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.”
Ah…failed soap…I used to make soap and found out failed soap is like failed fudge and failed bread…it all depends on the weather.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
well it seems to be okay this morning, i have cut it and laid it out to cure.. it seems that when I venture into the hot press meths that i have the trouble so the next batch will be cold again.. t seems smoother somehow…c
Wondering if Lulu has met Marmalade. Also wondering if you put Marmalade in with poor Boo to keep him from being too sad, or has Marmalade not been out of the house as yet. Omg I don’t know if Marmalade is a boy or girl!
Marmalade is a boy and all the cats hang out with him in the night in the basement, but all they do is hiss at the baby, it takes a while for cats to accept cats.. and I do keep him close, boo gets a wee bit too boisterous with him and they need watching.. c
Arghh, some days are just like that! Laura
That perfect fudge had my tongue hanging out – they overcook it here until it breaks fillings and crowns, so I don’t eat it, but it was a real favourite with me. I do sometimes make it, but not lately due to it taking too long stirring at the stove. I use a sugar thermometer to make sure it’s right.
It looks like winter has arrived there. I managed to walk round the block here this afternoon – wet underfoot but the sun smiled at me from time to time.
Love,
Vxox
Good morning, Celi. The most important tools for making soap, IMHO, are a gram scale and a thermometer. Also, checking with a lye calculator….Majisticmountainsage.com has a good one. (MMS), Lye and soap at about 100 degrees F. Always discount the lye slightly to be sure you have a mild soap. The lye calculator will give you correct measurements. A stick blender works wonders so you don’t have separation. But, you know, I have always felt that soap was a living thing that sometimes has bad days just like us. What exactly seems to be wrong with the first batch?
Anyway, your pictures and words have once again set the stage for a serene morning. It is as if we are all walking around the farmy with you….enjoying the sights and sounds. Yes, we are OK in our solitude and togetherness. Today DH is gone for most of the day and I have total quiet…..well except for the young roosters trying to outdo each other with their crowing. My view from my windows is a lot like yours, except at the end of the expanse of fields are mountains. This time of year it is as if the earth has paused and there is a hush in the cycle. Not fall but not yet winter, either. mmmmfudge. Is there any other way to eat it except right from the pan? (grin). It looks so yummy.
Thank you, it seems I am on the right track. i think the problem is I stirred it too early when it was cooking, leaving wee lumps in the soap, however it cut well and is nice an hard and I have set it out to cure.. I enjoyed using the soap calculater for the first time with my last batch and it seems to have worked! fingers crossed..(thank you for the little less lye tip, I have sensitive skin so that is good to know.. c
Try 5% lye discount for a milder soap. More of a discount and you run the risk of too much free oil/fat which will tend to go rancid over time.
is that the same as the super fatting level? I set that at 5 in the calculator. So if i choose a higher number eg three I then run a even lesser risk of rancid but a stronger soap?. I don’t want rancid that is for sure..c
Yes it is superfatting. However, I usually go for 5% lye discount and then add about an ounce of melted warmed shea butter or jojoba oil at trace to make a more moistureizing soap for our super dry skin. Jojoba and shea resist rancidity.
Ah ok good to know, i shall see if i can order one of those.. my skin needs all the help it can get.. c
Good morning Celi darling! Nice to catch up – not everything works all the time, eh? But the fudge looks delish nonetheless! xxx
Fudged fudge and soap’s ‘opeless! Oh, well, you can’t win them all.
laugh! you have such a wit! c
I think your fudge still looks okay! Yum!
The last pictures reminds me that we all see the same moon.
“We all see the same moon.” What a lovely thought! 🙂 Reminds me of the children’s story “Goodnight Moon”! Goodnight room, goodnight moon, goodnight cow jumping over the moon! Goodnight Farmy Friends! 😀
Well, having a weakness for Nanny Boo I do kind’of feel sorry for him all chained up, but guess those cabinets have to be finished 😉 ! And love the evening and night photos . . . such lovely peace . . .
It is peaceful too, they say the first two years of raining a Blue Heeler are rough and they were not joking!! c
I have read that too! A friend of ours has a new Blue Heeler puppy and it is driving him crazy he says! LOL So darn cute that little tyke! He sends me videos of all the action! I truly enjoy it too! 😀 Oh Joel….sigh…it is just beginning! His old pup passed and he was so used to not having to think about what a pup is up to! Boo is young. One day it will all click and you will not have to always think about what to look out for next! 😉
I will be in your shoes very soon! LOL
You convey the stillness settling, from your words and pics, and the steely resolve of Boo is evident. I laughed, the gates on the Farmy get a hard time… the Cast know their own minds. The joy of trying, failing, trying again and improving is something I am consciously learning only now after more than 4 decades of doing it but finding no appreciation of the process. Life as a Craft 😉
Life as Craft.. oh yes!! you are spot on.. c
I would love to have eaten your fudge with a spoon… XXX
Gorgeous photos! I didn’t see your post about being anti-social but welcome to the club from one “hermit” to another 🙂
I would have been happy to eat your fudge, too! Looks yummy. Nice to see Kupa’s tail reappearing. Love the moon shot.