MamaV Downer

MamaV tried to update yesterday, but doesn't quite grasp that it's not a dictation machine. Bless her heart.

The stroke rollercoaster was holding steady for a few days there. Not too hopeful, but not the despair of last week. It's dipping a little. Mama's Daddy (Bob) was gearing up to have his breathing tube removed so he could do all that work on his own. Then someone realized he kind of needed to keep the tube until a feeding tube could be surgically inserted. Duh. So it's been 2 days of limbo. But the added work that comes with breathing has meant the lucid moments are fewer and farther between. Maybe Bob just can't get the hang of Thursday. Mama had that issue for a while. Is that sort of thing genetic?

MamaV really appreciates the calls, cards, and kind words. She may choke up and make some strangled sounds, but she's really saying "Thank you".

MamaV is on a break

Since the Mabee Farm festival, MamaV also did a WONDERFUL show with TightKnit.org. It was well run, well attended, and just a lot of fun. Mama has pictures somewhere, but we can't find them.

Right now, MamaV is dealing with a family issue. Mama's Daddy had a stroke. Mama is an only child (can you really blame them for not wanting more?). It's a roller coaster and not in the good vomit when it's over way.

Us elves are busy cleaning the soap shelves and ordering new supplies while she's distracted. If you see a bleary eyed woman driving a purple box around Schenectady, please just pull over and let her pass.

Mabbee Farm Report

MamaV dragged herself home tired, beaten, and elated.


Mabee Farm is an old Dutch farm (the oldest standing home in the Mohawk Valley) that sits right on the Mohawk River. MamaV didn't take the tour, but she said "It's wicked cool!" Yes, she's a knuckle dragger.


Mama's Soap Tent overlooked the river and the skydivers. Sadly, we trusted Mama with the camera. Every time a skydiver landed (3 per plane, one plane each hour), MamaV would stand out in the field, jaw agape, looking skyward. Had it been raining, yes, she would have drowned.


This was MiniV's first excursion with Mama. As you can see, she had a little bit of fun. She crated the display and cheerfully greeted customers. When PapaV arrived to whisk her away, she asked to stay a little longer.





After they left, Mama was a little lonely. But, in the tradition of a kajillion animated movies, the Farm provided a little friend. Unfortunately, said friend wore out his welcome by pooping in Mama V's tent. NOW we finally understand why MamaV has hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes, and Lysol wipes. We're sorry we've called you a "paranoid clean freak" behind your back. MamaV did manage to snap a picture of her friend. He never told her his name. He just pooped and left.


It was a beautiful day in a beautiful setting. Mama sold soap and
made friends. The event organizer for a Downtown Schenectady function was very interested in having MamaV demonstrate making soap.




Is the world ready? Probably not.

Hiding (Again)

MamaV has a craft fair this weekend. It's a charming little event over at the Mabee Farm in Rotterdam on the Mohawk River. It's outside. So MamaV needs to (finally) use the EZ Up that's been sitting in the back of the Soapmobile since July.

For those that haven't seen MamaV in action, she works alone. Setup, sales, and breakdown. All by herself. If you've ever set up an EZ Up, you know that it's a 2 (or more) person task.

MamaV has decided she's going to set it up alone. So, armed with a mudslide, Mama fearlessly traipsed outside. Our biggest regret is that the video camera's battery was dead.

Mama pushed, pulled, pinched, cussed, and slapped. Bless her heart, she got the thing standing. It wasn't right, but it was up.

Heaven help Mabee Farm!

Who's turn is it?

Come on, 'fess up. We know that someone was supposed to be watching MamaV. Instead, we get home and she's holed up in the kitchen. Instead of the nice, sedate Vanilla Sandalwood (with a nice tan swirl), she's all over this aloe, vinegar, salt thing. While it sounds soothing, it is definitely NOT vanilla sandalwood.

So...who was watching her? Next thing you know, she'll be tapping the box of margaritas...Oops. Too late.

We're back. It's 8:20 PM and MamaV has finally passed out in her room with a mudslide.

Finally, we have proof. Proof that MamaV MUST NOT EVER BE LEFT TO HER OWN DEVICES!

*Caution - The following video is VERY, VERY disturbing. It's a grown woman talking to soap, for goodness sake!*

Liquid Soap Paste

Oh, oh, oh, oh, OH!! MamaV is happy dancing around the room! Why? Well, remember a couple of days ago? We mentioned that MamaV had made liquid soap. Mama confided her terrifying nightmare - in her dream, she opened the cooler (after fighting off zombies), lifted out the crock pot, and still had oil.

She awoke screaming. OK, not screaming. But she gasped really, really hard.

So today, MamaV screwed up her courage and approached the soap cooler.

No zombies in sight. *phew* She opened the cooler, lifted out the crock, and...

Paste, glorious PASTE!! Sooo smooth! Such a screamingly sweet translucent color! Oh the rapture! MamaV now has 5 16 ounce baggies of paste languishing in the soap fridge (and one 14 ouncer - so cute, The Runt!).

Oh happy day!

Later, Mama may allow us to see the coffee bars. They smell heavenly.

Something's in the kitchen - it's making soap!

Mama got her groove back. Yesterday, she made a list of 7 soap choices she wants in place by 9/1 with a wish list of 5 additional scents. Last night, she acted and finished one plus one not on either list.

Mama V's Soap List (as copied from her purple notepad):

1. Sandalwood Vanilla - White swirl of kaolin clay



2. Strawberry & Cream - Strawberries and cream in freezer, pink kaolin for color...Swirl?



3. Scrubby Vanilla Coffee



4. Frank & Myrrh - Silver mica swirl!!



5. Suger Plum - Alkanet?



6. Mandarin Bergamot



7. Beer Soap

Already, number 3 is crossed off. Mama chose to use leftover coffee from yesterday morning as the liquid. The entire house smelled of strong roasted coffee.

Then her eyes fell on the emergency coffee bean bag. She planted a row of whole fresh coffee beans into the mold. We're dying to see the final version!

The liquid soap took us all by surprise. Mama hadn't listed it. But MiniV is almost out of bubble bath, so we should have expected it.

We can't wait to see what this weekend brings!