Made lip balm the other day. I think I like it, though I have read using some castor oil helps make it glossy. So I think I’ll try that with the next batch. It’s made of beeswax, olive oil, evening primrose oil, sweet almond oil and calendula oil. I’ve got about half a dozen more testers, if you’re into natural balms and want to be a guinea pig, please shoot me an email (twwly@mac.com) and I’ll mail you a tube to test. Hoping to get a nice little line of things together to sell at the market this summer.
About to start cleaning the house in preparation for our guests. Gillian and her family are coming up for a visit and some tattooing. I’m not sure how exactly I’m going to excavate our giant kitchen table, but it’s going to take some cunning creative skills.
Also have to make feta cheese today. My sheep milk is defrosted. Set up some of my no longer needed baby-goods at a local WI for a yard sale that is starting earlier than I am used to tomorrow morning. Looking forward to getting rid of some stuff, not looking forward to early rising. (The kids sleep in until at least 8am).
Bob has entered into the WHY stage. I thought we were going to be clear of that one, because he has asked DOING and CALLED for months and months. Now when you ask him to try to eat just a little more supper he asks WHY! When you announce it’s bedtime he asks WHY! When you break it to him that two cookies are all that are available for dessert he asks WHY! I find BECAUSE I SAID SO a bit assholey, so I answer. And boy. Is it ever a task to keep up my end of the dialogue! Little babies are so-much-easier than this. Their needs are so basic; all you have to do is feed, change or help them to sleep. Navigating this stuff, the wants and desires, the competition with his sister, the questioning and learning… it’s definitely a challenge. Armed to the teeth with cups of tea and homemade doughnuts, I am attempting to rise to it…
Meeps has been super sensitive lately. She’s still pretty snotty and is cutting more teeth and is essentially glued to me 24/7. I’m still feeling pretty weak from the pnuemonia mess, so I’m pretty worn out at the moment.
I am on the last leg of sewing her the sweetest little dress. Has taken me yonkers. Got the buttons sewn on and was using my button-hole settings on my machine, and they got all wonky on me. I’m not sure what happened, but they are bungled. Thankfully all slightly too small, so I just have to rip out the bazillion little stitches and do them by hand… quite disappointed about that I have to say! Will post pictures once I finish that up, which ought to be in another 4 weeks.
When I next update it ought to be with news of highly successful soap making. Scott has made me some nice little wooden soap boxes and I have spent the last couple of weeks accumulating all I need to make some nice veggie soaps. Of course being from the Chuck P generation the first thing that comes to my mind when I think lye is Tyler Durden. I’ll be in the kitchen chanting “His name was Robert Paulson, his name was Robert Paulson” while the kids look on perplexed as usual at the ridiculous things Mommy & Daddy say.
(Anyone out there enjoy Peter Sellers in The Party? Bob walks around saying “BANG-HOWDY PARD-NER”, whathavewedone).
your posts always make me smile!
Birdy num nums! Birdy num nums!
If the button holes are just too small, but in the right spot, don’t rip all the stitches out…just sew the new end, and rip the hole to there. If that makes sense. Its hard to understand sewing issues…or to provide help over the internet.
Where did you get your recipe for lip balm from?
I think the problem you might be running into with sewing the dress is the adding of legs that you are onto. LOL.
Chapstick and soap making, the two things I have been slowly building supplies for as well. Where did you get your tubes from?
I love making lip balm, it’s so fun!
dude…homemade doughnuts? did you put that in there just to inspire me ?
If you make solid shampoo and conditioner that smell like coconut I will buy them!
Ah, Caitlin got my quip………..
how about finding smaller buttons to fit the holes??
too bad you ran out of testers, i would have loved to try yours. i made some lip balm a while ago, and added peppermint essential oil so it was all tingly and minty! it was fun!
I’ve already got the buttons sewn on and they are perfect for the dress. (There’s a cherry blossom print on the bib of the dress and the buttons are little wooden cherry blossoms).
Carla – thank you for the tip, it does make sense and I will do just that! I’m glad I hadn’t ripped them out yet!
May try shampoos and other things, we’ll see how this soap goes first!
I just read a recipe for home made laundry soap:
http://www.angryasiancreations.com/2008/11/laundry-day-will-never-be-same.html
Sounds good. But “unpacked soap flakes”? WTF?
Cannot WAIT to see you guys!
ps. dont clean on our behalf!! we’re used to mess and grime and whatever else.
do you make lotions? Lilly has such sensitive skin that I’d love to find a decent natural one.
We always made lots of soap growing up — soap and candles. I don’t think we ever made lip balm though. Former SG Bunny (most amazingly lovely lady that she is) has just started her own line of lip lusciousness, too. I’m so envious of your homestead up there. The best I have is a little plot in my Community Garden here in Brooklyn…
Ah! I came to late to be a guienie pig =P.
I know the feeling about doing major construction to fit the table, we have that problem every thanksgiving.
The kids at the daycare I work at aren’t in the “Why” phase theyre in the “Whats your name?” *2 minuets later* “Whats your name?” forgetful phase xD.
Came to birdy num num. Shaking fist at Caitlin.
My mom always responded, “Why not?”
I read somewhere that as mothers we are legally within our right to either lie or run away when your child starts asking ‘why?’.
I can’t wait to try some twwly cosmetics! When do you hope to get them o the market? I may have to take another trek to your neck of the woods. As for your soap, if you ever need an accomplice to help you raid a cosmetic clinic’s trash I’m a great wheelman and I can climb like a lemur!!
With that same recipe, you can probably use it as a cuticle balm. It’s dry out here in Alberta, so I made my own with beeswax, cocoa butter & almond oil. Works like magic! The raw cocoa butter is dreamy & soft (can be a bit $$ though)
Yes, the challenge of competition between the little ones is, well, a challenge to say the least. I too drink tea to cope but instead of dognuts I eat chocolate. eeek. I have a book by Dr. Haim G. Ginott called BETWEEN PARENT AND CHILD. It’s helpful. Very in-depth. It was published in ’52. I don’t know if it’s still in print or not but I’m sure the Kincardine Library will have it. Good luck with the market endeavour and the soap!!
I don’t have kids of my own, but I raised my younger sibs because my mom was incompetent, and I also helped raise my lovers’ child many years ago. With the “why” phase, I eventually figured out that it’s not really about learning why, it’s about interaction. So I started answering with total nonsense, which made the whys more fun for me and the kids enjoyed it as well.
“WHY are there only cookies?”
“Because naughty fairies ate all the ice cream.”
“WHY must I go to bed?”
“Because the Walrus was Paul.”