Thursday, February 26, 2015

What To Do On A Snow Day.......

Happy Thursday everyone.  Yes, it is yet another snow day here in our part of North Carolina.  Most likely Friday will be another snow day too.  That will mean we've only gone to school 1.5 days our of the last 9 scheduled school days.  MAJOR UGH!!

Here's a picture of Pod patiently waiting in the Pod-Port for our first camping trip, the Kings Mountain Kick-off which takes place two weeks from tomorrow for us.



To keep ourselves busy, we've been doing all sorts of things.   Trisha has been knitting and working on lesson plans clear out to 2017.  Rob has been doing little projects and making soap.  In fact, it is the soap making that is the main subject of today's post.

Rob decided this past Sunday, when there was still plenty of white stuff laying around to make two, 2-pound batches of soap.  Here you can see the view from the door of the shop.



Yes, that is ice still laying around from the storm the prior Monday evening.  

Here you can see the soap supply shelves in Rob's shop where he keeps most of his soap making supplies.



Next you can see the kerosene heater being used to heat the hot water bath used in the oil blending part of the process.


Rob has also used the stove in Pod, or the burner for his turkey fryer, depending on the weather, etc.  

Next, you can see the table saw turned workbench with some of the items left over from the first batch of mixed soap.



Then today, here is the finished product, turned out of the molds and sliced for at least two more weeks of drying before use.  




For those that are interested, this is a five-oil soap.  It contains, 
coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, castor oil, and cocoa butter, along with water and lye.  The fragrance is a sandalwood and vanilla blend.

This particular batch is for Rob.  He has made several batches for Trisha and they are in the drying stage.  

It is time to wrap up today post.  Thanks for checking by today. 

Until next time, stay safe out there.....-R,T,&J.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

A Snow Day.....

Hello everyone!!  Today here in our corner of the world, it is a SNOW DAY!!  We are both home from school.  Monday morning bright and early, Rob had a screening colonoscopy.  The results were excellent and he won't have to repeat the experience for 10 years!!!

Then the sleet started falling Monday afternoon.  All we got was sleet, mixed with a little snow toward the end of the storm.  Other areas just got snow, or a mix of freezing rain, sleet, snow, etc.

This morning after sleeping late and cooking a real breakfast, Rob got out and about with his trusty Nikon.  He's a picture of Pod hunkered down safely in Pod-Port dreaming about warm weather....



Rob also made a collage or three of Snow Day 2015.  Enjoy.....




































































Thanks for checking by today.  The plan for today is to just relax and enjoy the quite time at home.

Until next time, stay safe out there......-R,T,&J.