Deep Thoughts... yeah

Happy New 2012

2012-01-02T23:58:00.000-05:00

It seems that just yesterday, it was the Millenium Y2K hoopla that had everyone crazed. Here it is 11 years later, how time flies. Not knowing how many New Year's Eves I have left, I try to savor and reflect on each and every year I enjoy on this planet.

Upon reflection of this past year, it was a good one. We had wonderful parties and bonfires during the summer months.

Nina and Carla shopping for party necessities

The grill

Friends

fun in the hot tub

I did well at shows, but didn't attend as many this year. The ones I did were fun because I always love meeting new and interesting people at craft shows. If my knees and hips hold out, I'm looking frward to this year doing shows once again.

I enjoyed my beautiful and loving Beagle, Wilbur, who's a joy to my life, even if he's stubborn as heck when he has a scent and forgets why he's out for a walk.

My daughter made her debut at Carnegie Hall as a soloist for Handel's Messiah

I'm not a complicated person. I may not know the details of the world economy or politics, I leave that up to hopefully just leaders. I isolate myself, knowing I can't change the course of the universe. I just want to enjoy my life, embrace my family and friends and be as much a friend of the planet as I can. I don't have lofty goals such as losing weight this year, although I do want to be healthier. I want to enjoy the fruits of my labor, my family, my microcosm. It's all I can do. If I can live by example, I hope to instill upon those around me my vision of a good life, an honest life. I value my friends, my family, and the memories of those who have passed before me.

Happy Good Year and live life well.

Putting Up For Fall and other Random Thoughts

2011-09-28T22:51:00.001-04:00

My garden has been dismal this year, so almost no produce was yielded as a result. The tomatoes did not thrive, nor did the peppers. Onions are still in the ground where they will stay until the last minute. The Swiss Chard did well, however. My battle with the rocky garden continues, but I will try again next year!

I love canning and putting up for winter. If I had enough tomatoes, I make a killer tomato juice, spicy and delicious. My dad used to come every fall with all his tomatoes from the garden and we'd spend a couple days canning tomato juice and split the proceeds. We always had a great time working together. I've also canned fresh Pennsylvania peaches in the past, and they are nothing like the canned peaches you buy in the store. I remember a friend who had an entire wall of canned goods each year. It was thrify and homey, and I admired the creativity she put into each recipe. This year I have already made blueberry jam, and have 20 lbs of beets and 50 lbs of cabbage to process in the next couple days. I already blogged about making sauerkraut last year, so I won't repeat that this year. Needles to say, I'm making twice the amount this year: http://dewonapetal.blogspot.com/2009/10/making-sauerkraut-old-fashioned-way.html

I bought 60 ears of corn from a local farmer and have already put of 24 pints and 9 half-pints of corn relish. We still have regular canned corn from last year, but ran out of corn relish pretty quickly, so we made extra this year.

So I thought I would post my corn relish recipe tonight for you. The basic recipe is from CountryLiving, but I've added more turmeric, fewer onions and more celery seed to suit my taste. You can adjust any of the seasonings to suit your taste, except the vinegar and sugar. You can also add hot peppers if you want to add some kick.

Ingredients:
Corn cut off the husks, about 10-12 ears making 8 cups
4-6 onions chopped (about 4 cups)
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
2 cups vinegar (cider or regular)
1 cup sugar
2 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp turmeric

Add everything to a large pot, bring to a boil, and simmer for 10 minutes. The turmeric will make the corn a beautiful rich yellow.

Sterilize 6 pint jars and lids in hot soapy water. Get your water boiling in a large canning pot with a rack, filling it about half full. Using a wide-mouth funnel, fill each jar with the corn relish, then go back and add the hot liquid, leaving 1/2" headspace. Use a chopstick or skewer to remove any bubbles. Place the lids on each jar, add the ring and finger tighten. Place them on the rack and lower into boiling water. The water and the jars are both hot, so it should start boiling again pretty quick. Process for 15 minutes, then remove jars and place on a towel, not touching each other. Pretty soon, you'll hear the popping of the lids sealing the jars!

Store in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight and enjoy the bounty of your havest throughout the year! These also make great gifts.

This and That

2011-08-10T00:43:00.000-04:00

I've really got some catching up to do since tax season ended. I've been busy getting my garden ready, but wrenched my back over Memorial Day, so planting fell woefully behind. I finally managed to plant some tomatoes, onions, Swiss chard and jalapenos. They are coming along, but late. We had an extreme heat wave, but as soon as I bought a lawn sprinkler, we've had rain every day. Figures.

I went to NYC for Carla's graduation from Juilliard this spring. It was such a happy event!

She spent the summer at Central City Opera where she perfomed in Carmen. She crosses over from right to left and squats with a cigarette.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE1l2-5yROY

And she's such a clown in this scene, the baby on the right in yellow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2x6gU__zAw&NR=1

I wish I could have been there, looks like so much fun! Once she's back in NY, I'll be sure to attend her shows. I can get Megabus tickets for as little as $5.00 as long as I order ahead of time. I hate driving in the city and paying the big bucks for tolls and parking.

I did a show in Skaneateles this spring. I really packed the car for this one!

This is my new display, ever changing. Although I finally bought some shelving to lighten the clutter.

Life goes on, business is either all or nothing. The Indie Garage Sale is coming up in 2 weeks and I need to get ready! My printhead went bad on my printer, so I'm patiently waiting for a new one so I can get back to work. Luckily, I can print shipping labels at the local library.

While I'm at it, please check out this wonderful shop. Her products are awesome! I purchased a sampler set and everything is amazing. I love the lip balm and the facial cream is so luxurious. Everything is organic and made to perfection.

http://www.hollybeth.net/

Good night for now, and I'll be back soon!

Catching up, taxes done.

2011-04-19T22:51:00.002-04:00

I have been incredibly busy since the beginning of the year trying to get my taxes done and filing my NY sales taxes in between filling orders and staying warm. I started out doing inventory in early January, then I decided to do my own taxes instead of depending on someone else (who royally messed up my taxes last year), so after I take a small break, I will be filing an amended return. It's been a very cold and long winter out here in the country and I am so ready for spring and digging in the dirt once again.

Last weekend was my first show of the season, the Indie Garage Sale in Utica NY. It was a cold and rainy day, but the crowds were steady all day. It was lovely seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I've added glycerine and goats milk soaps to my line, but only for gift and spa sets to compliment my candles.

It was a great show as always, but not fun packing up and driving home in the pouring rain. I unloaded the car on Sunday, cleaned and re-organized my studio and since it rarely stays that way, I decided to take a few pictures in its pristine condition.

This is just about everything I take to a show except my folding stool. If I take my tent for an outdoor show, there's just enough room in my car. I pack meticulously after each show so all I have to do for the next show is re-stock. I keep everything by the door for a fast exit!

I am stocked up with nearly 200 lbs of wax. The white box is extra wicking, Most of the wax will be gone in a week or so.

My primary work area is this table, covered in plastic then butcher paper to keep it clean. My wicks hang above the orders clipped with clothespins, the table to the right is for my tools and important recipes are tacked to the bulletin board. To the left are my molds and under the table are more supplies such as tins and tea light cups. I make all my wicks, mix fragrances and pour all my candles at this table.

My mold shelf (no, not moldy shelf) is getting pretty crowded as I continue to add new shapes and sizes to my inventory. As you can see, the door opens on to my driveway, making it possible to open up shop to the public some day, should I ever decide to. Of course I would have to eliminate the spare bedroom around the corner. I like to keep my options open.

Fragrances

Staging table for finished products and packing table.

I haven't shown you the sauna packed with shipping materials and my tent, the other bedroom I use for storage, or the room where I melt wax and store even more supplies, but I enjoy working in my studio with the radio or stereo on. It makes the time go by during long hours.

Thanks for visiting!

A Recipe for Stuffed Peppers

2011-02-10T00:34:00.001-05:00

Ok, so a few people have loved my stuffed peppers, so I made them tonight. Everyone has their own version, so this is mine.

Ingredients:
2 large peppers, cut in half, cleaned and rinsed
1lb ground beef
1/2 c rice, cooked
1 med onion
1 med can tomato sauce
8 oz cheese, grated, chedder works, but so does Swiss
Worcestershire sauce
assorted herbs, like Italian, parsley or whatever you like
garlic powder

Parboil the peppers in boiling water. Cook ground beef and onions until cooked through. Cook the rice.

Add about 1/3 can of the tomatoe sauce, about half the grated cheese, worcestershire sauce, seasonings and cooked rice to the beef and onions and stir thoroughly. Lay the pepper halves into a pan to form cups.

Spoon the meat and rice mixture into peppers, top with the rest of the tomato sauce and top with cheese.

Bake in 400 degree oven for about 1/2 hour until cheese melts completely.

Spoon onto plate and indulge!

I'm back!

2011-01-13T22:38:00.003-05:00

It was a long holiday season, but I'm back. Right now I'm mired in paperwork getting ready for tax season, always a good excuse to completely clean and re-arrange my studio and office.

Time to regroup.

The best all-around show I did was the Indie Garage Sale in Utica NY. It was a 2-day show the last weekend before Christmas and it was by far the best and well-attended. Many of us were situated in separate boutique-like shops, so it gave an upscale feel to the show. That's my booth right behind the window with the light green tables.

I had a wonderful holiday. This was my tree, and a great tree it was!

Well, Ok I lied. We went to NYC for a couple days.

So this is really the tree:

Believe me, it was better than the Charlie Brown tree we had last year!

Wilbur got some new clothes (but he's more interested in the edible goodies)

Carla and the animals had a good time.

We feasted

Christmas buffet

and partied

and a good time was had by all

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Crazy week and the Pumpkin Festival in Norwich NY

2010-11-01T22:27:00.000-04:00

Last week was insanely busy! I finished an order for a customer who drove up here to pick up her order on Thursday. Her husband and 2 adorable dogs came with her and they were a joy! We had a wonderful meal, then relaxed in the hot tub, and they left first thing Friday morning for NYC with probably close to 300 lbs of candles.

As soon as they left, I started loading the car for the Norwich Pumpkin Festival.

The show was held in Norwich NY Friday 10/29 through Saturday 10/30. Friday was set-up starting at noon, so I got there around 12:30. As I was driving out of my driveway, I saw my street lamp had been knocked over, presumably by the landscapers who mowed my lawn that morning.

Maybe I should have taken that as an omen, because it was rainy and blustery all afternoon as I tried my best to set up my tent and display on the street. Both coats I had taken got wet as well as my feet. I actually went to my car, took off my shoes and socks and sorta dried them out with the heater going full blast. I finally got set up, but since I was on the street, the back was a lake, so I set my chair on the side.

Saturday was Much nicer! A brisk fall day, but no rain. I was prepared with my winter coat, extra socks and shoes and my insulated and waterproof Timberlands which are 30 years old and have never let me down.

So on to the pumpkins. They were all lit and at night they were just amazing.

Dog custumes! They were the best.

And scarecrow competition.

It was a great festival! Even if it wasn't all handmade.

I'll probably be back next year. See you then!

Off to the Holiday Races

2010-10-23T23:30:00.002-04:00

Today was the first of the holiday shows. Held in my new hometown of Whitney Point NY, the Fall Festival was a resounding success. http://whitneypointfallfestival.com/ I met so many local folks, making connections for future ventures. One person talked about buying the old railroad station here in town that's been for sale since I've been here to make it into a year-round market. Another vendor is opening a handmade shop a few miles away and wants to carry my line of Essential Oil candles. So much energy in the handmade markets around here, and I want to be part of it!

This is the first time I vended with my 4 table set-up. It gave me more space to spread out my wares to make it look less cluttered. And I got my new Director's stool just in time. I ordered brown to coordinate with my booth and it looked great. Comfy too! I could sit and be eye level with my customers at the same time, but of course I usually got on my feet when they were present.

So here's my schedule for the next 2 months!

Norwich Pumpkin Festival October 29-30

http://www.norwichpumpkinfestival.com/PFestBrochure2010Pg2.jpg

MayDay Underground in Rochester NY November 6

http://maydayunderground.wordpress.com/

Holiday Family Festival, Corning NY November 20-21

http://www.holidayfamilyfestival.com/

Holiday Traditions, SUNY Binghamton NY November 27

http://www.qualitypromotions.org/

Old Tyme Christmas, Weedsport NY December 11

http://www.iloveny.com/What-To-Do/Events/Weedsport-Old-Tyme-Christmas/15061.aspx

Indie Garage Sale, Utica NY (pending) December 18-19

http://www.indiegaragesale.org/

It's gonna be a rockin' holiday season! Hope to see you!

marty

Color matching success

2010-10-04T22:59:00.001-04:00

I've been quite the busy candle maker lately. I swore I would never do teal/turquoise/aqua ever again, but I'm not one to give up, ever. After many stops and starts, I finally got it right. The problem was trying to keep the brightness. I sent off the color samples to my customer last week and feel so incredibly proud. Color matching is an art, for sure.

The Pink wasn't a problem, but as you can see, the blue isn't even close to a match.

And this was a perfect match, no problem

But here's the order - violet and pink.

As you can tell, I take color matching very seriously. It's often and long and labor intensive process, but my customers deserve the best.

Storing up for winter

2010-09-10T23:35:00.002-04:00

In between filling orders, I've been busy getting ready for the long winter months ahead. I've been visiting my local farmer's market, and finally vended there this past week. It's a great way to buy local produce and meet some really nice folks.

Two weeks ago, I bought some nice looking cabbage and started my sauerkraut. It's really easy! Just shred the cabbage, put it in the crock and sprinkle a couple tablespoons of salt on it, stir it up, and keep adding layers of cabbage and salt. Cover it up and tuck in a clean breathable cloth and weight it down with a plate with something heavy on top. Wash the cloth every day with hot scalding water and in about 5-6 weeks, you have sauerkraut ready to can.

We found a wonderful farmer nearby and bought 130 ears of corn, fresh picked that day. We blanched and froze some of it the other day, and today we canned 36 pint jars of cut corn. You need a pressure canner for low-acid foods like vegetables, but it's very easy. We cut the corn off the cobs...

Then raw-packed the jars, not too tight, added a half teaspoon of salt to each pint jar, then poured boiling water to 1/2" from the top. Raw pack means you don't cook the contents first. Hot packing means you add the hot cooked food to the jar. You can do either with corn. Once the jars are filled, you place the sterilized lid with tongs (put them in a pan with simmering water on the stove), then screw on the ring finger tight. Then they go into the canner and processed at 10 lbs pressure for 55 minutes.

Tomorrow I will probably make cole slaw and corn relish which can be processed in a simple hot water bath. Since they are acidic and made with vinegar, they don't have to be pressure-canned. It's a little less intense and can be done in a large pot only, without a pressure canner, which is an investment. I'd love to find some inexpensive PA peaches, because they are sooo sweet and yummy around the holidays. Nothing at all like canned peaches you find in the store. And maybe I'll find some time to make spiced apple rings and harvest the my herb garden and dry my herbs for the cold months ahead.

It's getting pretty chilly way up here in the north, and I have to order wood soon. I'm really behind on that and should have had it so the girls could stack it for me when they were here last week. Busy busy busy!

Kirkwood Town Fair with My New Pop-Up Tent

2010-08-15T23:26:00.005-04:00

Well the shows are done for now, so I'm taking a 2 week break to regroup and start building my schedule for more shows starting in September through the end of the year. I finished up the 3-day Kirkwood Town Fair late last night and spent today relaxing, napping and unloading the car.

Last week I finally ordered a new commercial grade EZUP pop-up tent with walls (a must for me to shade the candles) with the money I made at the Broome Co Fair. It didn't arrive until Friday morning, so I used a borrowed tent on Thursday. We got the top canopy installed when it arrived, then folded it back up and packed it into the car to use Friday and Saturday.

I arrived early to allow enough time to set it up at Kirkwood, but it was up in a flash. I had some help stretching it out, but the rest was easy so I had plenty of time to spare. I took my time attached the walls (love the Velcro!) and made sure the corner zippers were lined up ready to zip up for the night. Then I spent the rest of the time setting up my tables and displays just so. I'm still working on uncluttering my displays, but it's getting there.

I proudly hung up the banner my daughter Nina designed. I received a couple very nice comments on it and told customers it was designed by my talented daughter who's a graphic designer. It feels so professional to have an identity with matching banner, business cards and website.

So this is the entire display, tent and all. I kept the side walls up for most of the show except during a sunny time and kept the back wall down because due tos a lot of foot traffic for the rides behind me.

I was able to leave everything packed inside the tent on Friday night, so I didn't have to haul everything home and back like I did Thursday night.

So the weekend ended with some amazing fireworks that I watched while breaking down.

And I'm packed up and ready to load the car.

Packed up

I now feel like a professional vendor! I can pick up and go to any show, rain or shine, indoors or out because I'm ready for anything now. I made lots of new friends and met old ones from Broome County Fair.

Lots of suggestions were given for fairs and craft shows in the area, and it looks like home parties are on the horizon because they're very popular around here. Not to mention fundraisers! So watch out in the next couple months as I expand into these areas.

It was a good show and now it's time to regroup, rethink, schedule more shows for the holiday season and expand the candle business! I not only had good sales, but a couple potential wedding orders. It's always a pleasure educating customers about the benefits of soy candles, encouraging them to try them with samples I often give out and adding coupons with their purchase. When I tell folks I'm local, I know they'll be back for more.

The entire set-up

My Short Visit to the Chautauqua Institute

2010-08-07T23:14:00.000-04:00

I took a couple days off this week to make a quick trip to the Chautauqua Institute to visit my daughter Carla who is an Young Artist (Opera) for the summer season which is a great honor. Only 20 some singers are selected out of nearly 700 applicants. http://opera.ciweb.org/young-artists/

Below is Norton Hall where most of the opera programs are held. I attended the Opera Scenes on Thursday afternoon. http://opera.ciweb.org/young-artists-scenes-programs/ Amazing talent!

Chautauqua Institute is a small community promoting the arts and religion, and there are seminars, lectures, discussion groups and artistic performances every day. It is a place for many divergent beliefs and cultures to exchange ideas, and I felt the presence of the intellectual community in my wanderings. People relaxing in the shade, reading or discussing today's lecture, musicians practicing, the sound of a quartet rehearsing in the early morning, a minister's sermon...

flowers everywhere carefully tended in front of the small cottages and home, nestled in quaint side streets leading to the lake.

I woke up early Thursday morning to meet Carla's opera mom Jane for breakfast. She is a patron of the opera who lives at Chautauqua during the season and in NYC the rest of the year, and she watched over Carla offering advice and encouragement, and meeting any other needs she might happen to have. I immediately liked her and wish I could have had more time to spend with her. I am thankful that Carla had someone like her to depend on, and I'm sure they will meet again in NY. Jane is an absolutely lovely person.

Wednesday evening I saw an amazing dance program by the North Carolina Dance Theatre in Residence. I saw some of their rehearsal in the afternoon and decided to attend the perfomance that night.

There is an art center for visual artists including studios for printmaking, sculpture, painting, andwhen I walked through, the smells and aromas reminded me of my art school days. There are dance studios and an opera center on the grounds. It's an amazing array of talented artists from all walks of life.

Even the housing is comfortable, even though I got a ticket for parking in front of the opera dorm for the night. Oh well, it's for a good cause.

So Carla leaves to return to NYC tomorrow morning, and I'm sure it's a bittersweet time for her to say goodbye to some astonishingly talented but lifelong friends. I met so many wonderful people during the short time I was there, and I'd like to think I will return for a longer time to absorb all that Chautauqua has to offer.

It was a good visit.

The Broome County Fair, Whitney Point NY

2010-08-03T00:57:00.002-04:00

Well, I think I am finally recovered from the week-long Broome County Fair. It was exhausting, yet exhilarating. I have never done more than a 1-day show in the past, and I thought I would die once at a show that went until 8pm. Well this one was from 10 am through 10 pm, so I prepared myself mentally as best I could, and it's wasn't as bad as I thought. In fact, the days went by and when the week was over, I wondered where the time went.

The fair started on July 27 at 5 pm, so we had all day to get set up. I arrived about 10 am to drop off the first carload, went home, showered, packed more stuff and returned around 3pm to finish my set-up. I didn't get my new banner until Tuesday, but I had it for the rest of the week. I am so proud of the work my daughter Nina did designing my banner!

The show ran for 12 hours every day and ended Sunday around 8pm. During the weekdays, it was slow in the afternoons, but picked up during the dinner hour and througout the evenings. I was lucky to meet some terrific vendors which made the time pass pleasantly. In addition, I made significant inroads locally, educating the general public about the benefits of soy candles.

My good friends!

Night-time set-up

After 6 long grueling days, it was finally time to pack up and say goodbye to all my new friends. I don't know where the time went, because the week was over in a flash. When I told customers I was new to the area, I received many leads for area shows and am planning to finally buy a show tent with walls so I can vend at many upcoming shows in the area. I plan to return to the Broome County Fair next year and hope to see many of you there. I also got a ton of names for my fledgling newsletter through the raffle and sign-up sheet.

All packed and ready to go home

I can't believe I got it all in the car in 1 trip!

I ended the fair with some deep fried pickles and Oreos. Yum!

sickeningly good

See you at the next show!

I am finally finished making tins for the Broome Co Fair

2010-07-25T23:21:00.000-04:00

Honestly, I have been working 12 hour days since supplies started rolling in on Wednesday. I ordered 32 dozens 6 oz travel tins, my best sellers, and have about 6 dozen left for sell-outs. Not that I'll have time to make anything during the week, but I'll try. Maybe.

I'm not eating well, but tonight I had a healthy meal, compliments of Shelly who has been helping label everything and take up all the slack.

I'm not sure how I'm going to survive a week-long show, but coffee and fattening food, along with interaction with the public will get me through.

I made a total of 307 travel tins since Wednesday, plus countless soy breakaway melts and sachets. I plan to display my wedding candles for future orders and have a good time connecting with new local customers. OK, so off to make more labels and continue with my to-do list.

I'm doing the Broome County Fair!

2010-07-25T00:19:00.000-04:00

I just found out last Sunday that I was accepted as a vendor at the Broome County Fair! It was a last-minute decision to apply, so I'm killing myself this week getting ready and making oodles of inventory. The fair kicks off Tuesday 6pm-10pm and the rest of the week from 10am - 10pm and ends Sunday afternoon. Needless to say, I'm going to be tired and cranky by the end, but as long as I wear comfy shoes, I'll be fine.

I must say that this is the biggest show by far I've ever done. I've got enough inventory for 1 or 2 day shows, but it's difficult to predict what will sell over 6 days. I'm going heavy on the Fresh, Citrus and Floral fragrances, but I am putting aside enough supplies in case I get a run on certain products so I can make them when I get home in the evening. I really don't plan to sleep much.

While I'm waiting for wax to set, I make most of my own wicks. I make my own since I haven't always found the right commercial wick that works withevery type of candle.

I'm sorting everything into big boxes so I can replenish during the week: Fresh, Citrus, Floral, Exotic, Herbal/Garden and Misc categories. I've found from experience that customers generally have a favorite type of fragrance, so by categorizing, it makes the shopping experience easier.

My daughter Nina designed a new business card for me and they arrived yesterday, all 7 lbs of them. It took about 2 days from design, to ordering to receiving from GotPrint. I also ordered a banner for my table which should arrive early next week. It looks very similar to the business card she designed:

I've been obsessed with how I can add height to my display table and a visit to the local grocery store has solved my problem - corn crates! They are just the right size, rustic and best of all, free.

So I'm making progress and am right on schedule. I need to make all the Misc, Herbal/Garden and a few Essential Oil candles tomorrow, then Monday I'll be attending to last-minute details, like printing up coupons, making up a wedding candle display (for future orders) and making sure I check off everything on my to-do list.

Already, town is abuzz with activity as people are already descending on the community (mind you, less than 1000 residents!), parking their travel trailors and setting up show tents at the fairgrounds. I can feel the excitement in the air. I work from home mostly, and look forward to shows like this so I can meet my customers and neighbors in my new town. It's going to be a blast!

As promised, soy taper candles, all my secrets revealed

2010-07-01T23:00:00.001-04:00

Well, not pure soy, because that's impossible. Have you ever heard of a soy taper candle? Do a search and I think you'll find that they don't exist. Even the harder pillar soy wax is too soft for a taper, so I concocted a soy/paraffin blend which seems to work well. I make them for my soy unity sets which are very popular. I've tried all kinds of additives, but found that a simple blend of pillar soy and high-melt paraffin work just fine. Your taper will still look like soy in texture and coloring, but the paraffin gives it enough hardness to prevent massive dripping which occurs in a pure soy taper. And even though there's some paraffin in the mix, it's still more eco-friendly than a pure paraffin, burning with less soot and fewer irritants.

So now, on with the secrets. I'm telling all, in great detail.

Ingredients:
Pillar Blend soy wax (I use EcoSoya PB which is the hardest soy wax, http://www.ngiwax.com/products/ecosoyaproducts.html
Paraffin wax. I used IGI 4625 pillar wax in the past, but switched to a higher melt wax, 160 melt point. The higher the better.
Wicking. The tiniest you can find. I use WR2000, 6/0, a square braided cotton wick.
http://www.candlewic.com/store/Product.aspx?q=c61,p598&title=Square-Braided-Wick-Spools This is the smallest wick I've found anywhere.
Molds. You can buy molds in 1 pair on up. I bought a 4-pair mold which makes 8 candles at once
Plumber's putty - buy in any hardware store

Melt paraffin in a pot in simmering water bath until the pot is about 1/3 full.

After the paraffin is melted, add soy wax gradually until the liquid is doubled.

Meanwhile as the wax is melting (keep an eye out so the water doesn't boil away!), prep your molds. Using a long thin florist wire, double the length of your mold, fold it in half to make a threader. Insert in the tiny hole, push all the way to the other end, thread your wicking through the end, and pull back through the hole, just like you would a needle and thread. It might be tight, so make sure your wire is small. Leave a couple inches on each end. continue until all molds are threaded. Then carefully tye the open ends onto a wooden skewer and pull tight. It takes a bit of juggling to get them lined up and centered. At the pointed end, pull each wick tight and secure with Plumber's Putty to prevent leaks. Place molds in a metal tray to protect your counter and catch any leaks. Keep a glass of water nearby just in case.

Now that your molds are ready, check to make sure your wax is at least 180 degrees, but not over 200. Transfer melted wax from large pot to smaller glass measuring cup, and proceed to pour wax into each mold. Pour full and don't worry if they overflow. Tap the sides of each mold gently with a butter knife to release any bubbles.

The wax will almost immediately start to set. Poke holes in the wax to release pressure. The wax will form a pit under the wick, which is fine. After about 1/2 hour, do a second pour with hot wax to refill the holes, and set in the fridge until completely cool. Cut off the skewers, remove plumber's putty, scape off all the wax overflow and dump it back into the melting pot to use again later. If you have a butane torch, you can smoothe off the bottoms. The candles will probably just fall out. If not, tap them lightly. They will look like this:

Ah, but we're not done yet! You do want them to fit in holders, don't you? Well, here is the secret that will make your candles look finished and professional. Think: 19mm 12 point socket! It has to be this size or it won't work. You can get one at your local hardware store. Oh, I'm sure seasoned chandlers know this secret, but I'm sharing anyhow since it's such a clever solution.

Here's how to put a professional finish on your candles. Line a pan with heavy foil and place the socket on the foil. When it is hot, push the taper down into the socket for form a scalloped base. Some of the wax will melt onto the foil, so keep the heat low. You can also use your butane torch to heat the socket, but this takes more time.

voila!

And here is the finished product, burning brightly with hardly a drip, but if they do, just break it off and continue burning. These tapers will give you many hours of enjoyment.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. I can sell some of the components, such as wicking in smaller amounts. You can buy soy wax in small amounts and paraffin in 10 lb blocks. Contact me if you need further information, sources or have any questions. If you have any suggestions to make these candles even better, I'd love to hear from you.

Gardening

2010-06-20T00:47:00.000-04:00

It's so much fun to peruse seed catalogs in February, planning and dreaming about your summer garden, but reality sets in pretty quick, especially with a new garden. I picked an area that had previously been a playground for the previous owners which was covered in mulch. I had my daughter and her boyfriend scoop up the mulch (saved for other uses) and netting underneath. Fine so far. It sat vacant until last week after some good rains. Seems as if the rocks in the soil floated to the surface, so I had a job to do, for sure before I could plant.

This is, unbelievabley, after it was roto-tilled by my neighbor! And sorry to day, I almost ruined it with all the rocks - I actually saw sparks spewing from the blades.

Ok, I know you're bored by now, but I gradually dragged rocks out of the garden space and made a border around the edges. I have now planted tomatoes, peppers and lots of other stuff which I will post in the next couple days. Each year will get better. I keep telling myself.

Survived Memorial Day weekend craziness

2010-06-08T23:18:00.003-04:00

I've been too busy filling orders to blog this past week, but that's all behind me as I shipped off 3 boxes today and 2 yesterday. Whew! But I'm not done, because I have a bride who wants more stuff.

I took some time off during the weekend of Memorial Day and had a wonderful time. The weather cooperated beautifully. Carla, my youngest daughter arrived Friday afternoon, and the rest of the gang got here later that evening from Philadelphia. We cooked a half turkey on the grill that day, and it was demolished before our eyes! so good! The next day we made chicken Spiedies ( a local favorite).

Saturday, most of the gang headed up to Ithaca to shop and hang out. Others stayed behind to relax in the sun.

Sunday some of us went to Greenwood Lake and rented a boat. It was truly great fun! I was planning to just relax under a tree and read, but at the last minute decided to go out on the boat. I felt like a kid again.

Monday afternoon, everyone left to go back to Philly except Carla, who stayed until Tuesday morning. That evening, just she and I sat out on the deck chatting and enjoying the night air. At least until we heard something rattling around in the recycle bins downstairs and we hightailed it back into the house! We got a report that a bear is in the neighborhood, so we weren't taking any chances.

The weekend was stupendous with great food, and even greater relaxation. I took the day off Tuesday after I took Carla to the bus depot, then it was back to work filling orders on Wednesday. I just finished up the other day, and spent yesterday packing and printing shipping labels. Now I need to start working on the garden. A neighbor roto-tilled it the other day, but it's literally full of rocks. Oh, what a pain, but I have to get some veggies in the ground soon or I won't have anything to put up this fall! And I still have flowers to plant, and landscaping to prune and clean up. So much to do!

Memorial Day Weekend

2010-05-28T00:03:00.000-04:00

I think I'm ready for the onslaught this weekend. Shopping done, flower boxes planted, laundry clean, dog washed.. My daughters and their friends are descending on my country home for a long weekend of partying, camping, hot-tubbing, campfires, good food and all around relaxing. I'm going to fill up the blow-up pool too! I plan to put them to work hauling dirt for my herb garden and general yardwork before I let them relax. Is that not fair? I'll post in a few days when things get roaring fun.

I'm Such A Thrifty Country Girl!

2010-05-21T14:09:00.005-04:00

I always thought I would have made a good farm wife, but life took me elsewhere. But now I can fulfill my dreams of being as self-sufficient as possible. I'm starting a garden, hang my laundry out in the sun, can and freeze local produce and generally try to live as close to the land as possible and save our precious resources.

Recently I posted my dishwasher detergent recipe, so today I'm going to show you how I make laundry detergent. I haven't bought laundry soap in a couple years since I started making my own, and I'm horrified at the price of detergent when I see it in the stores! I can't imagine why people spend precious dollars on something they can make which works just as well, is more natural and with no chemicals to clog up our serwers or septic tank. I don't even have a box to see what's in the stuff anymore, so go take a look at your box or bottle of detergent.

There are many variations for both liquid and powdered laundry soap, but they all use the same basic ingredients: Borax, Washing Soda, bar soap, and water of course. I found that the liquid, while a little more trouble to make, works better for me. I've tried a couple recipes, but the
Dugger Family recipe works well for me. http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html which I am showing here.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value
4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar (you can also use Ivory bar soap)
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

After sitting a few hours or overnight, this is what it will look like. Sort of like Jello.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with the gel and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will continue to gel). I use a plastic quart bottle.

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil. I didn't add anything because it already smells so good!

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

You can also check out Planet Green's recipes, a little different proportions and they don't dilute the gel: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/make-your-own-laundry-soap.html I find that diluting the gel doubles 5 gallons of soap to 10 gallons, which can last up to 6 months, depending on how often you do laundry (there's only 2 of us, so it lasts for over 6 months)

Try it! It's good stuff and really does clean your clothes!

Little Show in Lisle NY Today

2010-05-15T23:39:00.003-04:00

As you probably know, I'm still a newcomer to this area of the state. I moved from Manhattan last summer, so by the time I finally got settled, it was time to start thinking of the holidays and settling in for the winter. I've done a couple shows in Utica, but nothing really local until today. I'm starting to look ahead to the upcoming show season in my new neighborhood.

I was perusing our local shopper newspaper (we call it the Weekly Reader), and noticed a small announcement for venders at a local flea market. I called and reserved a table for a whopping $10.00 for today. Well, let me tell you, it was fun and down-home and I made a lot of friends and contacts in the area. I didn't expect to make buckets of money, but I made my table fee and more than I expected.

The show was hosted by the Rebekah Lodge in Upper Lisle NY, a rather rundown building a couple miles from my home. It was advertised as a flea market, bake sale and luncheon with homemade soup, sandwiches and hotdogs, and it was pretty well attended.

I had the lucky spot right inside the entrance with the show mascot sitting right across from me. I think folks noticed her first! She was just a bit creepy, but I got used to her. The sale ended at 2 pm, so it was nice to have a rather short day. But in that time, I felt welcomed as most of the other vendors came over and chatted with me, and many customers seemed to like my products. I made up complimentary samples of tea lights which went over very well.

I'd like to thank the ladies at the Rebekah Lodge who made me feel welcomed, and I hope to meet many of you soon at future shows. All in all, it was a very successful day, meeting many nice people. I can't wait to get out and about again soon, but I have work to do since inventory is getting low!

Oh, and watch out for stray cows!

Eco-friendly Handmade Dishwasher Detergent

2010-05-09T23:28:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to post a quick review of handmade dishwasher detergent.  Lots of folks like me make their own laundry soap, but few people make their own automatic dishwasher soap.  I thought this was worth trying since it uses some of the same ingredients as laundry soap (which I will post some other time).   This not my recipe, just one I found on PlanetGreen. This is a website worth checking out.

I made up a batch today and tried it and I must say, my dishes came out sparkling clean. Just like laundry soap, I'll never buy dishwasher detergent again. I'm saving a huge bundle of money too.   When you see how easy it is to make, you'll wonder why people spend so much money on commercial products.

Here's the recipe:

You can find washing soda and borax in the laundry section of your grocery store

1 cup washing soda (I used Arm & Hammer)
1 cup borax (20 Mule Team)
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup citric acid (Fruit Fresh) or unsweetened lemonade packets

Mix and store in a mason jar or other tight fitting container. Use 1 tablespoon per load.

If you have a rinse dispenser, fill it with white vinegar for best results.

My dishes came out sparkling clean, no spots and no filmy residue.   Everything in this soap is eco-friendly, and since I have a septic tank, this is important to me. And who wants to drain chemicals into their public sewer system? Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is a natural substance made from salt and limestone and acts as a grease cutter. Borax is also an ingredient that occurs naturally in the environment and usually mined. Salt is well, salt. Can't argue that. And citric acid is also a natural ingredient.

These are some of the ingredients in the bottle of soap I have left. These are only the emergency treatment ingredients, so who knows what else is in it: sodium carbonate (that's ok), sodium hydroxide (lye, which is caustic), sodium silicate (used to preserve eggs and pressure treated wood, really? WARNING! HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. CAUSES SEVERE IRRITATION TO EYES, SKIN AND RESPIRATORY TRACT), clorine bleach (is highly toxic to fish and invertebrates). Well, yeah, I'm rethinking using bleach in my laundry now. So the bottle under my sink also cautions against getting in eyes or on skin and breathing fumes.   No, not the kind of stuff I want in my dishwasher.

So folks, do yourself and the environment a favor and try this soap.

New England Dinner

2010-05-08T22:21:00.001-04:00

I generally cook about once a week, if that, but when I do, I like to make it memorable. So I thought it would be nice to make Clam Chowder since soup is so nourishing on a cold rainy day.

I decided to make New England Clam Chowder instead of Manhattan style, knowing that my dad, a native Rhode Islander, would probably come back to haunt me! New Englanders have a true rivalry about which chowder is best. Here's a bit of background on the issued of Manhattan vs New England chowders. But I decided to take that chance anyhow. To complement my chowder, I also made clam cakes.

I remember clam cakes as a child when we visited New England every couple years. I recall seeing roadside stands, or clam shacks, selling clam cakes, chowder, and lemonade, usually nothing else. I remember we would often stop at a clam shack for a salty order of clamcakes when we were out and about and got hungry. This was before the days of fast food chains around every corner.

Since we didn't live in Rhode Island, my mom perfected a recipe early on so we could continue to enjoy them at home. I've included it here:

NEW ENGLAND CLAMCAKES

2 c flour
1 1/2 t salt
1/2 t sugar
1T baking powder

Sift all the above into a bowl.
Mix 1 can (6 oz) including broth with enough milk to make 1 1/4 cups. Stir 1 unbeaten egg and the clam and milk mixture into the flour until it is thick. Drop batter by tablespoon into hot fat to deep fry. Turn to brown both sides. When brown, lift out and drain. Sprinkle with salt if desired while still hot. Makes about 2-3 dozen.

Oh, and did I mention I'm highly allergic to the iodine in shellfish, some more than others? Delicious as it was, I'm paying the price. I'll be fine tomorrow.

planting, Juilliard trip, mailing list, laundry, newly redesigned website

2010-05-07T23:50:00.004-04:00

Well, hello again. The weather has been fine, and during this business downtime, I'm busy working on my yard and planting the shubs and trees I recently bought from the county co-op. That's about 35 bushes and 15 trees plus some perennials. Most have been planted and I'm hoping they survive. I bought Butterfly bushes for along the driveway, American Cranberry bushes to plant along the road and across the yard for privacy, and some shade and native trees.

I also started hanging my clothes outside to dry in the sun. There's really nothing better than the fresh scent of sun-dried clothes!

I'm excited to announce my new website, totally redesigned with an whole new look. What do you think? http://dewonapetal.com/ I also started a mailing list for my infrequent newsletter for new products, upcoming shows and general news. By no means will I spam your inbox with useless emails, so don't be scared. I won't be doing regularly scheduled emails right now and will only send an email if I have something important to relay to you. Sign up for our newsletter

In other news, I made a trip to the city recently to see my daughter perform at Juilliard in Dialogue of the Carmelites. It was stunning. And I got the grand tour of Juilliard.

http://opera.broadwayworld.com/article/Dialogues_of_the_Carmelites_to_Perform_at_Peter_Jay_Sharp_Theatre_421_20100310

Peter J. Sharp Theater lobby: New wing, staircase

hallway, Drama Dept

Warming up

Lobby

After show party

Memories, memories, keep them close. Til next time...

Spent the past few weeks rebuilding my website, not by choice

2010-04-30T00:33:00.002-04:00

A couple months ago, I bought an external hard drive to save all my pictures and files since my computer was pushing 10 years old. I knew it was going to die soon, so I thought I was doing the right thing, saving all my business and personal files and a few thousand pictures.

So the computer did die, and I think it was fully infected with worms and viruses and what have you. All our protection was even infected we suspect. So we went out and bought a new pc that day and destroyed to old infected hard drive. So I go to use my external drive on the new pc and it suggested I put a password on it, so I did and confirmed it twice (it's an easy password). Right after that, the new pc stopped recognizing the password, so all the files and pictures I had saved are now inaccessible. Rest assured, I have consulted many teck geeks and stores, and have called Western Digital many times, to no avail. There is no way to reset the drive or transfer the data. My only choice is to reformat the drive if I want to use it again, but that's not even an option. Every day I remember something else that is on that drive and it makes me ill. It's important to note that the new pc also corrupted the password for the router too, but we could fix that.

So you see, I had to rebuild my website since I couldn't update it without my web files. And pictures. I've managed to lift pictures from here and there to rebuild the site. It's been a major pain in the rear, but on a positive note, I think it's the best looking site I've ever built! http://dewonapetal.com/

I've also started a newsletter which I intend to use infrequently for important announcements only. I hope you'll consider signing up for it. I promise you won't get daily or even weekly emails.

In other news, business is a little slow right now, so I have time to work on other projects like getting my garden ready, planting shrubs and trees, and doing some business bookwork. A couple major projects are in the planning stages right now. I'm also working on a new line of Essential Oil candles, so I'm pretty excited about that. The summer show season is fast approaching, so I hope to be out and about to meet my customers soon.

I recently vended at the Indie Garage Sale in Utica NY which was a huge success. Shows can be a lot of work, but the effort is always worth it when I can meet my customers. I tried a new table set-up this time, but I still need some taller display shelves. And eventually, I'll need to buy an outdoor tent, preferably with sides for upcoming outdoor shows.

So things are good. Need some candles?

Snowy Winter and other stuff

2010-03-01T22:57:00.009-05:00

I've been busy and very neglectful of you, Blogger. I apologize. So here are a few pics to update you on what I've been up to.

Making color samples:

examining footprints in the snow:

hauling wood for the stove

Relaxing (daughter and friend) I only go out at night

Enjoying the snow

homemade soup and English muffins.

Settling In

2010-01-02T22:13:00.001-05:00

Well, I think I am finally starting to settle in for the long cold winter. It has been snowing for the past few days, and it's here to stay. It's only 10 right now and not going above freezing anytime soon, probably not until spring. The wood stove is working 24/7 keeping us cozy. In the evenings we go down and haul up wood every hour so we have enough to last through the night and next morning. We just made our last trip and it was bitter outside even though the woodpile is right outside the downstairs door under the deck. Tonight I saw fairly big footprints in the snow (not big enough for a bear, thank goodness). I'm going to do some research to find out what animal they are. We've seen deer, turkeys, foxes, rabbits, the usual. Nothing exotic. Neighbors tell us there are a few bear around.

Yesterday and today I spent organizing and filing mountains of paper in my office. It's a New Year's Day tradition. If I'm slightly hungover, it's something quiet I can do to keep busy and start the New Year off organized. I'm always so proud when I'm finished. Soon I will get down to the onerous task of working on my business spreadsheets. Every year I swear I'm going to keep up with it on a weekly basis, but I never do. Maybe this year will be different. Maybe someone will do it for me.

Luckily, we don't need to go anywhere until grocery shopping next week

The holidays are over and it's time to start anew

2009-12-28T23:42:00.001-05:00

Well, after the Indie Garage Sale in Utica NY, which was a lot of fun and a huge success, I had to scramble to get ready for Christmas. I had done very little shopping, decorating or baking, so things got pretty hectic. The Garage sale was tons of fun, even if it was a very long day, not including the 2 hour drive each way. It was great not having to navigate the NYC subways with my bins and hand truck at 6 am. And I met some great crafty friends that I hope to meet again at future shows. Now that this is my fulltime gig, I plan to do as many shows as possible in the upcoming year.

A few days before the Garage sale, I took a quick trip to NYC to see Carla in her Lincoln Center Debut at Alice Tully Hall. While in the city, I had a chance to visit the Union Square Market to see my candles being sold by Re Jin of BaileyDoesntBark. http://www.baileydoesntbark.com/ I enjoyed immensely working with her to create her Jae line of candles. I'm sure she's still recovering from a month at the market.

Carla's debut was awesome. She sang a selection of Charles Ives songs and was mentioned in the Times review. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/12/arts/music/12axiom.html "Mr. Adams’s gentler side was heard in a set of light-textured orchestrations of five Ives songs, sung with an appealingly burnished tone by Carla Jablonski, a mezzo-soprano."

So on to Christmas and the hub-bub of activity. I baked way too much stuff, so I'm shipping it out this week with the gifts that no one took with them on buses and planes home. The girls left on the bus yesterday afternoon, and Ken left this afternoon to fly back to Florida. His trip up here last week was a nightmare because of the east coast snow storm. He rebooked, then flights were cancelled, and we even drove to Buffalo to pick him up only to find out that flight was also cancelled. He ended up spending the night in the Charlotte airport before finally making it up here the next day.

The girls got their Snuggies.

Nina got her jar of pickles

And they went ice skating in Binghamton

And Ken and I took an afternoon trip up to Lake Cayuga, one of the Finger Lakes near Ithaca to take in the sights and walk around in the fresh cold air.

It was a wonderful Christmas and as much as I looked forward to relaxing after everyone was gone, I feel lonely and listless today. I miss the bustle of everyone eating, talking, and enjoying each other's company. But I guess I'm ready to settle in for the long winter days, puttering around here, perusing seed catalogs and planning the year ahead. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to everyone!

Getting ready for the Indie Garage Sale in Utica NY on Dec 12

2009-12-03T23:43:00.013-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted lately. The past month I have been a mad woman getting ready for my one and only show this fall, the Indie Garage Sale in Utica NY on December 12. http://www.indiegaragesale.org/ When I moved, I had almost no inventory, so I had my work cut out for me.

I decided to arrange my table with categories of fragrances - Floral, Citrus, Exotics, Herbal/Garden, Holiday, Fresh and some miscellaneous. I am going to make up some pre-made gift baskets, but will also make them up the day of the show. I will be selling travel tins, small pillars, votives, tea lights, tarts, bead sachets, reed diffusers, scented ornaments and other assorted smelly things. The candles are all done as of tonight, and I have some cleaning up to do!

Not only have I been making products, I redesigned my packaging and re-labelled all my exisisting items. I still have to print more business cards, signage and hope to make a banner of some sort soon. I still have a lot of work to do, but the bulk of it is behind me.

I have to have everything packed and ready to go by next Wednesday since I am travelling to NYC for my daughter's debut at Lincoln Center On Thursday Dec 10. http://events.juilliard.edu:8080/cal/event/showEventMore.rdo She's singing the Charles Ives songs. I'm excited to be going back to the city for a couple days to visit!

Corning Museum of Glass, Corning NY

2009-11-03T00:52:00.001-05:00

Just had a wonderful weekend with relatives from Texas I'd never met before. They just left today, and I already miss them. While they were here, we took some time to explore together this area that I have now made my home. Friday we visited the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning NY. My parents had been there when I was in college, but I had never had the pleasure of visiting myself. It was well worth the 30 minute trip, and I plan to visit again soon. Being a novice lampwork beadmaker myself, I found the artistic expressions in glass absolutely stunning.

My studio

2009-10-18T01:16:00.008-04:00

I promised I would post pictures of my studio awhile back, so here goes. I had originally planned to show pictures of my pristine studio, all clean and sparkling, but I thought it would be more realistic to show it in all its glory in the middle of production. Things tend to get a little messy during a run. After an order is completed, I clean it up, put down all new paper, wash all my molds and tools, and put them back in place. Yeah, like it ever stays that way, but that's a good thing because that means I'm busy. I always start with a nearly sterile atmosphere. I wear an apron and latex gloves to keep my hands and products clean, no fingerprints.

My studio is my haven. I love spending time there with the radio always tuned to NPR. The music and talk keep my mind active while I'm working. My melting pot is in a room just off the studio. I now have 2 pots and without them, I would be lost. I also have a microwave nearby to melt smaller amounts of wax. Some day, I may invest in a commercial wax melter.

I have a work table where I do all my work. I try to have all my tools organized and right at hand. I buy disposable pans, paper towels and other supplies at a restaurant supply store. I wash and re-use them as often as I can, but they are inexpensive, so I don't feel bad when they are completely trashed during production.

Once the candles are done, they go over to a staging area, a clean table with fresh paper. Once an order is completed, I can begin the packing process. It can take up to a few hours to properly pack a larger order.

I have yet another table set up just for packing orders. I have a closet full of packing materials, including boxes, a huge roll of bubble wrap, shrink wrap, organza bags, padding, zip bags, poly bags and packing paper. I often re-use materials that I receive from my supply orders - I get tons of packing peanuts and padding, so I don't spend a lot on shipping supplies. In addition, I moved in July, so I have an ample supply of boxes which I turn inside out and re-tape together.

So this is my studio, my haven, my workspace.

Making Sauerkraut, the old fashioned way

2009-10-14T00:57:00.001-04:00

Ok, so my last attempt, years ago,at making sauerkraut was a complete failure. It rotted. This time it will be different. I found some huge cabbages at a roadside stand the other day, so I decided I'm going to give it another try. I adore the Foxfire books, and read them endlessly. After all, I'm living in the country now, so I have to do country things, right? I started by slicing the cabbages, but it was time-consuming, so I drug out the food processor to make the going a little faster. So I filled the bowl with shredded cabbage, then sprinkled about 5 TB of salt and stirred it up. After it wilted a bit, about 15 minutes, I dumped it into a clean crock and tamped it down. I did this about 5 times until both cabbages were cut up. But oh my - I need more cabbage. It shrunk! So I covered the cabbage with big outer leaves, put a plate on top and placed another pottery jug filled with water on top to weigh it down. Tomorrow morning I will run out and buy a few more cabbages so I can fill my crock. If all goes well, in a few weeks, maybe 2-4, I will have fresh sauerkraut. I will can it - I love canning and putting food by. And during the wintertime, being snowbound, I will have yummy sauerkraut.

I still could swear I had canning jars in storage. Alas, they are not to be found. No matter. I will buy some. Next year I will have a garden to grow all the food I want to put up - tomatoes, green beans, brussels sprouts, squash....I can't wait to get my seed catalogs to start planning. I would have made a good farm wife.

A little catching up to do

2009-10-01T23:23:00.001-04:00

As they say, feast or famine, and it's been a feast the last few weeks. Labor day was barely over when I started receiving wedding orders. Everyone is getting married in October! I've completed 2 orders and the last one is almost finished and should ship out this Saturday.

At the last minute, I also received a call from a repeat wholesale customer for a rush order for the Atlantic Antic show

http://www.atlanticave.org/ I participated in this show last year, and although I won't be there this year, my candles will be. They will have someone else's name on them, but my old logo, so if you see something that looks vaguely familiar, you'll know why! So to all my NY crafty friends, I'll be there in spirit.

Life is going on. I finally unpacked my boxes from work the other day. They've been sitting in the closet since July, so I decided it was time to see my former work life again. Actually, I needed sheet protectors and post-it notes, but let's be a little more dramatic here.....It was kinda sad... 32 years of my life in 3 boxes. Pretty pathic, huh. The mementos I keep are usually small, some stones, small gifts, a few pictures. My cube was pretty spare. Oh sure, I have boxes of documents, stacks of awards, ancient paystubs (I wonder how I survived on that paycheck?) but I shredded stacks and stacks of papers before I left. I've moved around so many times, that I never took anything I didn't need. So this stuff is still sitting right where I left it. One of these days, I'll put it away somewhere, maybe when I'm snowed in.

Today had its moments. We finally had our new hot tub delivered. For some background, when we bought this house, it had a hot tub, a super top of the line hot tub. Unfortunately, the previous owners left last summer and they didn't winterize it, so it developed a small leak and one of the filter pumps was frozen. Over Labor Day, we had a houseful of kids, and it was disappointing they couldn't use it, so since the deck is customized and built around the spa, we decided to buy a new one instead of getting this one fixed. The spa is situated on a raised deck, about 5' off the driveway, so it took 4 guys and a forklift to get the old one down and the new one up. It was pretty amazing to see these guys working in the drizzling rain. It's all set, as soon as we install another supporting post underneath the deck and get the electical situated. So come snow and freezing cold, you know where I'll be. A few candles, of course, to light the way, boots and a warm wrap, I'll be basking in the next snowstorm.

Replacing the spa was a secret from my kids, so I posted the pictures on my FaceBook page, waiting to see who would see them first. My daughter in Philly saw them first and said she almost had a seizure. My other daughter in NYC heard about it from her sister, so they're both ecstatic. Our family does surprises, and I could tell you a few stories!

So there you have it, a little update on my life and times. Tomorrow is shopping, Lowes and working in my studio. Some day, when it's pristine, I'll post some pictures of how it should look. Right now, it's a private haven for me to work, create and contemplate. It's my life, and I like it.

Tribute to Yoda, my 9/11 kitty

2009-09-17T00:39:00.011-04:00

Yesterday was a tough day. I had to say good-bye to Yoda, my kitty who was being born on that fateful day 9/11/01. I was at work watching the shocking news on the internet, and when I called home, Lily was birthing her babies, so Shelly had no idea what was going on. I got home around noon since our office closed for the day. Shanksville wasn't very far away either, so we didn't know what was in store for us. Some of our employees had spouses who were locked down at Letterkenny Army base in town. I felt dispair with a little joy that day, seeing the 4 healthy kittens in my bedroom closet. Lily was scared, but a good mother to her brood.

As the kittens grew older, we decided to find good homes for them, but we decided to keep one of them. Yoda was named because he had a cute round squashed face. By Christmas time, he was active and a terror. We put up a Christmas tree in the living room bay window, and he managed to pull it down twice by climbing up the trunk and tipping it over. We finally wired it to the wall. Somewhere I have a picture of him sitting on the top of the curtain rods - he always loved being in dizzyingly high places.

In 2002, we moved to NYC where he lived a happy life. He was always an indoor cat, but on occasion, I would take him down to the Esplanade on a harness and leash. When we moved uptdown to a bigger apartment, his sole goal is life was to trip me as I walked down the hallway. He had a habit of walking right in front of me so I would be sure and trip over him! He also spent time terrorizing his mother, Lily. He would chase her around the apartment and sometimes she would fight back. He would steal her toys and food, and she always gave in to him. I guess that's what mothers do.

Yoda loved bacon. We always have a big Sunday breakfast, we call it our hear-attack breakfast, with eggs, bacon and hash browns. Yoda always hopped up for a tiny piece and would often steal Lily's morsel as well. She always let him take hers. Ah, mothers...I think we're all alike.

We moved to upstate NY in July 2009 to a new house. The first week, the cats were a bit disoriented, but they adjusted to their new surroundings after about a week. True to his nature, Yoda found the highest spots in the house to perch, including the big walls of windows in the Great room and kitchen. How he got up there, I have no clue, but he found a way. I had to be careful where I placed good glass.

A few weeks back, we noticed that Yoda spent the entire day sitting on a chair, not eating or drinking water. Just quiet, not sleeping, just sitting. That was unusual. Being new to the area, I called a local vet hospital, but they were closed, so I found a place in Binghamton about 15 miles away and we had him checked out there. They found a mass in his stomach. Shortly after that, we took him to a specialized vet hospital in Ithaca NY for a sonogram, and we were told it looked like a lymphoma in his intestines. It didn't look good, but we could keep him going on shots like Prednizone for awhile, which we chose to do. We had a houseful of guests coming for Labor Day weekend and I wanted my daughters to be able to see him normal for the last time. After his first shot, his appetite returned. He just didn't seem like a sick kitty, but the tumor was growing and getting harder.

After about 2 weeks, he once again just sat and stared. He wasn't in any pain it seemed, but he wasn't active, eating or drinking water. We decided not to drag it out - he was losing weight and thin as can be. It didn't seem as if a miracle would happen, so we made the tough decision to let it end. I was the stoic through it all, but when I returned to the car, I broke down and bawled my eyes out. I felt so guilty. My last words to him were "please don't be mad at me" and gave him a kiss and a hug.

I miss you Yoda. I hope you'll find many friends in kitty heaven. You'll always be my 9/11 kitty, and Lily misses you too.

Finding Treasures

2009-08-22T23:58:00.012-04:00

I had a pretty useless day today. As you may know, when I moved to NYC in 2002, I had to put most of my possessions in storage, since city apartments are very small and cramped. So for 7 long years, all my mementos, furniture, baby clothes and toys, garden and power tools, and a host of other items were put into storage. After I left NY, I hired a moving company to repack and move everything out to my new home in upstate NY. Now I had 2 truckloads of stuff to unpack. And I still have even more at my brother's house in FL, things I didn't want in storage. Some day I will get it all back.

A box of books was staring at me this afternoon, so I unpacked and sorted them and put them up on shelves. I was happy to find my gardening and herb books in great shape.

It wasn't until after dinner I got a wild hair and decided to unpack a few more boxes downstairs, the ones from storage. This is the mess downstairs.

So anyways, I'm happily unpacking all kinds of linens, some of them dating back to my grandmother when she came to the US from Russia. Stacks of dresser scarves, doilies, embroidered table cloths, mostly handmade by past relatives. Again, everything is in great shape, no mouse or moth eaten holes. The next box was filled with VCR tapes of both my kids' 5th birthday parties, recitals and Disney cartoons. It will be fun looking at them sometime.

The last box I opened for the evening had some more books, and as I removed them, I looked down and saw my original Woodstock 3 album set! I was stunned - there is was, right there. I knew I had found treasure.

I quickly dug out the pile of albums to see what I had. Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Phoebe Snow, Moody Blues' Days of Future Past, Joan Baez, ..... O my, I'm breathless. I even have the very first album I ever bought: Iron Butterfly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. Yes folks, that was in 1968. I know my ex has most of the hundreds of albums we collected in the 70's, but I managed to hang on to a few of the good ones. Maybe I'll find another box of albums in the myriad of boxes yet to unpack. I remember King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Cream, Joplin, Oingo Boingo, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Carole King, Carly Simon, oh, and I have Meet the Beatles somewhere (perhaps that was really the first album I ever bought after all). So much of this music has deep meaning and memories for me. My life is played out in music, and when I hear a song, I remember where I was in my life at that time.

It was like a trip down memory lane. Share some of your favorite 70's albums. Now to find a turntable. Nina? Have an extra turntable I can borrow??

My Version of Potato Leek Corn Soup

2009-08-21T21:55:00.021-04:00

I rarely follow a recipe verbatum. I always take out a couple books at once and spread them out before me when I want to cook. I'm not much for inventing recipes as modifying from several sources. I start out with an idea of what I want to make, get out my books, sometimes check online, compare, then go.

Today I had fresh corn on the cob and leeks. I would have just made my traditional potato and leek soup, but I had this corn, 30 ears of it. I blanched and froze most of it, but left out 5 ears to make soup. I thought corn chowder sounds good, but hey, I have these nice-looking leeks too. So I pulled out my standard reference, Joy of Cooking, and my soup book, Soup, A Way of Life by Barbara Kafka. I compared recipes for corn chowder which had similar ingredients. This is my version of Potato Leek and Corn Chowder. Amounts are estimated, as you can add or subtract the amount of ingredients to suit you:

Ingredients:
3-4 leeks, white and some green
4 potatoes
1/4 c salt pork or bacon (optional)
celery - 2 stalks
green pepper
salt
paprika
bay leaf
2 c milk
fresh corn - 3 or 4 ears (you can substitute canned or frozen)
fresh parsley

Prep:
Dice 1/2 green pepper and a couple stalks of celery
Slice leeks (white part and some green) and place in bowl of cold water, separating the rings to rinse. Lift out gently and drain, leaving dirt on the bottom of the bowl
Peel and dice potatoes, maybe 3 or 4 cups, 1/2" cubes
Dice 1/4 cup of salt pork (you can use bacon, or leave it out for a vegetarian soup)

Now for the fun part:
Saute the salt port until browned and crispy in a hot pan. This takes about 10 minutes to release the oils into the pan.
Add the leeks, celery and green pepper and continue browning. Cook off any water that collects.

Add the potatoes, 3 cups water, salt, paprika and a bay leaf. Simmer until potatoes are soft, about 10 minutes.
Turn off the heat and hand mash the mixture in the pot. The potatoes will thicken the soup. It will be lumpy.

Add the corn and 2 c hot milk. Simmer until corn is cooked through.

Add fresh chopped parsley and season with salt if desired.

Serve with a sprig of fresh parsley. Voila! It was filling and delicious!

I love my new kitchen

2009-08-20T23:28:00.009-04:00

I made grilled panninis tonight with roast beef, tomatoes, fresh basil leaves and chives from my little herb bed, and fresh mozzarella on whole wheat pitas. mmm they were good.

In other news, Yoda has been pretty listless and not eating much for the past few days. We thought he was getting better, but he's not back to normal. So we're off to the vet tomorrow to see what's up. He's lost some weight since this pic was taken.

Bought a car, Wolf Trap, Campfires and other stuff

2009-08-15T22:20:00.020-04:00

It's been a busy couple weeks. Things are finally back to normal and I'm back to my retirement mode, still unpacking for good measure.

So I finally bought a new car last week. I had rented a car for a month when I moved, and it cost me a small fortune since I didn't drop it back off in Manhattan. When it was getting close to returning it, I dragged my butt out to shop for a car and bought a 2009 Kia Sportage. I originally went shopping for a Suburu because they have such a good reputation and gets around in the snow, which I will definitely need here in upstate NY! I ended up with the Kia because it's been redesigned and is better quality than when they first came out, and it was about $5000 less than the Suburu. In addition, I got a 10 year 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty for about $1300 extra which gives me peace of mind since I plan to keep it forever. Anyways, it's a sturdy little SUV and I think I'm going to like it a lot.
So I took my new Kia to Vienna WV to pick up my daughter Carla, who was an opera intern at Wolf Trap this summer. She reserved a ticket for me to see La Boheme Friday night and it was absolutely lovely.

I have to rave about Diego Torre, a Filene artist who played the part of Rodolfo; shades of Pavarotti. I was absolutely mezmerized by his talent. I met him at one of the after-parties, and he is the most humble and nicest guy you could hope to meet. He is going to be such an influence in the opera world. He is making his Met debut later this year, and I plan to be there. I enjoyed myself immensely. Sorry the picture isn't the best, but it's the only one I have.
The next day, we packed up the car and headed back home. Carla stayed a few days with me to regroup before heading back to NYC. Nina and her boyfriend Marcus also came up that weekend from Philadelpia and we all had a grand time, barbecuing, and had a couple campfires in the fire pit in my yard.

I loved having my 2 kids here for a few days, and I'm loving this small-town life where I can get to the post office or grocery store in less than 5 minutes. Last Monday, I had my things which had been in storage for the past 7 years delivered from PA. So the unpacking continues. I still have time to relax and take time to get acquainted with my new home.

Today was a sunny day - finally!

2009-08-01T22:43:00.011-04:00

Yesterday rained all day, so imagine my delight when I woke up this morning with the sun streaming into my bedroom! I was up at 7, and as is my usual routine, drank a cup of coffee while watching the morning news, and got a 2nd cup, checked my email and FaceBook and other sundry items. We went to Lowe's the other day and I bought a bunch of herbs, but couldn't plant them yesterday because of the rain. But I had no digging tools! A kitchen spoon just doesn't cut it. So off to Ace Hardward down in town I go to pick up a trowel and a new spigot that was broken due to ice last winter.

I decided to clean out a big flower box on the deck. It was filled with dying strawberry plants and chives. So I dug out most of the berry plants, trimmed up the chives, and had a nice big space in the center for my 8 herb plants. It was nice sitting in the sun, playing in the dirt. I got them all planted and hope they survive until next spring when I can move them over to a kitchen garden I'm planning on the other side of the house.

While I was busy planting, Shelly fixed the faucet and it doesn't leak! So, being as it was such a nice day, we decided to finally fill the hot tub on the deck. It took about an hour or so to fill. Looks good so far. So we flip the breaker and turn it on and voila! it works! Mind you, this is a new house, so we're still trying out all the toys.

Well, it immediately turned an awful green within the hour. We seem to have a slight problem with the filter, plus we think there was old water in the lines, so tomorrow we're off to the dealer and will probably drain the icky water and start over. Fortunately we have a well, so the water is free, but cold. brrrr 57 degrees!

Well, after a long eventful and beautiful day, it was time to relax with a long tall gin and tonic. It was the first this season and it was sooo refreshing! What a wonderful day.

I'm Officially Back!

2009-07-27T23:34:00.008-04:00

I am officially open for business! I worked and worked and worked, and I'm finally finished unpacking all my business supplies and it feel great! It took 2 entire days to unpack, arrange and get everything set up, and none too soon. I had an inquiry the other day for a wholesale order, and I hate putting customers off. So I'm ready to make up a sample pack and send it off this week.

I have big plans for marketing, researching local shows and markets, and gearing up for the holidays. I think it's going to be great to be able to make my candles and fragrance products as a fulltime business, with no day job getting in the way.

I re-opened all three of my Etsy shops this evening: http://DewOnAPetal.com (jewelry and thread crochet, vintage jewelry), http://DewOnAPetalHome.etsy.com (soy candles and home fragrance) and http://DewOnAPetalToo.etsy.com (imported Bali beads and jewelry supplies). I still have to re-open my Artfire and 1000Markets shops. I also plan to heavily work with WeddingWire. I certainly have my work cut out for me.

Unpacking is going pretty well, but we are making arrangements with another moving company to transport all our stuff from storage in PA up here, hopefully within the week. Then it starts all over again. When we moved to NYC, we couldn't take everything with us, so we have a washer, dryer, freezer, more furniture, workshop, gardening tools, sleds, and who knows what else. So I'm not done yet!

As you can see, my studio has an entrance right off the driveway, so if I ever decide to make a shop open to the public or use it for consultations, I have the space and privacy.

I have an entire room for my studio now - it doesn't seem like a lot in the new studio, but it was crammed into my Manhattan apartment, inching us out of living space. So take a look now, it won't stay this way forever!

I'm finally unpacking my business

2009-07-26T00:02:00.008-04:00

After cleaning up the debris from clearing the deck, I felt an overwhelming need to start unpacking my business supplies. It's a huge process, since this is going to be my fulltime business when I get organized. I need to search out local markets, craft fairs, wedding venues and local shops. This is what I'm faced with:

I worked throughout the evening until I was just too tired to do more. Tomorrow is another day!

We bought a landmark

2009-07-25T23:27:00.012-04:00

This adorable little village I moved to boasts less than 1000 residents. So it stands to reason that everyone knows everything about everyone. I'm finding this out first hand. It started with the realtor, then the inspector, and now the neightbors we have met.

I went to the Post Office for the first time a few weeks before we moved so I could have any mail held until I got my mailbox up on the route. The clerk asked me if I bought the big blue house and I said, oh, you know it? She proceeded to tell me she lived 2 doors down and she was my neighbor!

The other night I was out getting my mail, and the kid who mowed my yard before I moved in stopped by on his 4-wheeler and introduced himself. He told me all about the family and said they had 2 daughters about his age and that he had spent a lot of time at the house. He also lives 2 doors down in the other direction. Yesterday, while eating lunch and watching the news, I heard a knock on the door, and it was our neighbors next door. We can't see them because of the woods, but they are very nice! They live here 6 months and in Florida the other 6 months in their camper.

The other day, someone pulled into the drive and asked if I wanted to keep the hot tub on the deck. Of course, he knew the previous owners who had told him the tub was being sold with the house, so he thought he would check. Obviously I want to keep it - my kids would skin me alive if I sold it! And besides, I'm envisioning a holiday party with all my family enjoying it this winter in the snow.

Anyways, the previous owners apparently were very wealthy by local standards and had big lavish parties. It's definitely a house for entertaining. Not only is there a huge deck with lights and hot tub, there is also a large picnic pavillion with 10 tables, chairs and umbrellas which were left with the house. It even has a commercial heater. There is so much electrical lights, speakers and sound system, it will take months to figure it all out.

In any case, the couple have divorced and I hear he is now very sick. Their business in town is for sale, and he's disappeared. They were apparently very well known in the area. I think we have a reputation to uphold. The wife lives nearby, and I'm sure she has driven by more than once to see if her old home is being tended to. I hope she's not upset that we cleaned up all the vines (very gothic looking) from the deck. Now that it's cleared, we plan to have it sanded and painted in a natural brown instead of the light grey. And we're keeping the grass mowed. Ah yes, we bought the Bianco house.

This is the before:

This is the deck now:

Obviously it needs some work, but we're making progress!

Worked on the vines today

2009-07-22T22:24:00.008-04:00

I worked all morning cutting vines. They are pretty dead now after massive doses of weed killer last week. Here is what they looked like before:

Here is what my work accomplished today:

Some catching up to do!

2009-07-22T21:59:00.010-04:00

I finally downloaded some of my moving pictures. The crew who moved us were terrific. The loaded the truck on Monday July 13 and delivered the goods on Tuesday. It took a lot less time on Tuesday, that's for sure.

First they moved everything out into the hallway before loading the elevator. Unfortunately there is only 1 elevator in the building and since it's small, they had to carry down the sofa and futon 7 flights of stairs..

The next day was perfect for moving - sunny, not too hot. The guys arrived around 9:30 am ready to work. They were in great spirits! The work was done in about 4 hours and they worked so hard! They carried every box and piece of furniture up the stairs - no elevator here folks!

Well, all I can say is, they did a great job and I'm grateful for all their hard work. It's been 1 week now and we're still unpacking. It's going to be awhile. We have more stuff in storage in PA that we're arranging to have shipped up here within the next week, so the whole process starts over again.

ps - my knees don't hurt as much.

I'm finally moved and I'm tired

2009-07-16T23:10:00.003-04:00

But getting better! I'm getting used to climbing stairs again since we didn't have any in our old apartment. That's the wierdest thing so far.

We were moved out on Monday July 13. The movers finished up around 2 pm and we finished cleaning up the apt and packing up the cats and plants. I picked up the rental car around lunchtime and luckily found a parking space right outside. We drove up to Whitney Point, stopping by KMart to pick up an air mattress to sleep on that night. We froze! It was so cold, we got up at 5:30 am. No blankets or warm clothes. Who knew? So the movers arrived about 9:30 am and like an assembly line, hauled everything into the house. They were done in about 4 hours this time and were absolutely amazing as a team.

Now for the mess. We have 50 book boxes, numerous larger boxes, 5 dishpacks and 2 wardrobes. Not to mention all the furniture and my business supplies. We cannot believe all this stuff was in our Manhattan apartement! It's almost like it's exploded! We do have 2 entire rooms that are empty, which is good. We're trying to arrange movers to pack up and move everything we still have in storage in Chambersburg PA up here. Washer, dryner, freezer, treadmill, shop tools including a table saw, garden equipment, more furniture and beds, tons of boxes of stuff...

I think we're starting to see the light of day though. The kitchen is almost unpacked, the living room is mostly set up and hopefully I can look forward to unpacking my business next week and opening up shop again.

Tomorrow we'll finish unpacking the kitchen then go major grocery shopping. I'm tired of fast food and frozen dinners. I've lots of pictures to share, so I'll keep you posted.

It's finally come to pass

2009-07-10T21:56:00.001-04:00

work, that is. I'm done! Today was an amazing day, rushing around, cleaning up my files, putting the final touches on my desk before I walk out for the last time. Regrets? none. Sadness? never. I couldn't stop smiling and laughing all day. Kinda giddy in fact.

My co-workers planned a luncheon party at the 2 Rivers Restaurant on Murray St. Very nice, great appetizers and food. I thought I was going to explode! I can't say enough about all my good "work" friends - they are like family.

I continued my day with a cup of iced coffee and sat in City Hall Park for awhile until it was time to meet a friend at 3:30. I haven't been to Times Square in ages, and it was nuts. No wonder I rarely go there anymore. We spent some time catching up on news, then I walked down to meet another friend at Rudy's on 44th and 9th. A classic dive bar. Had a few beers, then finally headed home.

I had to make a reservation to rent a car for a month because the internet is going down tomorrow morning for about a week, so you won't see me around until it's back up. I'll Tweet and update Facebook from my phone until then.

Tomorrow will be spent finishing up packing. The movers will be here first thing Monday morning. I am exhausted right now. I need a good night's rest to get ready for the weekend.

I'll be back sometime next week. Thanks to all my friends and co-workers for their good wishes. They are treasured.

Last Day Tomorrow

2009-07-09T21:11:00.000-04:00

Well, it's finally here. Tomorrow is my final day at work. I'll party with my office friends, then go off to meet other friends throughout the day. I promise I won't get teary-eyed. The end of a chapter, my work life, is over, but I rarely look back. I would go crazy if I did. I've got so much to look forward to - fulltime business, shows, wedding orders, and internet sales. I'm incredibly lucky to be able to retire in my mid-50s when I'm still active and able to pursue my many varied interests.
Someone mentioned to me the other day how my life has been so well-planned and organized. When I look back, I realized it's kind of true. When I first decided to move to NYC in 2000 so Carla could pursue her education in music and acting, events just clicked right along. I took us nearly a year to get here with only a slight pause after 9/11. My plan was to see her through college, then move on. Well, she has, and I am. Timing is perfect with the housing market and low interest rates. In the past 10 years, money manages to fall into my lap when I need it the most. Funny how fortunate I've been.
This morning I took my camera along and took pictures all the way to work, until it died, that is. I wanted to remember walking to the train, the visions I see when I get off, and my daily walk through downtown Manhattan to the Federal Building where I work. Who does that?? After 7 years living here, I am still in awe of the city. I never tired of it and there will be times I will most certainly miss the hustle and bustle. It will be nice to visit since Carla will still be here going to grad school at Juilliard. I plan to be here for every performance and recital. I may also return to do large craft shows to sell candles and fragrance products. It all depends on the upstate scene.

So how unique is it to see the Empire State Building everyone morning as soon as you get off the train? It's still impressive to me. How I will miss this.

Oh I have to go back to work tomorrow

2009-07-05T22:56:00.001-04:00

So this is the 4th day of packing for the Big Move. Got up early this morning, had 2 cups of java and was raring to go. I took down 2 wheely cartfuls of stuff I'm getting rid of plus some posters and pictures. I'm sure they're gone by now.

I can't believe I have to go to work tomorrow. But I have a lot to do there, getting ready to retire. I want to finish up a few cases I have left, pack and ship out my personal belongings, then just drift away the rest of the week. My personnel folder has been retrieved and I'm ready to submit my retirement paperwork.

I've always looked forward to moving. The months before I moved to NYC I thought I would jump out of my skin in anticipation. This time is different. I'm not only moving to my dream house, I'm also entering into the final phase of my life, quitting my job and living by my schedule and no one else's. I will rise early to greet the day, not because I have to, but because I want to. Each new day will present its challenges. If I get snowed in, I won't care. I'll eat beans if I have to.

Anyways, here are some updated pics of my packing accomplishments today. I also did major paperwork, paid bills, and took care of some orders that need to be shipped out this week.

Another day, another box, or 2

2009-07-04T23:10:00.000-04:00

I was up early this morning. Packing all day, but I went out to get a pack of hot dogs and buns to celebrate the holiday. Then after a fresh cup of coffee, back to work. I packed an entire box of yarn - odd cones for my knitting machine and skeins for scarves, hats and whatever. I also took two wheely carts of stuff down to the trash room and it disappeared immediately. I have another cart full of patterns, yarn, posters and shoes to take down tomorrow.

I feel as if I have to get everything done this weekend, but in fact I have next weekend to finish up packing last minute items. We also need to take down the 4 ceiling fans we put up when we moved here. I need to stop by EtsyLabs on Monday to pack up the knitting machine I lent to them for the long term until I want it back. What a pain in the butt. I have no car, so I'll have to hire a car service to drive me back with it.

Well, off to sleep soon, up early again tomorrow. Busy day and busy week ahead. Soon it will be all over, no rush, not deadlines to finish before going back to work, day job that is... Once this next week is over and the move complete, I can work at my own pace. First think, kill those vines before they take over my house!

Packing

2009-07-03T21:17:00.000-04:00

So I have a long weekend and started packing yesterday. The boxes arrived on Wednesday and already I can see I will need quite a few more. We have pretty much finished the living and dining rooms and the kitchen. I just started in my bedroom packing fabric and yarn, but just ran out of steam. It seems like we pack and pack and pack some more, and not make any progress!
I'm using my wheely cart to load up and take downstairs. In our building, anything you put down by the elevator disappears in minutes! The other day I took down a big bag of paperbacks. Today I took down fabric, clothes, shoes, books, dried stuff.. and I bet it's gone already.

This morning I also washed every curtain and drapery in the house and took down the hardware. I don't know if I can use it all in my new place, but it's possible I can use some of it.

I am tired. I have 2 more days to pack before I start my final week at work. I have lots of last minute tasks to do there, such as file my claim for retirement! I have the paperwork done, just have to turn it in. I need to pack up my personal belongings and ship it home, shred shred and more shredding, and throw out extraneous files and instructions. I also want to clear up any cases I have left so I don't leave any behind for someone else to deal with.

So I will play around here for a little while, then off to bed early to get ready for another fun-filled day tomorrow!

I bought a house

2009-06-30T22:55:00.000-04:00

I am tired but exhilerated today. After signing a contract on a house in early April, the closing was today and I am now the proud owner of my dream house in upstate New York. I haven't seen it since early April and the trees and flowers had yet to bloom. Today I see that the deck and picnic pavillion have been absorbed by vines growing everywhere! The greenery is awesome and alive, like a haunted castle. The landscaping in the front yard is blooming and filled with color.

I am closing down business for the next few weeks as I pack and move in July 13. I hope to be up and running by August 1. I will be retiring from my day job and pursuing business fulltime! I'm so excited, you have no idea.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Thoughts on MJ

2009-06-27T23:48:00.000-04:00

I was at home on Thursday June 25 when I was online and starting reading that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest. I knew then that he wouldn't make it. It was shocking, but not unexpected. I had read he was in poor health, but what was surprising is the aspect of drugs. It's always drugs, isn't it? Even when the celebrity has not been known to be a drug user, which I thought Michael was not. My mistaken impression was that he was into healthy living. Who knew? I didn't. But it is disappointing that drugs are usually at the forefront of a celebrity death it seems.

When will people start intervening? When will the payoff take a back burner and a person's health take precedence? Why don't friends and family take action? Does money really buy everything these days?

I make no judgements on his life. He was a great entertainer and will always be remembered for that. I believe he was not a pedophile, but only God and he knows for sure. I do believe he was a child who never grew up, who never had a childhood, and lived as an innocent child even as a man. Even with all the legal safeguards in place for child celebrities, I believe that childhood is robbed. He never had a chance to be a child, a teenager, and grow normally into an adult. He was used and manipulated his entire life. If blame is to be placed, I place it at the feet of his family, most especially his parents who lost control of his celebrity status and failed to intervene.

His was a sad life, but he gave it all to us. I hope he finds peace now.

It's Happening

2009-06-27T22:45:00.001-04:00

So it looks like I'm leaving NYC after all. After months of anguish, the house I bid on is finally coming to a close on Tuesday June 30. It's been one hassle after another, with the poorest communication I've ever had with the bank. Every time I called for status, I was told they needed something else. They never called me to keep me updated on what evidence was required - it was always a result of me calling them. I'm not going into detail, but we had to put the mortgage in my name only, needed a water test 1 day after the last one expired, more bank statements, no commitment letter... You get the picture. Although the market is at its lowest in years, financing is extremely tight. But above all, we prevailed, and the house of our dreams will be ours in 3 days.

I'm looking forward to waking up and deciding my plan for the day. One day, I might wake up and say I want to sew, another work in the garden or yard, or make candles for a wedding order. And if I get snowed in during winter, I won't care. As long as the propane tank is full, I can wait out any storm. I can hunker down and peruse seed catalogs for the spring, read mysteries, crochet, or just take the day off and putter around in the kitchen. Although my main business is soy candles and home fragrance, I'd like to set up a new torch and re-acquaint myself with lampwork beadmaking too.

I have a feeling I'm going to be busier than I've ever been. I want to wake up early each day and on warm days take my first cup of coffee out on the balcony off my bedroom and breath in the fresh country air as I plan my day. I want to smell the scent of fresh cut grass, something I haven't smelled in the years I've live in Manhattan. I want to listen to the silence. No noisy cars and car alarms, loud music, fire sirens, parties in the building......just silence of the country. Birds, breezes..

Will I still have enough time to fulfill all my dreams? Probably not. But I'm going to try.

She touched my heart

2009-06-27T22:29:00.000-04:00

As I contemplate retiring within the next few weeks, I am thinking back on some of my special adventures. I do home visits for my job a few times a year, and I spent 3 days in the Catskills on one of my more memorable trips. This one is just unforgettable.

One of my clients lives so far out in the country, I couldn't see her house from the road. I had to park on the road and literally climb down to her house deep in the woods.

She is 71 years old.
She has no running water. She goes down to the creek for water and buys water for drinking and cooking.
Most of her electric outlets don't work, so she just doesn't use them.
She heats with a wood stove and in the winter the temperature never goes above 55. She scavenges wood all winter and closes off the upstairs. The state only pays for some of her wood.
There's a tree on her property about to fall on her house and no one wants to do anything about it. She can't afford to have it cut down.
Her house is damp and full of mold and she has to clean it constantly.
Her son & daughter live out west.
Wild animals come up to her house, so she can't let her cats out, ever.
Her stove is broken, so she uses a hotplate.
The door to her fridge fell off one night, but she put it back on.
She needs to go up on her roof to fix it, but she has enough sense not to do it herself.
She has no phone, not even a cell.
Her mailbox is at the top of the hill on the road.

You think she has it bad?

She doesn't. She won't hear of moving. She said when she leaves, it will be in a black bag. As hard as living is for her, she loves her home because growing up, she never had any roots and moved 15 times before she was 8 (depression years). She helped build this house with her ex-husband, has built a greenhouse herself on the side of the house and has a gorgeous collection of green growing things. She has a patio full of pots and flowers everywhere. She has 3 feral cats who love her. She has more energy than I do. She's not afraid (well, a little because of the tree that might fall on her house).

I want to adopt her.

It's also amazing that she survives on about $700/mo. I really wish I could contact a local church or agency to go out and help fix up the place for her. I felt like hugging her when I left. I'll be checking on her remotely, though. Someday when I retire, I want to live in the woods like her, but on level ground with a 4WD with a plow.

I also visited a house with 10 people, various friends and relatives, dad in jail, and about to foreclose on their home. She'll be ok though, I'm pretty sure.

I see a lot, and as bad as I think my situation is, I always feel grateful. It kind of puts things in perspective for me.
Her name is Olive, how cool is that? She's as feisty and cranky as anything, yet had a great sense of humor and smile. I want to buy her an LifeAlert. I'm frightened that something will happen and no one will know. Off-duty, I'd love to visit her again.
I've been doing this for almost 30 years mostly in an office, and the home visits for the past 3 years, which have been the most fullfilling years of my career. Mostly I see welfare rats taking advantage of the system, but I understand they're doing whatever they need to do to survive, and I bend the rules even for them. I fill out forms asking about their daily activities, and it makes me sick when all they can think of is watching TV. I mean, your life is all about watching TV? Someone else does all the cooking, cleaning and laundry for you? I know you're disabled, but so is Stephen Hawking. I know, not everyone can be productive in the usual sense, but some people don't even exercise their minds. I see a lot of disabled people here trying to make a go of it. They're trying, for chrissakes. Some people just don't even try.

And here is this 71 YO lady who should be enjoying her retirement years, living hand to mouth and loving her life! Who needs a million bucks!

So my youngest graduated

2009-05-17T00:50:00.000-04:00

So this has been a busy and exciting weekend. Carla graduated with her Bachelor's degree in music from Manhattan School of Music. These 4 years just flew by. All the recitals, the shows, and now, the graduation - the end of an era. I am so proud, as any parent would be.

Not only did graduation take place yesterday, but she had a show last night and tonight. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=91901418376&ref=nf She was amazing, with her knack for comedy. I wish you could have seen the show. Such talent, it always amazes me, those student. I wish the best to all of them as they certainly so richly deserve a bright future in music. Looking forward

Carla is going to Juilliard

2009-04-16T01:02:00.000-04:00

Well, Carla was accept to the graduate program at Manhattan School of Music and Juilliard School. She's graduating from Manhattan School of Music this spring and chose Juilliard for grad school. She's 1 of about 8 accepted to their vocal program and 1 of 2 Mezzos accepted so it's a really big deal.

Of course I'm extremely proud but not surprised. I've always believed in her talent. Unfortunately, tuition and expenses have taken their toll on our finances getting her through her undergrad school, so we are appealing to her friends and fans to help her finish her studies before embarking on her professional career. I can no longer support her financially as I am facing retirement soon and plan to buy a home in the very near future, so anyone who would generously contribute toward her continuing educational goals would be much appreciated. You can contact me at DewOnAPetal@gmail or her at CJVoice@yahoo.com if you'd like more information about her career goals or life in NYC. And it's you'd like to donate a few bucks to offset the cost of tuition, check out her link at http://www.carla-jablonski.com/juilliard.html

Thanks!

Things, they are a-changin'

2009-04-14T23:00:00.000-04:00

I'm about to set off on a new adventure sooner than I thought: retirement. We've found a house in Whitney Point NY which fits our needs perfectly. Big spacious contemporary house with all the amenities I could ever want on 2 acres, half wooded.

The living room is a huge vaulted room with an entire peaked wall of windows facing a humongous deck with flower pots, benches and a hot tub. There are 4 bedrooms, some with decks. An awesome Italian kitchen with a commercial stove with 6 burners, 2 ovens and grill, and cabinets I will never fill. The counter tops are a dark gorgeous mottled marble. The floors are all marble, ceramic and hardwood. And there's a sauna.

I can't wait to lounge on the deck in the cool summer evenings, sitting in the hot tub with a cocktail, listening to the noises of the country above the gurgling of the tub.

During the day, I will tend to my garden. I'll have vegetables galore that I will can in the fall, and flowers littering the yard everywhere you look. There's a pond in the back yard that I will perhaps make into a koi or lily pond. Maybe I'll even add some goldfish or a turtle or 2.

In the fall, I will rake the riot of leaves and put up food from my garden for the winter. We'll stack wood for the fires we will have in the wood stove to heat the house when the wind chills the air outside. We will be cozy.

In the winter, I will sit at my knitting machines and make scarves, hats and sweaters. I will sew to my heart's content. I'll make my candles to build up my inventory for the craft shows I will sell at in the spring. Maybe I'll get my torch up and running and start making lampwork beads again. I'll read a lot and watch the snow outside on the deck. I'll run out to the heated hot tub to bask in the invigorating winter air.

In early spring, I'll set up a planting station to start my seedlings for the garden. And start the cycle all over again.

Ahhh, retirement.

I keep giving stuff away!

2008-05-29T23:11:00.000-04:00

Well, what a person to do? My daughter is going to Boston this weekend to sing at a friend's recital, so of course, she needed a thank-you gift for her mother. And she always comes to me for an assortment of candles all wrapped up pretty with a bow. I can't blame her. I kind of give her the run of my box, letting her pick out whatever she wants.

I worked most of the day making tins and tea lights for the Brooklyn Flea this Sunday. I also have a couple wedding orders on the front burner. One of them is for 120 votives which I am taking to the Brooklyn Flea this weekend to deliver. At least my load will be a lot lighter when I return home!

Doing a craft show in New York City can be a challenge, expecially if you don't have a car. I started out with a rolling suitcase, but soon abandoned that in favor of a hand-truck and plastic bins with lids. Candles can be awefully heavy, so I've tried to lighten the load and eliminate jars and votives. I find that travel tins sell especially well, so I take lots of them and boxed tea lights which also do well. I try and take a sampling of other candles and encourage people to contact me for custom orders which I will make up and bring the next time I'm at the Flea.

The real challenge is travelling to Brooklyn from upper Manhattan. I start off around 6:30 am and wheel my truck up to 168th St subway stop. There's not many people out and about that early in the morning, so I gently bump by cart down the steps. There's an elevator down to the platform, so that's helpful when it's working. When I finally get to the Brooklyn stop, usually around 8:00 am, the real work starts. It's much harder pulling my hand-cart up the gazillion steps to the street, but sometimes I get lucky, and some nice strong guy will take pity on me and help me carry it up to the street. I never turn down an offer. Returning home is usually easier if I've had a good day. The more often I do the Flea, the easier it gets. I might start looking at other shows to do in the future. I could actually get used to this! Not only is this a chance to sell my products, but I get to meet the nicest people!

I'm at the Brooklyn Flea http://brownstoner.com/brooklynflea/on June 1 and 15th. I'm with the NewNew group http://thenewnew.blogspot.com/ which has a permanent spot every Sunday. We are a great group of crafters and artists, so stop by and say hello!

2008-05-26T22:02:00.000-04:00

I have been off work since last Wednesday, and this long weekend just flew by so fast. The weather has been gorgeous, and luckily I got out and about yesterday with my daughter, who has her own apt just 2 blocks away. We took the bus up to Ft Tryon Park in upper Manhattan where the Cloisters is located. The park is just lovely, especially this time of the year. The flowers and gardens were absolutely gorgeous, and made me realize how much I miss the country. There were a lot of people out and about, but not so crowded as Central Park. Fortunately, a lot of people think the upper reaches of Manhattan is a no-man's land, which is fine with us. We don't want everyone discovering how beautiful it is up here. We walked around, took some pictures, then walked down a few blocks and had lunch on the back patio of Bleu Evolution, a cozy little restaurant in Inwood. We had a few glasses of wine, chatted it up, then decided to walk home instead of taking the bus. So, we ended up walking from 191st St to 160th on Broadway and had an absolutely fantastic time.

So the rest of the weekend, I've been making candles like crazy every day. I'm filling some large orders, plus trying to make inventory for next Sunday. I vend at the Brooklyn Flea about twice a month, and I don't have a lot to sell right now. I sell with a group of people who live in the NYC area and who also sell on http://www.etsy.com/

I recently tweaked my website also this weekend, trying to make it more inviting. I tell ya, this business is starting to take over my life, which is good! So much so, I'm considering retiring from my day job next year.
This weekend made me realize more than ever, I need to put down my work and get out and enjoy living in the city.

New Love

2008-03-08T00:24:00.000-05:00

My evenings and weekends are spend endlessly updating my website http://dewonapetal.com/, reading the Etsy forums, posting new items in my online stores, making things, and what little time left, sleeping.

I've recently in the past few months discovered soy wax. Imagine that. I've been making candles off and on for 15 years, but I always used paraffin wax, which can be tricky. I decided to make candles as gifts for my co-workers this past Christmas, and that's when I discovered how amazing soy wax really is. It's eco-friendly, easy to work with, doesn't give off any fumes, and supports local farmers. Unfortunately, the price of soy wax has increased tremendously since last fall. That's a shame. It irritates me no end that natural, organic products always end up being more expensive so that only the elite can afford to live healthy. In any case, I purchase all my supplies wholesale and try to pass on the savings to my customers as much as possible.

I'm tired!

2007-07-01T01:14:00.000-04:00

Weekends are hell! So much catching up to do, and I always seem to avoid the things I really need to do. So instead I sewed on a dress I had started last week putting in 11 buttonholes, sewing the buttons, tacking down the facings. All that's left now is the hem and probably adjusting the back darts.

Tomorrow I want to make a sleeveless shell on my knitting machine. Even though it's a machine, it still will be an all-day project.

I'm also working on my entry for the Spring Beads4You Challenge on Etsy. We all get the same set of beads to work with, and there's a pile of them. What you see above is how much I had finished 2 days ago. The deadline was supposed to be today, but they extended it for 2 more weeks. I have a LOT of beads to add. I'll post a pic of the finished product.

Well, I'm off to check out some other sites I've been meaning to look at.

It's been a long time

2007-04-15T02:42:00.000-04:00

It seems that life sometimes takes over and there's no time to reflect and contemplate. I've been busy working, fretting over debts, and trying to make ends meet. (Aren't we all?)

I've been working on my website (www.DewOnAPetal.com) all day today, trying to optimize as best I can with what little I know about the whole process. I think it's helping as my numbers are rising on the Website Grader http://www.websitegrader.com/ I found on the Etsy forums.

Speaking of Etsy, I've once again changed directions, still trying to find my niche in the craft world. I love doing thread crochet and have been doing it all my life, so I decided that was something that might be a little different and unique. I never have a pattern, so my pieces just seem to evolve. When the crochet work is done, I add seed and other beads. It seems to relax me as I enjoy the intricate work. I made this black and white thread crochet choker in 3 days for the Etsy winter Beads4You challenge recently, and I really stretched my imagination for this piece. I enjoyed the challenge and have many more thread crochet items in my Etsy store, www.DewOnAPetal.etsy.com I'm making a custom cuff for my daughter's friend this week, and would love to make one just for you, too!

2006-08-03T23:59:00.000-04:00

Well, today we sweated out a possible blackout, but thankfully, it didn't happen. I worked at home today in front of the A/C.

Tonight I worked on my website for awhile. I'm getting some great advice from a web developer from Etsy who is analyzing my site and giving me tips to make it better. Also information about submitting it to directories and search engines. Very labor intensive. There is so much involved and so little time.

This is one of my newer things I have listed on Etsy. I love making the cluster chokers and earrings. They are very time-consuming, but satisfying to make. Hope you like!
http://www.etsy.com/view_item.php?listing_id=348191

2006-08-03T01:00:00.000-04:00

This is from Etsy forum over 50 question!

I SWORE I wasn't going to post here! but then it got interesting, so these are my personal memories until my life ended in 1974. At least I had a few good years.
CSNY- Déjà vu
Moody Blues – Nights in White Satin
Les Paul
Grain Parties
Blind Faith
KeggersLayla
Jethro Tull
Ginger Baker
LSD
James Taylor – Sweet Baby James
Carole King
The white Album
Hitchhiking
Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
King Crimson
Blue
Nickel Bag
Earth Shoes
MaryJane
Bennie And The Jets
America – Simon & Garfunkle
Black Beauties
Trout fishing
Woodstock

tip of the iceberg... As you can see, music drives my life. When I hear a song, I remember a time, an event, a love. I despise rock n roll and "oldies" from the 50's and 60's. 70's to early 80's (yay Steve Perry! yuck yuck) on my iPod only and privately shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I gotta start my blog...... I'm up for it tonight.. hehe