Saturday, January 24, 2015

Lazy Saturday

It may be stormy and gray but at least it isn't icy and frigid.
Warren took Chelsea to work this morning 
and ended up enjoying breakfast at a nearby restaurant with 
our oldest son, Jonathan, as he got off his overnight guard shift at the same 
hour that Chelsea began her day shift. 

I've puttered around here
doing dishes, chatting with friends online, 
walking a slow mile on the treadmill, reading, 
making candles to fulfill orders and doing some online research.

Warren came home and got busy working on Chelsea's car.
We knew it needed some things...sadly it is worse off than we
knew so we will have to discuss it with her and see
what the next step might be.

I have a turkey out to defrost.
The plan is to roast it overnight and use it in meals
next week.  Perhaps we'll have turkey for lunch tomorrow
or perhaps we'll go out.
I'm flexible on that.

Laundry is calling my name.
Only because I find clothes to be non-optional
and our selection of clean ones is dwindling.
Clean clothes are preferred.
Over dirty ones, that is.

I know I should be moving more and cleaning more
but it is just one of those days that makes one want 
to hibernate and relax.

I'm still a bit woozy from time to time
after the big vertigo event.
Thankfully it isn't too bad and is worst first
thing in the morning.

This past week was plenty busy with our ladies
Bible Study, Music classes at Co-op and 
a new piano student on Friday added onto the 
regular family and candle stuff that keeps us busy.

So perhaps...a restful day is not a bad thing.
Not bad at all.

Especially before I convince Warren that he wants to head
out for a steak dinner with me this evening.
Poor guy has a bit of a cold so we'll have to see how 
he feels about that in a couple of hours.
Sounds good to me though.....

Oliver has been spending the day like this.....

 Photos taken some time ago but it looks the same today.

Hope you are having a wonderful, and maybe even lazy, day.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Topsy Turvy

I woke up at 3 am thinking it would be a normal trip to the rest room.
How very wrong I was.  Upon taking one step I fell sideways.  Hard into the wooden
pole at the foot of our bed.  I grabbed it and held on for all I was worth as the room 
swam and I broke out in a cold sweat and nausea.  

What in the world?

I am no stranger to vertigo but it normally presents as a swirling room, not like this.


So, there I stood.  Still foggy from sleep but in kind of a bad way.  I didn't want to 
"get sick" right in our bedroom but I couldn't imagine making it to the bathroom on 

my own either.  I thought about waking Warren but thought that might cause a panic
that could end up at the hospital and wasn't wanting that to happen....so I just stayed.
Attached to the bed and hoping that this would pass.

Finally I felt I could move if I held onto something all the way. So that was just what I did.
Groping from dresser to doorknob to wall and on I went until I made it to my goal.
The sweats and nausea were awful.  The swimming sensation in my head a stranger to me.

I checked my smile in the mirror.  Both sides of my lips went up 
and so I was relieved that this didn't appear to be a stroke.

Finally I carefully made it back to bed and collapsed onto my right side.  Oops.  That didn't work.
I felt that I was rocking in a boat on a storm filled sea.  Over to my left side.  Ahhhh....much better.
The "sea" was stilled.

I slept restlessly until sometime just before 6 am when I decided I had tried hard enough.  I came to the computer to see what it had to say about vertigo.  Sure enough!  Every one of my symptoms were there.  This is apparently just a different type than I've ever experienced before.  

As the day goes on I'm much, much better.  Warren and I have been out and done our grocery shopping without any embarrassing falls or sickness.

Here's hoping that it was just a one time event that never returns.  But I am carefully considering if I even want to attempt to sleep on my usual right side tonight....or just play it safe and sleep on my left.
That was bad enough that I'm leaning toward avoiding all risk.

Do you have experience with vertigo?  Any helpful hints?  I know about the exercise/positions you can do to move crystals that can cause it....however, I think this time that the source of the problems originates in my neck somehow.  Must be a nerve thing is what I'm thinkin'.

Otherwise life is pretty awesome.   I have no complaints.  

Really.  

I'm loving my work, my family, the opportunities at Bible Study, Church and Co-op to participate in music, and even my crazy needy pets.  All FOUR of whom try to get my attention regularly 
and at the same time.  

Yep...no complaints. 

See you again soon.


Thursday, January 8, 2015

Always a Work in Progress!

One can never be satisfied with their skill levels.
I am always, always, always trying to improve presentation
and packaging for my candles.

It is my biggest challenge.
I know I make awesome candles.
I know this because so many people come back 
for more and more.



However, in order for people to come back for more 
they have to want to try them in the first place.
This means that I need to grab their eye.

I want to make them prettier and prettier.


The power of the label became obvious when all of a sudden my little owl
baby shower favors became popular.
I was blown away at the response to them.
It continues even today.
Even though I have many other cuties 


those particular owls are just so popular.


The frogs make me giggle.




As Melissa helped me prepare for the Chambersburg show
this past November she encouraged me to feature French Lavender
in its own section as a spa/relaxation option.
I typically hold the French Lavender for Spring
but I took her advice and had fun with the labels.
Even though space was limited for the feature
those who love it ...found it.


I continue to have a blast working on baby shower favors.
There are so many adorable images available to purchase...
and I'm getting them.
More and more designs will be available this year.


Being creative in the colors and styles
is what keeps it fresh and fun.

If I was shopping for a candle this one would catch my eye
because of the soft teal color.


She is just adorable.

Elephants are kind of popular...but not as much as owls.

See another owl?
Too girly for many but those that love it.... love it!


It is all a part of the journey.
Sometimes I come across older candles that I have made
and I just want to hide them from sight forever more.
But on the other hand, just as in life we are always a work in progress, 
so is the work of our hands.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Here's the Scoop!


Literally!

I've been having issues with ligaments in my thumb that were aggravated
by scooping wax with a bowl.

Therefore, I am now using this fabulous ice scoop.
The handle is sized well for my grip and it scoops so much more
at a time with a great shape which directs the wax 
into my melter and pots very efficiently.

Little changes.
Hoping for BIG results.