Life & Soap Shows



Nathan's pomegranate tree

SO.....



It's soap show time!!!

You never know what is going to sell.

For the last several years, our dominant category in all products was floral

and that's where I concentrated my efforts.

The trend this past spring was fruits and spices, seems that trend is continuing.

Our demographic is widening, we're all over the page now.

Customers that were hard sells previously are now purchasing our products.

Not just the soaps either, all our products are selling better.

Personally, I've been feeling the earthy vibe for awhile.

Something I have noticed is,

when I'm formulating a new scent, and purchasing

the scents for it from my local supplier,

a few months later they are selling "that" scent pre-blended.

I've even noticed them naming the scent pretty close to, or the same as mine.

I order under my Co. name, pretty easy

to go to my site and see what I'm up to.

Whatever...

 My husband says I should be flattered.

Again, whatever!!

Yesterday's show was great with lots of sales and today was spent

making more soap, etc.

I have four more shows for the year and I foresee my immediate future

filled with soap bubbles.

Oh yea,

I was contacted yesterday by a local B&B for soap.

We shall see where that goes.



My morning view from the surreal world (work)

Till next time,

Bonjour

.....God Blessed Texas!

Oh my, we've experienced rain!

I've quit keeping track of the 100 degree plus days,

the long string of no rain days,

just too depressing to think about!

We've had to quit the garden,

concentrating only on keeping  the trees and herbs alive.

Today?

God truly blessed us with rain.

AMEN!

I can see a difference,

really.

My herbs?

I may lose some.

Sage

The sage is hanging in there along with the rosemary,
 but the lemon balm, lemon verbena, mints,
 oregano, basil and thyme are not doing as well.
Grasshoppers are also wreaking havoc!
The fruit and nut trees?
They'll make it by the grace of God.

Young Mulberry Tree, Happy

Notice the icky brown grass?

Mature Mulberry Tree Lookig way Sad!



Walnut Tree

More icky brown grass, cow food?
Where's that combine?

The Mesquite Tree, Protecting my wild blackberries!

Don't bother me now Grandma!

Till next time,
 Bonjour

P Is For Poison And I have The Recipe



My Poor Oleander



The Rhubarb



Well...

Remember the boy at work who told me,

"WHEN THE WORLD FALLS APART

I'M COMING TO YOUR PLACE BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALL THE FOOD,

AND IF YOU DON'T FEED ME I'LL KILL YOU, AND EAT YOU"?

I have a special salad just for him.

RHUBARB AND OLEANDER LEAVES SALAD

WITH RANCH DRESSING. HEHE!!!

Just kidding!

We're working on a fence, got the posts set, now we need the wire and a gate.
You never know who might show up uninvited!!!!





Blooming Plum



The New Persimmon Tree





In the five or so years that we've lived here, in addition to the shade type trees, 

Steve has planted about twenty fruit trees,

(peach, pear, pomegranate, fig, quince,
apple, persimmon, plum and apricot)

several nut trees,
(black walnut and pecan)
not to mention the veggie garden.

Add to that all of the herbs I've planted.

(rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano, all kinds of mints,
lemon balm, lemon verbena, basil, dill,
garlic, fennel and onions.)

On the property Nathan and I discovered
wild garlic, wild walking onions and wild blackberries.

The previous owners planted two mulberry trees.

So as you can see we have a lot of plants to tend.

That's a lot of work and water.

It anyone wants to come out here and help with the work

I have no problem feeding you,

 otherwise you get an Oleander and Rhubarb Leaves Salad.

YUM!!!


The New Pear Tree

In this part of Texas, Cedar and Mesquite trees are quite prolific.

If you aren't careful they will take over and choke out anything else.

Believe me, I've seen this first hand.

With a little help from Google I've discovered that you can make a
flour type product from the Mesquite bean seeds.
Complicated process but it's useful info in a crisis.
We have several of both trees on our property.
If anyone knows of a food use for Cedar trees I would be happy to know.



One Of The Mulberry Trees
(Maybe I should Turn That Rain Barrel Right Side Up?)



My Favorite Mesquite Tree

Underneath both of these trees are wild blackberry bushes.

You gotta love the birds for this,

they sit in the trees and poop out berry seeds and viola,

BERRY VINES.

Nature is a strange and wonderful thing.

SUNSET

What kind of plants do you have growing?

Nathan and I had  a very busy day cooking and exploring
so I'm off to watch Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom.
One of his favorites!
Till next time,
Bonjour

The Post Lady Always Rings Twice

Well....

The post lady never rings twice because she knows

I work, and I don't have a doorbell.

And if it's been raining, she doesn't come down my driveway,

she just throws my packages toward the sign.

I have a sign at the soon to be gate, that says, Blue Sky.
(Yeah, we named our property.)

Anyway, this package was small enough to fit into the mail box,

so ringing wasn't necessary.

A package for me, I ask my husband?

I'm not expecting a package, I say!

From Kentuckey he says.

Hand it over, I say.

Has to be Sue!

Oh yeah, a package of goodies.

Sue is very talented when it comes to needlework,

she has much more paitence than I do.

Crochet doilies, hot pads, pot holder, check keeper, pot scrubby, fridge magnet,

and bookmark, at least that's what I'm going to use them for.

Thanks Sue, I wish my photos did them justice!!!!

Well it's 11:00 and I need to go to bed.

I have to get up early and return to the surreal world, AKA work!

Oh yeah, there's a guy at work who told me,

"I'm not preparing for the apocalypse,when the world falls apart,

 I'm going out to your house to get all your food,

and if you don't give it to me,

 I'll kill you, then eat you"!!!!

TRUE!!!

I was dumbfounded, didn't know what to say.

How scary is that?

How would you have reacted?

More on that next time.

Till then,

Bonjour

No Dallas Super Bowl Sunday For Me!!!

WELL....

I had another quilt post scheduled for today

but since the weather was so super, I was able to venture

outside for some much needed sunshine!!!

Laundry was hung out, carrots and fruit trees were planted,

spray painting projects were finished, herbs were meddlied, bees were checked on,

and many pictures were taken.



FRUIT TREE




LADY POSING IN FRONT OF THE ROSEMARY

 






RED DOG



STEVE PLANTING CARROTS

























BEE HIVE



NATHAN MIXING HERBS






REDOING AN OLD FLOOR LAMP



POND AND MORE ROSEMARY





Also made some herb bread for Nate to take to his mom,

un-molded soap, and generally just enjoyed the warmer weather.

BAD weather on it's way!!!

Till next time,

Bonjour