Hello, Not a lot from me today. We dug up a few potato plants yesterday. We could probably do the whole plot, but that would entail getting into the proper gardening clothes, making the proper amount of time and having some storage boxes ready to fill… so, we’ll just dig them up as needed for now. Not many tomatoes yet. These ones I bagged in mesh to stop the rats eating them. I’ve lost most of them in the hothouse which is really annoying.
Today I managed to get to a soap batch (Had a lot of menial tasks in town today) done. I realise i should have Easter soaps – so filled the two bunny embed moulds to make a start on that. The rest of the mixture was used to make a heart embed and a tray of owl embeds and a small loaf (no fragrance) practicing my ‘ombre’ skills.
Looking forward to cutting this one!
xx
PS…should be practicing my photographic skills… er, yipes? So thats really out of focus and the left side is more of a light pink than the orange it seems to appear under the kitchen lights. Will have to take a snap in proper light.
Hello, Just a few soapy snaps – This colourful lot is a bit of fun. The fragrance, ‘citrus and sage’ is refreshing!
Some more owls… I’d just used leftover mixture so my owls are black and grey this time instead of brown. I’ve used the Oud Wood and Moss fragrance… which is becoming a favourite
I did a double batch of the Rose Geranium Ess. Oil soaps… but one half at a time. So I could get the neat layers without the colours dropping into each other. And a dusting of silver sparkles on top
A ‘shimmy’ design for one of my favourites – Anjou Pear and Lemon Zest
And a bunch of more natural soaps. I’d made a batch of ‘Oatmeal and Stout’ fragranced soap with an oatmeal scrub using the Mediterranean Red Clay as the colourant. I thought it would be cool to have a second batch to complement them but use the Chocolate Mediterranean Clay. My sister Rosemary sent me a set of stamps so I have had fun bashing my name into some of the batches!! Super pleased with those!
Hello. I went to basket weaving properly for the first time this year. It was lovely to see the ladies and a few new faces. People were interested in my new basket and the material I was using.
I am trying to do one useful task each day – yesterday I cleared out the drawers that sit beside the computer. Its tall and has 10 drawers (long ones) and I swear it was more tedious than the above task of cleaning out the chook coop! (todays task)(Although yesterdays task didn’t require an immediate shower)
I seem to be a magnet for useless paper.
Pulled out the nasturtiums from one of the composts and found random potatoes! So grabbed those before putting in the used chook coop straw. These got made into potato salad for tonights dinner.
Still need to fossick through this patch and finish the garlic harvest
And… looks like we might eventually get tomatoes? I think these are yellow pear. Wish they would hurry up!
While all my family was here, we dropped in a Black River Beach to enjoy the wide open spaces, shells, view and the sea air
I found ‘this’
To be honest I am not sure exactly what it is… plant of course, but roots or grassy like stems?
Bless my husbands heart… Jeff doesn’t even blink anymore when I want to drag large weird unruly stuff home from the beach. And cool that I had sisters and niblings to assist.
The rest of the family just laughed when I turned up at the car park obscured by my armful.
I figured it would be interesting to make it into a basket or 10.
Obviously I have not had time to even consider sitting down and having a play with it in the last month, but yesterday I thought it would be nice. I sat outside until Tasmania said no (clouded up and rained blowing into the veranda) I did a little more inside later on – SO messy. I’m using a blanket stitch (inexpertly applied) and it pulls in the mass of fibres well and so far the base is shaping up really well and is mega solid. Its also full of shells that I am collecting to weave into the rim. Plan: create a basket big enough to display the natural goats milk soaps that have no fragrances or designs.
Hello. I’d like to start by saying I really appreciate each and every comment with support, sympathy, stories of loved pets and even a few tears regarding our much loved and missed Pip. It feels rude not answering each comment, but at the moment my tear ducts are on a hair trigger, so this is an out of character blanket message of thanks and love.
I’ve decided for a while to try to just grab a photo or two with short notes on stuff that might be happening, as I really don’t feel too upbeat to blog properly – but I didn’t want to lose touch and let weeks slide by. Get into a little rhythm with it. So… ‘Snippets’
In the background of having family and friends all of January and coping with loss, I’ve still had to try to keep up with my soaping goal You might remember I committed to doing Steamfest in Sheffield in March (11th, 12th & 13th) So… to give all soaps the curing time I needed to have 600 soaps done by end of Jan/first week of Feb.
Yes all those crates are full. As of midnight last night, my total hit 624. I was a bit disappointed re lack of fanfare, but it was nice to be done.
Having filled the pastry racks, I’ve branched out and put soap wherever I could find a flat surface (lets not talk about our lack of flat surfaces at the moment)
Luckily we don’t need the heater this week
I didn’t run any of these snaps through photoshop and I haven’t had time to set up proper nice photos of all the soaps I’ve done over the past 5 weeks… but thought I’d share my efforts with you regardless!
I am working on getting a couple of proper banners made so people can easily see what my stall is all about (and curb some of the disappointment when they realise that I am not selling fancy (edible) cakes)
Anyway, I am running off to do something not soap related for a while (today at least)
For our friends and family who may not be aware, Lisa and l lost our greatest friend 10 days ago. I’m only now finding it possible to put our loss to word. For 14 years Pip brought laughter and love to our little family. Our house feels so empty, without our little blue eye’d boy, he made up 1 third of our family, we are no longer whole. We miss our little boy. ~ Jeff
Today has been tough. Our young friend flew back to Japan yesterday and today the floodgates opened pretty hard. We did our best through our grief to make sure Jin had a lovely time, and despite the awful timing, we really did enjoy him being with us.
Pip hadn’t been well and we got him back to the vets to get to the bottom of his issues… the results were not good. It came down to that horrible horrible choice of what to do.
We went there looking to get a plan and treatment, not to say goodbye So there was a lot of shock as well as grief. We know we did the right thing but the brain makes you second guess everything and our hearts… well they are just in little pieces.
Everything we do here revolved around Pip. I cried because I realised that I didn’t need to save the bread bags to put his kitty litter into. Then laughed because that was stupid. Then cried telling Jeff.
We put the fire on the other night because it turned cold. Jeff pointed out how we were leaving the back door ajar… I didn’t even realise it. More tears. We can shut the door all the way now. But I don’t want to.
We hadn’t told many people or posted about it. We just couldn’t do it. It seems too official and final to admit it out loud. He was the most amazing little cat we could ever have imagined to be lucky enough to have He gave us love in spades
He put up with me dressing him up and taking photos constantly He was the biggest snuggle bunny
I think 70% of my photos of Pip are him sleeping in some impossibly comfortable position.
Jeff misses his morning lap companion.
I miss the taps on my leg at night as I sit here, telling me he was about to jump up. I miss his “MOOFF” to get our attention.
14 years ago I spotted him in a pet shop in Canberra, asked to see him – and he jumped straight into my arms and schmoozled my face. That was a done deal.
Today was the first time I have dipped my toe into the vast waters of Pip photos… and I think I am at my limit for today. Seeing his face I just can’t believe he is gone.
I love how you all have enjoyed my Pip stories and photos… it was hard to work up to writing a post to tell you he was gone. But its part of our lives and he has been a big part of who we are. As Jeff said, we’ve been a family of three for a long time.
I miss my shadow
We were with him right up until that last second. He was peaceful and comfortable.
They offered cremation but we had to bring our boy home We buried him under the cherry blossom tree, and Jeff has been making the area nice, and adding new flowers almost daily. We sat there today and talked and cried and were just … together.
Thank-you for reading, I know those among you that have or have had pets as part of the family are no strangers to this pain.
Hi… We thought it about time to get Jin up into some real hiking country!
So we packed a picnic and set off for Cradle Mt NP
It started off a bit cool… but it was hard to tell what sort of weather we might be in for
It stayed on and off again cloudy for the morning which was rather nice
It got a lot hotter and sunnier as the day went on
We decided to go up to Marion’s Lookout and the follow the Face Track back to Dove Lake (About 13km I think but a lot of ups and downs)(and ups)
I wanted a swim but Jeff and Jin weren’t as keen as I was so we soldiered on!
The look on Jin’s face when I pointed out where we were going (like to the top of that rather large peak in the photo) was priceless. I don’t think he believed me.
As usual, the views just keep getting nicer as we went up
Jin was really enjoying the adventure!
We sat for lunch at the lookout. So spectacular!
Being summer, lots of lovely wildflowers were out on show
Always a stunning view up here
Oh… um Oops… perhaps I should introduce Jin? I have been all over the place lately and can’t remember what I have chatted about recently
Anyway, this lovely young man I have known since the first day of his life! I met him in the hospital on day one!! When I lived in Japan, I used to ride my bike down to the local Izakaya (pub) for a meal and a drink. His Dad, ‘Master’ owned it and we made friends. At the time it was just him, his wife, Yoshika and their two year old daughter Meiru. Yoshiko was very pregnant and was due to have their baby, and I was due to leave Japan… Jin was a bit late arriving, but I was lucky enough to still be there when he was born. I have been friends with this lovely family for a long time, and now of course Jeff has met them many times on our trips. Its been exciting to have Jin come to stay all grown up!
It was very dry up there – all the usual tarns and little waterways were mostly dried up
We were def. carrying more water with us than usual.
More sweet little flowers
Jeff took the chance to stride out on ahead as he hasn’t had a decent hike in a while
We caught up with him at Kitchen Hut then we all mostly stayed together on the challenging descent.
Looks like they’ve redone the rickety old track along this section!
And while its easier to walk on and still looks amazing here… I think the old track had a little more character! Progress I suppose! (and it will stop people from straying off the track onto the sensitive plant life like they would trying to navigate the cruddy old track, which is really important!)
My favourite cushion plants
I have no idea what all these flowers are… but they were pretty
Now that we were on the Face Track, we could start to see views of Dove Lake
The track however got a lot more challenging
I do love this section even if it is a bit slow getting from point to point
And sometimes you just have to scooch down on your bottom to safely get down
Harder for me with my shorter legs!
It took a while to get to the rangers hut
Once there, we stopped for a rest and a bite to eat before tackling the last part…
I forgot that we weren’t quite finished with the ‘going up’ parts
On top of the world!
This part always looks a bit scary… its a really really steep area – the chain links are brilliant – makes you feel a lot more secure
Jin did a great job!
(Looking back up)
Nearly there
Sob… realising I have to go back UP AGAIN!
Finally we were on the proper downhill run
Coming back down to Dove Lake we could see the new ‘Viewing Shelter’ that had literally just opened… like about 4 hours previously.
Its massive – can’t say we are fans really. Its a big cavernous space… a bit concrete/bunker like. A little confusing in the layout.
It does incorporate new loo’s and shuttle bus pick up area – sorely needed, but I am not convinced about the whole massive structure plonked in the ‘wilderness’. It does offer great views and shelter of course. Did it need to be this big and grandiose? There isn’t anything really in the structure… some stepped seating and a bit of interpretation (not much) about the area. I could just be being grouchy about change though. My feeling is, that this is meant to be a wilderness area – that is what people come to see. Good inclusive pathways that people of any ability can access and decent amenities – so do we need to keep adding this level of structure? Without it people would do what they’ve always done. Dressed for the weather and traversed up to the areas that they can manage.
The media release made me laugh a bit… the building ‘Unveiling Spectacular Views’ Um… yeah. Nah… the views were always there and always spectacular!
Just some soapy stuff… Went out to The Arty Duck for my volunteer day last week and tidied and restocked the shelves. I sold well in December – not a lot of cured soap left to stock up with!
I had saved a couple of full batches to restock (one from my class demo)
I’ve done another double batch of the above style as it seems popular.
Just a small group of three people for my soap workshop the other day. I was glad it was a bit smaller. Not such a long day
All the ladies chose designed moulds this time rather than a loaf
I did a Taiwan Swirl as the demo for something different this time 🙂
My ‘Soap Mogulling’ (as a friend would say) is going along reasonably well considering time constraints. I need to count up how many I’ve made so far to see how on or off track I am!
I’ve put through a few double batches of soaps that I know are popular and that also behave well. So thats an easier way to build up some stock.
I plan to wrap the plain/natural bars that have no patterns in pretty origami paper which I think will look attractive on the stall
‘Zingy Tarocco Orange’ Plain colour but put some apricot kernel scrub through it and sprinkles on top. First time using this fragrance and its rather nice!
No idea why I did the Australian Lavender with black. I must have been delirious! It looks ok – I am sure someone will love it haha
And today I’ve put together a double batch of ‘Cedar and Saffron’ then a single batch of the gorgeous French Pear – plain bar but added the hand made flowers on top. Got a bit carried away on one bar with the gold and dont know how to fix it without making a bigger mess but the rest are quite ok!
Hi… Been pretty behind getting to photos but had a small window of opportunity today to catch up a little bit – just throwing in some random selections
Above, we did an Anniversary Bay walk with my sister Rosemary and her partner Ken before the rest of the family arrived
We had a sea mist to start the walk but it cleared up as we went along
I went in ‘proper’ swimming. Rosemary just paddled
Views!
I got them out on the Kayaks a couple of times too
All the family went to Stanley and either walked or took the chair lift up to ‘The Nut’
Views always fab!
Hot day too!! Dad bought us all ice creams when we were done! Awesome Dad!!
Then it was down to Black River Beach to walk around and fossick for shells and check out the cute tiny crabs
Plenty of space to sprawl out!
Action photos a must…
Mum playing sand castles on the beach with the grandies.
Parents stayed on for a week past my sisters leaving and we had a quieter time but really lovely We popped by Fiona’s place and walked down to Detention Falls… Thought this was a super photo of Mum
Still silly busy. Had a workshop, trying to make tons of soaps and also hosting a young Japanese fellow who is the son of long term friends of mine. Jin has only been here a couple of days so far but he is enjoying himself a lot. More on all that later!
Hi!! Wow, what a week! Spectacular fun getting together with ALL the family! So rare that everyone gets together!
Its been hectic – we were working between two home bases – My parents and the Niblings at the beach house at Sisters Beach and my sisters and partners with Jeff and I. (In photo leftish to right Jeff and myself, Dad and Mum, Ken (Rose’s partner) & Rosemary (middle sister) Michelle (baby sister) Georgia (niece) Tony (Bro in Law) Riley (Nephew) Aaron (Em’s b’friend) and Emma (niece)
We did lots of beach stuff, fossicking, kayaking, eating, talking, laughing. (And I might have had a tad more wine than usual)
Everyone has gone now except my parents who are back up staying with us, catching up with friends/family until early next week. So its a bit quieter and easier to organise food for 4 instead of 12 haha!
Haven’t had a chance/energy to sort photos, so am just checking in to say hi
I also locked myself in for a three day market in March which actually means having to make 30 soaps per day between now and end of January to make it worth my while. No pressure… hee hee
