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."