FINALLY!

Boy oh boy! It is very difficult locating all the necessary items to make old fashioned cold-processed soap. Geeze!!! After over a month of searching for ingredients and supplies, and finally having to order online, I was all set to go this weekend.

Yesterday, I made a batch of lightly scented rose shea soap. I used a nice wooden mold that my really wonderful husband had crafted for me a few weeks ago. Today, I made a second batch of a basic hard soap which I will use as the base to my homemade laundry detergent that I've been making for well over a year now. I did scent this soap with my favorite lavender/patchouli oil combo. I didn't have a nice wooden mold (yet!) for this one so I used a clean empty half-and-half carton.

I had been ordering my basic hard soap from a really nice small company online, however I really felt it was something I could and should be doing myself.

Hopefully they end up being safe for use! I did pH test the first (rose scented) batch today and it is still too high to be considered usable, however the pH level can lower as the soap cures. I'll re-test it again in a few days and cross my fingers that it works.

I know I was a sight to the neighbors....who already see our family as weirdos. When I mixed the sodium hydroxide into the distilled H2O, I went outside to do it due to the horrible fumes that come from mixing these two. (even with the fan going and the windows and doors open!) The neighbors were out and there I was in my slippers, baggy bottoms, long sleeve mismatched shirt, long yellow rubber gloves, big safety goggles....crouching on the driveway stirring my pot while moving around the pot in an attempt get upwind to avoid the fumes.

Our oldest daughter had helped me with much of the first batch and I think that she mostly did it out of a strange curiosity as well as hope for some more material for her "dirty mountain hippy" jokes. (guess who she is referring to?) Later in the day, both she and our Parish Priest (and I) had fun poking fun at me.

We have two science fair projects going on this week. Thankfully my husband does those. We are also going into the final week of rehearsals before the musical. (our two daughters are in it) My parents are coming to visit to see the musical. Other than the normal weekly schedule, that should be about it this week.

I'm glad to have my first batches of cold-process soap made. I dream of a day when I'll be living in my dream-home-earth-ship and won't have to work outside the home and can stay home tending animals, digging, and making many things myself...and volunteering too!

However, I know how blessed I am and am enjoying where my life currently is. I look forward to teaching second grade next year and I especially look forward to finishing up this school year!

God Bless.