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."

Gettin' Ready for the Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival

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Word of the day: 

Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) - 

Year B Feast of the Church : Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday Saint(s) of the day : St Paternus, Bishop (5th century)

 Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 20:19-31.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, «Peace be with you.» When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may (come to) believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Haven't had much blogging time lately, but I have been scrambling to get all of our soap done so it has time to cure by the Syrup Festival (which is not very far off).  So far I have 2 bins of inventory done.  Plus, I still have about 400 soaps to make for the goodie bags for Girls on the Run.  Next week.  Next week.

Lemongrass Goat Milk Soap

Monday I made lemongrass soap.  It turned out beautifully.  It should JUST make it in time for the Festival. Last week I also made Raspberry Jasmine Spice soap cupcakes (which Madison has her eagle eye on) and Honey, Oats, and Milk.  I am loving my new perfected recipe!!

Lavender Goat Milk Soap

Holy Week is always a crazy and stressful week for me.  The last two years have been exacerbated by having someone new administrating.  With the changes in the Roman Missal and the change in leadership for 2 rows running, it's been a big challenge.  The biggest problem is that we no longer know who is supposed to do what so it's a constant double check on everyone.  Hopefully, someday soon, we will be stabilized.

Yesterday we had the Chrism Mass down at the Cathedral.  About midway through I realized that it wasn't April 1, but April 3rd which means that yesterday was our anniversary.  Harold has been scrambling to get things ready for spring planting so he didn't realize it until he saw postings on Facebook.  Gotta love Facebook.  So we ended up going out for dinner at the Shepherd Bar.  I love Shepherd!!  You always run into people you know. 


Word of the day:
Wednesday of Holy Week
Saint(s) of the day : St. Isidore of Seville, Archbishop (+ 636)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 26:14-25.

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples."'"
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.
When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."
Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, "Surely it is not I, Lord?"
He said in reply, "He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me.
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born."
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" He answered, "You have said so."