Candy!

So . . . where were we?

(Checks back at blog . . .)

Good lord, the last time I posted was in 2013, December. Time flies.

So, quick update. Still a stay at home dad, still have two energetic sons (Sonwun and Sontoo), still have a lovely wife and am still coming back to my creative outlet once in a while when I the need to write rears its ugly head. (I think it was a review on Urban Spoon this morning that sparked the need to write again.)

I guess the most significant change of late has been the introduction of Sunny’s Treehouse Candy . . . my first real run at doing something to earn a little cash to add to the family stash. It started a couple of Christmases back when the wife and I decided to make candy for our family members who live in other provinces and countries. We wanted to do something different. So we did.

And just this last Christmas, the wife’s sister, who works in Toronto, asked us if we could pull off 5 $200 corporate gift baskets. We had no idea. But I’d read Richard Branson on Twitter say something like, “If someone asks if you can do something, say yes. Then figure out how and do it.”

So we did.

And then in January, we started hitting Farmer’s Markets here in town and in Winnipeg. We’re not yet profitable, but we’re getting there.

I gotta say, I really enjoy making the candy. We’re up to about 18 different flavours of Hard Candy, four flavours of Salt Water Taffy, Sweet and Salty Peanuts, Sponge Toffee and three different kinds of Brittle (peanut, chocolate peanut and almond).

We’ve designed a logo, labels and packaging in keeping with our Treehouse theme. (Mostly the wife there, she’s really good at this stuff!) We’ve sourced inexpensive suppliers for candy ingredients as well as packaging. It’s been an education and, in a couple of months, we might even be profitable!

So that’s what’s kept us sane over the winter. More later, I hope.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Snow. October 5th and there's snow on the ground. Ugh.

Can't say I was ready for this just yet. I like it best when my kids don't have to follow me, with the snowblower, around the neighbourhood for Halloween. Don't get me started on Thanksgiving.

I'm not impressed. But Sontoo, the early riser, is. 

"It snowed, Daddy," he says, standing at the front window in his Cars undies, Guardian Cat at his side. "It's Christmas!"

Sigh.

It's not one of those gentle, fluffy little snowfalls either. The wind is howling, the snow is wet and feels like ice pellets burrowing into your face. The poor leaves, many of them still green, are clinging to the trees for dear life.

It is not, however, without its moments. Like when I let the dog out to pee this morning. She ran through the garage, as she always does. Straight out the door at full speed. And when her front paws hit the snow, they stopped dead. Her back feet caught up and she almost completed a somersault. (Had to check the spelling on that. Had it right. Weird.) (Oh, and that reminds me. Weird is a weird word too. 'I' before 'E' except after 'C', right? But not with weird. Which I guess makes sense.)

Oh, and here's my Blogtober blogging tip of the month. Ready?

Don't make pancakes and blog at the same time, unless your computer is right beside the stove, where you can keep an eye on the pancakes. Mine is not. 

So, happy Thanksgiving weekend! Special thanks to the School Board which, in its infinite wisdom, decided to make this a four-day weekend instead of just the average three-day holiday weekend. And I mean, fair enough. Teachers have been hard at work for almost a whole month now. Time for a little break.

May your turkey be moist,

Your potatoes lumpless,

May your gravy be smooth, 

And your stuffing so sumptuous (Come on, it's close. I know you were wondering how I'd rhyme lumpless.)

May Thanksgiving find you,

with family to be

and if not

you must work for 
the RCMP

Cheers. Have a great weekend.