The Value of soap and Water in fighting flus and viruses, The Camellia, Thunder Bay

It's Winter in Canada and most of us like to escape to a warmer climate. Usually, it's quite easy to escape with direct flights to the Caribbean from most major cities in Canada. I had started to draft this blog entry a while ago, and today, it's April 3rd.of 2020, and so much has changed in our entire world. It is hard to even begin to document all of this.

Because of the spread of  a Virus, COVID-19, most countries have closed their borders, planes have stopped flying, people have been told to GO HOME and STAY HOME! In Canada, almost everyone ( except those working in essential services) is at Home, and we are allowed to go only to the grocery store and /or other essential services. Social distancing is the only chance we have of trying to slow down the spread of this horrible virus. Cruise ships have become breeding grounds for the virus, and at this point, it is hoped that all cruise ships will be grounded. 

This virus can be killed by hand-washing with soap, so we are doing a lot of hand-washing, and wiping down of grocery carts, doorknobs, etc. There are lineups at every grocery ( outside),  the number of people inside the grocery is limited to a certain number, and you must maintain 6 feet. between you and the next person. Toilet paper is in short supply. so are masks and protective equipment . 

We recommend washing with our Lavender soap from Neob Niagara. This is an all-natural soap, which can also be used as a Body Wash, Shampoo and Bubble Bath. We also have to avoid touching our face, nose and eyes. Covid-19 attacks your lungs and respiratory system.

All of us dream of  Time off...it's like a fantasy, when I have time off, I will do this, or that. Now that we all have time off, and we are waiting for this to be over, it is very difficult. We are almost going a bit nuts, when will our lives be normal again? The Government of Canada has announced financial help for Canadians during the Covid-19 crisis. For details of this plan, go to https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html

Some of you are painting your Furniture pieces you have stored up for many years. This is a great idea, you get your projects done and feel a great sense of accomplishment. Bonus: you stop listening to the news, and try to get on with your life. If you need #CottagePaint, do phone us ahead of time. 

Stay safe, and together we can #flattenthecurve!

Shop online at www.thecamellia.com

The Camellia, 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, On. 807-475-3551

Bathroom doubling as a home office, The Camellia, Thunder Bay

via GIPHY

March 23, 2020. Some of you may be doing the above......with the social distancing rule during the current COVID-19 crisis, you may be trying to work from home. As all Daycare  and schools are closed at the moment, you may be working from your Bathroom.

With everyone cooped up at home, (and it is still Winter in Thunder Bay), you may be starting to think about a dedicated office space in your Home. Today's open-concept floor plan is not conducive to getting any type of  work done where you need peace and quiet, and no interruptions. If you have to do video-conferencing, you really do need a dedicated office space.

I remember the time I was on a Skype call with a Health professional who was working from his home, and a household member walked by with her underwear on.
That's when you know you need a dedicated office Space!

It isn't necessary to have a big space for your office. A small corner will work. Your Office at home can look stylish and be comfortable. Here at #TheCamellia we have cozy cushions, and fabrics, along with beautiful Floral arrangements for your home  office.

If you would like to repurpose some old Furniture for your Office, think about painting over an old fabric covered chair. Use Cottage Paint. See here for more information. https://www.thecamellia.com/cottage-paint-projects.html

We are a stockist of Cottage Paint, at The Camellia. There are 60+ colours to choose from, many finishes, and excellent help and advice from a Cottage Paint consultant.

Plants do wonders for air quality and your health, and make a great addition to your Home Office. We offer delivery in #ThunderBay and surrounds, ask about our seasonal specials. We have some large Fiddleleaf ficus at the moment.

Make your Home office a beautiful place to be inspired, with our hand-painted wooden signs, and custom floral wreaths.
Visit us at #TheCamellia, after this current COVID-19 crisis.
Phone 807-475-3551 for current hours.
At this time we are offering contactless delivery or pick-up.
www.thecamellia.com
iwindowshop.ca

Hello Spring 2020!! The Camellia, Thunder Bay, On

Thunder Bay Flower & Gift shop

Hello Spring! Normally we are jumping up and down in excitement, as #Spring is our favourite time of the year! It's a signal for the end of Winter, and a time to put out all our Spring decor, and get ready for Easter celebrations. Spring also means the Spring Home & Garden Show at the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition, sadly this event had to be cancelled due to COVID-19.  At this time, the Canadian Government has told us that it is imperative to practice social distance. 

We know a lot of you are looking forward to Planting your Summer garden with flowers and vegetables. This is still going to happen, so while it is important to get prepared for the virus, it is equally important to act as normal as possible, under these circumstances. Spring means starting your bulbs indoors, or starting seeds to plant outside in the Summer.

What colour combinations are you planning on for your backyard Patio? Pink sunpatiens and grey Dusty Miller is always a winning combination for partial shade or full sun. Here at #TheCamellia, you can order planters for Gift delivery. The planters above will be available starting just before #MothersDay. Due to the Virus outbreak, you can phone in orders ( 807-475-3551) and we deliver in the Thunder Bay area, and Slate River valley. 

If you suffer from anxiety, looking at beautiful scenes like this one above (photographed in British Columbia) can aid in calming, especially when used in conjunction with deep breathing techniques. 

Spring means Bunnies and Easter chocolate Bunnies and eggs. We have beautiful hand-made bunnies at The Camellia. Perfect for Gift giving to a special Grandchild!

Easter is almost here, and a new reality, no Church Masses due to the ban on public gatherings. Churches will be live streaming. Funeral homes will be doing the same. We have unique #SympathyGifts which you can order, and we can deliver to someone's Home. Shown above is a willow cross, with sign. We also have crosses with faux flowers. 

For many of us, engaging in Painting is a way to stay grounded, and helps us focus on something other than the virus. Call ahead and place you order, we will tint, and have it ready for you to pick up, or we can deliver ( $). 

Click on this link to see #CottagePaint colours.  https://cottagepaint.com/color-guide/

The Camellia is your CottagePaint stockist in Thunder Bay and surrounds. 

The Camellia, 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Thunder Bay, On. 

p-807-475-3551

www.thecamellia.com

www.paintoldkitchencabinets.com

Styling essentials - vases for Spring and Summer florals, The Camellia, Thunder Bay.

Flowers have the ability to cheer us up, especially at this time when fears of COVID-19 and its spread around the World have led to feelings of alarm and anxiety. We need to stay calm, and Flowers can certainly help us do that. White, Cream and green are classic Spring and Summer colours. March is the perfect time to change out your Winter blooms to something lighter, like the Flowers in the above photo. 

There are so many different shapes and sizes of Vases. These tall ones showcase these sculptural branches with spring magnolia blooms. White vases go with everything, and can be moved into other rooms. 

A great article to read is Heather Bullard's take on this topic of Vases: https://heatherbullard.com/blog/2019/12/styling-essentials-vases

Take a look around your home, what kind of vases do you have laying around, perhaps gathering dust in a forgotten corner? 

Maybe your accent colours changed, and your current vases no longer suit your space. You can repaint your vase with #CottagePaint, it's water based and has hardly any smell, and comes in 60 colours. We stock Cottage Paint here at The Camellia, and we can ship within Canada. 

Visit https://cottagepaint.com/color-guide/ to see the colours. Then you can visit our store at 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. in Thunder Bay, or visit our website at www.thecamellia.com

Once you've selected your vase, then you will need proper mechanics for anchoring your stems, such as twigs and branches, moss, water, floral foam, etc. Not sure where to start? Take a Floral Workshop here at The Camellia, where you will learn Creative Floral Design, incorporating Dutch Floral design techniques. 

Here is a beautiful assortment of fresh blooms, at a Flower shop in Holland. Hydrangeas, Gerberas, Anthuriums, Stocks, snapdragons, Roses, Lilies, and so much more. 

Visit The Camellia, for Floral workshops, custom Wreaths and Floral Designs, and Cottage Paint.

Flowers add happiness to your Day!

The Camellia, 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, thunder Bay, On

Open Wed. through Sunday. 

807-475-3551

We are OPEN at The Camellia!! Thunder Bay, Ontario

Hello everyone! It's almost March, and that means Spring will be here soon, yeah!!! We are Open here at The Camellia, for all your Spring & Home decor needs. 

                                                  via GIPHY

This Giphy sums it up....I have been recovering from Hand surgery, so this is what I've been doing, minus the drumming of fingers on the table. And of course, you need your hands for simply everything! We are Open here at The Camellia, and will post new Spring Classes soon. 

Hummingbirds are part of our Northern Ontario summers, here  we used #CottagePaint to stencil  a Hummingbird. It sure is difficult to capture their shimmering feathers and many colours. If you are interested in this class, contact us. 

It's the time of year when our spirit craves Flowers, and colour, and warmth. How about you? Are you ready for spring? Above is a photo of our flowering crabapple trees. 

This is the perfect time to head into our store for a Visit, to buy some new silk flowers to replace your winter decor. It's time to freshen everything up for Spring! Already have a container? Bring it with you!

Our beautiful, yet practical Tablecloths - perfect for anyone who spills or drops things when they eat. Water-repellent and stain-resistant. And this pattern is lovely and timeless - white magnolia blossoms on a light grey background. 

We have 60 colours in #Cottage paint  - you can easily add a touch of green to your furniture or Kitchen cabinets. For more information on painting your Kitchen cabinets, go to paintoldkitchencabinets.com. Not sure if your cabinets are paintable? Take a door off and bring it in so we can take a look. 

To find us, head south on Hwy. 61, turn left onto Hacquoil Rd. Look for our sign on Hwy. 61. 

We are just 10 minutes south of  the Thunder Bay Airport. 

The Camellia, 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, Ontario

www.thecamellia.com

Winter skincare, The Camellia, Thunder Bay

Winter is hard on your skin. Cold temperatures, low humidity and harsh winds make your skin dry, itchy and miserable. You are so bundled up when you go outside, and one may feel unattractive and a bit depressed. You must moisturize with our favourite Goats Milk Lotion from Silly Goats! What is great about Goat Milk Lotion? Read on.

Goat Milk Lotion Benefits.
1. Vitamins and Minerals - Goat Milk has vitamins A, B1, B6, B12, C, D, and E, and Selenium. Selenium is known to help prevent skin cancer and to help sun-damaged skin.
2.  Anti-Inflammatory - Goat Milk reduces skin inflammation due to its fat protein content. The cream in Goat Milk is a moisturizer.
3. Anti-Aging - Goat milk is rich in  Caprylic Acid, Lactic acid, and Alpha-Hydroxy Acid. 
4. Doctors have recommended using Goats Milk Soap for those who suffer from acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes and sunburn. 
For more information, go to https://sillygoatssoap.com/benefits-of-goat-milk-lotion/

Most of us want to keep our skin feeling as soft as a rose petal. This is a bloom from our Danish Midsummer Rosebush, it smells like an old-fashioned Rose.

Goat Milk Soaps are also wonderful for our skin, and are natural, and long-lasting. 

Our skin, and these Flower stems in the bucket above, need 1 essential ingredient to stay alive - WATER. So often we forget to drink enough water, especially when it's Winter. 

Why not get a large jug and fill it with your water intake for the day...every time you pass by the jug, drink a glass. This will help your whole body, but it sure is difficult to drink 6 -7 glasses of water a day in the winter! 

If you want to keep your skin looking beautiful, plan on a trip to our store, the Camellia, to get Silly Goats Lotion & Soaps!.

The Camellia, 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Thunder Bay, On

p 807-475-3551

www.thecamellia.com

Making Time slow down when it seems like it's speeding up, The Camellia

Hello February! We have been lucky as January in Northern Ontario can be really, really cold. And this January it's been so mild. It's been easy to get out walking every day. We've had lots of snow, and here we are in February, it seems like January has flown by. 

Which brings us to the concept of Time... why does it seem to speed up as you get older? Click on the link below, which is a great article on Making Time. Read on. 

https://nosidebar.com/making-time/

When you're involved in something you like to do, time seems to fly by. This is a ginormous Wreath I made from field ferns. It took hours and more hours, and the idea of a giant Fern Wreath had been in my head for months, and I simply had to find the time to make it. What projects do you have going around in your head? ...when I have time.......I will make .........

 Ever notice how slowly time goes when you are stuck doing some dreaded task...like Bookwork? You pull up your files, then you find yourself checking email, Facebook, and wait, you're starving! so you race off to find a snack, and before you know it, 2 hours have gone by, and you haven't started your paperwork. Yes, time crawls sometimes. 

It seems like there is never enough time to sleep. For a long time, I treated Sleep as an afterthought, after I get everything done, I will go to bed. Sleep deprivation leads to many health problems. You must make time for Rest. 

It can be a struggle to eat healthy. Especially when there is a Timmie's on every street corner, and there are chocolates at every grocery checkout. And you are tired when you get home from work. This past summer we grew all kinds of veggies, and it's so much easier to eat healthy when you can pick kale from your own garden.

One day you get the call that one of your friends has unexpectedly passed away. You may feel terrible as you had meant to call her up and have lunch together, and you didn't make the time. 

This is a willow cross which we have for sale at The Camellia. 

I guess the rule of thumb is that if you really want to do something, you will find the time to do it. We stock Cottage Paint at The Camellia.www.cottagepaint.com. 

How many of you have a stash of fabric stored in strange places.....omg...why are there plies of fabric and magazines in the Linen closet? 

Oh well, time is relative. What will you do with your time? 

Visit us here at The Camellia! We are Open Fridays and Saturdays during the month of February, 2020. 

30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, On.

807-475-3551

www.thecamellia.com