Hey Boo-tiful! It's Spooktober

Greetings Earthlings!

Ghosts and witches and monsters, oh my! October means a month of scary movies, huddled on the couch with frightening little spooky snacks like mummy wrapped hot dogs, feet-loaf sliders, crispy toenail chips, and eye balls floating in cocktails. Or is that just me? Have you eaten all the candy already too?

Must be the change of seasons that's making us so hungry. There is no doubt about it - fall is here. The spiders have arrived. Autumn is a short burst of color and rain clouds in between the long hot summer and the long cold winter. It's a glorious few weeks of landscape beauty, perfectly blue skies, and a few blustery storms before we crash into a blizzard of holiday shopping and merry making. The calm before the end of year storm. I love this time of year - breathing room.

DON'T MISS OUR AUTUMN HARVEST SEASONAL MENU

My favorite part of this soap making business is experimenting with the seasonal fragrances. It's such fun to play around with new flavors, colors and ingredients - and after 25 years of doing the same thing, there's still got to be some fun in it! Putting a new soap in the shower is one of life's necessary things which shouldn't be drudgery. It can and should be an indulgent treat. A gentle reminder of what's best in life - and the beauty of exactly where we are in the natural order of things.

Our Autumn menu of soap scents captures some of the best smells of the season: Persimmon Apple, Firewood & Fir and Cinnabar. Cozy, spicy, warm - you need a warm hug with these in your hot shower on a brisk, nippy morning.

I've also made another small batch of the Applejack soap that lasted just a blink of an eye. There are a few left in stock right now but don't drag your heels on grabbing those. But if you run into the dreaded "sold out" sign, don't Frankin-freak out! It seemed to be a favorite so it will definitely be back on the fall menu next year. (And I've also got a Clove Orange soap coming next month which has some of the same elements - a kissing cousin? in the Adams family?)

PUMICE SOAP IS BACK (ALMOST)

In case you missed it, I made an experimental batch of Pumice soap last month, inspired by and tested out by a great guy here locally who gets his hands really dirty (see the photo he sent me!). He says it really works, and with hands like those? - I have to believe him.

Better yet, I put it on the website last month for anyone else who was interested to try it too and give me feedback. All I heard was "I love it!"

I've been using it myself and it's spooktacular. It has a soft, sandy texture - like actual sand, not sand paper. It lathers creamily, leaves my hands softer, and is a workhorse of scrubbing off the grunge - gardening dirt, soap making grime, oily or smelly kitchen hands - I'm using it at almost every sink. And I can't imagine not having a stock pile at the ready so I made another batch. It's not quite cured yet but it should be back on the website in about a week. Keep your eyes peeled. (Why is that saying so gross and squeamish? yuck!)

WINTER HOLIDAY ON THE WAY

The fall menu is our shortest - though the autumn soaps will still be around for the next month or two. Holiday shopping goes full tilt once we head into November. Check your inbox November 1st for the Winter Holiday hoopla announcement. We'll have a sleigh full of very merry gifts for everyone on your list!

I'm sure you've heard all the news about supply chain problems - glitches and hiccups all over the world affecting pretty much everything in consumer goods, manufacturing and distribution. And the announcement the other day about permanent slow downs at the post office, along with price increases, just adds to the heap. This coming holiday season is not going to be "shopping as usual." Plan ahead and start early. Simplify. I think (hope?) I'm ready to keep my boat afloat here at the studio. I'm working extra hard to stay ahead of the curveballs. All we can do is dance with the music.

Trick or treat. Smell my feet . . . ew . . . wash them up with something sweet!