Recent content by calendula

I use Potassium Hydroxide to make liquid soap. I used to grate up my bars that I'd made with Sodium Hydroxide and melt them in water, but it never becomes a smooth, liquid soap for me. If I make my soap with Potassium Hydroxide however, I only need to dilute it with water, simmer it on the...

Blaze orange trees seen across the corn field.

I had lived in Medford for about 10 years, but just recently moved out to the middle of nowhere. :) It's an Owen address. Good to meet you. :)

I am in WI also. What area are you in? I'm in central WI, sort of between Eau Claire and Wausau.

My latest canning excursion was apple pie filling. Unfortunately, I overfilled a couple of the jars and the filling spilled out, causing failed seals (but at least that means I get to make pie now).

Lesa, that's awesome! :thumbsup Nature is cool. :)

From what I understand, it is fairly difficult to make your own essential oils at home since most of them are made by steam distillation. That is something I have always wanted to try myself, but I think you would need a lot of plant material to work with. I did find this article at...

Hi, I'm sorry I missed your question way back when! :hide Yes, we used the other shoes for planters. I take the kids shoes that they outgrow (so fast!) and plant flowers in them. They are super cute! From what I know about birds, their sense of smell isn't the greatest, so I wouldn't worry...

The KrisTea soap is from me, hope you enjoy it! :)

I tried making a hot toddy last night because of this thread...it was very good! ;) Now I'll have to try that apple pie recipe. ETA: And I just found this recipe in my email today too! Recipe: Hot Toddy With Brown-Sugar Apples By Judith Hausman We now have a few local corn whiskies in the...

Well dang, I guess no more cheap wine for me. I guess I'm an expensive wine-o.

I have been craving hot apple cider lately, but I only like that once in a while. And I love a cup of chamomile tea before bed.

That's kind of what I was thinking too. I like to drink wine, but I normally drink homemade or at least better quality brand. I bought the White Zin on impulse because it was on sale and sounded good--I believe it was Arbor Mist. Bad idea I guess!

Oh wow, had my first migrain in 6 months. It was a bad one, and it started at work with the auras. I couldn't see my computer screen. :( Luckily the aura went away before I had to drive home. Then the headache actually set in. I almost don't mind the headache as much as the aura because at...

Yes! I always figure my cost per bar because I sell some of the soap that I make. Depending on the types of oils you use, it can be as cheap as 17 cents a bar. You will have the initial costs of equipment (bowls, scale, molds, etc...) but a lot of that can be purchased cheaply second-hand or...