Last night we decorated our Christmas Tree. It is very beautiful.  See for yourself.

beautiful Christmas tree

We woke up this morning to a beautiful snowfall.  Winter is coming, now the sun is shining beautifully.

Snowfall at the monastery

Today we begin singing the beautiful “O” Antiphons. Today is O Wisdom. This reminds us that we not far from the birth of our Blessed Savior. Blessings and peace to all.

It’s that time of the year! We are all getting ready for Christmas. We have some great gifts, all natural products.  Great Christmas Gifts, stocking stuffers, just wonderful gifts.

Great Gifts for Christmas. All natural

Great Christmas gifts. Glycerin soap, wonderful for your skin

We had a wonderful turn out for our Art Loop on Saturday.  The weather was very cold and some snow, but  it did not stop the people from coming. They also enjoyed the wagon ride.

Tomorrow, Saturday, is the Dayton Art Loop.  All the artist in Dayton participate in the Loop.  Hopefully, we will have good weather.  Tom Ogle will take customers from one store to another with his horse and buggy.  It should be great fun.

Sister Helen Prejean has been with us for about 6 weeks. She is leaving this afternoon to continue her ministry of working against the death penalty. Her ministry takes her throughout the United States and to other countries. She is  a living witness of Gospel living.

About 10 Knights of  Columbus, several of the Knights children and wives spent Saturday morning helping with much of the outside work at the monastery. They did much of the outside work that we are unable to do.  We had a delicious picnic for them and then they left around 2 p.m. We are so grateful for their help.

Sr. Hope Rodenborn attended the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild -14th Annual Conference in Miami, Fl.  310 small or cottage business makers of soaps and cosmetics attended the conference.  They came from all the states and nine other countries.

Soapmakers can participate in the “Soapers Showcase”. Soaps are registered for:   Best Scent, Best Appearance, Best Packaging, and Something Different. All members of the Conference are asked to vote for their choice of best soap in the above categories.

Sr. Hope was voted for best packaging and received a certificate at the Annual Awards Dinner.  She received her second award was received a few mintes later for the “Best Show” and was given a certificate and a trophy.

Barbara Corcoran, Keynote Speaker, Contributor to NBC’s Today Show and a “shark” on ABC Reality Show, liked best Sr. Hope’s “scent”of layered orange-lemon-grapefruit peel in her soap.

Sr. Hopes’ new label was designed and tested by Julia Sherman and her friend, Heather, for Julia’s graduating project for her Masters Degree in Art at Columbia University in NY.  We are grateful for the help that Julia has given us here at our San Benito Monastery, Dayton, WY.  May the youth in the country continue to excel, enrich and bless our country with their creativity and work ethics.  Thank you Julia and Heather.

Sister Hope’s soap can be purchased by calling 307-655-9013 The soap is $5.50 each.

Testimonials

LOTION:

Brother Anthony:  My sister is a dermatologist and has supplied me with prescription lotions.  None has helped me.  Your Shea Butter Lotion is wonderful and is all that I use now.  Thank you for this wonderful product.

LOTION & SOAP:    I have had a rare skin cancer.   Your Lavender Shae Butter is the only lotion that has stopped the itching for me.  Now all that is use is the Lavender Shea Buttter soap.  My cancer is under control. Thank  you.

Lavender glycerin soap, $6.00

 SOAPS:

Your soap not only moisturizes but prevents rings around showers and tubs.

Alice:    My grandson after minor surgery was sent home with instructions to use only glycerin soap to cleanse the wound.

Shaleen:    Bobby gave us a great idea with your glycerin soap for dry skin.  Leave the lather on for one minute then rinse off.  It has helped Mark tremendously for the skin behind his ears and sides of his nose.  This weather is bad for dryness.

 

SALVES

Justin:  After my ankle was rebuilt I used your salve to help it heal.  I wish I could buy a gallon of it.  After 3 years I am still using it on my ankle and it feels so good.

 A Chiropractor of 30 years and also does body work said this is the best ointment I havae ever used in my 30 years of practice. The patient loves it and it is healing.

 

Arnica Salve - $6.95

I have dry patch above my eye on which I use medication. I have tried all kinds of face cream which only irritates this spot. I just bought a $30.00 jar of face cream but it irritated this spot.  Using  your shea butter face cream is all I use with no irritation.  I love the feel of the face cream. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

Lavender Face Cream - $8.00

 

Peppermint Foot Lotion - $6.00

 

 

 

 

                                                   

One of the most popular products at Monastery Creations during the  summer is Sr. Hope’s all-natural “Bug-Off!”  This mosquito repellent comes as a roll-on, which is easily applied, and as a soap.

The main ingredient in “Bug-Off!” is catnip.  Catnip, also known as catmint, is a genus of flowering plants.  The genus is native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is now also common in North America.  It is called catnip because of its effect on cats, as may seem obvious.  Catnip causes a temporary euphoria in cats, and this not only house cats but also lions, tigers, leopards and such.   When little or big cats sense the bruised leaves or stems of catnip, they are prone to roll over it, paw it, chew it, or lick it.  They may leap about and purr, acting generally goofy.  Some cats may growl, meow, scratch, or bite.  You may or may not want to try it out on your pet tiger.

Catmints are also used in herbal medicine for their mild sedative effect on humans. The plant has been consumed as a tea, juice, tincture, infusion or poultice, and has also been smoked.  We are not recommending any of these uses.  Oil isolated from catnip by steam distillation is a repellent against insects, in particular mosquitoes, cockroaches and termites.

There is no mention of either cats or catnip in the Bible.  This may be because, as we have heard, cats have their own Bible.  But a more likely reason for their absence in the Bible is that cats were revered in ancient Egypt.  Mafdet, a lion-headed goddess, was the deity of justice and execution. The cat goddess Bast eventually replaced the cult of Mafdet.  She represented protection, fertility, and motherhood.

Our own cat, Cleo, is named after the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra.  That’s because she thinks that she is a queen and rules the house. She occasionally enjoys catnip, but most of our crop is reserved for “Bug-Off.”