a big (little) family

Trying to maintain my sanity and live to blog about it.

  • Home
  • this is us
  • this is me
  • how we met
  • the story of us
  • birth stories
  • Our Curriculum

Time to make soap.

March 9, 2013 by Adrienne

Yesterday was soap making day. I made a double batch of cold-process soap, and separated it out into three batches: lilac, peppermint, and a men’s soap called Sandalwood Bay.

IMG_4306

My house smelled interesting. I’m not sure I’d recommend all three scents together.

IMG_4307

Lye water. Fun stuff.

IMG_4308

Blaine’s idea. When my stick blender had to go back to the company for repairs, he suggested I use this. I thought he might be onto something. After not reaching trace (a thick pudding-like consistency) for an hour and a half, (something that usually takes less than 15 minutes) I gave up, poured into molds, and thought I’d botched my first batch – and it had to be the one I’d documented with the camera. I’m not sure if it was using the stirrer or personal error, but I’m not so sure this was the best method.

Soap making seems like such a feminine, pioneer, industrious business. You know, this:

Photo Credit

But when you use your husband’s drill with a paint stirrer instead, it feels more like this:

Photo Credit

Instead of feminine and lovely, I felt like I was ought to conquer the soap. But the soap won, at least momentarily.

IMG_4309

I was afraid to look this morning, fearful it hadn’t set up since it hadn’t reached trace.

IMG_4310

But it did. Whew.

IMG_4314

Cut it into bars, set it aside to dry for a month, and we’re in business.

IMG_4315IMG_4316

It’s soap.

← The Way They SEE It: TOS Review
READS from EGM Educational Systems, LLC: TOS Review →

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Life, Projects, Soap

About Adrienne

A homeschooling mother of ten, ages 18 and under, I chronicle life, laughs, struggles, and lessons learned as I raise a larger-than-most sized family and try to laugh about the craziness.

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    March 9, 2013 at 11:10 am

    Yeah Adrienne, They look beautiful……Roxanne

  2. Lanita says

    March 11, 2013 at 4:00 pm

    that’s wonderful, they look awesome. I need to make some more Sandalwood bay.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Looking for homemade soap? I make and sell handmade lye soap. Use the email contact me option above and I’ll let you know what varieties I have in stock and prices.

 

PicMonkey Collage sidebar

A big (little) family

My Blog Posts in your inbox

Blog Archives

 

PicMonkey Collage sidebar

Follow on Bloglovin

 

 

© 2022 a big (little) family · Log in · Website by Black Hills Web Works