Hello, hello my friends. It's been a long time! Just about four months since the last time I wrote a blog. There isn't much I can say to defend my absence; honestly, I've just been lazy. The cold weather, holidays, and stress around the farm have made me a bit reclusive. Simply, I've been trying to avoid the computer. I glance at my emails a few times a day, I still check Facebook, but I've been purposely trying to be distant.
One of the biggest disappointments during my absence has been our loss of bees in November. We had a single hive that left during a two week long, 200-300 acre, forest fire, less than a 1/4 mile away. I was devastated, and I am hoping they found a new home before the temperatures dropped. The smoke was so heavy for so long, we think it drove them out. Once the fire was out, the temperatures dropped in the teens. The cold temperatures kept us from being able to open the hive and check on the bees. We didn't realize they were gone for almost a month. But, live and learn. Next year we're going to try a new location on the farm, a different kind of bee, and hopefully start out with two hives rather than one.
When life gets too stressful, what do you do to help yourself relax? I enjoy watching movies with my daughter. Her insight is usually surprising and funny. I also enjoy crafts, and I've been working on a few different needlework projects, a couple cross stitch and now embroidery. This summer I decided I wanted to use the winter months to learn embroidery. It's not nearly as confusing as I expected.
One of the biggest disappointments during my absence has been our loss of bees in November. We had a single hive that left during a two week long, 200-300 acre, forest fire, less than a 1/4 mile away. I was devastated, and I am hoping they found a new home before the temperatures dropped. The smoke was so heavy for so long, we think it drove them out. Once the fire was out, the temperatures dropped in the teens. The cold temperatures kept us from being able to open the hive and check on the bees. We didn't realize they were gone for almost a month. But, live and learn. Next year we're going to try a new location on the farm, a different kind of bee, and hopefully start out with two hives rather than one.
When life gets too stressful, what do you do to help yourself relax? I enjoy watching movies with my daughter. Her insight is usually surprising and funny. I also enjoy crafts, and I've been working on a few different needlework projects, a couple cross stitch and now embroidery. This summer I decided I wanted to use the winter months to learn embroidery. It's not nearly as confusing as I expected.
 Cross stitch I made for my daughter. |  A cross stitched Christmas ornament I made for a friend. |  Still in progress, an embroidery kit I got for my birthday. It's a great kit by Kiriki Press! |
So, what's new with Niffer's you might ask? One thing is our new packaging. You might have already ordered some, but if you aren't aware, we have new eco-friendly packaging for laundry powder. The paper bags with Kraft paper labels, are more environmentally friendly, and easier to recycle. I had some nudging from a wonderful patron, and I am so glad he brought the subject up. I strive to be as environmentally friendly as possible, and the goal is to reduce as much as possible the plastic products used in product packaging, labels, and shipping. You can find Eco-Bags in the Laundry Powder section of the Niffer's Store. Currently available in two sizes, Eco-Bag 128 oz. & Eco-Bag 48 oz. What's the best part of Eco-Bags? The price! The savings to us by using cheaper packaging and labels is passed on to you! You get more for your money!
Also, laundry powder is now made with pure coconut oil bar soap made IN-HOUSE! That's right! Niffer's All Natural Products is starting to make soap! For now, anyway, the soap is purely for laundry powder purposes only. Soon, we'll be able to introduce body soap. I'm still working on formulas for body soap, but hopefully before we're all getting too dirty in the garden I'll have a good formula worked out. Hopefully, just in time to wash away winter and welcome spring!
Until then, my friends, I hope you stay warm through the last months of winter. I hope you forgive my absence, and I hope to hear from you! I'd love to hear what your favorite soap scents are, and if there are any other products you'd like to see me try to make.
Also, laundry powder is now made with pure coconut oil bar soap made IN-HOUSE! That's right! Niffer's All Natural Products is starting to make soap! For now, anyway, the soap is purely for laundry powder purposes only. Soon, we'll be able to introduce body soap. I'm still working on formulas for body soap, but hopefully before we're all getting too dirty in the garden I'll have a good formula worked out. Hopefully, just in time to wash away winter and welcome spring!
Until then, my friends, I hope you stay warm through the last months of winter. I hope you forgive my absence, and I hope to hear from you! I'd love to hear what your favorite soap scents are, and if there are any other products you'd like to see me try to make.
 One of the new Eco-Bags! |  First batch of soap! |
RSS Feed