Day 241 Nabiac Sunday 3rd February 2013

Hi All,

Thank goodness for the daily lists from Anna, and the spreadsheet from Andrew containing the days jobs and the longer term plans. Mostly I get through Anna's list, as I did yesterday, but thought my last blog was lacking something, I knew I did something else yesterday, actually the task that took the longest - making wax wraps. The job started with "experiment with the wax wrap" love that about Anna sort of a Captain Picard "make it so" type of instruction.

Mixing the lye/milk into the oils

Trouble was I couldn't remember what wax wraps were! Now I am quite intimately acquainted with them... an eco alternative to plastic wrap, reuseable made with fabric and bees wax. After the required experimentation I modified the instructions to paint the fabric with melted wax rather than grate the wax, place it on the fabric and melt it in the oven for 5 minutes. My modification saves about 3 minutes a sheet, a considerable saving if you are aiming for "eco" by more than halving oven time.

Ohh the oven is required to ensure the wax melts through the fabric. Further discussion with Anna and we decided the solar oven could be used - next batch. The wraps went into use tonight for a block of cheddar cheese, will watch progress over the next few days, hopefully no dry cheese.

Mixing in the organic lavender oil

Today I moved on to soap making. Andrew milks the goats then the  milk is frozen until needed for the soaps. Not a difficult process, but exacting, every gram and degree is important, in making the perfect bar. Today we made (well I watched more than participated) naked and lavender, the soaps are then insulated for about 8 hours, then put aside to further cure, tomorrow we will remove them from the moulds then they further mature for 6 weeks plus.

Anna in "the top" pouring into moulds

I hacked excess growth off plants in the kitchen garden, now crucial as the plants were eating the paths, making access difficult, I had visions of impaling myself on the knife I use to cut my morning spinach after the cucumber plants ate my foot, all good now, and fodder for the compost heap. The cleanup included harvest of a dozen pumpkins and the same in cucumbers, pumpkin steamed and frozen for pumpkin pie check, pumpkin soup check.

Simon continued painting, we want to see the cabins finished before we leave, which is fast approaching (sheds tear).

Tea was a knock up of left overs, with some funny antics from the children, guess they were using up the excess energy so they can sit still in class tomorrow.

Happy days, night folks

Susan