A family day of sledding....

Today the entire family was home, it was frightening cold (well okay, not really) and there was lots and lots of snow (that part is true).

We have been horribly unlucky through the Christmas holidays with not enough family time, just us four, no one else, no responsibilities. Today was not going to be like that. We put everything on hold, invited some friends who we really like, took our biggest and fastest rocket sleds and went to find the best hill on the island.

Here it is - a hill on an old farm no longer in use.

Perfect.

Here is my son and his best friend way up on the top of the hill. They had said that they were not going to let anything stop them and come down the hill as fast they could.

Here comes my son, racing down full speed ahead!

And before my camea can allow me to take another picture, he's down at the bottom, hiding behind the sparse vegitation.

Lots of fun was had by all, and we all spent 3 hours getting great exercise climbing up the hill (myself included) and racing down, being blinded by flying snow and praying to the higher power of choice not to break any bones. And in between all of this fun, lots of hot chocolate and chocolate covered healthy granola bars.

A wonderful day.

Christmas Soap - Julesepe

Now these soaps have been great fun to make - I've made three batches so far, most of which are destined as Christmas gifts to those living around my island.

These, as almost all of my products, are made using the French Milling Process, which means I re-melt my soaps before adding the ingredients that make my soaps special.


Most soap makers add oils and perfumes during the first process. By waiting a bit, I can wait until the curing is finished (or almost finished) and instead add ingredients direct from nature. This way the lye has completely transformed, has disappeared and the goodness of the additional ingredients can come forth without being destroyed.

In this case, I've added cinnamon, allspice, cloves and nutmeg. Not only do these combine to produce a smell that reminds everyone of their childhood Christmases, but they all have individual and combined health benifits for the skin. Some of these include anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Allspice has been used to help skin wounds heal more rapidly. Nutmeg has anti-inflammatory products. All of which help through the winter when our skin is often dry and prone to cracking.

The smell of cinnamon has been rumoured to help with memory.

But perhaps the best thing about this soap is that it is just so fun to use. The smell is notable, but is not overpowering and will not drive your guests out of your bathroom gasping for air.

A perfect little something to keep you smiling through the holiday season.

A Spicy Winter Special

A lovely, lovely soap that smells like Christmas and looks like antique artwork.

A lovely soft soap with a great lather which is then swirled with nutmeg.

On top of this lies a slice of orange, which seeps its crisp fragrance into the air. Combined with the nutmeg, this soap promises to be a great and unexpected gift to any who receive it.

Don't miss out!