Autumn 2022

And so it is Autumn, and while it brings a bit of melancholy to see the summer blooms begin to fade, I welcome the change in seasons. I am ready for rains to spell what feels like endless watering of gardens, am looking forward to candlelit evenings, and the cozy soups and warming teas of a cooler season. It is raining gently outside just now, and it is a lovely thing to see water droplets bead up on the hydrangea petals and droplets fall from the leaves of the elderberry outside my window. This is the first rain we have had in two months, and really will do little to break our drought, but it is a promise of more to come.

I have been out of touch for many weeks, and I hope you will continue to bear with me as I work to bring Joyful Alchemy back up to speed. It has been a very intense year for my family with a memorial service for my father, the wedding of our eldest son in May and that of the youngest in early September, followed by the move of my mother into her new senior community; a year filled with tenderness and joys and surprising challenges. I am so far behind with my small business, I could panic, but instead will just plug away doing that task which seems to be the next best thing to do. Earlier this week I added the harvest collection of teas and you will find old favorites such as Grandma’s Pumpkin Pie and Ginger Peach, as well as limited offerings of Cranberry Apple Herb and Fruit, and wonderfully spicy Masala Chai Rooibos, which some may remember from my brick & mortar shop. I am quite enjoying bringing old friends back from time-to-time. First shipments will go out on Monday, October 3, and if you would like to pickup your order on my front porch, please let me know and we will find a time that works for both of us.

I am just starting to blend holiday teas, make soap and salves, and pour candles. I am going to be hard-pressed to produce enough, so have thrown the notion of doing any shows straight out the window. A few have already contacted me with gift-giving wishes, and I invite you to do the same. If there are specific teas or products you will be wanting, do let me know. Your input will help me plan and ready as best I can for the season ahead.

Thank you for reading, and if you would like to drop me a line, please feel free to email me at dori@joyfulalchemy.com or leave a comment below. I love to hear from you. Be well!

(When time allows, I will add a post or two with photos from my boys’ weddings. Jamie and William practically grew up in my Freeland shop and are known to many of you. I’m happy to say I adore both of my new daughters-in-law, and am delighted to welcome them to our family.)