Bittersweet and the little soap company

Blowing through the jasmine in my mind.

I ordered fresh jasmine and eucalyptus for the shop. Both plants are two of my favorites! The jasmine sits across from our checkout table so that I can really take in its beauty as I wait on customers. Spring!

A little nook of goodness at our shop. Those black woven pillows go outside in the rocking chairs on the porch. I have to tell you that I'm thrilled with pillow covers! I ordered the covers here. The concept of using old Turkish rugs to make pillow covers is nothing short of amazing! I must warn you, if you love pillows you may get lost with all the choices. I'll also ease your mind about shipping because I received my orders in about a week even though they're shipping from Turkey. 

The purple thistles and the woven basket were a recent find that I found here. 

My heart skipped a beat when I spotted this healthy jade plant at a recent trip to our local home improvement store. I have had hundreds of house plants over the years, but I don't recall ever having a jade plant. They are in the succulent family. After researching I found that they prefer southern exposure. I might add that the price on this vibrant jade plant was incredible! Bonus!

Our new sofa arrived early which means it's sitting in the middle of our living room for the time being until I get the trim cut out with fresh paint. I'm quite pleased with the craftsmanship and to know it arrived in a box! I love the smoky grey! I can't wait to share our new remodeled space with you. It's coming along nice, but it's slow going and work is in between soap making and packing orders. I'm one of those people that thrives on many projects going at once. After searching high and low I found the sofa here.  

I can't wait to get the trim painted and start merchandising our living room! Oh yeah, I'll be sharing and I'm also going to share sourcing. I feel like sourcing is the most time consuming and hardest part of designing a room. I'm happy to ease the hassle by sharing. 

We've been gifting customers with fiddle leaf fig starters at our shop! My Jack in the Beanstalk Figs are needing a trim so I'm dipping the stalks in root hormone and propagating starts. Fiddle Leaf Figs are one of the easiest houseplants. Seriously, they are super easy and low maintenance. I give my shop figs and home figs a tiny drink of water each week, and they get filtered sun at home. If you're local and you would like to grow this plant in your home I'm happy to share starters after they are rooted and ready to be stuck in dirt and a pot. 

This weeks new soap has arrived a week early! I've been offering early releases so that I can get a jump on wrapping. Speaking of wrapping, isn't this paper stunning? I'm also working on putting together goodie bags for the upcoming May Day Celebration. 

If you placed an order recently or visited our shop you received an invitation!

This luscious soap is back!

Oh, these two go together, don't they?

Keep the faith.

Jill 

 

I believe...

I love the slowness of winter! The way the sun seems to shine brighter on a cold winter day. The scent of candles flowing through our home. A mountain of books just sitting, waiting, while reminding me they're there if I desire them. 

These things ring true and offer substance even though they might seem to be trivial. Sometimes the simple less thought-out method of living especially during winter warms the heart in a way that compares to nothing else. 

Once January arrives Bittersweet begins to get back into the swing of manufacturing. It always feels as though I'm starting over since I begin building inventory from the ground up after selling out during the holiday season. 

It's a time of renewal and growth and new beginnings for mind, body, and spirit. It feels like a well-rounded opportunity!

I've already begun soap manufacturing, and new prototypes are being examined carefully. New 2021 shipments are beginning to arrive and our store will once again get a make-over as we begin celebrating the New Year by ushering in our new ideas and creations. 

 I know that I say this each New Year, but it's always true. I'm more excited about this year than any other! 

Our home is quiet and peaceful. 

Keep the faith.

Jill 

 

 

December to remember...

We sold out of soap on Saturday!

Every holiday season I make a projection on the number of bars needed to fulfill online orders and door store customers. I used to work for a small book fair company and I was taught to make projections on the number of books needed for each school. I was amazed at how accurate it was. Without fail, it always came super close! Little did I know then that the knowledge past would help the knowledge future with my own business. The projections are usually accurate but just as I was amazed then, I'm amazed now at how their accuracy works with soap!  I always call it a Christmas miracle! 

This past year, however, has not resembled anything close to other years. So I really didn't know what to expect. My expectations were met when we sold out of soap on our last day open for the year. Visions of sugarplums have been dancing in my head! I'm feeling blessed and thankful for this holiday regardless of any obstacles and stumbling blocks that have popped up in the past ten months. As you know even without a pandemic challenging things to come and go so it's best to keep your chin up and fill your heart with joy. This is something I've especially nurtured and cultivated this year! 

The Bittersweet Apothecary is closed for our annual winter break. I've added a few days this year simply as a reflection of the climate. 

I'll take a week off or so and then start to rebuild inventory. It's like starting over!

My Christmas lingers into January as I begin planning our Spring lines, new soaps, flavors, products, etc. 

It's always a happy moment to ponder thoughts of spring in the dead of winter. I'll also vamp the store designs and play with merchandising. One of my favorite things is to design my store. 

 

A few years ago I purchased this picture. I love it! At night the little lights on the tree shine brighter and the old farmhouse windows glimmer. You actually want to climb into the picture! At least I do!

I spent the day delivering gifts to neighbors and some of my elderly friends. This year has been particularly hard on older folks. If you can share a tiny piece of joy, then I say do it!

I also made rum cakes. The petite cakes are the perfect size for sharing. I wrap them in cello and tie a ribbon around them. I've also sampled a couple! They are tasty and a twist on the usual holiday treats. I usually make toffee and pralines, but this year Rum Cakes won the toss. These recipes are floating around the internet. I used this one. I also poured the cake dough into small individual bundt pans like the picture. These little mini bundt pans are nice to have in your kitchen stock. They also offer them smaller. A set of twelve that I find are handy too. I have an obsession with individual cake pans! I feel that a girl can never have enough of them!

During my break, I'm planning on painting our dining room. I've decided on a dark color for the walls. We have white shutters and lots of them along with white molding along the top and dark color will look amazing. 

A customer sent me this handmade card a few years ago. I treasure the sentiments and it helps take me back to my roots. 

Some sweet memories... I am almost certain that Santa had just asked us if we had been good little girls and boys. My eyes are closed which means I said yes, but I might have been telling a fib. 

Merry Christmas!

May your heart be filled with blessings of joy, peace, and love.

Jill 

 

 

 

Faith

The past few days have been spent visiting a couple of chain retail stores and during my visit, I've noticed that both stores are not restocking new merchandise. If they do the shelves are sparse and almost empty. Have you noticed this too? It can mean a number of things and is to be expected with a pandemic. It could be a demographic thing, but I don't believe so. I would imagine if I traveled to California or New York I'd encounter the same. 

During my visits to these stores and as I headed back to my car empty-handed my mind wandered about on the different reasons those shelves were empty. There's a number of reasons that come into play, but let's start with a pandemic. That will help to put these reasons into perspective. 

Firstly, these stores don't know what tomorrow brings. Will they be forced to close again? Will shoppers return and shop in their stores like before the pandemic? Will the economy bottom out? Those three questions are key and help answer the question of why their inventory is so low.  

I can assure you that these three questions have been asked over and over by corporate leaders and retail establishments. The problem, there is no easy answer. Their future is undetermined. 

These questions bring on multiple questions and concerns and the to-do list is long. 

The other day I was chatting with someone and they were pretending that times were, well like before the virus hit. I said to them, it is not like it was before! Businesses are taking precautions that they've never in their wildest dreams would have even considered say a year ago! Our minds are filled with unanswered questions and concerns. 

Typically sales are down for most small businesses, including my small business, and the future is undetermined. That word!  Undetermined! I now consider it a bad word!

Turning it around...

As I was walking back to my car I began to experience thankful feelings that immersed themselves in gratitude. I have kept a steady eye on Bittersweets numbers. Our numbers were'ent too bad, considering. Our overhead was low and since we make most of our inventory we have not been forced to depend on others for the goods that we carry in our store. 

I know that this post seems gloomy and sad. It is not intended to bring you down. It's simply helping to expand your knowledge and understanding. 

Bittersweet considers ourselves fortunate in more ways than we can count! We continue to offer new merchandise on a weekly basis and the reason we can do that and justify doing so is that we are a manufacture. I can assure you that if we were a wholesale, retail business, we would not be ordering new items nor re-stocking our shelves. There are too many risks involved in this unstable climate.

Sadness continues and let's be real...

I'm saddened by the fires burning in our country. So many lives are being emptied from their homes and their future is uncertain. That word! 

We must not lose hope in our future and the grit and determination of our fellow man, woman. We are strong and resilient and with the grace of God, we shall move forward with even more determination and courage. 

If you see someone that seems down, make an attempt to lift them up and let them know that you're thinking of them. 

It may sound cliche, but love will win!

Treat other's the way you wish to be treated and remember that everyone is going through something. Some big somethings and some not so big. 

Keep the faith.

Jill  

 

 

spread sunshine

Wow! Thanks for the wonderful emails and happy messages regarding my last post! I'm feeling the love!

It has and continues to be an amazing journey and one that I'm eager to grow with the next chapter. 

I couldn't resist snapping this photo of soap. It looks sunshiny and happy. Can soap be happy? Well, I know for a fact that Bittersweet can!

This has been a busy week! I've introduced new products that I've also been testing for several weeks on my own skin and the results shimmer and shine! Although Bittersweet already offers several Face Cremes and Facial Serums, it seems that an everyday anti-aging moisturizer is always the most requested at our Apothecary Store. 

I have learned that it's important to listen to what people want. In fact, there have been times in the past when I would poopoo off recommendations only to find that I was wrong not to consider a suggestion. So now, I never say never! I listen to what customers have to say. After all, customers are the reason I have this business! There is a limit on what one person can do, however, so it's important to visit the yin and yang of things.  I will usually give something at least a try. If it doesn't seem to be popular, we'll pull it and replace it with something else. Often times I've thought this will never be sought after, only to find that I was wrong! I kind of like it when that happens because it keeps me in sync!

This past week on Bittersweet social media sites I've happily shared family members that influenced me personally and guided me along the way. I'm blessed to have strong women in my lineage that led the path for me to expand my horizons and created a soulful journey in this thing we call life. Each step that I've taken has been guided by their knowledge and understanding which in turn helped me to navigate my way around. 

Next week I'm sharing the men that formed me. You might have clicked on the link and seen my Uncle Richard on our social media site. Uncle Richard is the master of many things and his intelligence and logic are attractive to everyone including his niece, Jill.

Our downtown district is celebrating "Christmas in July" and Bittersweet is joining the festivities by offering an early release of our popular Pumpkin Spice Soap. 

It's funny, I tried to capture some images outside, but it's so stinkin' humid that my camera lens kept fogging up! I moved everything back inside because it is so much easier not to hassle with a foggy lens. Is there a way to prevent that? I'm sure there is, but this soap maker hasn't a clue!

Years ago I was a guest on an HGTV special and I was demonstrating making soap. I felt that since I was going to be on live television that I should share safety precautions that should be put into place while making soap. I went out and purchased goggles at my local hardware store so that I could demonstrate the proper way to mix sodium hydroxide. Low and behold once we began shooting my goggles kept fogging up! I remember it being frustrating and a problem because I couldn't see, either! The producer told me to go with it, so I did but not being able to see while on national television while demonstrating the dangerous use of a chemical was nothing short of challenging. I made it through and they played it well. I looked like a pro after lots of editing!

There have been numerous times that I've been live on television when embarrassing moments were hidden from the viewers. One time while being a guest on a local news show I asked the newscaster to smell the bar of soap and a little piece of soap stuck to the tip of her nose.  I didn't say anything to let her know the soap was stuck on the end of her nose. Years later she came into my shop and I confessed! Her words were, you should have told me! She was right! I was green back then! Nowadays the camera feels, well like it's not even there. A trick that I learned was that you relax and pretend that it's not, and always be yourself. I'm a bit of ham too so that kind of makes being in front of the camera-less stressful. 

Since our store is only open on Saturdays, we scurry around on Fridays to prepare for an action-packed day! 

Keep the faith.

Jill 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kind words

Our soft, smooth, safe re-opening on our porch left me overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude and content. We've got the first Porch Apothecary under our belts and it can only get better as time slowly creeps by during this awkward life we're now living. 

My friend Deb joined me to help with the busy Apothecary Window and it was a joy to get to hang out with my faithful friend. In between customers, we chatted about our world situation, and even though we didn't find an answer to our dilemma it felt satisfying to have a one on one with another human.

One thing that I've learned is that we're molded to interact with other humans. There's no if's, and's or but's about that!

As I was gathering up the sample items and placing them in a basket my mind wandered back and forth with memories of the day. All good memories and ones that I will treasure for many years to come.   

Then when I arrived home I passed out! This new arrangement of offering our items through a window feels safe and secure, but it was exhausting mentally as anything that is new is. All in a good way, however. 

It's going to work!

I noticed several things that can be improved on, and my friend, Deb pointed out some great tips that we'll be implementing in the Saturdays to come.  

Thank you! I can't put into words just how amazing it felt to see everyone! The joy that you bring into this world with your positive attitudes and thankfulness is just what the Dr. ordered!

The gratitude continues to flow and grow as I begin pondering garden thoughts. The echinacea is not blooming quite yet, but it's getting close to. I love everything about this herb. My garden has a collection of the herb that I'm so fond of. There are several varieties, well more than several. White, purple, yellow all in the same echinacea family.

At the Apothecary Shop, our soap table is filled with freshly wrapped bars of soap.  It appears or seems that the soap magically wraps itself often, as once I begin wrapping time simply doesn't exist and before I know it there will be hundreds of bars neatly stacked and wrapped and ready to fill a Bittersweet Shopping Bag. I often wonder just how many bars I've wrapped over the past twenty-three years? That thought boggles my mind! Folks ask me if I ever get tired of wrapping soap and to answer that question with pure honesty, absolutely not! Each and every bar of Bittersweet represents so many things. Passion, Commitment, Loyalty, Appreciation, Love, all wrapped up in each beautiful bar! 

This is our newest view from outside on our shopping porch. Seeing freshly cut bars of hand made soap always puts a smile on my face. We don't have the luxury of cutting each bar at a time nowadays. We have a special tool that cuts loaves instead of bars. However, in the old days, that's how I would cut Bittersweet. Images like the one above brings back sweet memories of my roots and all of the soulful associations that wrap themselves into those sentiments.

 I can safely tell you that never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined our store offering Hand Sanitizer! It just goes to show you that your wildest dreams can come true!

My wildest dreams expand as we also offer Face Masks!  We've approached the Face Mask revolution with a more stylish approach, but comfort is our top priority. If we must wear them, then they need to be comfy! That's our take...

The planting of seeds...

It's a beautiful joy of nature to watch a tiny seed transform itself into a stunning bloom! The satisfaction one gathers from a packet of seeds will never grow old! 

Last week I received this note in the mail. A little tear rolled down my cheek as I read the note. Little things... 

I ordered fresh flowers from our wholesaler and it felt like the old days were back. Even though the old days are not quite back, the flowers made it feel as though they were. Queen Anne's Lace and Golden Yarrow put a huge smile on my face! It was also great to chat and visit with my flower girl, Heather. 

Our Apothecary to-go runs each Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. We will be adding new soaps and other nouveau items each Saturday and we're looking forward to good times ahead. 

Keep the faith.

Jill 

 

 

this life...

Are you like me during this crazy time and pulling out all the stops to clean and organize neglected rooms and cubbies? 

It's hard to put into words my feelings. The words that I want to use to describe my feelings sound harsh and unappreciative. I don't want to complain because so many are suffering and yearning for food and everyday essentials.  

I read a recent post on a social media site that really hit home. 

_________________________________________________

 

WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT ...
I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it's not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis.

For some that live alone, they're facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters.

With the $600 weekly increase in unemployment, some are bringing in more money to their households than they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales.

Some families of 4 just received $3400 from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw $0.

Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk, and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don't qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.

Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday.

Some have experienced the near-death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don't believe this is a big deal.

Some have faith in God and expect miracles during 2020. Others say the worst is yet to come.

So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing.

We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey.

Unknown author

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

I can't get my head around it!

However, it is what it is...

 

I also know the future will be very different, and the unexpected ways heavy on my mind. I wouldn't be honest if I pretended that the uncertainty of it all doesn't cause concern. I seem to have good days and bad, and I must remind myself of the many blessings that my family has.   Being a shop owner I ponder thoughts of will I have my regular hours when I re-open? Will folks be eager to shop inside stores? Will this hit again in the fall? Will I have trouble re-stocking essentials because of shipping restrictions from certain countries?

 

My thankfulness always overrides these serious thoughts. This is a blessing in its self. 

I have Devotion books within an arms reach. It helps to clear the air and cancel out those negative feelings that try so hard to push through. 

 

We're making the best out of a bad situation. Isn't that what you try to achieve? Knowing that others are grieving and feeling extreme sorrow can easily churn some negative thoughts. 

 

I also know that we're not in this forever. We shall overcome and have some sense of normal soon. We must keep our eye on the prize... There will be a prize! 

 

I'm trying to maintain a healthy attitude. How are you doing? 

 

I'm fortunate in having the luxury of being able to continue to do the things that I love. Making soap, and researching new skincare formulations, blending and mixing, experimenting and re-experimenting. Re-visiting the past and recreating the future our constantly in the back of my busy mind. I make every attempt to appreciate my time and energy. Something that I've always been thankful for, but now even more. 

 

What are you thankful for?

If you sit down and begin to write down the day to day blessings your mind begins to feel more at ease. 

When you write down things it helps you to focus and fine-tune your spirit. 

This is an ideal time to fine-tune our spirits. To make improvements and recognize our downfalls and to set goals to gain a happy medium, balance. 

 

Keep the faith. 

 

Jill 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Grace...

I've always been the type of girl that tries to find the good in everything. I believe that most humans possess the same way of thinking. That's the way we were made. After a time, sometimes we fall prey to negativeness. I have learned that it's much more soul-satisfying to look on the sunny side of things rather than the dark. I also believe that no matter the crisis or dilemma there's always a positive vibe sitting right beside it. Grab it and hang on to it and always believe that good things will develop. Keep that thought...

I've seen a shift in my designs. They're brighter and usually contain flowers! When I ponder a name for a new soap I'm reminded of the kind and compassionate humans that live in our world. A world filled with people that are wrapped in Beautiful Grace.  

The sun shines a little brighter and the shadows are lightened with love. 

This is you...

I enjoyed reading this.

Speaking of reading... We now have time to lessen our loads and take in a good book. Do you have any suggestions? Music... Listen to music and read books and possibly start a quilt. 

Do you remember the Prairie Quilts? Let's call them "Beginner Quilts." I cut large squares from quarter round pieces. It's fun to pick your fabrics. There are great tutorials online so that if you get in a bind, no pun intended, you can easily figure things out like binding, and quilting or even tying your quilt. I have made several of these quilts. I even believe you could finish one in a day or two. Talk about instant gratification. Well, maybe not instant, but pretty darn close. 

Cooking... My favorite pastime next to soap making...

I mentioned in my last post that we made these. If you're grilling burgers they are the cherry on the top of that burger!

We also made these, and they were decadent and chocolaty! 

They resemble a brownie but in a cookie. I ended up taking some to our neighbors because I would have eaten them all!

We're making this for dinner. 

Cooking continued...

My dad has been cooking steaks on the stove. This is an old fashioned way of preparing steak and one that compares to, well nothing. When I was a teenager my friends' housekeeper and cook prepared steak in a cast-iron skillet. She rubbed the steak with butter and then dotted on fresh garlic to the buttered steak and plopped it into the hot skillet.  It was the best steak I've ever eaten! Thank me later...

Family Game Night...

And just like that, I'm playing cards and games again!

Hearts, Spades, Rummy, Concentration, Pitch, War and yes, dear I say, Backgammon! Scroll down on that link, there's an entire list of card games!

Get out the karaoke! However, I must warn you, certain family members are probably more talented in this category! Record it! 

Speaking of recording...

Keep the faith.

Jill 

 

 

 

 

 

those days...

Miss Elle doesn't understand why I'm home so much. We take afternoon walks and sit on the porch regularly. I can't recall how many years it's been since I've had the luxury of enjoying a day off. So for this soap maker the quiet time even though the circumstances suck, the time at home has been enjoyable for all of us. 

Elle is a cairn terrier or a Toto dog. I can't say enough good things about this breed of dogs. A Scottish breed of dog that was trained to get varmints out of holes. Elle will catch a mole in a flat second. She sniffs her nose on top of the mounted runs and then quickly snaps up the little critters. It's fun to watch! If you don't mind watching a mole or bole die. I am not a fan of mice or moles so it doesn't bother me to watch. 

The wren family has not returned yet, but they come back every spring. I love that about wrens. Their family and family's family always return to their birthplace. We have several wren houses at the soap house on the hill, but usually, there's only one home that gets occupied by a wren family. My dad has bluebirds! He built special bluebird houses and last year he had a family of bluebirds take up residence. I'm hoping that all of the kids out of school are able to explore nature and learn about birds. They are amazing creatures!

This is a picture of my dad when he was younger. My uncle Richard captured the image. It reminds me of how small we are in this world. 

Like everyone else, I've been cleaning closets and working around our home. The difference between now and then home working is I'm using what I have. If I don't have something I make do with what I have or I do what my great grandmother would do, make it. You've heard me tell stories about my Great Grandmother Lucy and how she made soap in a big black kettle in her country home. She used her soap for bathing, household cleaning, and laundry. I would think with zero-waste trending before this virus hit, that it's really going to be hyper trending now. There is a certain satisfaction achieved by making do and using what you have for some. 

I was inspired by the Great Grandmother Lucy stories to create certain products. 

Last summer after our weekend getaway to Big Cedar Lennis began making these. We really liked the ones that were on the porch of our cabin that we stayed out and by chance, we had a couple of cedar trees that were in need of cutting down. Needless to say, this is an example of using what you have to make something useful. 

After this is all over, we're headed back down!

We have this little rock walkway that sits on the north side of our home. Last spring I planted ground cover, hostas, and lilies. I can't wait to take it in when it's blooming! Lennis built the rock step way and it's one of my favorite things.

It's nice to see the grass turning green. When Elle and I went walking through our neighborhood earlier folks were mowing and working outside in their yards. Just looking, you wouldn't have a clue that anything out of the ordinary was going on. It's kind of a strange occurrence to witness. I am thankful it's spring! I told Elle that I loved the color "grass green." The color is so vivid and crisp!

I thought about thankfulness before, but now those feelings are enhanced. Do you feel this way too?

I've also been digging through old pictures. This one was taken a couple of years ago when Bittersweet hosted a Fashion Show on our porch. The models were amazing! So many feelings that I can't put into words now about this day. This picture helps soothe the soul. 

 
The days that we weren't social distancing are now favorite memories. 

Who knew that these moments would become such fond ones?

Keep the faith. 

Jill  

 

 

those days...

Miss Elle doesn't understand why I'm home so much. We take afternoon walks and sit on the porch regularly. I can't recall how many years it's been since I've had the luxury of enjoying a day off. So for this soap maker the quiet time even though the circumstances suck the time at home has been enjoyable for all of us. 

Elle is a cairn terrier or a Toto dog. I can't say enough good things about this breed of dogs. A Scottish breed of dog that was trained to get varments our of holes. Elle will catch a mole in a flat second. She sniffs her nose on top of the mounted runs and then quickly snaps up the little critters. It's fun to watch! If you don't mind watching a  mole or bole die. I am not a fan of mice or moles so it doesn't bother me to watch. 

The wren family has not returned yet, but they come back every spring. I love that about wrens. Their family and family's family always return to their birthplace. We have several wren houses at the soap house on the hill, but usually, there's only one home that gets occupied by a wren family. My dad has bluebirds! He built special bluebird houses and last year he had a family of bluebirds take up residence. I'm hoping that all of the kids out of school are able to explore nature and learn about birds. They are amazing creatures!

This is a picture of my dad when he was younger. My uncle Richard captured the image. It reminds me of how small we are in this world. 

Like everyone else, I've been cleaning closets and working around our home. The difference between now and then home working is I'm using what I have. If I don't have something I make do with what I have or I do what my great grandmother would do, make it. You've heard me tell stories about my Great Grandmother Lucy and how she made soap in a big black kettle in her country home. She used her soap for bathing, household cleaning, and laundry. I would think with zero-waste trending before this virus hit, that it's really going to be hyper trending now. There is a certain satisfaction achieved by making do and using what you have for some. 

I was inspired by the Great Grandmother Lucy stories to create certain products. 

Last summer after our weekend getaway to Big Cedar Lennis began making these. We really liked the ones that were on the porch of our cabin that we stayed out and by chance, we had a couple of cedar trees that were in need of cutting down. Needless to say, this is an example of using what you have to make something useful. 

After this is all over, we're headed back down!

We have this little rock walkway that sits on the north side of our home. Last spring I planted ground cover, hostas, and lilies. I can't wait to take it in when it's blooming! Lennis built the rock step way and it's one of my favorite things.

It's nice to see the grass turning green. When Elle and I went walking through our neighborhood earlier folks were mowing and working outside in their yards. Just looking, you wouldn't have a clue that anything out of the ordinary was going on. It's kind of a strange occurrence to witness. I am thankful it's spring! I told Elle that I loved the color "grass green." The color is so vivid and crisp!

I thought about thankfulness before, but now those feelings are enhanced. Do you feel this way too?

I've also been digging through old pictures. This one was taken a couple of years ago when Bittersweet hosted a Fashion Show on our porch. The models were amazing! So many feelings that I can't put into words now about this day. This picture helps soothe the soul. 

 
The days that we weren't social distancing are now favorite memories. 

Who knew that these moments would become such fond ones?

Keep the faith. 

Jill