Saturday, December 12, 2009

Doing My Part For A Cleaner World

So what do you do on a chilly, drizzly day?

Well, if you're Mr. Moon, you grind a bunch of venison and change the oil on your wife's car and then you go hunting. Yay, Mr. Moon!

And if you're Ms. Moon, you take some of the ground venison and make chili and you visit on the porch with Kathleen and then you try to make soap.
That's what I'm doing right now.

I have a weird feeling that I have not measured things properly. Right now I'm in the "Using mixer, blend until tracing" part of the process. And if I did not measure properly, it will never turn into soap and I will have wasted a lot of fats, oil, and lye.
But the good news is that I didn't burn anything with the lye and nothing exploded. Always a plus!
I'm not sure exactly what sorts of soap I am going to make. I have ground up rosemary and have rosemary oil to try and make soap of that because Lon says that rosemary is very good for the skin and also, rosemary, according to Kathleen, is good for the third eye and as we all know, rosemary is for remembrance. Those are all very good things.

And I have ground rose buds and oatmeal to make a rose/oatmeal soap and I have lemon oil and can grate lemons for a bit of lemon soap and Kathleen brought me loofah, which she grew and cleaned to put in the lemon soap. I love the loofah in the soap. It's like having a little gift leftover when the soap is all gone.
Oh! And I want to make some lavender soap! Of course. Maybe just plain, pure lavender that Lily can wash Owen with.

The first and only time I ever made soap was a year ago in January. Read about that here if you like. I was so high on that soap that I didn't think for a second that I wouldn't make it again for almost a year, but that's life. And better late than never, right?

I've taken pictures as I've gone along and I'll post them if the soap does indeed thicken and turn creamy. If it doesn't, I won't bother.

Oh. I hope it does. I remember how good my house smelled when Kathleen and I made that soap almost a year ago when she brought it over to cut. Heaven.

So that's what I've been doing today. What have you done? Anything fun? Was it Christmas-y?
When Kathleen got here with presents and some soap that she made last week I told her that I haven't done one thing to get ready for Christmas. She's been crocheting and baking and making soap and beading earrings and I don't know what all. She's the damn Christmas Elf, that girl! She even makes beautiful bags to put her presents in.

She looked at me when I said that I'd done nothing to get ready for Christmas and said, "I'm shocked! And this is different than last year how?"
She knows me too well.

And yet, she still seems to like me. I have no idea why.

I hope some of my soap is good enough to give to her. I gave her some of the cobbler and made her a cup of tea. She seemed to like that. I just like her being here. I love her for teaching me how wonderful real, homemade soap is and for bringing me molds and plastic to line them with and lye. And if the soap doesn't turn out, it's not going to be her fault. She is a scientist and a witch, as I pointed out in that post about my first soap-making experience. I am just a cooker of soup and never follow recipes.

Well. We shall see. While the soap is hopefully turning into something resembling, uh, soap, I am going to go out and pick arugula for tonight's salad. Arugula smells so good when you pick it.

I wonder- hmmm- arugula soap? Eh, probably not.

I'll let you know how this turns out.

Love...Ms. Moon

P.S. At least the chili looks good.

P.P.S. I have decided that as much as I love Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me on NPR, I cannot stand Amy Adams and that fake laugh she has. Go away, Amy! You annoy me. Give me Paula Poundstone and Roy Blount, Jr. Okay? Thanks.

P.P.P.S. I do not like Bobbie Conner's Parent's Journal on NPR AT ALL! Not any part of it from Bobbie's voice to the stupid theme music. That show bites it.

P.P.P.P.S. Really. I going to go pick greens now. In the rain. To make salad.

P.P.P.P.P. S. It still doesn't look like soap.

29 comments:

  1. I love that calling somebody a witch is a good thing with you, that Mr. Moon changed the oil on a day I presume is like our miserable one here, and that you're making soap.

    To answer your question, my quilt group had a cookie exchange last night which was Christmasy for the Christians, Hanukahy for the Jews, and winter solsticey for the atheists. We are a wonderfully diverse group. And then I promptly delivered all cookies to friends and neighbors because holy MOLEY I don't need any sweets around.

    BUT, the real reason I'm commenting is to ask you a question. The Good Man (thanks for all your comments today!) has requested a yellow cake with chocolate frosting for his birthday, and I have both farm fresh and grocery store eggs in my refrigerator. Do you think that the taste of farm fresh eggs is off-putting to somebody who is not obsessed with natural food? I made pancakes with some a while back and thought, "Wowza there's a strong egg taste in these" but for me it was fine. But in yellow cake? Oh, I do not know. What is your advice, sage one? :)

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  2. I love this all. You're making REAL soap with LYE! I'm VERY impressed. Wow. It sounds wonderful. I hope hope hope it turns out. I love your Kathleen. Of course she loves you. I can smell the delicious soaps already.

    I made roasted veggies with rosemary today from my own plant that I grew from seed. That made my third eye happy.

    Love your PSes too.

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  3. OH K grew her own Loofa! I love her I love her I love her. I tried that this year, but the season sucked for long growing gourds. They must be so fun to grow and then use. A miracle!

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  5. PS!
    I loved the first blog too about soap. I wish you guys did sell it. All the combos sound perfect. And a Church of the batshit crazy label would be so cool.

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  6. I'm impressed you got that much done! I went to the gym. That's about all. I just can never get warm these days. It takes my energy away. Love, Glim.

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  7. Nola- You know, I don't notice any real difference in the taste of my eggs with the eggs I get at the store except that they taste, eh, fresher. I think this is a case of "the best will have to do." Make the cake with your farm eggs. It will be richer and have a more golden color. That's what I think. But don't ask me. I can't even get my soap to turn into soap. Maybe I should add an egg.
    Just kidding.
    And I have to tell you that it sounds to me like you might have a good man indeed there.

    Bethany- I am TRYING to make soap. So far...not so good. And roasted vegetables with rosemary sounds wonderful. I grew my rosemary, too. Isn't it a lovely plant? And of course Kathleen grows loofah! And everything else. She's amazing.
    And if we ever sold soap, it would have to be under the label of Sittin' On A Porch Homemade Soap. I think Kathleen may already have that one licensed. She is, after all, a witch AND a scientist.

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  8. Both the soup and the soap sound wonderful--I had frozen pizza and am doing laundry in my borrowed house. I think I am close to finding an apartment though...the woman there who is co-owner of the big old house reminded me so much of you that as soon as I saw her, I thought of you! I'll be living in their basement, if everything works out...

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  9. I need a hobby and follow recipes, so maybe I should give soap making a whirl.

    Today I worked for 5 hours. Picked a new template for my page, created a blogroll, and have laid around watching it snow and snuggling with my animals.

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  10. Wow--she grew her own loofah! And makes soap and beads earrings. Wish she lived in Texas.

    Your soap making sounds like so much fun. Good soap is a daily joy. Lovely to start the day with something that feels good and smells good and makes you good too.

    So when are you going to take up candle-making? It's got a lot in common with soap-making.

    Do whatever Christmas you want to or not, make your own traditions, show love to the ones you love in your own way. Wear turquoise and sparkly shoes and a tiara. So your day belongs to you.

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  11. Thank you for your advice! I shall use the best eggs, and if he falls in love with me on the spot and proposes, you shall be invited to the wedding. (No need to pack your bags though!) :)

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  12. I want some lavendar soap for Christmas!!

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  13. Oh, I would LOVE some lemon soap. I can imagine that aroma right now and it is heavenly.

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  14. I worked yesterday and today. Decidedly un-Christmas-y. Tomorrow we put up our tree, though. The kids will like that.

    I love handmade soaps.

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  15. Glimmer- Well, it's not THAT cold here. We just think it is.

    SJ- Just make sure you have a window! And a good one!

    Ms. Dish- Well, that sounds productive enough for anyone.

    Kathleen Scott- Eh, I don't care enough for candles to go there. And my soap? Well, I will discuss it tomorrow. And I will get through Christmas. Probably wearing overalls, not a tiara, but I will keep your advice in mind.

    Nola- I'll come marry you! What do you have to do to perform marriages in Louisiana?
    (Make him angel biscuits- you will never be rid of him.)

    Jo- If it turns out, I will send you some. Don't hold your breath.

    Rachel- Turns out that smell isn't all that's important.

    Michelle- Lots of sick kids tonight?

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  16. You are so funny! Marriage is not on my horizon in the slightest, but if it were then I would certainly celebrate in the Church of the Batshit Crazy! :)

    Angel biscuits? I am so not a southerner and my biscuits are less than heavenly. If I ever find a man I want to not lose, I shall come to you for biscuit lessons.

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  17. Lots of windows...they are a must for Charlie the cat to look out! And all have bars on them, except for one, so I can get out in an emergency. Thought that was good planning ;)

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  18. Heavenly handmade, homemade soap. Did it only once because I don't know how to restrain myself when it comes to recipes. So I figured I needed at least to double the recipe which ended with me and my kitchen looking like a witch in distress. Even the cats were laughing I am sure. That was way back in the sixties when we made candles in milk cartons and also the regular tapers hanging them in the kitchen with a broom handle between two chairs, and the place between the incense and the candles and the soap smelled like one of the those Berkeley shops that had tiedyed shirts and other semi legal paraphernalia.

    I stick to homemade bread, btw I hope your chickens won't take offense at my comment on my blog.
    Just tell them I was kidding, but I am not when I tell you that I love you and I wish I were there drinking martinis and making soap with you.

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  19. Nola- Well, angel biscuits can be made for one's own delight. I think if you do a search on my bog, you will find the recipe.

    SJ- Good!

    Allegra- What a beautiful post it was, too! I remember those milk carton candles. And do you remember macrame? Oh my.
    I wish, I wish, I wish- we were sharing company right this second.
    I do.

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  20. Ah, shortening. Have you made without shortening? All angel biscuit recipes I find include it and it's not my food ...

    Soul we're having flooding here and I hear it's coming to you. Stay dry!

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  21. Sending hopeful sopanification vibes your way! Mmmmmm....lavender soap.

    A totally agree about Amy Adams. I can do without her and Mo Rocca. Love Paula Poundstone!

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  22. Ms. Moon, I read some where that lavender products shouldn't be used on boys, there's something in there that increases levels of estrogen.

    I love arugula! My mom used to grow patches of it in her kitchen garden when we were kids.

    Curious how the soap turned out.

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  23. I hope your soap turns out. One of the best soaps I have ever, ever, ever smelled was a lavender/rosemary blend. I would have never thought to put them together but I would love to go through life smelling like that. Ahhhh.

    And I learned something on here today. I never knew that people grew loofahs. How on earth did I make it to almost 42 and never know that? Hmmm.

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  24. Hey MM,

    Love the idea of learning how to make something... something useful and yet fun. I hope it looks like soap soon!

    Yes, it certainly does sound like Kathleen is the Christmas Elf! Next time she comes to visit, tell her to sprinkle some of that pixie dust on our place as she passes. I haven't done a thing either.
    xo pf

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  25. Nola- I actually saw a healthier version of shortening at the local Co-op the other day. Can't remember the brand. BUT, I say make them with butter if you want! Again- the best will have to do!

    Grasshopper- Sopanification did eventually happen. Now if I haven't just made it with too much lye which I am a bit worried about...
    Well, we shall see.
    And I'll take Mo Rocca over Amy Adams any day. For some reason, he doesn't annoy me as much. And really, I don't mind Amy except for that LAUGH. That weird titter she has. Argh!

    Angie- In my mind, an increase in estrogen is always a good thing, even for men and boys. Okay. Sort of kidding. As to arugula- it is one of the easiest things in the world to grow here. It's a virtual weed. A yummy weed.

    K- I added some orange and grapefruit to the rosemary. We shall see how that turns out. It's fun to experiment.
    And yes, loofah is very much grown and it is a gourd.

    Petit Fleur- You'd think people like Kathleen could influence us in a more positive way, wouldn't you? Ah well. She does what she can.

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  26. Paula Poundstone and Roy Blount, Jr. are my favorites on Wait, Wait, too. I also like Mo Rocca and Tom Bodett.

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  27. You've talked about making soap so much on your site that you should do a soap giveaway. I want some of Ms. Moon's Soap!

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  28. i have to confess ..i dont like soap..but your oils and all sound wonderfull..aragula salad..

    she pics greens in the rain..thats so her..wonderful

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  29. Joy- I'm with you.

    Rebecca- We shall see how this turns out. It could happen!

    Danielle- You don't like soap? Ah, but you've never had Kathleen's soap. It is heavenly and perfect.
    And that salad was delicious! Arugula, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, a few greek olives and I made a vinaigrette with olive oil, lots of garlic, balsamic vinegar and dijon mustard. It was the best.

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