Thinking of organic again...
I remember when I was younger and helping Lindsey to build up her immune system I also took some classes on natural cleaners, soaps, lotions and all that good stuff. I can't remember a whole lot but I do remember not ever using harsh cleaners, mainly vinegar and water and I know I never used anything by Johnson and I still don't. I learned to read labels, figured if I couldn't pronounce the word it was probably something I didn't want around my babies.
 |
|
At this time in my life I was working for an older couple. They were wonderful and I loved them as if they were my own grandparents. The lady of the house taught me many things about cleaning. She was getting to the point where she couldn't do everything and yet still wanted her house to be clean and look nice. One of the things she had me do was to take a tea pot and fill it with warm water and pour that into the window sill, take a tooth brush and clean all the cracks, the final step was another rinse from the teapot with a little vinegar in the water. Many times she would have me go up and clean out the attic, letting her know what was in there. It was an important spot to her, and I could tell the things in there held many memories of things that she had done. She was a beautiful seamstress and had sewed for many. The little clothes were hanging in the attic with the smell of days gone by - I believe she liked to look at some of them hoping that some day someone would feel what she did - that someone would know of the love in each stitch.
One time when I was up there she had me go to the back (you had to crawl in to the space) and see what was in there. I found a large, flat box with huge white bars in it. I brought it out and there we sat, the two of us, talking of her love for making soap and how her mother had taught her. It is one of my finer memories, loving the passion in her voice... taking me back to where she was and wanting to capture the simpleness and yet the hard work of the era. I felt like I was there with her and her momma...
I felt a part of something very precious.
Now it seems my youngest is interested in the natural things in life, the simpler times brought back for the sake of health. I wonder if Lacey is the one that she was waiting for? The one who would have truly felt what she did -
as she sat with her momma learning the fine skills of sewing and making soap?
Building hope for the future.
LYE SOAP
72 oz olive oil
12 oz coconut oil
6 oz castor oil
24-28 oz cold water
12 oz lye
Mix oils and heat to 100degrees
Pour lye slowly into cold water (always pour lye into cold water, NEVER cold water into the lye)
then wait for the temp to cool to 100degrees (can use ice bath)
Pour mixtures together and blend until trace.
Pour into molds and wrap in blankets for 24 hours.
DON'T PEEK
Cut at 24-48 hours then let sit 6 weeks before using.
LOTION
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup beeswax (pastilles)
Combine in a jar then place jar in double boiler and heat until melted.
Cool
While cooling add:
20 drops essential oil
1/2 teaspoon vitamin E
Stir until cooled and bottle.
BODY BALM
1/4 cup shea butter
2 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 grated beeswax
10 drops essential oil vanilla
10 drops essential oil peppermint
stir low heat, remove, add oils and pour into a mason jar.
NOTE: 15 drops lavender is better!
GLYCERIN SOAP
2 cups grated soap
1 tbls almond oil
1 tsp witch hazel
1/2 tbls glycerin
2 3/4 cup distilled H2O.
Mix over low heat stirring occasionally until smooth. Cool, blend and store.
POWDERED LAUNDRY SOAP
2 cups of finely grated soap
1 cup of washing soda
1 cup of borax
Mix and use 2 tbls for each load
I also learned from this wonderful lady that if you eat enough garlic in the summer, it will seep out your skin and you will smell like a garlic glove, thus, the mosquito's will leave you alone?
JUST SAYIN"
