March 23-29, 2008

Overwhelmed, I just feel overwhelmed. The list of things to do just keeps getting longer, the number of days till my first show and a very busy May are getting shorter, and I just don’t know quite where to start with it all. I haven’t had time to really relax, I just feel like I am going all the time, and when I do have time, life comes in and smacks me on the forehead getting me going again. But then again, that is they way isn’t it? When I finally could sit, pull the covers up over my head, and start to have a private pity party, the phone would ring, it would be an order and I would have to put on my smile and then go back to the shop to get it filled. I think this is just life’s way of telling me to get off my arse and get going. That the only way the list will get shorter is by doing something on it, and the only way to loose time, which you can never get back is to sit around and waste it.

Sunday was Easter. I made a really good pot roast and we all spent the day painting (after a run to Home Depot to choose the color and pick up the paint)

Monday: Dad and I went to pick up lye and oils, we also stopped at a cheese factory and a wholesale distributor nearby. We had lunch along the way and when I got him I ordered supplies, paid bills, emptied the van, mailed orders, and knit some. Dad got notice that he got a new job- at the place where he wanted to work- I am excited for him and he is excited too!

Tuesday: B and I went to Longwood Gardens. I had never been there before but the place is spectacular and the weather was perfect to enjoy it. We had a great lunch too and we stopped at a yarn store where I got some yarn to knit B socks. I should get to them next year sometime, LOL! Later that night I cooked dinner and got the dishes put away.

Wednesday: I caught up on e-mails, made soap with the new lye and oils, vacuumed, put soap away, started cutting soap and putting away supplies and got some show applications mailed out.

Thursday: I made soap, worked on getting samplers finished, and started pouring lotion bars.

Friday was errand day: We went to Target, the bank, Office Depot, CVS, the drycleaner and the grocery store. Then I tried to hide in bed- didn’t work!

Saturday: I worked in the shop, getting soap cut up, getting samplers almost finished, and generally cleaning up and getting ready for a busy next few weeks. I made some Aloe soap and got some more lotion bars poured.

Tag, I am it....

I have been tagged by my friend Sue over at Red Tail Designs for a questionnaire about blogging. So here it goes…

1. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging because of D over at There are No Bad Ideas. D and I dated while I was in college and still keep in loose touch. He sent me a link to his blog and I liked the idea of having a) a way for people who I am not near to keep in touch with my life b) a way for customers to get to know “me” better and c) a kind of diary of my business, its ups and downs and how it changed through the years.


2. How did you come up with your blog name?

Well, I am a soap maker, and I liked using the term “soap box” as both a way to show what I do and as it’s typical usage as saying what you want to in a definitive way. I think the “on the soap box” really fits when I am reviewing craft shows that I have been at because I really don’t censor myself.


3. Do your friends and family know about your blog? What do they think of it?

They know of it, I tell everyone, it is on my catalog, my business cards, my web site. C doesn’t read it, it is almost like he thinks it is too personal for him to read, but I am not sure about that. Many of my other friends read it, I hardly get comments posted, but I do get comments while I am on the phone with them or through e-mails with them.


4. How do you write posts?

I make myself write one a week during my “slow time” (no craft shows), just as a diary of what I have done. I try to do a few paragraphs that sum up my week and my feelings and observations. Once show season hits I try and blog about every day at a show, there is almost always something good I can come up with to write about. And besides that I write when I get the fodder to do it, I wrote almost every day a few years ago while my dad was sick and sometimes I write after big events too.


5. Have you ever had a troll or had to delete comments?

Nope, don’t get enough comments to worry about


6. Do you check your stats? Do you care how many people read your blog? If you do care, how to you increase traffic?

I don’t check my stats at all. I do have a hit counter which I loosely monitor for my own delight and amazement. I could care less how many people read my blog, I do it for me and hope others are interested really. Last year I tried to care, I tried to think about increasing traffic and being a good blogger and all of that jazz, it left me tired and I didn’t blog for three months, it made me tired of being “out there” and feeling watched. I like the idea of just not knowing or caring better.


7. What kind of blogs/posts interest you?

I am interested in people like me, simple people who are just telling about their daily stuff, but telling about it in delightful, sometimes comical, interesting ways. I read blogs by stay at home moms, foodie blogs, knitting blogs, and the blogs of my friends.


8. What do you like and dislike about blogging?

I like having a place to put my thoughts and to be able to go back to them and relook at them. I love having a diary of my life, but especially my work and my business. I dislike when someone thinks they know me because they have read my blog, like I have had a conversation with them that never existed in my end. I find that weird.

I tag anyone who reads this blog- and comment to me, tell me about you and where I can read about you :)

March 16-22, 2008

Well the first week with dad being around is done. I think I know how people with children feel and I am surer than ever that I don’t want any. Actually, It hasn’t been bad at all, dad is really great now that his room is just about finished, it is his little cave and he would rather be there than anyplace else. I am just tired, we have do so much in the last week and I just don’t stop going and going and going. I am tired and sore, both in good ways. It hasn’t been too hard to adjust- it will be even easier when he starts a new job and is home even less.

Sunday: I cleaned the house some- just a few touches ups and made lentil soup for dinner. Dad arrived at night, ante, talked, and then went to bed…

Monday: I cleaned up the shop to get it ready for some real work. It keeps getting cluttered this year and every few weeks I need to get it rearranged and ready to accomplish something in again. I helped dad move furniture into his room, and made corned beef & cabbage for dinner. Happy St. Patty’s Day!

Tuesday: I got some soap made- first new fragrance of the year- Vanilla! Blogged, paid bills, printed out flyers, and went with dad to get his truck inspected- it passed yay!!

Wednesday: Made soap- blueberry! Ordered supplies and arranged pick up for next week, got a donation sent out, and divvied up vanilla beans for a co-op. It was girls night out at S’s and I was just beat, but I went and had fun.

Thursday: The morning started with the cats getting out. The garage door blows open once in a while if it isn’t latched right and bout 6 am dad noticed it was open and F & P were outside under cars. Good thing wit was a windy yucky day or who knows where their adventure might have taken them. I did learn that F ate a little too much grass while she was out and, well, had the gollywoggles the rest of the day… C worked from home so dad and I went and ran errands- Post Office, Target, Bank, Joanne’s, My Father’s Beads, Pet Store, LL Bean, Fresh Market, Home Depot, Drycleaner, (then lunch with C), and Wegman’s.

Friday: The morning was my typical Ravelry update (although I hadn’t knitted too much), took pics, answered e-mails, mailed swap items, etc. I cleaned up the kitchen, cleaned the cat’s stuff (cat pan & water bowl), did dishes, put together easter baskets, vacuumed, and mopped.

Saturday: An early morning trip to Ikea, finished with a early afternoon trip to Trader Joe’s, followed up by early evening Blessed Food dinner at B’s. Whew, I get tired just thinking about it!