Words

Do you remember when your grandmother was having company and she had to tidy up?  She said she would give her house "a lick and a promise."  I miss those old fashioned sayings.  Today, it seems that every sentence contains the f-word.  Why?  Have we lost all of our skills at using the English language?  When you can tell someone to go to hell with a smile and make it look so inviting that they ask for directions, we don't need the f-word.  I know, everyone uses it.  "Would you jump off a bridge if everyone else did?"  My mom would ask us that when we told her that everyone else did something and we might die if we didn't do it too.  Yes, I became my mom a long time ago.  I hear the same words coming out of my mouth that she used.  Furthermore, I use the same words my grandmother used.  I have the phobia about people sticking an arm or hand out a car window while I am driving. The phobia was given to me by my grandmother.  "How would you feel if a bird came by and took off your hand or if we went across a bridge and you hit the side of the bridge and lost your hand?"

Dawnie

Lavender Soap with Citrus

I have some left over bits and pieces of citrus soap from trimming the bars of soap up and making them more presentable.  Those bits and pieces can be melted down and used to rebatch soap.  I prefer using bits and pieces in new soap batter.  It adds color and interest, and it is not ugly, like some rebatch soap can be.  Sometimes when I rebatch soap, it turns brownish. (all of the various colors mixed together make a brown color)  Even though I leave a few un-melted lumps of soap in the melted soap batter, it is still not as attractive as using the bits and pieces this in fresh soap batter.

I love the smell of lavender.  It gives me a romantic, clean feeling....................  Our grandmothers were known to use floral fragrances.  Lilac, rose, lily, lily of the valley, lavender, etc.  Well, I am a grandmother and I also love floral fragrance too.  Not only does lavender smell good, it is is said to help deter fleas.  This summer was a difficult summer for our dogs.  They had to be treated twice for fleas.  We even tried putting salt and diatomaceous earth all over the floors and the furniture.  It didn't seem to work and lavender soap would be a lot easier to deal with and it would smell good too---if it works.  When the dogs bring in fleas, I get bit.  The lavender soap is mostly for me. 

Back to the subject of the preferential fragrances of our grandmothers.  They didn't have the choices of fragrances we have today.  However, I don't understand why we want to make soap smell like leather, grass, dirt, tomatoes, lettuce, campfire, etc.  It may make for an interesting soap, but I don't want to smell like dirt.  I try to remove the dirt smell!  LOL  I know, these fragrances appeal to kids more than old women. 

I made a batch of lavender soap, with bits and pieces of citrus soap, and lavender buds.  I swirled some lavender color in the batter.  The background is a tad bit of lavender color, but it will probably change as soon as it cures.  I expect the color to go to an antique looking lavender.( a little pink and gray in the lavender color)   I used lavender essential oil, some lavender mica, and some lavender buds in the soap. I also used some ROE (Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract) which makes the white batter a little brownish, even-though I use a very small amount.  ROE helps keep the soap fat from going rancid.  I have seldom seen this in my soaps, but I have smelled the old fashioned lye soap in the hardware store and it smells like it was made with stale oil.  12.5 percent of the oils is organic unrefined shea butter which is a light golden brown in color.  Instead of water, I used raw cow milk from an Amish dairy for all of the liquid.

I think most people prefer lighter colored soaps.  Some soaps turn brown due to the fragrance oils (vanilla scents) and due to what additives are placed in the soaps; such as honey, or herbs.  I use a little titanium dioxide in my soap to help offset the brown colors.  What color(s) of soap do you prefer?

With this inside view you can see the lavender buds and the tiny specks of citrus soap. 

 

Thank you for viewing.  I hope you had a great week!  Dawnie

Please view my web store at:

http://www.custercottage.com

And visit my Etsy shop at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CusterCottage

More Chickens

 

Years ago my grandmother and I made several of these chicken potholders.  I find myself longing for some of the hand made items, or similar items I grew up with.  I made 2 more pot holders with a little bling.  They are for sale in my store http://www.custercottage.com  

I sell the pot holders to raise money for replacing my flock of chickens and fencing due to neighboring dogs.  I thank all that have supported me in purchases and in moral support. 

May you have a wonderful holiday season!  Dawnie

Home Made Pie

This photo is of my cousin and aunt.  My aunt is holding a pie she made.  It was taken at my grandmother's home in Downs, Kansas.  See the coffee pot in the far right on the table.  I love the apron!

I tried to merge my Microsoft word file with this blog.  I worked for a couple of hours and finally gave up for now.  I copied an antique doily and tried to merge a photo inside it.  The file is in my Microsoft word file and it turned out perfect, but I can't show you in this blog.  Maybe some day I can get them to merge.  LOL  Here is the doily............

I hope you had a great weekend.  I baked two batches of cookies and canned applesauce.  What fun things did you do? 

The photo above is of my uncle, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and great-great-great-grandmother.  The oldest one on the left looks like her teeth are missing and it is so adorable!!!!!!!!!!!
We may not all be beautimus in everyone's eyes, but we all have beauty!

Dawnie