Tips and Wisdom of Soap Making

Today In Connecticut, it is a rainy dreary day but a great day to make soap! I got busy collecting my ingredients and equipment to make a batch. My scent of the day was Citrus and Honeysuckle. I came up with this scent while on a trip to Port Jefferson, Long Island in NY many years ago. We ventured into a soap shop and they had a hand lotion bar where you could make your own scent. I came up with this combination as it was summer. 

As I was making my soap I gave thought to how many years I have been making my soap. It's been over 25 years now. Not much has changed but I have learned and changed some things along the way, like pouring my lye and not breathing as I do it! The chemical reaction that quickly takes place releases fumes that can be overwhelming for just about a minute, so I take a deep breathe and hold, then walk away.

I purchased these measuring cups with a funnel like spout pourer some time ago that makes pouring great!

Using an old enamel pot is the best. I only use this pot for soap making. As you can see it's warn but still turns out a great batch of soap.

Using silicone liners is a time saver. Not all my molds have them so using freezer paper works the best. Lining the base first and then the sides works the best. 

The best discovery I have made to date is the submersible mixer! This has literally been a game changer! This mixer has cut my mixing time ten fold! I get a trace in a matter of a minute or two versus an hour with hand mixing! 

I once had a hand thermometer until the digital was invented! My glass one burst one day so I began looking into a new one and discovered this! It has a stainless steel probe that is safe even to submerse in the lye. It also is a game changer.

Also adding certain oils into already poured soap if it is a fast setting oil is another game changer. Some oils set very quickly, such as fragrance oils can begin setting your soaps before you even pour them. Essential oils take much longer to set. Knowing what oil you have and how it will behave in your soap making process is key. Often when purchasing oils from a reputable soap supply company they will tell you how your oil will react.

My journey in soap making has been a long and winding road, one that has taught me so much as I have gone along. I've tried other recipes but often come back to my long loved version that has taught me so much as I have gone along. Learning, adapting and changing is always a big help to what we do!

 

Ouch!

While collecting eggs yesterday, I came across this very large egg! All I could think was, "Ouch! That had to hurt." The smaller egg next to it is an extra large sized egg so you have a scale of just how big the egg was! This happens because of two possible scenarios. The first being that it was laid by a young hen who may not have all her reproductive organs formed just right. Her body fills two yolks into the developing egg. The other possible reason could be a chicken at the end of her egg laying cycle also may have done it due to the same reason. Either way that had to hurt. 

 Not always does an egg that large contain two yolks but in this case this one did. I have seen eggs this large with just one, but still! Ouch!!! It made for a fine breakfast so that was a good thing!

They're back! Our farm fresh eggs!

 

It's as if our chickens switched a switch and we have eggs once again! The longer days filled with light and the warmer temperatures have sent our chickens into a laying frenzy once again!

We have large to extra large eggs in many colors of the chicken rainbow. We have over 50 chickens at the time and a number of different breeds which lay a variety of eggs in a multitude of colors! Our eggs are sold by the dozen for just $4.00 a dozen. Please call the farm phone @ 203-881-1986 to arrange a contactless pickup.

 

It just takes a drop!

This time of year is probably one of my favorites! The beginning of the end of winter. The ice begins to thaw, the day light gets longer, the trees begin to stir and begin their photosynthesis process as they begin to send their sap up through their trunks to the canopy as food to open the buds and make their leaves. The trees make more sap than they can use, that's where tapping and extracting sap comes into the picture. 

We have multiple trees tapped and the nights are cold and the days are warmer which causes the sap to move up the tree. We have Sugar Maples on the property but you can tap Red Maples as well. 

It will take 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup.

You can find Tim outside this time of year, who still has not built his evaporator mind you, but still spends countless hours burning his sap as he does this and that around the yard  for endless hours. 

Finishing off the sap requires lots of watch time. This is the delicate time that it can burn if not watched closely. The sap at this point must reach 219 degrees for proper syrup density.

Here is some of Tim's finished product! It's some work but it is worth every moment! 
 

This is Tim's final product! Dark, thick maple syrup! It's some work but worth every minute! Pancakes are on the menu for sure!

Preparing for Spring Planting

It's time to get those seeds planted! As Spring stirs in all of us after a pretty rough winter from coast to coast, it's time to prepare, but there is hope at the end of the tunnel, I can see it, we all  have something to look forward to. Here our Parsley has popped up and I found this one funny, like it was wearing a soil hat! These were planted on Feb 10 and are growing quickly! 

Our Basil has popped as well! 

It's like little soldiers ready for action! Coming to a salad near you!

Our Dill to the right was planted last week and is just popping up. 

I just love this mini greenhouse that was gifted to me by an old friend. Currently I have it in a south eastern facing window. This gives it needed light and the little greenhouse traps in humidity and stays nice and warm for hours.

I got this mini greenhouse seed starter at a local garden shop for cheap! It has 3 vents, one on the top and two on the sides! It holds 50 cells so you can plant a lot! This week the tomatoes and peppers have been planted. We are well on our way to getting ready for Spring, warmer temps and getting back outside!