Tuesday, October 21, 2008

New Soaps

Here's a few soaps I just listed on Etsy

Orange & Clove. This was a BIG hit at the festival this weekend, liked by both men and women.



Click HERE to see Etsy listing

Spruce Needle, smells just like a Christmas tree!



Click HERE to see Etsy listing

Autumn Harvest Mix, a spicy scented shred soap



Click HERE for Etsy listing

And Sweet Confetti, scented with Fleurs D'Oranger confetti



Click HERE for Etsy listing

Chiricahua National Monument



This past weekend, we went down to Willcox, AZ for the first annual Wine and Arts Festival as vendors. We went a day early so we could do some exploring. So we took a drive out to Chiricahua National Monumnet. WOW ! Just stunning! It was a beautiful crystal clear day with a typical blue blue blue Arizona sky. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.





Monday, October 20, 2008

Willcox Wine and Art Festival



We did a two day craft show in Willcox, Arizona, sponsored by the Arizona Wine Growers Association. Willcox is famous for Rex Allen, hydroponic tomatoes, and trains. The festival was held on Railroad Avenue in front of the Rex Allen Cowboy Museum. The Avenue was closed off to traffic, and the vendors set up in the road. Wine tasting took place near the pavilion in the park. The weather was absolutely gorgeous! This was the first year for this festival, so there weren't droves of folks there. It was ~ok~ for the first year. We didn't make a killing. Hopefully, I picked up a few new customers. We'll see!!






We arrived early enough on Friday to take a drive out to Chiricahua National Monument. Just absolutely beautiful!! I will be posting pics later this week.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Farmers Market, Reed Diffusers, and a Two Day Craft Show

This weekend's farmers market at the Rincon Valley Farmers Market was pretty wild and wooly, weather-wise. I guess pieces of the hurricane Norbert were giving us just an itty bitty little "hello" and driving some winds and rain around the mountains. A few wind gusts sent some of the vendors running to hold down their displays. A few vendors had to leave early because of the wind. Since we are in the barn, we had no worries ... other than the rain and wind keeping customers away! There were quite a few customers, but most of them just bought their veggies and nothing else. I had a few people scoping out Christmas gifts already, and I was always quick to point out that handmade soap makes a wonderful gift, and that I would be having gift packages as the Christmas season got closer.

Speaking of Christmas season, I am going to be trying out something new for me. Reed diffusers. I'm testing a diffuser base now, and so far I am happy with it. Now to find some pretty diffuser bottles. I will offer them as an entire kit in nice packaging so they'll make nice Christmas presents, and the diffuser oil separately for refill.

Next weekend, Ray and I will not be at our regular farmers market. We will be doing a two day show in Willcox, AZ. This is the Willcox Wine and Art Festival, Oct. 18-19. So far, it looks like nice weather. According to the publicity I have read, there will be plenty of artisans, and there will be wine tasting! Plus Willcox is home to a few pick-your-own farms, including apples and pumpkins. So anyone within the area, I hope to see you there!!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Photos of the Santa Ritas

Ray is on vacation this week. It's mostly a stacation, you know, stay at home, do yard work, and sleep vacation. :)

But yesterday we went exploring. We picked Patagonia Lake as our destination. Patagonia Lake is southeast of Tucson, in the hills above Nogales. To get there, we decided to go the long way, east to Vail, then south to Sonoita through the Santa Rita Mountains.

How do you say ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL !!!! I mean it! I am in awe of the mountains around here. We live in the Tucson Mountains, which seem like individual peaks within a range. And to the north of us are the Catalinas, standing like one huge rugged rocky mountain. And to the east, the Rincon Mountains, a rolling sloping range. And to the southeast, the Santa Ritas, with rolling ridges looking like tree roots.

Here are some pics for you



There are yellow flowers everywhere. I believe they are some kind of aster, but haven't been able to identify them yet. I'm sure the folks native to this area will laugh and say well, heck, those are ______ ! :)



Everyone looks very self sufficient in this area. Windmills, solar panels. Here's a windmill in a pasture of cows.



And this is the lake ... small compared to what we are used to in New England, but very nice!!



Plenty of birds around. A few ducks, which I need to get out my bird book to identify ... I still haven't learned my western birds yet, which for an old birdwatcher like me is just bad! Great blue herons, which were nice to see again. Turkey vultures hanging around, casting shadows on our picnic. Here's one just hanging around the campground area of the lake.



And here's a look back at the lake as we head out towards Nogales.