Still trying to catch up.......

I have been wanting to try to keep this blog up to date. But.... the last several weeks have been hectic.

So.... I will try to update all that has been going on over the past few weeks. I will start from the most recent happenings and work back to where I last posted.

This week I have been busy trying to catch up on things at home. Since the weather is turning cooler it is the time of year where I give the house a deep cleaning by taking down all the drapes, shampooing carpets, etc. I try to do this several times a year. So... all this week that is what I have been doing.

Last week was a very sad week for my youngest daughter..... she lost a very close friend to suicide. It was such a shock to everyone. This beautiful young girl of only 14 years old took her life for no apparent reason. It is so sad. My daughter was a good friend and they were Biology lab partners, in the choir together and at one time her friend was in her Girl Scout troop for a few years. They shared the same friends. My daughter was so shaken up by this that she spent the entire day at school in counseling, that night she could not sleep at all. The next morning I went into my daughters room to wake her for school and she was so distraught and had not slept much the night before. So.... I told her that she could stay home and try to get some sleep. By 11 AM I decided it would be best for her to get up, go out to lunch and try to do something to help lift her up.... so we went shopping for a few new outfits. That night she did not sleep well.... went to school the next day though to be with her friends that also were all grieving over the loss of their close friend. Thursday night was the viewing. Hundreds of friends showed up. It was so heartbreaking to see all of them so torn up over losing their friend. Friday was the church services and funeral. I was not certain about going to the cemetary but my daughter and friends wanted to be there for the services there also. I knew it was best to do this if they wished so that they could try to have some closure to this tragic loss of their friend. Again..... another very sad day. The church services were beautiful. There were a group of friends that sang and gave some very touching memorial speechs. This was a very moving service for all that attended.

All last week was so painful and really gave me things to think about in regards to my children and how I have always worried so much about them. I can't even imagine what my daughters friends parents are going through to lose their daughter at a time in her life when she had so much more to look forward to. We don't know why she took her life but we know that she is in a much better place in Heaven.

I had plans to work on a few new things for my last art/craft show of the year. But under the circumstances.... I went with what I had already made. I had worked all summer on new things for this show so I was well prepared. There were several things I had wanted to work on though that did not get completed. That is OK though since I did very well on Saturday with my show sales. I came away from this show very happy. My knitted/felted purses were a success. Also the scarves sold well in addition to the handmade soaps, lotions and many other items I create.

I had planned on atleast one more show for the season. But decided a month ago that with sales being down all year it was best to stick with the show I commited to a year ago. As this is my last show of the season. I am happy with making this decision and now have time to work on other things for next year and to enjoy the holidays.

This week I received a large order for the remaining portion of my soaps so that is good. This same person ordered my entire inventory of soaps last year also. I am thrilled that again.... I have this opportunity to help out another soapmaker have inventory for her remaining shows of the holiday art/craft show season.

I also have a large order from a friend I have made at the farmers market I participate in. She is ordering for Christmas gifts. Not just soaps.... but other items I make also.

I had an email yesterday from another woman that is interested in buying my handmade soaps to resell at a market next year. I am thrilled to be asked and she also is interested in bartering wool for the soaps. I asked if this was possible and she accepted this offer in addition to buying.

Aside from all of this..... I have not been too busy with much other than catching up on things at home.

Oh... yes... there is one more major change going on in my life.... my youngest son came to me on Friday and told me that he wanted to move in with friends. I have been worried about him lately and so stressed. So... maybe this will work out for him, maybe not. But... he is giving it a try. I took him to his friends apartment with a few of his belongings on Friday and was called this week to bring over more of his things. Since he does not drive.... I packed up what he wanted, brought him some food to try to help out since he had lost his job a few weeks ago and now trying to find a new job. I really have my doubts about this arrangement working out so I won't take apart his room because I know he may come back home within 2-4 weeks. I could be wrong. Only time will tell if this will work out. I figure by the end of December if he has not returned home..... then I will take over his room as my craft room. That would be nice to have an actual room to put all of my crafty things into. A place to store my things for the shows and maybe make a display area for customers to visit my home to buy things. I am beginning to really like this idea alot. But..... would rather have my son home instead of having this room as a craft room. We will see how this all works out.

This week the used drum carder arrived. It is a Fricke drum carder. I am so excited about having this and looking forward to carding all the wool I bought at the fiber event in September. This will keep me busy throughout the winter months. I am really enjoying spinning my own yarns and dying the wool. I have had quite alot of interest in my handspun yarns and have been selling some of it. I am so thrilled with my handspun selling. Over the winter I have plans to build up my inventory of handspun and will be participating in several fiber events which begin in the spring. This is a nice addition to my handmade soaps.

On the home front..... last night was my youngest daughters Cross Country teams award banquet. What a wonderful group of athletes. They have done exceptionally well this year and I am so proud of all of them. My daughter has had a great year as a Freshman. Her coach has been very proud of her with how well she has done. She is running well enough to be on the Varsity team. So.... next year.... she will most likely be on Varsity and will do well. Training begins for the track team in a few weeks. She also participates in track. This will be her third year for Track. I know this will be a great year for her.

Since today is Friday..... tonight my daughter will attend the football game. They are in the finals. Should be a fun evening for her. Tomorrow we have plans to go to a craft show that I had been invited to participate in but declined because I felt that this year with sales being down and the expense of this show was too much of a gamble. I will give it a try possibly next year when things hopefully will turn around again with sales. It will be fun to go visit this show though to check it out. I know it is a good show and well attended. We can go and enjoy the show, maybe do a little Christmas shopping. Tomorrow night is my daughters cross country team Bonfire that brings the season to a conclusion. Should be a fun evening for the team members and friends.

Well.... I have a full day of work ahead of me. I have to work on a few orders that I mentioned earlier and alot of work to get done around the house. I hope to possibly squeeze in washing some fleece today if I can get most of the work I have planned to do.