Vacation News - day 7 - Oct. 14, 10

Happy birthday to Lance! Don't know if you're reading this or not, but congratulations on winning your bet! Lance just won $500 for losing 30 pounds in 30 days. Wow. I'd love to lose even HALF of that in that amount of time.
: )

Today we spent with Judy and Hannah. Had lunch at City BBQ with everyone (took Jeremiah and Keith out of school). Delicious!

We went to Hidden Valley Farm and bought some NATURAL, unsweetened REAL cider and apples. Yummy! Makes me think I need to make some apple cinnamon soap when I get back. I just ADORE the Autumn season and all of the scents and activities that go with it.

Here's a pic of Bullet and Hannah (and her caramel apple).

Vacation News - day 6 - Oct. 13, 10

OK - so Bullet's BIL finally moved her car so we could move on to the next leg of our journey - to visit Keith (one of Bullet's sons) and Judy (Keith's wife, not Bullet's sister). They just moved from Germany to Centerville, OH - has to be culture shock for sure (especially when you consider that we actually have a speed limit here).
: )

It's Wednesday afternoon - what an easy drive (oh, ok - I slept, but it didn't rain, which is what we were expecting), and we arrive to their brand-new home. Very nice - lots of space and techno stuff! And I have access to the web, so I can get caught up on some updating.


Peace and bubbles!

Vacation News - day 3 - Oct. 10, 10

Yes! It IS 10/10/10 - a unique number combination as far as dates go. Sunday morning we leave Gillespie and travel up to Toledo, where Bullet's sister (Judy) and brother-in-law (Joe) reside. They just purchased this new home in a retirement community, even though they aren't yet 55 years old. Must be nice!

So we arrive Sunday night. What a wonderful, warm home. And of course Judy and Joe have to keep us full to the gills the entire time we're there (I understand that Judy is STILL full). They attempted to bribe us to purchase a home there by offering a brand new riding mower (I'm told it's the "Benford" model), but we are now rooted in Checotah. My little soap shack is getting customers, and we have other places to stop and visit.

BTW, Judy loved her antique lilac body spray I made and labeled just for her.

Off to Keith & Judy's on Wednesday....... stay tuned.

Vacation News - day 2 - Oct. 9, 10

Saturday was spent driving from Oklahoma to Gillespie, IL, where we visited with Leann and her family. I spent the day sleeping, in other words (I am the world's WORST travel companion, as I sleep the moment the vehicle is in motion).

Leann's home is beautiful - just as I pictured it - in a nice, quiet residential neighborhood. Her family welcomed us with open arms and we had a delicious meal out at a local Mexican-American restaurant and returned to her home for gourmet coffee and great conversation.

We are definitely stopping in on the way home to make some of her gorgeous swirled soap!

Vacation News - the start - Oct. 8, 10

OK, so I'm tardy in posting about the vacation. Admittedly, I was VERY apprehensive about leaving my shop and dogs, but thanks to Lance and Barb for watching the dogs, and thanks to Uncle Bernie and Phil for watching the shop/house!


So we left on Friday, October 8, to bring the girls (see pics attached) to Lance and Barb. Lucy (the white one) is a very picky eater, and I think Missy (the tan one) might have left a few "presents" in the house, so they will be getting a special thank you when we return to fetch them.

We left on Saturday morning to trek up north - to Ohio, through Leann's home in Illinois. Gotta publish this now - we are off to go to the apple orchard.

Peace & bubbles!

Website Update!

I am SO happy with the changes that have taken place on my website. You can get their via www.pittstownsoapworks.com (the old way) or the new name of www.oklahomahandmadesoap.com - and it looks FABULOUS. Thank you, Lils & Denise for everything! I love it!

When I get back from vacation I am going to finish putting up the pictures and descriptions to complete it.

New Website Coming

Wow - have you ever had a website and had a less than perfect experience? For years I've had the same website - not a great webmaster (basically non-existent) and now he decides to bill me for the past 3 years (excessively, I might add - who pays $300 a year for hosting)? What the heck is THAT all about? Anywho...... stay tuned, folks, for a great NEW website - I've secured www.oklahomahandmadesoap.com and have a very talented team working on it as I type! So pittstownsoapworks.com doesn't work right now - it's going to be pointed to the new one VERY soon (hello? Godaddy? You out there? Let's move a little faster, eh?).

Getting ready to go visiting a few folks starting tomorrow..... will try to put the adventure on here for you guys reading.

Peace....... and bubbles.

Article Published!!!

I'm very excited about the newspaper articles, as published in 2 local newspapers here: McIntosh County Democrat and The Eufaula Indian Journal (written by Donna Pearce, Managing Editor) on Thursday, September 16, 2010.

Here is the article - I hope everyone is able to read it - my scanner isn't the best.

Newspaper Story Update

Well, I heard back from Donna (the Managing Editor). The article about my shop was going to be published in today's newspapers, but because of a 1,000 acre wildfire and a fatal boat crash over the weekend it had to be bumped until next Thursday. Bummer, but that news absolutely had to be sent out, so I completely understand. I'll post an update next week after my story is published.

On a more positive note, the coconut vanilla batch of soap I made smells just absolutely sinful - both vanilla AND coconut are prevalent at any given time you sniff it. I'm having a dickens of a time naming it. If anyone would like to make suggestions, if I end up using yours for it, you'll "win" a bar of it for free! Ideally, I'm looking for a Fall-themed name.

Last Days of Summer.........essentially

Here in the USA this is the last "hoorah" of summer. Labor Day weekend. It means the last barbecues of the year..... the last of the outdoor parties...... pools close for the season..... kids are back in school.

I've always love the season of Autumn (Fall, some call it) back in New Jersey. Here in Oklahoma the changing of the season doesn't seem to mean as much, and I do miss that. I love the colors of the leaves changing, the coolness of the air, the crisp mornings and early evenings.

I'm trying to capture that essence in some new scents I'm working on with blending my own, as well as some old favorites.

No picture in today's blog - I'll leave you thinking about dragon's blood, twilight, patchouli blends, spicy things. Pumpkins..... nutmeg..... cinnamon. Enjoy the coolness.