It's Planning Time

How is it time for me to begin planning our year for 2025? How is this possible? Each year, I sit down with my colored pencils, essential oils, clean fragrance oils, a new notebook, and a head filled with ideas to create our products for the upcoming year. Each year begins with a list of wishes and wants. I want to develop products, design soaps, and participate in events. Each year, my list grows. As with any good pairing, there is a dreamer and a realist. My bib overall wearing realist keeps my dreams in check, helps me execute a plan, and prioritizes what is most important.

Of course, I think all my ideas are essential. However, with a lot of patience, firmness, and persuasion, we break the list into feasible categories. The Bibbed Wonder has made it clear that he does not want to add more live shows to our roster. Although excellent in theory, live shows are challenging to execute. I grudgingly agree to no more live shows unless they are tried-and-true shows that have withstood the test of time, inflation, and popularity. We cannot agree on other live shows besides Ligonier Country Market and The Shaker Woods Festival. I am pushing for The Backwoods Festival and The Sun Fest. However, I would also like to do more at our farm and have a few "great ideas" for farm events. The realist in the couple needs a bit of persuasion.

I also have a roster of new products I want to develop. I have an innovative idea for travel soap and designs for a hyaluronic acid facial serum, body scrubs (limited and luxurious), and aromatherapy products for colds, flu, and allergies. I would also like to expand our pet soaps and add a nose/paw salve because my Heavy-B has a dry little nose. However, all these ideas take time to develop and funding. When I mention my product development ideas, one bib overall wearing wonder buns gets a bit twitchy and makes gurgling noises like he's being strangled. He doesn't do well with change, new ideas, or spending money. Sigh. I feel I need a partner who is as gung-ho as I am about my ideas. When I come to him with new ideas, Eric always reverts to his comparison of sticking with what we do well and staying laser-focused. He says my focus is like a disco ball; I shoot out ideas every which way. I like disco balls; they're shiny and pretty.

As for soaps in 2025, I fully intend to conquer soap dough. I have so many cute ideas for seasonal soaps. Brace yourselves, my dear soap family; I am revamping our seasonals, putting to bed a few I feel are tired, introducing a few new and exciting scent blends, and ramping up the artistry. I love this part of what we do. There will be a few new seasonals premiering every month. They will be limited editions, and I am working all the angles to add a few additional products to your self-care routine and pampering. Honestly, working all the angles trying to convince one bib overall-wearing curmudgeon that I have not lost my mind is exhausting.

It baffles me that it is planning time once again. I suppose it is true that time does indeed fly when you are having fun. I am looking forward to sharing my ideas that have "made the cut." I don't look for many of them to make it. Eric is the great pooper of all parties. If you see him out and about, be sure to mention any new ideas you approve of and look forward to using. I need all the help I can get. Insert a wink.

On this late summer day, stay safe, be smart, and don't be afraid of new ideas. Respect what works well, and keep washing your hands.

I Can See Her Through The Pines

Working in the soap studio with my husband often leaves me at the mercy of his playlist. The Bibbed Wonder and I don't have the same music taste. He likes what I refer to as Angry Metal Noise or talkie, twangy, country music. I'm not fond of songs where the artist talks. It annoys me to absolutely no end. I prefer pop, nineties rap, nineties country (it reminds me of my dad), classical, swing, big band, the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, throw in a little Nine Inch Nails and a smidge of Rob Zombie, and I am happy as a little lark. However, there is one artist we can agree upon: Tyler Childers.

I like Tyler Childer's voice. The Bibbed Wonder likes his bluegrass roots. One song in particular speaks to me: "Follow You To Virgie." Virgie makes me think about the history of our farm, my Grandma Tillie, and the Tonkin boys. I considered my dad and his brothers to be exceptionally close for such a large family. There were seven boys and one girl in my dad's family. The Tonkin boys were a spirited lot. My dad and his brothers would sit around the dinner table during Sunday dinners at my grandparent's house and laugh over the antics of their youth. I used to tell my dad that if he were to grow up in modern days, he would be in placement or juvenile detention. I was only half joking when I told him this. My dad and his brothers viewed their behavior as youthful hijinks. My mother's mother viewed them as mischievous at best and feral at worst. It's all about perspective...wink.

My dad would have everyone in stitches while he told stories of hiding in the big willow tree that grew by the farmhouse's front porch. He would lie in wait for one of his unsuspecting brothers to walk under the tree. He would then urinate on him from the branches above, climbing high to escape the angry fists that awaited him, all the while laughing and mocking the poor fellow who got peed on. My Grandma Tillie had her hands full with so many boys. The boys fondly remember Tillie walking around with a belt around her neck and threatening their backsides if they didn't behave. Not one of them remembers Tillie ever making good on her promise to spank them.

Tillie always reminded me of Edith Bunker from All In The Family. Tillie was high-strung, had a high-pitched voice, was not quick to anger, wore house dresses with aprons over them, and could make a meal out of absolutely nothing. Tillie was happiest when she had her entire brood surrounding her. My youngest uncle is maybe eight years older than me. With so many boys keeping her busy for so many years, grandchildren were not a cherished novelty. Rather, it felt like we were just an extension of a long line of children.

I don't remember being particularly close to my Grandma Tillie while growing up. However, as I grew and matured, we developed a good relationship, and I believe she found me humorous. My outspokenness and strong will seemed foreign to my grandmother. She was a meek individual who never said anything unkind about anyone. If Tillie spoke ill of you, you were considered the lowest of the low. I don't remember my grandmother saying an unkind word about anyone except a young woman who lived over the hill and rode on the tractor with my grandfather one summer night. The mere mention of this woman's name would set a flush to Tillie's cheeks.

My grandfather, on the other hand, was ornery enough for ten men. He would go for weeks and not speak to Tillie over some trivial matter. She often had no idea why he wasn't talking to her, and she would be beside herself with hurt and uncertainty. I remember when I was in my early twenties, and Pap had been giving Tillie the silent treatment for weeks. Tillie sat and cried, declaring she could not stand it and had no idea why he was upset with her. I hugged Tillie and said, "Gram, did you ever consider looking him square in the eye and saying, "Fuck you, Bill!'" Tillie's eyes grew as big as saucers in disbelief, and then she began laughing so hard that tears were rolling down her cheeks. Her response was, "Oh, Tina! I couldn't say that, but could you imagine the look on his face if I did!" Personally, I think Tillie would have felt much better if she had said it.

The Tonkin boys loved their mama. When Tillie was diagnosed with cancer, the boys rallied around her. If pure love, adoration, and will could cure cancer, that woman would have lived to be two hundred. Tillie was in the hospital, and the prognosis looked grim. She had a tube placed that went from her stomach out her nose to help relieve some of the pressure that was building in her abdominal cavity. Gas from her tummy would make the tube bubble as it was expelled. I walked into her hospital room for one of the last times. My tearful greeting to my dying grandmother was, "Hey, Tillie! I heard you are farting through your nose." Even in her weakened state, she laughed out loud and said, "Oh, Tina! You can always make me laugh!"

The Tonkin boys rally when they are needed, particularly when death is near. Those boys could not be forced from the hospital waiting room if the cavalry tried to move them. They each took turns staying with my grandma. It was the same when my dad was ill. Each of the boys took a turn spending the night with my dad so he would not have to be alone in the hospital. His brothers being there meant the world to my dad. I believe it gave everyone a chance to say goodbye and gave them some sort of peace. I will always be appreciative of that act of kindness and love. As I remember Tillie's last days, she was at peace and happy when her boys were near.

The lyrics of "Follow You To Virgie" always bring a sad smile to my face. I can see Tillie smiling and hear her saying, "Boys, be good." Now, three of her seven boys are with her in heaven. When I walk Buster around the fields, and I am lost in memories of my dad, grandma, and uncles, it never fails: I see four monarch butterflies that follow me for the length of our walk. I've begun to greet them, and I say a little blessing that they are all together and happy somewhere beyond the pines.

Yeah, I reckon we were heathens

But in her eyes, we were saints

Now you're calling all the boys home

'Cause heaven's angels carried her away

So, I will follow you to Virgie

Although it hurts me so

To lay to rest this mountain beauty

That the Lord's called home

And I can see her up in glory

I can see her through the pines

Back when all us boys were tryin'

To make sense of all these strings

I can see her in the corner

Singing along to all our crazy dreams

So, I will follow you to Virgie

Although it hurts me so

To lay to rest this mountain beauty

That the Lord's called home

And I can see her up in glory

I can see her through the pines

And I will follow you to Virgie

'Cause that's what us boys are for

To help you out when you get weary

And you can't go no more

Can't you see her up there, Cody?

I can see her through the pines

Saying boys be good

On this rainy Wednesday, stay safe, be smart, let your memories make you smile, and keep washing your hands.

Tuesday Spotlight: Milk and Honey

Welcome to yet another Tuesday Spotlight, dear reader. This week, the spotlight is on the fan-favorite Milk and Honey. Our Milk and Honey bar is by far the soap I gift most often. The scent is mild enough for those with sensitivities, is favored by most, and is a wonderfully nourishing bar with a beautiful lather. Milk and Honey is also the bar I recommend to those with sensitive skin but require scented products. Of course, if you have sensitive skin, I always recommend a spot test before lathering yourself in suds or slathering moisturizer all over your body.

This week, exclusively on the website, Milk and Honey soap and moisturizer are 25% off. No promo code is needed to save; the savings will be applied at checkout. The weekly special is a great time to try something new, stock up on a favorite, or purchase an affordable gift. On this overcast day, stay safe, be smart, enjoy the savings, and keep washing your hands.