Busy Morning

Saturday Morning I usually try to get a few things done around here, because we don't do a lot in the afternoon, besides spend some time together and rest. Normally it's not a lot of things, just odds and ends that I didn't get finished up during the week, like put washing away if I haven't yet, sweep some floors or do a little bit of cooking for the weekend if I need to. This morning I was trying to catch up on things I didn't get done last week...so the little things like putting the laundry away and sweeping floors didn't get done. *giggle*

I made butter, and started some clabbor for cheese and started a new kind of cheese I haven't made before (feta) since we had an extra gallon of milk in the fridge...if there had been two I would have made mozzarella. Blanched some corn on the cob, took the corn OFF the cob and got it in the freezer, and took the soap I made yesterday out of the molds...and then washed the molds. I'm sure there were other little things in there, but I can't remember them at this time. LOL Needless to say I was busy...and while I do wish I had had time to do those other little things I usually do, at least I did get several things done that I was needing to do.

The soap I made is still in the blocks, because I've been having some trouble getting it cut without it looking wavy, so I thought I'd let it dry an extra day or two, and see if that helps it cut better...hopefully it doesn't make it TO hard to get cut up. LOL I know that it being wavy won't make any difference to how it works, but...I am just trying to make it look the best that it can, so want to keep trying new things till I get it right. I think I'm going to have to try making some without covering the mold cause covering it kinda messes up the tops as you can see in the above photo.

This time around, when I was making the soap, I played with color. The first block in the photo is actually suppose to be swirled...but till I cut it apart, I won't know how well that worked. I kinda thought once I poured it, that I may not have had it at a thick enough trace...so I'm not sure how well defined the swirls will be. May be trying that again and making sure it's thicker before pouring. Hopefully it will have pink and natural colored swirls in it when I cut it apart! :)

The 2nd block of soap is natural colored. I thought about doing a color in it...but didn't. Maybe next time I will when I use that scent.

The 3rd block is colored with turmeric. I was wanting a yellow color, and read several places that turmeric will make soap yellow...hmmmm NOT what I would call yellow yet, but...still a pretty color. I guess I should have gone with ground mustard after all (or least I think so...since I've not actually used it yet, I don't know for SURE that it would be yellow like I read either). LOL

The 4th block (dark pink) is colored with pink Australian Clay. I think I used to much of it(I used two teaspoons)...guess I'll forgive myself this time, cause it was my first time. LOL That block is actually going to be grated up and mixed with a batch of natural colored soap so I have pink flecks in my soap. :)

The last soap is colored (not that you can tell) with Green French Clay. I read something and was trying it on that block, so I'm wondering if that's why it's not exactly green...or if it's because the clay isn't real dark...guess I'll have to use it again and see if it works better doing it the way I did the pink bar. I guess soap making is a lot of trial and error. Just wish I could justify making it more often, so I could try several different herbs and spices for coloring it...cause I'd sure like to know exactly what color some of them actually will turn it...but as it is now, I think I'll have enough for a good long while with what I've made so far.

I will have to make more plain soap though...cause I will be using that for laundry soap...and that we will use a LOT faster I am thinking, that is if I like that soap. I don't need to waste the coloring agents in that soap though...course I guess I could use that "green" soap to try to make some liquid soap for the bathroom....hmmm have to think on that. If I do that, then I will have to make another batch of it, and see if I can get it greener. :)

Anyway, I'm sure I'll share a photo of the soap once it is cut into bars...especially IF the swirl one turned out for a change. LOL

If the feta cheese is good I'll let you know about that too...I had to drain it for several hours today, so got to use one of the bags my Mom made me for my birthday. I asked for them because the cheese cloth I've been using doesn't wash real well...it does better than the cheap cloth you buy in the store, but after awhile it still starts getting holes. I knew if I started making other kinds of cheese...like hard cheeses I'd need something better, so asked for them for my birthday! Thanks Mom, it worked great and fit over my colander perfectly!!! :)

Ok, now that I've bored everyone silly I guess I'll shut up for now. I wanted to document (somewhat) my soap process with trying colors in case I forget what I did later on...and this was the easiest way to do it. LOL NOW, I need to figure out what we can do with feta cheese...if we like it. That is besides just eating it plain of course...what can I use it in or on., THAT'S the question. LOL Guess I'm going to have to go googling, once I decide if I'm going to want to make it lots and lots or not. LOL

Have a great rest of the weekend!!