We received 5-6 inches of snow on Sunday! It coated the trees in the most beautiful pearlescent white so that on Monday, when the sun shone brightly it made everything sparkle. We are expecting another 8-12 inches on Friday. We will definitely have snow on the ground for the big day.
Christmas is almost here, and it really feels like it now. Every year I remind myself that I need to take the time to decorate and thoroughly enjoy the season. And every year I struggle to do this. Because our business is retail based and, therefore, busy during the holidays, this keeps the struggle ongoing. I do strive to be more consistent with at least a minimal amount of decoration. Some years I'm better at it than others, and I've learned to give myself grace.
For the first time in years, we did not decorate outdoors. I do, however, have battery operated candles in each of the windows in the front of the house, and I enjoy the simplicity of it. Our closest neighbors have their yard and outbuilding decorated and it looks beautiful. I think we enjoy looking at it as much as they do!
Our farmer's market has been incredibly slow the past few months. I'm assuming the current economy is the reason but am not entirely sure. For the past 8 or 9 years that we've been selling at this market it's been very busy in both November and December and then slows down tremendously until May. Unfortunately, that just didn't happen this year.
We've finished making lotion, lip balm, deodorant, and all of our other products except soap for the remainder of this year. Our last day of soapmaking will be tomorrow (production for all will start up again in January). Once the soap is completed, I think I'm going to take all of the tomatoes I have stored in the freezer from our summer garden and make them into marinara (and dehydrating the skins and seeds for tomato powder). I've been wanting to get this last bit of food preservation checked off of my imaginary list and this just might be the week to do it.
This space may be a little bit quiet until the New Year as we wrap up our pre-Christmas sales and then enjoy 2 weeks off. I can't wait for time to draw and write and paint and crochet and write (written twice because I plan to do that the most)! This year I've also declared that I'm taking Christmas day off. Off as much as I can be "off". This means no work and no cooking. I will make large meals and desserts on Christmas Eve, and Christmas day will be pre-made meals and leftovers.
I'm grateful for each of you who stop by regularly and read these posts. And if you've just discovered this blog, I'm grateful you found it!
Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas if you celebrate, and a happy new year!