Friday, July 29, 2011

I never did make it to the quilting room last night.  Well, I did walk in there but then I thought of all the things I didn't get done and felt guilty so I folded laundry instead.  LOL!

This morning I cut the new soap, I Remember Mama, and I am really happy with the way it turned out. I wasn't sure I would like the coral that I used with it, but looking at it now, I really like it!  The soap batter accelerated on me a bit.  That may be due to the other fragrance oil I blended with it.  Next time I think I may not blend it at all, but just use the one FO. 

Word of the day:
Saint Martha - Memorial
Saint(s) of the day : St. Martha - Memorial
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 11:19-27.

And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.
Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
(But) even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you."
Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise."
Martha said to him, "I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day."
Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world."

Thursday, July 28, 2011

First of all, I want to wish a very happy birthday to Kelli!!
It is humid and warm again. It was nice to have a couple of days' relief from the heat, though.

I made soap today. I've been wanting to do a series of family heritage type soaps. The one I did today is called. "I Remember Mama" It's scented with rose geranium. When I smell roses I always think of my mother. Her favorite flowers were actually gladioli, but she used to use gycerine and rosewater on her hands.

Here is a pic of them in the molds. I wanted the peach color to be more rose, but now I think I like this better. I found some rosebuds to put on top.

 Tonight is quilting night!!! Woo hoo!!

Update:  I finally got around to making a YouTube video.  It's been almost 2 months!  Where has the summer gone?



I also made two batches of laundry soap today.  Here is the recipe I use:
1 cup grated lard and lye soap  (guess you know what kind I use.)
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
1/2 cup washing soda
1 old laundry detergent bucket with lid (should hold at least 2 1/2 gallons.)
I measure out 2 gallons of water ahead of time in milk jugs that I've saved.  I pour about a quart of water in a stock pot (which I reserve just for making soap) and add the shredded soap.  I heat that until the soap shreds are melted.  Then I add the other ingredients and stir till dissolved. I pour that into the old detergent bucket and stir.  I then add the rest of the water - stir and set aside to gel.   You can just scoop it out of the bucket if you want, but I like to pour mine into old clean milk jugs so I can just pour it into the washer.  I use 1/2 cup for most loads and 1 cup for greasy farm clothes.  In the picture is part of the first batch I made. You can see that the jug on the right has emulsified.  Wish I knew how I did that.  The other 2 will need to be shaken each time I use the soap.  The fourth jug went home with Howard so Colleen can try it.  This soap is low sudsing so it works in those new front load washers. For fabric softener I add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the bleach dispenser in my washer.  You could also use one of those Downy dispensers.

 I don't always use the liquid soap.  Sometimes I just throw some soap shreds (about 1/4 cup loosely packed) in the washer and add a tablespoon each of baking soda, borax, and washing soda.  


Word of the day:
Thursday of the Seventeenth week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : Sts. Nazarius and Celsus, Martyrs (1st century), St. Victor, Pope and Martyr († 198)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 13:47-53.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away.
Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Do you understand all these things? They answered, "Yes."
And he replied, "Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old."
When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Yesterday was a beautiful summer day. No excessive heat or humidity. We could really use a rain. Some of the corn isn't looking very good.

I made some Bubble Cuppies the other day. I think they are really cute. Madison will be testing one for me soon. They are small bath fizzies with soap on top.  I got the idea when I saw the little plastic bath tub that Kelli uses for Madison.  These weigh about an ounce and these are scented with Vanilla.  I'm running low on one of the ingredients and when that comes, I will make more.

I logged on this morning to find another post from one of my new favorite bloggers.  It's almost like Kismet that I discovered her as I was beginning to develop some soaps honoring departed family members.  This talented lady not only makes vintage soap reflecting her Appalachian Heritage, but she is an excellent writer.  If you are a lover of stories from our country's past or if you just love handmade soap, you really ought to check out her blog Appalachian Soap and Heritage.  Her latest post is about lye soap and makes very interesting reading!

My friend Deb from Springvale Soap also posted a video link on Facebook about the benefits of goat milk soap.  Good stuff - but then, we knew that, didn't we, Deb? 



Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Seventeenth week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St Pantaleon, Martyr († c. 303)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 13:44-46.

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

I think the heat wave is finally on its way out the door. Hopefully it will take the humidity with it. I made a batch of a new soap in honor of Aggie.  It's a plain Lard & Lye bar - the same kind of soap Aggie would have used when she was raising her brood of 12.   I was looking for some vintage pics of Aggie with the kids. Gordon and Nancy stopped by on Thursday night and provided me with this.  Anna sharpened it and designed the label.  I am really happy with how it turned out.  It is listed on the website along with a brief synopsis of Aggie's life and her amazing strength of spirit.  This picture must have been taken in the late 40s because Harold looks to be about 1 or 2 here and he was born in 1946.  He's a little hard to see, but Agnes is holding him.

We had a gathering at Judy's house on Friday and we gave all the siblings a bar.  This label is a little different than what was on those bars.  I like this one a lot better.  In this picture are Agnes, Betty, Jane, Joan, Irene, and Harold - the first five of the 12 she would eventually have. In fact, Agnes was most likely expecting again when this picture was taken.

One of the other pictures Gordon had with him was of the old Allen country school that used to be down the road.  All of the kids except Marie and Howard went there.  I was sad when it was torn down.  I hate to see historic buildings disappear.  I'm really glad that someone took this picture!  When I run, I go by the spot where this school used to stand. 

I made some bath fizzies tonight.  We'll see how they do through the night.  It wasn't a great day to do them because of the humidity.  I also made another batch of the new soap.  I have to do a couple more batches of goat milk soap because I have some goat milk I need to use up.


Word of the day:
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St. Sharbel Makhluf, Priest (1828-1898), Saint Christina, Virgin and Martyr († c. 300)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 13:44-52.

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away.
Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Do you understand all these things? They answered, "Yes."
And he replied, "Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old."

Thursday, July 21, 2011

It has been really, really hot here this last week. The kind of hot that makes one consider Central Air.  That would never be an option here, especially since it only gets like this for about a week.  I don't remember it being this hot, though, since the kids were little.  We would close the drapes and not do anything all day.

This morning I went down and started on the east end of the basement.  It is such a pit down there and since I am the one that spends the most time down there, I am going to get it cleaned up.  I pulled things out from the wall and got the mop and bucket.  Our basement is always damp and I wish we could spend the money to get it professionally sealed, but I doubt that's going to happen.  So, my only option is to make it as nice down there as I can.  When it's not wet, it's not too bad.  It will never be a pretty space, but I can shoot for decent.

I made a batch of a soap we will be naming after my late mother-in-law.  Harold says that she used lye soap for laundry when they were growing up.  Today I made a batch with lard and lye and some fragrance oil.  I have requests out to the family for pics of  her when the kids were small.  So far no one has responded. It's not a fancy bar - no color or anything so I did a CPOP on it.  I grate up soap scraps to use for laundry and if this doesn't sell, I will use it.  I love homemade soap for laundry.

Word of the day:
Thursday of the Sixteenth week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church (1559-1619)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 13:10-17.

The disciples approached him and said, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"
He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.
To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
This is why I speak to them in parables, because 'they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.'
Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: 'You shall indeed hear but not understand you shall indeed look but never see.
Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.'
But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.
Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Monday, July 18, 2011

I worked in the basement for quite a while yesterday. I love packaging items and I lost track of time. When I came upstairs I thought it looked like it was going to storm because it was dark. And then I looked at the clock. It was after 9:00!!
I packaged up the Chai Tea and the Christmas Tree soaps and candles.

Word of the day:
Monday of the Sixteenth week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St. Frederick, Bishop and Martyr († 838)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 12:38-42.

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."
He said to them in reply, "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here.
At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

I haven't posted much lately, but I have been super busy! Been making lots of soap and we have started getting stocking orders in so from now until after Christmas is will be busy. Plus, the girls and I are training for the Panda Bear Run in August. Anna, Kelli, and I went up and tried out the route. Nicola's been training at home on her treadmill. I think she is going to love the rail trail route. I know I do. I have cantor practice tonight so I'm going to meet Anna, Kelli, and maybe Sam and the girls. We will not forget the bug spray this time. The weather should be great as it is not quite so warm and humid now.

Here are some pics of my latest soaps.   This is the Apple Jack 'n Peel

 This is the Chai Tea (the brown and tan)

 This one is Christmas Tree

This one I made last night and it's Rainbow Sherbet

This one is Country Apple

 I am almost out of goat milk so I need to pay a visit to Diane.

Our chickens came in.  We raise chickens every year for meat and then Sam has laying hens.  Madison got to meet our new visitors yesterday.  She wasn't quite sure what to think since the chickens at her house are much bigger.

The chicks will stay in the garage under a heat lamp until they're big enough to be moved to the chicken coop.

 
Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Fifteenth week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St. Clelia Barbieri, Religious and Foundress of Congregation (1847-1870), St. Henry II, the Pious (973-1024)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 11:25-27.

At that time Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

First of all, today is the birthday of my beautiful second born child - Melisa! We will be celebrating tonight.

This morning I went for a run and then made some Apple Jack 'n Peel soap.  Mmmmmmmm.  It smells like Autumn in here.  I love Autumn.  I actually love every season in its turn, but since I have to do Fall soaps during the summer, I am able to enjoy two seasons at once.

Got another order today, this one from Etsy.  We are starting to get inquiries about Christmas stockings and I've had a couple of orders so it looks like the stocking season will be starting early.  :)

Word of the day:
Thursday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St. Pantaenus, Father of the Church, (+ c. 216), Bl. María Romero Meneses (1902-1977)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 10:7-15.

As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.
Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words--go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.
Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Here is a picture of the Honey Blossom Soap from last night.  You can see where it started to gel in the middle even though I put it in the freezer.  I have heard some soapmakers say that partially gelled soap is the sign of a novice soapmaker.  That is patently untrue.  It has a lot to do with the recipe, the fragrance oil, and the additives.  This batch has fresh goat milk and that added to the heating up of the batch.  Partial gel does not affect the quality of the soap in any way.

Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St. Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr (1890-1902), St. Palladius, Bishop and Apostle of the Scots, (+ c. 450)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 10:1-7.

Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

I made a batch of Honey Blossom soap. It smells wonderful. I had planned to make some bath fizzies, but I forgot that I am out of one of the ingredients. Oh, and I got an order off of Artfire and two off of the website. Things are definitely picking up.

Sara Daniel is hosting an auction on Facebook and several of us are participating. It's great because it is drawing attention to our website and our Facebook page.  There are a lot of great things in the auction.  It can be found  HERE.


Word of the day:
Tuesday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Priest (1502-1539)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9:32-38.

As they were going out, a demoniac who could not speak was brought to him,
and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."
But the Pharisees said, "He drives out demons by the prince of demons."
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."

Friday, July 1, 2011

Well , I didn't get everything on my list done yesterday. The laundry is still waiting to be folded. And I didn't get any stockings made. I did get a batch of Peppermint Bath Fizzies made.  I also had enough left over to make some foot soak fizzies.  Remember the blueberry fizzies I made the other day.  Pftttt!  They fizzed on me. 

Today I made a batch of fizzies scented with Honey Blossom.  They smell wonderful.  I got a lot of packaging done and some things listed on Artfire and on the website.

Word of the day:
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - Solemnity
Feast of the Church : The Sacred Heart of Jesus, solemnity
Saint(s) of the day : Bl. Antonio Rosmini, Priest, Founder of the Institute of Charity (1797-1855), St. Gal, Bishop (c. 489-553)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 11:25-30.

At that time Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."