May Day

Today is May 1st which is called May Day.  I remember when I was in grammar school - now let me explain about my school back when!  On 1 side of the building were grades 1-7 and there was only 1 class of each grade with 1 teacher - no helpers like today!  On the other side was the high school, grades 8-12.  Most of those classes were upstairs and again 1 per grade and 1 teacher per grade.  Back to the grammar school though, we always had a May festivities and a certain grade got to plait the May Pole.  I couldn't wait till it was our class turn because I always wanted to do it.  Pretty colored ribbons and girls in their Sunday dresses!  As my luck would have it, when I reached the grade to plait the May Pole for what ever reason we didn't get to! Don't remember if they stopped have the festivities or our grade had to do something else.
This is a picture of the Flag Pole and the "May Dance" (picture from flickr by celebdu) at National Park Seminary in Maryland, 1907.

Searching to find out about May Day I found it was originated as a Pagan Holiday and that could be why it is not celebrated as far as I know.  Even though it said that in the United States May Day was also celebrated by some early European settlers of the American continent. In some parts of the United States, May Baskets are made. These are small baskets usually filled with flowers or treats and left at some one's doorstep. The giver rings the bell and runs away. The person receiving the basket tries to catch the fleeing giver. If they catch the person, a kiss is exchanged.  This has also  faded from the information I found.  May 1 is also recognized in the U.S. as Law Day. 

May 1st is also the day I add my new Candle Scents of the Month.  They are 20% off in selected container sizes, pillar sizes, votives and melts in certain quantities, and room/linen spray. 

Secret Garden - This enchanting garden path includes the essences of water lilies, tulips and lotus blossoms with hints of apricot, peach & geranium.
Blueberry Cobbler - Mouthwatering blueberries and baked vanilla creates an inviting aroma
Pineapple Sage - An exotic blend with sweet pineapple and aromatic sage.  Pineapple Sage is a fragrant garden herb that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies with it's red bloom but it will surely attract you with it's beautiful scent! 

I have also added the 16 oz Apothecary Jar.  I have had several customers asking about this jar.  I have been burning Cranberry Fig (wonderful scent!) since I think Friday and today is Wednesday and it is still burning.  I burn like you are not supposed to burn, usually for 10-12 hrs a day without putting the flame out and relighting it.  

This would make a great Mother's Day gift!  To close for today I want to wish all Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts, and Mother Figures a very Happy Mothers Day.  May your day be filled with love, laughter, the company of your loved ones, and Gods Blessings!    

CANDLES and FOOD - FOOD and CANDLES

Don't know which of these should come first because I guess you could say they are my two main obsessions.  Of course other than my granddaughters and family but that can be a later subject.  I will add though that I have the 2 most beautiful granddaughters in the whole wide world!

FOOD-You can't live without it!  On Facebook there are many good food pages which I won't even begin to name because I would probably leave someone out.  Dessert, oh my, if I were to make all I have bookmarked, well, we'll just say I would have to buy a completely new wardrobe.  That brings up a whole new discussion though, hard to find something for the 5'10" grandmother type!  Dress lengths up to ???? and don't even talk about shoes!  Heels that are 3" high and soles that are 2" thick!  Not what someone as tall as I am needs.  

Well back to my subject!  I love to cook and try out new recipes.  My dream when I was much younger was to have a restaurant.  As I got older though I quickly realized being open 7 days a week and serving breakfast through supper was more work than I wanted.  Now for some country Southern definitions!  Dinner was always the mid day meal eaten at or about 12:00 and supper was the evening meal eaten about 6:00.  Dinner back when meant a full course meal and supper also.  As I have gotten older though I have changed dinner to lunch, but only if I am having a sandwich or my usual Diet Dr Pepper and chips or a pack of crackers.  Supper is still the evening meal and there just "ain't no way to change this country girl"!  I was raised where you always had something sweet at supper, be it chocolate syrup served over homemade biscuits, bread pudding, syrup and butter with homemade biscuits or a cake.  So -- I have become a sweet-a-holic!!  I always have to have something sweet around the house.

CANDLES-Making candles is a very good reason not to have a spotless house!  That is what I tell my friends when I think about retiring from candle making!  Really, I enjoy making candles and trying new scents.  It seems just when I tell myself no more fragrant oils I will see where a supplier has new ones that I just have to have.  That has happened this week!  I just couldn't resist so this is what I ordered.  Coconut Leaves, Tiki Beach, Turquoise Sky, and La Vie Est Belle.  Thought they would be in today but seems it will be tomorrow now.  I smelled the La Vie Est Belle by Lancome at Belks the other day and just fell in love with it so hoping this will be a very good duplication.  I make my own perfume and so far the scents I have used are 99% dead on the real one.   I poured a sample in Pineapple Sage yesterday so that is another one I have to have!!  I have also added the 16 oz apothecary jar back to my jar/container candles.   

I have changed the look of my website, which I do to often, and changed the look of my labels, after I spent don't know how much money buying images to match the candle scent!  If you would like to see my website this is the link - http://www.rubyrosecandles.com/index.html  Below is a picture of my 16 oz apothecary jar with new label.  This jar actually is 16 oz of wax or 1 lb!  I hope to have the jar and scents added to my website in a few days after I have tested a couple more.

Mother's Day is coming up and this candle, or any of my others, would make a great gift for your Mother.  Remember to order early because it can take 3-4 (or depending on how many orders it could be sooner) days to get your order.  I list 3 new scents each month on my Scents of the Month page in selected sizes and  these are 20% off.  http://www.rubyrosecandles.com/scentofmonth.html

Happy Mothers Day to all the Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts, or Mother Figures.  Hope your day will be wonderful and blessed with your loved one!

Goodness, I can't believe I haven't posted since July!  I have been busy, really, part of the time and the rest of the time I guess just busy trying to stay busy!  At this moment I really can't think of anything major I have done.  Which that is no shock to anyone, those that know me know my answer to most questions is "I can't remember" which is actually the truth.

I probably shouldn't be trying to remember and write anything at 11:50 pm on a Saturday night.  Now not that I have been out partying or anything, done got to old for that! haha  It is just sorta (southern lingo) late for my to be wracking my brain and trying to come up with something interesting to write about.

On a more serious note, Thanksgiving has past and it always reminds me of all the things I have to be thankful for.  Of course Christmas is over.  Always love Christmas-all the decorations and presents and love.  My family always has a big Christmas dinner with my siblings and their children and grandchildren and that number seems to increase every year.  We always have a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at church and that is so very special.  We can never forget the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Our New Years celebration is really no celebration, just trying to stay awake and watch the apple drop on Times Square and wonder what the New Year has in store for us.  I am not really sure what I want to do with my candle business this year.  Just really can't get into it, can't seem to find the excitement I used to feel every time I get an order in.  I have got a fundraiser to do and maybe, just maybe I can find that old feeling again.  

I am trying something new on my website.  It is a Candle Scent of the Month page.  Each month I will have a special on 3 scents.  One will be a fruity or fresh type, a bakery type, and a floral type.  The special will be on 2 jar sizes, 2 pillar sizes, 6 pack votives - same scent, 4 pack melts in small cups - same scent, room/linen spray and aroma (scented) beads.  These will be 20% off regular price. FEBRUARY SCENTS are - 

GREEN TEA AND WILLOW - Notes of leafy, green tea and wood with hints of fresh ozone air, melon, bergamot, coriander, night blooming jasmine, watercress, earthen moss, peppergrass, white willow, pink cyclamen, cedar amber, sacred datura, and white musk. Fresh clean spa type scent, think you will love this one! 
BUTTERCREAM FROSTING - Smells just like rich buttercream frosting, just refrain yourself from licking the spoon! 

MAGNOLIA--Very clean floral, smells like the magnolia bloom.  Always a favorite floral.   
http://www.rubyrosecandles.com/scentofmonth.html 

Valentine's Day is our next "special" day coming up.  I really am not running any type of Valentine Day sale or special.  I really think either of my 3 scents on my Candle Scent of the Month page would make a great Valentines Day present.  

To all my friends and customers - HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.  

New word - Mis-com-bob-u-lated

Mis'-com-bob'-u-lated definition - don't know what in the hello-pete I am doing!  This is my new word and it pretty much describes the way I feel.  My "TO-DO" list keeps growing and nothing ever gets marked off it seems.  I start one thing and then remember another I better do before I forget it and then it is just a continuing cycle!  I have so many post-it notes stuck every where it reminds me of the song by George Jones about the post it notes on the wall!  If I wore one of those thing-a-ma-gigs to see how many steps I take in a day and how many miles I have walked I probably wouldn't need to work out at the gym!! And as for my made up words, YES, us Southern Gals do make up words!  When we can't think of the correct word it is always a thing-a-ma-gig or what-ju-ma-call-it!!  Oh, and another thing we do is make up our spelling as we write!   My dear hubby says I sound like I am from far in the back woods!  Well-----as the saying goes,
"You can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of a girl"!!

Well, I will try to act proper now since I have finished with my silliness!  And yes, I had to google it to make sure of my spelling!

I have added a couple of new scents - Love Spell (type) It seems it is a favorite of so many but was never one of my favorites.  I don't think a definition of that is needed!  I have also added Secret Garden - "This enchanting garden path includes the essences of water lilies, tulips and lotus blossoms with hints of 
apricot, peach & geranium.  A very unique fragrance that will open your senses to a new realm".  This is the suppliers definition.  They have not been added to my website yet but I hope to get them on in the next couple of days.  I have also worked some more on my cupcake candles and I think they look much better. 

Can't remember if I have posted a picture of my loaf cake or not so I will post it.  I have plates like the plates the cupcakes are on ordered and as soon as they come in I will start my Bake-Shop page.  You really need a plate larger than the actual candle to catch any wax that may drip off from the frosting when you are burning it.

That is about my news for today.  I will be getting a fundraiser order in later this afternoon so I should be busy for "a while"!  Couldn't resist the country/southern girl in me!

Well, spell-checker said I was good to go!  Hope you enjoy my silliness!

Trying my hand at Bakery Candles

Decided to give bakery candles a try.  It seems a lot of people like the cupcakes and loaf/cake type candles so decided today was a good day to try it.  Now this is just my 2nd attempt at making these, I tried them a couple years ago and didn't go any further with them.  It is rather time consuming but it was sorta fun trying to decide what scents would be good to use.  It seems I have acquired a rather large selection of bakery scents!  After looking at my frosting on them I think they would be better called "grubby" cupcakes and cakes!  I used my stick blender I bought years ago, and never used, to whip up the frosting and it is much better than trying to use a fork like I did on my past trial with them.  Was afraid it would be hard to clean the whisk but actually just swirled it in some very hot water and that was that!

Now don't laugh at them, remember this is just my second real attempt!   They are scented, from top to bottom in Angel Food Cake, Strawberry, Hot Orange Danish, Iced Lemon Biscotti, (L) is Cinnamon Bread Pudding, and (R) is Banana Walnut Cake.  They all smell yummy!  Now I have to decide what size wick to use and then test them to see how they will burn.  They are made with pillar wax and they will need to be burned on a candle plate to protect your surface. .  

Ain't It Funny, How Time Slips Away!

"Well hello there, it's been a long long time"!  That song written by Willie Nelson came to mind when I saw how long it has been since I have written in my blog!   I love Willie Nelson by the way!  Gee, I had trouble figuring out how to get to my blog.  Seems Blogger has changed some things, not good.  Guess I finally made it though.  Not sure what may happen to my post though when I get through! 

I have been busy and then I have been un-busy!  I spend 3 days a week at the gym with 2 friends working out for about 1 & 1/2 hours, boy we are going to be so fit and trim!  We had someone tell us that we did good for our age - we are over 60!  I know she was trying to be nice and I didn't take offense at it.  We kid each other about being good for our age when we are sweating and hassling (A Southern dialect word, hassle, "to pant, breathe heavily,") on the elliptical machine and treadmill!  

Been trying to get a little spring? cleaning done when the mood strikes!  Of course it hasn't felt like we had much spring to do it in though.  Business has been slow but there again - I do pretty good for my age! 

I have added some new scents since my last post and got several more in the testing stage.  It seems like I have become "stuck" though on foody, bakery scents.  I also have been testing with soy wax.  My new scents that I am testing I am testing them in soy, if they work and are strong in soy then I know they will be fine for paraffin.  So far it is going good.  Below is a picture of the first 2 scents I tested.  I am burning the Paradise and so far so good.  The other I am letting cure for about 5 day, that is if I can wait that long.  That is the hardest part about testing is soy is having to wait for it to cure.  They say to let them cure for about a week but I think 5 days will be fine.  Paradise cured for about 36 hrs and it is throwing good.  The only thing I am thinking is I needed to wick up 1 size so I made 3 last night with the next size wick.  Will try to give 1 of them 36 hrs before I burn it!  

Chergui Winds - Magical blend of honey, musk, incense, tobacco leaf,
hay sugar, amber,iris, rose and sandalwood.










Paradise - Freshly squeezed lime with slices of pineapple, orange,lemon and just a touch of white gardenias. Like a tropical breeze blowing on the beach.









I am also working on several house blends that I will be adding later on this month.  I am hoping by middle of the month I will have decided which scents to keep out of the approx 12 that I am testing. 

Guess that is all I can think of today.  Keep a check on my website to see when the soy candles and new scents are added. 

Taking a quick break!

The title says it!  Waiting for my votive cups to warm up so I can wipe them out and then have about 4dz votives to make and also about 4 dz tealights.  Just finished pouring blackberry crips and blueberry cobbler and now wishing I had a blackberry or blueberry cobbler!  Can't wait for fresh berries to come in season so I can make cobblers.  Fresh blackberry, blueberry, or peach cobblers or just the perfect dessert in the hot summers!  Put couple of scoops of vanilla ice cream on warm cobbler and it just don't get any better!

I do have a new fragrant oil coming in, hopefully by Friday because I have an order for it.  Vanilla woods, just the perfect blend of vanilla, oak, cedar, patchouli, & musk!  It is a very warm and earthy type scent but also very soothing in my opinion!  It is a favorite of one of my customers.

Beautiful, sunny, warm day in Georgia today.  It is 9:00 and I already have the window open in my shop.  The neighborhood will certainly be smelling good today!!

Happy Thursday Everyone and have a great week-end!  My cups are ready for wiping!