It's been "forever" since I have been back in this blogger and sharing posts. I hope to change that starting today! I enjoyed sharing regular posts a few years ago, but life happens and time just seems to keep moving faster. This June marked our 4th anniversary in our new place, and we are still loving it! Although I will admit, this has been a trying summer weather-wise. It seemed like conditions were never right for spring crops in our area (west-central Indiana). Once we were finally able to plant, it turned off dry and into the 90's. Radishes, salad fixings, peas, etc were all kinds of confused and didn't do well. We are hoping to get some fall-plantings of beets, carrots, peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes in over the next week or two. We usually have a good growing season until mid-October. Somehow even with pretty much no rain this summer, we've been able to harvest some nice summer veggies. The Japanese Beetles have been quite challenging this year as well, ravaging on berry plants, broccoli, cauliflower, okra (even Basil plants). I've enjoyed learning how to make Pesto this year. I hope to make a couple more batches before fall hits. It's always so satisfying when we get to end of the main growing season and know there is enough in the pantry and freezers to feed us until the next year.
On the other side of it all, our small craft business is doing wonderfully! I am so pleased with this, even though some days I feel a bit overwhelmed and feel like there are never enough hours in the day. There is just something about having someone enjoy stuff that you've made with your own two hands. I love making soaps, weaving, doing machine embroidery, (we've added vinyl this year too), as well as crochet. Then there are always candles, Pure Soy Candles & wax melts. I have so much fun making them and am so pleased people enjoy them. We work really hard to make a high-quality product at a reasonable price, and are enjoying the bit of a following that has started the last few years. We are still doing several craft sales in our area each year, but I also have orders coming in most every week, which is just plain fun! Now if I could just find a way to keep it all juggled.
I am hoping this is the start of resuming regular posts - I am going to stay determined! I would love to hear from you and what is keeping you busy this summer.
Katrina
The pictures below are of a butterfly enjoying my row of Zinnias in the garden, there are at least a half-dozen butterflies out there each time I walk through. Next is some sweet corn going in the freezer, I'm not sure how we have any corn with no rain, but somehow we still do and it tasted good! Lastly, is a picture of a fresh batch of goat milk honey & oats soap. I love how this soap feels in the shower, and so nourishing for the skin.
