http://www.oswegorivercandlecompany.com/

Oswego River Candle Co., Fulton, NY (2026)

09/09/2026

It’s a rainy September day here on the river, and today was supposed to be a big day at the cottage—we’re putting a brand-new roof on! 🏡🌧️ Everything was ready to go, but the rain had other plans, so we’re waiting for a dry day to get started.

In the meantime, I’m tucked inside the cottage listening to the rain come down on the river and finishing up several candle orders. And YESSSS… I’m knocking out wax melts! 😂🕯️

There’s something pretty cozy about a rainy day here. The river outside, the rain coming down, wax melting inside, and orders slowly getting finished up. Not quite the day we planned, but honestly, it’s not a bad way to spend a September afternoon. 🌊🤎

09/06/2026

September has a way of settling softly over a cottage by the river.

The windows are still open to the warm evening air, a gentle breeze moving through the three-season room while the river drifts quietly beyond it. Smooth jazz plays in the background, the charcoal grill crackles with hickory smoke, and the cottage slowly fills with the scents of dinner—steaks on the grill, mashed potatoes and gravy coming together in the kitchen, and something sweet waiting for later.

It is one of those evenings that doesn't ask you to hurry. Dinner takes its time. Conversation lingers. The warm air coming through the windows reminds you that summer isn't quite finished, even as September begins to hint at what is coming.

Tonight, Four Sons Toasted Coconut Whiskey is being enjoyed over ice with dinner.

Made right here along the Oswego River at Lock 1 Distilling Company in Phoenix, it has a beautiful toasted coconut character layered into the warmth of the whiskey. The toasted coconut brings a gentle sweetness and a warm, inviting note that feels right at home on an evening like this.

But tonight, we decided to bring some of those flavors into the kitchen, too.

My partner made his banana bread, and if you've ever had his recipe, you may have noticed that it has an unexpected ingredient: mayonnaise.

Before you question it, there's actually a good reason. Mayonnaise is made primarily from eggs and oil, so when it's incorporated into a quick bread, it adds both fat and moisture to the batter. The result is a softer, richer loaf that stays wonderfully moist without making the banana flavor disappear. It's one of those little kitchen tricks that sounds strange until you understand why it works.

🍌 Toasted Coconut Banana Bread

Ingredients

- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 large egg
- ¾–1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips, optional

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Add the mayonnaise, egg, sugar and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, stirring just until combined. Fold in the nuts or chocolate chips, if desired.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for approximately 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

And because this is a river cottage, our kitchen has its own way of making things happen.

We still haven't replaced the oven, so the turkey roaster got called into service for the banana bread. There is something wonderfully cottage-like about that—having dinner going on outside, music playing through the open windows, the river just beyond the three-season room, and a little countertop roaster quietly doing its part in the middle of it all.

It isn't elaborate. It isn't perfectly planned. It's simply how an evening at the cottage comes together: using what you have, making something good, and letting the rest of the evening unfold around it.

And somehow, that loaf baked up beautifully.

Once it had cooled, we turned our attention to the glaze.

🥥 Toasted Coconut Whiskey Glaze

Ingredients

- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons Four Sons Toasted Coconut Whiskey
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 teaspoons water, as needed
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons shredded coconut, plus more for topping

Directions

Place the coconut in a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Toast, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant.

Add the butter and allow it to melt into the warm coconut.

In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, Four Sons Toasted Coconut Whiskey, vanilla extract and salt. Stir in the warm coconut and melted butter.

Add water, one teaspoon at a time, until the glaze reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.

Drizzle over the cooled banana bread and finish with toasted coconut.

There is something wonderful about taking a spirit you already enjoy and discovering what happens when you invite it into the kitchen.

Four Sons is lovely over ice, especially alongside a dinner cooked over charcoal and hickory. But in the glaze, those same toasted coconut notes take on another character. The whiskey brings warmth and depth, while the coconut becomes more pronounced against the sweetness of the banana bread.

It doesn't take much. Two tablespoons are enough to change the character of the glaze without making it taste like a cocktail.

And that's what makes cooking with spirits so enjoyable. Sometimes it isn't about adding a bold new flavor, but about giving familiar ingredients another dimension. A little whiskey in a glaze can take something as comforting as banana bread and make it feel like it belongs at the end of an evening worth lingering over.

Four Sons has a special place in this story because it is made right here on the river at Lock One Distilling Company. Our candles are made right here on the river, too. Two local makers, creating very different things, connected by the same stretch of water and the same sense of home.

What began with a whiskey made along the Oswego River became an inspiration for one of our candles. We took those warm toasted coconut notes and translated them into fragrance, creating another way to experience something that started right here in our own community.

And now, that same inspiration has found its way into the kitchen.

The whiskey can be enjoyed over ice with dinner. It can become part of a glaze later in the evening. And its toasted coconut character can fill the cottage in an entirely different way when the candle is lit.

There's something lovely about that circle—one local creation inspiring another, each finding its own place in the rhythm of an evening along the river.

Eventually, dinner will be finished. The charcoal will cool, the hickory smoke will disappear into the September air, and the music will soften.

And later, there will be a hot cup of coffee and a slice of toasted coconut banana bread waiting in the kitchen.

The windows will still be open. The river will still be moving beyond the three-season room. And the cottage will carry the lingering scents of dinner, toasted coconut and something sweet.

Maybe that is what makes these early September evenings so special.

Summer is still close enough to feel, fall is just beginning to arrive, and for a little while, everything seems to meet perfectly in the middle. 🍂🥥

09/05/2026

Took Clementine out for a little ride today. Absolutely beautiful out, even if the water is a little choppy. Definitely feels like perfect river cottage weather. I’ll take this kind of September afternoon any day. 🌊☀️💙

09/05/2026

My partner and I spent the afternoon at the New York State Fair! 🎡💙

I’ll be honest — the Fair has never really been my favorite place. The crowds and sheer number of people can make it a little overwhelming for me, and I don’t always find the experience itself all that fun. But I also realize that my perspective is probably shaped by the fact that going to the Fair was a yearly tradition for me growing up. I went as a child, year after year, so there’s a lot of nostalgia tied to it for me. My partner grew up farther away and didn’t have the opportunity to come to the Fair as a child, so we definitely experience it from two different perspectives.

That being said, I really do appreciate what the Fair brings to Upstate New York and the Syracuse area. There’s something special about the tradition, the nostalgia, the agriculture, the food, the entertainment, and especially the opportunity it gives local businesses and organizations to share what they do with such a large community. Even if the Fair itself isn’t necessarily my favorite place, I can absolutely appreciate the value it brings.

And honestly, what better way to start our afternoon than by finding a little piece of home? ❤️

One of our local favorites, Lock 1 Distilling Company, was there, and we were so pleasantly surprised to see one of our many favorite bartenders working! She knew exactly what we wanted, and in the middle of what can be a pretty chaotic event for me, seeing a familiar face and being somewhere that felt like home brought a little moment of calm.

And really, how can you not support your local businesses when you see them outside of their usual community setting? We love seeing the businesses we know and support here at home taking their talents beyond our little corner of Upstate New York. ❤️

From there, we made our way through the Native American village — probably one of my favorite exhibitions at the Fair. ❤️

Native culture has always fascinated me, especially because it was something I remember learning about in school and being genuinely curious about. There’s something different about walking through the village and seeing pieces of a way of life that existed long before the world we know today.

For a little while, it feels like you’re stepping outside of modern life and getting a glimpse into a time that has long since passed. Maybe it’s the history, maybe it’s the simplicity, or maybe it’s simply the feeling of standing in a place that connects us to people and traditions that came before us. Whatever it is, I find myself with this strange sense of longing for a time I never actually lived — a yearning for a world I can only experience through stories, history, and the pieces that have been preserved.

It’s one of those places at the Fair where I find myself slowing down, looking a little closer, and remembering that there was a whole world here long before ours. 💙

After leaving the village, we made our way down the Midway, taking in everything happening around us. The crowds, the vendors, the lights, the sounds, and of course, all of the rides made for quite the sensory experience. 🎡

Even though the crowds are probably the part of the Fair I struggle with the most, there is something fascinating about standing in the middle of it all and watching so many different people come together to enjoy the same tradition. Families walking from ride to ride, people stopping at vendors, the sounds coming from the games and attractions, and all the little moments happening around us really do make the Fair feel alive.

We wandered through at our own pace, taking in the sights before eventually making our way toward one of the Fair’s most iconic traditions — the butter sculpture. 🧈

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about seeing that display. It’s one of those Fair traditions that feels almost larger than life, and it’s the kind of thing that immediately takes me back to being a kid and experiencing the Fair through much different eyes. And, of course, there’s always that little bit of amazement in knowing that an entire sculpture has been created out of butter. 😂 It may be a little quirky, but somehow that’s part of what makes it such a memorable piece of the Fair.

We then made our way over to the Center of Progress, where we came across the absolutely massive sand sculpture! 🏖️

And when I say massive, I mean MASSIVE. The size alone was impressive, but once you started looking at all the details, you could really appreciate the creativity and work that went into it.

I was also very thankful that I wasn’t responsible for cleaning it up afterward! 😂 Because if bringing a little sand home from the beach is bad enough — you know, the kind you somehow continue finding in your bags and belongings years later — I can only imagine what cleaning up something like this would be like!

By the time we made our way through everything, I think I had a little bit of a different appreciation for the Fair. Maybe it still isn’t my favorite place, and I’m probably never going to be the person who happily runs toward a massive crowd 😂, but there’s something special about being able to experience these traditions, discover something new, support the people and businesses that make our community so special, and share the day with someone who experiences the Fair from a completely different perspective.

Sometimes you don’t have to love every part of something to appreciate what it means — and for me, this afternoon was a pretty wonderful reminder of that. 💙

09/04/2026

Goodnight, my beautiful, wonderful, amazing, river-loving friends! 🌙✨ I hope you all have a peaceful evening, a cozy night, and sweet dreams. May your hearts feel full and tomorrow bring a little sunshine your way. 💙🌊

Thank you for being here and supporting this little candle company that I love so much. Sleep well, friends — I’ll see you tomorrow! 🌊🦦✨

09/02/2026

I could have sat at those windows at 114 Reserve all morning.

Outside, it was one of those rainy fall days I absolutely love. Dark clouds hanging low, rain coming down steadily, thunder rolling in the background, and every so often a flash of lightning lighting everything up for a second.

Inside, it was warm, comfortable, and cozy—the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to settle in for a while. I had a French vanilla iced coffee in hand, the rain was putting on its own little show outside, and honestly, I couldn't have picked a better place to spend the morning. ☕️🌧️

I met up with Jim Farfaglia, and what was supposed to be a coffee turned into nearly two hours of conversation.

And somehow, it never felt like two hours.

Everything just came naturally. There was no agenda, no awkward small talk, no searching for the next thing to say. We jumped from local history to community, books, people, ideas, stories, and life—and somehow every topic led naturally into the next.

Jim is a local author and someone who has given a lot of himself to this community. He has a real appreciation for the stories and people that make this area what it is, and I really enjoyed getting to know the person behind all of that a little better.

There’s something special about conversations like that. The ones where you can laugh one minute, get unexpectedly deep the next, and then somehow find yourselves talking about something completely unrelated five minutes later.

And I think 114 Reserve was the perfect backdrop for it. There’s something about that space—the big windows, the natural light, the comfortable atmosphere—that makes it easy to slow down and actually enjoy being there. Add a rainy fall morning and a good coffee, and I was in no hurry whatsoever.

One of the things I’ve come to appreciate most about running Oswego River Candle Co. is that it keeps putting me in rooms with interesting people and giving me reasons to hear their stories.

Today, I got to hear a few of Jim’s.

And I'm really glad I did. 🕯️❤️

Now that I’m properly caffeinated, though, apparently fall has decided it was only visiting. The rain has moved on, the sun is out, and it has warmed right back up to what feels like a summer day.

So… I might just take Clementine out for a little ride on the river. ☀️🚤

09/01/2026

Today we finally stopped at The Angry Barista! ☕️

They’re a local vendor truck parked outside the Fulton YMCA today, so we decided to give them a try!

I got the Pumpkin Roll 🎃 and my partner got the Kitchen Sink, and WOW… both were absolutely delicious! 🤤 Definitely one of those stops where you take your first sip and immediately think, “Okay… we’re coming back.” 😂

But I do have one complaint…

WHERE WAS THE ANGER?! 😂

Because they were SO kind and friendly! We got hugs, high fives, big smiles, and such a warm welcome. 🥹❤️ I went to The Angry Barista expecting at least a little anger and instead got the Extremely Friendly Barista. 😂

So after our first visit, I can officially say:

☕️ 10/10 drinks
❤️ 10/10 people
🫂 10/10 hugs
✋ 10/10 high fives
🥹 10/10 experience
😡 0/10 anger

Honestly, I think someone needs to have a talk with whoever named this place. 😂

If you’re around the Fulton YMCA today, go check them out! 🚚☕️ They’ve got delicious drinks, they’re incredibly friendly, and apparently the anger is currently out of stock. 😂❤️

We’ll definitely be back! ☕️🎃

09/01/2026

Hi! 🥹

How are you?!

I’ve been thinking a lot today, and honestly, over the past few days. I’ve been thinking about this page, the business, the people who have supported me, and how strange it is to realize that there are now more than 1,000 of you here.

A few months ago, there were about 800 of us. It felt like a little group of friends hanging out in one corner of the internet. I shared what I was making, places I was visiting, the river, the communities along it, and whatever happened to be on my mind that day.

Now there are more of you, and I’ve realized that as this page grows, you’re getting to know a little bit more about the person behind the business, too.

And I think that’s something I want to embrace.

For a lot of people, putting themselves out there is easy. For others, it takes a little more courage. I’m somewhere in the middle.

I’m an extroverted introvert. I genuinely love people. I love connecting with people, hearing their stories, supporting other small businesses, being involved in the communities along the river, and finding ways to make a difference.

Once I get comfortable with someone, I can open up quite a bit.

But getting there isn’t always easy for me.

I struggle with social anxiety, and I also struggle with depression. I don’t share that because I want anyone to feel sorry for me, and I don’t think it defines who I am. I share it because I think there’s value in being honest about the person behind what people see.

You might see me at an event talking to people, meeting another business owner, helping with something in the community, or standing behind my table talking about candles for hours.

What you don’t always see is how much energy it can take for me to get there.

And sometimes, after giving so much of myself, I need to go home and be alone for a while.

That doesn’t mean I care any less.

Actually, I think it’s often because I care so much.

I care deeply about the communities along the river. I care about the small businesses, organizations, local traditions, and the people who make those communities special.

The amount of support I’ve received from these communities has meant more to me than I probably have words for.

That’s one of the reasons I try so hard to make Oswego River Candle Co. about more than simply selling candles.

I want the business to be part of something bigger. I want to support the communities along the river that have supported me. I want to celebrate the places I love. I want to help other people when I can. I want to shine a little light on the businesses and organizations doing good things.

And I want the things I create to have a story behind them.

I’m a creative person, and creating is something I genuinely need to do. I think it’s part of how I see the world around me.

I think in stories.

I see a place, a memory, a person, a little moment along the river, and my brain starts wondering what it could become. I want to capture it, give it a feeling, and somehow turn it into something other people can experience, too.

And honestly… I have to tell the stories.

That’s why, as simple as a candle might look sitting on a shelf, it isn’t always as simple as putting fragrance, wax and wicks into a jar and slapping a label on it.

There are ideas that keep me up at night. Ideas I can’t stop thinking about. Things I want to create, stories I want to tell, places I want to celebrate, and ways I want to connect all of it back to the communities along the river that I love so much.

Sometimes my mind is overflowing with ideas.

Sometimes it’s overflowing with doubt.

And sometimes it’s both at the exact same time.

Lately, with the business growing, I’ve been feeling a lot of that.

I’m incredibly proud.

I’m incredibly grateful.

I’m excited about what’s ahead.

And, if I’m being honest, I’m also a little scared.

Because sometimes success doesn’t feel the way you imagine it will.

When something you’ve poured yourself into starts growing, it suddenly feels very real. There’s more responsibility. More expectations. More people watching. And there’s a part of your brain that starts wondering, “What if I can’t keep doing this?”

But I’m learning that being scared doesn’t mean I don’t believe in what I’m doing.

And needing to step away sometimes doesn’t mean I’ve stopped caring.

I can love what I’m building and still have hard days.

I can want to make a difference and still need to hide away for a little while.

I can love people and still struggle with being around people.

And I can be proud of how far I’ve come while still figuring out where I’m going.

So as this little corner of the internet continues to grow, I want to keep doing what I’ve always tried to do here: share the things I’m grateful for, celebrate the communities along the river, create things that mean something, and let you in on the stories that inspire me.

I’m not going to pretend I have everything figured out.

I don’t.

I’m just going to keep trying my best.

I’m going to keep creating.

I’m going to keep supporting the communities along the river that have supported me.

I’m going to keep showing up when I can.

And when I need to step away for a little while, I’m going to try not to feel guilty about that either.

Because maybe there are some of you sitting behind a screen right now who understand exactly what I mean.

Maybe you’re creative.

Maybe you care a little too much.

Maybe you want to make a difference but sometimes need to disappear for a while.

Maybe you’re proud of yourself and scared at the same time.

Maybe people see one version of you, while there’s a whole lot more happening underneath.

If that’s you, I hope you know you’re not the only one.

And to the 1,000+ people who are here now…

Thank you. Truly. 🥹🩵

Thank you for supporting my business, but also for supporting the communities I care so much about.

Thank you for being here for the heartfelt posts, the community moments, the candles, the river, and everything in between.

You may be following a candle company, but there’s a whole person behind it.

And as more of us find each other here, I hope we get to know a little more about each other, too.

Because there’s probably a whole lot more behind your screen than the rest of us know.

So tell me…

What’s something about you that people might not know just by looking at your life from the outside? 🩵

08/31/2026

🌊 So… I've been thinking about something. A lot.

If you've been following Oswego River Candle Co. for a while, you've watched this little business grow. What started with me making candles and figuring things out as I went has turned into something much bigger than I ever imagined. Along the way, I've met some incredible people, worked with local businesses and organizations, and built relationships with customers who have continued to support me through all of the changes and growth.

And lately, I've been thinking about what the next chapter could look like.

What if Oswego River Candle Co. had a little home of its own?

That's where Oswego River Mercantile comes in.

I've had this idea sitting in the back of my mind for quite some time. At first, it was really just one of those “wouldn't it be cool if…” ideas. But recently, we've started taking it a little more seriously. We've been looking at building costs, getting prices, thinking about the layout, and figuring out what it would actually take to create the little place I've been imagining.

Right now, we're looking at approximately $20,000 to make it happen the way I'd want it — a small building with a really nice, cozy interior, parking, a walkway leading to the building, and heating and air conditioning so it's comfortable whether we're dealing with a snowy January day or a hot summer afternoon.

And I don't want it to be a traditional storefront.

Honestly, I don't want to spend my life sitting behind a counter waiting for people to come through the door. I want the Mercantile to be self-service.

I picture someone being able to pull in, walk up to the building, see inside before they even enter, and feel comfortable coming in on their own. They can browse, smell the candles, take their time, find something they love, pay, and head home.

No pressure. No sales pitch. No expectation that you have to make conversation.

Because I know not everyone wants that.

Sometimes you want to walk into a little shop and talk to someone. Other times, you just want to quietly look around for ten minutes without having to explain yourself to anybody. I think there's something really comforting about creating a place where both kinds of people are welcome.

I'd want safety to be a big part of the design, too. Large windows and good visibility would allow you to see into the space before entering. There would be cameras and good lighting, and the layout would be designed so the space feels open rather than closed off.

And yes… I'm realistic enough to know that an unattended shop means someone might eventually steal a candle.

I'm not saying that's okay. It isn't.

But I've also thought about it pretty simply: if someone needs a $25 candle badly enough to steal it, they probably have a whole lot more going on in their life than I do. I'd obviously rather they didn't, but I'm not going to build an entire community space around assuming everyone is dishonest.

I'd rather start with a little bit of trust, while still being smart about protecting the business.

One thing I really love about this idea is that I don't see it replacing the local shops that have helped me along the way. I still want Oswego River Candle Co. to have a presence throughout our community, and supporting the businesses that have supported me is something that's important to me. ❤️

The Mercantile would simply be another piece of the puzzle — a little home for the brand, while my candles continue to make their way into other local shops too.

I'm not announcing that Oswego River Mercantile is opening tomorrow. There is still a lot to figure out before something like this could actually happen.

But this idea has officially moved beyond “wouldn't that be nice someday?”

We're actually looking at what it would take to build it.

And before I get too far into my own head, I really want to hear from you.

If Oswego River Mercantile existed along the river, would you stop in?

Would you enjoy a small, self-service local shop where you could come in, browse at your own pace, and discover something made locally?

And if you walked into a place like this, what would make you want to come back?

Because maybe this little idea I've been carrying around for a while isn't just a dream anymore.

Maybe it's something we could actually build. 🌊🕯️❤️

08/30/2026

The last 24 hours have been a little chaotic.

I was up until 2 AM this morning making candles for today’s event, then got back up at 9 AM to make even more. I’m pretty sure I made close to 50 candles specifically for this event, and somehow I sold more than half of them. Considering those candles didn’t even exist yesterday morning, I’m going to call that a win.

This is pretty much what happens when you mix ADHD, procrastination and a candle business. 😂

But honestly, today ended up being about so much more than selling candles.

The rain came down, but people still showed up. Some came for the donkeys, some came to see me, and a whole lot of people came just to spend the afternoon together.

There was something really nice about sitting underneath my tent with candles burning while the rain tapped against the roof. Listening to the pitter-patter while people walked by eating, laughing, talking and enjoying themselves was strangely peaceful.

I also got to see so many people I haven’t seen in a while, which might have been one of my favorite parts of the day.

Katy and the CNY Neurodivergent Social Group — I’m really glad I got to be part of this. The community you’ve created is something pretty special, and I loved seeing everyone come together.

Erin’s Angels of CNY — it was so good seeing you guys again. I always love running into you and getting a chance to catch up.

Cosmic Crystals & Crafts — after following each other for almost TWO YEARS, we finally got to meet in person! It was so nice putting an actual person to the name and getting to spend some time together. It’s funny how you can feel like you already know someone before you’ve ever actually met.

Diane and Brayhope Farm — thank you for bringing everyone together and giving us a place to spend the day. Even with the rain, it turned into such a genuinely good afternoon.

There were so many other familiar faces throughout the day, too. Friends I haven’t seen in a while, people I’ve gotten to know through the community, and people who stopped by simply because they recognized Oswego River Candle Co. on the table.

And I really do appreciate every single person who sees value in this little business and in what I’m trying to accomplish with it. Whether you buy a candle, share a post, stop to talk, recommend me to someone, or simply take the time to support what I’m building — it matters.

I love making candles. I love the river, the scents, coming up with names and watching an idea turn into something someone gets to take home.

But I really love the people that come along with it.

Today was rainy, exhausting and a little chaotic — but sitting there listening to the rain, watching everyone enjoy themselves, and seeing so many familiar faces made it a really good day.

Thank you for being part of it.

Oswego River Candle Co.

09/09/2026

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