We've been busy, as usual. Critters. Getting stuff in from the gardens. A couple shows. Getting firewood in and under cover.
As you can see from the picture at left, we had our first snow of the season. It's gone now, done in by several days of rain--and more days of rain--and did I mention that we've had a lot of rain?

Don't have a picture to put up right now, we recently got four young pullets to eventually add to the flock next door. Something to make the old biddies cluck--most of our hens qualify for Medicare, and lay eggs more as a hobby than as a serious vocation.

We still have three pigeons in house, one finally growing some feather. The owl at left was with us for a few days, then released back where it came from. We had another owl call come in while this was being written, but for the moment it doesn't seem to need our intervention.


Before we get to one last odd thing, let us remind you to vote, vote, vote! If you need encouragement, don't think of it as going to the polls to vote, think of it as marching to the polls to protest what the hell it is that's ruining your sleep and leaving you with as belly full of acid. Vote to fight the hate and cruelty and oppression of the poor, weak and powerless; vote to end the coddling of and kowtowing to the rich and powerful. Raise your voice and make yourself heard. Vote like your life depends on it.

Years ago Claudia Lambdin operated a shop called "The Keeping Room" out of her home. She carries several Hill Woman products and oil blends. Recently she contacted me about a bunch of Perfume Oil blends she had...many old favorites from back when I sold them in 1/3 dram bottles. If you are interested in any of them you can contact her via email at clambdin7@yahoo.com . She has a few Musks, and an assortment of blends that have been extinct for a while. Since these blends were mostly  more than 50% synthetic fragrance oils, they are probably unchanged. Sorry, I don't believe she has any Huntress or Hill Woman.

From Sue-Ryn:
It has been a really busy spring & summer here.
The artisans' co-op I helped establish six seasons ago decided to purchase a building this year. After a late season closing, many hands pitched in and 8 days after closing the front room of the former “Brass Tacks” restaurant and bar was transformed into a gallery space. The kitchen took a few weeks more–there was a lot of machinery to sell off and move, and then a lot of serious deep cleaning to do.  We're still open, 10-6 Thursday-Sunday. Just look online for Bay House Artisans--or call--for more info.
Upcoming shows:
Macsherry Library Holiday Show & Sale December 1 Macsherry Library Alex Bay NY
Holiday Event at MAC Nature Center, Wellesley Island Dec 8, 10-4

 My 77 year old disabled brother needed a new location before winter and the stars aligned for a placement at Samaritan Summit Village in Watertown. He's settling in well. It's a big change for both of us. His cat also needed a new home and moved to Maryland with the folks from Art of Fire. He is also adapting well to his new family. 

And a note if you called and left a message and we haven't gotten back to you.  We are sorry. Please call again. Our phone has been ringing like crazy with animal calls, our answering machine clogged with calls. We may have tried to call back and gotten no answer of a busy signal, and the chaos level rendered the mental note to try again moot. We've been just keeping it together.

-From Sue-Ryn:
A while back we had  to raise the price of incense.  The pure essential oils I use to make incense continue to rise in price, and after the last order I felt like I had two choices: raise prices or go to cheaper oils.  Going cheap was not an option. I know my customers have come to expect a certain level of quality and consistency in the scents I blend, and that includes the incense. I'm hoping to hold my price at 40 cents per stick. That means folks who order a dozen on an old or unadjusted  order form will be getting 9 sticks for $3.60 instead of twelve. The order form here has been changed to reflect the rise in price to $4.80 per dozen. I apologize for the sudden change, but this is the only way I can continue to produce the incense so many of you love.  I appreciate your understanding and support. Also up in price are Catnip Mousies and a couple oils. Some things like books, spritz kits, Bath Salts, and Soaps have been dropped--though some may end up at shows. But if you go to the Body and Bath page now you will find instructions on how to make your own bath salts!

You can get more timely wildlife updates by visiting the Wellesley Island Wildlife page on Facebook.

Our Bug Repellent Oil and Spray now contain Geranium and Lemon Eucalyptus to help repel ticks. These oils have not been added to Bug Stix.

Blame it on the animals....
        The testimonial contest that started some time last winter took off like a lead balloon. Then, baby season hit with a vengeance. Between feeding, cleaning, transporting and releasing critters, doing elder care and trying to keep Bay House Artisans stocked, things got a bit chaotic. The One and only testimonial we received was a friend of Corbie Mitleid who lives in England and raises main coon cats...so she is the winner
One thing of note. A few years ago we were called on to ship corn warmers to Antarctica. Yes, Antarctica. Well, earlier this month we heard from one of the recipients of those warmers. Here's what she had to say: