Friday, September 21, 2012

I spent the morning blending a new fragrance oil for our fall products. It brings to mind the crunch of leaves in the fall, the freshly turned earth in the fields, a touch of maple and some other fantastic scents. It reminds me of our beautiful country road in the fall and so I have named the scent in its honor - Autumn on the County Line. I made a batch of candles and will post a pic of those when I have the labels. They are sage green and smell so wonderful.

 I usually make soap on Mondays, but I made another batch today using our new fragrance so that it would be cured in time for our October 27 craft show in Carson City.  Here is a pic of it in the mold.  I can't wait to cut it tomorrow!

Saint Matthew, apostle and evangelist - Feast

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9:9-13.
 

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

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.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

I made a batch of Cider Mill soap yesterday. I think with the higher percentage of goat milk, I am going to have to force myself to wait an extra day to unmold it. I also need to remember to get the loaf mold into the refrigerator as soon as it's poured. Yesterday's batch heated up - not too bad, but I could see a little difference in the top. Also, when I cut the loaf I could really smell the ammonia. When the liquid is all water, I think it evaporates faster. The thicker goat milk needs more time. The soap looks fine, but it was very soft when I unmolded it today.

Word of the day:
Tuesday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day : St. Elisha, Prophet (9th century BC)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5:43-48.

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Well, I finally got to make soap last night. I made Pumpkin Spice (sorry Deb). I make our Autumn soaps in the summer because our craft show season is insane starting with late September (when the stocking orders begin to roll in too.) I upped the goat milk on this. The lye concentration was 6.5 ounces of water and 16 ounces of goat milk. I put the batch in the refrigerator to keep it from gelling. I took it out this morning and it is really oily. I can't tell if the zap I am getting is from lye or fragrance oil. We shall see. The soap began to heat up a bit after I got it out of the refrigerator. I used no coloring, but swirled it with a cocoa powder mixture. I have used this in bar soap but it did not turn this gorgeous shade of orange. Perhaps the oven processing made a difference in the bars. I love the way these turned out. I am hoping the the moisture really is oil and not something else. Time will definitely tell.

Word of the day:
Saturday of the Sixth week of Easter
Saint(s) of the day : St. Francis Caracciolo, Priest & Co-Founder of Congregation (1563-1608)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 16:23b-28.

On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father.
On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you.
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God.
I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

Monday, August 11, 2008

On the lowcarb front:
I have strayed badly from my lowcarb lifestyle. This isn't the first time. You would think that I would learn my lesson about it being easier to stay on track than to get back on track. Harold is gone on a fly-in trip so I have a whole week to focus on the things I need to do.

On the homefront/business front:
I have carved out this week for myself. At the moment I am making a list of everything I would like to accomplish this week. Housecleaning and decluttering is at the top of the list. Today's project will be the laundry room. I also have a set of electric grubbies that I need to make to fill an order. Then there are the ever present Christmas Stockings. Monday is also laundry day and soap making day so today has pretty much filled itself up. Oh, and I want to set some potpourri to cure for October's Applefest show.

I can feel fall lurking just around the corner. I am ready for fall. I love the smells of burning leaves and all things apple and pumpkin. My house smells like apple jack and pumpkin crunch and I just love it!!! I am off to start a batch of candles. Will update later.

God bless the troops!