Saturday, July 31, 2010

It's Hot, Hot, Hot

Yesterday got up to 102 degrees and today at 1:00 pm, it's already 102.

It's just too hot to do much outside, so I think we'll watch a movie and maybe I'll read my book a while.  I am enjoying Pillars of the Earth.  They started the mini-series on Netflix, but after only two episodes, I can't find any more.

I feel so sorry for the poor little Bluebird babies stuck in their nest boxes, which are right in the sun.  You have to place the boxes far enough from a tree so that nothing can  climb down from the tree and get the birds.  One of the boxes get some shade from a tree that is far enough away.  I think we will try to relocate the other two boxes after they are vacated this year. 

We've put water out for the foxes and now we have a baby raccoon, so of course they have  to get water as well.  We haven't had any rain for weeks now, so everything is extremely dry.  Our beautiful green grass is scorched and dry.  We put a mister up for the birds and they really enjoy it.  We feel sorry for all the animals.  Our little pond is getting low also.  If we don't get some rain soon, it will dry up.

We did manage to wash the motor home this morning though.  It's a good day to get wet. 

I made a new batch of soap last night. It has olive oil, coconut oil and lard.  It's a creamy light yellow in color and seems to have a nice texture. I found some oil scents at Walmart for only $2 so I put some Apple Cinnamon fragrance in the soap.  I was afraid it would mess up the "trace" of the soap, so I was a little leery, but it turned out okay and has a nice fragrance.  I'm anxious for it to harden enough to cut (and yes I peeked again).  I think I may try another batch later today and add some vanilla fragrance.  I hate that I make this nice soap and have to wait 6 weeks to use it.

I read somewhere of some uses for homemade lye soap.  One thing is it's supposed to be good to wash off the oils from poison ivy.  Al is a magnet for poison ivy and is allergic to it, so I have encouraged him to bathe with it every time.  One other use is supposed to help night time leg cramps.  Al also has a problem with that.  Very often he is awakened from a sound sleep with a bad leg cramp. Supposedly if you put a bag of soap under your bottom sheet, it will stop leg cramps.  Well, I thought it couldn't hurt so we have a big lump of soap under the sheets!  I don't know if it works, but Al hasn't had a night time leg cramp since we put the soap there!  Coincidence?  I don't know?

7 comments:

Carol K said... [Reply to comment]

I read Pillars of the Earth and its sequel, World Without End. I really enjoyed the books, especially the first one. I haven't watched the mini-series. I believe it's supposed to run for eight hours.

I don't like having to wait for 6 weeks to hear the results of your soapmaking project! ;)

Prettypics123 said... [Reply to comment]

Sounds as though you are making the best of the heat! I hope the birdies are okay.

Cindy said... [Reply to comment]

Okay..I must of missed the post..of the how to make soap...lol Could you head me in that direction please!

I use to make all my own..bug sprays.I got my oils from Sun Harvest..I am sure a Whole Foods would have them too.They worked for us. I need to make some more.

Poor baby bluebirds!!Yeah me and baby racoons...well lets just say..done that already.

My daughters friend brought one over for me to raise..It was so little..and so quite.About 3 hrs later..I get it out of the box..start stroking it like a kitty..put it up to my throat area..why..who knows...I started purring at it..OMG..it came alive!!!!!It started mewing..and climbing up my neck..it took a few suck swipes at my ear..then proceeded to climb up the back of my neck..and hid itself in my long thick hair...Let's just say I panicked...while everyone in the room was cracking up and rolling on the floor with laughter...me not so funny..GET IT OUT OF MY HAIR!!!!!!!!

I took it straight to a vet..the lady said..what I did the purring..must of sounded like it's mother..sorry..but NO....she kept him and raised him.

I have a million stories of all the predictaments I get myself into..thanks for reading...lol

Cindy and Walker

Margie M. said... [Reply to comment]

Your soap sounds interesting. I think the scents you've added will be great. That is so nice of you folks to take such great care of the wildlife in your yard. I know if they could thank you they would! Hope your weather cools off soon.

Merikay said... [Reply to comment]

Doesn't sound like planning to summer in Georgia is a good plan!

Karen and Al said... [Reply to comment]

Cindy,

I didn't post any soap making recipe's, I just gave the basics....water, lye, oils, mix, stir..soap... check out
http://www.millersoap.com/ I found some good recipes there. I just made my third batch.

E-mail me if you want more info...or encouragement. I needed a little of that before I made my first batch. It's something about the lye that made me nervous.
So I guess you don't want to adopt my baby raccoon, huh?

Happytrails said... [Reply to comment]

That's interesting about the soap and leg cramps. I have leg cramps almost every night. Might be worth a try???
You are right it's too dang hot for anything outside. You walk outside and you are zapped by the heat and humidity. You could almost take a bath in your own sweat.
Take care and lets hope for rain and a bit cooler temps.
Mike & Gerri