It’s New Year’s morning as I sit at my desk gazing at the green and brown field out my studio window. The wind is making the branches of our ancient sugar maple bob around, the clouds are moving steadily across the sky, (hey, was that an octopus I just saw in that passing cloud formation?!), and the road running past our home is wet with rain. It’s all quite beautiful, and I think to myself, can it be that this new year will actually draw to a close the first quarter of the 21st century—what, already?!
But, enough of the musings, I should bring things up-to-date. It’s been difficult to write without quiet time, and it’s been wonderfully frantic around the soap studio preparing product for festivals this past summer, autumn, and into the Christmas holiday. At our home, we are still quietly celebrating the twelve days of Christmas. Yes, the tree is still up—from Christ’s birth until the day of Epiphany, which marks the time of the visitation of the Christ child by the Magi.
What has been happening since June, you ask. We are still saddened by the loss of our dog Eithne Louise. This absence has drawn her “brother” Angus and I even closer and we often go on car outings together. Now, he happily jumps into the car, whereas he used to have to be lifted into the back, and then he would whine and drool all at the way to the groomers. He even went on his first airplane ride—the perfect passenger, on what would have been his “sister’s” 15th birthday.
We have been quite busy participating in festivals, of course, and a couple of them are new to us—three at the Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford, and the Christmas Market at Highland Tree Farm in Branchport (just over the hill from our studio). We’ve sadly had to say farewell to a few venues as well, the largest and longest being the Great New York State Fair.
We’ve come up with some new cupcake designs, including new looks for old standbys. New gift set ideas have been incubating (on recommendation from a long-time client). Bespoke orders are near and dear to our hearts, and several people have ordered special made-to-order items.
Life on the farm had been quiet until we lost nearly two-thirds of our flock of chickens, which included all of our beloved bantams! Overgrown fields, due to our tractor dying, allowed the neighborhood coyotes to have a major feast while we were at New York State Fair—right in the middle of the day! Fortunately, six of our French Bresse adults and seven chicks lived to not tell the tale. We now have three boys, so our flock can grow, and as we were at the Fair, we were able to purchase several bantams (THE cutest chickens ever)! A “new” tractor purchase, mowed fields, and our flock can now scamper about the place with no fear.
Our studio is tidied up, now that we have a few months before festival season begins in May. Our shoppe got a makeover this summer, and we are thinking of having an open house—maybe even two! We have shown folks our new website (thanks to the amazing designers at LaBarge Media in Canandaigua—thank you, thank you, thank you!), and don’t forget, we are on Instagram, if you want to see some of our latest products.
On a more personal note, a dear friend and I decided to become accountability partners this fall with regard to walking, and we have taken the plunge to the tune of three miles nearly every day. My total for 2024 was approximately 450 miles. A goal for 2025 is three miles each and every day—a tall, but doable order.
Twenty twenty-four was a banner year for Morning Mist Soap, and we wish to thank you all for your patronage. To those who have only JUST encountered our soap products in 2024, we hope you love them as much as we love making and using them (and yes, the dessert soap can and should be used to wash with!) To those of our long-time friends, thanks so much for staying with us—we love you!
With that said, check back Friday for a new blog—we are on our game now. Again, we wish you all, near and far, a very Merry Christmas, a wonderful New Year, and praise to the LORD our God for all His good gifts!
Blessings,
Lorraine🎄🎆