'd rather sacrifice money than the integrity of my business.

On my way home, I contemplated what could have happened. I had covered the soaps in such a way that not a drop of rain touched them. I then realized that there was 100% humidity in the air with the rainfall. Natural handcrafted soap is loaded with natural glycerin which attracts moisture. While this is a good thing in the bathtub it is not so pleasant when selling soap outdoors in rainy weather. This was an "Aha Moment" for me and proved what we natural soap crafters have been saying for years. That the layer of glycerin left on the skin while using natural soap helps attract much needed moisture to the skin. Keeping it healthy and fresh looking. So if this sweating soap situation ever happens to you, just wipe the soap off and let it dry. The only other thing to remember is to turn the shower off when you finish bathing to help the soap last longer. And that should be an easy thing to do my friends!

Growing My Lunch

2009-08-25T16:52:00.006-04:00

When I first came to New York to go to school I was so excited. I'd be learning new things, meeting new people and eating all sorts of food that I hadn't eaten before. All of this was good but when I began to get home sick I'd turn to comfort food. The easiest comfort food for me were pears. This was because my grandfather had a large pear tree in his yard back home and we could always grab a pear for a quick snack. Sad to say, the pears here in NY were pretty, with no blemishes but when I took a bite into one it had no taste. Oh the pity of it all, but I did what we often have to do...I adjusted to my environment. I became a New Yorker, but I still had some of that country girl in me so I started growing flowers on my apartment fire escape, hanging plants in the window and growing thyme and sage in a window box.

Years later I got married, bought a house and expanded my indoor gardening to growing patio tomatoes in a large whiskey barrel on the bottom of the stoop. When I harvested my first tomatoes I thought I'd died and gone to Heaven. I knew I could never eat another greenhouse tomato again. The taste was so incredible. I was able to eat them plain, with no salt. Turkey BLT's would never be the same! My active mind started thinking of possibilities! Why not expand into the yard and grow other things. And that I did.

The next year I cleared out a small space in the backyard and planted cucumbers, okra and squash. And to my utter amazement they grew! I was able to use my bounty in some delicious tasting recipes. Hey! No one could tell me I wasn't a gardener! This year I expanded the area out a couple of feet to plant zucchini, eggplant, broccoli, three different kinds of lettuce and of all things...corn! Now my husband is calling me a farmer. I don't know about all that, but I do know that I get this fantastic sense of accomplishment when I step outside to pick some lettuce, a few tomatoes, a cucumber and some herbs for a salad. It makes me feel as if I'm back at my grandfather's house in the country.

Here I Am, I Am Here.

2009-08-18T16:00:00.006-04:00

My friend and fellow soaper, Mary, from AnniesGoatHill.com asked a question in her Blog that put me in a reflective mood. She wanted to know what birthday was the most significant. This was easy. Without a doubt, the birthday that comes to mind was when I turned seven years old and had my first surprise party. There was cake, ice cream, presents and people singing happy birthday to me. I was the star and princess of the day. Yes, that was it! What a wonderful time!

But wait! could that be it? Could I have lived all these fifty something years and the only significant birthday was a surprise party at seven years old? That couldn't be. Most of the people that were at the party I can't remember and don't know where they are today. I don't even remember what presents I received. So I thought again. Thought about the things I've learned, the places I've visited and the wonderful people who've touched my life. And I reconsidered.

What I know is that my life seemed to change when I reached fifty and that was significant. It wasn't an abrupt change nor was it anything that I can pinpoint. I'm sure it was happening all along but it was at that half century mark that I began to take stock of myself. I noticed that I'm more mellow, things that once bothered me are not so important anymore. I've learned to live in the moment, to treasure each day, to take life as it comes and savor all the wonders of nature. I'm not into material things as much and try to downsize when possible. Listening to the rhythm of rain falling, the birds singing and the sound of the wind chimes outside my window is what I now call beautiful music. And my greatest joy is brightening someones day with a smile that says, here I am world. I am happy to be here.

Dog Days Of Summer

2009-08-11T01:52:00.013-04:00

The forty days beginning July 3 and ending August 11 are known as the Dog Days of Summer. These are supposed to be the hottest and muggiest days of the year. Everyone slows down and very little is accomplished especially if the humidity is high. All I want to do is sit around fanning myself and drinking iced tea. The dogs look as if they are suffering the most. Their tongues are hanging out of their mouths as if they are dying of thirst; not even a cat can rouse them if they have a cool spot in the shade. Many people believe that the name Dog Days derives from the image of dogs lazing around during these hot and humid times. And though the name is related to a dog, our domesticated canine is not the reason.

Sirius or "dog star" where the name originates is the brightest star in the Canis Major(big dog)Constellation. Canis Major is the largest of two Constellations known as Orion's hunting dogs and is seen in profile as a dog with Sirius being the dog's eye. There are many myths and legends surrounding Sirius one being a hound dog placed in the heavens after being caught up in a race with an unbeatable fox, another signaling the return of Osiris, the Egyptian god of the dead to the upper world at Sirius' appearance, and others seeing the Constellation as a deer hunter stalking a deer, or seen as dogs chasing a rabbit. All are associated with this brilliant star that appears each year bringing us summer misery.

What is true is that in summer Sirius moves into the early morning sky, rising and setting with the sun and is believed to generate more heat, though some studies have shown that this is not the case. In actuality, this is the time of year the earth rotates so that the northern hemisphere is tilting toward the direct path of the sun's rays causing more heat. During winter it tilts away from the sun giving less heat. Such a simple explanation, although this year I have yet to experience these dog days. Today ends this forty day period and I am waiting to see what Mother Nature has to say about all this.

Shopping Locally

2009-08-04T16:32:00.003-04:00

Ten years ago when we moved to our "urban renewal" neighborhood there weren't any decent stores to buy fresh fruit or vegetables. The one fruit stand that was nearby had vegetables that looked like they were on their way to rotting. The fruits were all shriveled, soft and had no taste. There were few customers and the place had an unpleasant odor that was hard to identify but who would want to anyway? Naturally, I stopped going there and was forced to shop at an upscale market located near my job in downtown Brooklyn.

Just recently I needed lemons for a fish recipe and decide to go back to that neighborhood market. Taking a chance on lemons is not nearly as bad as taking a chance on apples, pears or bananas. Much to my surprise the produce looked fresh, plump and inviting. The place was sparkling and everything were neatly placed in bins. The prices were much better than the downtown prices and I didn't have to lug everything home on the subway. I looked around to see if ownership had changed but no, the same lady was at the register and she had a line of customers. She was even greeting some of them by name. The fruit looked so tempting that I bought grapes, apples, plums, oranges and the lemons I had come for. When I returned home and sampled my bounty, they were all sweet and tasty.

The next time I went in she had another great selection of seasonal produce. I complimented her and told her I would be buying from her instead of going all the way downtown. After speaking to a few neighbors, they said that Ms Fruit Lady Lily had finally opened her eyes to see that the neighborhood had changed and that she would have to change accordingly. She hired someone part time to help her in the shop. She started going to the terminal market early in the morning to get her produce and would only buy what tasted good to her. She bought smaller amounts so she would have things go to waste. And she gained credibility with her customers. If she tells you she'll have a certain item the next day, you can believe that it will be there. Shopping locally has never tasted so sweet. Now, if we could just work on that problem supermarket down the street!

The CNY Soapmakers Gathering

2009-07-28T16:02:00.006-04:00

This past Saturday I attended (along with 35 others) The 9Th Annual, Central New York Soapmakers (CNY SoapMakers) Gathering. It was held in the beautiful Chenango Forks area of NY State near Binghamton; at the Angelic Glow Soap Studio owned by Maria Gelnett, VP of The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild. Most of the organizing and coordinating was done by Beth Byrne, who owns Soap and Garden.com and is a feature writer for the online soapmaker's magazine Saponifier. I had already met Maria and had been corresponding with Beth for a number of years so I was excited about attending for the first time. Sharing in my excitement, a few of us decided to get a jump start on things and have dinner together the night before. Boy did we have fun talking and talking like most soapmakers do when we get together.

That did not stop us from getting up early the next morning to be ready for 9:30 Registration, Meet & Greet, turning in our Product Swap items and the Garage Sale. The Garage Sale consisted of things that we could no longer use and were either selling or giving away. I picked up some pretty good deals on soap molds, Cd's and infused oils. The Product Swap were items we were going to share with 20 others who were also participating in it. We reminisced with old friends and met new ones. I even met two soapmakers from The Adirondack area who had a customer who was also my customer in Brooklyn. What a small world among soapmakers. After Meet & Greet we went inside the Studio to a wonderful demonstration of Body Scrubs conducted by Kim Hughes and afterwards went out to the backyard to a scrumptious "bring a dish" lunch. After we finished with lunch, Yours Truly, gave a demonstration on my Lotion Formula for keeping mosquitoes away. Then the real fun began...we had The Yankee Swap,The Product Swap, an Ugly/Pretty Soap Contest organized by Leigh ODonnell, Pres. of The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, extra goody bags donated by The HSMG, numerous door prizes and raffles for some great prizes. I won a "How To Make" MakeUp Kit from Brambleberry. Now I can experiment on making lipstick.

As we were exclaiming about the generous donations from various suppliers we were introduced to Mr. Goldberg, from Binghamton's Rescue Mission. A rescue and intervention organization dedicated to providing homeless and hurting people with food, warm clothing and toiletries. Maria had arranged beforehand to have him come to pick up soap, other articles that we were donating to The Rescue Mission. We carefully wrapped up the extra food for him to take also. He thanked us and reminded us of how fortunate and blessed we were. He's right and I think that we all felt it as we picked up our goody bags, said our goodbyes and headed for our homes.

The Back Up Plan

2009-07-21T17:53:00.004-04:00

Have you ever had a day that felt as if it would be terrible and it turned out to be one of the best days ever? Well, that's how I felt the day after the 4Th of July. I didn't have my heart into vending soap that day because I knew most of my customers would be on vacation. None the less we loaded the truck, I Tweeted buyers with enticements of free samples, lowered the price on my Shampoo Bars and headed out for The Park Slope Farmers Market. After all I had signed a contract for the season, a little money was better than no money and of course, I had bills to pay. We set up the display and prepared for a long and boring day.

Just as I had made up my mind to be miserable and semi-grouchy, a young woman pushing a baby stroller came to my booth. How can you be grouchy with a cute little baby smiling at you? The woman asked me a few questions about my soaps and I answered her pleasantly. Again I perked up instantly because I love talking about natural soap. She then told me that she worked for CBS Films, liked my soap display and would like to include it in the farmers market scene for a movie they were filming starring Jennifer Lopez. Could someone just pinch me!! She gave me her cell number, took my business card and said she would call the next day. I don't have to tell you how energized I was for the rest of the day. That quickly changed when I got home that night and realized I had lost her phone number! A chance of a lifetime and I go and lose the number! But, all was not lost, she did say she would call me. As life would have it she didn't call and I was disappointed and upset for a while. Then I reasoned that if it was for me, God would let it happen so I put it out of my mind and went on with daily happenings.

Friday evening I turned on my computer and got the surprise of my life! There was an email from CBS Films and in the subject area were the words "The Back Up Plan". I opened it and there was a cover letter with instructions and three documents to be downloaded; a contract for them to use my soap display for two days, a release and tax papers so they could pay me. I was to review, sign and fax everything back to them forthwith. It was too late to fax anything that evening but first thing Monday morning I faxed everything to them. Took my setup to them on Thursday morning, picked it up Friday afternoon, got paid and been walking on a cloud ever since. The way I feel you'd think that I had a part in the movie. Maybe I'll come back down to Earth when the movie entitled, "The Back Up Plan" is released next year.

I Love You, I love You Not, I Love You!

2009-07-14T16:22:00.004-04:00

When I took an early retirement from my job two years ago, my friends and well wishers wanted to know what I was going to do. Were they nuts, I thought! What was I going to do?! I had been working for 33 years and I was going to do absolutely NOTHING! But, of course, I didn't say that. I just smiled and told them that I'd sleep late, stay up late watching movies, do a little gardening, maybe some volunteer work and naturally, build up my part time soapmaking business. A nice, peaceful, relaxing time in my life.

That was then. Here is now. Sleeping late has turned into getting up extra early so that I can water the garden before the sun gets too hot. I come back in to exercise, shower and make breakfast. I then check my email, visit my friends on FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Ryze and other social networks. I go into my website to retrieve soap orders to be processed. I package soaps, wait for UPS,USPS, etc. In between those things I am doing regular household chores, checking emails again and making phone calls at the same time. In the evenings I make soap, unmold soap, check soap on drying rack and/or make sure I have enough soap, brochures, bags, etc for my Farmers Market. If I'm not tired by then, I make more soap if I need to. That my friend is a normal day, unless there is an emergency situation.

So me retired? I think not! I'm too busy marketing, making soap and building my "part time" business. And, what's more, is that my customers, friends and family won't let me. They keep asking for more soap! Some days I dislike it immensely and threaten to quit and the next day something nice happens and I'm loving it with all my heart. I love when I open a package containing a beautiful new fragrance, when I unmold a perfect log of soap and especially when a customer emails to tell me how much she loves my product.

I Feel Good!

2009-07-07T16:28:00.005-04:00

There is a room in my house that I seldom visit. It is known as the exercise room. Actually its quite a pleasant room. It's painted a bright, cheery, blue-green uplifting color. There are inspirational posters and plaques on the wall. I have equipped it with all the latest workout toys. There is a treadmill with a timer,distance and calorie counters. A stationery bike with heart monitor attachment. There is a TV/VCR combo where I can practice my Yoga, Pilates, Wii Fit, Billy Blanks CD's and listen to inspiring music. There is even an electric candle filled with Eucalyptus Essential Oil that fragrances the room when I turn the light on. As I'm writing this I'm wondering what's the problem with me?! Most people would love to come to this room just to hang out! What has me going out of the house to Curves instead of using this room?

I think the problem is accountability and just getting started. In other words, "just do it." as Nancy Reagan once said. Which, incidentally, I have since hand painted on the door leading to the exercise room. Many of the articles I've read tells us to do exercise in 10 minute segments if you have problems getting started or not enough time for a full workout. I have found this to be very helpful. Once I'm on the treadmill for 10 minutes I may as well stay for the whole 30 minutes. So that's my new strategy...tricking my body into believing that I will only do 10 minutes. And you know, it works and I'm feeling so much better these days.

The first thing I do in the mornings is take time out for me. I give myself at least 10 minutes to honor my body, renew my mind and prepare for the day that lies ahead. In doing so I have more time, more energy and more money since I've dropped that Curves membership. There is no problem that is to big that God and I can't handle. And yes, in the words of James Brown...I feel good!

Visiting A Soap Factory

2009-06-30T19:24:00.006-04:00

One of the greatest thrills of my soapmaking journey was to hear Sandy Maine give the Keynote Address at the 2008 Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild Conference. The Sandy Maine, who I have always admired! The same one who had one of the first soapmaking books on the market when I first started making soap in 1997! And to top that great thrill, I was scheduled to visit her SunFeather Natural Soap Factory on a special tour arranged by The HSMG later in the week.

"How blessed I am" I thought as I rode the bus from Vermont to Upstate NY where her factory is located. When we pulled up to the one story building I noticed an old fashioned ringer type washing machine and a wash board placed in front of the building as decoration. I was simply overjoyed and filled with anticipation to see what other good things were inside.

We walked thru the doorway and into the entry hallway that had a bunch of dried Lavender & dried Coneflowers hanging from one of the walls with raffia. On this same wall was a mural in the shape of a scroll with the words "The SunFeather Story" painted on it with flowers & ivy vines painted over the top of it. Beneath the scroll was a large framed article and pictures that told the story of the 1979 humble beginnings of SunFeather. There was a picture of her company logo and other posters describing essential oil production in France and the history of perfumes & aromatherapy. The wall also contained a built-in display cabinet filled with SunFeather products. Further down the hall there was another wall display of soapmaking books and other articles about the famed soap company. Across from this hallway on the left was The Boutique where soap and other bath products were sold.

We left the boutique and headed to the middle of the building where the bright & cheery employees break & lunchroom was located. Outside the employee area were wrapping & packaging rooms. Next to these were rooms that had large containers of essential oils & nature identical oils, as Sandy calls them. It seemed that everywhere I looked there were numerous storage areas, shelves, stationary & movable racks that contained soaps in their various stages of curing & drying. All neatly arranged, labeled and identified by name. There was a soap cutting room that contained a hydraulic lift, cut soap and blocks of soap waiting to be cut. We entered the back of the shop where one soapmaker was making soap in a large pot, she brought it to trace and poured it into a giant soap mold. This would then be taken to a room to be un-molded the next day. It would then be taken to the cutting area and cut into several soap logs that would in turn be cut into bars and placed on racks to dry. As Sandy walked our large group thru the different areas we were furiously writing and taking pictures. We didn't want to miss a thing. At one point I asked Sandy if she ever had a failed batch? She said no, not to her knowledge, and I thought that was so cool because I seldom have a failed batch either. Wow! Me and Sandy Maine. One thing in common. I was ecstatic!

An Evening Of Enchantment

2009-06-23T18:15:00.005-04:00

It's been almost two months since my return from The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild Conference and I'm still reminiscing about Essential Wholesale's Masquerade Party. I'm afraid my words will not do justice to the wonderful time I had. It's one of those events where you just had to be there.

The moment I walked into the cocktail area of The Miramonte Hotel I entered a world of enchantment. I felt as if I had entered the scene of a Broadway Play. Everyone had on brightly colored Mardi Gras masks that were made of feathers and sequins. There were Court Jesters performing juggling acts, Harlequin Mimes and all kinds of ghoulish looking performers dressed in multi-colored costumes and keeping in character. One performer mimed that I should take a purple mask that was trimmed in green and yellow, and I happily obliged because purple is my favorite color. Um, how did he know? Scary. To further add to the mystery there misting and fog making machines placed discreetly in doorway entrances. I quickly found my two friends, Mariann from Just Bubbly and Cindy from SudznBubbles, and we decided to take a picture with the professional photographer before we went in to dinner.

Upon entering the dining room we noticed that the one wall was decorated with a huge mural that captured the essence of the evening. On the tables were beautifully decorated gift bags with goodies from Essential Wholesale for each of us. What a treat! While we ate our dinner the Harlequin Performers continued to dance and twirl around us, heightening the experience. There was a surprise raffle! And if that wasn't enough we were entertained by two very funny comics, Wendy Liebman and John Reep. This was truly a great gift from Essential Wholesale and a night I'll always remember. Thanks ever so much Kayla & Dennis for your generosity.

Kreative Blogger Award

2009-06-19T15:21:00.004-04:00

I was feeling the blahs because we have had weeks and weeks of rainy weather here in New York. So it was a delight to open my blog to see that Sharon from http://Morganstreet.blogspot.com had honored me with the Kreative Blogger Award. I was perked up instantly because it gives you great satisfaction when someone reads your blog and then actually thinks of you when award time rolls around.

It was actually hard pressed for me to find 7 people to honor. Not because there are not worthy blogs out there because there are numerous people I would like to honor. The problem is that a lot of bloggers have business like blogs with no place for an honor like this. I've tried to honor them and they just don't respond. But for the people who appreciate being noticed and possibly increasing your web exposure. Here are the rules and honorees:

Award Rules

1. Recipient is to place the award logo on their blog.
2. Post a link to the person who awarded you
3. List 7 things you love
4. List 7 blogs you love and awarded
5. Leave a message for the 7 blogs you awarded

Seven Things I Love

1. My family
2. Making soap... all soap cp, hp and liquid
3. Working in my garden
4. Listening to beautiful music
5. Lounging on the beach with a good book
6. Walking thru botanical gardens...everywhere
7. Talking with my soapmaker friends

Seven Blogs I love

1. http://seifenschatz.blogspot.com
2. http://gulfgal-nancysworld.blogspot.com
3. http://gioiasoap.blogspot.com
4. http://jabon-soap.blogspot.com
5. http://naturallygoodsoaps.blogspot.com
6. http://flartus.blogspot.com
7. http://fresholi-bites.blogspot.com

My Bleeding Heart

2009-06-16T17:11:00.004-04:00

According to Mr. Webster, I do fall in the Bleeding Heart category, but this time we're gonna talk about the flower, okay? When I first heard the name I was reluctant to allow such a flower in my garden. The name alone brought up images I'd rather not discuss, but one day while visiting my garden center I saw one. It was just beautiful! I fell in love with it instantly. The flowers do resemble tiny pink hearts with drops of blood at the bottom but in a kind of good way, not repulsive at all.

I took it home and found a place in a neglected corner of my garden. This perennial has become a favorite and delights me every year by being one of the first to bloom after the Crocus has faded away. I can count on it to continue to show off it's pretty flowers until early summer. The key to it's spectacular performance is to plant it in partial shade where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade. It also loves medium wet, well drained, organically rich soil so I treat it well and compost once a year.

I don't have the faintest idea how it got it's nickname but have heard the following folklore. One being that a prince who's love was rejected by a princess stabbed himself in the heart because his love wasn't returned. Another bit of lore is that Chinese maidens crush the flowers in their hand to determine if their true love will return love. If the flower bleeds red, true love will be returned but if it bleeds white, than it won't. I think I like the second version better. The first one is to tragic for me.

Just Beeing Me!

2009-06-09T17:59:00.003-04:00

Sunday I went to visit a rooftop beehive and I was one of the lucky few. You'd be surprised to learn how many people are interested in beekeeping. There was actually a waiting list because the host could only allow a certain number of people on his roof. Being somewhat curious, adventurous and a nature lover I knew this would be an amazing experience and I was right.

To get to the bees we had to climb a ladder that lead to the roof. The ladder was slanted across the 3rd floor stairway well and if you looked down you could see through to the 1st floor. Somebody forgot to tell me that I was afraid of heights! But not wanting to be a quitter nor miss out on this fabulous opportunity I said a breath prayer, closed my eyes and ascended the ten steps to the roof. This was my first time on a roof and I must say the view was spectacular and so were the bees.

His two hives were nestled in the middle of the roof near the edge and bees were all around the hives doing their various worker bee jobs. We stood around in our white beekeeper outfits watching as our host started a fire in his bee smoker, a small handheld apparatus used to calm the bees. Smoke for bees is sort of like lavender for us. After the bees were calm, he opened the top of the hives to take out the frames that contained the honey. At this point at least a thousand bees started flying and floating in the air. You'd think they would be angry because we were taking their honey but no, their first concern was the hive and they gradually flew back in. It was so breath taking that I was mesmerized and could only stand still and watch with my mouth wide open.

After finishing with the frames, he took them down to his "honey room" where we each had a turn cutting the beeswax or cappings that were covering the cells where the honey is housed. When all the cappings were cut we put the honey filled frames in the honey extractor machine to extract the honey. Once all the honey had been extracted from the frames, he moved the machine to a table and the honey was double strained into a large bucket to be processed and bottled. I am totally in love with beekeeping but that doesn't mean I'm giving up making soap. For some strange reason I think maybe soapmaking, gardening and beekeeping are connected. Well, we do use ingredients from the garden and the bees in our soaps.

Chance Favors The Prepared

2009-06-02T18:28:00.004-04:00

"Chance Favors The Prepared". These words are words I standby. Words that appear at the end of my signature on email. I believe in those words and try to live by them but I haven't always known that I should. Of course, I know that I should be prepared in my business. I should have soap available for sale at all times. I should have a business plan in place that I constantly revise to suit my growing needs and I should have funds available to buy supplies. I never realized that I should think out of the "soap box", so to speak, and be prepared for anything. That is until I received a phone call offering me a job.

The call was from a woman named Maureen, a representative from The Learning Annex. She explained that they needed a soapmaker to teach an upcoming class, she had found my name in The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild Directory and would I be interested? Would I be interested?!! So many thoughts went through my head. I had never taught more than 10 people to make soap at one time and now she was suggesting that there would be about 25. Could I do this? How could I prepare? But, being the type who never says no to a challenge I accepted her offer. I had two weeks to formulate a lesson plan and review my soap books so that I could answer questions intelligently. Thank God the class went exceptionally well because I knew my subject matter and was comfortable teaching my craft to what turned out to be 37 people. I too learned some valuable information that evening.

I learned that though I can't be prepared in every situation. I can practice "what if" scenerios in my mind or on paper about things that could happen in my business. For instance, I ask myself, what would happen if I get a large soap order from a major department store or hotel chain? Or what if I get a call from Oprah or Martha to appear on television? Thinking like this has helped me with a few newspaper interviews because I had started to read info and go to seminars on how to speak with the media. I am also figuring out how I can expand production just in case I get that call from Macy's or the Marriott asking me to supply them with soap. I'm thinking that once I get that chance I will be prepared.

What Makes It Float?

2009-05-26T19:47:00.002-04:00

When I was new to soapmaking and doing research I came upon all kinds of interesting information. One of the most intriguing and inspirational stories was of Procter & Gamble. I liked them because they started out vending from door to door or on the streets the same as many of us. I could relate wholeheartedly to the Ivory Soap story. How many times have we all turned what we thought was a disaster into a money making triumph?

In 1878, one of Procter & Gamble's disasters could have been the white Soap. It seems that one of the soapmakers left the soap machine on when he went out to lunch. When he returned he found the soap mixture foamy, airy & fluffy from being whipped to long. After discussing the matter with his supervisor they decided to finish and package the soap as usual since the ingredients were unchanged. A couple of months later the company began to receive letters of praise and orders for more of "the soap that floats". Realizing what happened with the over whipped soap they began to market it as "the soap that floats". The reason the public loved this soap so much was that they didn't have to search around on the bottom of the tub for the soap anymore.

In October of 1879 the first bar of Ivory Soap was produced and sold to the public. The formula for the soap was created by Gamble's son, James, who was a chemist with the company. The name Ivory was also conceived by James after he heard a church sermon from Psalms 45 that mentions myrrh, aloes, cassia and ivory palaces. Could this also be the secret to that fresh, clean fragrance of Ivory? It has been rumored that in 2004 a long lost notebook belonging to James was found. It had an entry date in 1863 crediting him with being the first to experiment with making soap that floats. Wonder why he never brought it to his father's attention? Oh well, alls well that ends well.

Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild

2009-05-19T21:23:00.003-04:00

You say you make soap? You make darn good soap, you've been selling your good soap and making a profit on your good soap. So why in Heaven's name would you need to join a soapmaking organization? What in the world can they do for you?

I am a member of The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild (HSMG) and I get asked these questions constantly. I thought I was giving a pretty good answer by explaining all the workshops I've attended at our Annual Conferences, all the soapmaking tips & techniques I've learned from more experienced Soapmakers and all the recognition my business has received since joining in 2003. But, after briefly chatting with out- going President, Marie Gale, I was reminded that our organization is so much more than that. It's not just about me it's about all of us collectively, a reputation we're building, an image we're portraying and a message we're conveying to the public. She reminded me that one of the main goals of The HSMG is to educate the public on the qualities of handcrafted soap, to promote the Handcrafted Soap Industry, as well as act as a source of information for our members and the public.

The HSMG is the largest non-profit trade organization in North America for Soapmakers with over one thousand national and international members. Once a year we meet for a three day conference which rotates through 8 different regions of the United States. At these conferences we network with other Soapmakers, attend seminars, workshops, visit Vendor Exhibits, receive awards & recognition and all while having loads of fun. It has been my experience that The HSMG is trully the only professional trade organization where I can always go to get sound reliable advice and information on products from trusted, true & tried Vendors and Suppliers. As Soapmakers we all need an organization that we can depend on and The HSMG is that organization. So come join me at www.soapguild.org I promise you won't regret it.

Squirrels Know Best

2009-05-05T00:01:00.000-04:00

I'd been having trouble growing tulips in containers so my Plant Buddy, who lives in Canada, and is quite the expert, offered to give me planting instructions. I followed her advice, planted nine tulip bulbs in a large container, watered them in, sprinkled a little blood meal on them and placed the pot on the deck. Every few days I checked them for evidence of squirrels tampering with them. Great, no problem, everything was intact. When the first snow fell I figured I could cut back my watch to weekly checking and as winter set in I stopped checking altogether.

I few weeks before the start of Spring, My Plant Buddy reported that her tulips were coming up. I checked mine and the pot was exactly as I'd left it but no sign of emerging tulips. I waited a couple of weeks, still no tulips in the pot but I did see signs of plant life in the front yard. I assumed it was the hyacinth, daffodils and crocus I had planted in the fall. As for the container tulips, this was just proof that I was not good at container gardening. So much for that.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed tulip leaves sprouting up in several places in the front yard. Neither me nor my husband had planted them but marvelled at our good fortune. Last week the buds finally bloomed and they were pink tulips! The same color and number that I had planted in the container! I made a beeline to the deck to check the container for rotted bulbs! Surprise, no bulbs, just soil! How did they get from the pot to the front yard? Yep, you got it, the squirrels. They cleverly moved the bulbs to where they wanted them to be planted, leaving no evidence of theft. But I must admit that their landscaping choice is not a bad one.

Honest Scrap Award

2009-05-03T16:40:00.003-04:00

Yippee! I've been honored with The Honest Scrap Award and I'm thrilled that my fellow Blogger, ADuu from http://dwgblogger.blogspot.com was considerate enough to think me worthy of it. I'm not sure what an Honest Scrap Award is but I'm believing that it means you're honest, enjoy your craft and work hard at having others enjoy it as well. As with all good things it is time to pass the award on to others so that they will know that their blog work is appreciated.

According to the requirements:

1. I must thank the person who gave me the award, list their blog and link.
2. I must list ten (10) honest things about myself & a copy of The Honest Scrap Logo on my blog.
3. I must select at least seven (7) other worthy bloggers & list their links
4. I must notify the bloggers of the award and hopefully they will follow the above three requirements also.

10 Honest Things About Me

1. I love drinking green tea especially when it's hot.
2. I love rain..listening to it, watching it and walking in it.
3. The older I get the more I find myself listening to classical music.
4. I believe in Jesus.
5. I am organized in a sort of disorganized way.
6. I worry about Alzheimer's.
7. I love the color purple but especially lavender
8. I wish I had paid more attention to the advice of my Mother.
9. I have so many friends that sometimes its hard keeping in touch.
10. I am totally a country girl at heart.

And The Award Goes To

1. http://mysupernormallife.blogspot.com
2. http://craftysusie.blogspot.com
3. http://craftythisandthat.blogspot.com
5. http://youscentme.blogspot.com
6. http://gioiasoap.blogspot.com
7. http://saltwellsoap.blogspot.com
8. http://endlessknitting.blogspot.com
9. http://fairyalchemy.blogspot.com

Congratulations to the above bloggers for helping to make my days a bit brighter.

Other People's Soap

2009-04-28T17:36:00.004-04:00

I love making soap but I especially love using other soapmaker's soap. Whenever I visit a gift shop, farmer's market or street festival I look for the soapmaker's booth, have a nice chat and support them by buying at least one bar of soap. Recently, I discovered something better, much better, soap swaps!

Soap swaps have been around for ages but I didn't realize how much fun it is to participate in one. I was under the impression that I would send out great soap and receive crappy soap in return. Much to my surprise it is completely the opposite. Soapmakers take pride in their products. Everybody puts their best effort into every bar they send out because it represents them. Not only do you get great soap but you get the opportunity to experience different fragrances and ingredients you may have never used.

A lot of online groups have soap swaps and the rules vary according to each group but here are some of the things they have in common. Each group decides on a theme, selects a hostess/host, and a reasonable & manageable list of participants. Each participant makes enough soap for each person on the list, and sends it to the hostess/host along with enough money to cover the postage for their returning swap package. The hostess receives the packages, distributes the soap so that each participant has a bar of soap from every other participant. The hostess then mails the package to each participant. When your swap package arrives its like getting one last Christmas present all over again. Nice real nice!

Finding My Way Home

2009-04-21T17:19:00.004-04:00

The summer seemed endless when I was growing up. Each morning my cousins and neighbor friends would meet after breakfast to plan our day. It always involved an expedition to explore the areas surrounding our suburban neighborhood. We usually didn't come home again until it was time for lunch. We were never hungry because we found food long the way.

We'd take long walks in the nearby woods looking for blackberries, wild scuppernong grapes and empty bottles that we could cash in at the store for the five cent deposit money to buy cold drinks. We'd then travel a short distance away to a little creek we called the "mudhole" so we could sit with our bare feet dangling in the water while we munched on our fruit and sipped on orange soda pops. We told ourselves that we would save enough of the berries for our moms or aunts to make berry cobbler and sometimes we did. Other times we'd journey over to Mr. & Mrs. Bartley's house to ask if we could pick apples from their tree. Those were the good old days.

Now when I go back home to visit most of my childhood friends have moved away. There is a seven eleven mini-mall where the blackberry woods were and the Barley house has been replaced with condo town houses. How I long for those lazy, carefree days again but I've heard it said that you can never go home again. I will not accept that for one second because I am always going home in my wonderful memories.

Have Soap Will Travel

2009-04-14T16:30:00.004-04:00

Some of us will remember a television show from many years ago entitled "Have Gun Will Travel". It involved a bounty hunter, named Paladin, who travelled from town to town looking for criminals and that was his calling/business card tagline. Recently when summer comes along I feel like a bounty hunter of sorts. I gather my soaps and travel from farmers market to craft festival looking for customers to buy my bounty.

Unlike Paladin who could just strap on his Colt 45 weapon and be on his way; I must prepare in a different way. Months in advance I make batches and batches of soap and in doing so must have a place to store them while they are curing and drying. Since I don't have a lot of room for storage I had to come up with a solution that would take up very little space. Fortunately, I found a company that sells soap drying trays for soapmakers.

This idea works perfectly for me because the trays come in sizes that are small, upright and stackable. Each tray is 16 x 30 1/2 inches, holds at least 108 bars of soap that measures 3 1/4 x 2 1/2 x 1 and if I stand them with the tall side up I'll get more bars on the tray. I can also buy additional trays as the need arises and stack them as high as I wish. There is also a handy dolly with wheels that serves as an additional tray. What a convenience it is to have soapmaking equipment that wasn't around twelve years ago when I first started making soap. I may be tempted to search out craft festivals in other towns, then I can truly call myself a travelling bounty hunter.

The Sock Monster Lives

2009-04-07T13:48:00.004-04:00

There is a monster in my washing machine who devours socks. Yes, I'm afraid it's true! How else would socks just start to disappear? For years I have been pinning my socks together with a safety pin to keep track of them when I do laundry. A great tip borrowed from My good friend Erin. Who, I might add, also had a monster in her machine. It worked perfectly, but for some unknown reason, maybe laziness, I stopped doing it a couple of years ago. Now I've noticed that my socks are disappearing one by one.

I've checked my clothes as I've folded them hoping that it could be static and they're clinging to something, and no luck. I've checked the washer & dryer walls thinking they may be stuck to the sides. Sorry folks, not there! Where in the world do they go? Where I used to have a nice neat drawer with pinned socks, I now have a drawer full of single socks that don't match each other. It's simply amazing!

Guess I'll have to get rid of the lazies, buy new socks and go back to pinning in order to save my sanity. Either that, or throw a sock matching party with my neighbors, who I'm sure must have the same sock monster sleeping in their machines.

Paul Newman - Entreprenuer

2009-03-31T15:20:00.003-04:00

Fellow Aquarian,humanitarian, dedicated philanthropist and race-car driver; Paul Newman was one of my favorite people. Not because of his status as an actor but because of his generosity, his zest for living and his love for a simple, private and self contained life. He donated all his profits from his well known company Newman's Own to his beloved "Newman's Hole In The Wall" Camp for children with cancer and life threatening diseases.

What started as a joke turned into a multi-million dollar a year business with over 110 products sold worldwide. The most famous being his salad dressings. In 1980, a few days before Christmas, Paul Newman phoned his friend, writer, A.E. Hotchner. He asked him to come over and help him bottle salad dressing that he was out in his barn mixing up. The ideas was that he wanted to go around to his neighbors on Christmas Eve, sing carols and give away the bottles as a gift. They did just that and had a few bottles left that he wanted to give to the local delicatessen. Hotchner suggested that they do it correctly by getting proper bottling and packaging. They invested money in the idea and agreed to end the venture when they had lost their investment. But, we all know, that never happened. They, of course, became very successful businessmen.

The Paul Newman products will continue in his stead because of the branding image his company has built. It's about quality, values and promises made to consumers that are kept. I think that this is one of the reasons the Paul Newman brand has lasted for so long. When I think of how I want my company to operate, this is one of the first success stories to come to mind. Giving people a quality product at a reasonable price and always giving back to the community is one of the keys to success in my opinion.

Visiting With Martha Stewart

2009-03-24T18:38:00.004-04:00

Last year I was at The Martha Stewart Show two times. Not as a guest but as part of the audience. The experiences were ones I'll always treasure for more reasons than one.

The first visit was with a holistic health group from MeetUP.Com. Martha was exceptionally generous that day. The entire audience received queen - sized Tempur-Pedic Mattresses, a 4 day all expense paid stay at Canyon Ranch Spa, some spa treats, an exercise heart monitor watch and who could forget that tasty ruby red grapefruit. The next trip was with a good friend who received VIP tickets for the first row, which meant that we would be up close (but not personal) with Martha. On this visit we got gift certificates for a sapling tree and a gardening book. Both trips were exciting for me but naturally they came with rules and procedures that we had to follow.

First, we had to RSVP the invitation, giving our names, etc. to her staff. The dress code was dressy casual but we were advised not to wear white and told that vivid colors showed up well on TV. We were to arrive a couple of hours before showtime so that we could check in at the reception area and go through a security check. In the waiting area we checked our coats (for free) and were given home-baked oatmeal cookies, bottled water, entertained and prepped by her assistant, Joey Kola, who was hilarious and so very nice.

After everyone had been checked in we were ushered onto the set which looked like real rooms but was very cold. All the areas on the set contained everything you would expect a crafting, cooking, gardening expert to have. We were told that the show was being taped and that we would be in there for about two hours. We were not to make any noise until we were cued to do so. Were they kidding me?! They had loaded us up with all that water! Could I possibly sit for two hours without going to the bathroom?! It was cold in there and they had taken our coats! And what if I had to cough or sneeze?! I imagined myself being escorted from the set by her staff after sneezing and turning to yell at Martha to please let me stay, I promise not to do it again! Once the show started time went very fast and luckily I didn't get myself into trouble. I never once thought about sneezing, coughing or going to the bathroom. Now maybe I'll be invited back again!

Seven Somethings - Art Award

2009-03-22T16:45:00.004-04:00

I received this art award from Craft Sue at http://craftysusie.blogspot.com. Sue is a talented Blogger from Italy and I do enjoy her posts. I much appreciate the gesture because I thought I was the only person who considered me an artist of sorts. As a soapmaker I guess you have to be artsy as well as a bit of a mad scientist. The rules of this award is that you list seven things or people that you are passionate about. You are then to list the person who gave you the award, the award logo and seven other bloggers you feel worthy of this award in a post on your blog.

The Seven somethings I'm passionate about:

1. My Grandmothers - both of them - from whom I've inherited a bit of the artsy, bohemian, spiritual, mad scientist nature.
2. Tea - All types especially herbal
3. Nature Walks - Helps me tune into God and get a better outlook on life.
4. Soothing Music - Calms my soul.
5. Boutiques & Antiques Shops - Nothing better than finding rare items.
6. Family & Friends - To keep me grounded.
7. Independent Film - Movies that make me think, cry or teach me a lesson.

This was really hard to do but The Seven Blogs are:

1. Lomond Soap - http://Lomondsoap.blogspot.com
2. Gardeningtosurvive - http://Gardeningtosurvive.blogspot.com
3. Creating Naphyri - http://creatingnaphyri.blogspot.com
4. A Divas Hammer - http://adivashammer.blogspot.com
5. Musings From The Hill - http://musingsfromthehill.blogspot.com
6. Pink Blossom Essential - http://pinkblossomessentials.blogspot.com
7. Aunee - http://aunee.blogspot.com

"Drive By" Lye Search

2009-03-17T19:16:00.003-04:00

One of my online soapmaker friends and I were recalling the hardships we had when they took Red Devil Lye off the market. It was a minor problem for most small scale soapmakers like myself, because we didn't order online, but I guess we survived that ordeal. I'm sure we all have some pretty good stories we could tell about our quest for that necessary ingredient used to make our beautiful, true natural soap.

When I first heard the rumor I didn't believe it because all the grocers and supermarkets in my area still carried it. The price was gradually increasing for that 18 oz container, but it was such a small increase in the cost of my batch of soap that I didn't care. That is, until the day I went into the store and there were only two cans left on the shelf. Could it be true? A case of mild panic set in as I made my way home.

I promptly enlisted my husband to help me find more cans. Being a reasonable person, and one who is hooked on my soap, he understood the importance of my concerns and agreed to drive me around to search for more lye. As we drove from block to block I would jump out of the car, run into the store to the cleaning section and gather up all the cans I could find. When the cashiers started giving me strange looks I cut back my purchases to no more than 4 cans. I still got the looks and a few comments about stopped up toilets but I was determined. After a few more of these incidents I began to feel like a criminal; especially when my husband would ask eagerly, "how many did you get?" I changed my strategy, I began to check the cashiers out as I went into the store and would go to the one I thought wouldn't give me that look. I tried to disguise my actions by buying other things besides the lye. That seemed to help because the focus wasn't strictly on the lye. I guess it never occurred to me to say, "hey, I'm using this stuff to make soap!"

Going Against The Tide

2009-03-10T18:17:00.004-04:00

I've lost the same 25 pounds over and over for what seems like my entire adult life. Can't begin to tell you how many times I've joined Weight Watchers and quit. The Atkins, Pritikin, Fat Flush, South Beach and countless others; forget it, been there, tried that. And yeah, I think I may have a Tee Shirt or two. I always end up with the same weight back in the same place and I could swear it must bring some new fat cell friends with it each time. So what's the solution?

Who knows? Some say to eat less and exercise more. The only thing I do know for sure is that if I give up and do nothing I will be twice the the weight I am now. But you know, I do think the key is to eat portions. I don't mean the portions we're normally used to eating. I mean those portions/servings that are listed on the nutrition label on packages. Now I do read labels for nutritional value but kind of skim over how much the serving sizes really are. Can you imagine my surprise when I saw that a serving of my beloved ice cream was one half cup. One half cup, come on now, a good scoop is about one cup. And a serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards. Are they kidding me? Who eats like that? Well, I guess the people who don't have a weight problem do.

Okay, so I'll have to adjust and go in a direction I've never gone before. I'm going to have to pay attention to portions. No one ever said anything about portions, they just said to eat less. Is that what they really mean? Because I can do portions. A small amount of something is better than nothing at all. If this is what Weight Watchers is trying to tell me I think I'll go back, again. Maybe next year this time I won't have to go against the tide I'll be eating smaller portions. I'll be able to go with the flow and maybe, just maybe, have that extra serving of Butter Pecan as a treat.

Was I Wrong About Spring?

2009-03-03T16:45:00.004-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I was brave enough to post about the beginning of Spring, sunshine, birds, hyacinths, etc. but guess what? Yesterday there was a mighty blizzard that managed to slightly cripple the entire East Coast. When they have to close schools, you know its pretty serious. It's been about five years since the children in NY had a "snow day".

I, of course, was at home doing my usual peeking out the window to see who would be the first to venture outside to shovel. Just as I was about to settle in with a TV program I got the inspiration to play in the snow. I donned my snow garb and shovel and headed out to clean the snow off the car and clear the driveway.

It was a lot of fun, I must admit. The snow was light and feathery and very easy to move. I finished in less than an hour. Before I went back inside I noticed that my Red Twig Dogwood Shrubs looked magnificent against the white snow. Once again my faith in Mother Nature was restored. I was gently reminded what these dogwood shrubs would look like this coming Spring. So I was not wrong. Spring is just around the corner. Believe, that this is just one of Old Man Winter's last angry shouts. But boy was it a loud one.

The Life Of A Turtle

2009-02-24T16:17:00.003-05:00

There's a story from Aesop's Fables about a tortoise and a hare. In this story the rabbit, a faster animal, challenges the turtle, who is as slow as the dickens, to a foot race. During the race, the rabbit, confident that he could beat the turtle decided to tarry, dine, sleep and play along the way. He had no doubts that at the very last second he could catch up, beat the turtle and win the race. After all, he was faster. Of course, the turtle who was more industrious and steadfast won the race.

That story left a profound impression on my young mind and I was forever enthralled with the turtle. So much so, that during my formative years I would use that lesson as a source of inspiration whenever there was a mountainous task before me. When I needed the drive and determination to finish a job, or at least give it my best, the turtle always came to mind. I have since adopted it as a sort of mascot and keep a collection of turtles in my work area.

Occasionally I picture myself as the turtle while conducting my soapmaking business. I get discouraged sometimes when I see others around me running at a faster pace and I think I'm not going to make it. When that happens I take a look at my turtle collection, think about the turtle in me and keep moving slowly and steadily toward my destination. I am determined to be a winner too.

Spring Is In The Air

2009-02-17T10:23:00.004-05:00

This has been a long, dreary winter for me. True, we haven't had to many horribly cold days but the ones we did have were miserable, or maybe I was miserable because of them. The winds were strong and it seemed to snow every week. The sidewalks and streets would be cleared of snow and just when you thought it was over. Bam! more snow and more shoveling. But on this mid-February morning, I feel a change in the air.

I went out to get the newspaper and I saw, to my delight and surprise, the heads of my hyacinth peeping out of the ground. The birds were singing cheerfully as if they knew a thing or two and the sun was smiling down in an attempt to coat the day with warmth. My wind chimes were playing a gentle melody. There was a clean, crisp freshness in the air. The promise of things to come.

I know the calendar says that spring is a month away but I think Mother Nature is starting to prepare me for that glorious event. She is helping me to cast off the gloomy, closed-in feeling I've been experiencing all winter and giving me a glimpse of something pleasant to look forward to. All is right with the world.

My Addiction With The Wild World Is Over

2009-02-10T14:06:00.004-05:00

Last year I received Nintendo DS as a gift and my troubles began. First, I bought the "grownup" game, BrainAge2 to help me keep at least a portion of my brain cells as I grow older. Next it was Flash Focus for my eyes, Word Coach for my vocabulary and I slowly graduated into the world of The Sims. I was now an official "gamer" in search of better more challenging games. This Christmas while on vacation I happened upon Animal Crossing Wild World and what a mistake that was. It started to take over my life.

Now I'm the kind of person who is dedicated and likes to finish what I start but this game never ends. You actually have to log in everyday to finish certain tasks in order to maintain your score. I found myself using every bit of "extra time" playing it and I was enjoying it! Sometimes on the weekends I'd find myself sitting for hours, thumbs on the controls trying to finish the next segment. I reassured myself that it was no different than relaxing and reading a book. How wrong I was. I knew there was a problem when at 2:00 AM I was playing the game in bed with the lights off while my dear husband slept soundly next to me. This had to stop but I couldn't! I had to maintain my score. I had to be a winner. What was I going to do?

The solution presented itself when I went to the mailbox Friday and there was my business banking statement. I hadn't even made my January deposits! What was I thinking?! This is just a stupid game for goodness sake! Not real life! It had become very clear that I was focusing on the wrong things. I have dropped that game like a hot potato and am now devoting all that energy to the game of real life. My Wild World addiction is finally over and the game is put away gathering dust like the rest of them.

God's Gift To The Soapmaker

2009-02-03T14:00:00.004-05:00

For thousands of years Polynesian women have used coconut oil to make their skin soft and smooth, and to give their hair it's rich, shiny luster. Coconut oil has a natural creamy texture, comes from a vegetable source and has been used for many years in soap, shampoo, body creams and other body care products. I wholeheartedly agree with those Polynesian ladies about the goodness of coconut oil. It has also been said to be God's gift to the Soapmaker. I agree with that too!

There are basically three types of coconut oil. The first one I'll talk about is Virgin Coconut Oil. It smells like fresh coconuts and is used in many bath and beauty products because of its ability to be absorbed into the skin easily and doesn't leave a greasy feeling. The next one is Fractionated Coconut Oil that comes in liquid form and is used mostly in lotions, balms, creams, and as a massage oil. It is also sometimes used as a carrier oil for fragrances because it is odorless. Lastly there is Coconut Oil 76 degrees or Coconut Oil 92 degrees, so named because they will become liquid at these respective temperatures. This type of coconut oil is processed from the dried meat of the coconut called copra. It is the most widely used by most soapmakers.

We love coconut oil in soapmaking because it yields a creamy, white soap that is firm with quick, fluffy bubbles. It lathers extremely well, even in cold sea water. Every soapmaker would do well to include if only 10% coconut oil in their batch. That is, if they're looking for that lathering effect. The only down side is because of it's molecular structure (mostly lauric acid) it has the potential to create a drying soap and should be used in combination with emollient oils like olive, sweet almond, canola, soybean, rice bran, castor, palm or the various other oils and butters. These pairings will produce the more conditioning, moisturizing, luxurious bar of soap that we all strive for.

On My Way To Beautiful

2009-01-27T00:09:00.005-05:00

Just under a month ago everyone was talking New Year's resolutions. I listened quietly and somberly. I wasn't talking about it but I was doing a lot of thinking about it. Now I've come to the conclusion that I don't want to make a New Year's resolution. What I want to do is make a resolution that will add deep meaning to my life.

By that I mean there are some things I want to change and need to change but I want them to have a lasting impact. Each year I make some sort of change that lasts until Valentine's Day rolls around and I start eating chocolates. Or the weather is so terrible that I can't make the gym... a great excuse, huh? Well this time I was not going to fool myself or put it on paper until I had it all figured out in my head and my heart. After much thought I think I found a solution.

I have decided that I want to be beautiful! Aaah, you just can't go and make yourself beautiful just like that, can you? Yes you can. Not only on the outside but on the inside too. It's very easy. All you have to do is forgive. If you forgive people who have treated you badly it releases all kinds of ugly toxins from your mind and your body. Have you ever heard the saying, "free your mind and your a** will follow"? Well I firmly believe it's true. Forgiveness turns negative energy into positive energy so you can concentrate more on yourself. So there, that's a resolution I can live with. I think I'm going to try it. Forgiveness is the key to creating a more beautiful me. I'm on my way baby!

The Making Of Egg Soap

2009-01-20T16:27:00.004-05:00

My soapmaking group, Brooklyn CP Soapmakers, met this past Saturday to make soap using whole eggs. The egg is used in a lot of recipes for facial masks and also in some hair care formulations. So hey! Why not use it in soap! We used the recipe that's published in Merilyn Mohr's book The Art Of Soapmaking to guide us through the process. In the book Merilyn uses only the yolk but we decided to see what would happen if the whole egg was used. Actually nothing out of the ordinary except exceptional soap!

The ingredients used were soybean oil, coconut oil, olive oil, spring water, sodium hydroxide, lavender essential oil for fragrance and the herb nettle. We soaped at room temperature which was approximately 75 to 80 degrees. When taken out of the mold the next day, I could smell the slight odor of eggs, but as soon as it was cut and curing the odor disappeared within minutes. Now the pleasant smell of lavender is shining through. This soap will be used to shampoo our hair and hopefully the protein from the egg and properties from the nettle will increase the benefits of the soap.

As a matter of fact, I made this soap a few weeks before our group was scheduled to meet. I used it a couple of days before the meeting. I was impressed at how soft, silky and smooth my hair felt after using it. I didn't have to use a conditioner because the comb glided through my hair easily. I am convinced that the egg must have had a positive effect on my hair follicles. I don't think I ever have to buy shampoo again!

Winter's First Song

2009-01-13T11:52:00.004-05:00

Two days before the official start of Winter I woke to find the street where I live covered with a blanket of snow. The whole block was eerily quiet but serene and peaceful. There wasn't even one bird singing and the squirrels had long buried their precious nuts and went to their secret winter hiding place. All I could hear in the background was someone trying to start a car.

Like everyone else on the block I was staying in my house behind closed doors, not wanting to be the first to shovel the sidewalk. It seems that the unwritten rule is, if just one person begins to shovel and clean their property we are all obligated to follow suite. So we were all taking little sneaky peeks out our windows and doors pretending that we were not at home.

Just as I was about to settle down with a book, a blankie and a nice cup of steaming hot tea my door bell rang. A couple of the neighborhood teens had decided to make some extra money by offering to shovel for me. Whew! What a relief! I was finally able to go out and enjoy the snow guilt free! I grabbed my coat, hat, gloves and other suitable winter attire and headed for the door. I was gonna take a leisurely walk to the nearest diner for a big cup of hot chocolate, my camera in hand to get some shots of the wonderful snow.

Merry Little Christmas

2009-01-06T13:31:00.004-05:00

January 6, this is the day of The Epiphany. It is called different names by many cultures. Some refer to it as Little Christmas, Three Kings Day or The Twelfth Day Of Christmas. The twelve days of Christmas starts on December 25 and ends on January 5. We all know the popular 12 days of Christmas song but do we know the real reason behind Little Christmas?

It's the day The Three Wise Men visited and bestowed gifts and blessings on the baby Jesus. Many Christian commemorate this day by feasting and celebrating. In some cultures children receive most of their gifts on this day. Traditionally it is the day many of us take down our Christmas Tree and decorations.

I've often wondered why we don't actually celebrate Christmas on January 6. I have since found out that is was celebrated under the Roman calendar but changed when the Gregorian Calendar was adopted in 1582 by decree of Pope Gregory XIII.

And They Call This A Fairy Tale?

2009-01-01T21:38:00.003-05:00

I grew up hearing horror stories. Stories about child abuse, wicked step mothers, people leaving their babies unattended and one little girl who used to run away and break into other folk's homes. Fortunately she would always be found sound asleep in the neighbor's comfortable bed.

These stories were commonly called Fairy Tales. The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe would beat her children and send them to bed didn't seem like a place I wanted to live. Than there was Cinderella and her wicked stepmother. That story really gave stepmothers everywhere a bad reputation. Goldilocks and the Three Bears...did anyone ever stop to consider that she was actually invading someones privacy. Well I did. I wanted to know why she couldn't sleep in her own bed. Unless, of course she lived in that shoe and then I could understand. To this day I can't figure why anyone would put their precious baby and cradle in a tree top and on a windy day to boot! I know, I know, some of these stories were supposed to teach us morals but I think along the way I missed the point. Especially disturbing was going to my dear grandmother's house and being attacked by a wolf or worse finding myself being pushed in an oven. How scary is that?

I was so happy in my later years that Dr. Suess appeared and rescued me. How glad I was that I could laugh and let my imagination flow with cute silly stories like Sam I Am, Green Eggs and Ham and who could possibly be terrorized by a funny Cat In The Hat.

NYC At Christmas - The Tree

2008-12-22T19:15:00.007-05:00

The 76Th Annual lighting of the famous Christmas tree at Rockefeller took place on December 3 and will display until until January 9, 2009. The tree typically illuminates from 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM daily but will be lit all day long on Christmas Day.

This years tree is a Norway Spruce and hails from Hamilton, New Jersey. The tree was donated by the Varanyak family who owns the Tree King Nursery. One of the sons said that his parents planted the tree in 1931 and his mother strongly believed that one day it would be displayed in Rockefeller Center. They have since dubbed it "the miracle tree".

The tree is approx. 82 years old, 72 feet tall, 40 feet wide and weighs approx. 16, 000 lbs. It is breath taking although it's only decorated with multi-colored, solar powered, energy saving lights and the star that tops it. The lights are said to be over five miles in length and uses 90% less energy than regular Christmas lights. At the end of the Christmas season the tree gets a second life and will be recycled into 3 tons of mulch which is to be donated to The Boy Scouts. The largest portion of the trunk will be donated to The U.S. Equestrian Team in New Jersey to use as an obstacle jump.

NYC At Christmas - Window Displays/Shopping

2008-12-22T18:01:00.011-05:00

Everybody shops at Macy's on 34th Street during the Christmas season but if you want a real NYC treat take a leisurely stroll up 5th Ave starting at 49th Street. Here is where you'll find the most creative window displays, especially at my favorite, Saks Fifth Avenue. You may want to stroll further up to Bergdorf Goodman for a special pair of gloves, or a fancy purse from Louie Vuitton, don't forget FAO Schwarz for the children or Cartier to buy a small bauble or a big engagement ring. Finally relax, rest and take in Central Park in a lovely horse driven carriage ride. Aaaah NYC at Christmas.

NYC At Christmas - March Of The Wooden Soldiers

2008-12-16T12:31:00.017-05:00

March of the wooden is one of the Christmas attractions in the promenade of Rockefeller Center.
These soldiers came to life in the 1934 Laurel and Hardy movie Babes In Toyland. In the movie, a mistake was made by the toymakers in Santa's workshop, when they misinterpreted an order by Santa for 600 one foot high soldiers but instead made 100 six foot high soldiers.

My pictures cannot capture the magnificent brilliance of this Christmas display. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is a Christmas hymn written by Charles Wesley honoring the birth of Jesus Christ and is captured in this wonderful attraction. Saks Fifth Ave looms in the background.

NYC At Christmas - Rockefeller Center Ice Skating

2008-12-09T12:01:00.003-05:00

NYC is one of the most beautiful places to visit during the Christmas season and this year is no exception. I have been visiting various places famous for their Christmas attractions and will blog about them in the next few posts. I'm starting with Rockefeller Center.

Everyone must absolutely experience ice skating at Rockefeller Center whether you're a skater or spectator. There is nothing quite like soaking up the ambiance while you're gliding across the ice, glancing at the Christmas decor and famous Tree in the background. If you're a spectator just watching the skaters is pleasure enough. This year I spotted Santa on the rink!

The rink was built in 1936 and opens for business from October through April. Hours and admission prices vary for pre-season and the busier holiday season. You don't need to bring skates or make reservations. You can easily rent skates but remember that the rink gets crowded, especially during the holiday season. It's best to skate early in the day or before 4 pm on weekends. Go skate have fun!!

Stop! In The Name Of Love!

2008-12-01T15:41:00.009-05:00

About 10 years ago my best friend passed away. We had been friends from kindergarten and all through our graduation from high school. We left the small town we grew up in to come to The Big Apple to go to college and begin our lives. I went to school for fashion design and she pursued a career in performing arts, met a wonderful musician, fell in love and got married.

Her husband traveled with his band and she went on the road with him until she got pregnant. They bought a house and she settled in to become a mother and housewife. Here is where the happy beginning ends. He didn't come home as often as he had been and when he did he was usually high on drugs and alcohol. She being a good Christian girl and in love stood by him through thick and thin. One day he came home sick with a cold and bad cough that just wouldn't go away. She accompanied him to the doctor, discovered he had Aids, got herself tested and found out she was positive also.

This is only one of many sad stories about how drug use can lead to increased risk behavior and change lives forever. Drug and alcohol intoxication affect judgement and can lead to unsafe sexual practices putting you at risk for getting HIV or transmitting it to someone else. Join Bloggers Unite as we share our stories in recognition of World Aids Day. Participate, get involved and stay connected by visiting...WWW.AIDS.Gov

Coffee & Grits

2008-11-24T14:57:00.006-05:00

When I was sixteen years old I remember waking to the smell of fresh coffee brewing in the kitchen. I guess I remember those days because it was the first time I was allowed to drink coffee. Actually it was steamed milk with a dash of coffee added to it but to me it was coffee. I think that's why I love Lattes from Starbucks so much. They remind me of that coffee Mom used to make for me but I'm sure she didn't know she was making a latte.

In addition to the coffee she would be cooking a pot of grits, frying bacon and making biscuits from scratch. No skimpy toast for her family. She believed in cooking a full meal to prepare us for the day ahead. No matter what else we had for breakfast coffee and grits remained the constant.

Those beautiful memories are the inspiration for my coffee & grits soap. Not only is it a tribute to my childhood memories but it makes a great soap for exfoliating the body. I also like to keep a bar in the kitchen for taking the scent off my hands after cutting onions. It is also wonderful to use after working in the garden and excellent for removing grime and grease from the hands.

After The Fall

2008-11-18T18:53:00.004-05:00

Potpourri is a mixture of aromatic ingredients placed in open containers to allow their fragrance to delicately scent a room. It's relatively easy and inexpensive to make. You can use things collected right from your own yard, from the ground in a park or in the woods.

Fall is the perfect time of year to make potpourri. The flowers are losing their petals, the leaves are more colorful and there are many interesting flower pods drying. You can gather berries, seeds, herbs, pieces of bark and small pine cones for their texture. It's a nice touch to add whole spices like star anise, cinnamon, cloves and don't forget dried orange and lemon peels. Select materials that compliment or contrast each other in color and fragrance for dramatic results. You are only limited to your imagination.

To create a more personal and unique fragrance blend try adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil. You'll also need to add a fixative such as ground orris root, tonka beans, or oak moss to give body and to help hold the scent. When you've finished gathering all your ingredients put them in a zip lock freezer bag for 2 weeks to cure. Display them in beautiful bowls around the room and enjoy.

As I Give Thanks This Holiday Season...

2008-11-10T14:40:00.009-05:00

Merriam- Webster lists the definition of a refugee as a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution. On today, November 10, over 10,000 bloggers from around the world will unite to raise our voices on behalf of more than 40 million voiceless refugees. To ask the world to face the atrocities so many human beings must endure and to join hearts and minds to help bring forward information, understanding and action.

There have been so many groups of people fleeing their countries and as the holiday season nears I am reminded of another group of refugees. A group of people left the East Midlands of England in the early 1600's to escape harassment and religious persecution. These early settlers or Pilgrims as they are commonly called established the Plymouth Colony in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. Plymouth is best known for being the landing site of The Mayflower and most notably for the First Thanksgiving Feast in The United States, now known as Thanksgiving Day.

This American Holiday is celebrated on the 4th Thursday in November. Families and friends gather to express thanks for their material and spiritual possessions. This is now the perfect opportunity for us all to be mindful of those other refugees who will not be spending this day with their loved ones. Please join us by going to http://unite.blogcatalog.com/ to tell your story, share your thoughts, say a prayer and be a part of the global solution to a global problem.

When I'm Old I Shall Wear Purple!!

2008-11-04T18:51:00.004-05:00

When I'm old I shall wear purple and big floppy hats to hide my gray hair between colorings. I shall slumber in my pajamas til noon and have tea and cake at 4 AM. I shall wear flowing silk caftans and long swoopy strands of pearls while vacuuming my living room carpet. I shall be spontaneous, gracious and awed with life.

When I'm old I shall start my own chapter of The Red Hat Society, name it The Jazzy Old Babes and shall make myself Queen of the chapter. I shall drink expensive wine from crystal goblets and celebrate the beauty of a summer sunset with a bowl of peach ice cream. I shall refuse to act my age except when it's convenient for me to do so.

When I'm old I shall call everyone younger than me "sweetie" just so I won't have to remember their names. I shall dance with wild abandon to music by Marvin Gaye, James Brown and The Beatles. I shall lie on the grass, watch the clouds go by while listening to the birds sing. I shall spend a day with a child so that I can rediscover innocence, passion and faith.

On the other hand...

When I'm old I shall not waste time having dinner with people I don't like when I can be spending it with those I adore. I shall not hide expressions of righteous indignation, wry disbelief or outright disgust. I shall not allow worry, doubt or negativity to over power gratitude. And I shall not forget to be thankful to God for allowing me all of these.

There Goes That UPS Truck Again

2008-10-28T13:44:00.009-04:00

Have you ever had the exciting experience of waiting for a package to be delivered by UPS? If you haven't , let me explain the UPS Rules to
you; because I learned them the hard way.

Rule #1 - You must be available between 8 AM and 6 PM or until we finish delivering all the packages on our route.

Rule #2 - If you have to take a shower or any long bathroom procedure it must be done before 8 AM or you may not hear the bell when it rings.

Rule #3 - When you hear the doorbell you must answer it in 10 seconds or we will leave that dreaded pink "we missed you" notice on your door.

I'm sorry to say that I have violated all three rules and I'm telling you its not a pretty sight. I broke rule #1 when I decided to go to the corner store for a snack at exactly 6 PM after waiting patiently all day and finally deciding (on my own) that they weren't coming. When I returned 5 minutes later there was that notice on the door. Rule #2 was broken when I decided, again on my own, to take a shower at around 9 AM. They never come that early or do they? When I came from the bathroom I glanced out the window and saw the UPS truck pulling off down the street. Well no problem, I hurriedly dressed, jumped in my car and caught up with the truck a few blocks away. I explained the situation, showed him proper ID and he gave me my package. I went home happy and triumphant. I could make soap! Rule #3 was broken while I was using the hand blender to make soap. Now I'm not a stupid person so I was checking every few seconds to make sure I would hear the bell. When I finished with the soap I looked out the door and you guessed it...the notice was there. How did that happen?

This time I knew just what to do. This was easy. I'd just track him down like I did the last time. I got into the car, drove around the neighborhood like a mad woman until I saw the truck. I took out my ID, showed it to him and asked for my package. He looked at the a piece of paper in his hand and told me that my address wasn't on his route. I hung my head in embarrassment, shame, and defeat. I decided that I had no alternative but to follow the rules. No shower after 8 AM, in fact, no bathroom trips at all unless it's very quick, and especially no soapmaking on UPS delivery days. Now I sit quietly on the living room couch browsing through a magazine with a clear view of the front door until my package is delivered. Now and then I'll take a 9 second bathroom break but still I'm taking a big chance.

More Trumpets, Drumrolls and Applause

2008-10-24T13:55:00.008-04:00

Last week was filled with surprises and praises which I did not expect but will gladly receive with much appreciation. First, Crafty Mug from http://craftythisandthat.blogspot.com/ gave me the much coveted Friendship Award and to top that off another blogger who I have really grown to admire for her beautiful writing, Jackie from http://jackmandora.blogspot/ gave me the enviable Brillante Weblog Award. How can a person be so blessed in one week? I have since passed on The Friendship Award to 8 other bloggers but I would like to pass on The Brillante Weblog to 5 bloggers who's work I admire and think deserve some recognition:

http://healthyseason.blogspot.com/ Hling99 has created a wonderful diet & exercise blog

http://soapswithballs.blogspot.com/ A young male soapmaker who shapes his soap differently

http://craftythisandthat.blogspot.com/ She shares her great craft project recipes with us

http://www.growinggroceries.com/ James' blog gives us tips & info on growing our own food

http://essentialwild.blogspot.com/ Planteo has been following me around with his aroma tips

The rules for acceptance of the award are as follows:

1. Pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on their creativity, design, interesting material and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each winner has to show the award and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

Congratulations and please pass the award to others who are deserving.

Thanks

Nothing Could Be Finer

2008-10-19T18:01:00.005-04:00

The South is famous for its hospitality. The first act of Southern hospitality I received was on the plane. As the plane landed, the pilot, who was from Georgia, played the song Georgia On My Mind on the loudspeaker. It was so beautiful it nearly brought me to tears. Which really isn't to hard to do. I made my way through the airport terminal, asking directions as I went, and people were friendly and forthcoming with information and directions. They were not in a hurry like in New York or rude when you approached them. I'm not saying New Yorkers are rude but they are cautious of strangers with questions. Even the rent-a-car people were helpful and cheerful with smiling faces. I felt as if I didn't know the way, they would walk me to my car.

My drive from Georgia and into Carolina was breathtaking. The reduced speed limits gave me an opportunity to appreciate the scenery. There were Palmetto Pine trees, Crepe Myrtles, Cana Lilies and tropical looking flowers of all kinds lining the highway. The directions I received from the rent-a-car place and the prominently placed road signs made it easy to find my way to the Bed & Breakfast Inn where I was staying.

My room at the Inn was peaceful, warm and inviting. There were big fluffy towels, handcrafted soaps made with citrus, sage and chamomile in the bathroom. There was a soothing lavender aromatherapy candle on the night stand next to the bed and a large spa bathrobe in the closet. My room had a set of french doors that opened into a lovely garden. The following morning the birds sang and the sun warmed my face as I sat in the garden sipping jasmine tea with wildflower honey and munching on blackberry scones laced with homemade butter. I smiled and thought to myself, nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina, especially in the morning.

Once Is Not Enough

2008-10-15T15:49:00.008-04:00

Sometimes the things we think we are doing to fight poverty are not enough. I tithe at church, give money to the homeless on the streets, donate books that I no longer read to the public library, give my gently used clothing to charity and help family members who are in need so why do I still feel guilty?

I feel that way because I know that there is more that I can be doing. This Christmas my soapmakers group and I will be making soap to give to the victims of domestic violence but that's only one day. What about the 364 days left in the year? I have pledged to myself that I will continue to donate my soaps throughout the year. I will also visit nursing homes and read to the elderly and shut in. I will help out at my local neighborhood food bank. I will also visit http://www.thehungersite.com/ once a day while online. I know it's not much but all it takes for each of us is one small step each day.

I Received The Friendship Around The World Award

2008-10-15T13:33:00.005-04:00

I was honored to receive the "The Proximidade Award" or "The Friendship Around The World Award". It was awarded to me by Crafty Mug from http://craftythisandthat.blogspot.com/ This award was originally written in Spanish but it translates to highlight blogs that are pleasing or special in some way, and also to extend the hand of friendship around the world. So I am thrilled to have received it.

And now I have been asked to pass it on to 8 other bloggers, who will in turn pass it on to 8 others. It was a hard decision for me to make because I have so many favorite blogs but here are the ones I chose:

http://jackmandora.blogspot.com/ because her stories touch my heart.

http://wateronceaweek.blogspot.com/ a great gardener who I admire.

http://fairyalchemy.blogspot.com/ she is zany & witty and I like her spirit

http://barrsbythebaysoaps.blogspot.com/ she is inspirational & my best Christian soaper.

http://almostnaturalbeauty.blogspot.com/ keeps me updated on beauty tips.

http://www.indianagardening.blogspot.com/ she has great gardening tips.

http://www.beadsandbeading.com/ best polymer clay advice online.

http://essential-oil-and-aromatherapy.blogspot.com/ for the calm in my life.

The Legend Of The Four Thieves

2008-10-13T19:36:00.007-04:00

Legend has it that during the years of the Bubonic Plague in Europe a few people found a way to avoid getting stricken by the deadly disease. Among these were four thieves who ransacked disease ridden homes and stole valuables from plague invested corpses.

When captured they were asked to divulge their secret for not getting sick in exchange for leniency. The four thieves explained that they were chemists and perfumers. They told how they devised a formula using a variety of spices, aromatic herbs, essential oils and vinegar that they rubbed on their bodies and clothing to resist contracting the infection.

Today this formula has many versions and is still popular with herbalist, aromatherapists and soapmakers. The basic version that soapmakers use consists of cinnamon, cloves, lemon, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils minus the vinegar of course. Every soapmaker adds their own twist to the recipe by adding or deleting essential oils and herbs depending on the qualities they want to bring to their soap. I use the first four oils but add Calendula flowers for texture and color. I'm not sure if the recipes fights infection but it sure makes a pleasant smelling winter soap.

Lavender

2008-10-06T21:14:00.013-04:00

My friend Valeria made her first batch of soap recently and of course the fragrance was the ever popular lavender. It got me thinking about the origins of lavender and it's universal use. The name itself is from the Latin word Lavare, meaning to wash. The Greeks and Romans bathed in lavender scented water and washer women in England were known as lavenders. It is an herb or flower, if you insist, native to the Mediterranean & Middle East but was introduced and is widely grown everywhere. I grow it in my yard and as flowering potted plants here in New York.

Lavender is cultivated for a variety of purpose. One of its many uses was discovered by Rene' Gattefosse, a founding father of Aromatherapy, when his badly burned hand was healed after it had been immersed in pure lavender essential oil. Since then, modern scientific research has established the antiseptic, antibacterial properties of lavender.

In addition to it's aromatic and alleged healing properties lavender is used for culinary as well as cosmetic preparations and is widely used for making soap. In my experience it's the number one favorite of most Soapmakers. I'm guessing that we use it to make our first soap because it is popular and accepted by both men and women. Every Soapmaker worth her/his salt must have a lavender soap in their collection.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-09-29T13:30:00.006-04:00

Here is a chance for you to participate in a breast cancer awareness program that is not going to cost you anything. No donations, personal information or obligations involved. All you need to do is visit www.catchow.com/pink/thanks.aspx and answer a few questions relating to the facts about breast cancer.

Purina CatChow, the sponsor of this campaign is donating $175,000 to Susan G. Komen For The Cure and will donate an additional $1.00 (for each person who answers the questions) up to $50,000 above the original $175,000. They ask for nothing in return not even your email address but at the end of the survey you get a nice certificate in the name of a special person you choose to honor.

Please join me in this worthwhile cause. Thanks.

Perform Random Acts Of Kindness

2008-09-26T12:33:00.029-04:00

You might not believe in Karma but I do. I believe what goes around, comes around. Most people equate that with bad acts but it is also attributed to doing good deeds.

We look at the news and see mostly bad things broadcast because basically that's what sells. Is it because it's happening to someone else so we feel safe and secure in our own little space? What would happen if one day we turned on our televisions and everything reported was good news? I'm sure we would feel just as safe, maybe even more so. Our day would be brightened, we would greet someone with a smile and they in turn would greet someone with a smile.

I tend to think that there are naturally more good, smiling people in the world than there are bad people. These good people perform random acts of kindness without giving it a second thought. For instance, someone drops something and another person points it out to them or someone falls and another helps them up. These are acts of kindness that's done unconsciously but the recipient remembers and goes on to do someone else a kindness in turn. This energy, I believe, circulates in the form of Karma keeping total evil at bay and thereby making the world a better place.

What's In That Soap Anyway?

2008-09-22T12:50:00.008-04:00

I was speaking with Our Time Press Reporter, Bernice Green a few weeks ago about soapmaking. She made a statement to the effect that natural Soapmakers are expected to have nice skin. I had never given it a thought but it makes sense.

We Soapmakers research to find the best base oils, essential oils, fragrance oils and botanicals that are good for other people's skin so why shouldn't we do the same for our skin. I know I do. The main reason I started making my own soap is because I wanted to control what goes into my product and onto my body. I use the same recipe for my customers.

I have formulated my recipes with food grade vegetable oils that are beneficial to the skin as well as long lasting in the bath. I use essential oils derived from flowers, plants, leaves, roots or barks, and high quality fragrance oils to scent my soaps. My colorants are from herbs, spices, or clays. I also use FDA approved oxides, micas and ultramarines formulated for use in soapmaking to color some of my soaps. I include botanicals such as honey, kelp, oatmeal, herbs and shea butter. Or gentle exfoliants like pumice, loofah and poppyseed.

All of these goodies plus the natural glycerin which is the main by product of natural soap makes it the best way to clean your skin and help give it that healthy natural glow.

Say Bye Bye, Now

2008-09-20T12:57:00.015-04:00

Yes, summer is almost over. We here in New York can say goodbye to those long, lazy, humid, hot days when we sipped our iced coffees at sidewalk cafes and lounged over frappucinos at Starbucks, wondering when the heat wave would ease. So long to cut off jeans and flip flops as we attended free concerts in Central Park and outdoor concerts at Lincoln Center. Sayonnara to soaking up the sun at Coney Island Beach and eating hot dogs at Nathans.

Summer is ending sure, but have no fear there is always something exciting to do in NYC whatever the season. Fall is especially nice, walking through The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, visiting The Modern Museum of Art, catching a matinee at a Broadway play or strolling through busy streets as we get special finds from vendors at street fairs and fall festivals.

Then comes old man winter, making us put on extra clothes to ward off the cold, donning hats and gloves as we make our way to Rockefeller Center to see the lighting of The Tree, The Christmas Show and watching the ice skaters as we warm our hands with hot chocolate from nearby cafes, negotiating our way through the piles of snow to the subway so we can make it to work on time. All the while wishing for those lazy, hot, humid days that we were once complaining about.

The New Comfort Food

2008-09-15T13:00:00.004-04:00

While vending at the Farmers Market Sunday, someone mentioned that my soaps were named for flowers, fruits or herbs. I wholeheartedly agree but it wasn't a master plan on my part. Or maybe it was, in the back of my mind.

What could be more natural than food? It gives us pleasure, reminding us of some special moment in time. Evoking memories of Mom baking apple pie or cookies as we walked in the door after school. Or the joy we received biting into a luscious slice of sweet ripened mango, the bliss in a bowl of fresh strawberries, savoring the first taste of a cold glass of peppermint tea or just curling up on the couch with a good book and a steaming cup of green tea. Nothing gives us such delight as smelling the wonderful aroma of flowers or the freshness of herbs.

Fragrance is one of the things that helps recapture those prescious times. Whether it comes from food, flowers or the fragrance of our Mother's favorite perfume. My deep rooted intent I guess is to make soap that brings some degree of comfort to myself as well as to others.

8 Quick Tips To Help You Feel Renewed

2008-09-12T15:46:00.011-04:00

When I'm feeling a little frazzled and need a quick pick me up here are some things I do to help me feel better. Try one or two and see if they work for you

Massage Your Ears - Grab your ear lobs and gently tug and massage ten times.

Flex Your Feet - Take your shoes off, flex your left foot and hold for the count of 5, then point and hold again for the count of 5. Repeat with the right foot. Do a set of three for each foot.

Hand Massage - Use thumb and index finger of one hand to massage the other. After you massage both then pull each finger and shake hands when you're finished.

Deep Breathing - Inhale through your nose extending your stomach out as far as you can, hold for the count of ten. Exhale slowly through your mouth while holding your stomach in. Relax. Do at least 5 times.

Facial Massage - Open your mouth wide and massage your cheek bones until the tension fades.

Water Therapy - Hold your wrists under cold running water for a refreshing lift.

Aromatherapy - Carry a cotton ball saturated with peppermint or lavender essential oil in a plastic sandwich bag and take a whiff whenever necessary.

Candle Aromatherapy - Carry a covered tin that contains a scented soy massage candle. Light it at your convenience, pour a small amount of oil in your hand and smell the aroma as you massage your hands.

It Is Easy Being Green!!

2008-09-02T16:14:00.009-04:00

Green, green, green that's all I'm hearing nowadays. I think it's a great thing! The Public and Government have finally come to their senses!

What were they doing eleven years ago when I first started making soap? At the time I didn't think of it as "green" I just wanted a soap that wouldn't dry out my skin and had as little chemicals in it as possible. There were not that many soapmakers out there and people would say, "you make soap? Why? You can buy all you want off the grocery shelf". That was before they actually started using it. Now they realize that natural soap is one of the greenest things around. We don't use much energy to make it beyond melting the oils and using the hand blender for a few minutes. It's biodegradable, not containing any substances that will harm the Earth and its excellent for your skin.

It's refreshing to see that we're paying attention to our bodies as well as to the environment. Some of my customers are not even accepting the recyclable brown paper bags I use as packaging. They want to save a tree or one of it's branches and in the words of Martha Stewart "That's a good thing."

Making Soap With Beer

2008-08-30T14:34:00.005-04:00

A Couple of weeks ago my soapmaking social group and I got together to make soap using beer. We had heard that beer makes a great shampoo bar for the hair so we decided to give it a try. On the suggestion of Marisol, one of our members, we used a dark ale, Guinness. When making soap with beer you have to ensure that it is completely flat before using it. In this case I let the beer sit for a week then put it in the freezer to turn to ice.

On the day we made our soap I took the beer out of the freezer and let it get to the consistency of a Slushy drink. I poured the required amount of sodium hydroxide in and it mixed perfectly but some pearl sized soft beads had formed on the bottom of the container. I kept stirring and eventually they dissolved back into the mixture. We surmised that the yeast had reacted with the sodium hydroxide and caused this. The mixture was a beautiful mocha color with a thin layer of white foam on top.

After mixing the other ingredients which included coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, Shea butter and Castor oil and bringing everything to a compatible temperature I mixed in the beer/sodium hydroxide and blended it all to the texture of a pudding. When I poured it into the mold it still had the look of a cafe mocha but a day later when I took it out of the mold it was a lovely light golden color. It also had the slight distinct fragrance of beer. And not in a bad way!

A Gardener, Who Me?

2008-08-20T20:30:00.003-04:00

This summer, in addition to peppers, tomatoes and herbs, I grew cucumbers, squash, okra and lettuce. I bought little seedlings and cleared a 3 x 4 feet space in my sun filled backyard but I didn't expect too much.

After watering everyday for a few weeks I started to see little flowers on some of the vines. We went away on vacation and when we returned I was extremely surprised to see full grown fruit. I couldn't believe my eyes! I grew these things and could eat them!

There were okra and peppers that I used to make a spicy shrimp gumbo. I sauteed the squash in olive oil with onions and black pepper. The cucumbers were the best I ever had. I just peeled them and ate them fresh off the vine without any salt. I highly recommend growing something to eat even if the only space you have is a sunny windowsill. Oh yeah, I'm a gardener.

Some Soaps I Like To Lick

2008-08-18T17:38:00.004-04:00

I know it sounds a little weird someone wanting to lick soap. Before you jump to conclusions let me explain. In soapmaking we use a techniques called the "tongue test". This test involves rubbing a wet finger over the surface of a bar of soap and then touching your tongue with your finger. If you feel any kind of tingling the soap is too strong and should not be used.

No worries. I don't do this kind of thing as a ritual because most soapmakers make and sell very good soap. I have seen some soap however, that I would not even trust with the tongue test. We won't talk about those. The ones I will talk about are the ones that I don't really have to test with my tongue.

Soap like Zum Bar at Indigo Wild, MoonValley Organics, Dr.Bronner or Sandy Maine's Sunfeather Soap Company are soaps I don't mind licking and I can't forget my very own company Daisy May Natural Soap. In my opinion they are among the best soaps on the market and don't have to be licked. Unless, of course, you want to.

Gye Nyame & Let The Butterfly Emerge

2008-08-11T15:39:00.005-04:00

Some people want to make soap but are afraid to and I was one of them. I would procrastinate and make excuses. Always in search of supplies, needing this or that, too hot or too cold to do it. One day I realized I had all the supplies I needed and the weather was perfect so what was my excuse. I decided to listen to the African proverb Gye Nyame that means "fear nothing but God", trust in myself to let go of the caterpillar and become a butterfly.

Reluctantly I faced my fears. I gathered the soapmaking book, the mold and all the ingredients I would need. Opened my window for ventilation, read the instructions again, said a little prayer, put on my mask and gloves and got to work. I then weighed all my ingredients, mixed them and its been natural soap in my house ever since.

Sometimes you have to look at fear, take it apart and examine it to see what part of it God can't handle. See what I mean. God is in control and there is nothing he can't handle. He has given you the knowledge and the means to conquer your fears. Trust in him and believe in the African phrase "Gye Nyame". Fear Nothing but God.

I Confess! I'm A Murderer!

2008-08-07T22:02:00.007-04:00

Okay here is how it happened. I came home from doing my much needed workout at Curves. Went into the backyard to sit, have a cold drink and do some gardening. While sitting on my comfy bench, drinking my drink and contemplating life I see them hiding behind my Blackeyed Susans.

Oh my God this can't be happening! I ran to the little tool shed to get the sharpest tool I could find. I eased back over to where they were hiding and they were still there. That's when I did it. I stabbed each one of the little buggers. It was a nasty job but no one was home except me and I had to kill them. There was no way that I could let a snail live another day in my garden.

Than I started to think. They were alive and I killed them. I felt terrible. Did they feel it? Did I break a Commandment? Does killing a snail count? I began to rationalize. They were killing my flowers, I had to protect them or there would be no petals in the morning. In fact, they could multiply and destroy the whole garden in no time at all. So maybe I didn't commit murder after all.

Use Only For Cooking

2008-08-05T20:50:00.003-04:00

You buy a pot and there is a warning label that says, "for cooking only". You laugh and say out loud "now what else in the world would I use it for if not for cooking?" Obviously you're not a soapmaker and don't personally know anyone who makes their own soap. What we soapmakers can do with household appliance and cooking untensils is beyond belief!

For instance, the stick blender is not just to make some cool drinks, we use it to help our soaps reach "trace". I don't have to tell you that we use pots to mix our ingredients and not just any pots, mind you. They must be stainless steel without a doubt! I was looking at the instructions for the crock pot the other day and it said "for household use only". I was really relieved with that one!! How else would I make my hot process/crock pot soap but in the house. All the Pyrex cup, rubber spatula and mixing spoon manufacturers sure didn't have soapmaking in mind when they made them.

But you know what? It is most appropriate to use these things to our advantage. After all, soap is actually about cooking. We follow a basic recipe or formula in our case. We add all sorts of ingredients to it, mixing, stirring, blending and perfecting it to get a finished product to the consumer. Some of us even put it in the oven to bake. Now if that isn't cooking, what is?

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

2008-08-01T19:59:00.004-04:00

Aaaah! To make wonderful soap! I take my time smelling all the fragrances in my cabinet until an idea pops into my head. The thought, of course, is planted there by my past Internet explorations, The Soapmaker magazine or browsing through old issues of Saponifier.

This time I decided that I want a lime scented soap. I have read so much about salt soap bars so I will name it Margarita (Spanish for Daisy). Partly to honor my Grandmother and also one of my friends but mostly because I am using sea salt and lime essential oil and it reminds me of the drink.

I have a strong feeling that this will become another one of my favorites. Ultimately what happens with a new favorite is that I don't want to sell it or give it away. I don't even want to bathe with it. All I want to do is pick it up, admire it, smell it and put it back on the curing rack. Needless to say I do have a lot of favorites but eventually I end up selling them or giving them away. Aaaah, parting Is such sweet sorrow.

In My Grandmother's House

2008-07-21T21:53:00.005-04:00

Celeste means heavenly in French, that was my paternal Grandmother's name, but her grand children called her GramMo. She was a natural woman and didn't even know it. She always kept a large box of Arm & Hammer baking soda and a large box of 20 Mule team Borax in her kitchen. I didn't know what they were used for at the time but now I do. She used them for cleaning. I remember a honeysuckle vine in the front yard and cana lilies near a little concrete pond where I would sit until the mosquitoes would get to me. And how can I forget my granddaddy's huge pear tree that dominated the backyard.

Another thing she did was raise chickens. She kept them in a chicken coop behind my granddaddy's auto mechanic shop that was about twenty five feet from the backdoor. She would let them out daily to exercise and just roam to their hearts content. I remember them running around in the backyard looking for food. There was a mean rooster that would chase my cousin little Henry every time he saw him.

She made us put all the leftover scrapes from the dining room table in a covered bucket on the back porch that would be taken to feed the hogs. I didn't know whose hogs they were or where they were kept but we fed them. Christmas time was especially joyous in her house. Relatives from out of town would come to visit and there was plenty of good things to eat. Her pineapple coconut cake made from scratch was a favorite. She also made a cake with apple jelly between the layers. It was incredible.

I don't bake, raise chickens or have hogs to feed but I did inherit her talent for wanting to live off the land. I make soap (inherited from my maternal grandmother), grow herbs, tomatoes and flowers. I even grew a honeysuckle vine in my own backyard until it started to take over. Now it's growing on the next door neighbor's fence. I recycle, compost, save water and try to treat the environment with respect. Trying to live up to all that went on in my Grandmother's house.

Who's Your Doggie?!!

2008-07-18T19:57:00.009-04:00

I'm reading a book by John Grogan entitled Marley and Me. It tells the story of life and love for his dog Marley. While reading I'm reminded of how we all love and become attached to our dogs no matter how quirky they are. Or how they eat our favorite shoe or chew up our antique coffee table and we still love them.

We buy toys and treats to keep them happy. We buy jackets, sweaters and rain coats to keep them warm and dry. Sometimes we let them sleep on our beds and in our favorite chair. They are fed the most balanced of dog foods, taken to doggie spas and of course, make us walk them and pick up their poop. They show their love by kissing our faces with those wet sloppy kisses.

So why don't we go a step further and make sure their skin and coats feel the way we want ours to feel. We don't want dry and itchy skin and neither does Marley. We want clean, shiny, healthy hair and Marley should have the same. He may not be able to see his healthy coat or even care but he sure looks nicer when he's bathed and smelling clean. Use a natural soap formulated just for him, using the essential oils of lemongrass, eucalyptus, cedarwood, citronella, peppermint, tea tree and lavender made by Daisy May Natural Soap. Boy will he be a happy contented dog and the shine in his coat will show that you care about him. Now that's who you want your doggie to be!!

Bathers Paradise at The Farmers Market!!

2008-07-15T22:59:00.004-04:00

From a block away people are wondering where those alluring smells are coming from. Then they see my booth with baskets filled with natural handcrafted soap and lavender curtains draped across the front of the canopy. I'm located right next to the pickle guy which should be a problem but the sweetness of the soaps hold their own against the sourness of the pickles.

After smelling vinegar and dill its a pleasure to pick up a bar of Lavender soap and visualize going home to take a leisurely relaxing bath. Maybe even take a quickie shower with the Peppermint soap to wash the odor of the fumes from the 5th Ave bus off your skin. I take great joy in seeing the look on the face of a chocoholic teen as she buries her nose in a bar of my Tootsie chocolate fragranced soap. I even had to scream at a little child who was about to take a bite from the Bubblegum soap. It smelled so much like Bazooka bubblegum that she wanted to eat it. A good thing my products are made from food grade ingredients and are nontoxic or there would be big trouble. And than again maybe not, because Mom could always buy my Beer soap so Dad could wash his mouth out with soap every once in a while!!

So listen up, if you're ever in Brooklyn on a Sunday morning, stop by the Farmers Market on 5th Ave between 3rd & 4th Streets and pick up a little somethin' sweet and something a little sour. Guaranteed the sweet is better for your skin!!

Boy Do I Love Making Soap!!

2008-07-12T11:24:00.001-04:00

Yeah, I do love making soap a great deal. All those wonderful essential oils, herbs, clays and other botanicals to try. So why now am I stuck in the mud today? I know I have to make 4 batches for my Farmers Market but I keep putting it off. I'd rather write in my Blog at the moment. Is it the work? No I think it's the getting started part. Well, I have to get over it soon because Daisy May Natural Soap company does not run itself. I am the only soapmaker so I'd better get shaking. Let's see what's on the schedule to make.

Uh oh, my inspiration is starting to flow as I think about the faces of my customers as they smell this Chocolate soap I'm about to make. Or the pleasure the jogger will get out of using the tingly uplifting Peppermint after a workout. Not to mention the soothing qualities of the Cleopatra made with creamy nourishing goat's milk and honey...ahh fit for a Queen or her King. Ohhh, the lavender, the smell is so relaxing and calming. Okay! Gotta Go!!

DaisySoapGirl

Hey!! I'm A Certified Soapmaker!

2008-07-10T11:06:00.001-04:00

You know it just dawned on me! I'm a Certified Soapmaker and I was keeping that to myself. I would look at my certificate and say to myself...I really passed the test, I have to get this laminated, I have to hang it up for people to see. Than I realized I have a homebased soapmaking business with a home office and who is going to see it if I don't invite them. Duh! So I decided that I would shamelessly promote my achievement. Yes I earned it!! I studied hard for months wondering what would be on the exam. I studied the much dreaded math portion because I knew we would have some sort of recipe formulations. I read all thirty or more soapmaking books I have in my library looking for clues as to what they would ask. This would be the first exam for Soapmakers to be certified by the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild and I wanted to be in on the ground floor. The certificate proves to the public that you are trained in the science of soapmaking. That you know what you're doing and people should feel confident to use your products. So having said all that. I congratulate myself again for passing the test to become a Certified Soapmaker!!

The Power Of Possibility

2008-07-10T00:34:00.000-04:00

The next chapter of my life. How exciting to be retired from a job so that you may begin recreating yourself and fulfilling your passion. What took me so long? I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. It took me 46 years to actually realize I wanted to do what I did when I was a child. That is, I wanted to do arts and crafts and have people look at them and say what a great thing you've created...what is it? I wanted to grow flowers, to sew, to crochet doilies, bake cupcakes and make soap like my Grandma Daisy. And you know what, there is money in doing those things. But wait, when you were a child didn't everybody say to you, "you can't make a living doing that, you need a profession, become a teacher, a nurse, a secretary. Develop a skill you can fall back on." No one ever thought of the power of possibility. There was the possibility that my creations would make thousands of dollars as "abstract art". There was the possiblity that my sewing and crocheting would be designer pieces. The possibility of improving upon my Grandmother's crude lye soap recipe to make my own formula of beautiful, scented, herbal soap, ph balanced and mild enough for the most sensitive of skins. The power of possibility, only a child would know where real passion lies.