This is who I am!
This is who I am!
This is who I am!
This is who I am!
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
I'm making soap!
Although I haven't been hitting my blog station much this summer I have not been idle! My soap adventure at the beach has blossomed into something that I have really been working on.
When we first dabbled in 'soap at the beach' it opened a door that I hadn't even considered before. Making soap wasn't as easy as cooking is for me. When I cook I see what ingredients I have on hand or see the name of a dish and then I just create. Not so with soap! You need to follow certain guidelines ~ Especially when you are using essential oils. Blending fragrances takes practice, learning which notes blend well with one another & figuring out how not to add too much or too little to your base. I feel that I will be an amateur for a long time, but I am gaining confidence with each new soap that I develop.
I am confident enough of my ability so far to launch a line of soaps that I will be marketing locally and in the near future online. Here is a Sniff of what I've been up to!
When we first dabbled in 'soap at the beach' it opened a door that I hadn't even considered before. Making soap wasn't as easy as cooking is for me. When I cook I see what ingredients I have on hand or see the name of a dish and then I just create. Not so with soap! You need to follow certain guidelines ~ Especially when you are using essential oils. Blending fragrances takes practice, learning which notes blend well with one another & figuring out how not to add too much or too little to your base. I feel that I will be an amateur for a long time, but I am gaining confidence with each new soap that I develop.
I am confident enough of my ability so far to launch a line of soaps that I will be marketing locally and in the near future online. Here is a Sniff of what I've been up to!
My latest Misadventure!
5/12/13
Let me tell a little about yesterday's almost misadventure! As many of you know there are parts of my property that have literally become a jungle ~ around my pond being one of those places. Last month I burned around most of the pond & it helped, but I still had limbs and briars to attack so that was yesterday's PROJECT! I started small I was only going to clear down to the apple tree (mid section, south side), that went so well that I decided to just take a look at the OTHER part of the south side. Big Mistake!!!
Once I was on the other side I couldn't back up because of the wagon attached to the back of the lawnmower! The only way to move forward was to cut and chop my way out! Three hours later my task was complete, but not without scratches & sore muscles! Lesson learned next time I decide to inspect something scout it on foot first before I barrel through with a machine! *~*
Let me tell a little about yesterday's almost misadventure! As many of you know there are parts of my property that have literally become a jungle ~ around my pond being one of those places. Last month I burned around most of the pond & it helped, but I still had limbs and briars to attack so that was yesterday's PROJECT! I started small I was only going to clear down to the apple tree (mid section, south side), that went so well that I decided to just take a look at the OTHER part of the south side. Big Mistake!!!
Once I was on the other side I couldn't back up because of the wagon attached to the back of the lawnmower! The only way to move forward was to cut and chop my way out! Three hours later my task was complete, but not without scratches & sore muscles! Lesson learned next time I decide to inspect something scout it on foot first before I barrel through with a machine! *~*
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Rescuing the Paddle Boat
I was on a mission the other morning ~ with something that's been weighing on me for awhile. Last Fall time got away from me and so did my paddle boat! She had filled completely with water and not being secured properly she had drifted to the other end of the pond & almost sunk.
I wanted to secure the paddle boat on the west side of the pond so that I could bale her out from a less weedy location, especially after seeing that little rat snake yesterday while I was bush hogging. So before the coffee was finished brewing I slipped into some shorts & waddled on down to the pond to scoot my paddle boat to safety! The water was deeper than it usually is because we've had so much rain all Winter and Spring. Of course I slipped on the edge of the bank and plopped right into the water! Even on the edge the water was up to my thighs. The water was cool as I had hoped it would be. Cool water not as likely to run into snakes!
It took several minutes to walk the paddle boat to the other end of the pond. My shoes got tangled up in an old fishing line and with the boat being full of water inside and out it took some maneuvering to complete the trek! I pulled her up on the shore as best I could then made sure that she was tied off. Good thing too because rain has set in again and if I had waited I would have missed the envelope to 'Get er done!'
She is secure but not baled out! I will save that task for another afternoon sometime soon when I have some little buddies around to help with the job!
I wanted to secure the paddle boat on the west side of the pond so that I could bale her out from a less weedy location, especially after seeing that little rat snake yesterday while I was bush hogging. So before the coffee was finished brewing I slipped into some shorts & waddled on down to the pond to scoot my paddle boat to safety! The water was deeper than it usually is because we've had so much rain all Winter and Spring. Of course I slipped on the edge of the bank and plopped right into the water! Even on the edge the water was up to my thighs. The water was cool as I had hoped it would be. Cool water not as likely to run into snakes!
It took several minutes to walk the paddle boat to the other end of the pond. My shoes got tangled up in an old fishing line and with the boat being full of water inside and out it took some maneuvering to complete the trek! I pulled her up on the shore as best I could then made sure that she was tied off. Good thing too because rain has set in again and if I had waited I would have missed the envelope to 'Get er done!'
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Soap at the Beach!
A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasurable experience of being invited to join a friend and her daughter at the beach for a few days. My friend never goes anywhere or does anything unless there is some activity afoot. The beach trip was to be no different!
"Soap" she said and soap there was. Neither of us had really made soap before (well maybe a little weekend project, but nothing like this), we both did a little research, bought a couple of books, some soap, essential oils, exfoliants, color etc!
LET THE PROJECT BEGIN! What I found out about my friend Rhonda Brantley the next few days was that she makes soap like some people cook. Without a script! ;-) That's what made it so much fun. We played with it like we were some wizards concocting secret formulas for the well being of humanity! And who knows maybe we were! There were some great successes & some not so wonderful concoctions, but throughout the entire experience we had fun! Soap anyone?
"Soap" she said and soap there was. Neither of us had really made soap before (well maybe a little weekend project, but nothing like this), we both did a little research, bought a couple of books, some soap, essential oils, exfoliants, color etc!
LET THE PROJECT BEGIN! What I found out about my friend Rhonda Brantley the next few days was that she makes soap like some people cook. Without a script! ;-) That's what made it so much fun. We played with it like we were some wizards concocting secret formulas for the well being of humanity! And who knows maybe we were! There were some great successes & some not so wonderful concoctions, but throughout the entire experience we had fun! Soap anyone?
Bonsai
My Bonsai experience has just begun. I began work on the first plant last week, it is a plant that I purchased last year for just this purpose and neglected to do anything with it until now. May I present my small leaved holly!
I've trimmed the roots and the trunk now it's time to let it become comfortable with these changes before I do any additional work!
Next item on the agenda is this beautiful Juniper. The pot in front of it is the one I'll use for this project!
Wish me luck! I'll keep you posted!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Cleaning Out The Closet
Today I took on a project that has been a long time coming but for many reasons just hasn't been started & definitely not completed!
My husband Jim passed away 7 1/2 years ago. I was 55 yr. and only working part time because of his illness. I took a week to get things in order and then plunged into my part time job that eventually became my fulltime everything. It took several months for me to be able to go to fulltime so in my free time I cleaned out SOME drawers and PART of the closet, but I never completed the task!
Today while I was cleaning out some of my (lots) clothing I started going through Jim's things as well . . .
3 hours later I was still at it ~ I texted my boys to ask if they wanted any of dad's old coats. I wondered if they wanted any of his old PanAm stuff, his cowboy boots the only 2 ball caps that ever fit his bushy head each step of the way memories started flooding back ~ remember where we went or did in this how he looked when he was casual or decked out ~ Jeez ~ it's been a day! A day that should have happened a long time ago and yet a day that almost didn't happen even today! I know some people put things in order very quickly on the outside, but never resolve the inner turmoil that death brings. Obviously, I hold on to THINGS for a long time ~ FLIP I gave away a cape that I had gotten when I was 15 yr old today!!!
It really isn't about the THINGS ~ It's about the memories I promise! I just wanted to share these thoughts with someone, anyone really because sometimes it feels like I am the only one who still remembers! I know it's not true, but as we go through life we gather our special moments that we only shared with that special someone & now it's only a memory!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Edible Flowers
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| Daylily |
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| Rose |
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| Violet |
How many of you have ever thought about using flowers in your cooking adventures? Flowers have been used by many cultures for thousands of years to add a special taste or flare to a meal. There are some obvious flowers that almost anyone would recognize as being edible such as rose petals, violets, marigolds, but you may be surprised at some of the blooms in your garden that can add a whole new dimension to your food experience!
Let me show you some examples of edibles that you may not be as familiar with~
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| Petunia |
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| Nigella |
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| Nasturtium |
Petunias are such a delight to add to a summer salad of mixed greens from the garden ~ gather your lettuce, fresh lemon basil, fennel leaf and whatever fresh veggies are emerging from the garden. Toss the greens together top with your petunias & serve with your favorite dressing.
Nigella will not only turn heads but lend an exotic aire to your room temperature pasta dishes, it will impart a flavor of subtle wild onion to the meal. The flower is used along with it's seed to flavor many Middle Eastern & Indian dishes.
Nasturtium is probably the most versatile of the three flowers! It can be used in salads, pasta & as a decorative addition to summer drinks. Nasturtium has peppery taste and the buds are actually used as a caper substitute.
I hope that I've piqued your interest in edible flowers if so drop me a comment and we'll revisit the subject some time in the future, because today we didn't even begin to explore the many uses of Edible Flowers!
Nigella will not only turn heads but lend an exotic aire to your room temperature pasta dishes, it will impart a flavor of subtle wild onion to the meal. The flower is used along with it's seed to flavor many Middle Eastern & Indian dishes.
Nasturtium is probably the most versatile of the three flowers! It can be used in salads, pasta & as a decorative addition to summer drinks. Nasturtium has peppery taste and the buds are actually used as a caper substitute.
I hope that I've piqued your interest in edible flowers if so drop me a comment and we'll revisit the subject some time in the future, because today we didn't even begin to explore the many uses of Edible Flowers!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Shortbread, Tarts and Cookie Bags!
January 9, 2013
Cheers and Happy New Year one and all! I've taken a little break the last few weeks partly because of the holidays and partly because this winter flu had it's way with me for the last couple of weeks. Thank goodness I finally feel as though I am on the mend and ready to join the real world again!
So what you ask do I have in store for you as we begin the New Year? Let me tell you! I am going to continue to make the best Shortbread you ever tasted! There was a real interest in Tarts and Cookie Bags during the holidays and I see no reason for that to discontinue as we go into this New Year so I will continue to hone and improve production and try to find new avenues for continued and improved sales.
I'm already looking for new venues to promote my products as well a few new additions to my Shortbread Menu and Product Line. One thing that I know needs work is finding a way to ship my product both safely and economically. Once I get a handle on this particular obstacle I believe I will do nothing but move forward. I'm reaching out to all of you if you have any suggestions I would love your feedback! Just attach it to the comment section of my blog!
Thanks
KMC
Cheers and Happy New Year one and all! I've taken a little break the last few weeks partly because of the holidays and partly because this winter flu had it's way with me for the last couple of weeks. Thank goodness I finally feel as though I am on the mend and ready to join the real world again!
So what you ask do I have in store for you as we begin the New Year? Let me tell you! I am going to continue to make the best Shortbread you ever tasted! There was a real interest in Tarts and Cookie Bags during the holidays and I see no reason for that to discontinue as we go into this New Year so I will continue to hone and improve production and try to find new avenues for continued and improved sales.
I'm already looking for new venues to promote my products as well a few new additions to my Shortbread Menu and Product Line. One thing that I know needs work is finding a way to ship my product both safely and economically. Once I get a handle on this particular obstacle I believe I will do nothing but move forward. I'm reaching out to all of you if you have any suggestions I would love your feedback! Just attach it to the comment section of my blog!
Thanks
KMC
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