tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90972867084759345512024-03-13T15:18:13.813-04:00Jackie's Sudsy LifeA look into the crazy, sometimes bewildering life on the road as a traveling artist...along with some chatty bits about making two-family home work for EVERYBODY.JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.comBlogger345125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-27984271617905653022019-08-03T11:54:00.000-04:002019-08-03T11:54:27.190-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Shower Girl's view today at Wauwatosa, Wisconsin's<br />
Firefly Art Show. Both<br />
Saturday and Sunday<br />
10 a m. until 4 p.m.<br />
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<br />JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-7825565534905075332019-08-01T12:05:00.001-04:002019-08-01T12:05:13.969-04:00August 2019 Shows for JackieSoap.com<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9iMlXa6JyY/XUMNmuNQX7I/AAAAAAAAJbs/fl8ulGpRn7MmlzRU8QN3kSassr07n5hAgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9iMlXa6JyY/XUMNmuNQX7I/AAAAAAAAJbs/fl8ulGpRn7MmlzRU8QN3kSassr07n5hAgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3459.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our newest soap scent: Firewood</td></tr>
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<strong><u>August 2019 Shows</u></strong></h1>
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<strong><span style="font-size: 14px;">Rockton IL</span><br />Rockton River Market</strong><br />Settlers Park<br />Wednesdays from 5 pm - 8 pm<br /> </div>
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<strong>Wauwatosa, Wisconsin </strong><br />Firefly Art Fair<br />at Kneeland-Walker House<br />Saturday and Sunday August 3rd - 4th<br />10 am - 4 pm<br /><br /><strong>Arcadia, Wisconsin</strong><br />Ashley for the Arts Music Festival<br />Memorial Park<br />Friday August 9th 3 pm - 7 pm<br /> Saturday August 10th 10 am - 6 pm<br /><br /><strong>Middleton, Wisconsin</strong><br />Jaycees Art and Craft Show<br />Saturday and Sunday August 24th - 25th<br />9 am - 5 pm</div>
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We (hubby and I and sometimes the Folks) are still going to our local market (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/rocktonrivermarket/photos/?ref=page_internal" style="background-color: transparent;">https://www.facebook.com/pg/rocktonrivermarket/photos/?ref=page_internal</a>) on Wednesday nights and honestly, my sales aren't going to set any records, but, it sure is nice enjoying the music and not having to make dinner! We also really enjoy our greek salad from The Olive Branch (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/theolivebranch815/" style="background-color: transparent;">https://www.facebook.com/theolivebranch815/</a>)--get it with the gyro meat! Yummy!! Then we split a margherita pizza from Veebo's (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/veebospizza/" style="background-color: transparent;">https://www.facebook.com/veebospizza/</a>). Oh, it is so good!</div>
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We are on another Wisconsin show swing this month. A new show was added since both the Paoli WI and the Rockton IL art shows were cancelled. Look for us at the art and craft area at the Ashley for the Arts Music Festival in Arcadia WI the 9th and 10th. Lady Antebellum is the headliner on Saturday night and it is only a $15 ticket--for all three days! Lots more going on there too--hot air balloons, a car show and plenty to keep the whole family entertained!</div>
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JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-21604499019712248452019-06-14T16:26:00.000-04:002019-06-14T16:26:16.872-04:00Libertyville IL Days 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are all setup and ready to sell this weekend in Libertyville, Illinois. There is music, a beer tent, carnival and lots of fun activities on all the stages! The parade downtown (in front if Cook Park where we are located) is Saturday morning.<br />
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Libertyville Days benefits the projects of the Libertyville Civic Center Foundation.<br />
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Craft show hours are:<br />
Friday Noon - 8 p.m.<br />
Saturday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.<br />
Sunday Noon - 5 p.m.<br />
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Shower Girl's view is of the carnival!<br />
The weather is great! Come out and visit us this weekend!<br />
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JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-26981660168166783862019-05-18T08:44:00.001-04:002019-05-18T08:45:16.012-04:00Stoughton WI Syttende Mai 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Saturday May 18 10 a.m. - 6 p.m<br />
Sunday May 19. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.<br />
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River Bluff Middle School<br />
235 N Forest Dr.<br />
Stoughton, WI<br />
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More information, events, music at:<br />
StoughtonFestivals.com<br />
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<br />JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-77496221557928470632019-05-05T11:35:00.002-04:002019-05-05T11:35:36.378-04:00Lombard IL Lilac Festival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am back in beautiful downtown Lombard for the Lilac Festival. Shower Girl's view is of the karate studio across the street. We are just in front of 105 Ground Level which is where we were last year!<br />
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There is plenty to do for everyone in the family. Hope to see you today only, May 5, 2019 until 4 p.m.</div>
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<br />JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-76805849199201696942019-05-04T11:49:00.000-04:002019-05-04T11:49:05.000-04:00Benefit: Butterflies for Henry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This Friday and Saturday I am set up in Waterloo, Wisconsin at the Pop-Up Palooza to benefit the Rathmann family. Their 2 year old son suffers from Epidermolysis Bullosa.</h3>
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One of their family friend's, Lydia, has created beautiful, colorful magnets which she is selling for $5. All money goes to benefit Henry's family.<br />
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<a href="https://m.facebook.com/signsfromabovebyabigail/#!/story.php?story_fbid=1029847870736256&id=584519931935721&__tn__=%2As%2As-R" target="_blank">https://m.facebook.com/signsfromabovebyabigail/#!/story.php?story_fbid=1029847870736256&id=584519931935721&__tn__=%2As%2As-R</a><br />
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<br />JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-90641616018137994232019-05-03T16:02:00.000-04:002019-05-03T16:02:05.992-04:00Back to BasicsThe truth is that since the beginning of the year I have had too much on my plate. The folks deciding to move in with us was the biggie, but, that was soon followed by preparing for an estate sale, getting the house ready to sell, figuring out how to sell said house with an inground gas tank and now waiting for the closing (come on May 31st). All while doing the regular things you need to keep a business going, keep a hubby happy and your own house running. Whew.<br />
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So, in the middle of April after the sale, we still had a few things, big things to get out of their house. The big desk, some end tables, a bedroom set, etc. So, I listed them on Facebook Marketplace. I got great response from it--over two days we basically got rid of everything we needed to unload. But, my sanity took a direct hit.<br />
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Thanks to a 20 year old nut case. Who basically was supposed to show up at their house at 10 a.m. on Monday...and didn't actually get there until 1:40 p.m.. With a vehicle too small to carry off her new dresser, bureau and mirror. And told me she would be back in an hour to get the rest. And then didn't show up until after 5:30.<br />
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Oh, and the chunky Mom who just had to pick up her five year old from school and then would be over to pick up the two cardtables. Except they were already sold. And she said she knocked at the front door for 20 minutes. I was in the garage with the garage door open surrounded by stuff...and she was at the front door?! I said I was sorry the tables were gone. But, that wasn't enough for this gal. She had to berate me for six text messages on how much I sucked for selling those tables. I apologized and apologized but she wasn't having it until I said that I sucked, where should I send my pound of flesh, I was a loser and she had beaten me. She replied, not with oh I am sorry I think I went too far...but with a huge thumbs up. Really!<br />
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During the last hour of this my dear brother and niece showed up to help lift that very heavy desk into my Dad's pickup truck as the girl that was going to come get it would probably be alone and there was no way the two of us would be able to get it into her truck. But something went very wrong. First he was giving all kinds of messages that weren't computing...and he was a dick about it. I snapped, he snapped and that was the end of that. The desk was pushed to one side of the driveway. On the other side was that stupid girl's dresser. I sent the desk girl a message that I could not meet her but I was leaving her desk on the driveway and I didn't care if she paid for it. But, of course she did pay for it. Her and her Dad managed to get it into her truck and home to her two kids. And she wrote back how thrilled they all were with the lovely desk they got that day.<br />
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I wasted all of my energy on two worthless individuals--when the last gal was the one I wish I had been present to help. Oh, and of course I wish I had been civil to my brother instead of a crazy person. But worst of all--I finally met the limit's of my patience and my ability to multi-task. I was confronted with not being able to control it ALL, do it ALL and move on to the next thing. Something inside of me snapped. Literally. I could hear it kind of ripping away. I really knew I had a problem when my brother send me a text that night that said he and my sister were worried about me. <br />
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I was worried about me, too. SO worried I said I was depressed at my med check doctor's appointment a week later. Ever told your doctor you are depressed? They have to break out a special list of questions, then ask if you really want to answer them. So there you go, I am probably on some crazy person list at Blue Cross/Blue Shield. But, I was really worried. Worried enough to take it any further--since that onus is now on me? They sent me home with instructions to find out what my health insurance covers, not a referral. So I guess I am not really, really depressed. <br />
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But am I? Maybe not. Maybe I am just confronting the new, middle aged version of myself for the first time. I am no longer a Goddess. I am not a Gladiator. So, I guess my reign as Queen of the World is over. It is the end of an era, but, it won't be the end of me! LOL I have backed off many of my groups. Goodbye Facebook and all you other meetings that take up my time and don't give me the help I need right now. Hello: Council on Aging!! And any caregiver support groups I can find!<br />
Leave your favorites in the comments, or better yet, come and drag me to the next meeting. I will be the one in my pajamas with no makeup and a couple boxes of un-shipped soap orders.JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-5002444718155353922019-05-01T14:59:00.000-04:002019-05-01T15:01:19.825-04:00The Cavalry has ARRIVED!This whole multi-generational household stuff is going to take a while to get into a routine...<br />
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There is a lot to talk about. How to merge two households. How to do it physically and financially. How to respect each other but still be heard. How to involve my other siblings. Even the one that whines a lot! But that is all for another time. Today's story starts a month or so back...<br />
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We all got sick thanks to my sister, who passed it to me, then I passed it to my hubby and my Mom. Finally my Dad got it, but, as he is pretty immobile it took a big hit on us all. But primarily my Mom. Mom has been his main caregiver the last few years. He had a second spinal fusion in 2011 that never really worked. His recovery goal was to walk two miles every day. LOL This from a man who was having trouble walking to the mailbox. Needless to say, it has been down hill since then. Then he gets a virus, and it about put us all under.<br />
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By the time they moved in with me, Mom was helping him get cleaned up, dressed and to his lift chair which was where he would spend his days in front of the TV. She, meanwhile, tried to keep up with the shopping, cleaning, house stuff, clubs, church, yard stuff...you get the idea. It is hard at any point in life, but at 80 years old, it is impossible. So, we invited them to move in.<br />
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Fast forward a couple weeks to when he can hardly walk from the bed to the toilet, the bedroom to the living room--even with his walker. So, we start pulling him on the walker while he sits--using it like a wheelchair! He starts falling--four times one night! Which means I move upstairs to the guest room to help them in the middle of the night when he needs to get up. Until the morning that he falls between the bed and the dresser and we can't move him to help him get up. Did I mention their Lifeline necklaces?<br />
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Cue the fire department trips. The "Moose" on the team, sometimes a couple of them per team can lift a 200-pounder out of just about any tight squeeze. But we are dumbfounded to figure out how we are going to keep this from happening in the next hour, so, we let them take him by ambulance to the ER. This is where we find out a truth known to every baby-boomer with a parent in ill health. Your parent is actually not sick enough to treat! Yes, he does not have enough strength to sit up, get up or pick up anything--but the blood work looks great. Yes, he cannot walk even to the nurses station without getting tired and needing help to get back into bed--but the urine is clear. He coughs like he is going to hack up a lung--but his lungs are clear. So, there is no help in the hospital.<br />
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Now what the heck do we do?<br />
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Where do we turn?<br />
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In our case, it was follow-up with his doctor's PA that turned us onto the wonderful world of Home Health Care. With her orders, we got most of his needs in the short term covered by insurance/medicare. He has twice a week bathing. Twice a week occupational and physical therapy. And up to three times a week nursing care. This talented group of assistants got us over the hump--he is over being sick and back to the point of complaining about all his appointments and therapy! Victory!!<br />
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In our case, I hope we can turn his inertia into some exercises that take hold and help him get some lasting strength back. SO, it gives my Mom a break and gives him a better quality of life. I hope it gives Rod and I a break so that we can enjoy our time together, while helping them into the last stage of two lives well lived.<br />
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JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-70637353558818899592017-07-18T10:14:00.003-04:002017-07-18T10:14:39.576-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--b0wyGwBII4/WW4T7cKRmzI/AAAAAAAADTs/gZSasAe2oAopj2X7N8sasIE7J2PXMV2HwCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--b0wyGwBII4/WW4T7cKRmzI/AAAAAAAADTs/gZSasAe2oAopj2X7N8sasIE7J2PXMV2HwCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The tiny house is for sale! Located at 302 Ralston Rd. in Machesney Park, Illinois.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h0DHOzEtSMk/WW4T8nv5RLI/AAAAAAAADUU/wjJ8QO19SQgDxRG-zfRchOk2r2fvOjO3wCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h0DHOzEtSMk/WW4T8nv5RLI/AAAAAAAADUU/wjJ8QO19SQgDxRG-zfRchOk2r2fvOjO3wCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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From the all the built-in bookcases, the dutch door, the organic branch shelf...it is a little treasure!</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c9Vzhiz2uPA/WW4T9IhCHrI/AAAAAAAADUs/1p0KvvVQhxwwwr4S_0lxPznfriy3u-WKwCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c9Vzhiz2uPA/WW4T9IhCHrI/AAAAAAAADUs/1p0KvvVQhxwwwr4S_0lxPznfriy3u-WKwCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The loft is great for meditation and the grandkids sleepovers with extra space for storage. The kitchen is tiny but packs more storage than most full size country kitchens.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-30veaZ6KeHg/WW4T9KRh8mI/AAAAAAAADUw/c2waSmUBqVEq3rwX4OESJDHoEAzJfj76wCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-30veaZ6KeHg/WW4T9KRh8mI/AAAAAAAADUw/c2waSmUBqVEq3rwX4OESJDHoEAzJfj76wCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-4.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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The view from the bedroom showcases the gas stove heater and river rock surround.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0K4LgGdE8Tk/WW4T9aJL46I/AAAAAAAADU4/1Bco7sU069wTZIWd7D3P6q0bcfMJXqmXACLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0K4LgGdE8Tk/WW4T9aJL46I/AAAAAAAADU4/1Bco7sU069wTZIWd7D3P6q0bcfMJXqmXACLcBGAs/s320/201704096-5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Remember it's a tiny space, but you can do just about everything </div>
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except a big turkey for Thanksgiving.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xWpwmoVajpM/WW4T9ZqXWRI/AAAAAAAADU0/a2AHTDiS7J8UC_lbItHsRdg3Iz-Dy1vewCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xWpwmoVajpM/WW4T9ZqXWRI/AAAAAAAADU0/a2AHTDiS7J8UC_lbItHsRdg3Iz-Dy1vewCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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That's a three burner gas cooktop and a soapstone sink.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1fydiPXVfAQ/WW4T9V8d2LI/AAAAAAAADU8/Nha5S6nqLtwgeGq_RHj-NayX4GZ2psZCgCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1fydiPXVfAQ/WW4T9V8d2LI/AAAAAAAADU8/Nha5S6nqLtwgeGq_RHj-NayX4GZ2psZCgCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Room for up to a king size bed, with luggage storage above, plenty of closets</div>
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including a walk-in and a hidden ironing board.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YhsAVhAoy3U/WW4T9unYY_I/AAAAAAAADVA/SekmHbPN7dQ7N0ALH3L8rk7jFPx951t0gCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YhsAVhAoy3U/WW4T9unYY_I/AAAAAAAADVA/SekmHbPN7dQ7N0ALH3L8rk7jFPx951t0gCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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More closets! And that electric panel has 200 amps of power.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t6uJ6AHIvpQ/WW4T9kuurGI/AAAAAAAADVI/ZLFS3hwx7Wo9Rfb1GECnbxMqUVzh0f7BwCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t6uJ6AHIvpQ/WW4T9kuurGI/AAAAAAAADVI/ZLFS3hwx7Wo9Rfb1GECnbxMqUVzh0f7BwCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-9.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A peak into the walk-in and the door to the bathroom.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eqpgQTNXaXA/WW4T7bZFZUI/AAAAAAAADTw/uq4jyejBdTM3_fklOA3E_3Ag50nJcHTLgCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eqpgQTNXaXA/WW4T7bZFZUI/AAAAAAAADTw/uq4jyejBdTM3_fklOA3E_3Ag50nJcHTLgCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A soaking tub, or a shower surround with a great hidden medicine cabinet </div>
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and plenty of storage for your toiletries and linens.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tdWGMseBtME/WW4T7Xq5MLI/AAAAAAAADTo/kk472UoJPokDaVFf5yUmZc6F0Ikj_arQwCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tdWGMseBtME/WW4T7Xq5MLI/AAAAAAAADTo/kk472UoJPokDaVFf5yUmZc6F0Ikj_arQwCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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One of the oldest and biggest remaining elm trees in Northern Illinois greets </div>
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you at the street and welcomes you up the curvy driveway. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WsDcQBK8z7M/WW4T7uIqWcI/AAAAAAAADT0/FrPS7Q1_IhkX1a-Z99iX3vTOjyDcVnEqgCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="319" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WsDcQBK8z7M/WW4T7uIqWcI/AAAAAAAADT0/FrPS7Q1_IhkX1a-Z99iX3vTOjyDcVnEqgCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-12.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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The elm and the hosta garden beyond...</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AN1Q_WXXVIE/WW4T7833VsI/AAAAAAAADT4/sF2goQxidVQq7pvomLubGAfjzsOWTC3PQCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AN1Q_WXXVIE/WW4T7833VsI/AAAAAAAADT4/sF2goQxidVQq7pvomLubGAfjzsOWTC3PQCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-13.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The lillies and russian sage berm are just past the dry koi pond.</div>
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Another view of inside and the antique library ladder.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InaMR8IPbIQ/WW4T8EJkOjI/AAAAAAAADUA/RBU_LkSqF-Q7azERH-lQUgbmqz0I5xSOACLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InaMR8IPbIQ/WW4T8EJkOjI/AAAAAAAADUA/RBU_LkSqF-Q7azERH-lQUgbmqz0I5xSOACLcBGAs/s320/201704096-15.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The front walks and a view of the building at the end of the driveway.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FKrQUCDITHQ/WW4T8INvekI/AAAAAAAADUE/U40tK4HcdigbXi1UjtpyChygN_2Y-E-eQCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FKrQUCDITHQ/WW4T8INvekI/AAAAAAAADUE/U40tK4HcdigbXi1UjtpyChygN_2Y-E-eQCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-16.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Your fountain garden and containers.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2nlptaKOOw/WW4T8eNs9tI/AAAAAAAADUI/YMGo-uO0Kksj7LT97AE-883CzfkJpvSAQCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2nlptaKOOw/WW4T8eNs9tI/AAAAAAAADUI/YMGo-uO0Kksj7LT97AE-883CzfkJpvSAQCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-17.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Outbuilding #1. Inside is like a mini-version of the cottage--fully insulated and wired.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z_MdUQBEfpA/WW4T8fZTZ1I/AAAAAAAADUQ/6bXUlTAvwSwLxSxNgDopRy3NP8BcLpTHwCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z_MdUQBEfpA/WW4T8fZTZ1I/AAAAAAAADUQ/6bXUlTAvwSwLxSxNgDopRy3NP8BcLpTHwCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-18.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And it has some character at the front!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vHGzFuuwU0A/WW4T8XKgGGI/AAAAAAAADUM/WPy3JwZcMpgOEJrC8zosqV6SMQpFdV4TACLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vHGzFuuwU0A/WW4T8XKgGGI/AAAAAAAADUM/WPy3JwZcMpgOEJrC8zosqV6SMQpFdV4TACLcBGAs/s320/201704096-19.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's the inside!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEFYeJpApFA/WW4T8lE0PqI/AAAAAAAADUY/2q69KvkbnksjFj1FWF2Fofx9-F0oqmHPQCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEFYeJpApFA/WW4T8lE0PqI/AAAAAAAADUY/2q69KvkbnksjFj1FWF2Fofx9-F0oqmHPQCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-20.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The terraced planters at the back. That bird bath gets a lot of action from all the pollinators in the yard. The veggie garden is in the center, to the back property line.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TPr2-2TkUBw/WW4T8097lnI/AAAAAAAADUc/4E-Ilqnn0roYUobQ5sThRS_Da0xKqPYYgCLcBGAs/s1600/201704096-21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TPr2-2TkUBw/WW4T8097lnI/AAAAAAAADUc/4E-Ilqnn0roYUobQ5sThRS_Da0xKqPYYgCLcBGAs/s320/201704096-21.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The view from the top!</div>
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The fire pit!</div>
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The outdoor shower and a utility sink for cleaning up.</div>
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Outbuilding #2. This one isn't as cute but is carpeted, wired and set up for an office.</div>
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It is the cottage version of a tiny paradise!</div>
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<b>Listing Agent:</b></div>
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<strong style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Mary Maxted</strong></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Keller Williams Realty Signature</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="tel:(815)%20985-5538" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+18159855538">815-985-5538</a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="mailto:marymaxted1@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">marymaxted1@gmail.com</a></strong></span></div>
<br />JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-18591196197567624872016-07-13T23:25:00.000-04:002016-07-13T23:25:10.475-04:00Cottage, Summer 2016Oh my gosh! You would not believe the projects that I have been working on this year. This is the year we finally sell the house in Orlando, Rod moves here and we build a garage here at the cottage. Rod still doesn't believe me when I tell him how much he is going to love having a garage! Especially when he tries to change the oil when it is 10 degrees outside! <br />
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I arrived in April, right after my show at Lake Eola in Orlando. I did two quick trips to bring all my soap kitchen things to the new house. I got sidelined in Nashville when the transmission went out and I had to spend two nights there. I did get a loaner car so I could explore! Thus the picture below of the American Pickers shop in Nashville.<br />
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Once I got back to Rockford, I got right to the Spring Cleanup! This year was a little easier as I had cut and bagged most of the grasses in the Fall. But there was still a lot to do as I had to move four different planting beds, container and statuary out of the footprint of the new garage...and it had to be done before things got growing too much. The following pics are some of that process!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yellow Hybrid and Purple Baptisias! This is only temporary as there is really only room for one of them here!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of three Clematis that I hired to be moved...they are touchy, so I wanted help with them!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some coneflowers and yellow eyed Susans</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK, not sure where this picture came from, but, I did grow a bunch of seeds this year. Two of three cherry tomatoes and now blooming with little green tomatoes. All the perennials I tried to grow from seed were eaten by something...rabbits I guess.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have two of these pretty dwarf willow bushes that I paid to have moved too...they were just too big for me too handle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The area to the back I call the monuments area and it had a trumpet vine taking over, so, I yanked it out...well...I really had to nuke it to get it under control. I am still trying to kill the thing a month later! That is a Black Walnut tree to the left side, which I will be taking out at some point. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dry Koi Pond, before the fish, frogs and turtles were put in!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Phlox, Lily and Russian Sage Berm</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Phlox is so pretty when it is blooming...and nobody has run over it trying to get in and out of my driveway!!</td></tr>
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This barely covers all the moving of the plants. I did a new planting bed with all the lilies...actually two beds...one by the mailbox and one by the front courtyard in front of the wisteria. I had the landscapers move all the big container plants--those are cedars and arborvitaes I think. One of them is dying, but, I can't change it yet...I am afraid I would lose it with everything else going on. <div>
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Those planting beds that had to be moved are the ones surrounding my little soap shop! Notice the pretty glass flowers hanging from the railing. Those are from my glass artist friend, Susan Goracy of <a href="http://starrynitecreations.com/" target="_blank">Starry Night Creations</a>. She has been a soap wholesaler of mine for years when she had her gallery down in Islamorada in the Florida Keys!</div>
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Then my niece Ali helped me with a little furniture project I had been wanting to try. I picked up a couple pieces I wanted to paint last summer. Then recently I started playing around with graphics and how to transfer them to furniture. So we came up with the following. Ali painted all the pieces after modifying them per my specs. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is going in an area that I didn't want the right side "hamper", so she cut it off!</td></tr>
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Then we took a weekend and went to my nephew Travis's graduation at the University of Wisconsin, Steven Point. Ali was there that weekend, so, we all got together and celebrated. The boys Mom's all put on a really nice spread for us--and took good care of my folks who went with us!</div>
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Next up were some projects inside. I had originally wanted to have a builder come in and rehab the bathroom and kitchen, but, not for the $12k they had in mind. So, I ditched the kitchen plans for now, and spent $100 in the bathroom to put up a flexible curtain track, sewed three shower curtains together and put a holder for the shower head handle on the ceiling. Done! Oh, well, almost! Another crafter friend is helping me bling out the shower curtain tie back that I will use when company comes over! I will have to take a picture when that comes!</div>
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Rod and I also decided to have air conditioning put in and since we are not going to put ductwork in our pretty high ceilings, we went with a mini-split system. Two units inside up on the wall and the smallish condenser on the outside. It takes away a bit from the wall with the branches, but, in the opinion of a menopausal, hot-flashing woman--worth it's weight in GOLD!</div>
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I also decided to change out the cellular blinds in the house's windows in the great room and the bedroom. The old ones had to be risen by hand and then chained on both sides. I found that Home Depot will cut these to size in the store...so, I spent a bit of money on them, but, they open and close so easily. Lowe's had them on sale too, but, they were more expensive and I didn't like how you had to hit a tiny button to open and close them. The new blackout ones (pictured darkly below!) in the bedroom make it so nice to sleep past 5 a.m. in the morning!</div>
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Which brings me to the last of the projects--just finished today! I use one of those ugly plastic utility sinks to wash my soap pots. And I can see that ugly thing from the kitchen window!! NO more...it is all pretty now thanks to a couple colors of spray paint, some 4x4's and a dahlia stencil from Home Depot and some lattice panels that were laying around. </div>
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When we bought the cottage, there was an outdoor shower--that hadn't worked in years. A couple weeks ago Rod researched tankless, portable water heaters and I was happy not to spend 3x the money on a 6 gallon RV water heater. It isn't perfect--the water hose connection to the shower head leaks--but it works just fine for occasional use. Like today after I spent a couple hours digging out a tree stump that was on the upper tier where all the big containers went. Whew I was dirty from head to toe and it felt great to wash up outside and not have to drag all that dirt into the house!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice that Trumpet Vine here too!</td></tr>
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<br />I know there is more--notice nothing about all the soap shop news...all the challenges during the initial setup of the kitchen and the ongoing worry about where the soap shop will go when the garage is built. Jeez, I never lack for something to do around here!! Just walking to the mailbox can create a 50 pound bag of weeds! <div>
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JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-35002033906244891812015-06-08T09:32:00.000-04:002015-06-08T09:51:52.302-04:00The Cottage Garden--new PURPLE finds!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are some of the plants that are peeking around the many corners of this gorgeous property this week! Many of them I haven't identified yet, so, if you know leave a comment and I will edit the comments down the road. </div>
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I have three beauties hiding in the monuments planter. Mom was over and I think she said it was an Allium. They are really hidden in this planter, so, after they lose their flower I am moving them to the front of the white trellis so you can see them!</div>
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I have a couple of these in different planters. I love the color--not my shadow in the background! Mom says they need water every time she comes over...but they are getting a regular drink from Mother Nature, so, I am not gonna add more. Any idea what they are?</div>
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In the same planter this one has a different growing pattern but a similar colored flower! Love it, too!! But I don't know what it is, do you?</div>
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This Clementis is growing very delicately on the chimney trellis. I worry about the tiny, thin stem that is peeking out of the ground...and then it produces two gorgeous purple flowers like this. They didn't last long on the vine...too much rain or wind???</div>
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This vine is growing in the fountain planter and is circling its way around one of the two Dwarf Alberta Spruce I have growing in pots. Again, I don't have a name for it, but the little flower "drops" are very pretty!!</div>
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This purple Baptisia is a show stopper! After the flowers are gone, the plant produces cool black seed pods that stay on through the Fall to contrast the green of the plant. It is hardy too! I am actually going to make a hedgerow of these in front of the fire pit this Fall, dividing this huge one into four plants. I will move two more (one is yellow) from the back of the soap room to join this big guy!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MbiVMj0yw_Q/VXWYEFh1dOI/AAAAAAAABoQ/BLMnr3OXe1Y/s1600/IMG_2153%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MbiVMj0yw_Q/VXWYEFh1dOI/AAAAAAAABoQ/BLMnr3OXe1Y/s320/IMG_2153%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a> The next two pictures are not purple or plants. I discovered the entrance burrow about 10 days ago and the exit was dug out a day or two later. It may be a woodchuck in there??? It's a pretty big opening as you can see from the brick I put in to show the size! I closed the entrance by the fence and threw some used kitty litter in the other hole. If it is a woodchuck, I understand any young ones would be out and about by now, so, I want to get whatever it is OUT before I seal up the borrow. I have a trap out there too, but, I haven't had anything big in it yet. Some smaller critters are going in to steal the bait, but, they aren't big enough to trip the door. </div>
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<br />JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-43445641080043970262015-05-14T22:00:00.001-04:002015-05-14T22:00:29.205-04:00DIviding the Hostas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On Tuesday, I finally got the right conditions to spread some weed and feed--the grass was wet with dew and the temps were in the 50's. I used my Dad's old bucket spreader and I can honestly say that I expect to have a few patches of yellow turf--the whole on/off mechanism takes a little getting used to. At least I could practice on my lawn before doing Dad's. <br />
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When I arrived at the folks house to spread the weed and feed on their lawn, Dad had decided he needed to mow--so that project got crossed off the list. But wait, there was plenty more to do! I finally tackled Mom'a hosta bed on the north side of the garage. It was my first real experience dividing plants, and, unfortunately my partner in crime really shouldn't have been working in the garden at all. But, I am finding it impossible to keep Mom from doing things that will end up hurting her back. This is the finished product (picture above), nine plants all nicely spaced and set back from the sidewalk a bit. When they are in full bloom, they tend to sweep over the walkway, so, hopefully this will keep them a bit more contained. <br />
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While I was out there, I set up the fountain too! Which reminds me I need to get mine going also. <br />
After a quick sit at the computer, we had the third project completed and it was home to do some work on the cottage. <br />
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On Wednesday morning, we again had cool temps--perfect for a day of digging! Mom came over and she masterminded the placement of the 20 hostas on the berm by the koi pond. Then to keep her from doing too much, I sent her back to the backyard to work on one of the tiers she could weed standing up. About the time she got done with that, I was mostly done with the hostas. She was already planning on hitting up one of her friends who had a different color hosta to go with the two kinds we had in place. There is plenty of room for more, but my back says to wait a while to put in any more!</div>
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My sister had helped Mom dig up a patch of overgrown irises a week ago, so, I had two trays of plants to put in. Behind Mom is the bed she had prepared. While she sat and cut the irises, I dug the holes and then planted them. She wanted three rows, but, I think the two rows I ended up with are perfect. And they won't need to be divided for a long while! But, we still have a ton more to put in...somewhere. I think they will go in a nice sunny spot on the east property line in the front yard.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom thought the leaves should be cut down more..I wanted them on. Partly to see more of our hard work, but, mostly because I like the green in this particular planter. I need to get some mulch on this bed...and if you can see the landscape fabric showing through on the next tier up, you would be screaming at me to hit Home Depot for MORE MULCH!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close-up--these two-tone hostas are just gorgeous when they reach their full bloom. That's some grape hyacinth behind...the goal is to have no place for the weeds to come up!!! Talk about wishful thinking!</td></tr>
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<br />JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-88458946295039718092015-04-22T16:26:00.000-04:002015-04-22T16:26:27.041-04:00The First Cottage Spring Cleanup April 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Earlier in the year I had grand plans to drive back to Illinois with the folks when they were ready to end their 2015 Snowbird Season. It was a challenging plan, as trying to fit me into their SUV with all their stuff was not going to be easy. But, I figured anything I displaced could ride with me in the big van up to Illinois in May. But then I discovered an error in my calender. My Orlando show, Fiesta in the Park, would not be on its usual first weekend in April, it was moved back a week due to Easter. Oh snap! My ride up to Illinois now became a challenge to book a cheap flight to go with the cheap return flight I had already booked on Allegiant on April 19th--about $80 with no bags.<br />
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I did find a flight on Southwest that was cheap-ish and came with two free bags, so, I booked that for Tuesday the 14th. It would require the folks to make a trip into Milwaukee from Rockford, but, it's a pretty easy drive if you can avoid the rushes. As the plane arrived at noon, it was doable. What remained in question: would I be able to whip the winter ravaged, 2/3 of an acre garden into shape in FIVE DAYS?!<br />
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Can you believe I didn't take any before pictures? I was so excited and anxious on Tuesday afternoon I just started hacking away at the grasses near the back-up area of the driveway. It took four hours the first day to get them cut up, bundled and bagged. Over the next five days I would put in 40 hours,(my Mom volunteered another 8 hours, my nephew Roger about 2 very physical hours) bagging 38 bags of yard waste, 12 bundles of stalks and limbs and laying 54 bags of mulch!! The pictures below show the end result--it isn't perfect but most of the brown, wind blown and spent plants had been trimmed. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh crap, I forgot to fill the bird bath. The two brown bushes here we cut<br />back a bit...there was already new growth out to about the tips. The red/<br />brown freeze on the two rows of boxwoods started last winter. That may be a<br />project to replace down the road. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The middle and top tiers both need mulch and the top tier needs some more<br />attention by the tall trellis wall. Mom said there is some Ribbon Grass<br />I may want to remove.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Scottish Thistle is starting to come up in this planter. I will<br />get more pictures of that when I get back.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are some daffodils and another unidentified flower (the reddish pink<br />one below that I will move into the little planter above. These used to be<br />planted around an Airstream trailer they had back here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What are these???</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't get the fountain set up in this planter...and, yes, there is still some<br />winter burn on those potted shrubs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Koi and the critters are playing in the "pond"!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see I still need to mulch the east property line planter...<br />another 20 bags there maybe???</td></tr>
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I have already talked with Rod about taking a week of vacation in April with me next year so we can get the yard cleaned up. Before I leave in October, I will get all the grasses cut back so those curly-cues aren't all over the place in the Spring...that will eliminate about 1/4 to a 1/3 of the work! And this will become part of the Fall routine--those grasses get caught in the snowblower and we don't want any extra work come snow removal season!! <br />
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<br />JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-74708033922472869412015-01-29T13:04:00.001-05:002015-01-29T13:04:12.347-05:00Being a good sport...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was thumbing through a several month old magazine in my large, ever growing stack of back issues. I was kind of speed reading an article meant for parents on how to make your kids into good sports. There were several good suggestions and certainly this is one of those things most of us manage to pass with at least an average grade as we move into adulthood. One of these, I can say I absolutely mastered and I know now exactly why.<br />
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"IN LIFE, LOSING IS MUCH MORE COMMON THAN WINNING"<br />
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It makes perfect sense, right? To make it into adulthood, we have to weather a lot of disappointments. We don't get the candy we want at the grocery store check-out. We don't get to play with that new toy, now (and the ensuing tantrum certainly doesn't get us any closer to the toy box). We don't win the lead in the school play. We will never, ever be good enough to stand in front of a sold out stadium and sing to our heart's content. Chances are that Publisher's Clearing House prize patrol will not be standing at our door with a BIG CHECK. There are a lot of little letdowns in the life's path to maturity. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nephew Rog in 2008 sporting the colors!</td></tr>
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My road to being an expert in tackling this attribute: I happened to be born into a family in Northern Illinois about an hour and a half from Chicago. Our family was a huge fan of the Chicago Cubs, despite having reasonably good substitutes on Chicago's South Side, up in Milwaukee or down in St. Louis. It was just that we were North Siders. So, plain and simple I got used to losing. Almost every day in the summer from the time I was in grade school, my team would go up against a team that may not have been any better than the Cubs and we would lose. Nearly every single day more often than not, I would have a chance to exercise my "good sport" muscle.<br />
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That practice didn't involve something that was a matter of my personal health or wealth. After all, it was just a game--and not even one in which I played. So, it was a painless way to be told NO. Believe me, the lesson was learned and retained. GO CUBS!!<br />
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Now, the main question is how a girl without kids found her way to that article at all! Perhaps it is because I can always use a refresher course on the basics. You know, wrap that dental floss around your teeth as you floss--not just in between them! Drink lots of water! Say Please and Thank You!!<br />
At craft shows I get asked questions a lot and I try to give good advice. But, that doesn't always translate into my real life conversations with friends and family. Ever got into one of those one-up discussions with someone? Next time, I hope I can just let it go and cede victory...because I don't/won't win them all!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and I at Wrigley in 2006 with Rod and Dad!</td></tr>
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JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-85626959758294798722014-12-01T11:25:00.000-05:002014-12-01T11:25:23.438-05:00December 2014 Soap News and Special<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi Everybody--</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What an exciting month we had in November. To start off I had three shows. Some of you met my painter friend Eve at Lake Eola for Fiesta in the Park. I was up in Micanopy for the Fall Festival. Both shows had nice cold/cool temperatures very fitting for a Fall show--and we both saw a ton of customers--thank you! The next weekend I went to New Smyrna Beach for Flamingo Follies. The exciting thing was coming to open my tent on Sunday and finding about $400 worth of missing soap, soap dishes, soap bags, lipbalms, yada, yada, yada! Turns out that about a dozen artists had things missing. The worst was a mosaic artist who had over $500 worth of products stolen. Bummer...and probably not even worth turning in to my insurance company. I took photos and filed a police report "in case", and the City sent a refund of 50% of the show fee. Someone is getting a lump of coal in their stocking! Coincidentally, someone stole one of our Disney salvage bikes off our carport last week, too. Double Bummer!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After I finished restocking a ton of soap, I made a quick trip up to Illinois to finish the winterizing of the cottage. The temperatures did not cooperate with me getting out in the yard, but, I was able to get a full van load unpacked, get two window air conditioners put away and then spent a couple days enjoying a beautiful snowfall. I had left the old Mercury mini-van up there to use in the winter, but, we are rethinking that plan! The first day it fired up, but, I had no lights on the dash board. And the oil light was on. I checked the oil and it was fine so I drove it. The next day I had to scrape ice off the windows and once it started the lights were still off the dash AND the radio and heater stopped working. This was not good! I have lived in Florida 30 YEARS and this girl needs a heater to work when the temperature goes under 50 degrees. I added a bunch of pictures to the blog a week ago, so take a look if you are interested.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tried to convince my Mom to come back to Florida for a couple weeks. I knew she would love the Tallahassee Market Days show and she could spend Thanksgiving with us! But we decided that was too long for her to be away from home and Dad. After much discussion, she decided to come for a week. So, we spent three days on the road and had a wonderful trip full of great Mom/Daughter conversations. Then, a day after being in Orlando, she started having back pain. Bad pain, so bad that she started walking hunched over. I thought it was just achy pain from her new stretching exercises and walking. But when I say her walking like that the day before her plane trip back to Illinois, I knew it was a very bad problem. We got her into a massage therapist, which loosened her up enough to get on the plane. That and some great wheelchair assists on both ends of the flight! The doctor appointment the day after Thanksgiving shows a disc problem so she is on pain meds, a steroid and muscle relaxers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to thank you all for another year of successful business--it is over 15 years--thanks to all of YOU! I am in the process of booking shows for 2015, so, please be sure to go to the Show Schedule at <a href="http://www.jackiesoap.com/" target="_blank">www.JackieSoap.com</a> to see where I will be next year. I have already had one major show problem. Turns out the folks at the Deerfield Festival of the Arts have brought on a promoter to run the show and they decided last minute during the jury process to concentrate on ART only. So, as a c</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rafter, I was not invited back to the show. This one hurts as I have done the show for almost 14 years. My friend Lynn Upson, the Spice Lady, was not invited back either and she was the first craftsman invited to do the show almost 20 years ago. So, I really need any suggestions you might have for art and craft shows in South Florida. Which shows do you go to?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, don't forget the Cyber Week special is up on the website--10% off all orders, plus the December Special and Free Shipping if you spend $50 after the discount!</span><br />
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<b><u>Show Schedule</u></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>January 2015 </u></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3-4 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10-11 Jensen Beach Arts and Crafts Festival </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17-18 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">25-26 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">31-Feb 1 </span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>February 2015 </u></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7-8 Lake Placid Country Fair </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13-15 Lakeridge Winefest, Clermont, FL </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">21-22 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">28- Mar 1 Dacie FL Orange Blossom Fest </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Industry News</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Industry icon, Paul Mitchell, has a new directive this year encouraging their fans to take part in the Pay it Forward movement Check out the website at <a href="https://www.paulmitchell.com/our-story/giving-is-my-style/" target="_blank">#GIVINGISMYSTYLE</a> In the spirit of the season, the brand is donating up to $200,000 to it's partner charities for people taking part in the gallery at the website. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In an update to a post a few months ago, China has now abolished the requirement for animal testing for most cosmetics manufactured in the country. That means shampoos, makeup, many skin care products and perfumes will be exempt from animal testing. For imported products, the ban is in effect as long as the product's final finishing--packaging, for example--is done in China. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here in the states, the California Legislature adopted Resolution 22, another Cruelty Free International initiative. The hope is to get the US Congress and the President to support uniform restrictions on animal testing of cosmetics for the nation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The big news is the continuing Black Friday/Cyber Week specials up on the website.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CYBERWEEK - good for 10% off your shopping cart </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">total through midnight December 7, 2014. After that we will resort to the special as described below. </span><br />
<br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also talked above about the 2015 Show Schedule, so stay tuned for any and all changes that may be coming down the pike! I really try to do shows around the state and I am always looking for more great ones.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After 15 years of doing a traditional Men's Bayrum scent for the shaving round, I decided it was time to mix it up. What took me so long?? So, for 2015 the Pirates Booty Bar is now scented with a 100% natural essential oil blend of Lime and Pine. </span></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">SPECIAL</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For the month of December, every soap order will receive a free bar of Everything but the Kitchen Sink Soap with every three soaps ordered. I have an abundance of these in stock right now and they are very popular with new and old customers! And remember if you need to stock up, all orders of $50 or more receive FREE SHIPPING! This time of the year is a great time to take advantage of this deal!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What you ask is an Ugly Soap--this would be one example!!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have a couple bags of endpieces that have been around for a long while. IF you are a shaving soap user or a Lavender Oatmeal lover--go to the Specials page NOW and get a great deal on the Ugly Soaps. The Lavender soaps I just put up are what happens when I take an important phone call instead of getting the soap in the mold quickly. It ain't pretty...but you benefit by getting a great deal on these bars. Hey, and there are just a few bars of Split Personality 100% Natural on there too. Really, you need to go take a look at these specials!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Specials can always be ordered by going to my website, scrolling down to the bottom of the page and clicking on the big green leaf. This will take you to the "secret" members’ only page so you can place your order. List members' pay actual shipping and tax if applicable, so disregard the shipping charge my shopping cart will show on your receipt. A correct invoice will be mailed with your order. Please put the words DECEMBER SPECIAL in the comments area of your order. You may also call or email, but be sure to mention the DECEMBER SPECIAL; otherwise, you may not get the special price.</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With Warm Holiday Regards to you ALL, </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jackie the SoapLady<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Website:</span></b><a href="http://www.handcraftedbyjackieturbot.com/" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">www.JackieSoap.com</span></b></a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">P.S. Dear Santa, please bring me the SixThreeZero Paisley Bike this year<br />
--er, right after peace and joy to the WORLD!</td></tr>
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JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-23481893020861713912014-11-28T14:46:00.000-05:002014-11-28T14:46:00.038-05:00The Keys in October<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yZgbzwQmL-g/VFLvkB0KuqI/AAAAAAAABc4/KJKAz9Q7e1s/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yZgbzwQmL-g/VFLvkB0KuqI/AAAAAAAABc4/KJKAz9Q7e1s/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This just screams FLORIDA! It was just a perfect day with the most incredible blue sky...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nsX1OVVMGyg/VFLvg8Gdd8I/AAAAAAAABcs/N-IqtPrpfyg/s1600/IMG_1843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nsX1OVVMGyg/VFLvg8Gdd8I/AAAAAAAABcs/N-IqtPrpfyg/s1600/IMG_1843.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was at the back of the resort we stayed at one night in Key Largo. We supposedly made a note of the place to come back to, but, I can't pull it out of my memory banks right now. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vV8skys_WU/VFLvj2semJI/AAAAAAAABc0/f_H5Wp-cDcY/s1600/IMG_1846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vV8skys_WU/VFLvj2semJI/AAAAAAAABc0/f_H5Wp-cDcY/s1600/IMG_1846.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same place in Key Largo--so inviting!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g5tPPHkf2CQ/VFLvmemw5eI/AAAAAAAABdE/DngQURyWlvw/s1600/IMG_1855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g5tPPHkf2CQ/VFLvmemw5eI/AAAAAAAABdE/DngQURyWlvw/s1600/IMG_1855.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rod on the beach at Key West. They have done a bit of improving...but...alas...it is still not very pretty here. Spend you time at the north end of Bahia Honda Key instead!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zImRFduDcA8/VFLvoMHGfbI/AAAAAAAABdM/WgkGDBvRu2s/s1600/IMG_1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zImRFduDcA8/VFLvoMHGfbI/AAAAAAAABdM/WgkGDBvRu2s/s1600/IMG_1867.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using the underwater camera case...not anything impressive...but it was fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kvCSY6p7WZo/VFLwHoHVcII/AAAAAAAABdU/oEQOGowh0d8/s1600/IMG_1845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kvCSY6p7WZo/VFLwHoHVcII/AAAAAAAABdU/oEQOGowh0d8/s1600/IMG_1845.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keys style lattice!! Love it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NprUDiQszJI/VFLwH8PmyhI/AAAAAAAABdY/QE3ymZVVMZc/s1600/IMG_1849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NprUDiQszJI/VFLwH8PmyhI/AAAAAAAABdY/QE3ymZVVMZc/s1600/IMG_1849.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a garage converted into a business. I took the picture because I like the look <br />
of the doors for the IL cottage when we do put up a garage!</td></tr>
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Rod and I spent just a few days down here in October. Our usual place in Key West, Eden House, was booked with a wedding so we stayed at the Old Custom House right on Duval. We would do it again, but, it was definitely a different kind of trip. Pickles the Parrot made the stay memorable! We also discovered the Fast Buck Freddies Furniture outlet on the north end of the island. As always we spent a couple hours in the bookstore on Fleming St. too--just off Duval. But they were in the middle of downsizing from two spaces to one--so it was too crowded to really shop and browse. I still came away with two wonderful books, both had excerpts from diaries--one a newspaperwoman from Arizona and the other a book of letters from one of the presidents to his mother. JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-57981915343005478492014-11-26T14:31:00.000-05:002014-11-26T14:31:15.099-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bonnie and I brought a load of "stuff" to Illinois after the New Smyrna Beach show. I was there to winterize. What that means, I am not 100% sure, but, I did the best I could given the snowfall. I got the air conditioners out of the two windows and put away. I was supposed to do a lot more yard work, but, now that I see these pictures--I really like how everything looks with snow piled on top. </div>
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So, in addition to the first snow shoveling in A VERY LONG TIME, I also got to scrape my van windows--with a credit card since my scraper was locked in the Mercury with the frozen shut doors. I also caught a mouse in a sticky trap I had put out this summer for spiders. Poor dear was trying to drag the trap through the hole in the bathroom wall. He must have had a heart attack when I put him in a grocery bag and threw him out the back door. I hope he did anyway. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xiKPDFEbQxI/VHYmN0AefzI/AAAAAAAABgI/TpQ24f1UKBw/s1600/IMG_1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xiKPDFEbQxI/VHYmN0AefzI/AAAAAAAABgI/TpQ24f1UKBw/s1600/IMG_1973.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Moon Cottage after the first snowfall, November 2014</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xiKPDFEbQxI/VHYmN0AefzI/AAAAAAAABgI/TpQ24f1UKBw/s1600/IMG_1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xiKPDFEbQxI/VHYmN0AefzI/AAAAAAAABgI/TpQ24f1UKBw/s1600/IMG_1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xiKPDFEbQxI/VHYmN0AefzI/AAAAAAAABgI/TpQ24f1UKBw/s1600/IMG_1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VHuU0tjf0FA/VHYl49BizDI/AAAAAAAABfg/ZDVgR8oOYHw/s1600/IMG_1959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VHuU0tjf0FA/VHYl49BizDI/AAAAAAAABfg/ZDVgR8oOYHw/s1600/IMG_1959.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Zebra Grass with a dusting of snow!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-88GiCG7uzJc/VHYl8fDzHtI/AAAAAAAABfo/6Oi9yKQBQyI/s1600/IMG_1958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-88GiCG7uzJc/VHYl8fDzHtI/AAAAAAAABfo/6Oi9yKQBQyI/s1600/IMG_1958.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view out the backdoor when I discovered it was SNOWING!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm-2mDDPI74/VHYmBGdo5iI/AAAAAAAABfw/xIyCE8cGnlM/s1600/IMG_1963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm-2mDDPI74/VHYmBGdo5iI/AAAAAAAABfw/xIyCE8cGnlM/s1600/IMG_1963.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The next morning this is the view I woke up to! What a winter wonderland!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5E2xfE9U_k/VHYmGNHrnII/AAAAAAAABf4/ERuKlv2PZtE/s1600/IMG_1967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5E2xfE9U_k/VHYmGNHrnII/AAAAAAAABf4/ERuKlv2PZtE/s1600/IMG_1967.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front yard--Bonnie and I trounced through the little bit of snow to get this picture.</td></tr>
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And one picture from Orlando on Tuesday, November 25, 2015: This hawk was just sitting at the top of the roof gable. I got really close and took a bunch of pictures and he just sat there looking at me, the ground, the sky, whatever. I wondered if he was keeping an eye out for a rodent or snake in the grass to eat! I also wondered if he was the hawk who ate one of the mockingbird babies a couple years ago. Regardless, he was a stately, handsome guy, don't ya think?<br />
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<br />JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-43405483728434655252014-11-26T13:49:00.003-05:002014-11-26T13:49:34.457-05:002014 Black Friday and Cyber Week Special Codes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here are the coupon codes to use in your shopping cart at www.JackieSoap.com for the 2015 Black Friday and Cyber Week sales!</div>
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BLACKFRIDAY - good for 20% off your shopping cart total through midnight Friday Nov 28th</div>
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CYBERWEEK - good for 10% off your shopping cart total through midnight December 7, 2014</div>
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FREESHIP - off a $50 order</div>
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Those specials can be combined, but, you can only put one coupon code per order. If I see the shopping cart total is over $50 for the discounted merchandise, I will pay the shipping on your order! This will be done manually--so the shopping cart and the emailed receipt will not be correct. Your receipt with the order will reflect both discounts!</div>
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If you have any questions, give me a holler at (407) 363-1494! Thanks so much for your business. </div>
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Jackie the SoapLady </div>
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<br />JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-14992269453231216092014-10-31T00:29:00.000-04:002014-10-31T00:29:15.350-04:00November 2014 Soap News and Special<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hi Everybody!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am putting the newsletter out a few days early to let you know about two shows THIS weekend. See the show calender below for details. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">October went by in a whirl of activity. Rod and I took a few days off and spent some time at our favorite place, Key West. We weren't able to stay at our favorite place, Eden House, because it was booked with a wedding. So we ended up staying in The Old Customs House Inn right on Duval. The reviews were pretty dicey, but, in reality it was a pretty good spot for a quick trip. There is no front desk service to speak of, you had to find your own parking, the shower was teeny tiny and the TV only had one channel that worked. BUT, that was all doable...especially when you throw in a cute parrot named Pickles who greeted us every time we came and went from the room. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Back in Orlando, we have the whole "moving to Illinois" thing on our minds, so Rod and I got a head start on things by cleaning out the shed and the attic a week ago. We had enough stuff to have a one day garage sale. We got rid of lots of Christmas stuff, a couple dressers, under-used kitchen applicances and some home decor and pictures--everything big except the Nordic Track and a bunch of books. The books and a couple small boxes of leftovers went to the Salvation Army and the Nordic Track got posted on Craigs List. So, now we can actually stack up the next bunch of things to go up to Illinois in the big van. I will go up for a week right after the New Smyrna Beach show.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We had a cardiologist appointment at the beginning of the month. Rod was able to come off his blood thinner and the doc suggested cutting his statin in half and changing up his blood pressure pill for another medicine that handles BP and two other things he was concerned about. It should help to even out his heart rate so there are fewer missed beats and the resulting BIG beat that occurs after a missed beat. All in all we feel very good about how all this is going--he is eating to our plan and doing his walking, so, what we can control, we are--the rest we are putting in bigger hands than ours!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">P.S. We are going to get down to temps in the 50's and possibly lower this weekend! FALL IS HERE!</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">SHOW SCHEDULE</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>November 2014</u></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1-2 Fiesta in the Park, Lake Eola Park, Orlando FL <u>AND</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1-2 Micanopy Fall Festival (my friend Eve will be doing Orlando and I will be in Micanopy--thanks for the help Eve!!)<br />8-9 Flamingo Follies, New Smyrna Beach, FL--Booth #106<br />15-16 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">22-23 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">29-30</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>December 2014</u></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6-7 Tallahassee Market Days<br />13-14 Holiday in the Garden, Washington Oaks Garden State</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Park, Palm Coast, Florida--sorry, it looks like they will not be doing a craft show this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">20-21 Merry Christmas!<br />27-28 Happy New Year!</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">INDUSTRY NEWS</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You know, I am all about SCENT. And what is more irresistible than "New Baby Smell"! Turns out that the scent and the phenomenon are being studied. Blogger and Real Simple Associate Editor, Julia Edelstein, reported on the findings in <a href="http://simplystated.realsimple.com/author/juliasedelstein9/" target="_blank">this article</a>. What I found fascinating is that they identified the scent as being made up of roughly 250 chemicals. The combination of these chemicals lights up the rewards center part of the brain. The same area that would recognize you were partaking of a piece of Godiva chocolate! I wonder how long it will take the perfumers and formulators to come up with this wonderful scent? And speaking of scent, check out my third quarter bestsellers, below.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-itDJHoeCvCM/VFL8dDW7epI/AAAAAAAABeE/heb6NShncjA/s1600/kendall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-itDJHoeCvCM/VFL8dDW7epI/AAAAAAAABeE/heb6NShncjA/s1600/kendall2.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My Great Niece when she was little!<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">COMPANY NEWS</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So this is a big weekend for shea butter soap in Central Florida. My artist friend, Eve Silverbach, who you may recognize from the picture below, will be manning my booth at Fiesta in the Park at Lake Eola this weekend. I will be up in Micanopy doing the Fall Festival in my usual spot across from the Herlong Mansion. Eve will have the incense rack with her in Orlando along with the soap, soapdishes and other bath accessories. I will have the bath accessories, eye pillows and giftbag stuffers with me. We both will have guest soap samplers and oils. IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU NEED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP SO I CAN MAKE SURE IT WILL BE AVAILABLE. We think we have the credit card situation worked out--cross fingers, please! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nautical Painter, Eve Silverbach</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The best sellers for the third quarter are as follows:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. Lavender Oatmeal 100% Natural</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. Oatmeal Milk & Honey Goatmilk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3. Jasmine Goatmilk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4. Lilac Goatmilk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5. Beach</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6. Sweet Earth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">7. Lemongrass Scrubby 100% Natural</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">8. Gardenia Goatmilk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">9. Sandalwood Vanilla</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">10. Black Raspberry Vanilla Goatmilk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Congratulations to Crystal M. of Illinois who won last month's Facebook Special--a free log of Everything but the Kitchen Sink. Head over to Facebook and chat with us on the wall for your chance to win our great yearend specials. Every order in November and December will be in the Facebook contest--even if you haven't had time to friend us there! I love chatting with everyone, but, it is those of you who continue to order that pay the bills. A HUGE thank you to you all!</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">SPECIAL</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For the month of November, every soap order will receive a free bar of Everything but the Kitchen Sink Soap with every three soaps ordered. I have an abundance of these in stock right now and they are very popular with new and old customers! And remember if you need to stock up, all orders of $50 or more receive FREE SHIPPING! This time of the year is a great time to take advantage of this deal!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have a couple bags of endpieces that have been around for a long while. IF you are a shaving soap user, a Patchouli lover or a Lavender Oatmeal lover--go to the Specials page NOW and get a great deal on the ugly soaps. The Lavender soaps I just put up are what happens when I take an important phone call instead of getting the soap in the mold quickly. It ain't pretty...but you benefit by getting a great deal on these bars. Hey, and there are just a few bars of Split Personality 100% Natural on there too. Really, you need to go take a look at these specials!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The
Specials can always be ordered by going to my website, scrolling down to the
bottom of the page and clicking on the big green leaf. This will take you to
the "secret" members’ only page so you can place your order. List
members' pay actual shipping and tax if applicable, so disregard the shipping
charge my shopping cart will show on your receipt. A correct invoice will be
mailed with your order. Please put the words NOVEMBER SPECIAL in the comments area
of your order. You may also call or email, but be sure to mention the NOVEMBER SPECIAL; otherwise, you may not get the special price.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With Regards to you ALL, </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jackie the SoapLady<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Website:<br />
</span></b><a href="http://www.handcraftedbyjackieturbot.com/"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">www.JackieSoap.com</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Facebook: Become a fan by liking “Handcrafted by Jackie
Turbot”. Post on the wall for chances
to win a free goodie monthly.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-48600321799202009712014-10-01T11:02:00.000-04:002014-10-01T11:02:00.353-04:00October 2014 Soap News and Special<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hS4ODzyBBy0/VCrABbHaSsI/AAAAAAAABbY/wOJIMqdD6PA/s1600/Fall%2BParty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hS4ODzyBBy0/VCrABbHaSsI/AAAAAAAABbY/wOJIMqdD6PA/s1600/Fall%2BParty.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional Harvest Festival</td></tr>
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OCTOBER! Oh yes, Fall is here! Even in the heat of Florida we have the orange, red and brown decorations up in the stores, the pumpkin patches are open and we start to believe that night temperatures now lingering at 70 or above, might soon bring cooler days...sometime, soon hopefully.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florida's version of Fall...see the leaf colors in the back!!!</td></tr>
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<br />This weekend I was at the Deland Craft Show, mainly helping my artist friend, Nautical Painter, Eve Silverbach, who had double booked shows. So, I was set up with half of the booth filled with painted switchplates and photography and the other half with my soap trays. Here's a heads-up for you Central Floridians: Eve will be doing the Orlando show at Lake Eola the first weekend in November. I will be setup in Micanopy. I will not have the incense with me...Eve will have it in Orlando. So, if you need incense at Micanopy, please call me no later than Wednesday October 29th, and I will pull what you need and bring it with me.<div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xvv7647UkZQ/VCrAmNfw1tI/AAAAAAAABbw/Sd46SqJ-Flw/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xvv7647UkZQ/VCrAmNfw1tI/AAAAAAAABbw/Sd46SqJ-Flw/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>I made it back to Orlando in my new-to-me Ford 3/4 ton 2006 cargo van. So, for those of you wondering about the poor Mercury, it is now the Illinois back up vehicle. Not sure how it will weather the Illinois cold winter, but, hopefully it will start if we fly up sometime in December or January. We had so much room in the van, we didn't even reach the halfway mark...which left Bonnie-Dog plenty of room to roam. She happened to roam through my box of ripening tomatoes, BAD BONNIE, but I still had plenty to make Rod BLT's, a couple Mexican dishes and a few plates of fresh tomatoes to enjoy. </div>
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I ended up staying an extra week in Illinois as my Aunt Patricia was very ill and in hospice care. She ended up passing after a very hard 10 days for my uncle and cousins. I stayed to be with my Mom and attend the funeral. You will be missed Aunt Pat...</div>
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Next up for us is a quick four night trip to Key West. After that we will begin to get the Halloween decorations out of the attic and get ready for the trick or treaters at the end of the month. Rod suggested we also use that time to sort through what we have up in the attic and start clearing it out now. That will help out a lot when we do make the final move to Illinois in 2016. The Fall shows are detailed below. I hope to see you all out there!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fRxltfsnBOw/VCrMhk7FB3I/AAAAAAAABcM/UfO774zEKBg/s1600/images%2B(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fRxltfsnBOw/VCrMhk7FB3I/AAAAAAAABcM/UfO774zEKBg/s1600/images%2B(1).jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><b><u><h2>
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Show Schedule </u></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><u>October 2014</u></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4-5 </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">11-12 Coconut Creek--the Promenade on Lyons Road</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">18-19</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">25-26 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><u>November 2014</u></b> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">1-2 Fiesta in the Park, Lake Eola Park, Orlando FL <u>AND</u></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RUEfHJIpiQg/VCrHsoy4BBI/AAAAAAAABcA/X-XPVZIwhj0/s1600/drbronners-peppermint-liquid-soap-16oz_2_357x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RUEfHJIpiQg/VCrHsoy4BBI/AAAAAAAABcA/X-XPVZIwhj0/s1600/drbronners-peppermint-liquid-soap-16oz_2_357x400.jpg" height="200" width="178" /></a>Hats off to Dr. Bronner's soap who sometime in the last 10 years finally decided to list ALL of their ingredients on the Peppermint liquid soap. Some of you may remember when I "outed" them for only listing the vegetable oils, not the full ingredient list. I know I had used their soap a lot in my early days as I hiked and camped. So, I am happy to announce with full authority that they are NOT using SLS's in the production of their pure castille soaps! So what's actually it there? Here ya go (in English): Coconut, Olive, Hemp and Jojoba Organic veggie Oils, Potassium Hydroxide (the lye in liquid soaps), Organic Peppermint Essential Oil, Citric Acid and Vitamin E. Way to go!!</div>
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I made this year's Christmas soap last week and this year it will be a fruity, wine scent called Christmas Cabernet and it will be marbeled with red and orange. I am still working on a name, but, for now I am calling it Wassail. It will be available starting at the Coconut Creek show and some wholesale accounts are already starting to stock it! So, look for it at the next show you are able to attend. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HNHr8g3J9Y/VCrQXPDm1EI/AAAAAAAABcY/u6z1fHpBuIg/s1600/IMG_1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HNHr8g3J9Y/VCrQXPDm1EI/AAAAAAAABcY/u6z1fHpBuIg/s1600/IMG_1837.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>I also stocked up on the wood soap decks and the netty soap-on-a-rope bags for the giftbags. There will be plenty available at shows for those of you needing giftbags. I will also be doing a limited number of special $50 giftbags with the more expensive soap dishes, herbal eye pillows and the other goodies usually found in the $20 bag. </div>
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I just did a batch of Simply Shea soap for the waitlist and since it was gone really fast, I will do another batch if there is any demand. Those are $10 a bar, but, you get the whole bar with the bumpy top so it is actually close to 7 ounces in size. I will be catching up on the Pet, Bug and Hunter soap waitlists over the coming few weeks...if you know you want a few bars, please email me <a href="mailto:rjturbot@cfl.rr.com" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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<u>S</u><u>pecial</u></h2>
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This month the special is just that--<i>special! </i>For every six bar order, you will be able to pick out a free soap (the scent is your choice) and you will receive a half-guest soap size sample of the Christmas soap to go along with it. You might also take advantage of the $50 free shipping special, details are on the secret page on the website. Follow the green leaf to get there! And always check on down that page a bit. I will be putting up a bag of Patchouli soap endpieces at a discounted price! </div>
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Have a great month, Everybody!</div>
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Jackie the SoapLady</div>
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P.S. the overhang over the back door of the new cottage is from an Mazda RX7 automobile! No one guessed correctly!! Any guesses for what heats the water in the outdoor shower? A free soap to the first correct answer!</div>
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JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-28204360674295456582014-09-08T23:44:00.000-04:002014-09-08T23:44:39.523-04:00September 2014 Soap News and Special<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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HAPPY FALL!<br />
Can you feel it in the air...the evenings cool off a bit and mornings up here have been heaven for a week or so. I just bought a pumpkin/harvest sign tonight to hang on the gate--it is that kind of weather in Illinois right now. Trouble is that I will be moving back into Summer very soon. I should be back on the road to Rod and Florida by the end of the week. Keep calling on the Illinois phone number for a bit longer (815-708-7200) if you need help with an order or if you want to stop by the soap shop. Once I am back in Florida you will get a disconnected message on the Illinois phone.<br />
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The birds and bees have been busy here--literally. The picture at the top of the page was on the day the birds--lots of Orioles and such perching on the face of the sunflowers, then leaning over to chow down on the seeds. It was amazing to see dozens of them all feeding in the same area at one time. The bees have been busy too--they are in the sedums now, but, they shared the sunflowers with all the birds. Unfortunately they have found the hummingbird feeder too--but I think the hummers have the upper hand for now.<br />
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We had a good August up here starting with Rod's visit. He brought a load here in his new-to-him minivan and got to acclimate to the new house. We did a few projects at the house, met some neighbors, went to the fair and even went to downtown Rockford for a Thursday night, "Dinner on the Dock" with my sister and her hubby, Garry. There, we met up with some longtime friends, the Blume's and were asked to join them on their very nice (BIG understatement!!!) party boat. We also had a birthday party for Rod's 60th while he was here--check out the Pinterest inspired candle decorations--see the picture somewhere below.</div>
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The Schaumburg Septemberfest last weekend was a success--thank you all for coming out. We had bad forecasts as usual. The weather guys thought it was going to be rainy and stormy--it only ended up raining on Saturday at 7 a.m., the rest of the weekend was great. Never believe the weather guys! So many of you heard about my van trouble. Miss Myrtle the van with over 306,000 miles made it to the hotel Friday night, but, just barely. I had a battery warning light on that I ignored for too long. So, we ended up borrowing a cube truck--a large cube truck--from my brother-in-law-the-contractor (thank you Larson and Larson Builders!). My sister did all the hard work getting it to Schaumburg in one piece though and then we didn't end up needing it. When we went to tow the sick van back to Rockford, the tow driver offered to take it to his garage, do the repair on Labor Day and then deliver it to the show--all in time for us to load up and head back to Rockford--and it was a good deal on top of that. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Koi Pond"--before I added the ceramic fish I bought at Schaumburg...stay tuned...more later!</td></tr>
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Please accept my apologies for the late (again) newsletter. My sweet Aunt Patricia died after a long illness and 10 horrible days of Hospice care with her family and my Mom trying to help her transition from pain to peace. </div>
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<strong><u>SHOW SCHEDULE</u></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">27-28 Deland River Fest--doing the show for my friend Eve the nautical painter. BUT, I will bring limited soap</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">4-5 </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> We are going to the Keys!!! </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">11-12 Coconut Creek--the Promenade on Lyons Road</span></span></div>
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You have heard me talk about my LOVE of the OPI nail polish names. Earlier this year they rolled out 8 new polishes inspired by Disney's "Muppets Most Wanted". With names like "Chillin' Like a Villian", "Kermit Me to Speak" and "Miss Piggy's Big Number"--you know I am loving them!<br />
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OK, this will probably not shock you, but, it will certainly make you wonder about our obsession with looks--or at least looking younger. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reported that one in three plastic surgeons have seen an increase in requests for procedures due to patients being more self-aware of how they look in social media. SELFIES are contributing to a 10% rise in nose jobs, a 7% rise in hair transplants and 6% rise in eyelid surgery. These increases were for both cosmetic surgery and injectibles--with 75% of the increase attributed to minimally invasive procedures. Young women and men are contributing to the increase--women looking to prevent visible signs of aging and men seeking nose jobs, chin implants, acne scar reduction and neck liposuction. <br />
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<strong><u>COMPANY NEWS</u></strong><br />
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I wrote down a ton of name possibilities this past weekend while at the show. Be looking for some great LOL new soaps in the future--but for now I really don't have anything to report. I will be running low on some scents before I get back to soapmaking in Florida. AND, my apologies to you incense lovers--I am out or low on a couple scents that won't be redipped until possibly next month. SO SORRY!! Oh, and I would love some suggestions again for the Christmas soap. For some reason I am thinking about doing some cinnamon ornaments again...maybe. What do you think? Leave your comments on the blog!<br />
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<strong><u>SPECIAL</u></strong><br />
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Click <a href="http://rjturbot-ivil.tripod.com/id31.html" target="_blank">here</a> for this month's SPECIAL. OK, the special that is up is what I have been offering those of you who ordered already in the month...so let's go with that. A free bar of soap for every 6 bar purchase at the 3 for $12 price. Be sure to put your free scent in the comments area of the shopping cart. You can always get the special online, by clicking through the green leaf at the bottom of every page where you will be whisked to the Specials page. Spend a minute there--I also listed some shaving soap endpieces and a VERY limited supply of 100% Natural Split Personality soaps. Be sure to click on the button of whatever specials you are trying to take advantage of...I can't read your mind...if it's not clicked I can't do the special. But, if you forget something, you can always email me or call. Enjoy!!<br />
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Oh, and don't forget if you really need to stock up or want to split an order with a friend, you get free shipping to one address if you spend $50. Click <a href="http://rjturbot-ivil.tripod.com/id31.html" target="_blank">here</a> to go to the Specials page, click on the free shipping button and you are good to go!</div>
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Want a free bar of Split Personality with your next order (in addition to any other freebies above)? Identify the overhang over the cottage back door. Put your guess in the comments area of the shopping cart. (Free Soap Guesses limited to on hand supply of Split Personality)<br />
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JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-46149508137287975522014-08-02T17:45:00.000-04:002014-08-02T17:45:56.739-04:00August 2014 Soap News and SpecialHi Soap Lovers!<br />
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August finds me gardening. I was going to say weeding, but, it is so much more than that here at the new Cottage. I am a stone mason, an irrigation specialist, a landscape designer and more--only I am not expert at any of those things. I am at best a beginner--but I am learning every minute I am out in the yard. And best yet, I am loving every moment! Rod arrives with the first load from Florida tomorrow. I wonder how much of what I packed to come up here a month ago I will now find that I can live without!?! <br />
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A couple notes, one very, very sad. My mold and soap cutter maker, Willard Larson, died at age 94 last week. He was my sister's father-in-law--but that only tells you a fraction of the story of who this wonderful man was. Known as the Cross Man, a master carpenter who was in the union for 70 years, a founding member of his church here in Rockford, Illinois and a navy vet who served in WWII and Korea--he was the kindest, most faithful man. Being able to attend his funeral was a life affirming event. A few of his grandkids and a son-in-law memorialized him...and many tears were shed. Godspeed, Willard! <a href="http://sunset-machesney-park.tributes.com/dignitymemorial/obituary/Carl-Willard-Larson-101553851" target="_blank">More about Willard here.</a><br />
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Also, for any of you having trouble reaching me on my cellphone, I apologize. The stone cottage is not allowing me to use the cell in the house and my text messages are being delivered only when I leave the house. (This means when I remember to take it with me as I am getting in the car--and since I am in Illinois and I can't use the phone in the car without a hand's free device--which is in he house on the counter usually--or not charged up--anyhow, you see where this is going!!!) Please use the house number and leave a message if I am not here. That number is (815) 708-7200. It rings in the house, the soap factory and the shop--and I can hear it if I am in the back yard, too! <br />
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Be sure to look around the blog if you want to see what else I have been up to last month! I have lots of pictures to post.<br />
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<strong><u>Show Schedule</u></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">9-10 Mendota IL Corn Festival </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">16-17 Lake Geneva WI Venetian Art Festival </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">30- Sept 1 Septemberfest Schaumburg IL</span></div>
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<strong><u>Industry News</u></strong><br />
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Have you heard how professional tasters categorize things? There are hundreds of categories, but, basically you can set them into five basic tastes: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter and Umami (a Japanese word that means savory). So now neuroscientists are doing the same thing for scent. They have settled all scents into TEN basic categories--keep in mind these odors are not all intended to be used in person care products:<br />
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1. Fragrant--like lavender, soapy, cologne<br />
2. Woody/resinous--for example: cut grass, mushrooms<br />
3. Minty/Peppermint--eucalyptus, camphor, tea leaves fall in here<br />
4. Sweet<br />
5. Chemical<br />
6. Popcorn--has it's own category...LOL--but it includes butter, fried chicken like scents too.<br />
7. Lemon<br />
8. Fruity--non-citrus<br />
9. Pungent--garlic, sour milk<br />
10. Decayed--rotten meat, manure<br />
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I think we would have some interesting conversations about where in this spectrum things actually fall. You know my distaste for Patchouli which I would put in the last category--decayed. My sister would certainly put it in the Woody category. What do you think about these categories?<br />
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<strong><u>Company News</u></strong><br />
At the Mount Horeb Art Fair a couple weeks ago, I again ran across Sue Koehler one of my favorite potters. I stocked up on a few of her gorgeous and functional soap dishes. If you are looking for a great gift--for yourself or a friend--think about one of these dishes with a great bar of shea butter soap sitting on top! I also have a green/blue/tan glaze and a tan/brown glaze dishes available. You can get them on the soap page <a href="http://rjturbot-ivil.tripod.com/id4.html" target="_blank">here--above the page footer.</a><br />
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I had a batch of the Salt Detox soap go bonkers on me last week. I will be redoing that batch this weekend, hopefully, to get it ready for the shows coming up. I am not sure how it will do with the humidity in the new curing building. Cross fingers!</div>
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<strong><u>Soap Specials</u></strong></div>
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Click <a href="http://rjturbot-ivil.tripod.com/id31.html" target="_blank">here</a> to get this month's special--a FREE soap with every six bar purchase of regular priced soaps. You can always get the special online, by clicking through the green leaf at the bottom of every page where you will be whisked to the Specials page. Spend a minute there--I also listed some shaving soap endpieces and a VERY limited supply of both the Split Personality and 100% Natural Split Personality soaps. Be sure to click on the button of whatever specials you are trying to take advantage of...I can't read your mind...if it's not clicked I can't do the special. But, if you forget something, you can always email me or call. Enjoy!!</div>
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Oh, and don't forget if you really need to stock up or want to split an order with a friend, you get free shipping to one address if you spend $50. Click <a href="http://rjturbot-ivil.tripod.com/id31.html" target="_blank">here</a> to go to the Specials page, click on the free shipping button and you are good to go!</div>
JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-23411176477579607572014-08-02T11:21:00.001-04:002014-08-02T11:21:20.835-04:00This Week's Cottage Projects and MORE Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was at a jewelry party last night, chatting with a group of women I didn't know very well. Isn't it funny how one topic will get everyone talking. My friend Robin introduced me as Jackie, her friend from Florida who just bought a TINY HOUSE in town! Well, those words, TINY HOUSE, ignited the room. Laura, Robin's best friend had all kinds of questions. Her daughter, Cassie, said she had been looking at the Pinterest Tiny House boards and was in love with them. Everyone was either horrified or excited by the fact the new house was only 530 square feet. <br />
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This week I spent hours in the yard, many of them accompanied by my Mom who spent a couple mornings with me helping me to cut back ground covers in the front yard where the English ivy was growing over the boulders and covering them up. I love the look of the boulders, so the ivy had to go! Then I refreshed the pea gravel on that side of the driveway. Too bad it was tiny--more sand like than pinkie nail size--compared to the last batch of gravel from Menards. I hate when that happens--especially when I was hauling 20 bags of it in my 20 year old minivan along with the last of the edging blocks for the Koi Pond. <br />
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Now don't get too excited. The Koi Pond is just the previous owner's nickname for the planting bed to the left as you pull in the driveway. The "pond" is an area of pea gravel sitting in the middle of a mulched berm. She had always wanted to put some painted wood koi in here to "swim". I loved that idea, so, I finished off the pond with some Menards's edging along with some rocks and bricks to keep the mulch out of the pond. I moved the round lily pads (stepping stones) from the front path that I worked on too! Now, I need about a dozen of <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lg-13-Koi-Goldfish-Fish-Garden-Art-Cement-Concrete-Statue-Awesome-/331262849551?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d20cdf20f" target="_blank">these</a> to go in the pond along with some cute turtles and frogs sitting on the lily pads. Just look at the shipping on those fish to see why I will have to come up with another idea!!!!<br />
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The last big project this week was on the two black stone pathways--you can see them in the picture above. This is going to be a trouble spot as the supplier of that black aggregate is now out of business in town and the only other product I can find that comes close is the fish aquarium gravel you get at the pet store. (Plus, the size is not the same and the fish stuff is shiny and what I have is more of a flat black.) That will be a very expensive way to refresh the walks. I have it in two areas in the back yard too!<br />
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So, what I did to help was the put a better separation in the lower path--putting those five square pavers across the path to separate the pea gravel from the black stone. On the upper path, I had to cut the black plastic tube edging that goes under the driveway, lift it up an inch or so and then backfill it to hold the pea gravel out a bit better. I also cut back the ivy and other ground covers in this planting bed so show the boulders and the other edging. This planting bed may become known as my Creeping William/Charlie bed. Jan, the previous owner said she always reached a point in the summer where she just threw up her hands. Since I just started the battle, I may make it to the Fall with that war!<br />
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This week's yard waste haul was two 30 pound cans and five 50 pound bags. Yes, not all of that was really yard waste--much of it could have gone on my compost pile. BUT, that is full already!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lilies are about done, but, the Russian Sage is still gorgeous!</td></tr>
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JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-13872584294915886722014-07-15T10:41:00.001-04:002014-07-15T10:41:08.880-04:00Blue Moon Cottage--More PicturesA couple friends down south are wanting to see more pictures of the cottage, so, here are a couple snaps from this morning. Everyone is wondering what it is like to live in a 530 square foot house, well, the easy answer is that it is just like living in a 1,200 s.f. house without as much cleaning! The previous owners used every nook and cranny for storage, so, I haven't begun to fill up any cabinets or closets. That won't happen until the Orlando house is sold and all our stuff moves up with us. Then, it will be more of a challenge!!<br />
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I guess you could say this is the grounds maintenance complex! The storage bins have edging, stakes and miscellaneous pots and such.</div>
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This is what I will be doing today--MOWING! They previous owner said it takes 20 minutes to mow...I think it took me three times as long the first time!!</div>
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An area that they seeded before leaving...still needs some help, but, may need to work on that next year. Not sure I have time to play "water fairy" this year!</div>
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This is the" Monument to Scotland"...fitting with my family history too!</div>
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A view of the backyard toward the house...with Bonnie Dog munching on a piece of mulch</div>
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Wow...that was a LOT of weeding to get back to bare ground back in the veggie garden. I am hoping the weedblock will help keep the weeds at bay this year. I figured out that even if you don't plant any veggies, you still have to weed--so next year I might as well put in veggies</div>
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This was the first project...a completed walkway to the back building </div>
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where the soap factory is located</div>
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I added a lot of pea gravel to the cobblestone walkway</div>
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More stones going in out front. I need about six more bags to finish this area and along the driveway</div>
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Just so cute!!</div>
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So, this is the ugly screen house right outside the backdoor. I hate it, but, it is very useful as a catch-all for everything. It has all my project tools in it at the moment. Oh, and the bikes!</div>
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I have not done much inside except for moving stuff in...but I will get some pictures of that next time!! SO, out to mow I go...</div>
JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9097286708475934551.post-75569066238588957232014-07-11T06:00:00.000-04:002014-07-11T06:00:07.527-04:00Blue Moon Cottage --My Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before closing, when I was looking at Blue Moon Cottage trying to figure out if the TINY house would work for Rod and I, I never expected to want to change a thing. The previous owner, Jan the Master Gardener said, "Gardens should not be static. They need to change to reflect your interests. Sometimes, you will want to simplify; sometimes you will want to expand and enlarge. So don't be married to a certain way of doing things". I think I said something like, "I LOVE it just the way it is". That was until I tried to pull my hand cart through the gate, to the back office--what will become the Soap Factory. First I encountered the very uneven cobble stones, then that wood "platform" in the picture above. Then the too tiny gate and then seemingly an acre of mulch! So, my first project at the cottage was born!</div>
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Actually I am lying. My first project was accomplished with the help of my nephew Roger. The weather was nice and cool and I was enjoying having the windows open. But, the back door had a storm window on it--I could not find a screen anywhere...so it had to GO! Menards had a sale on the kind that you pull down the screen and it comes down halfway--perfect with a small dog who would scratch out a screen if it went all the way down. I had never put on a storm/screen door before and the salesman said sarcastically that their training video said it only takes FIVE minutes. I laughed out loud at that...saying that in my case it would probably take five hours. That was just about right--what with having no tools, incomplete directions and having to make three trips to my Dad's house to borrow the right tools. My nephew suggested that a trip to Harbor Freight might be in order!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TMjwcQjmkE/U73r2EHbFEI/AAAAAAAABU8/UZjNU3uQD3Y/s1600/IMG_1719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TMjwcQjmkE/U73r2EHbFEI/AAAAAAAABU8/UZjNU3uQD3Y/s1600/IMG_1719.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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As you can see, I pulled up the wood platform, and then proceeded to find several hidden cobble stones to put in the dirt that was uncovered. I lucked out and found several under the steps to the Soap Shop. It took several hours, but, I think I will be happier when I have to bring the cart through the gate the next time. My Dad with the back problems will certainly like a little less "wobble in the cobbles"!!</div>
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The other project, the cart walkway, was started the day after Fourth of July. I started getting 30 patio stones at a time. Then added 20 bags of mulch. Then the next day, I added another 40 stones, and some paver edging to keep the walkway from migrating to the low point in the mulch area. Finally this morning I finished with another 16 blocks, 4 bags of mulch and the finished product is below! </div>
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The next project will involve a scrub sponge and brush, a gallon of paint and a ladder to paint the back side of the house that is the main entryway. Come on over and wear your painting clothes!</div>
<br />JackieSoaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293926297054441747noreply@blogger.com0