Making Progress

The floor paint for the soap studio

Today, The Bibbed Wonder and I will begin a deep clean of the garage and soap studio. Years ago, when I first moved my soap-making into the garage, I asked to paint the floor. Of course, I was told no by one bib overall wearing crusher of dreams. He has complained about the floor's appearance for the last few years. You must remember, dear reader, when my dad was here, the garage served as a workshop, housed cars, and was a place to make messes. The floor shows its heavy traffic and use. There are stains, cracks, and paint splatters everywhere.

The Bibbed Wonder is reluctant to create videos or take pictures in the soap studio because of the floor's appearance. When social media is involved, these small details become essential. Although clean and sanitized, the floor's appearance is a bit shoddy. So, today, we begin the big job of cleaning the large bay that houses our office space and acts as a garage. Cleaning the big bay is step one in a multiple-step process. Eric estimates the entire process will take us two weeks.

First, we have to clean the big bay, organize our market materials and my "hoard" of props and decor, and carve out a space for everything to be easily accessible. I am already preparing for battle over my props and decor. He thinks it's junk and has no purpose. Sigh. What he fails to understand is that my junk is what creates the background and mood for our products. Men! Anyhow, there will be a lot of dirty looks, sighing, and threats to his genitalia if he dares throw away my "treasures."

Once the big bay is cleaned, we can temporarily move some of our soap production materials to the big bay. First, a deep clean must happen. This will require wiping down walls, cleaning overhead lights, and scrubbing and prepping the floor for painting. Next, the floor will have to be painted in sections. Once the floor is painted, we can move on to reorganizing materials, adding shelving, and reconfiguring the use of the space. It's going to be a process. However, it is one I am looking forward to completing. Frankly, it is something that should have been completed years ago. Conveniently, he can't remember telling me no about painting the floor. This is one of those scenarios in which I smile and nod and allow him to believe it is all his idea. Again, Men! Sigh.

As you go about your day, send me patience, the ability to bite my tongue, and pray there are no sharp objects around when he complains about my "hoarding issue." Once it is complete, I plan to take you on a "video tour." I'm kind of excited about that. On this arctic cold January day, stay safe, be smart, get things done, and keep washing your hands.

Feeling Very British

Some of you may know that I am a huge Anglophile, someone who is obsessed with all things British. Indeed, dear reader, I feel as though I have been born in the wrong century and country. I should have been born in the Victorian era, wearing gorgeous gowns, practicing domestic arts, feeling unsatisfied with my station in life as a woman with no rights, attending balls, and riding around on beautiful horses in the English countryside. Alas, I was born in the early seventies, wearing some of the most hideous fashion trends created, merely reading about the life I should have had as an English aristocrat. Sigh, my reality probably would have been that of a scullery maid, but it's my dream, and I choose to imagine myself as a genteel lady.

My young friend Abby is living my dream. She is studying for a year in Oxford, England. Abs, as I call her, helped us in the soap studio for four summers. I have had the pleasure of watching her blossom and grow into an amazing young woman. The Bibbed Wonder and I observed growth, maturity, confidence, and independence with each returning visit from Abs. Truly, it has been a pleasure to watch her grow throughout the years. Recently, Abs returned for a brief visit from her studies in England. Monday, she and her mom, our beloved friend, Dr. Walker, came out to the farm for a visit. Again, Eric and I were impressed with how much Abby has grown and matured. She is no longer the shy young woman we first met. She is confident, funny, a fantastic conversationalist, witty, hard-working, and self-disciplined. She amazes me.

Abs regaled us with stories about her studies, travels, and experiences abroad. Sadly, not every corner of England resembles a storybook cottage or gothic mansion. Abby's studies occur in rather sterile, American-esque, low-standing brick buildings. I imagined her studying in the equivalent of Hogwarts. However, she is a good sport and humors me with photos of the England of my imagination.

Abby surprised each of us with gifts from jolly old England. The Bibbed Wonder was gifted Percy Pig gummy candies and an authentic British Cadbury chocolate bar. The UK does not permit artificial dyes or flavors, so the gummies are quite different from the gummy bears we enjoy in the US. The chocolate puts Hershey and Mars to shame. I was gifted a tote bag from a bookstore (clapping, high-pitched squeal, a little Charlie Brown dance of glee!), my own bag of Percy Pigs because she knows The Bibbed Wonder is reluctant to share, and the best thing ever, genuine British mince pies! I hounded Abs from the comfort of my living room to try a mince pie at Christmas time. I am not ashamed that I live vicariously through her. My sweet friend complied and sent me pictures of her buying and eating the pie. She gave me a rather thorough description of its flavors, and I was satisfied. Imagine my surprise and pleasure that she thought of me and brought me authentic mince pies all the way from England! As you can tell, I was touched and thrilled. The Bean was gifted a beautiful sweatshirt from London that she wore to school the next day. We were all surprised and touched by Abby's thoughtfulness and generosity.

I have enough mince pies to make four afternoon snacks. Since I can't eat much at a time, I cut them in half and enjoy them with a cup of authentic British tea! Eating my delicate little mince pies with a strong "cuppa" in the afternoon makes me feel very British. Soon, Abs will return to England to continue her studies, explore the country, and do all the things I wish I had done at her age. Someday, when I have built my empire, I will travel to England and do everything on my bucket list. Perhaps I will take Abs, and she can show me the ropes. It's good to have dreams and great to have such sweet friends.

On this brutally cold January day, stay safe, be smart, and appreciate good friends; it's okay to live vicariously through the young and keep washing your hands.

Tuesday Spotlight: Rose

Rose Soap

Well, my dear reader, it is the end of an era. Our rose-scented soap has been part of our line-up from the very beginning. Rose was one of the first soaps I created when I began this journey almost ten years ago. Rose is a traditional soap scent. You all know how I feel about traditions. In case you don't know, I love tradition. However, you have spoken, and the message is clearly stated in our sales records and production logs. You do not love rose. So, with a bit of trepidation, I inform you that this will be our rose-scented soap's last hoorah.

Once this lovely pink and white floral scented soap is sold out, it will not return. I am not saying there won't be a rose variation in our seasonal line-up, but our traditional rose-scented soap is retiring from our permanent product list. Don't despair if you are a floral lover. I already have Rose's replacement on the production roster. Many of you will be pleased to learn that I have convinced The Bibbed Wonder to bring our Honeysuckle soap on full-time. Although some of you may be disappointed, I feel most will move on and never miss Rose, out with the old and in with the new.

As a final bon voyage, Rose soap will be on sale this week. From now through January 21st, you can save 25% on rose soap. No promo code is needed to save; the savings will be applied at checkout. Our inventory is limited, and once the last bar is sold, dear old Rose will not return. Now is the perfect time to stock up on a favorite or purchase an affordable gift for a rose soap lover.

If you plan to stock up on Rose soap, please know soap never spoils; it gets better with age. The optimum conditions for storing handmade soaps are in the open air. Please don't store it in a plastic container. Soap needs to "breathe." The longer it breathes, the harder it gets. The harder it gets, the longer it lasts. You may experience a bit of scent fading after a year or so. However, the scent is so strong the fade is only mild. I have rose-scented bars that are five or so years old, which continue to smell lovely.

On this bitterly cold Tuesday, stay safe, be smart, enjoy our rose-scented soap while it lasts, and keep washing your hands.