All the Colors of the Rainbow

When I was a little girl, I used to play with color. Color fascinated me. No, I would absolutely NOT accept a box of 8 Crayolas, or 16 Crayolas, or 24 Crayolas, or even 48. It HAD to be the 64 Crayolas! With hawk like precision, I studied their myriad of names, colors, effects and even placement in the 3 tiered box. Memorizing the names and placing them lovingly back into their box; back into the order and placement of the manufacturer, they HAD to be in perfect order.

A tad obsessive, no? Well, maybe, but I love Color! Later, in teen years that translated over into makeup, of course. Hours and hours perusing, devouring beauty magazines. Studying, gazing at all the pretty hues, variants, effects, of the color spectrum.

One of my first jobs in high school was working in an art studio. I got to meet lots and lots of artists and we sold all the acrylic paints and watercolors and brushes that they used in painting.

Then I graduated into sewing; making wall hangings and using fabrics at my church in pageantry. I loved to go to the fabric store and look at all the pretty colors! Sometimes I would buy the fabric just because it was so dang pretty!

Then I faux painted two bathrooms. Well that was an experiment in color, and light, and sheen, and texture! Oh, what fun an artist must surely have!

Now, I am making soap. And this has stirred the love of color in me, and together with the love of fragrance, and the love of light, and the love of texture, the art of making soap has captured my heart! I never understood the magic until well, just recently. And, now I am forever hooked. All kinds of projects are up my sleeve, and I have only to get into my kitchen and begin making all the different "scapes" that have come to my imagination. Sea scapes. Food scapes, botanical garden scapes. Well, you get the idea!

Today I finally made this project that has been bugging me for about 4 months. It took me the greater portion of the afternoon making and coloring and scenting and pouring and testing all the different layers. I searched for a fragrance that would depict the joy of color and the joy of summer in a cohesive theme and came up with Banana, Strawberry and Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice. It smells magical! And, I am pleased.

The rainbow, my friend, is a symbol placed in the Middle Eastern skies over Noah as he disembarked the ark so long ago. It is a symbol of God's patience and covenant with man; and a promise that He would never again flood the earth! Don't we all smile when we see a rainbow, after nature has washed our world with the needed rains!

Today, my friend, I wish you color, and fragrance, and joy, and most of all, God's Love shining down on your life and radiating to you and enfolding you in His everlasting Arms. May you catch the rainbow that is hung at the end of every storm that shows itself in this short life that we share!


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Shine, Grow, Reach, Flower, Fruit, Shine.......

Marnin' all! It is glorious here in south-eastern Texas, with a promise for Rain later today and scattered rain for the rest of the week. I was just on my front porch, talking to my husband, reading, considering, praying, reading, walking.... Such a wonderful wonderful time to be alive!

I wanted to share my thoughts and musings on this glorious morning. In the photos you can see two basic things: A) I am not a good photographer :) although I aspire to be, and B) I love plants and God's creation.

You know, they speak to me! Yes, they do. In fact, Psalm 19 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God and the expanse shows His handiwork. Day to day utters speech and night to night reveals knowledge." I love this! because it is true in my life. For me there is nothing better than to sit, quietly, and just look at nature which in this case would either be my front yard, my back yard, or wherever I happen to be driving at any given moment.

Today I was strolling my 12 x 40 front porch considering what I just read in Matthew 16 where Jesus so powerfully spoke to Peter who had just declared, "You are the Christ, the Son of God", and Jesus (who I am sure was filled with joy at Peter's declaration of faith), said to Peter...... "And on this rock (Myself) I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail". In the next sentence He then said, "And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven".

I sat there, reading, meditating, and had to get up and process. So much truth in such a few words. Worthy, my friend of meditating on! We are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus and I feel like the Church is only dimly and distantly aware of this.

I looked up and saw the lowly trumpet vine, an indigenous plant here in Texas. I have viewed it as an invasive weed in that it is everywhere....and just will not die. If I ever can find the root, it is hard to both discover and pull out.

But I keep it around for a couple of reasons: A) I at this time have not the inclination to do the work necessary, and B) when it blooms, the flower is such a beautiful orange, that I think, OK, well, there is beauty in this creation of God.

Today I observed it's tenacity; ever reach, ever climing, ever pushing towards the light which causes it to bloom. It never is content with the lower atmosphere; it seek the heights and the light and will not stop until it gets to the top. From there it blooms, flowers, and then the flowers fall to the earth far below and only then we look up and see how far it has come!

Her name is the Trumpet Vine, and lowly she be, yet tenacious, invasive, and would be ever filling this earth! We are called to be the same, my friend. Trumpeting the sound of the kingdom of God filling this earth realm, "On earth as it is in heaven". Let us take her example to heart.

Also notice my little tomato plants. I found a spot in my 1 acre kingdom, where the sun is strong enough, the duration is long enough, and the plants get what they need in that duration to flower, fruit and give me the delights of their produce.

The seed thought is this. Find a place where you will receive the light; long enough, strong enough, and of a duration where YOU will flower, blossom and then fruit. Be NOT content with the lowly estate of others around you; climb for the heights you were destined to attain! From there, flower, blossom, fruit and let your light so shine that others will also aspire to the light that you have beheld.

Finally, there is my lone hibiscus plant that bears these lovely colors. She is stationed at the northeastern corner of my front porch; a northern exposure. Separated from all others, she stands and puts forth the most exquisite colors and blossoms to delight me; her only admirer. In the winter she never freezes. In the summer she beholds her peers who are in a kinder location than she. She is spindly, with only 5 or 6 branches. She flowers according to the light that she has received. I will create a soap or a candle or something to emulate the beauty she has shown me! How could you ever get any more beautiful than something the Creator has made?

Today, my friend I want to encourage you to look for the things around you that edify, beautify, and endure in the midst of trial. Take them for examples as you reach for the light that your soul needs to flourish in these times.

Be blessed!

OK, technorati, this one is for you! bmcr6gsy24

Cassia's Kitchen: The Day After....Behind the Scenes

Cassia's Kitchen: The Day After....Behind the Scenes

The Day After....Behind the Scenes

Here are some pictures of what my kitchen looks like today. After the party. It was a great success and alot alot of fun. I do believe alot will come out of it. Several school teachers were there who want to help me promote my products at their schools for corporate gift programs. A cheerleader who stated her school is looking for a fundraiser, a bride to be who is excited about wedding favors, and close friends who encouraged me and were excited about my "refill candle" program as an environmental measure. Every guest filled out an feedback sheet and signed up for my email newsletter permission list, and I do feel more parties are coming! So, it is worth the mess and I think I worked harder than I ever have. I see where I can make improvements and next time will be even better.

Labels still need a little tweaking but they are looking good. And a friend of mine got so excited about my Original Fragrance Blend #1.....I called it Siam Sunrise. Stay tuned for more infomation about this exciting breakthrough which is more in line with my original vision for Cassia Candle & Fragrance!

But meanwhile, I need to spend time with my Kitten, and since there is no food in my house and I am tired and even if I wasn't, there is not a square inch of counter space in my 16x40 kitchen to make anything......so, I am outta here and going to go have some Mexican Food and recharge a little.

And, then, back to float in the pool and recharge sufficiently to be able to finally......

Clean Cassia's Kitchen!

Until next time, Au Revoir, mes amis extraordinaire!

Ciao!

"Hallow" said Wabbit to Pooh, "Are you Home?"

I guess I could never be a real author. Cause I just don't have that much to say.
You know, since I quit multi tasking and all. It seems I can really only just cook
or....blog. My husband calls the PC my blue eyed lover and I do not blame him. But I keep trying to convince him that I am... working...kind of. Mostly, really.

I am getting ready for a Big Party tonight in which I am not yet ready and have stayed up until 3 AM two nights ago, and this morning until 4 something.

Maybe I will have something to say tomorrow. Last night it was so precious; it was about 10:30 and my Daughter and my Husband and I were all together in the kitchen and my husband was actually helping me. He is all about efficiency so he analyzed the situation and then got to work. It was so funny to watch him try to fill lotion bottles and all but he really helped me, and what is more, his help really gave me a boost emotionally. I wanted to take a pic, but I kind of felt like it was taking advantage of a celebrity by a papparazzi during a private moment so I didn't.

But until then, I am at the last minute printing out brochures, order forms, looking at "fun" party games, wrapping soaps, worrying over my cupcakes which are still "drying" out and in general all a flutter!

In the meantime, I am all into color and this season. So everything I make it seems is a fruit or wildly colorful. I love summer! I made this yesterday: (among alot of other things.. but this is the most colorful so far!)

So, dear friend, as the Aussies say... Ta Ta For Now....and we will see you again soon after it occurs to me what content to add to this site which might either, 1) amuse you, 2) inspire you, 3) move you to tears in shock and awe or 4) add valuable information to your life! In either case, I so value you and welcome you to come stop in and say Hallo Pooh!