January, as it was

It was my intention to write, "With the Plague behind me, (or just one nasty, lengthy bout of influenza), and most of my goals for the month ahead", however, I'm not entirely better and the month is over... Or February has just begun!

Sickness meant neglect for any more than the minimum. One by one things did get done, and though we didn't make the headway we'd hoped for during the first month of year, but we did, perhaps appreciate the little things... 

Only one bunch of 2016 carrots remains, and they are still so sweet and delicious!

My Newest Obsession, not that I'd stray from cooking and baking though in a way it seems a natural progression (it might be due to the fact my mix master has been out of commission since before the holidays) is formulating skin, home and health care products. Which should be even more fun during the growing season. Just wait, if you didn't previously see the hippie in me, you'll see it waving from the dandelion patch I'm sharing with the rabbits. Working with me I have a small band of four willing Guinea-Pig testers who differ in age, lifestyle, colouring and skin type, but who all suffer the same effects of the drying Alberta winter. Their feedback should help me to improve and get motivated to create a whole arsenal of awesome products - usable here and everywhere. Because the testers are so kind to do this for me, I have been trying to provide them cute and enticing products to increase their happiness in playing along! 

January's theme was Citrus 🍊 and here's what was inside:

I don't know which of the two terrible photos is easiest to read, but it includes a moisturizer, an in-bath moisturizer, a bar of soap, an eye cream/face chap, a lip chap, and a shampoo bar. I also packed in a hair rinse, but since we all felt the same disgust for the potent vinegar smell, it's probably best left out. The shampoo bar didn't meet expectations either, so we will see a completely revamped hair care set in the February instalment, plus some new items, too!

In trying to create a new basket of goods for monthly tests, I've been working diligently. Some products can be made anytime, but some must be made well ahead of time, while others must be made more last minute. 

Rabbit care during cold temperatures has been somewhat difficult. I ended up building new and improved nesting boxes in the basement (Jordan thankfully cut all my pieces in the garage and brought them in for assembly) as it was -30 ish. My special feature is a trap door solid bottom. Very little info is published for the chilly climate rabbit raiser on this, so after talking with a 30+ year rabbit veteran I put a few specialized methods to work, and our one and only litter since implementation was a success. Funnily enough, the black finger nail I got in the process of building the nesting boxes, initially looked like a rabbit in profile. It also told me we are in need of a shop/garage bench refit, and some heat so I can stop building things in the basement on a chair. 

The babies once they grew fur. One white one is under the pile. 

Eyes Open, Curious Little Erratic Jumpers

Hand Tool care is a good job for the cold months, to prepare for the busy season on the farm. 

Cleaned, sharpened, and oiled!

I somehow also managed to complete the fixes and touch ups in the kitchen, minus the Acme stove, which I knew would have to wait until later.... and it looks very fresh! Our bedroom in which I was struggling over achieving a completed look, with it's new Point Blanket and Canadian style, has really been tied together with the addition of a horizontal hook rail along the edge of our diagonal ceiling. I also put some photos on the walls in coloured frames to correspond to the quintessential stripes of the Bay's famous blanket. 

Now I'm exhausted, but happy with the accomplishments, and February is here. My work month is insane so I'm extra glad I actually got so much done in January. More soap and personal care products to be made, and shown off, AND time to seriously start thinking about the garden. Watering systems, seeds to order (herbs for all the new tinctures), planting layouts, and starting seedlings. And maybe a few nice photos of the things I've been up to...

To dream is lovely...

Just like my lovely sister-in-law! This bouquet really made the newly freshened kitchen look magazine worthy!