The Ozark Soul A Front Porch Journal

Spring 2026

The Season That Started It All

Welcome.

Sit down for a bit. The coffee’s warm, the porch is quiet, and there’s always room for another neighbor.

⸻

When I was growing up, I never thought about making memories.

I just lived in the moment.

People would pass by and wave, just to be friendly. If a fence was down or a car was stranded, there

was always someone willing to help. Folks exchanged garden harvest; local ladies would bring pies or

cakes just for fellowship and conversation.

Life was rich in the culture that small communities hold dear to their hearts.

the past five years, I traveled coast to coast doing pet transport. I was away from home

roughly 340 days of the year. I missed so much time with my kids and grandkids. Ball games,

church programs and even birthdays.

This past winter, my transport van with 486,000 miles had its final route when the transmission died. 

It really got me thinking that I might need a change. Maybe stay home and spend time with family and

see what doors open for me.

Wouldn't you know, the very next day, a good friend called me. A small business soaper, to tell me that

she planned to move back to Alaska after living a year in Missouri. Because it’s a long drive, she

wanted to return with the bare minimum of her belongings.

Of course, I was sad to see her go back, but the call was to inform me that she wanted to gift me most of

her soap supplies after learning that my transmission went out the previous day.

So within a week, I was at her shop daily, as she was teaching me the science of making the soap you

find here at Country Bathworks. 

For me, it was the change placed in front of me. A new beginning.

Starting this new journey has definitely been a struggle, but I’m moving forward.

I spent the better part of spring, creating lots and lots of soap. Mastering the swirl technique and

mixing scents. I've given full credit to my daughter for coming up with the business name.

Through all of this, I was trying to think of ways to market my soap. I started building a website, but it

was taking forever because I’m not really tech savvy.

Then one day, while scrolling through Facebook, I saw a post from the Willow Springs, MO Chamber

of Commerce. It was a vendor call, they were looking for vendors for Willow Springs first

annual Bearly-Spring Festival.

A lightbulb lit up above my head! I signed up for that festival and paid my booth fee. Then I spent

a week or two planning out other events or farmers markets to make sales.

The day came, for the Willow Springs festival. I put up my canopy and set up my tables using bedsheets

as tablecloths. Regardless of not having everything look pristine, I set my soaps up, and it still looked

very presentable for a beginner.

The fair was to start at 9 AM, I was set up and ready to go. Then it rained for two hours. I managed to

keep most of the products dry, patting down anything wet with a paper towel. Stayed positive,

that this first event would at least get the exposure that all new businesses need.

Shortly after 11 AM Main Street went from soggy wet, to packed with hundreds of people. I put on

the biggest smile and greeted everyone that even looked my way.

The day turned out wonderful. Greeting everyone, chatting, answering questions. One gentleman,

smelling quite a few bars, shared how one scent reminded him of his grandparents’ home.

If I remember correctly, I think it was the scent, “Sugar House Sunrise”.

The following weekend was a farmer’s market in Elk Creek, MO. Later a  small vendor event in

West Plains, MO. In all, I realized that, I simply love vendor events. More exposure will never hurt.

Then, it was time for a two day event in Springfield, Missouri at the expo center. The 417 Spring Market.

I had hopes for this one considering the event was in an Expo Center and a large well populated

city. Once I arrived to unload and set up my booth, I was informed that this was a first time event.

Again, I stayed positive that I would continue to get exposure.

The event was Mother’s Day weekend, of course, I packaged items ready to be gifted. All in all, it wasn’t

too terribly bad. For the two days I was there. I did make my booth fee and fuel expenses back. Again,

I was able to get exposure and I will be returning to that event next year.

That event weekend, a lady was searching for a scent to replace the sachet in her dresser drawer

that simply lost its purpose. During her visit at my booth, she smelled several bars. I decided to ask

her if she had a preference on scent I could suggest, that’s when she told me what her intentions were.

I suggested the clean scent of “Country Linen” and she left with a bar that had no intention of ever seeing water.

The remainder of Spring consisted of smaller markets mixed with Willow Springs own local farmers

market, always under a pavilion at the park in town.

Just recently, I made the 3 1/2 hour journey to Harrisonville, MO for the AG City music festival,

a two day event. Again, I just barely made my booth fee, as it to was a first time event organized by the Harrisonville Chamber of Commerce and a regional veterans group. The event took place the same

weekend that World Cup was happening just 50 miles away and I believe that was the

cause of the very low attendance.

I enjoyed chatting with customers and other vendors, just as I would in a brick & mortar. It still allowed

me to get one-on-one conversations with the opportunity to answer questions and personally

explain the ingredients of my soaps.

Even though I did not make a return on my fuel and hotel expenses, I was able to make a connection and

obtain a wholesale order from a travel center in the area. That alone made it worth the trip.

Each event I've been a part of came with additional perks. Meeting other vendors, getting the

rundown on which events are profitable and which ones are usually a hit or miss. It has also given

me the opportunity to market the business beyond my small town.

As I sit here thinking back over the past few months, I’m reminded that starting Country Bathworks

hasn’t really been about just making soap. It’s been about meeting people and reconnecting with community.

This spring brought early mornings packing the van for events, carefully arranging displays every

Saturday, watching curious visitors stop to smell a bar of soap, and smiling when someone found a

fragrance that instantly reminded them of a favorite memory. I paid attention and could see

facial expressions change.

With each event or market, there was someone, a customer or another vendor, with a story of their own. 

Some conversations lasted only a minute. Others lasted much longer, because they had questions and I

could relate to their needs. Alpha-Gal and sensitive skin were at the top of the list for most.

During events I would watch Families wander through the booths shopping together, laughing as

they debated which fragrance everyone liked best. 

Some customers came looking for shampoo bars (production scheduled for fall), some

specifically for handmade soap. I can tell folks all day long “Once you try handmade you will never

want to go back to commercial soap again”. Others came looking for something they couldn’t

quite describe until they found it.

Comfort - Kindness - A familiar scent - A slower pace.

I realized something along the way. Handmade products have a way of bringing people

together. Whether it’s a shared talent or a personal care product. Here in the Ozarks, it’s considered

an opportunity for old-fashioned one-on-one friendly conversation.

Maybe it’s because every item carries a little piece of the person who created it, after all small communities

tend to support small business. Whether they are a neighbor, friend, family member, or even someone

new to the area. There’s just a story behind that one handmade item.

Or maybe, in a world that often feels rushed, people simply appreciate slowing down long enough to visit.

My time building Country Bathworks has taught me that the best part of owning a small business isn’t

watching the soap shelves fill with products.....It’s watching relationships grow.

• Every encouraging word.

• Every returning customer.

• Every smile.

• Every conversation.

They’ve all become part of this journey.

As summer begins, I’m already preparing new soaps, planning upcoming fall festivals, and gathering ideas for holiday gift bundles. Before turning the page to the next season, I wanted to pause for just a moment.

To simply say…

Thank you.

• Thank you for every visit.

• Every conversation.

• Every purchase.

• Every word of encouragement.

You may never realize how much those moments mean to a small business owner.

I certainly won’t forget them. The seasons will continue to change.

New soaps will be poured.

New fragrances will fill the production room.

And there will always be another story waiting to be told.

Until then…

I hope you’ll take time to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea during a summer sunset, linger a little

longer on the porch, and appreciate the simple blessings that often become life’s sweetest memories.

Because sometimes the richest life isn’t the busiest one. It’s the one filled with ordinary moments

shared with extraordinary people.

⸻

Until next season…

Your neighbor in the Ozarks,

Granny Sherry

Country Bathworks