Lemons and Optimism, Friendship and Bilquist Day

Yesterday, I was a vendor at the Bilquist Bazaar, a well-organized and well-attended event for folks who love handmade items. It was a fun day to be a vendor...lots of traffic and steady sales until about one o'clock. I loved meeting new customers and I absolutely loved seeing some of my "old faithful" fans again! Thank you for coming out, old faithful fans!

And thank you, Stef and Pam, for bringing me refreshment in the mid-afternoon. You encouraged me with your enthusiasm, and then you helped me in such a very practical way. Thank you for packing up my gear and lugging it all out to the car! You are dears, and I am so very blessed by your friendship!

My top seller on Bilquist Day was the highly favored Lemon Soap; this bar is bursting with bright, lively citrus oils, and the scent is fresh and uplifting. Beware, Melancholy Dollies! When you choose Lemon Soap by Greenfield Soap Co., you are inviting a hefty dose of optimism to your soap dish!




I always look forward to finding out which Greenfield Soap Style will be the most esteemed on any given sale day. It varies, you know, and that is part of the intrigue! For this day, Lemon Soap became the happy favorite, and I understand its a-peel (har!).




Lemons are beautiful, but surprising. Lemons, like many blessings, make a lovely first impression before they reveal a zingy, sour side along with a vast potential for sweetness. If you chew on a lemon, your face will pucker and dance out of sync. I once had a car that was a lemon; I didn't chew on it, but it made me red in the face, and it nearly destroyed my happy dance for quite awhile! There has been much written about lemons. Foodies like to quote (and misquote?) Rilke who speaks of lemon disks sinking into the tea (or the dusky sea?). Lemons permeate or complement; they appear in perfumes, in candies, in drinks. Lemons look nice beside fish on a plate, and it can seem just right to squeeze a lemon over greens in a salad. Lemons, like many blessings, are beautiful and surprising, and I thank you, fans of Greenfield Soap Co., for celebrating lemons for a moment with me!

Wishing you many blessings and the JOY of a thankful heart in all of your sour and sweet affairs,

Susan

GREENFIELD SOAP CO.
susan@amicusdata.com
www.twitter.com/greenfieldsoap
http://greenfieldsoapco.blogspot.com
coming soon: www.greenfieldsoapco.com

"every morning lean thine arms awhile upon the window-sill of heaven and gaze upon the Lord; then with the vision in thy heart, turn strong to meet the day."

Here's An Easy Snack Mix Idea

Kathleen’s Munchie Mix

Place in clean, food safe large bag your preferred combination (about 4 “ice cream pails”—or about 16-17 cups) of all or some of the following: Shreddies Cereal, Crispix Cereal, Cheerios, pretzels, Ritz Bitz, peanuts, fish crackers, bugles, etc. Note: I like to include something with cheese like cheesy ritz bitz, and something with peanut butter (again, like peanut butter ritz bitz) and a little bit of sweet (like a few honey-coated peanuts).

Add ½-1 cup oil and shake to coat. (I find ½ c. is enough for my taste. I prefer extra virgin olive oil; the mild kind which says “good for sautéing and baking” on the label.)

Sprinkle in the following spices to your preference and shake: 4 T garlic salt, 3 packages Ranch Dressing Mix (I only use 2, I think.), 3 T dill weed.

I know, it’s a bit of a vague recipe; be creative and…

Enjoy!

Susan

GREENFIELD SOAP CO.
susan@amicusdata.com
www.twitter.com/greenfieldsoap
coming soon: www.greenfieldsoapco.com

"every morning lean thine arms awhile upon the window-sill of heaven and gaze upon the Lord; then with the vision in thy heart, turn strong to meet the day."

You are invited to come see Greenfield Soap Co. at the
Bilquist Bazaar
on Saturday, November 22, 2008.
Time: 10AM to 4PM
Address: Bilquist Elementary School; 15708 SE Webster Rd; Milwaukie, OR 97267

Look for table # 87!

Greenfield Soaps are $6 each; when you buy 5, you get an additional bar FREE!

I hope you come by and say hello!

Showers of blessings to you,

Susan

susan@amicusdata.com

You are invited to the 30th Annual New Hope Handmade Christmas Bazaar (140 spaces filled with the finest artisan crafts, gifts & foods):

Friday, November 14th @ 10a-6p
Saturday, November 15th @ 9a-5p

Location:
11731 SE Stevens Rd; Happy Valley, OR 97086
(Across I-205 freeway from Clackamas Town Center)

Shop at Greenfield Soap Co. and receive a special gift with your purchase! (Hint: it’s luxurious & sweet & it smells delicious.) Bring a friend and share the fun!

Greenfield’s hefty bars of beautiful soap are made carefully in small batches with plant-based ingredients; they are gentle and sudsy and especially good for sensitive skin! Greenfield Soaps are $6 each; when you buy 5 bars of Greenfield Soap, you get an additional bar FREE!

Consider a Greenfield Gift Set: 2 bars of Greenfield Soap wrapped and ready to give in an attractive box with a tag that says, “homemade with care especially for you to enJOY!”. Price: $14

Personalized Pre-orders welcome! See below for a complete list of soap scents/styles currently available; then email with your order, and I’ll have it ready for you to pick up at New Hope at your convenience. I’ll gladly customize gift sets and soap labels to your preference. Just let me know your color choices, desired wording, etc. and I’ll do my very best to accommodate your special requests.

Have a great day! I look forward to seeing you soon!

Blessings (showers of them!),

Susan

GREENFIELD SOAP CO.
susan@amicusdata.com
www.twitter.com/greenfieldsoap
http://greenfieldsoapco.blogspot.com
coming soon: www.greenfieldsoapco.com

"every morning lean thine arms awhile upon the window-sill of heaven and gaze upon the Lord; then with the vision in thy heart, turn strong to meet the day."


Anise (or Angler's Ace)
Anise with Poppyseed
Calico
Caramel Macchiato
Carrot Seed
Cedarwood Mint with Bentonite Clay Round
Cedarwood & Cinnamon
Chai Whip
Cinnamon Dolce
Citrus Spice
Coffee
Coffee Kitchen Mint
Do NOT Bug Me! Round
Eucalyptus Mint
Evergreen
Gardener's Choice Round
Geranium
Geranium with Pink Clay
Honey, I’m Unscented
Honey Oat
Honey Wheat
Juniper Lime
Lavender
Lavender Oat
Lavender Rosemary
Lemon
Lemon Poppyseed
Mint Medley
Parsley & Lime
Pink Peppermint
Saskatchewan Summer
Saskatchewan Summer with Cornmeal
Shaving Soap (Unscented) Round
Simply Soap Round
Spearmint Orange
Sweet Honey Oat
Sweet Honey Wheat
Sweet Orange
Sweet Orange Oat
Tea Tree
Tea Tree with Oats
Tea Tree & Lavender with Bentonite Clay Round
Tea Tree with Bentonite Clay Round
Tea Tree Lavender Oat
Vetiver
Warm Spice
Washboard Wonder Soap Round

Quiet Retreat

I've just returned from a Quiet Retreat. I feel really tired, but in a good way. I feel like I've had some rare time away to think and play and listen. I mean think, as in think about things that are bigger (like the promises of God) than what's on my task list. I mean play, as in sit on a swing, walk in the forest, giggle with the girls. I mean listen, as in listen to the brook, to the softly falling leaf, to the still, small voice of the Lord. It's work to think and play and listen like this, but it is so very restful for my soul. Why don't I do more of this? I definitely need to do more of this. I NEED to be faithful and purposeful about using the blessings of time and health to listen and pray and celebrate my Lord--for His glory and my own well-being. I was made for this!

"Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

Lamentations 3:21-24

Keeping My Fork

Every now and then I find a pretty fork at Goodwill. I print the following words on a card and attach it to the fork with a ribbon. If I can find one, I stick a small, flat magnet on the fork (on the back at the base of the tines), because then it can be placed on a magnetic surface (with the tines upright) and function as a unique photo holder. It's simple, but also a meaningful little gift for a friend or for anyone who could use a reminder of God's presence and promises.

I once found a fork in the road,
cleaned it off,
and decided to keep it as a reminder
of God’s character
and promises to me.
He is trustworthy,
and when I stand at a fork
in the road
with a decision to make,
I can remember
He holds me and guides me,
for He declares this in His Word.
When I sit at the table
at the end of a full meal,
and my friend tells me to keep my fork,
I can be thankful
for the Lord’s
abundant provision
and look forward
to sweet delights ahead.
In Christ,
when I see my fork,
I am thankful for His mercy
and His blessings upon me;
I remember I am glory-bound in Him,
and the best is yet to come.
I am free
to rejoice
in hope
because, indeed,
God is present
and His promises are perfect.

“Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.”
Psalm 73:23-24