Sunday, December 5, 2021

T Stands for Soap Making & Bald Eagles

   Hi everyone, Another Tuesday is upon us. You are most welcome to join us for T over at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's --link in my sidebar.

   Several of you in comments last week mentioned you hadn't heard a bald eagle sing. I searched for an audio and found the perfect video.


 I also ran into this audio that I found interesting-what Hollywood has done in movies to the eagle call. Click on the first audio bar

    This past week "our" eagle pair has visited often-and I keep forgetting that now is their courting season and their eggs usually hatch around mid February here in southwest Missouri





    I never tire of seeing or hearing them. I read they usually live around 30 years. This pair has been here for quite a few years already as the previous owner of this home told us about the pair.

   Sunday I made soap-with a detergent free baby buttermilk melt and pour soap base. I have learned over the last year on how to infuse herbs into the soap base and then strain and pour. You keep the temperature of the soap around 135 degrees or a bit under for 40 minutes. One can really get the benefits of the herbs in the soap this way.  In the past I would only add essential oils and soap colors, as most herbs and flowers, will mold in these bars However for some reason calendula flower petals do not, but I prefer this method better to infuse the properties of herbs and flowers and then strain.

   I made lavender bars and I also infused calendula and dandelion flowers. These two batches I did not add any soap colors, but did add essential oils to each batch. 

  I have followed this author online for her herbal recipes for several years now, this is her newest book. She tells how to infuse the herbs, and what dried natural plants to use for colors in your soaps. I also learned to add a little honey to the soap which also gives more suds to the bars. So I added a dark wildflower honey to both batches. If interested in melt and pour I highly recommend this book, I learned so much in this one.


This soft yellow color comes from the dried calendula and dandelion flowers I used a fine strainer but some of the bits still came through a little.

Lavender flowers being infused-I ended up adding a few more flowers


calendula and dandelion flowers getting ready to be infused







My amaryllis is growing since I showed it to you the last time and you can see one of my bird feeders to the left-it is a heavy ceramic piece, that I bring in every night-so as not to tempt the squirrels and other night critters into breaking it on me-smiles I also bring in that tall niger seed feeder as well.


  I was going to make homemade eggnog but I am never crazy about the raw eggs in the drink. I don't care for any of the store bought eggnogs any more-so many preservatives and other additives and too much sugar too. So I grabbed one of my very favorite egg nogs-does have a bit of alcohol-but really delicious over ice in one of my handmade pottery glasses


I decided I wasn't up to getting out my little Christmas tree and decorations this year. It is quite the chore to dig it out of my craft room at the moment too. My husband is Jewish so I put up the Christmas tree for me when I do. and to make it worth all the efforts I usually would put it up Thanksgiving weekend. 
    I did get out my paper bags and the battery tea lights though. There is the perfect ledge for them to sit on in both large windows. Looks pretty cool when it's dark


and you know I am all into the 17 and 18th century (I would time travel back there if possible)  here is a lovely video with music from Townsend and Sons 

Traditional Holiday Music by Log Cabin Fire 




Happy T and new week Everyone

44 comments:

  1. Your soaps look so beautiful, well done! And thanks for the song of the bald eagle, so lovely to hear and see it calling. Happy T day, hugs, Valerie

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  2. Essential oils (EOs) have gotten out of sight when it comes to price. What I used to pay $4.00 for has now gone up to around $11.00. I couldn't believe it. So infusing herbs in your soaps will certainly keep the cost of EOs down. Really worth the price. Your soap is lovely.

    I guess you make what you are most comfortable making, or what you learn first. I first saw lye soap made at a Renaissance Fair craft show. The lady was making it and I watched her for a long time. I asked her all kinds of questions, which she gladly answered while she brought the soap to trace. I bet she wished she could cheat and use a stick blender because it's much harder when you have to do it by hand. I had never heard of melt and pour until someone gave me a kit to make it one year at Christmas. I had a friend who made the melt and pour, so I gave the kit to her. She was thrilled. She gave me a bar, but I wasn't crazy about it.

    I made egg nog once, but I cooked mine, No raw eggs for me. I think it's wise to buy it, though, because it was a TON of hard work. I think yours looks great, even with the alcohol in it.

    Sorry if this is a bit disjointed. I had to take two breaks while was writing this. Thanks for sharing your melt and pour and your egg nog with us for T this week, Kathy.

    I played the video and Bleubeard went NUTS when he heard the eagle. Squiggles slept through it. Fun to hear one and see "yours."

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    1. before retirement I picked up a couple books on making the lye soaps-decided not something I would make in my kitchen, and I was afraid of the lye--the melt and pour soap bases have greatly improved over the last 10 years or so-they no longer sweat and they are also a harder bar now too. I always purchased high quality bases and the detergent free bases too. I have a large stash of essential oils on hand, I would pick up a few when I bought supplies at wholesale supplies plus and they usually gave me a choice of free essential oils so that was nice.
      yes egg nog takes allot of time and would be better to cook the eggs too. Loved hearing about your kitties when they heard the eagle sing-hugs

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  3. I have always said you make the prettiest soaps anywhere! I’m also running out of a desire to do the usual Christmas tree this year. But my husband always wants one so we keep doing it. First comes the hunt for just the right live tree, he won’t accept an imitation; then the expense and work of getting it home, into the house and decorating it. I am truly *over* all of this, but alas it will happen. I’m sure it will be lovely but it gets harder every year. I’d be willing to take this year off especially with Covid on the uptick.

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    1. I agree as seniors hunting and cutting down a christmas tree is allot of work-but once in the house I am thinking it is really wonderful to enjoy. I always used to enjoy a live tree. hugs

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  4. Thanks so much for including the vocals of the bald eagles. I didn't know that they sounded that way. I've seen them quite a bit (thank goodness they have come back) but don't think I've ever heard one. And I forget too that they mate and their eggs hatch early. That must be tough. I've never made soap so it is interesting to read about. I hope you enjoy your eggnog drink this season and happy early T day. Hugs-Erika

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    1. Good morning Erika, when I first heard them sing I was totally surprised at their pretty song. they do screech loud at times too.
      I have been making this type of soap for many years now-I enjoy it and makes nice gifts too

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  5. I wish I lived closer enough and bought some of your handmade soaps!! Enjoy your eggnog, Kathy :-)

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    1. Thank you Angie-years ago I had an Etsy shop and I did sell soap and a few other items. I had a long time customer that ordered several dozen of totally free from any scents. I bought seperate molds and pans just for his soaps. He finally found a store bought soap that he could use.
      I was not good at marketing and I didn't want soap making to become work-but stay as fun

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  6. You are blowing me away, Kathy! I love this post so much and will going back to it often just to Relax by the fire and to listen to the holiday music. Your soap is amazing. Wow, I love those molds! Your paper bags and tea lights will be such a festive decoration for the holidays. And, who knows the eagles may enjoy them too. I surely enjoyed listening to their calls here on your video, but was surprised that their songs were so sweet.

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    1. Hi Mary, I am so happy you are enjoying this Holiday music video by the fire too. I was totally surprised with the eagles calls too when I first heard them. It is very loud too-when they sit up on top that tree I can here them in the house even with the doors closed

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  7. The soaps looks beautiful and must smell good too. Love to see the Eagle awesome you have eagles in your garden, and lovely. Happy T day.

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    1. Hi, thank you, yes the soaps do smell really nice. we are so thankful to be able to view this eagle pair often-

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  8. Knowing nothing about artisan soap-making, I really enjoyed the combination of your post and Elizabeth’s. So interesting to learn these two different recipes, and how the aromas are infused. Also, I loved the eagle video.

    best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. thank you so much Mae I just bought a couple bars from a long time blogging friend-now only on fb-of her christmas soaps-made with lye-she used some really nice oils so it was very very creamy-but her fragrances were a bit too overpowering for me so will probably gift the other two bars. soap making for my is a craft and I really enjoy the process

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  9. Your soaps are very professional looking. I have always wanted to try soap making but I don't need anymore hobbies at this point in my life. I have loads of calendula from my garden that I dried. I used to make face cream but now I just stick with coconut oil as it is less greasy. I loved seeing your process. Maybe I will eventually give it a try.
    Love that Christmas song. I was just telling my littles the other day that I love the classic Christmas songs instead of all the new pop variations. Doesn't feel like Christmas without them.
    Happy Tea Day,
    Kate

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    1. Hi Kate, I really enjoy the older traditional Christmas songs too. I have been making the melt and pour soaps off and on for at least 20 years now. my skin is so sensitive that I do better with my own soap. calendula is such a soothing herb I love those and will be growing some next year. Happy T(ea)

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  10. Wow! I never imagined eagles sound like this! 30 years, wow.

    Gah. Ingo still has not made soap! Years ago he bought the ingredients... Honey - good idea!
    Hm. Maybe I take over?
    Oh, yours are so pretty!

    Raw eggs?! Eww. One of my Uncles, I was told, in war time, sneaked to the chicken and had raw eggs. Gives me the creeps.

    Great video, have a nice T-Day!

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    1. Good morning, glad you enjoyed the video and the eagles. I you add honey to melt and pour soaps-just a little one teaspoon per 16 ounces of soap

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  11. I got rid of my Christmas stuff when we downsized. We had always spent the holidays at my sister's house. Since downsizing we have spent the winters away until Covid.

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  12. Very cool hearing the bald eagles sing. Your soaps sound lovely and your soap molds are pretty. As are your luminarias. Happy T Day

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  13. Your soaps are beautiful. We have eagles around here too, but we never see them that close. I'm kinda glad, as I worry about the safety of my goose.

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    1. Hi Debra, I don't know if the eagle with bother your goose-he is pretty large

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  14. What a lovely post! I really loved hearing the eagle. We have eagles that hunt here and I hear their shrieks high in the air. (Or perhaps it was the cries of a captured prey). But I had never heard this song.
    Your soap is beautiful. It doesn't matter that you weren't able to strain the liquid completely. It looks much more 'artisan' this way.
    I had never heard of melt and pour, but your soaps look really professional.
    Your amaryllis is looking promising. Don't forget to show us when it flowers.
    I have never made eggnog, but since I have fresh eggs from our own chickens I might give it a go.
    Happy T-Day,
    Hugs,
    Lisca

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    1. Hi Lisca, fresh eggs would make perfect eggnog I always loved it-my farm girl Grandma would make it from her eggs and milk and cream around Christmas time sooo good.
      that's neat you have eagles too-they can shriek pretty loud as well.
      The melt and pour soap bases are so much better now, and they hold up a bit longer too than before. I got into it cause I am allergic to so many store bought soaps, and I was selling soaps for awhile in my etsy shop-and I am learning new ways to make nicer soaps too Happy T

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  15. So many great things in your post. Love your soaps and luminaries. I prefer the store bought egg nog too for safety sake. Eagles are so majestic. Happy t day

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  16. That is a great vidi on the Eagle. In the movies when they show and Eagle and then their sound, they use a red tailed Hawk. So most people don't know the song of the Eagle. Your soap looks fabulous.

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    1. Yes that was news to me what the movie people did-change the call of the eagle-that's sad really

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  17. that's a very interesting sound they make, I played it for the kitties but they didn't respond. Love your paper bag lights, they look so pretty, as does your soap. I have dabbled in soap making over the years, yet another craft to take up space in my house lol. Happy T Day! Elle/EOTC xx

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    1. I am the same, I always like to try different craft things so my craft space is pretty packed. Happy T

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  18. A very interesting post Kathy of varied topics. I am marvelled by all the different crafts you know about especially where you take advantage of all the natural resources you have on hand. I did enjoy the eagle calling VC...quite a shrill call but not over loud yet I am sure it carries for quite a distance. It is good to hear that your eagles are nesting again and may it be so for many years. Vivid nature on your doorstep...you are so lucky! I have no Christmas tree this year either just a few bits and pieces set out. Take care. Amanda x

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    1. Good morning Amanda, thank you I mix up my crafts and bounce around quite a bit. We are blessed to be able to watch this eagle pair from our inside our home-amazing hugs

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  19. Kathy,to translate you have to have Google translate on your computer

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  20. Kathy, don't worry if there are any flower residue left in the soap, I suppose it will serve as a spoliant for the skin.

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