Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Rocking My Domestic Powers

The past few days, the boys have asked me, "Do you have to go to work today?"

I've loved that I've been able to say no! I could really get used to this, but as it is, I'll be missing the paycheck I would have received these past two weeks. Why didn't I buy a lotto ticket at Christmas?

Before heading back to the routine next week, I'm enjoying spending extra time exercising my autodidact.

I have plans to make soap. I've been wanting to do this for awhile now and just never got around to it. For Christmas I received a handmade bar of honey oatmeal soap, and I'm more motivated than ever to start making our own. I have sensitive skin and can feel immediately when I'm exposed to natural versus artificial.

The boys say they will help me in this soap making endeavor. We've collected several books with recipes and today we scored a stick blender at the resale shop for $4. If we make enough soap that we can begin selling it this spring, I will split the profits with them. If we aren't able to set up a home soap business, at least we'll have fun exploring a bit of chemistry.

Bird report - We had swarms hanging out in our bushes and enjoying our feeders, then one day I saw the hawk perched on the deck rail. On the north side of our garden the feathers on the ground prove the hawk has been successfully filling her belly. Now we rarely see the juncos, sparrows and finches hanging around. I suppose once the hawk moves on, the birds will return.

I've also been enjoying being home to cook for my family. Tonight I'm going to try making Giada's parmesan potato pancakes.


7 comments:

Julie N. said...

Making soap sounds like a fun project, have fun.

Terri D'Orsaneo said...

I love watching Giada's show on TV. Yum!! Keep us posted about the soap making!!

Nora inS.W.Missouri said...

poor birds....hoping that the hawk finds another hunting ground. We have quite a few hawks in our neighborhood (actually by the farms around us) they keep the field mice and snake population down for us. Got to love that, but not attacking smaller birds. :( Hope you are able to enjoy the rest of your week off from work, and also that you find time to try making the homemade soap.

Stormmie aka Kim said...

I know nothing about making soap. Keep us posted on your progress

Awww poor birdies.

Mmmmm parm potato pancakes sound yummy

Dawning Petersen said...

Update- The potato pancakes were awful. They tasted like raw potato even though they were browned and appeared to be cooked through. Maybe you have to use Yukon Gold potatoes? I used Russets. I also did not peel them first because I like potato skins.

Cindy W said...

Poor birdies, we have hawks by our house as well. My mom's polish friend use to make her potatoes pancakes by first cooking the potatoes, she use to wrap them in foil and bake them in the oven or put a whole bunch in her crockpot for the day. After they cooled she would grate them skins and all. Than she would take the shredded cook potatoes, add some salt pepper and some dried onion and fry them,. They were so good.

Dawning Petersen said...

Thanks for this tip! I think I will try this again and use already baked potatoes.