I'm just peeking in for a few minutes. My car is in the shop for its annual winter check-up, and I've been blowing leaves and trimming bushes before old man winter arrives. I picked up all of my Thanksgiving groceries early and turkey and pumpkin pie are on my menu. I have the tree up too! I'm not sure and for whatever reason, I was eager to put the Christmas tree up this year. I captured the shot of Elle sitting on the living room rug and thought about how that would make a great Christmas card. The shop window is filled with warm hues and our home is decked out with sugar pinecones and white tassels. Thoughts of blessings and thankfulness filled my heart last night as I pondered my life and the people that are in it. How glorious it is to not have any wants or needs, and along with those feelings realize some do not share those thoughts. Feeling blessed each and every day.
My little Norfolk pine is thriving. I gave her a healthy trim and cut-off dead branches. She was singing a happy song, and I also believe her branches were swaying. There's a story behind that, but it's a personal one. I'll share someday.
My mind is traveling back and forth with ideas for holiday packaging. We ordered these cute little Christmas tree bags, and I love the idea of an all-white bag with ribbon. A simple piece of greenery as embellishment. We've offered these packaged soap items before, and they remain timeless and one of my favorite things about the holidays.
The picture of my dad and me from back when. This picture sits in my shop and reminds me of blessings gracefully given by God. I love it when customers ask me about the picture. There are also pictures of my aunt and my great-grandmother Lucy at my shop. Every now and then I gaze up and look at the pictures to remind me of just how darn lucky I am to have such amazing people in my life and a part of me realizes I am who I am because of them.
A delightful story.
Step one, make the best soap ever with the recipe that you’ve fastidiously developed twenty-five years ago, Step two, tenderly cut the bars. Step 3, allow the soap to cure for four to six weeks so that it ages to perfection. Step four, wrap the moisture-rich bars in stunning paper and design labels to perfection. Step five, happily wrap and offer a new soap each week because we love soap, and the ability to offer you an aromatic delightfully wrapped bar of new goodness every single week is our jam!
We're coming upon Shop Small Day! It doesn't seem possible, but we are. A while ago I played out our shop hours and realized that Bittersweet Apothecary is only open 19 more days before Christmas and our annual winter nap. Every year I also am taken by surprise at how quickly it arrives and how fast it's gone.
We made Cherry Crumble last night. This is such an easy recipe, but it's one of those desserts that gets rave reviews each and every time that you serve it. My ex-sister-in-law shared the recipe with me years ago. I've been making it for years. Here's the recipe if you want to try it. You can change the fruit filling with apple, peach, blueberry, etc. Most of the time I make everything from scratch, but every now and then I'll find an easier version of something that compares with scratch. It's almost time to share my toffee recipe too.
Blessings to you.
Jill
