Soap, Soap, and more Soap

On Tuesday night I hosted a Relief Society enrichment night at my house.  The evening was refered to Goat Night.  19 women from church showed up at my house inspite of the snow and wind.  I was able to share with them my limited knowledge on how to make goat cheese, butter, soap and ice cream. 

While I was demonstrating the process of making cheese the sisters were passing around two jars of cream which they were shaking hoping to make butter.  It took most of the night but in the end we had two small pats of butter in our jars.  We had fresh cheese and butter to spread on our crackers.

Next on the program was soap.  We made a large batch of goats milk soap, about 4 lbs. which we then divided into empty juice containers.  The sisters were then able to use essential oils to scent their soap.  They each got soap to take home. 

The final product of the night was ice cream.  This was made using fresh cream and milk from the goat.  We made two batches, one being plain vanilla and the other was strawberry.  YUMMY

I was so busy with the evening that I forgot to take time to snap some pictures.  It would have been great to capture the crowd.

After everyone left, while I still had the soap makings out I took the time to make a second batch of soap.  I divided it between 6 juice cans.  Each was then individually scented.  I made vanilla almond, benzoin, cuccumber melon, pumpkin spice, lavendar, and peppermint swirl. 

After 24 hours I unmolded the soap and sliced it into nice round soaps.  Here are the results!

benzoin, pumpkin spice, cuccumber melon

Honey Almond, peppermint swirl,lavendar

six new scents of soap

These will need to cure for at least three weeks or more before they can be used but then watch out dirt! And with all the wonderful oils in these - coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil - my skin will be soft and smooth.

Then tonight I came home and found my shipment from Saffire Blue with my new molds and more scents.  I feel another soap making night coming on.  Any one want to join me?

Need more supplies!  

Need more soap!  

walk the walk

Do you walk like you drive?

I was observing the students on campus today as I was doing the mail run.  All the students heading North were walking on the right hand side of the walkway and all the students heading South were walking on the left. Or visa versa if you are watching them from the other side.  What I really mean is they were walking the same way they would drive, keeping to the right hand side and passing each other on the left.  It was almost like there was an invisible line down the centre of the sidewalk.

Is this an unwritten walking rule or is it just a matter of habit.  Try going the other way and you feel like a salmon going up stream.

I wonder in countries where they drive on the other side of the road if they also walk on the other side of the sidewalk?   hmmm?

Observe for yourself the next time you go out for a walk.  Which side of the sidewalk do you walk on, left or right?  What about everyone else?

Is this why we train our dogs to walk on our left side?  So they can be a buffer between us and the other people on the walkway.

Did you ever wonder why we drive on the right while the Englishmen drive on the left?  From what I understand the Englishmen found riding/driving on the left hand side of the road made it easier to draw your sword and fight or protect yourself. Most imperial countries followed suit.  The story goes that the French and Napoleon didn't like to do what the English did so they chose to drive on the right hand. Those countries controlled by France also took to the right.   African countries, as they gained their independence would also change so as to separate themselves from England.

In Canada, the Maritime provinces and British Columbia initially drove on the left, but changed to the right to make border crossings to and from other provinces and the US easier.   So even though we are still part of the Common Wealth, our driving is inspired by the French.

Hakuna Matata

Here at the university there is a long tradition of decorating "ole Jeremiah" the canon.  This happens almost nightly and sometimes more than once in the night.  There have been some real creative decorations but I think this one today is AWESOME!  They must have spent a lot of time preparing for last night's escapade. 

Who doesn't love THE LION KING?

101 ways to use Goats Milk

Last December we were given 2 pygmy goats for pets on the farm.  They are curious little things but not good for much of anything.  We spent the spring building them a pen to keep them out of trouble, especially to keep them away from the neighbour's flowers.

In June we acquired a Saanen goat who was giving milk.  I have spent the entire summer and fall milking her twice daily.  Zach, Talia and Amber have even milked her a few times. I bought a hand milker to simplify the process. She started out giving 3 litres of milk daily.  She is down to 2 litres now.  That is a lot of milk to drink! 

We have had to come up with different ways to use the milk.  We pasteurize it for the girls to drink.  Separate the cream for Rod's cereal, butter and ICE CREAM.  And of course there is GOATS CHEESE!  I have tried 3 different ways to make cheese - a crumbly cheese, spreadable and mozzarella.  I have flavoured it with salt, herbs and even fruit flavoured.  There is so much milk that I have even frozen it for using later.

My newest use for goats milk is SOAP.  Last night I made my first batch of soap.  I found a great site on the web where I can purchase lye and different oils and google and the library have provided information on the process.  The first batch has been processed and cut into bars and is now curing.

In 3-4 weeks I should have some soap to share with my family and friends.  I have found some interesting recipes that I want to try.  How does Hot Chocolate Soap sound?  How about Bubble Gum?  Lavendar?  So many recipes to try.  I need more supplies and more shelves to store curing soap on. 

Two ducks on a Pond

Widdle Waddle

Our property started out with a tiny pond the deer were using as a watering hole.  Last summer we had a fellow come in and enlarge the pond.  We were able to skate on it last year.  This summer with the drought we were down to very little water in the pond but the fall rains have improved that. 

When we had the pond enlarged we ended up with huge piles of dirt on the sides of the pond and trees removed and lying around the area.  Rod spent the summer moving the trees to another area but we never got around to landscaping the pond.  The summer had been spent keeping our new trees watered.

Now here it is November and the weather is cooperating so we finally have time to do some landscaping.  Rod created a pathway around the pond and stairs down into the water.  He put some large rocks around the edge.  We have been busy adding rocks to the sides to keep the banks from eroding. 

We also built a simple raft so we could paddle around and clear off the branches etc before the water freezes so that we will have a clear pond for skating on. 

 

Grandpa and Gracie

November 11 was a beautiful day with the temperature at 16C.  We took the little girls - Gracie, Sydney and Audrey down to the pond and Grandpa gave each of them a ride on his raft.  They had a great time.

We are sure having a great time living in the country.  

Grandpa and Audrey

Audrey, Sydney, Gracie

where has the summer gone?

Wow, is it November already?  I can't believe how long it has been since I have blogged.  Where to start?

In August Cody and Mimi and baby Hannah moved back to Ontario.  How excited are we!?!?  Cody is attending Queen's University studying to be an Engineer.  They bought a cute little house in Kingston and are busy making it their own.  We, Rod and I, were lucky to be able to take a few days in August to drive to Kingston and visit them in their new home.

September was back to school and the start of a big adventure for Gracie as she started Junior Kindergarten.  Gracie is the second generation to attend Gateway Drive Public School.  She is sure growing up.  Gracie loves to print her letters and colour rainbows.

September also saw Talia and Paul move to Ridgetown for Tal to start her VetTech program.  They are enjoying setting up house and starting this new stage in their life.  


October brought Thanksgiving and the arrival of our little grandson Evan William Merrill.  Evan weighed in at a whopping 6lb 1.5lbs.   He is such a peanut but growing quickly.

hours old

one month

And now it is November. Not long and 2012 will be over and we will be starting a new year.  I wonder what excitement 2013 will bring.

Summer Fun

What do you get when you cross a hot Saturday afternoon, a hose and a long tarp?  Some Summer Fun

On Saturday Grandpa came up with a fun activity for the little girls.  He pulled out an old tarp from the barn, staked it down on the lawn, added a small slide and a hose, creating our own little water slide.  At first the girls were hesitant, not knowing exactly what to do but Uncle Zach joined in the fun and showed them how it was done.  After they got started there was no stopping them.  They would have continued for the whole afternoon if the adults hadn't got tired. 

Sydney discovered how fun it can be to roll UP the hill and DOWN again.  

Life is so GRAND when you are a kid!!!