Bittersweet and the little soap company

More Yardly Stuff

 

I picked several bouquets from the snow ball bush on Friday. I'm amazed how long they last! No need to flatten the stems like needed  with the pink hydrangea's, just pop em in a water filled vase and enjoy their white snow ball clusters for days.

Lately, with the help of muscle man Lennis, we've moved in a few new residents into our back yard. The new guests are very quiet, stay in one place, and require little or no attention, oh they don't talk either!

 

I have no idea how he ever got this rock into the back of this truck, but he did! He's brought home lot's of rocks, but this is the biggest by far.

Missouri is full of  both limestone and granite, and I fancy both kinds of rocks. I'm thinking about cutting out my tombstone out of the limestone rock we have for a back stoop,  just kidding! "Here lay's Jill, a crafty girl, she even carved her own tombstone!"  But really, who doesn't like rocks?

Moving on and getting ready for the "Farm Show", this Saturday! I think Julie and I are going out to the farm tonight to get a closer look at things and try to figure out where we want to be.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Spring Mix

 

This past week I've been working on several different projects. I'm also preparing for the "Farm Show" which is next Saturday. I've been working on some new things and planning a makeover on some Bittersweet products and a few nips and  tucks throughout the studio.

Lot's of soap wrapping going on around here!

I'm anxious to begin a new project too.

Changing the subject completely..

While planning the plants for the yard I have been thinking about the sweet little birds. I filled the bird bath with fresh water, planted some bird food plants, like millet a seedy grass,  and sunflowers, and sprinkled a seed mixture of wildflowers that both the hummingbirds and their cousins will enjoy an afternoon of sipping on some sweet nectar, and hopefully I can watch from afar. Simple pleasures..

I have decided not to have a garden this summer. Our yard is shaded so that even though I managed to yield a satisfactory number of cucumbers and tomatoess last summer, the critters really enjoyed my garden more than I, especially those pesky raccoons. One night they ate over 87 tomatoes's! They left me one green tomato, I was crushed!

The fact is if I really want to get serious about a garden that means some tree's need to come down and I love tree's, so that's the garden story.

I will continue my Saturday morning jaunts to the Farmers Market and stock our pantry with fresh home grown veggies and fruits. Get to say hello to my kid too:)

Enjoy a caring and sharing Spring day.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

What a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

What a beautiful Spring calm non-rainy day for an Art event. That is indeed what Saturday presented us with.

Enjoy this gallery shots of the day.

       

I was quiet pleased with the attendance. I'm guesstimating around six-hundred attendees. Bittersweet had fun, met new people, greeted by old friends and patrons, and all in all, a lovely Spring day.

A heart-felt thanks goes out  to the Cozad's for all the hard work to prepare for this event, and thanks for having me.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Lovely Spring, oh so lovely.

 

The tulips are popping out, and oh how I so love Spring! Then again, who doesn't? I couldn't resist taking this shot, so bright and Spring Cheery.

As we all know, with Spring comes rain. You know that old saying, "April Showers Bring May Flowers", it's true.

I'm trying not to think about the R word this morning, because there is a huge mass moving our way. I'm hoping it will hold off until after the show tomorrow, but this morning when I awoke, windows open because it's mild, I smelled rain. Yeah, that's yet another perk that comes with a very good working nose.

I thought these lavender sachets looked pretty stacked upon one another outdoors next to the begonia's.

 

Enjoy a caring and sharing Spring day.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Lilac Love

 

The first lilac's of the season are beginning to bloom. Lilacs are probably my favorite Spring flower. They are short lived but their aromatic perfume fragrance and purple hued blossoms linger in my mind forever.

Preparing for the "Art on the Hill" show and remembering how much work is involved in the preparation of a show. Fun work though, and I'm looking forward to being on the hill and meeting some new friends. Also, I hope you can come!

   

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

May Day

 

The following week after the show Bittersweet is hosting their annual May Day Celebration. This year I've included a favorite theme, little birds. In fact, I named it "Birds of a Feather, Get Together."

The event is usually the week before the first of May, but with all that's going on at Bittersweet and Calico, the celebration has been moved up until the second day of May.

I've mentioned before how much I treasure the childhood memories of this sometime overlooked vintage celebration. The happy memories I have gathering early Spring Midwest blossoms with my Mom as a little girl , violets, spirea, wild plum blossoms, and lilac's and then transform their petals into lovely May Day baskets. 

This is an insert from last years talk of May Day from my lovely Aunt.    You will also find my favorite Lavender Cookie recipe, and the directions for making an adorable May Day Pouch.

May Day Poem

by Jill McDowell, Lincoln

My favorite month is here, and I'm shouting a huge cheer

For with her comes flowers in bloom, and after that, a Junie Moon

Her smiley face follows me wherever I go, and I'm taken by her mojo

In honor of her special day, a posy of daisies I gathered from the bay

I dream about the days to come while I travel to and from

A happy face I'll carry, as I frolic in the May of Merry

Enjoy a caring and sharing Spring.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

Spring

Once again the week just blew by. While most of my neighbors depart for sunny beaches or hilly snowy slopes during Spring break, this busy soap maker prefers the comfort of her home. 

I performed a week of doggy sitting for one traveling neighbor, friend. While Lennis enjoyed the big season opener baseball game with friends just like he's been doing for some thirty years.

Our annual Easter Egg hunt at my Dad's was threatened with a spring rain, but was spared and held off until the very last minute as I notice one or two fat rain drops falling just as the last egg was being picked up by little hands.

All in all a memorable Easter enjoyed by my family.

I hope your Easter was memorable too.

In between Easter break too, the first of three shows is fast approaching and my inventory is not at capacity.

Lot's of soap making and wrapping going on in my kitchen lately and more planned ahead.

Oh, and an update on the cookbook! It appears, the cookbook will be published sometime during the summer months and ready to send out late summer early fall. My plan was to have it published early Summer, but it's not working out as planned. If I hurry the process, the end results won't be satisfactory to my liking, you know what a perfectionist I am, don't you?

I haven't forgotten those of you that are going to receive a signed copy once it's off the presses. I'm so excited about sharing this book with you and you won't be disappointed in the collection of vintage recipes.

Yesterday at dinner my Step Sister, Jill, yes her name is Jill too, can you believe that?

Anyway back to that, Jill served Mac & Cheese and it was the best Mac & Cheese, and who doesn't like Mac & Cheese, really?

I asked for the recipe and my Step Mom said that I already had the recipe among the ones she had given me. I hadn't listed her recipe's in the cookbook yet. I am thrilled to have this recipe, one that her Mother used, and another wonderful vintage recipe.

While searching for my soap table displays, the ones I used to use while doing shows, never found them, probably tucked away in the shed, which is on my to-do-list for an overhaul once I get the Spring shows underway.

 

I did however find this, a wooden dish rack that I thought would be perfect for displaying soap.

The pink grapefruit, geranium soap is a huge hit! Even though it has a couple of weeks curing time left, customers were placing bars of the aromatic soaps in their baskets on Saturday planning on sticking the bars in their drawers until the soap was ready to use. I have to say, it is a wonderful blend and probably will be a favorite soap to grab from the rack to take upstairs to the bath.

Back to early morning routines and busy working, creating days.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

A happy little yellow flower

 

The beginning of Spring just wouldn't be complete without these happy little yellow flowers.

 

Lennis brought home a couple of bundles home and every time I gaze at them I can't help but be anxious and excited about Springs arrival.

Julie and I had fun at the flea market show. Lot's to see. I purchased a few things, an old metal washing bucket for displaying laundry powders at the upcoming Spring shows, and Julie found the cutest little shabby table.

We carefully placed the two fairly large pieces atop one another in the back seat of her Volkswagen Bug. Although skeptical that we were going to be able to get both into the small car, we did!

A busy week planned. A break from house stuff and working on only new creations and Spring Soaps and packaging.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Over the hill, and through the woods..

Julie and I met with a small group of "Country Show" participators last night and we convoyed West over the hills and through many woods to get to Kelly and Ron's beautiful farm, ranch.

Firstly, this is going to be a really big show folks!

Secondly, the concept, the plan. An all day fun Spring event for the entire family.

Here's the ho-down, I mean low down peeps.  

Horse back riding, shopping like you've never imagined, and doggies and kitties from a animal rescue organization, live entertainment like, a cowboy poet and live music from an all girl band, face painting for the youngsters, yeah. 

There's more.. 

Tasty vittles served by our very own home-town favorite eatery," Six", and if that's not enough for you, how about just sitting on the green grass taking in a beautiful Spring day in the country!

I took a few pictures, just so you could get a feel for the little village on the hill.

   

 

It's still Winter in the Midwest but Spring is fast approaching. These pictures will transform themselves into shades of lush green and colorful splashes of red bud blossoms forming a blooming landscape in May . 

   

 

This is the front of the large barn, stunning!

How about the darling little horse trailer, circa, 1962!

 

 

Lot's of planning.. Check out the horse stalls in the background. We're filling them with creative artist's that will showcase their wares.

The big day, May 16th, and I'll keep you posted between now and then. I will provide a map, and more information as it gets closer to the Country Show Event.

I have some lovely shots of Julie's shop coming soon. Julie just got a new web site and I'll be including a link and information about her unique Shabby Vintage Boutique.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Soft Spring

 

The kitchen is coming along nicely. I'm focusing on soft cool shades of Spring during the re-do. Love the muslin on the walls, and the pantry in it's shades of white. 

   

Re-purposing some items and re-generating others. I love glass mixed with wicker, always have.

 

My little Hoosier office is spiffy and clean and prepared for a busy Bittersweet Spring.

Ah Spring, and the tender new thoughts that blissfully chauffeur it in.

I love Spring!

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)