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I make 2 lb batches, so fairly small. My first one when I didn't know any better was 1 lb and came out a bit harsh. Then I read somewhere that the bigger the batch the bigger the margin of error allowable, so I went to 2 lb batches. I bought an el cheapo digital scale that does grams- I really...

LOL!! Having done all of the above except for a bad gall bladder, I can attest to the pain involved! Labor just took longer than you spend in the barbed wire or with the horse on top of you. :lau That said, I did eventually have an epidural after 20 hours of labor with my son, and an epidural...

That is so cool! I would love to try tanning. I could also picture how that would go over with my SO... I'm not even "allowed" to use the sheepskins I bought :hide I used to sleep on one and the kids each had one to sleep on. So, I will learn and tan vicariously. What is the acid chemical in...

You are missed! Go to the library and say hi before you get snowed in for the winter! Let us know you are OK :D

I tried using the blender on my detergent today- I can't believe the difference. :D Very nice! I actually used it because my borax had solidified and I had to chip it out of the box in chunks. Ran it all through the blender and it is lovely.

I get my scents from Southern Garden Scents- they sell 1 ounce sampler vials- I think 6 for $25 or something like that. I like the variety and use 1 ounce for my 2 lb batches. Some of them are very lightly scented, some are really good. The patchouli is strong, the coconut is so light that my...

Yes, I use 1:1 sugar water- I find it sort of distracts them. I don't know what I will do when it is colder, probably not open the hive at all if I can help it. I'm still thinking of ways to winterize the hive.

I take the blender apart totally anyway when I clean it. Never stopped to think what else might fit on the bottom!

Ugh, that really stinks. Go outside in the dark and watch for the meteor shower that is supposed to happen tonight, maybe with a dog to sit on your lap. I can't offer any advise about moving since we moved ourselves over time using our own muscles and a horse trailer. It was a lot closer than...

I have moved to using sugar water instead of the smoker- mostly because I can't keep the darn thing smoking. Didn't think of an EO. But, I won't use Lemongrass :ep

:pop

I cure all my soaps 4 weeks before expecting anyone to use them except me. And we have so much cured at this point that even I don't need hand soap that badly. I freeze my soap to unmold it easily after the 2 days in the molds, but I *think* for the curing process part of it has to be water...

:D :D Grandma is fun- it would be better if they weren't half the coast away- they live in VA outside DC.

Well, got back from food shopping, and I always check the oils section for cheap soap oils. Or, even un-cheap ones that are different that I want to try someday like grapeseed oil and various nut oils. I found lard! I don't know how I never noticed it before, all nicely packaged in 1lb boxes...

Oooh, bacon soap... :drool

If you have a drilled well in VT, I would bet you have hard water! :lol: In Massachusetts we had what they called "clear water iron" which meant your water looks clear until it is boiled or it hits a surface that will stain. Then it turns unremovable red. We had to have a water softener. It also...

Ooh, I am certainly going to follow this thread! SO gets migraines from beer, wine, and some liquor. Would mead be worth a try? We aren't sure that it isn't the yeast that is the culprit, but I could drink it! :D

I am in! We are in a slow-motion free fall as a society, and how could that NOT be reflected in our economy? There is a pervasive me-me-me and rampant greed on all sides. There is a huge diminution of the middle class which is the "engine" of our consume-consume-consume society :somad There is...

I considered tallow or lard, but unfortunately SO is trying to be vegetarian. I'm sure she would smell the rendering process. Plus the only source around here would be the local supermarket- no real butchers that I know of. So it certainly wouldn't be free :(

Sigh. I didn't know about Seeds of Change... Ben and Jerry's was a big scandal around here when they sold out and we no longer buy it since there are several home made local ice-cream makers just around here. Burt's Bees- it just sounds wrong to put anything made by Clorox on your lips. :sick...