Using Colorants in Soaps

 

I've struggled with soap colorants for years. You would order them, the company would guarantee them, some would work and some would not, until I discovered Mica colorants! These are natural colorants, not chemical! Mica is a mineral that does not break down in the chemical change of soap in the process of saponification. It's a translucent mineral that in some cases, is dyed but holds that color in the harshest of soap making processes!

                                     

I did a layer method here that I was very pleased with. This is a Lavender Soap made with Lavender essential oil and a Lavender Mica. I am so pleased with the way this soap came out!

The cherry on the top of my changes to soap making also comes with this cutter! It's a game changer on how the process can be efficient and uniform in cutting my bars! Of course I would love to get one of those nice multi wire ones but for now this one is just fine! At the perfect setting it cuts a 4 oz bar perfectly!

We are Turkey obsessed!

To say I am obsessed is an understatement! These little ones have my heart! I have read and researched everything I can find on the Royal Palm turkey breed. Most importantly that they are a Heritage breed and of special concern. The breed is classified as being on the "watch" list with the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. So, making sure we get this right is the greatest concern to us.  

The chick we hatched is the smallest one in the picture, or little "Ricardo Shilly Shally". Not sure what sex it is yet.

 Soon it will be time to head out to the coop as they begin to round their 6 week mark. They have been taken off the heat lamp and just have their "Chick Plate" to keep them warm as their feathers are coming in beautifully. So far at least 2 are acting like Toms, but we shall see! 

Moving on to new equipment...

Soap making after 25 plus years has really evolved and so has the equipment. I recently gave away all my old molds after I tried these new molds with silicone liners! No more lining my liners with parchment paper that would leave creases in my soaps, a pain to pull off and just not my idea of how I wanted my soaps to look. I was gifted these and wow! You literally turn them inside out and your soap comes out smooth and amazing! 

I did a test batch with this Oatmeal, Milk and Honey soap. My soap recipe makes 8 pounds. It filled two molds and about a third of the other which I will use for soap balls. 

Wax paper over it to keep the heat in as it saponifies, which is a fancy word for saying the fats and the lye water have to come together and make soap through a chemical change, but when they do, you get soap!

 I added an old towel to help hold in the heat and in a few days, we have soap! I wish this blog had a scratch and sniff option because it smells amazing!

So what was in that incubator?

.

So our incubator experience turned out to be quite a disaster. In the first week our incubator failed causing me to call my friend and run to her house at 10:30 at night to borrow hers. All she had was a small mammal one available so I transferred the eggs into that and hoped for the best. I struggled to keep the humidity just right. The best was far from what happened here but we did have some success. These chicks are above are Black Copper Marans that hatched.

However, this is what we were going for, out of 6 eggs, we only had this single Royal Palm turkey hatch. This is Ricardo Shilly Shally! This little turkey poult is currently growing up with the chicks and is a bit of a special friend. I haven't been able to figure out why I constantly find it on it's side but everyday it's growing stronger, eating better and doing well. The falling over is less so fingers crossed!

So our dream to have Royal Palm turkeys came with the help of Daisy Knoll Farm who answered my million questions, was beyond patient and were very helpful too! So we now have 6 of these beautiful 3 week old turkey poults! With fingers crossed we are hoping they all do well, even Ricardo!