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Jill McDowell Lincoln
I've been slowly plucking out small organization project ideas to place in and around our home. When I saw this picture on Pinterest, it was love at first sight. The area under our kitchen sink has always been nomads land. This picture feeds me with kitchen sink inspiration. This is where I spotted it. I love it when folks share their sources!
From home organization to fresh flowers. It's so much fun to have fresh flowers delivered to the shop every week! This weeks flower was Purple Iris. Aren't they stunning?
Summer Meals...
Spaghetti aglio, olio & spring greens
Yummy! Here's the link to the recipe. I've been binging Jamie Oliver! His simple five-ingredient recipes make for the perfect summer dinners.
We had angel food cake sprinkled with fresh peaches and whipped cream. Yummy, too!
The shop is blooming!
We're thinking about cutting the cable cord. I ordered Fire Sticks for our televisions, and have been gradually easing into a change in the way that we watch television. I get frustrated with our cable because it always seems that there's nothing worthwhile to watch. With a stick. you have access to movies galore! We also have Netflix. I'm still in research mode when finding a channel provider. It seems these companies are not all created equal. If you're thinking of switching, I'd recommend writing down the channels you watch and then search for the provider that offers those channels. Each one is totally different. Just something I'm learning as I go along. This fall and winter it will be lovely to have access to a large library of movies, especially ones that you can handpick. The entire cable industry is changing daily and the sky is the limit when searching for a provider. No more monopolies! Always a great thing for the consumer.
We finally finished our mini bathroom remodel! I don't know if you remember or not, but I refinished the dresser last summer in anticipation of the new bathroom. The wooden dresser houses our bath towels and sundries. I'm really happy with the end results on this piece. I did not stain the wood and only rubbed tung oil to protect the wood in a natural way. I applied three to four coats because I wanted it to be protected from the moisture that is in the bathroom.
We added new flooring and subway tile around the sink and tub. A shiny new toilet that I love, which by the way, in my wildest dreams I'd not imagine getting excited about a toilet, but I am!
The entire project was under one-thousand dollars because we did all the work. We're also going to have both our sink and tub refinished. Right now we're happy with the new space.
I'm working on other home projects. I just finished a complete furniture makeover in our living room.
Window cleaning, painting, and summer clearing in steady sequence.
I'm taking a little summer down from the shop during the holiday week. Won't be back until Friday.
It feels good to catch up on home.
My gardens are slow to produce this summer because of all the spring rain we received.
The purple coneflower garden is starting to share their blooms. I also have whites but they haven't started to bloom yet.
Friday I got up early before there were any people and captured our beautiful downtown.
The feverfew is blooming as well.
I could take flower pictures all day!
Those pictures should be missing Japanese beetles! They're back. I plucked eight of the destructive bugs off of my zinnia leaves! I also have been researching how to get rid of them. + this natural bug removal method. I had never heard of Milky Spore and it seems that the process is ongoing for about two years in preventing the pesky beetles from invading our gardens.
The Modern Apothecary shop is welcoming summer by offering crisp white blouses, dresses, and summer perfume!
At home, we're in full speed ahead with home upgrades. We had a new front stoop and sidewalk installed. This particular project has been on our list for a few years, so I'm appreciative of its arrival! Almost every day since it was finished, I've opened the front door and just stood and admired the concrete work.
This is what it looked like on Friday before I left for the shop.
This is what it looks like now. We still have landscaping work on our home improvement list, and a few other aesthetic projects, but we're getting there. It feels great to put into motion these long-awaited home improvements.
We're getting a break from the rain for a day or two which has come in handy for the outdoor work.
It's hard for me to believe that our home was built during the depression. I can only imagine what a challenge it would have been to shop for materials and get the home built during such a dark time.
Cool Drink Time...
Dragonfruit, Mango and coconut milk create a refreshing drink, aka Starbucks Dragon Fruit Drink. My Washington friend, Clarice turned me onto this cool as a cucumber blend.
Start with about one-third cup of mango juice and add a half packet of frozen dragon fruit, a splash of vanilla syrup and coconut milk. Add ice and shake. You can thank me, later.
Lake House Cleansing Bars sitting quietly awaiting their labels.
Seriously in love with these jean shorts and the fabric of this new summer top!
New straw hats fit in perfectly with the Lake House Collection!
Oats and Goats made with fresh from the farm goat milk. One of my favorite things when sitting on top of an organic French terry face cloth and wooden soap dish. A new little package and part of our Back to Basics line.
We're planning a fun-filled day. Christmas in July promises to bring fun and our much-awaited Pumpkin Spice Soap. Giveaways and if you sport a Christmas shirt, hat, jewelry, whatever, as long as it's Christmas related you're going to receive a free gift! We'll have cookies and punch too. It may be hot outside, but it's cool as a Christmas Cucumber inside!
Alice Bracelets. Simple inspiration stems from sweet Alice memories. My soft, sweet spoken mom made similar ones when I was a kid.
We're welcoming back custom perfumes with a few modifications. Firstly, you choose your favorite scent or blend and we'll mix it and bottle it. The custom scent bar is open during shop hours, and we reintroduced it just last week. We're happy to announce that we've blended and created some great perfumes last week, and hope to keep introducing folks to new aromatic perfumes.
That white shirt just seems to go perfectly with the skinny overalls! Just say'in. Love that 3/4 sleeve cotton blouse. New this week along with several other items. Big chunky Parisian rings arriving on Friday! My latest fascination, big chunky rings. The bigger, the better!
Straw hats rimmed with floral trims and white embroidery details finish the look. We're engaging in summer!
Peppermint Laundry Soap is a favorite at our shop. Each container holds up to fifty-six loads! Pure peppermint and Bittersweet Soap is included in the formulation. The secret formulation!
Our shop porch is decked out with its summer attire. The Fiddle Leaf Figs are flourishing. I'm hoping they'll continue to thrive when it gets cold and I bring them indoors.
New last week...
Lavender Mint
New this week...
Pumpkin Spice and Honey, including a Honey Lip Balm
Brown Eyes Susans and Shasta Daisies finish this summer post.
Feverfew, sweet grass, and white sage coming along nicely, but begging for rain. Cucumbers coming and tomatoes have been turning red for a while. Trying to keep the pesky hornworms from eating them all! Just the mere name of the green worms causes one to cringe. I picked them off with my hands but found out that both my husband and brother don't dare touch them. Leave it to a tomgirl to pluck off hornworms with her bare hands!
We just got in a box of these! May I just tell you that I'm obsessed with overalls lately. Short overalls, long, dress overalls, anything overalls. Overalls with calico straps, which by the way, are almost non-existent. I even visited our local thrift shops to locate, what else, overalls. I really want to cut off the straps and replace them with calico ones. Sometimes I seriously think about designing clothing. Possibly a Bittersweet line of duds. Simply because I envision all these different styles. If I can find it within myself, I'm going to cut off the denim straps and replace them with what I just mentioned. Watch for them, they're coming!
Summer projects are the best! I've been wanting to strip the white paint away this dresser for a couple of years. Every time the mood struck, something came up. This summer since it's been so hot and humid was not an ideal time, but the mood did strike, so I struck. The dresser sits in our bathroom and houses our towels. The wood is not anything special, but after I got the paint off, and the wood begins to shine through, it's really a pretty wood. I always go into these projects with somewhat of an expectation on how it will look when it's completed. Often, it does not fulfill those expectations, but in this case, it did. It took me about three days of working a few hours to get it done. I did not put a stain on it because I really loved the tone of the wood. I rubbed tung oil on it after sanding.
I'm fond of the smooth waxy finish. A bit of a pain to mix but easy to apply once you get it mixed.
Our next project is going to be this powder room. We continue to place the project on the back burner for now. Life...
Summer evenings and early mornings are my favorite parts of summer. Since it gets so darn hot. The mornings and lightning bug evenings are usually calm and cooler.
We have new soaps coming this week, and gearing up for Christmas in July on July 21. We'll be offering our signature Pumpkin Spice Soap!
These denim whites! I have searched through hundreds of clothing manufactures looking for a wide leg fringed pant. Either I'm ahead or behind, but let me say, that these pants are the comfiest jeans I own and they flatter you as well. I can't believe they were found here! I know, you're surprised too, right? I'll keep looking for a manufacturer so that I can offer them at the shop.
Love, love these. They're amazingly comfortable and look adorable with skirts, dresses, or those white pants. You can order here.
Crunchy summer snacks. Recipe here. Super easy to make. We make a sugar exception. If you've never piped dough this is a great way to introduce yourself.
A Bittersweet product that required six months of testing before offering them at the apothecary shop. They are formulated with steam distilled alcohol-free witch hazel. They stay moist for a very long time and are cooling and lavender aromatic. You can find them here.
We're battling extreme heat. It's unusual to have this heat so early in the season. So very thankful for our air conditioner at both the shop and home sweet home. Without it, I'd be a grouch potato!
I know, I've already shared the fiddle leaf fig. I'm getting questions every day at the shop about what it is. I purchased two of them at our local improvement store for a reasonable price. They're low maintenance and I believe will transfer well inside once it gets cold.
Summer music and they're local! A shiny new cd was just announced.
Last but not least on my summer favorite list. We use our little ice cream maker all summer. You can find this model here.
So you think it's too early, do ya? We don't! It's hot, and if you look closely you can see my pumpkin face? Okay, my nose is scrunched up and I'm in total discomfort from this extreme heat. The thought of pumpkin anything is encouraging and welcoming during this heat wave we're having in Missouri.
In the days to come, I'll be mixing up pumpkin this and that. Two -hundred bars of naked Pumpkin Spice Soap will be getting wrapped at the shop, and we're gearing up for a record crowd during our Christmas in July celebration next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the shop.
My aunt just sent me a picture of her Heart Geraniums. Such a hearty, pretty little flower. Humble and sweet, and I love the velvety feel of the leaves. I also love the smell of the leaves. Such a unique scent. We have a variety of geranium essential oil's that we use at the apothecary shop. There are more than several different types to choose from, and they don't smell necessarily like the plant. I love the scent of Rose Geranium! If you ever wish to add an earthy floral to blends, don't forget about geranium. The plant also contains unique aromatherapy properties.
Since I started eating more low carb, sugar I've had one thing on my mind, and almost one thing only. Ice Cream! We ordered one of these little ice cream makers so that we can whip up homemade ice cream. I'll use coconut sugar over cane, and add fruit and vanilla bean. My friend Clarice makes ice cream all the time. She is always sharing unique recipes. The latest one, I shared on the last post.
Honestly, when it gets this hot, I don't have much of an appetite. Fresh fruit, veggies, and low carb foods fit the bill this time of year. Fresh mozzarella salads, pesto, and fish taco's included on that summer menu of foods. Now Ice Cream! What's you favorite flavor? Do you think there's any truth to that?
We have a new shipment of clothing and jewelry that should arrive any day, and Pumpkin Spice Soap bars will line up like little soldiers tomorrow.
I had a great guest on the show today. Amber Curry Hinton was our guest and she was fresh and delightful. If you happen to live in the Kansas City area, they have two locations. One in Blue Springs, and the other in Liberty. You can read more on the link above. It's a great shop! Thanks Amber for being a guest on Liberty Live.
Lennis just brought in a huge bag of fresh tomatoes! This sounds yummy. I would opt for coconut sugar and probably add fresh mozzarella or goat cheese.
Rolling, rolling, rolling... Summer is sure rolling along. If it continues to be this hot, I'd soon it roll a little faster.
We welcomed the first day of summer with a musical bouquet of artists. Our big old shop porch makes a great stage. I can't begin to convey how happy this beautiful day of music makes me feel. It's nothing short of magical!
I'd like to thank the talented artists for choosing Bittersweet as their venue. You guys rock and roll!
Sweet little Kate Rose is just one of the kindest people you will ever meet. Her talent, beauty, and light spirited personality shine along side her lyrics and music. She's a shining star!
Our wonderful friends Ted and Dawn hosted their annual Summer Solstice gathering, Tuesday eve. Their pad is amazing! Ted is an artist with wood, and Dawn is a multi talented chic. Their flower gardens are amazing! It was like walking though a garden magazine. Wild flowers are blowin' in the wind. Summer just would be the same without Ted and Dawns Summer Solstice Party initiating the season.
We're putting together an assortment of gift boxes. We'll have a lavender box, a rose box, peppermint, and a baby box, at least for now. More to come. How about a Natural Home Keeping Box? How about a Spa Box? Maybe a Girls Night In Box too...
I'm working on contacting other artist's so that we can include a variety of hand made items. I don't want to spill the beans quite yet. Prototypes are in the works and the artisan items have been chosen. Such talented people in the world! Can't wait to share it all, soon.
The other day I realized that I'm not taking enough photo's. I always want to share our amazing Saturday Farmers Market, new tile in the entry, the huge yellow squash, and the baby wrens popping their heads out of the bird house. It seems even though my phone is always close by, I don't capture the visual images. Why is that? I'm old school, and prefer snapping photo's with my Canon.
I did capture some of the new baby line on my phone.
Really excited about offering a gentle pH tested, unscented soap for baby. A rich Shea Butter Balm that contains Marula Oil and Vitamin E.
Summer is always the perfect time to introduce new products.
Inspired by this old song...
Summertime, and the livin' is easy Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high Oh, your daddy's rich and your ma is good-lookin' So hush, little baby, don't you cry
One of these mornings you're gonna rise up singing And you'll spread your wings and you'll take to the sky But till that morning, there ain't nothin' can harm you With daddy and mammy standin' by
One of these mornings you're gonna rise up singing And you'll spread your wings and you'll take to the sky But till…
It's good to be a girl!
Next week we'll be celebrating the first day of summer on Tuesday!
The bees are enjoying the bee balm and lavender in the garden. See, there you go! My Canon is at the shop. Note to self, bring home your camera! I really enjoy capturing these kind of shots.
These pictures take my back to summers past. Each one different in its own way, but summer, sweet summer memories, just the same.
I take a lot of flower pictures because I love flowers, and yes it's true, if I weren't in love with soap making, I'd be a Flower Shop Girl. Hey, the two complement one another.
I also take a lot of picture of cake! Especially fond of this one with a piece missing. I can without a doubt tell you who had that piece of cake!
This is a favorite. The cornflower blue bachelor button sets the stage for the lemon colored bumble bee.
The past couple of days and all I can think about is birds, bunnies, bats, and beauties...
Summer storms ushered in high wind and thunder. Then it knocked out electricity. Elle and I sat on the tree house porch and took in the sounds of mother wrens feeding her babies in the wren house that hangs from the cedars. After the rain, the rabbit scurried out from a bush to nibble on dewy grass. The sound of the train going through town faintly in the backdrop. Summer...
I guess while we were relaxing on the porch and when the screen door was open a bat flew in and made its way to our bedroom. Low and behold, last night after going to bed I kept hearing strange sounds. Then when Lennis got up and turned on the light, bat flying! We managed to capture it in a basket and release it into the starless night. Sorry no pictures. Really sorry I didn't capture audio, because you should have heard us. If you could imagine? No cuss words came out of our mouths, however I do believe the bat was cursing us in bat language! Once again, Lennis to the rescue, as I stood behind the bathroom door hiding and instructing him on what the next step should be.
Then late yesterday afternoon...
Beauty
The apothecary shop was the backdrop for a photo shoot. I took these shots behind the scenes. The really great images will be ready in a couple of weeks. Thank you to Laura Riddle the amazing photographer and the Beautiful models, Jordan, Stephanie, Alexa, Courtney, and Rachel.
The photo's will be incorporated into a variety of platforms. I can't wait to see the professional pictures!
The shop is summer busy. Soap manufacturing is at its peak! Well, not quite, but arriving soon. Autumn and Holiday scents will soon be filling the air I breathe. Clove and Cinnamon, Ginger and Vanilla. Then the bars will take a long nap before getting wrapped.
How can something so simple, be so powerful? Remember to treat other's in the way you wish to be treated.
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