A Haven for Vee

Friday, April 4, 2014

Soap 'n' Such

Judy sent me a sweet little package in the mail: Sandalwood Vanilla soap, a chocolate bar, and an encouraging note.
~sweet gifts~
Judy blogs at Cranberry Morning and she has an Etsy shop called Soap 'n' Such. If you love homemade soaps that smell delightful, lather beautifully, and do not contain harsh chemicals and additives, this is a fun place to shop. Thank you so much, Judy! The sandalwood fragrance smells even better than I remembered!

~~~

If you were to just go by photos today, you might think that you had landed on a November morning because my camera battery croaked while on my morning walk and all I have to show for it is last year's frosted maple leaf. 

 ~taken this morning~

Of course, I saw ducks on the wing and heard them quacking, a female cardinal singing her song, squirrels chipping, traffic moving, the river roaring, and the rumble of the school bus as it rolled on by. I am very out of shape from a winter of slugdom. I am trying to take an early morning walk before seven every day. I prefer little traffic and no other walkers. Such a recluse I am! It's only been a week, but I am going a little further every day.

Have a great day! 

37 comments:

  1. Aw, that was sweet of you, Vee. Glad you enjoyed the little surprise. And I don't know if we have frosty leaves or not. They're buried under 6-8 inches of new snow. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

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  2. Your doing (walking), what I am thinking of doing. Wish I had your energy to get motivated in the morning and start walking. I know once I start it will become a good habit. Keep up the good work!

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  3. GREAT idea about an early morning walk, Vee. I took one last week when we had that great weather, then got super busy with a million excuses as to why I couldn't bother walking a mile (move it or lose it, Michele!) and then for the last 3 days it has rained, rained, rained, rained! I won't walk again till it is nice - but I have been busy up and down the basement steps a lot so hopefully that is working!

    That is a very cool Nov shot = you see the neatest things in the ordinary and make them extraordinary.

    Have a blessed and wonderful day and weekend.

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  4. What a wonderful gift! Judy is such a sweet blog buddy and her soaps are amazing! It's always nice to get a surprise in the mail...it lifts your spirits! And it's nice to get outside and walk....I call it stretching your legs! Feels good after being inside a lot. Enjoy your day my friend! Sweet hugs!

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  5. It's so good to get outside and enjoy the earth and all its critters. Enjoy!

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  6. I admire you for getting up so early for your walk! It sounds like you are enjoying the wonderful sights and sounds that nature offers at that beastly (to me) hour.
    I can't wait to try Judy's soap someday. As soon as my stash runs out I'm going to make an order.
    It was very thoughtful of her to send you such a sweet gift. Enjoy the chocolate!

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  7. Hi Vee! May I just say that your header is beautiful! I stared at it for quite a while before scrolling down to read your post :)

    I have seen Judy's soap and have thought about ordering some . . . maybe I should just do it today :) She made a coconut one just a bit ago and it sounded divine!

    Happy Weekend, sweet lady!

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  8. I've been gifted with Judy's soap from another blogger and it is very nice. The dog and I have been increasing the length of our walks and now that the ice has melted from the sidewalks, we're picking up our pace!

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  9. How nice to get a sweet smelling gift----I sure need to get started back walking.
    Have a happy day.

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  10. Hats off to you for taking that morning jaunt! What's my excuse if you can do it with snow on the ground? Have a wonderful day!

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  11. I don't know what it is about the word 'croaked' but it makes me laugh every time I see it. Although I'm not laughing at the fact that your camera croaked.

    I haven't brushed off my winter 'slugdom' and taken up my Spring walking, but you inspire me to get started. Just as soon as Spring arrives in earnest and there isn't any more ice to tread over. (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it :) )

    Wishing you a beautiful day....



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  12. Nothing like a daily walk, increasing ever slightly every day, to take us from winter slug to springtime slugger.
    I have been able to walk for the past several mornings, and it has done me a world of good.

    Sorry about the croaking camera. I am currently charging mine in advance of going out of town this weekend.

    (Because obviously I can't just stay home for a pair of minutes. Oh no.... not I.

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  13. I know how you feel. I have such good intentions, but then I don't know what happens to me. xo

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  14. Hi Vee!

    You are a luck lady to receive such a wonderful gift! Homemade soap is so special, and always has such a wonderful fragrance.

    My camera usually fails me when I need it the most - go figure! Just being able to get outside and go for a walk is amazing, and sometimes it's nice not to have to worry about taking pictures - just enjoying nature son nice.

    Have a good week-end!

    Hugs,
    Barb

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  15. What a sweet gift from Judy. Home made soaps are wonderful and so is chocolate! If I went for a walk outside before 7:00 I'd get run over and splashed. Our road is a main thoroughfare for hundreds of commuters between 6 and 8 in the mornings. I usually wait until mid to late morning to avoid them. Also, it's so muddy and wet right now and I don't want to ruin my new runners. Pathetic excuse eh? I have a treadmill waiting to be used. I'm lazy. I love the photo of the frosty leaf but I'm sorry you missed getting a pic of the cardinal. It's a glorious day here again, the calm before the storm - snow, ice pellets and rain tomorrow. But the snow is melting!! Enjoy the weekend.

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  16. Love you getting up and shaking off "winter slugdom!" I'm still in it :) Scented soap and chocolate -- what a treat!!

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  17. I need to get motivated to take that morning walk too! NO matter which way I go from my house, it's up and down steep hills.

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  18. Earl and I have been walking our local mall a couple miles up the road until the weather gets warmer. We prefer solitude too, it's our time to chat and dream and we don't like to be interrupted!
    Aren't bloggers the sweetest friends? I have many things sprinkled through my home that have been sent over the years and I always think of the precious friend who sent each item. I'll check out Judy's soaps. I prefer all natural products and these sound so nice!

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  19. Happy mail, gotta love it. I'll check out your friend's blog and soap shop. As you know, I have three of my grands here, the littlest is down for a nap, and bill has the older two on a hunt for shells by the ocean. Glad you're walking, I think you've inspired me to venture out. ~ Abby

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  20. What a happy mail/gift you received. We are starting to get out more as well. Blessings

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  21. I am sorry your camera battery 'croaked'. they always seem to do that when we least expect it. I trust it (the camera) is filled with nice, new ones now.

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  22. Vee, I love the sweet gifts you received from your friend. I know you will enjoy your solitude on your walks. My husband and I have been walking for years as part of our exercise routine. It's a good time for us to connect for the day and we are encouraging to each other when one of us doesn't want to walk that day. ♥

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  23. What a thoughtful and clean gift. I know the fragrance must be nice. I think this kind of gift is the best ever. Since most of my creativity is in the kitchen, I plan to add vanilla sugar and rosemary salt to my Easter Baskets for my adult kids and their families.
    Have a great weekend.
    Sending smiles and hugs.

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  24. What a wonderful gift! I am glad you have been motivated to walk. Hopefully the weather will soon be nicer for us both.

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  25. I just marvel at these crafty people who can make wonderful soaps. You and I are very fortunate to know such people. ~ You have the most wonderful place to take walks. . .the bird sanctuary. K and I would love it. ~ The frosted leaf was a great find. Nature provides so much beauty.

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  26. You can do just about anything. I saw your tea cup and tea and thought how wonderful it would be to have a cup! sandie

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  27. How delicious! Vanilla is my favorite smell and chocolate my favorite food. :) Want my address? (JK)

    I'm still giggling at the world "slugdom". You make up words like I do. We're on the walking regime too. I'm up to 2 miles a day plus whatever I do around this place. Maybe we need a friendly blog contest to encourage each other to shape up or ship out! I think what I need is a cattle prod to get me out the door (and if I get any heavier, I will look our neighbor's bovines). (lol) ~:)

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  28. I am so happy to hear that you are walking. : ) I will think of you when I'm out there walking too.

    People send you the nicest gifts.

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  29. Oh Vee - you inspire me to get out and walk. I too suffer from Winter Slugdom - eek! I love, love homemade soaps and have tried making a few. The sandalwood scents is one of my favourites. I'll have to explore your friend Judy's blog and Etsy shop! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  30. I applaud you for sticking to your morning walk, Vee. I am a fairly early riser, but prefer to ease into my day. I often think about HappyOne out there walking so early and wish I had that discipline. My walks seem to be hit or miss with a lot of miss happening of late :(.
    What a lovely gift you have received. I am becoming more and more interested in looking for all natural skin products. This soap sounds like it would be just that. I'm off to check out the link.

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  31. I've been loving the geese flying overhead these days! I am also a fan of nice soap. Our good friends make soap and that is what I like to use!

    I don't like to walk on busy streets either. Glad you can get a walk in early.

    Deanna

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  32. Slugdom. What a great word. It's slowly being shed here, too. There's so much about the light and life bursting forth everywhere at this time of year that is energizing. I'm impressed that you walk before 7.

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  33. I am glad you are able to walk so early and get some exercise in. Good for you. It is still cold and snowy here, too-much more like early winter than Spring. WE have snow coming tonight and temps in the 20's.
    What a fun thing to get from Judy...another favorite blogger of mine.
    Hope you have a great weekend- xo Diana

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  34. Good for you!! 7:00 AM?? I might could do this at 7:00 PM!! Walking is supposed to be the very best thing we can do for our hearts. I like to take Lucy but sometimes I like to just walk by myself. I usually take a scripture card to memorize and mesitate on. So often a walk will clear my head and help me 'center' myself once again. So I guess it's not only good for our hearts, but also our minds and our spirits! But at 7:00??? I am supposing you to be a 'morning person.' :)

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  35. I love the longer daylight hours for getting out there and 'moving'...though I've been doing my walking at the other end of the day. The package from Judy looks yummy...soap included! Have a great weekend.

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  36. I love walking when the weather is good...

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  37. Before 7am! I rarely stir that early. :)

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