Tuesday, April 17, 2012

It's been a really busy month what with Easter and Confirmations at the church.  I've been frantically trying to get inventory ready for the Maple Syrup Festival and I think I just may have it under control.  I am also trying to get the 700 soaps done for the race bags.  I have 519 made and have been packaging them at odd moments.  And of course there were the farm taxes - which I hate, but we actually got them filed without having to get an extension.

Yesterday I was looking forward to a session of soapmaking and after mixing the lyewater, I went to get the bucket batch to separate out some soap for color.  Grrrrrr, I was out of pre-measured batches.  So I didn't make soap last night.  But I did make it tonight!!  I made Geranio Rosa.  This fragrance oil has seized on me the last couple of times I've made it.  I have switched over to making soap with the lye solution and the oils at room temperature and the soap doesn't seem to set up so quickly.  That has made things a lot easier.  This batch turned out beautiful so far.  I did an "in the pot swirl."  I can't wait to cut it tomorrow so I can see how the swirls turned out. 

Word of the day:
Tuesday of the Second week of Easter
Saint(s) of the day : St Anicetus, Pope and Martyr (+ 173)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 3:7b-15.

 Do not be amazed that I told you, 'You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus answered and said to him, "How can this happen?" Jesus answered and said to him, "You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."