If you follow the beat of your own drum, that’s a powerful trait. It means you're not swayed by peer pressure or simply following the crowd. In times like these, when values and beliefs are constantly tested, it’s more important than ever to stand firm. Now is the time to boldly proclaim your faith and determination! Don't be afraid to show the world who you are and what you believe in—it might just inspire others to do the same.
October at Bittersweet Apothecary is no longer a quiet transition but a busy prelude to the holiday season! Over the years, we’ve seen a shift as the "Ber" months bring a sudden burst of energy and anticipation. What was once a time of preparation has transformed into a fast-paced, soulful period where we’re finalizing holiday prototypes and wrapping up our seasonal collections. With our November 1st reveal just around the corner, it feels like everything is moving at lightning speed—and this year, the excitement is greater than ever!
Without sounding redundant, there's an immense amount of effort behind every Bittersweet presentation. Since we make our inventory entirely by hand—from the first step to the final product—time becomes one of our most precious resources. I’ll be honest, as a soap maker, I’m not too fond of working late into the night to finish everything. But when you run a small business, sometimes it’s part of the journey, and late-night hours are just part of the process. Those thoughts are what make Bittersweet stand out!
I've been clearing my gardens pulling up weathered tomatoes and making room for a winter crop of Chesnok Garlic. I'll add fresh dirt to the beds along with compost and then bury the heads and cover them with straw. If all goes well I expect a nice crop of purple garlic next June. I'm amazed at how you can grow garlic in the dead of winter. What the heck, I'm easily amazed about many things. I hope that I never lose that! One of the pleasures of life is getting excited about the small things. One can get caught up with the world, especially in today's world, and miss these magical moments.
We're having what I refer to as an Indian Summer. Warm and dry as we navigate into Autumn. I guess that it's not considered politically polite to refer to this type of fall as such. We can still agree to disagree. At least for now. Let's call it a Quince Summer. This is the time of year when the Quince begins to bear fruit. Are you familiar with Quince? It's an old-fashioned fruit that you don't hear about nowadays. The tree produces beautiful blossoms in the spring. During my morning walk there's a small quince tree along the road. It took me a while to know what it was, but once it bloomed and the fruit started showing it was easier to identify.
My linen sheets are hanging outside on the line. Let me say that if you have pure linen sheets and you hang them in the warm autumn sunshine your reward is huge as you crawl in your bed at night! The crispness but yet softness and the amazing fresh air scent rock me to sleep.
Jill
