We don’t see Lulu often. But she is always there. Watching. Just like us. Yesterdays comments were so refreshing. You are all wonderful. Here we were (well I was) thinking that our contentment in solitude was in fact ‘Anti Social’ when in fact we are all good and fine and normal little Fellowship hermits in the making. And to be social (when we have to be) we NEED to have that base of Solid Simple Self. We are OK!!
There are errors in the exposure of this shot of Pania and Tui (below) the beautiful peahens who hang out with filthy pigs. But I like it anyway. Perfection is not mandatory in the Fellowship. Thank God.
The Duke Of Kupa’s tail is growing.
Boo took offence (and the gate) to the cabinet makers new assistant and had to go back to the chain for the afternoon. He gets treats while he is on the chain and has plenty of company but deep down he does not take it well.
Heavy frost this morning. A harbinger.
I made a batch of Russian Fudge to take to the Old Codger yesterday. It was not my best effort but he very kindly offered to eat it out of the pan with a spoon. He is good like that.
So I loaded up the dogs and off we went for our visit.
The fields have been cleaned and turned over. All is still again.
Then home again to make soap.
Emily I made two batches of soap yesterday, but ( and I will know for sure tomorrow) I think my beginners luck just ran out. However I know exactly the errors I made. But oh yes, I have done the zap test! I am still practising.
I hope you all have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farmy,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
70 responses to “Failed fudge. Failed Soap. Ah well, there is always tomorrow.”
Thank you for this wonderful post!
How is the big dog coping with the colder mornings?
Big Dog has begun to get vocal if his blankets slip off, which is good. he had two big duvets so far and sleeps on a pile of home made sheeps wool mattresses. I think when it gets colder he might come in but we will see. c
I do hope he does, I know that he is very independant and doesn’t like coming in the house but hopefully he has enough sense to get over it so he stays warm. In the meantime are you having to get up in the night to put the blankies back on?
Oh dear, though the fudge looks OK, but I’m no expert I don’t like sweet things 😉
I am not a big sweet eater, but the Old Codger loves his sweets. The fudge did not set, not cooked long enough.. tastes good though now that I have the golden syrup. c
Golden syrup makes everything taste good. I haven’t been able to find it in Ontario, certainly better than that corn stuff.
Some beautiful pictures there Celi, especially the moon saying good night!
That fudge looks more than edible to me, in fact it made my mouth water.
Poor Boo, guess he doesn’t make friends easily, but then what a good guard dog you have. Mine are far too soft, but Sam is big and has the deepest bark, that if I don’t open the door enough for him to drool all over any visitor, and just let him bark, people get the message that he is aggressive!
Sharp frost here this morning, chickens didn’t want to get up – don’t blame them as neither did I. Made them some porridge to warm their little tummies and they are all lined up against the house in the sun now, so they will be fine. Two of them are in moult, and I am finding feathers everywhere. One of them is pure white, and it looks like snow where ever she rests for a while!
Why do they moult when it gets cold?. I am asking mine this very question. They look terrible.. ah well, porridge sounds nice!! c
From what I understand…this is when they get a full resting time from laying eggs. This is when they build up their reserves of nutrients to continue producing.
True Mere, if we really were buying naturally raised eggs in the supermarket there would be very very few in the winter. The moult is the winter feathers coming in. Then they take some time off i the dark of winter.. I do not light mine until March, i let them rest.. c
You are a very smart farm lady! 🙂 And a great momma!!! 😀
why do you think your soap failed? Has it cured long enough?
Your fudge looks great, btw.
I will see later this morning. but i think i stirred it too early in its final cooking stage?.. c
What else can you try that you’ve never tried before? There doesn’t seem to be any limit to you wonderful curiosity and willingness to try something new.
Good Morning, Celi.
I have also been riding beginners luck with soap. I really thought my luck had run out too with the batch I made a few days ago as it looked SO soft after it went into the mould (I substituted nearly frozen milk for water in the lye mix). Well it has firmed up nicely and looks good enough now although it does still need to cure before I can be sure. Roll on beginners luck, Hope yours is good too.
Oh and I am a hermit too (with a hermit husband and hermit children)! We are all happy talking to animals and I talk to plants so I guess I am a step beyond! It is a quiet kind of talking though.
I would like to try soap with the milk, i read that it needs to be cold or it will go a funny colour, did you use the same quantities? Was it raw and creamy? c
Yes it was raw milk with the cream in, although there is not so much cream in the milk at the moment, (Grass fed, native breed and winter is on its way). last year I read about freezing milk in ice cube trays before adding the lye to it, instead, to save time and washing, I put the milk,in the pot, in the freezer about an hour before I added the lye so it was slushy and partly frozen. It did go an orange colour when I added the lye but I was making Mandarin & sweet geranium so it looked lovely, however after curing for a day it lost its colour? Last year I made soap with water in the lye and added cream at the end as a superfat. That seemed to work. I have a lot to learn about soap making. Glad your soap turned out well.
Hi Lulu! How C 🙂 The fudge looks pretty good to me and anything is even more delicious eaten out of the pan with a spoon! Have a good weekend xx
Must have been an off day for soap making. A friend on FB who makes soap for a living had a batch separate on her yesterday while teaching a class. Never happened before.
bad luck for that to happen in a class! Mine seems to have pulled out of its mood and might be ok, but it has little pale lumps in it.. c
Soap making is on my list to try. I think it would a fun thing for ourselves as well as gifts. And I’ll know what went into them!
All kindred spirits here! Interesting to note that I am the eldest of 7! Lots of only child friends I have found here! And I fit right in!!!! 😀
Personally I think imperfect photos are some of the best taken…somehow it adds flavor to the experience. 😉 They make you take pause and look further. When there are numerous perfect shots I look faster, until one really stands out. And I hate to miss anything!
That fudge looks scrumptious! Yum! I had to laugh when you said that old codger ate it right from the pan…Kevin does that here, as he is the only one who can eat the sweets. Unless… I do the gf goodies for both of us to share! He figures…why wash another plate, pot or pan! LOL He is so considerate as he knows I hate to wash dishes, pots and pans! 😉
Made a carboy of cherry wine! Smells devine! No soap making here yet, but the winter is still to come. I do make my own bleach alternative! Works great! Thinking about making laundry detergent. Have a recipe! 😀
Our fields are bare. Veggie garden too…sun is coming up! Yay! Got a sinus infection so I am laying low today. Bah humbug…
Have a great day Celi and hugs for everyone!!!! (((((((hugs)))))))))
p.s. I love affection…being the eldest of 7 makes me a nurturer! So just enjoy them and know they are from the heart! 🙂
Will the Duke’s tail feathers fall out every year?
Good morning, c, and felicitations to the farmy.
Yes misky, every autumn the leaves and Kupa’ feathers will fall… c
Learn something new every day!
Those photos of wide open spaces just make my heart sing, Celi. I particularly love the one with the view down (or up?) the road. So inviting!
send me a batch of fudge and i shall judge whether or not it turned out. [~wink]
i am falling in love with boo. plain and simple.
and i love your photo of pania and tui. such beautiful light.
I am in love with Boo too! He is an angel in my opinion! A litte tarnish on the halo is not so bad…I am sure that he was provoked! LOL 😀 Love you Boo Nanny! I know you are sad, but it really is best that you don’t bother the interloper! 😉
he would not let the man walk across the lawn, was being very naughty, just a wee bit too protective.. ah well, he does not mind sitting in the barn, he has company in there. c
LOL It won’t hurt him to be in time out for a spell. 😀 Oh Boo…not good!