can cookies smell clean?

Had to report on the seedlings. I now have two sprouts! Both are lettuce. Here's a butterhead one. Tiny!! I'm a bit worried because I have no idea what I'm doing and I've noticed some mold on the tops of some of these pods. If there wasn't so much snow out there and if I had my soil mixed I'd get out there today and plant the peas and onions. I hope next week wont be too late!

And here's the latest soap un-molded. It's the oatmeal, goats milk, honey soap. It smells so yummy!! Kinda like...clean cookies!

lilacs in the snow

I took this photo last week. It's a lilac bud from my lilac bush. It was 73 degrees that day. Today its about 36 degrees and we woke up to 4 inches, and counting, of SNOW! I'm trying to stay positive because we do need the water.

In the meantime I've been enjoying the lilac scented soap my mom and I made on Saturday. It's a blend of olive oil, coconut oil, and shea butter. I can't use it just yet though. It has to cure for about a month (3 months for superior lather). But the smell is filling our home with Spring!

Doesn't it look like white chocolate fudge or a cream cheese treat? I think today I'll make a goat's milk, oatmeal, honey blend soap. The goat's milk I picked up from a local goat dairy. I love it because all the goats have names! Next time I'll try to get a picture of them. They are just hilarious.

My james thinks I'm crazy because I dream of living on a small working farm with a goat, a few sheep, some bunnies, maybe a cow and 4 or 5 chickens. Why is that crazy, you ask? Well, I'm severely allergic to any animals with fur. But I can handle it, I think. I grew up living with cats and we have 2 dogs-only one I'm really allergic to mind you (Sebastian has hair, not fur). I'm accustom to living on decongestants and antihistamines. Dimetapp and I became good friends when I was little. I think I could maybe survive a season of farm life experience.

Aida update: We've made a few batches of my "Becca's Best Chocolate Chip Cookies" since she's been in time-out. Most were given away but a few were eaten and a much welcomed treat.

gasping at the grocery store

I have to share about these ginormous peppers. I was in my local grocery store yesterday and found these two lovely ladies! The produce guy was unloading some veggies next to me when I gasped and practically yelled the following... "Oh my goodness! These are the biggest peppers I ever seen outside of the state fair! Seriously! They are bigger than my hand! Look! I can't believe it. Have you seen these? They're HUGE!! I'm buying two just to show my husband!" I could tell he was trying to hold back from laughing at me, not to mention the 3 or 4 other shoppers standing around me. Then I realized they were a mere .89 cents each and let out another gasp. Crazy! I have chose not to believe that they use extra amounts of growth hormones to get them this big. I choose to believe the farmer was highly blessed. The pictures really don't do them justice. I was so excited I don't even know if I grabbed the biggest of the lot. Anyway, I placed a dime next to them so you have some reference to how big they really are.


Oh yes, and my james was more entertained by my retelling of the story that the enormity of the peppers. He said, "You are so like your mother."

secret knitting revealed

I've started several posts this month and have not posted any. Why, you ask? I guess they were just not deemed worthy enough. I dunno. I am at a loss for words lately. Literally. Anyway, here's a picture of that secret project I was working on. I can finally reveal it because the baby shower was yesterday.

(The colors in the picture are sort of muted due to overcast skies.) It's for baby Cole. I think mom liked it. I can't wait to meet him and see him in it. It's 9-12 month size and I hope it fits by the time it's cold again.

That's it for now. I've gotta get back outside in that sun! My james is working on the garden sight as I type.