Monday, October 19, 2009

What's coming up

First of all, I am happy to report that our cold snap is over, and things have warmed up considerably to typical October temps. With our weather lately looking much more like November, I am thrilled to see it return to a more seasonal October.

Last week, I spent a lot of time getting ready for our church's All Church Dinner for our Missions' Celebration Week. I like planning and decorating for such occasions, so I helped. It took all of my free (and not so free) time, but it was worth it. We had a yummy dinner, and the speaker was fantastic--very powerful. Now, on to the upcoming craft sale on Saturday.

The October specials continue. Don't miss them:

Fall Fun Sale! Since autumn has arrived, I'd like to feature some products to celebrate it:

Soap: Apple Cinnamon, Pumpkin Spice, Toasted Vanilla, and Cinnamon & Sugar. They each have goodies like real apple and cinnamon! $6/bar.
Room Spray: see the above scents. 4 oz./$8.

Not on my site are:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in scents listed on site. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Cuke/Aloe/Mint Soap!



I recently made a "from my garden" batch of soap. It features cucumbers and Mountain Mint infusion from my garden, as well as aloe juice.

Why, you might ask? Because I like making soaps with food, lol. I do think the cuke lends a cooling effect to the soap, as does the mint. Aloe is just good for the skin. In reality, all the soap does is clean. You lather up, wash, and rinse. No matter what might be in a bar of soap, its basic function is to cleanse skin. It won't make you younger, suddenly gorgeous, won't get rid of wrinkles, or cure disease. What it will do is clean your skin and smell great so you'll love using it.

Of course, being clean does make you prettier or more handsome and the best defense against disease is cleanliness, but other than that, I want to make soap that looks and smells like something you'll want to use. If it feels good using it, and you like the final result, then we're both happy!

A couple of pictures are in this post so you can take a gander.

Check out my site: www.SoapandGarden.com

Monday, October 12, 2009

Name a New Soap!


Some of you have been in on this already, but if you haven't, give it a shot! At any rate, you can at least see a picture of the new soap, made with cucumbers, aloe, and mint.

Here's how to enter: Just send me an email or a private message on Facebook with your best suggestion for a name for this soap. Include your name and address, and I'll send out free soap to the first 7 entries!

Look for Beth Byrne on FB or email to beth@soapandgarden.com

Thanks for your help! In the meantime, check out my site: www.SoapAndGarden.com
Not on my site are:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in scents listed on site. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Sunday, October 11, 2009





Finally! Photos of beer soap!
  1. Lye water being added to oils

2. Wow, pudding trace, already.


3. Whew. In the molds


4. Unmolded and ready to use!

Notice that the pictures loaded exactly backwards. If you would be so kind as to reverse the order, and start looking at the pictures from the botton and going up, you'll understand what I mean, LOL.

Raspberry Beer Soap






Finally! Photos of Raspberry Beer Soap!

Friday, October 9, 2009

Garden Meanderings: Daily posts

Garden Meanderings: Daily posts

Daily posts

I got sick and forgot about blogging every day! A new initiative for the rest of October to blog daily. . .

For local readers, I'm teaching a one night class at R-H Continuing Ed. on Monday, the 19th on making botanical potpourri. We'll make a fall scented and colored potpourri and a Christmas scented and colored potpourri. I'll also talk about and have handouts for making your own.

Join us. It'll be fun!

Monday, October 5, 2009

October is here in earnest!

Fall is here, without a doubt! I'm feeling the urgency to get things finished before my garden is ready for rest.

We were at Genesee Country Museum on Saturday, and there was a vendor there for native plants and herbs. Naturally, I bought a couple of them. One was Geranium macalatum, which I may already have, but bought just in case. . . The other was Monarda fistulosa. I know I don't have that one. So, I have two more plants to get in the ground! I hope to get a few nice days soon that coincide with my schedule. I'm sure other gardeners can identify with that!

I felt very fortunate, also, to have found 4 cukes in my garden! I thought their season was over, so I stopped checking, but just happened upon them. I made soap with cucumber, aloe juice, and mint. Which brings me to my challenge. Send me a name for this soap and your address, and I'll send you some soap! I will take the first five entries, at least. Keep in mind that I want to emphasize the "cool" part of the cucumber. Of course, you'll want to send me your entry and addy privately, not as a public comment on the blog. Send it to beth@soapandgarden.com.

Last week's sale still applies throughout the month, but the contest ends on Thursday.

Fall Fun Sale! Since autumn has arrived, I'd like to feature some products to celebrate it:

Soap: Apple Cinnamon, Pumpkin Spice, Toasted Vanilla, and Cinnamon & Sugar.

They each have goodies like real apple and cinnamon! $6/bar.

Room Spray: see the above scents. 4 oz./$8.

Not on my site are: Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - $2/ea.

Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00

Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7

Foaming Soap: Comes in scents listed on site and fall scents. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Enjoy fall while we have it! Winter comes all too soon.