gah, it's been sooo long!

Where has the time gone?  Why have I not posted here in a millenium?  Taxes.  That's it.  I started inventory the beginning of the year and have been plugging away in between orders ever since.  I finally submitted them last Thursday through TurboTax and will wait to be audited. 

So what else have I been up to?  We found out we needed to buy new tires soon and needed to replace damaged brake linings on the Kia Sportage.  Nice car, right?

So instead of buying tires and brake linings we have to save up for, what did we do?  We bought a new car instead!  Hey, isn't that the best solution?  Help the economy, that's #1. 

Well actually, it's a bigger car, more space for when I do shows and especially when I need to take my tent.  The payments are a little bit less, we got a great trade-in, so it's all good.  Not that I'm doing a lot of shows this year, but I do have a couple outdoor shows.  So that settles that. 

What else?  Orders have been coming in at a good clip this year, and it looks like this year is going to be even better than last year.  I've had a little bit of time to experiment and added a few unique fragrances to my line (Play Dough, for one.  I know, wierd, but I had to have it.)

I've developed a new design for larger diameter candles, the Endless Candle.  It involves a special technique so that a tea light can be placed in the center of the candle without burning the main candle.  I developed it because I cannot find a wick large enough for a 4" diameter candle to burn properly, but the process can also be used in a 3" diameter candle.    

I've also begun making 2-tone soy candles for Kim at http://www.weddingfavorsjustonline.com/unitycandles.html  She does stunning designs on some of the candles I make for her. 

I'll be getting ready for the Indie Garage Sale coming up this month in Utica NY  http://indiegaragesale.org/.  And I'll have lots of new fragrances and blends available, including the aforementioned Play Dough and designer fragrances.  Stop by and say hello!  Mention this blog and receive a 10% discount. 

Thanks for stopping by, and now that the holidays and taxes are finally behind me, I'll have more time to talk to you soon.

Happy spring!

marty

Happy New 2012

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.